Белый клык
The Battle of the Fangs
Shewasthrillingtoadesirethaturgedhertogoforward,tobeinclosertothatfire, tobesquabblingwiththedogs,andtobeavoidinganddodgingthestumblingfeetofmen.
OneEyemovedimpatientlybesideher; herunrestcamebackuponher,andsheknewagainherpressingneedtofindthethingforwhichshesearched. Sheturnedandtrottedbackintotheforest,tothegreatreliefofOneEye, whotrottedalittletotheforeuntiltheywerewellwithintheshelterofthetrees.
Astheyslidalong,noiselessasshadows,inthemoonlight,theycameuponarun-way. Bothnoseswentdowntothefootprintsinthesnow. Thesefootprintswereveryfresh. OneEyeranaheadcautiously,hismateathisheels. Thebroadpadsoftheirfeetwerespreadwideandincontactwiththesnowwerelikevelvet. OneEyecaughtsightofadimmovementofwhiteinthemidstofthewhite. Hisslidinggaithadbeendeceptivelyswift,butitwasasnothingtothespeedatwhichhenowran. Beforehimwasboundingthefaintpatchofwhitehehaddiscovered.
Theywererunningalonganarrowalleyflankedoneithersidebyagrowthofyoungspruce. Throughthetreesthemouthofthealleycouldbeseen,openingoutonamoonlitglade. OldOneEyewasrapidlyoverhaulingthefleeingshapeofwhite. Boundbyboundhegained. Nowhewasuponit. Oneleapmoreandhisteethwouldbesinkingintoit. Butthatleapwasnevermade. Highintheair,andstraightup,soaredtheshapeofwhite,nowastrugglingsnowshoerabbitthatleapedandbounded, executingafantasticdancethereabovehimintheairandneveroncereturningtoearth.
