Белый клык
The Makers of Fire
Hedidnotlikeit.Nordidhelikeitwhentheman-animalsaroseandwentonwiththeirmarch; foratinyman-animaltooktheotherendofthestickandledKichecaptivebehindhim, andbehindKichefollowedWhiteFang,greatlyperturbedandworriedbythisnewadventurehehadenteredupon.
Theywentdownthevalleyofthestream,farbeyondWhiteFang’swidestranging,untiltheycametotheendofthevalley,wherethestreamranintotheMackenzieRiver. Here,wherecanoeswerecachedonpoleshighintheairandwherestoodfish-racksforthedryingoffish,campwasmade; andWhiteFanglookedonwithwonderingeyes. Thesuperiorityoftheseman-animalsincreasedwitheverymoment. Therewastheirmasteryoverallthesesharp-fangeddogs. Itbreathedofpower. Butgreaterthanthat,tothewolf-cub,wastheirmasteryoverthingsnotalive;theircapacitytocommunicatemotiontounmovingthings;theircapacitytochangetheveryfaceoftheworld.
Itwasthislastthatespeciallyaffectedhim. Theelevationofframesofpolescaughthiseye;yetthisinitselfwasnotsoremarkable,beingdonebythesamecreaturesthatflungsticksandstonestogreatdistances. Butwhentheframesofpolesweremadeintotepeesbybeingcoveredwithclothandskins,WhiteFangwasastounded. Itwasthecolossalbulkofthemthatimpressedhim. Theyarosearoundhim,oneveryside,likesomemonstrousquick-growingformoflife. Theyoccupiednearlythewholecircumferenceofhisfieldofvision. Hewasafraidofthem. Theyloomedominouslyabovehim;andwhenthebreezestirredthemintohugemovements,hecowereddowninfear, keepinghiseyeswarilyuponthem,andpreparedtospringawayiftheyattemptedtoprecipitatethemselvesuponhim.
