Белый клык

           Itstruckhimontheside; andsuchwashisforwardmomentumandtheunexpectednessofit,WhiteFangwashurledtothegroundandrolledclearover. Hecameoutofthetangleaspectacleofmalignancy,earsflattenedback,lipswrithing,nosewrinkling,histeethclippingtogetherasthefangsbarelymissedthehound’ssoftthroat. 

           Themasterwasrunningup,butwastoofaraway;anditwasColliethatsavedthehound’slife. BeforeWhiteFangcouldspringinanddeliverthefatalstroke,andjustashewasintheactofspringingin,Colliearrived. Shehadbeenout-manoeuvredandout-run,tosaynothingofherhavingbeenunceremoniouslytumbledinthegravel,andherarrivalwaslikethatofatornado—madeupofoffendeddignity,justifiablewrath,andinstinctivehatredforthismarauderfromtheWild. ShestruckWhiteFangatrightanglesinthemidstofhisspring,andagainhewasknockedoffhisfeetandrolledover. 

           Thenextmomentthemasterarrived,andwithonehandheldWhiteFang,whilethefathercalledoffthedogs. 

           "Isay,thisisaprettywarmreceptionforapoorlonewolffromtheArctic,"themastersaid,whileWhiteFangcalmeddownunderhiscaressinghand. "Inallhislifehe’sonlybeenknownoncetogooffhisfeet,andherehe’sbeenrolledtwiceinthirtyseconds." 

           Thecarriagehaddrivenaway,andotherstrangegodshadappearedfromoutthehouse. Someofthesestoodrespectfullyatadistance;buttwoofthem,women,perpetratedthehostileactofclutchingthemasteraroundtheneck. WhiteFang,however,wasbeginningtotoleratethisact. Noharmseemedtocomeofit,whilethenoisesthegodsmadewerecertainlynotthreatening.