Білий ікол
The God’s Domain
WhiteFang’snaturalimpulsewastoeatit. Acoupleofbounds,aflashofteethandafrightenedsquawk,andhehadscoopedintheadventurousfowl. Itwasfarm-bredandfatandtender; andWhiteFanglickedhischopsanddecidedthatsuchfarewasgood.
Laterintheday,hechanceduponanotherstraychickennearthestables. Oneofthegroomsrantotherescue. HedidnotknowWhiteFang’sbreed,soforweaponhetookalightbuggy-whip. Atthefirstcutofthewhip,WhiteFangleftthechickenfortheman. AclubmighthavestoppedWhiteFang,butnotawhip. Silently,withoutflinching,hetookasecondcutinhisforwardrush, andasheleapedforthethroatthegroomcriedout,"MyGod!"andstaggeredbackward. Hedroppedthewhipandshieldedhisthroatwithhisarms. Inconsequence,hisforearmwasrippedopentothebone.
Themanwasbadlyfrightened. ItwasnotsomuchWhiteFang’sferocityasitwashissilencethatunnervedthegroom. Stillprotectinghisthroatandfacewithhistornandbleedingarm,hetriedtoretreattothebarn. AnditwouldhavegonehardwithhimhadnotCollieappearedonthescene. AsshehadsavedDick’slife,shenowsavedthegroom’s. SherusheduponWhiteFanginfrenziedwrath. Shehadbeenright.Shehadknownbetterthantheblunderinggods. Allhersuspicionswerejustified. Herewastheancientmarauderuptohisoldtricksagain.
Thegroomescapedintothestables,andWhiteFangbackedawaybeforeCollie’swickedteeth,orpresentedhisshouldertothemandcircledroundandround. ButColliedidnotgiveover,aswasherwont,afteradecentintervalofchastisement. Onthecontrary,shegrewmoreexcitedandangryeverymoment,until,intheend,WhiteFangflungdignitytothewindsandfranklyfledawayfromheracrossthefields.