Білий ікол
The Southland
Itstruckhimontheside; andsuchwashisforwardmomentumandtheunexpectednessofit,WhiteFangwashurledtothegroundandrolledclearover. Hecameoutofthetangleaspectacleofmalignancy,earsflattenedback,lipswrithing,nosewrinkling,histeethclippingtogetherasthefangsbarelymissedthehound’ssoftthroat.
Themasterwasrunningup,butwastoofaraway;anditwasColliethatsavedthehound’slife. BeforeWhiteFangcouldspringinanddeliverthefatalstroke,andjustashewasintheactofspringingin,Colliearrived. Shehadbeenout-manoeuvredandout-run,tosaynothingofherhavingbeenunceremoniouslytumbledinthegravel,andherarrivalwaslikethatofatornado—madeupofoffendeddignity,justifiablewrath,andinstinctivehatredforthismarauderfromtheWild. ShestruckWhiteFangatrightanglesinthemidstofhisspring,andagainhewasknockedoffhisfeetandrolledover.
Thenextmomentthemasterarrived,andwithonehandheldWhiteFang,whilethefathercalledoffthedogs.
"Isay,thisisaprettywarmreceptionforapoorlonewolffromtheArctic,"themastersaid,whileWhiteFangcalmeddownunderhiscaressinghand. "Inallhislifehe’sonlybeenknownoncetogooffhisfeet,andherehe’sbeenrolledtwiceinthirtyseconds."
Thecarriagehaddrivenaway,andotherstrangegodshadappearedfromoutthehouse. Someofthesestoodrespectfullyatadistance;buttwoofthem,women,perpetratedthehostileactofclutchingthemasteraroundtheneck. WhiteFang,however,wasbeginningtotoleratethisact. Noharmseemedtocomeofit,whilethenoisesthegodsmadewerecertainlynotthreatening.
