Белый клык
The Wall of the World
Quiteasthoughithadbeenalong-establishedcustomofhishestruckoutwithallhislegsandbegantoswim. Thenearbankwasayardaway;buthehadcomeupwithhisbacktoit, andthefirstthinghiseyesresteduponwastheoppositebank,towardwhichheimmediatelybegantoswim. Thestreamwasasmallone,butinthepoolitwidenedouttoascoreoffeet.
Midwayinthepassage,thecurrentpickedupthecubandswepthimdownstream. Hewascaughtintheminiaturerapidatthebottomofthepool. Herewaslittlechanceforswimming. Thequietwaterhadbecomesuddenlyangry. Sometimeshewasunder,sometimesontop. Atalltimeshewasinviolentmotion,nowbeingturnedoveroraround,andagain,beingsmashedagainstarock. Andwitheveryrockhestruck,heyelped. Hisprogresswasaseriesofyelps,fromwhichmighthavebeenadducedthenumberofrocksheencountered.
Belowtherapidwasasecondpool,andhere,capturedbytheeddy,hewasgentlybornetothebank,andasgentlydepositedonabedofgravel. Hecrawledfranticallyclearofthewaterandlaydown. Hehadlearnedsomemoreabouttheworld. Waterwasnotalive. Yetitmoved. Also,itlookedassolidastheearth,butwaswithoutanysolidityatall. Hisconclusionwasthatthingswerenotalwayswhattheyappearedtobe. Thecub’sfearoftheunknownwasaninheriteddistrust,andithadnowbeenstrengthenedbyexperience. Thenceforth,inthenatureofthings,hewouldpossessanabidingdistrustofappearances. Hewouldhavetolearntherealityofathingbeforehecouldputhisfaithintoit.
Oneotheradventurewasdestinedforhimthatday. Hehadrecollectedthattherewassuchathingintheworldashismother. Andthentherecametohimafeelingthathewantedhermorethanalltherestofthethingsintheworld.
