The Love-Master

           AsWhiteFangwatchedWeedonScottapproach,hebristledandsnarledtoadvertisethathewouldnotsubmittopunishment. Twenty-fourhourshadpassedsincehehadslashedopenthehandthatwasnowbandagedandheldupbyaslingtokeepthebloodoutofit. InthepastWhiteFanghadexperienceddelayedpunishments,andheapprehendedthatsuchaonewasabouttobefallhim. Howcoulditbeotherwise? Hehadcommittedwhatwastohimsacrilege,sunkhisfangsintotheholyfleshofagod,andofawhite-skinnedsuperiorgodatthat. Inthenatureofthings,andofintercoursewithgods,somethingterribleawaitedhim. 

           Thegodsatdownseveralfeetaway. WhiteFangcouldseenothingdangerousinthat. Whenthegodsadministeredpunishmenttheystoodontheirlegs. Besides,thisgodhadnoclub,nowhip,nofirearm.Andfurthermore,hehimselfwasfree. Nochainnorstickboundhim.Hecouldescapeintosafetywhilethegodwasscramblingtohisfeet. Inthemeantimehewouldwaitandsee. 

           Thegodremainedquiet,madenomovement;andWhiteFang’ssnarlslowlydwindledtoagrowlthatebbeddowninhisthroatandceased. Thenthegodspoke,andatthefirstsoundofhisvoice,thehairroseonWhiteFang’sneckandthegrowlrushedupinhisthroat. Butthegodmadenohostilemovement,andwentoncalmlytalking. ForatimeWhiteFanggrowledinunisonwithhim,acorrespondenceofrhythmbeingestablishedbetweengrowlandvoice. Butthegodtalkedoninterminably. HetalkedtoWhiteFangasWhiteFanghadneverbeentalkedtobefore. Hetalkedsoftlyandsoothingly,withagentlenessthatsomehow,somewhere,touchedWhiteFang. Inspiteofhimselfandalltheprickingwarningsofhisinstinct,WhiteFangbegantohaveconfidenceinthisgod. Hehadafeelingofsecuritythatwasbeliedbyallhisexperiencewithmen.