Белый клык

           OneEyesprangbackwithasnortofsuddenfright,thenshrankdowntothesnowandcrouched,snarlingthreatsatthisthingoffearhedidnotunderstand. Buttheshe-wolfcoollythrustpasthim. Shepoisedforamoment,thensprangforthedancingrabbit. She,too,soaredhigh,butnotsohighasthequarry,andherteethclippedemptilytogetherwithametallicsnap. Shemadeanotherleap,andanother. 

           Hermatehadslowlyrelaxedfromhiscrouchandwaswatchingher. Henowevinceddispleasureatherrepeatedfailures,andhimselfmadeamightyspringupward. Histeethclosedupontherabbit,andheboreitbacktoearthwithhim. Butatthesametimetherewasasuspiciouscracklingmovementbesidehim, andhisastonishedeyesawayoungsprucesaplingbendingdownabovehimtostrikehim. Hisjawsletgotheirgrip,andheleapedbackwardtoescapethisstrangedanger,hislipsdrawnbackfromhisfangs, histhroatsnarling,everyhairbristlingwithrageandfright. Andinthatmomentthesaplingreareditsslenderlengthuprightandtherabbitsoareddancingintheairagain. 

           Theshe-wolfwasangry. Shesankherfangsintohermate’sshoulderinreproof; andhe,frightened,unawareofwhatconstitutedthisnewonslaught,struckbackferociouslyandinstillgreaterfright,rippingdownthesideoftheshe-wolf’smuzzle. Forhimtoresentsuchreproofwasequallyunexpectedtoher,andshespranguponhiminsnarlingindignation. Thenhediscoveredhismistakeandtriedtoplacateher. Butsheproceededtopunishhimroundly, untilhegaveoverallattemptsatplacation,andwhirledinacircle, hisheadawayfromher,hisshouldersreceivingthepunishmentofherteeth. 

           Inthemeantimetherabbitdancedabovethemintheair. Theshe-wolfsatdowninthesnow,andoldOneEye,nowmoreinfearofhismatethanofthemysterioussapling,againsprangfortherabbit.