Белый клык

           WhiteFang’snaturalimpulsewastoeatit. Acoupleofbounds,aflashofteethandafrightenedsquawk,andhehadscoopedintheadventurousfowl. Itwasfarm-bredandfatandtender; andWhiteFanglickedhischopsanddecidedthatsuchfarewasgood. 

           Laterintheday,hechanceduponanotherstraychickennearthestables. Oneofthegroomsrantotherescue. HedidnotknowWhiteFang’sbreed,soforweaponhetookalightbuggy-whip. Atthefirstcutofthewhip,WhiteFangleftthechickenfortheman. AclubmighthavestoppedWhiteFang,butnotawhip. Silently,withoutflinching,hetookasecondcutinhisforwardrush, andasheleapedforthethroatthegroomcriedout,"MyGod!"andstaggeredbackward. Hedroppedthewhipandshieldedhisthroatwithhisarms. Inconsequence,hisforearmwasrippedopentothebone. 

           Themanwasbadlyfrightened. ItwasnotsomuchWhiteFang’sferocityasitwashissilencethatunnervedthegroom. Stillprotectinghisthroatandfacewithhistornandbleedingarm,hetriedtoretreattothebarn. AnditwouldhavegonehardwithhimhadnotCollieappearedonthescene. AsshehadsavedDick’slife,shenowsavedthegroom’s. SherusheduponWhiteFanginfrenziedwrath. Shehadbeenright.Shehadknownbetterthantheblunderinggods. Allhersuspicionswerejustified. Herewastheancientmarauderuptohisoldtricksagain. 

           Thegroomescapedintothestables,andWhiteFangbackedawaybeforeCollie’swickedteeth,orpresentedhisshouldertothemandcircledroundandround. ButColliedidnotgiveover,aswasherwont,afteradecentintervalofchastisement. Onthecontrary,shegrewmoreexcitedandangryeverymoment,until,intheend,WhiteFangflungdignitytothewindsandfranklyfledawayfromheracrossthefields.