Белый клык

           Hedidnotgofar.Atthefirsthintofdarknesshehastenedtomakeacamp,andhesawtoitthathehadageneroussupplyoffirewood. Hefedthedogs,cookedandatehissupper,andmadehisbedclosetothefire. 

           Buthewasnotdestinedtoenjoythatbed. Beforehiseyesclosedthewolveshaddrawntoonearforsafety. Itnolongerrequiredaneffortofthevisiontoseethem. Theywereallabouthimandthefire,inanarrowcircle,andhecouldseethemplainlyinthefirelightlyingdown,sittingup,crawlingforwardontheirbellies,orslinkingbackandforth. Theyevenslept. Hereandtherehecouldseeonecurledupinthesnowlikeadog,takingthesleepthatwasnowdeniedhimself. 

           Hekeptthefirebrightlyblazing,forheknewthatitaloneintervenedbetweenthefleshofhisbodyandtheirhungryfangs. Histwodogsstayedclosebyhim,oneoneitherside,leaningagainsthimforprotection, cryingandwhimpering,andattimessnarlingdesperatelywhenawolfapproachedalittlecloserthanusual. Atsuchmoments,whenhisdogssnarled,thewholecirclewouldbeagitated, thewolvescomingtotheirfeetandpressingtentativelyforward,achorusofsnarlsandeageryelpsrisingabouthim. Thenthecirclewouldliedownagain,andhereandthereawolfwouldresumeitsbrokennap. 

           Butthiscirclehadacontinuoustendencytodrawinuponhim. Bitbybit,aninchatatime,withhereawolfbellyingforward,andthereawolfbellyingforward,thecirclewouldnarrowuntilthebruteswerealmostwithinspringingdistance. Thenhewouldseizebrandsfromthefireandhurlthemintothepack. Ahastydrawingbackalwaysresulted,accompaniedbyangryyelps andfrightenedsnarlswhenawell-aimedbrandstruckandscorchedatoodaringanimal.