Білий ікол

           Therewasnowayforanybodytotellhimaboutallthesepeople,andofblood-tiesandrelationshipheknewnothingwhateverandneverwouldbecapableofknowing. Yethequicklyworkeditoutthatallofthembelongedtothemaster. Then,byobservation,wheneveropportunityoffered,bystudyofaction,speech,andtheveryintonationsofthevoice,heslowlylearnedtheintimacyandthedegreeoffavourtheyenjoyedwiththemaster. Andbythisascertainedstandard,WhiteFangtreatedthemaccordingly. Whatwasofvaluetothemasterhevalued; whatwasdeartothemasterwastobecherishedbyWhiteFangandguardedcarefully. 

           Thusitwaswiththetwochildren. Allhislifehehaddislikedchildren. Hehatedandfearedtheirhands. ThelessonswerenottenderthathehadlearnedoftheirtyrannyandcrueltyinthedaysoftheIndianvillages. WhenWeedonandMaudhadfirstapproachedhim,hegrowledwarninglyandlookedmalignant. Acufffromthemasterandasharpwordhadthencompelledhimtopermittheircaresses,thoughhegrowledandgrowledundertheirtinyhands,andinthegrowltherewasnocrooningnote. Later,heobservedthattheboyandgirlwereofgreatvalueinthemaster’seyes. Thenitwasthatnocuffnorsharpwordwasnecessarybeforetheycouldpathim. 

           YetWhiteFangwasnevereffusivelyaffectionate. Heyieldedtothemaster’schildrenwithanillbuthonestgrace,andenduredtheirfoolingasonewouldendureapainfuloperation. Whenhecouldnolongerendure,hewouldgetupandstalkdeterminedlyawayfromthem. Butafteratime,hegreweventolikethechildren.Stillhewasnotdemonstrative. Hewouldnotgouptothem.Ontheotherhand,insteadofwalkingawayatsightofthem,hewaitedforthemtocometohim.