Белый клык
The Hunger Cry
Hiseyeswereclosedbutfewminuteswhentheburnoftheflameonhisfleshawakenedhim. Forseveralhoursheadheredtothisprogramme. Everytimehewasthusawakenedhedrovebackthewolveswithflyingbrands, replenishedthefire,andrearrangedthepine-knotonhishand. Allworkedwell,buttherecameatimewhenhefastenedthepine-knotinsecurely. Ashiseyescloseditfellawayfromhishand.
Hedreamed. ItseemedtohimthathewasinFortMcGurry. Itwaswarmandcomfortable, andhewasplayingcribbagewiththeFactor. Also,itseemedtohimthatthefortwasbesiegedbywolves. Theywerehowlingattheverygates,andsometimesheandtheFactorpausedfromthegametolisten andlaughatthefutileeffortsofthewolvestogetin. Andthen,sostrangewasthedream,therewasacrash. Thedoorwasburstopen. Hecouldseethewolvesfloodingintothebigliving-roomofthefort. TheywereleapingstraightforhimandtheFactor. Withtheburstingopenofthedoor,thenoiseoftheirhowlinghadincreasedtremendously. Thishowlingnowbotheredhim. Hisdreamwasmergingintosomethingelse—heknewnotwhat; butthroughitall,followinghim,persistedthehowling.
Andthenheawoketofindthehowlingreal.Therewasagreatsnarlingandyelping. Thewolveswererushinghim.Theywereallabouthimanduponhim. Theteethofonehadcloseduponhisarm. Instinctivelyheleapedintothefire,andasheleaped,hefeltthesharpslashofteeththattorethroughthefleshofhisleg. Thenbeganafirefight. Hisstoutmittenstemporarilyprotectedhishands,andhescoopedlivecoalsintotheairinalldirections,untilthecampfiretookonthesemblanceofavolcano.
Butitcouldnotlastlong. Hisfacewasblisteringintheheat,hiseyebrowsandlashesweresingedoff,andtheheatwasbecomingunbearabletohisfeet.
