The Reign of Hate

           Underthetutelageofthemadgod,WhiteFangbecameafiend. Hewaskeptchainedinapenattherearofthefort,andhereBeautySmithteasedandirritatedanddrovehimwildwithpettytorments. ThemanearlydiscoveredWhiteFang’ssusceptibilitytolaughter,andmadeitapointafterpainfullytrickinghim,tolaughathim. Thislaughterwasuproariousandscornful,andatthesametimethegodpointedhisfingerderisivelyatWhiteFang. AtsuchtimesreasonfledfromWhiteFang,andinhistransportsofragehewasevenmoremadthanBeautySmith. 

           Formerly,WhiteFanghadbeenmerelytheenemyofhiskind,withalaferociousenemy. Henowbecametheenemyofallthings,andmoreferociousthanever. Tosuchanextentwashetormented,thathehatedblindlyandwithoutthefaintestsparkofreason. Hehatedthechainthatboundhim,themenwhopeeredinathimthroughtheslatsofthepen,thedogsthataccompaniedthemenandthatsnarledmalignantlyathiminhishelplessness. Hehatedtheverywoodofthepenthatconfinedhim. And,first,last,andmostofall,hehatedBeautySmith. 

           ButBeautySmithhadapurposeinallthathedidtoWhiteFang. Onedayanumberofmengatheredaboutthepen. BeautySmithentered,clubinhand,andtookthechainofffromWhiteFang’sneck. Whenhismasterhadgoneout,WhiteFangturnedlooseandtorearoundthepen,tryingtogetatthemenoutside. Hewasmagnificentlyterrible. Fullyfivefeetinlength,andstandingtwoandone-halffeetattheshoulder,hefaroutweighedawolfofcorrespondingsize. Fromhismotherhehadinheritedtheheavierproportionsofthedog,sothatheweighed,withoutanyfatandwithoutanounceofsuperfluousflesh,overninetypounds. Itwasallmuscle,bone,andsinew-fightingfleshinthefinestcondition.