Білий ікол

           Hedidnotknowwhattheysaid,buthecouldseethemanandGreyBeavertalkingtogether. Once,themanpointedathim,andWhiteFangsnarledbackasthoughthehandwerejustdescendinguponhiminsteadofbeing,asitwas,fiftyfeetaway. Themanlaughedatthis;andWhiteFangslunkawaytotheshelteringwoods,hisheadturnedtoobserveasheglidedsoftlyovertheground. 

           GreyBeaverrefusedtosellthedog. Hehadgrownrichwithhistradingandstoodinneedofnothing. Besides,WhiteFangwasavaluableanimal,thestrongestsled-doghehadeverowned,andthebestleader.Furthermore,therewasnodoglikehimontheMackenzienortheYukon. Hecouldfight. Hekilledotherdogsaseasilyasmenkilledmosquitoes. (BeautySmith’seyeslightedupatthis,andhelickedhisthinlipswithaneagertongue). No,WhiteFangwasnotforsaleatanyprice. 

           ButBeautySmithknewthewaysofIndians. HevisitedGreyBeaver’scampoften,andhiddenunderhiscoatwasalwaysablackbottleorso. Oneofthepotenciesofwhiskyisthebreedingofthirst. GreyBeavergotthethirst. Hisfeveredmembranesandburntstomachbegantoclamourformoreandmoreofthescorchingfluid;whilehisbrain,thrustallawrybytheunwontedstimulant,permittedhimtogoanylengthtoobtainit. Themoneyhehadreceivedforhisfursandmittensandmoccasinsbegantogo. Itwentfasterandfaster,andtheshorterhismoney-sackgrew,theshortergrewhistemper. 

           Intheendhismoneyandgoodsandtemperwereallgone. Nothingremainedtohimbuthisthirst,aprodigiouspossessioninitselfthatgrewmoreprodigiouswitheverysoberbreathhedrew. ThenitwasthatBeautySmithhadtalkwithhimagainaboutthesaleofWhiteFang; butthistimethepriceofferedwasinbottles,notdollars,andGreyBeaver’searsweremoreeagertohear.