Білий ікол

           Atlasthefell,topplingbackward,exhausted;andthebull-dogpromptlyshiftedhisgrip,gettingincloser,manglingmoreandmoreofthefur-foldedflesh,throttlingWhiteFangmoreseverelythanever. Shoutsofapplausewentupforthevictor,andthereweremanycriesof "Cherokee!" "Cherokee!" TothisCherokeerespondedbyvigorouswaggingofthestumpofhistail. Buttheclamourofapprovaldidnotdistracthim. Therewasnosympatheticrelationbetweenhistailandhismassivejaws. Theonemightwag,buttheothersheldtheirterriblegriponWhiteFang’sthroat. 

           Itwasatthistimethatadiversioncametothespectators. Therewasajingleofbells.Dog-mushers’crieswereheard. Everybody,saveBeautySmith,lookedapprehensively,thefearofthepolicestronguponthem. Buttheysaw,upthetrail,andnotdown,twomenrunningwithsledanddogs. Theywereevidentlycomingdownthecreekfromsomeprospectingtrip. Atsightofthecrowdtheystoppedtheirdogsandcameoverandjoinedit,curioustoseethecauseoftheexcitement. Thedog-musherworeamoustache,buttheother,atallerandyoungerman,wassmooth-shaven,hisskinrosyfromthepoundingofhisbloodandtherunninginthefrostyair. 

           WhiteFanghadpracticallyceasedstruggling. Nowandagainheresistedspasmodicallyandtonopurpose. Hecouldgetlittleair,andthatlittlegrewlessandlessunderthemercilessgripthatevertightened. Inspiteofhisarmouroffur,thegreatveinofhisthroatwouldhavelongsincebeentornopen,hadnotthefirstgripofthebull-dogbeensolowdownastobepracticallyonthechest. IthadtakenCherokeealongtimetoshiftthatgripupward,andthishadalsotendedfurthertocloghisjawswithfurandskin-fold. 

           Inthemeantime,theabysmalbruteinBeautySmithhadbeenrisingintohisbrainandmasteringthesmallbitofsanitythathepossessedatbest.