Белый клык
The Famine
Afewoftheboldestandwisestforsookthefiresofthegods,whichhadnowbecomeashambles,andfledintotheforest,where,intheend,theystarvedtodeathorwereeatenbywolves.
Inthistimeofmisery,WhiteFang,too,stoleawayintothewoods. Hewasbetterfittedforthelifethantheotherdogs,forhehadthetrainingofhiscubhoodtoguidehim. Especiallyadeptdidhebecomeinstalkingsmalllivingthings. Hewouldlieconcealedforhours,followingeverymovementofacautioustree-squirrel,waiting,withapatienceashugeasthehungerhesufferedfrom,untilthesquirrelventuredoutupontheground. Eventhen,WhiteFangwasnotpremature. Hewaiteduntilhewassureofstrikingbeforethesquirrelcouldgainatree-refuge. Then,andnotuntilthen,wouldheflashfromhishiding~place,agreyprojectile,incrediblyswift,neverfailingitsmark—thefleeingsquirrelthatflednotfastenough.
Successfulashewaswithsquirrels,therewasonedifficultythatpreventedhimfromlivingandgrowingfatonthem. Therewerenotenoughsquirrels.Sohewasdriventohuntstillsmallerthings. Soacutedidhishungerbecomeattimesthathewasnotaboverootingoutwood-micefromtheirburrowsintheground. Nordidhescorntodobattlewithaweaselashungryashimselfandmanytimesmoreferocious.
Intheworstpinchesofthefaminehestolebacktothefiresofthegods.Buthedidnotgointothefires. Helurkedintheforest,avoidingdiscoveryandrobbingthesnaresattherareintervalswhengamewascaught. HeevenrobbedGreyBeaver’ssnareofarabbitatatimewhenGreyBeaverstaggeredandtotteredthroughtheforest,sittingdownoftentorest,whatofweaknessandofshortnessofbreath.
OnedayWhileFangencounteredayoungwolf,gauntandscrawny,loose-jointedwithfamine.
