Белый клык

           Hehadlearnedthelaw. Andontheporch,beforethedelightedfamily,JudgeScott,facetofacewithWhiteFang,saidslowlyandsolemnly,sixteentimes, "WhiteFang,youaresmarterthanIthought." 

           ButitwasthemultiplicityoflawsthatbefuddledWhiteFangandoftenbroughthimintodisgrace. Hehadtolearnthathemustnottouchthechickensthatbelongedtoothergods. Thentherewerecats,andrabbits,andturkeys;allthesehemustletalone. Infact,whenhehadbutpartlylearnedthelaw,hisimpressionwasthathemustleavealllivethingsalone. Outintheback-pasture,aquailcouldflutterupunderhisnoseunharmed. Alltenseandtremblingwitheagernessanddesire,hemasteredhisinstinctandstoodstill. Hewasobeyingthewillofthegods. 

           Andthen,oneday,againoutintheback-pasture,hesawDickstartajackrabbitandrunit. Themasterhimselfwaslookingonanddidnotinterfere. Nay,heencouragedWhiteFangtojoininthechase. Andthushelearnedthattherewasnotabooonjackrabbits. Intheendheworkedoutthecompletelaw. Betweenhimandalldomesticanimalstheremustbenohostilities.Ifnotamity,atleastneutralitymustobtain. Buttheotheranimals—thesquirrels,andquail,andcottontails,werecreaturesoftheWildwhohadneveryieldedallegiancetoman. Theywerethelawfulpreyofanydog. Itwasonlythetamethatthegodsprotected,andbetweenthetamedeadlystrifewasnotpermitted. Thegodsheldthepoweroflifeanddeathovertheirsubjects,andthegodswerejealousoftheirpower. 

           LifewascomplexintheSantaClaraValleyafterthesimplicitiesoftheNorthland. Andthechiefthingdemandedbytheseintricaciesofcivilisationwascontrol,restraint —apoiseofselfthatwasasdelicateastheflutteringofgossamerwingsandatthesametimeasrigidassteel.