Белый клык

           Eachnight,afterSierraVistahadgonetobed,sheroseandletinWhiteFangtosleepinthebighall. NowWhiteFangwasnotahouse-dog,norwashepermittedtosleepinthehouse; soeachmorning,early,sheslippeddownandlethimoutbeforethefamilywasawake. 

           Ononesuchnight,whileallthehouseslept,WhiteFangawokeandlayveryquietly. Andveryquietlyhesmelledtheairandreadthemessageitboreofastrangegod’spresence. Andtohisearscamesoundsofthestrangegod’smovements. WhiteFangburstintonofuriousoutcry. Itwasnothisway. Thestrangegodwalkedsoftly,butmoresoftlywalkedWhiteFang,forhehadnoclothestorubagainstthefleshofhisbody. Hefollowedsilently. IntheWildhehadhuntedlivemeatthatwasinfinitelytimid,andheknewtheadvantageofsurprise. 

           Thestrangegodpausedatthefootofthegreatstaircaseandlistened,andWhiteFangwasasdead,sowithoutmovementwasheashewatchedandwaited. Upthatstaircasethewayledtothelove-masterandtothelove~master’sdearestpossessions. WhiteFangbristled,butwaited. Thestrangegod’sfootlifted. Hewasbeginningtheascent. 

           ThenitwasthatWhiteFangstruck. Hegavenowarning,withnosnarlanticipatedhisownaction. Intotheairheliftedhisbodyinthespringthatlandedhimonthestrangegod’sback. WhiteFangclungwithhisfore-pawstotheman’sshoulders,atthesametimeburyinghisfangsintothebackoftheman’sneck. Heclungonforamoment,longenoughtodragthegodoverbackward. Togethertheycrashedtothefloor. WhiteFangleapedclear,and,asthemanstruggledtorise,wasinagainwiththeslashingfangs. 

           SierraVistaawokeinalarm. Thenoisefromdownstairswasasthatofascoreofbattlingfiends. Therewererevolvershots. Aman’svoicescreamedonceinhorrorandanguish.