Белый клык

           ThefourIndianslaughedmoreloudly,whileeventhemanwhohadbeenbittenbegantolaugh. Theysurroundedthecubandlaughedathim,whilehewailedouthisterrorandhishurt. Inthemidstofit,heheardsomething. TheIndiansheardittoo. Butthecubknewwhatitwas,andwithalast,longwailthathadinitmoreoftriumphthangrief,heceasedhisnoiseandwaitedforthecomingofhismother, ofhisferociousandindomitablemotherwhofoughtandkilledallthingsandwasneverafraid. Shewassnarlingassheran.Shehadheardthecryofhercubandwasdashingtosavehim. 

           Sheboundedinamongstthem,heranxiousandmilitantmotherhoodmakingheranythingbutaprettysight. Buttothecubthespectacleofherprotectiveragewaspleasing. Heutteredagladlittlecryandboundedtomeether,whiletheman-animalswentbackhastilyseveralsteps. Theshe-wolfstoodoveragainsthercub,facingthemen,withbristlinghair,asnarlrumblingdeepinherthroat. Herfacewasdistortedandmalignantwithmenace,eventhebridgeofthenosewrinklingfromtiptoeyessoprodigiouswashersnarl. 

           Thenitwasthatacrywentupfromoneofthemen. "Kiche!"waswhatheuttered. Itwasanexclamationofsurprise. Thecubfelthismotherwiltingatthesound. 

           "Kiche!"themancriedagain,thistimewithsharpnessandauthority. 

           Andthenthecubsawhismother,theshe-wolf,thefearlessone,crouchingdowntillherbellytouchedtheground,whimpering,wagginghertail,makingpeacesigns. Thecubcouldnotunderstand. Hewasappalled. Theaweofmanrushedoverhimagain. Hisinstincthadbeentrue. Hismotherverifiedit. She,too,renderedsubmissiontotheman-animals. 

           Themanwhohadspokencameovertoher. Heputhishanduponherhead,andsheonlycrouchedcloser.