Белый клык

           Notonlythehand,butthehardwoodenpaddlewasuseduponhim;andhewasbruisedandsoreinallhissmallbodywhenhewasagainflungdowninthecanoe. Again,andthistimewithpurpose,didGreyBeaverkickhim. WhiteFangdidnotrepeathisattackonthefoot. Hehadlearnedanotherlessonofhisbondage. Never,nomatterwhatthecircumstance,musthedaretobitethegodwhowaslordandmasteroverhim; thebodyofthelordandmasterwassacred,nottobedefiledbytheteethofsuchashe. Thatwasevidentlythecrimeofcrimes,theoneoffencetherewasnocondoningnoroverlooking. 

           Whenthecanoetouchedtheshore,WhiteFanglaywhimperingandmotionless,waitingthewillofGreyBeaver. ItwasGreyBeaver’swillthatheshouldgoashore,forashorehewasflung,strikingheavilyonhissideandhurtinghisbruisesafresh. Hecrawledtremblinglytohisfeetandstoodwhimpering. Lip-lip,whohadwatchedthewholeproceedingfromthebank,nowrusheduponhim,knockinghimoverandsinkinghisteethintohim. WhiteFangwastoohelplesstodefendhimself,anditwouldhavegonehardwithhimhadnotGreyBeaver’sfootshotout,liftingLip-lipintotheairwithitsviolencesothathesmasheddowntoearthadozenfeetaway. Thiswastheman-animal’sjustice;andeventhen,inhisownpitiableplight,WhiteFangexperiencedalittlegratefulthrill. AtGreyBeaver’sheelshelimpedobedientlythroughthevillagetothetepee. AndsoitcamethatWhiteFanglearnedthattherighttopunishwassomethingthegodsreservedforthemselvesanddeniedtothelessercreaturesunderthem. 

           Thatnight,whenallwasstill,WhiteFangrememberedhismotherandsorrowedforher. HesorrowedtooloudlyandwokeupGreyBeaver,whobeathim. Afterthathemournedgentlywhenthegodswerearound. Butsometimes,strayingofftotheedgeofthewoodsbyhimself,hegaveventtohisgrief,andcrieditoutwithloudwhimperingsandwailings.