Белый клык
The Bondage
ButthebaneofhislifewasLip-lip. Larger,older,andstronger,Lip-liphadselectedWhiteFangforhisspecialobjectofpersecution. WhileFangfoughtwillinglyenough,buthewasoutclassed. Hisenemywastoobig. Lip-lipbecameanightmaretohim. Wheneverheventuredawayfromhismother,thebullywassuretoappear,trailingathisheels,snarlingathim,pickinguponhim,andwatchfulofanopportunity,whennoman-animalwasnear,tospringuponhimandforceafight. AsLip-lipinvariablywon,heenjoyedithugely. Itbecamehischiefdelightinlife,asitbecameWhiteFang’schieftorment.
ButtheeffectuponWhiteFangwasnottocowhim. Thoughhesufferedmostofthedamageandwasalwaysdefeated,hisspiritremainedunsubdued. Yetabadeffectwasproduced. Hebecamemalignantandmorose. Histemperhadbeensavagebybirth,butitbecamemoresavageunderthisunendingpersecution. Thegenial,playful,puppyishsideofhimfoundlittleexpression. Heneverplayedandgambolledaboutwiththeotherpuppiesofthecamp.Lip-lipwouldnotpermitit. ThemomentWhiteFangappearednearthem,Lip-lipwasuponhim,bullyingandhectoringhim,orfightingwithhimuntilhehaddrivenhimaway.
TheeffectofallthiswastorobWhiteFangofmuchofhispuppyhoodandtomakehiminhiscomportmentolderthanhisage. Deniedtheoutlet,throughplay,ofhisenergies,herecoileduponhimselfanddevelopedhismentalprocesses. Hebecamecunning;hehadidletimeinwhichtodevotehimselftothoughtsoftrickery. Preventedfromobtaininghisshareofmeatandfishwhenageneralfeedwasgiventothecamp-dogs,hebecameacleverthief. Hehadtoforageforhimself,andheforagedwell,thoughhewasoft-timesaplaguetothesquawsinconsequence.