Белый клык

           Butwhateverideawasforminginhismind,wasdissipatedbytheshe-wolf,whoadvanceduponhim, sniffednoseswithhimforafleetinginstant,andthenresumedhercoyretreatbeforehisrenewedadvances. 

           Inthemeantime,Billhadbethoughthimselfoftherifle. Butitwasjammedbeneaththeoverturnedsled, andbythetimeHenryhadhelpedhimtorighttheload, OneEarandtheshe-wolfweretooclosetogetherandthedistancetoogreattoriskashot. 

           ToolateOneEarlearnedhismistake. Beforetheysawthecause,thetwomensawhimturnandstarttorunbacktowardthem. Then,approachingatrightanglestothetrailandcuttingoffhisretreattheysawadozenwolves,leanandgrey,boundingacrossthesnow. Ontheinstant,theshe-wolf’scoynessandplayfulnessdisappeared.WithasnarlshespranguponOneEar. Hethrustheroffwithhisshoulder,and,hisretreatcutoffandstillintentonregainingthesled,healteredhiscourseinanattempttocirclearoundtoit. Morewolveswereappearingeverymomentandjoininginthechase. Theshe-wolfwasoneleapbehindOneEarandholdingherown. 

           "Whereareyougoin’?"Henrysuddenlydemanded,layinghishandonhispartner’sarm. 

           Billshookitoff. "Iwon’tstandit,"hesaid."Theyain’ta-goin’togetanymoreofourdogsifIcanhelpit." 

           Guninhand,heplungedintotheunderbrushthatlinedthesideofthetrail. Hisintentionwasapparentenough. TakingthesledasthecentreofthecirclethatOneEarwasmaking, Billplannedtotapthatcircleatapointinadvanceofthepursuit. Withhisrifle,inthebroaddaylight,itmightbepossibleforhimtoawethewolvesandsavethedog.