Белый клык
The Law of Meat
Thecubfelttheprodofthelifethatwasinhim, andstoodupandsnarledvaliantlybyhismother’sside. Butshethrusthimignominiouslyawayandbehindher. Becauseofthelow-roofedentrancethelynxcouldnotleapin,andwhenshemadeacrawlingrushofittheshe-wolfspranguponherandpinnedherdown. Thecubsawlittleofthebattle. Therewasatremendoussnarlingandspittingandscreeching. Thetwoanimalsthreshedabout,thelynxrippingandtearingwithherclawsandusingherteethaswell,whiletheshe-wolfusedherteethalone.
Once,thecubspranginandsankhisteethintothehindlegofthelynx.Heclungon,growlingsavagely. Thoughhedidnotknowit,bytheweightofhisbodyhecloggedtheactionofthelegandtherebysavedhismothermuchdamage. Achangeinthebattlecrushedhimunderboththeirbodiesandwrenchedloosehishold. Thenextmomentthetwomothersseparated,and,beforetheyrushedtogetheragain,thelynxlashedoutatthecubwithahugefore-paw thatrippedhisshoulderopentotheboneandsenthimhurtlingsidewiseagainstthewall. Thenwasaddedtotheuproarthecub’sshrillyelpofpainandfright. Butthefightlastedsolongthathehadtimetocryhimselfoutandtoexperienceasecondburstofcourage; andtheendofthebattlefoundhimagainclingingtoahind-legandfuriouslygrowlingbetweenhisteeth.
Thelynxwasdead. Buttheshe-wolfwasveryweakandsick. Atfirstshecaressedthecubandlickedhiswoundedshoulder;butthebloodshehadlosthadtakenwithitherstrength, andforallofadayandanightshelaybyherdeadfoe’sside,withoutmovement,scarcelybreathing. Foraweeksheneverleftthecave,exceptforwater,andthenhermovementswereslowandpainful. Attheendofthattimethelynxwasdevoured,whiletheshe-wolf’swoundshadhealedsufficientlytopermithertotakethemeat-trailagain.
