Белый клык

           "We’llseeaboutthat,"assertedtheJudge,ashestartedforthetelephone. 

           "Frankly,hehasonechanceinathousand,"announcedthesurgeon,afterhehadworkedanhourandahalfonWhiteFang. 

           Dawnwasbreakingthroughthewindowsanddimmingtheelectriclights. Withtheexceptionofthechildren,thewholefamilywasgatheredaboutthesurgeontohearhisverdict. 

           "Onebrokenhind-leg,"hewenton. "Threebrokenribs,oneatleastofwhichhaspiercedthelungs. Hehaslostnearlyallthebloodinhisbody. Thereisalargelikelihoodofinternalinjuries. Hemusthavebeenjumpedupon. Tosaynothingofthreebulletholesclearthroughhim. Onechanceinathousandisreallyoptimistic. Hehasn’tachanceintenthousand." 

           "Buthemustn’tloseanychancethatmightbeofhelptohim,"JudgeScottexclaimed. "Nevermindexpense. PuthimundertheX-ray—anything. Weedon,telegraphatoncetoSanFranciscoforDoctorNichols. Noreflectiononyou,doctor,youunderstand;buthemusthavetheadvantageofeverychance." 

           Thesurgeonsmiledindulgently. "OfcourseIunderstand.Hedeservesallthatcanbedoneforhim. Hemustbenursedasyouwouldnurseahumanbeing,asickchild. Anddon’tforgetwhatItoldyouabouttemperature. I’llbebackatteno’clockagain." 

           WhiteFangreceivedthenursing. JudgeScott’ssuggestionofatrainednursewasindignantlyclamoureddownbythegirls,whothemselvesundertookthetask. AndWhiteFangwonoutontheonechanceintenthousanddeniedhimbythesurgeon.