Белый клык
The God’s Domain
"He’lllearntoleavechickensalone,"themastersaid."ButIcan’tgivehimthelessonuntilIcatchhimintheact."
Twonightslatercametheact,butonamoregenerousscalethanthemasterhadanticipated. WhiteFanghadobservedcloselythechicken-yardsandthehabitsofthechickens. Inthenight-time,aftertheyhadgonetoroost,heclimbedtothetopofapileofnewlyhauledlumber. Fromtherehegainedtheroofofachicken-house,passedovertheridgepoleanddroppedtothegroundinside. Amomentlaterhewasinsidethehouse,andtheslaughterbegan.
Inthemorning,whenthemastercameoutontotheporch,fiftywhiteLeghornhens,laidoutinarowbythegroom,greetedhiseyes. Hewhistledtohimself,softly,firstwithsurprise,andthen,attheend,withadmiration. HiseyeswerelikewisegreetedbyWhiteFang,butaboutthelattertherewerenosignsofshamenorguilt. Hecarriedhimselfwithpride,asthough,forsooth,hehadachievedadeedpraiseworthyandmeritorious.Therewasabouthimnoconsciousnessofsin. Themaster’slipstightenedashefacedthedisagreeabletask. Thenhetalkedharshlytotheunwittingculprit,andinhisvoicetherewasnothingbutgodlikewrath. Also,heheldWhiteFang’snosedowntotheslainhens,andatthesametimecuffedhimsoundly.
WhiteFangneverraidedachicken-roostagain. Itwasagainstthelaw,andhehadlearnedit. Thenthemastertookhimintothechicken-yards. WhiteFang’snaturalimpulse,whenhesawthelivefoodflutteringabouthimandunderhisverynose,wastospringuponit. Heobeyedtheimpulse,butwascheckedbythemaster’svoice. Theycontinuedintheyardsforhalfanhour. TimeandagaintheimpulsesurgedoverWhiteFang,andeachtime,asheyieldedtoit,hewascheckedbythemaster’svoice.
