The Call of Kind

           Themonthscameandwent. TherewasplentyoffoodandnoworkintheSouthland,andWhiteFanglivedfatandprosperousandhappy. NotalonewasheinthegeographicalSouthland,forhewasintheSouthlandoflife. Humankindnesswaslikeasunshininguponhim,andheflourishedlikeaflowerplantedingoodsoil. 

           Andyetheremainedsomehowdifferentfromotherdogs. Heknewthelawevenbetterthandidthedogsthathadknownnootherlife,andheobservedthelawmorepunctiliously; butstilltherewasabouthimasuggestionoflurkingferocity,asthoughtheWildstilllingeredinhimandthewolfinhimmerelyslept. 

           Heneverchummedwithotherdogs. Lonelyhehadlived,sofarashiskindwasconcerned,andlonelyhewouldcontinuetolive. Inhispuppyhood,underthepersecutionofLip-lipandthepuppy-pack,andinhisfightingdayswithBeautySmith,hehadacquiredafixedaversionfordogs. Thenaturalcourseofhislifehadbeendiverted,and,recoilingfromhiskind,hehadclungtothehuman. 

           Besides,allSouthlanddogslookeduponhimwithsuspicion. HearousedinthemtheirinstinctivefearoftheWild,andtheygreetedhimalwayswithsnarlandgrowlandbelligerenthatred. He,ontheotherhand,learnedthatitwasnotnecessarytousehisteethuponthem. Hisnakedfangsandwrithinglipswereuniformlyefficacious,rarelyfailingtosendabellowingon-rushingdogbackonitshaunches. 

           ButtherewasonetrialinWhiteFang’slife—Collie. Shenevergavehimamoment’speace. Shewasnotsoamenabletothelawashe. ShedefiedalleffortsofthemastertomakeherbecomefriendswithWhiteFang. Everinhisearswassoundinghersharpandnervoussnarl.