Белый клык

           TherewasnofightleftinLip-lip,andheranawayshamelessly,hisvictimhotonhisheelsandworryinghimallthewaybacktohisowntepee. Herethesquawscametohisaid,andWhiteFang,transformedintoaragingdemon,wasfinallydrivenoffonlybyafusilladeofstones. 

           CamethedaywhenGreyBeaver,decidingthattheliabilityofherrunningawaywaspast,releasedKiche. WhiteFangwasdelightedwithhismother’sfreedom. Heaccompaniedherjoyfullyaboutthecamp;and,solongasheremainedclosebyherside,Lip-lipkeptarespectfuldistance. White–Fangevenbristleduptohimandwalkedstiff-legged,butLip-lipignoredthechallenge. Hewasnofoolhimself,andwhatevervengeancehedesiredtowreak,hecouldwaituntilhecaughtWhiteFangalone. 

           Lateronthatday,KicheandWhiteFangstrayedintotheedgeofthewoodsnexttothecamp. Hehadledhismotherthere,stepbystep,andnowwhenshestopped,hetriedtoinveigleherfarther. Thestream,thelair,andthequietwoodswerecallingtohim,andhewantedhertocome. Heranonafewsteps,stopped,andlookedback. Shehadnotmoved. Hewhinedpleadingly,andscurriedplayfullyinandoutoftheunderbrush.Heranbacktoher,lickedherface,andranonagain. Andstillshedidnotmove. Hestoppedandregardedher,allofanintentnessandeagerness,physicallyexpressed,thatslowlyfadedoutofhimassheturnedherheadandgazedbackatthecamp. 

           Therewassomethingcallingtohimoutthereintheopen. Hismotherheardittoo. Butsheheardalsothatotherandloudercall,thecallofthefireandofman—thecallwhichhasbeengivenaloneofallanimalstothewolftoanswer,tothewolfandthewild-dog,whoarebrothers.