Білий ікол

           Thusitwashelearnedthelaw,andereheleftthedomainofthechickens,hehadlearnedtoignoretheirexistence. "Youcannevercureachicken-killer."JudgeScottshookhisheadsadlyatluncheontable,whenhissonnarratedthelessonhehadgivenWhiteFang. "Oncethey’vegotthehabitandthetasteofblood..."Againheshookhisheadsadly. 

           ButWeedonScottdidnotagreewithhisfather. "I’lltellyouwhatI’lldo,"hechallengedfinally. "I’lllockWhiteFanginwiththechickensallafternoon." 

           "Butthinkofthechickens,"objectedthejudge. 

           "Andfurthermore,"thesonwenton,"foreverychickenhekills,I’llpayyouonedollargoldcoinoftherealm." 

           "Butyoushouldpenalisefather,too,"interposeBeth. 

           Hersistersecondedher,andachorusofapprovalarosefromaroundthetable. JudgeScottnoddedhisheadinagreement. 

           "Allright."WeedonScottponderedforamoment. "Andif,attheendoftheafternoonWhiteFanghasn’tharmedachicken,foreverytenminutesofthetimehehasspentintheyard,youwillhavetosaytohim,gravelyandwithdeliberation,justasifyouweresittingonthebenchandsolemnlypassingjudgment, ‘WhiteFang,youaresmarterthanIthought.’" 

           Fromhiddenpointsofvantagethefamilywatchedtheperformance. Butitwasafizzle. Lockedintheyardandtheredesertedbythemaster,WhiteFanglaydownandwenttosleep. Oncehegotupandwalkedovertothetroughforadrinkofwater. Thechickenshecalmlyignored. Sofarashewasconcernedtheydidnotexist. Atfouro’clockheexecutedarunningjump,gainedtheroofofthechicken-houseandleapedtothegroundoutside,whencehesaunteredgravelytothehouse.