Part 2
The Battle of the Fangs
Itwastheshe-wolfwhohadfirstcaughtthesoundofmen’svoicesandthewhiningofthesled-dogs; anditwastheshe-wolfwhowasfirsttospringawayfromthecorneredmaninhiscircleofdyingflame. Thepackhadbeenloathtoforegothekillithadhunteddown,anditlingeredforseveralminutes, makingsureofthesounds,andthenit,too,sprangawayonthetrailmadebytheshe-wolf.
Runningattheforefrontofthepackwasalargegreywolf—oneofitsseveralleaders. Itwashewhodirectedthepack’scourseontheheelsoftheshe-wolf. Itwashewhosnarledwarninglyattheyoungermembersofthepackorslashedatthemwithhisfangswhentheyambitiouslytriedtopasshim. Anditwashewhoincreasedthepacewhenhesightedtheshe-wolf,nowtrottingslowlyacrossthesnow.
Shedroppedinalongsidebyhim,asthoughitwereherappointedposition,andtookthepaceofthepack. Hedidnotsnarlather,norshowhisteeth,whenanyleapofherschancedtoputherinadvanceofhim. Onthecontrary,heseemedkindlydisposedtowardher—tookindlytosuither,forhewaspronetorunneartoher, andwhenherantoonearitwasshewhosnarledandshowedherteeth. Norwassheaboveslashinghisshouldersharplyonoccasion. Atsuchtimeshebetrayednoanger. Hemerelysprangtothesideandranstifflyaheadforseveralawkwardleaps,incarriageandconductresemblinganabashedcountryswain.
Thiswashisonetroubleintherunningofthepack; butshehadothertroubles. Onherothersideranagauntoldwolf,grizzledandmarkedwiththescarsofmanybattles. Heranalwaysonherrightside. Thefactthathehadbutoneeye,andthatthelefteye,mightaccountforthis.
