Білий ікол

           WhiteFangcouldscarcelyrealisethathewasfree.ManymonthshadgonebysincehepassedintothepossessionofBeautySmith,andinallthatperiodhehadneverknownamomentoffreedomexceptatthetimeshehadbeenloosedtofightwithotherdogs.Immediatelyaftersuchfightshehadalwaysbeenimprisonedagain. 

           Hedidnotknowwhattomakeofit.Perhapssomenewdevilryofthegodswasabouttobeperpetratedonhim.Hewalkedslowlyandcautiously,preparedtobeassailedatanymoment.Hedidnotknowwhattodo,itwasallsounprecedented.Hetooktheprecautiontosheerofffromthetwowatchinggods,andwalkedcarefullytothecornerofthecabin.Nothinghappened.Hewasplainlyperplexed,andhecamebackagain,pausingadozenfeetawayandregardingthetwomenintently. 

           "Won’therunaway?"hisnewownerasked. 

           Mattshruggedhisshoulders."Gottotakeagamble.Onlywaytofindoutistofindout." 

           "Poordevil,"Scottmurmuredpityingly."Whatheneedsissomeshowofhumankindness,"headded,turningandgoingintothecabin. 

           Hecameoutwithapieceofmeat,whichhetossedtoWhiteFang.Hesprangawayfromit,andfromadistancestudieditsuspiciously. 

           "Hi-yu,Major!"Mattshoutedwarningly,buttoolate. 

           Majorhadmadeaspringforthemeat.Attheinstanthisjawsclosedonit,WhiteFangstruckhim.Hewasoverthrown.Mattrushedin,butquickerthanhewasWhiteFang.Majorstaggeredtohisfeet,butthebloodspoutingfromhisthroatreddenedthesnowinawideningpath.