Білий ікол
The She-Wolf
OneEarwasutteringquick,eagerwhines,lungingatthelengthofhissticktowardthedarkness,anddesistingnowandagaininordertomakefranticattacksonthestickwithhisteeth.
"Lookatthat,Bill,"Henrywhispered.
Fullintothefirelight,withastealthy,sidelongmovement,glidedadoglikeanimal. Itmovedwithcommingledmistrustanddaring,cautiouslyobservingthemen,itsattentionfixedonthedogs. OneEarstrainedthefulllengthofthesticktowardtheintruderandwhinedwitheagerness.
"ThatfoolOneEardon’tseemscairtmuch,"Billsaidinalowtone.
"It’sashe-wolf,"Henrywhisperedback,"an’thataccountsforFattyan’Frog. She’sthedecoyforthepack. Shedrawsoutthedogan’thenalltherestpitchesinan’eats‘mup."
Thefirecrackled. Alogfellapartwithaloudsplutteringnoise. Atthesoundofitthestrangeanimalleapedbackintothedarkness.
"Henry,I’ma-thinkin’,"Billannounced.
"Thinkin’what?"
"I’ma-thinkin’thatwastheoneIlambastedwiththeclub."
"Ain’ttheslightestdoubtintheworld,"wasHenry’sresponse.
"An’righthereIwanttoremark,"Billwenton,"thatthatanimal’sfamilyaritywithcampfiresissuspiciousan’immoral."
"Itknowsforcertainmore’naself-respectin’wolfoughttoknow,"Henryagreed. "Awolfthatknowsenoughtocomeinwiththedogsatfeedin’timehashadexperiences."