Белый клык
The Makers of Fire
Afteratime,WhiteFangheardstrangenoisesapproaching. Hewasquickinhisclassification,forheknewthematonceforman-animalnoises. Afewminuteslatertheremainderofthetribe,strungoutasitwasonthemarch,trailedin. Thereweremoremenandmanywomenandchildren,fortysoulsofthem,andallheavilyburdenedwithcampequipageandoutfit. Alsothereweremanydogs;andthese,withtheexceptionofthepart-grownpuppies,werelikewiseburdenedwithcampoutfit. Ontheirbacks,inbagsthatfastenedtightlyaroundunderneath,thedogscarriedfromtwentytothirtypoundsofweight.
WhiteFanghadneverseendogsbefore,butatsightofthemhefeltthattheywerehisownkind,onlysomehowdifferent. Buttheydisplayedlittledifferencefromthewolfwhentheydiscoveredthecubandhismother. Therewasarush. WhiteFangbristledandsnarledandsnappedinthefaceoftheopen-mouthedoncomingwaveofdogs, andwentdownandunderthem,feelingthesharpslashofteethinhisbody,himselfbitingandtearingatthelegsandbelliesabovehim. Therewasagreatuproar. HecouldhearthesnarlofKicheasshefoughtforhim; andhecouldhearthecriesoftheman-animals,thesoundofclubsstrikinguponbodies,andtheyelpsofpainfromthedogssostruck.
Onlyafewsecondselapsedbeforehewasonhisfeetagain. Hecouldnowseetheman-animalsdrivingbackthedogswithclubsandstones, defendinghim,savinghimfromthesavageteethofhiskindthatsomehowwasnothiskind. Andthoughtherewasnoreasoninhisbrainforaclearconceptionofsoabstractathingasjustice, nevertheless,inhisownway,hefeltthejusticeoftheman-animals,andheknewthemforwhattheywere—makersoflawandexecutorsoflaw. Also,heappreciatedthepowerwithwhichtheyadministeredthelaw.
