The Law of Club and Fang

           Buck’sfirstdayontheDyeabeachwaslikeanightmare. Everyhourwasfilledwithshockandsurprise. Hehadbeensuddenlyjerkedfromtheheartofcivilizationandflungintotheheartofthingsprimordial. Nolazy,sun-kissedlifewasthis,withnothingtodobutloafandbebored. Herewasneitherpeace,norrest,noramoment’ssafety. Allwasconfusionandaction,andeverymomentlifeandlimbwereinperil. Therewasimperativeneedtobeconstantlyalert;forthesedogsandmenwerenottowndogsandmen. Theyweresavages,allofthem,whoknewnolawbutthelawofclubandfang. 

           Hehadneverseendogsfightasthesewolfishcreaturesfought,andhisfirstexperiencetaughthimanunforgetablelesson. Itistrue,itwasavicariousexperience,elsehewouldnothavelivedtoprofitbyit. Curlywasthevictim. Theywerecampednearthelogstore,whereshe,inherfriendlyway,madeadvancestoahuskydogthesizeofafull-grownwolf,thoughnothalfsolargeasshe. Therewasnowarning,onlyaleapinlikeaflash,ametallicclipofteeth,aleapoutequallyswift,andCurly’sfacewasrippedopenfromeyetojaw. 

           Itwasthewolfmanneroffighting,tostrikeandleapaway; buttherewasmoretoitthanthis. Thirtyorfortyhuskiesrantothespotandsurroundedthecombatantsinanintentandsilentcircle. Buckdidnotcomprehendthatsilentintentness,northeeagerwaywithwhichtheywerelickingtheirchops. Curlyrushedherantagonist,whostruckagainandleapedaside. Hemethernextrushwithhischest,inapeculiarfashionthattumbledheroffherfeet. Sheneverregainedthem.Thiswaswhattheonlookinghuskieshadwaitedfor. Theyclosedinuponher,snarlingandyelping,andshewasburied,screamingwithagony,beneaththebristlingmassofbodies.