Белый клык

           Returningtothecave,sheentereditsnarrowmouth. Forashortthreefeetshewascompelledtocrouch,thenthewallswidenedandrosehigherinalittleroundchambernearlysixfeetindiameter. Theroofbarelyclearedherhead. Itwasdryandcosey. Sheinspecteditwithpainstakingcare,whileOneEye,whohadreturned,stoodintheentranceandpatientlywatchedher. Shedroppedherhead,withhernosetothegroundanddirectedtowardapointneartohercloselybunchedfeet,andaroundthispointshecircledseveraltimes; then,withatiredsighthatwasalmostagrunt,shecurledherbodyin,relaxedherlegs,anddroppeddown,herheadtowardtheentrance. OneEye,withpointed,interestedears,laughedather, andbeyond,outlinedagainstthewhitelight,shecouldseethebrushofhistailwavinggood-naturedly. Herownears,withasnugglingmovement,laidtheirsharppointsbackward anddownagainsttheheadforamoment,whilehermouthopenedandhertonguelolledpeaceablyout, andinthiswaysheexpressedthatshewaspleasedandsatisfied. 

           OneEyewashungry. Thoughhelaydownintheentranceandslept,hissleepwasfitful. Hekeptawakingandcockinghisearsatthebrightworldwithout,wheretheAprilsunwasblazingacrossthesnow. Whenhedozed,uponhisearswouldstealthefaintwhispersofhiddentricklesofrunningwater, andhewouldrouseandlistenintently. Thesunhadcomeback,andalltheawakeningNorthlandworldwascallingtohim. Lifewasstirring. Thefeelofspringwasintheair,thefeelofgrowinglifeunderthesnow,ofsapascendinginthetrees,ofbudsburstingtheshacklesofthefrost. 

           Hecastanxiousglancesathismate,butsheshowednodesiretogetup.