Білий ікол

           Hisarmswerefolded,oneabovetheother,acrosshisfaceandthroat.ThushewastryingtoshieldhimselffromWhiteFang’steeth. Andtherewasneedforit. WhiteFangwasinarage,wickedlymakinghisattackonthemostvulnerablespot. Fromshouldertowristofthecrossedarms,thecoat-sleeve,blueflannelshirtandundershirtwererippedinrags,whilethearmsthemselveswereterriblyslashedandstreamingblood. 

           Allthisthetwomensawinthefirstinstant. ThenextinstantWeedonScotthadWhiteFangbythethroatandwasdragginghimclear. WhiteFangstruggledandsnarled,butmadenoattempttobite,whilehequicklyquieteddownatasharpwordfromthemaster. 

           Matthelpedthemantohisfeet. Ashearoseheloweredhiscrossedarms,exposingthebestialfaceofBeautySmith.Thedog-musherletgoofhimprecipitately,withactionsimilartothatofamanwhohaspickeduplivefire. BeautySmithblinkedinthelamplightandlookedabouthim. HecaughtsightofWhiteFangandterrorrushedintohisface. 

           AtthesamemomentMattnoticedtwoobjectslyinginthesnow. Heheldthelampclosetothem,indicatingthemwithhistoeforhisemployer’sbenefit—asteeldog-chainandastoutclub. 

           WeedonScottsawandnodded. Notawordwasspoken. Thedog-musherlaidhishandonBeautySmith’sshoulderandfacedhimtotherightabout. Nowordneededtobespoken. BeautySmithstarted. 

           Inthemeantimethelove-masterwaspattingWhiteFangandtalkingtohim. 

           "Triedtostealyou,eh? Andyouwouldn’thaveit! Well,well,hemadeamistake,didn’the?"