The God’s Domain

           NotonlywasWhiteFangadaptablebynature,buthehadtravelledmuch,andknewthemeaningandnecessityofadjustment. Here,inSierraVista,whichwasthenameofJudgeScott’splace,WhiteFangquicklybegantomakehimselfathome. Hehadnofurtherserioustroublewiththedogs. TheyknewmoreaboutthewaysoftheSouthlandgodsthandidhe,andintheireyeshehadqualifiedwhenheaccompaniedthegodsinsidethehouse. Wolfthathewas,andunprecedentedasitwas,thegodshadsanctionedhispresence,andthey,thedogsofthegods,couldonlyrecognisethissanction. 

           Dick,perforce,hadtogothroughafewstiffformalitiesatfirst,afterwhichhecalmlyacceptedWhiteFangasanadditiontothepremises. HadDickhadhisway,theywouldhavebeengoodfriends. AllbutWhiteFangwasaversetofriendship. Allheaskedofotherdogswastobeletalone. Hiswholelifehehadkeptalooffromhiskind,andhestilldesiredtokeepaloof. Dick’soverturesbotheredhim,sohesnarledDickaway. Inthenorthhehadlearnedthelessonthathemustletthemaster’sdogsalone,andhedidnotforgetthatlessonnow. Butheinsistedonhisownprivacyandself-seclusion,andsothoroughlyignoredDickthatthatgood-naturedcreaturefinallygavehimupandscarcelytookasmuchinterestinhimasinthehitching-postnearthestable. 

           NotsowithCollie. Whilesheacceptedhimbecauseitwasthemandateofthegods,thatwasnoreasonthatsheshouldleavehiminpeace. Wovenintoherbeingwasthememoryofcountlesscrimesheandhishadperpetratedagainstherancestry. Notinadaynoragenerationweretheravagedsheepfoldstobeforgotten. Allthiswasaspurtoher,prickinghertoretaliation. Shecouldnotflyinthefaceofthegodswhopermittedhim,butthatdidnotpreventherfrommakinglifemiserableforhiminpettyways.