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The Battle of the Fangs
Itwasabrieffightandfierce. Thebigbullwasbesetoneveryside. Herippedthemopenorsplittheirskullswithshrewdlydrivenblowsofhisgreathoofs. Hecrushedthemandbrokethemonhislargehorns. Hestampedthemintothesnowunderhiminthewallowingstruggle. Buthewasforedoomed,andhewentdown withtheshe-wolftearingsavagelyathisthroat,andwithotherteethfixedeverywhereuponhim,devouringhimalive, beforeeverhislaststrugglesceasedorhislastdamagehadbeenwrought.
Therewasfoodinplenty. Thebullweighedovereighthundredpounds—fullytwentypoundsofmeatpermouthfortheforty-oddwolvesofthepack. Butiftheycouldfastprodigiously,theycouldfeedprodigiously, andsoonafewscatteredboneswereallthatremainedofthesplendidlivebrutethathadfacedthepackafewhoursbefore.
Therewasnowmuchrestingandsleeping. Withfullstomachs,bickeringandquarrellingbeganamongtheyoungermales, andthiscontinuedthroughthefewdaysthatfollowedbeforethebreaking-upofthepack. Thefaminewasover. Thewolveswerenowinthecountryofgame, andthoughtheystillhuntedinpack, theyhuntedmorecautiously,cuttingoutheavycowsorcrippledoldbullsfromthesmallmoose-herdstheyranacross.
Therecameaday,inthislandofplenty,whenthewolf-packsplitinhalfandwentindifferentdirections. Theshe-wolf,theyoungleaderonherleft,andtheone-eyedelderonherright, ledtheirhalfofthepackdowntotheMackenzieRiverandacrossintothelakecountrytotheeast. Eachdaythisremnantofthepackdwindled. Twobytwo,maleandfemale,thewolvesweredeserting. Occasionallyasolitarymalewasdrivenoutbythesharpteethofhisrivals. Intheendthereremainedonlyfour:theshe-wolf,theyoungleader,theone-eyedone,andtheambitiousthree-year-old.
