Білий ікол
The Love-Master
Thissealhadbeenstampeduponhimagain,andineradicably,onhissecondreturnfromtheWild,whenthelongfaminewasoverandtherewasfishoncemoreinthevillageofGreyBeaver.
Andso,becauseheneededagodandbecausehepreferredWeedonScotttoBeautySmith,WhiteFangremained. Inacknowledgmentoffealty,heproceededtotakeuponhimselftheguardianshipofhismaster’sproperty. Heprowledaboutthecabinwhilethesled-dogsslept,andthefirstnight-visitortothecabinfoughthimoffwithaclubuntilWeedonScottcametotherescue. ButWhiteFangsoonlearnedtodifferentiatebetweenthievesandhonestmen,toappraisethetruevalueofstepandcarriage. Themanwhotravelled,loud-stepping,thedirectlinetothecabindoor,heletalone—thoughhewatchedhimvigilantlyuntilthedooropenedandhereceivedtheendorsementofthemaster. Butthemanwhowentsoftly,bycircuitousways,peeringwithcaution,seekingaftersecrecy—thatwasthemanwhoreceivednosuspensionofjudgmentfromWhiteFang,andwhowentawayabruptly,hurriedly,andwithoutdignity.
WeedonScotthadsethimselfthetaskofredeemingWhiteFang—orrather,ofredeemingmankindfromthewrongithaddoneWhiteFang. Itwasamatterofprincipleandconscience. HefeltthattheilldoneWhiteFangwasadebtincurredbymanandthatitmustbepaid. SohewentoutofhiswaytobeespeciallykindtotheFightingWolf. EachdayhemadeitapointtocaressandpetWhiteFang,andtodoitatlength.
Atfirstsuspiciousandhostile,WhiteFanggrewtolikethispetting. Buttherewasonethingthatheneveroutgrew—hisgrowling.Growlhewould,fromthemomentthepettingbegantillitended. Butitwasagrowlwithanewnoteinit. Astrangercouldnothearthisnote,andtosuchastrangerthegrowlingofWhiteFangwasanexhibitionofprimordialsavagery,nerve-rackingandblood-curdling.
