Білий ікол

           Withaflamingbrandineachhand,hesprangtotheedgeofthefire. Thewolveshadbeendrivenback. Oneveryside,whereverthelivecoalshadfallen,thesnowwassizzling, andeverylittlewhilearetiringwolf,withwildleapandsnortandsnarl,announcedthatonesuchlivecoalhadbeensteppedupon. 

           Flinginghisbrandsatthenearestofhisenemies,themanthrusthissmoulderingmittensintothesnowandstampedabouttocoolhisfeet. Histwodogsweremissing,andhewellknewthattheyhadservedasacourseintheprotractedmealwhichhadbegundaysbeforewithFatty, thelastcourseofwhichwouldlikelybehimselfinthedaystofollow. 

           "Youain’tgotmeyet!"hecried, savagelyshakinghisfistatthehungrybeasts; andatthesoundofhisvoicethewholecirclewasagitated,therewasageneralsnarl, andtheshe-wolfslidupclosetohimacrossthesnowandwatchedhimwithhungrywistfulness. 

           Hesettoworktocarryoutanewideathathadcometohim. Heextendedthefireintoalargecircle. Insidethiscirclehecrouched,hissleepingoutfitunderhimasaprotectionagainstthemeltingsnow. Whenhehadthusdisappearedwithinhisshelterofflame, thewholepackcamecuriouslytotherimofthefiretoseewhathadbecomeofhim. Hithertotheyhadbeendeniedaccesstothefire, andtheynowsettleddowninaclose-drawncircle,likesomanydogs,blinkingandyawningandstretchingtheirleanbodiesintheunaccustomedwarmth. Thentheshe-wolfsatdown,pointedhernoseatastar,andbegantohowl. Onebyonethewolvesjoinedher,tillthewholepack,onhaunches,withnosespointedskyward,washowlingitshungercry. 

           Dawncame,anddaylight. Thefirewasburninglow. Thefuelhadrunout,andtherewasneedtogetmore.