Белый клык
The Love-Master
Inshort,whenallthingswereconsidered,hehadtoachieveanorientationfarvasterthantheonehehadachievedatthetimehecamevoluntarilyinfromtheWildandacceptedGreyBeaverashislord. Atthattimehewasamerepuppy,softfromthemaking,withoutform,readyforthethumbofcircumstancetobeginitsworkuponhim. Butnowitwasdifferent. Thethumbofcircumstancehaddoneitsworkonlytoowell. ByithehadbeenformedandhardenedintotheFightingWolf,fierceandimplacable,unlovingandunlovable. Toaccomplishthechangewaslikearefluxofbeing,andthiswhentheplasticityofyouthwasnolongerhis; whenthefibreofhimhadbecometoughandknotty;whenthewarpandthewoofofhimhadmadeofhimanadamantinetexture,harshandunyielding;whenthefaceofhisspirithadbecomeironandallhisinstinctsandaxiomshadcrystallisedintosetrules,cautions,dislikes,anddesires.
Yetagain,inthisneworientation,itwasthethumbofcircumstancethatpressedandproddedhim,softeningthatwhichhadbecomehardandremouldingitintofairerform. WeedonScottwasintruththisthumb. HehadgonetotherootsofWhiteFang’snature,andwithkindnesstouchedtolifepotenciesthathadlanguishedandwell-nighperished. Onesuchpotencywaslove. Ittooktheplaceoflike,whichlatterhadbeenthehighestfeelingthatthrilledhiminhisintercoursewiththegods.
Butthislovedidnotcomeinaday. Itbeganwithlikeandoutofitslowlydeveloped. WhiteFangdidnotrunaway,thoughhewasallowedtoremainloose,becausehelikedthisnewgod. ThiswascertainlybetterthanthelifehehadlivedinthecageofBeautySmith,anditwasnecessarythatheshouldhavesomegod. Thelordshipofmanwasaneedofhisnature. ThesealofhisdependenceonmanhadbeensetuponhiminthatearlydaywhenheturnedhisbackontheWildandcrawledtoGreyBeaver’sfeettoreceivetheexpectedbeating.
