Белый клык
The Bondage
Forbehindanywishoftheirswaspowertoenforcethatwish,powerthathurt,powerthatexpresseditselfincloutsandclubs,inflyingstonesandstinginglashesofwhips.
Hebelongedtothemasalldogsbelongedtothem. Hisactionsweretheirstocommand. Hisbodywastheirstomaul,tostampupon,totolerate. Suchwasthelessonthatwasquicklyborneinuponhim. Itcamehard,goingasitdid,countertomuchthatwasstronganddominantinhisownnature;and,whilehedislikeditinthelearningofit,unknowntohimselfhewaslearningtolikeit. Itwasaplacingofhisdestinyinanother’shands,ashiftingoftheresponsibilitiesofexistence. Thisinitselfwascompensation,foritisalwayseasiertoleanuponanotherthantostandalone.
Butitdidnotallhappeninaday,thisgivingoverofhimself,bodyandsoul,totheman-animals. HecouldnotimmediatelyforegohiswildheritageandhismemoriesoftheWild. Thereweredayswhenhecrepttotheedgeoftheforestandstoodandlistenedtosomethingcallinghimfarandaway. Andalwayshereturned,restlessanduncomfortable,towhimpersoftlyandwistfullyatKiche’ssideandtolickherfacewitheager,questioningtongue.
WhiteFanglearnedrapidlythewaysofthecamp. Heknewtheinjusticeandgreedinessoftheolderdogswhenmeatorfishwasthrownouttobeeaten. Hecametoknowthatmenweremorejust,childrenmorecruel,andwomenmorekindlyandmorelikelytotosshimabitofmeatorbone. Andaftertwoorthreepainfuladventureswiththemothersofpart-grownpuppies,hecameintotheknowledgethatitwasalwaysgoodpolicytoletsuchmothersalone,tokeepawayfromthemasfaraspossible,andtoavoidthemwhenhesawthemcoming.
