Білий ікол

           Everythinghadhappenedatonce—theblow,thecounter-blow,thesquealofagonyfromtheporcupine,thebigcat’ssquallofsuddenhurtandastonishment. OneEyehalfaroseinhisexcitement,hisearsup,histailstraightoutandquiveringbehindhim. Thelynx’sbadtempergotthebestofher. Shesprangsavagelyatthethingthathadhurther. Buttheporcupine,squealingandgrunting,withdisruptedanatomytryingfeeblytorollupintoitsball-protection, flickedoutitstailagain,andagainthebigcatsqualledwithhurtandastonishment. Thenshefelltobackingawayandsneezing, hernosebristlingwithquillslikeamonstrouspin-cushion. Shebrushedhernosewithherpaws,tryingtodislodgethefierydarts, thrustitintothesnow,andrubbeditagainsttwigsandbranches, andallthetimeleapingabout,ahead,sidewise,upanddown,inafrenzyofpainandfright. 

           Shesneezedcontinually,andherstubofatailwasdoingitsbesttowardlashingaboutbygivingquick,violentjerks. Shequitherantics,andquieteddownforalongminute. OneEyewatched. Andevenhecouldnotrepressastartandaninvoluntarybristlingofhairalonghisbackwhenshesuddenlyleaped,withoutwarning,straightupintheair, atthesametimeemittingalongandmostterriblesquall. Thenshesprangaway,upthetrail,squallingwitheveryleapshemade. 

           ItwasnotuntilherrackethadfadedawayinthedistanceanddiedoutthatOneEyeventuredforth. Hewalkedasdelicatelyasthoughallthesnowwerecarpetedwithporcupinequills,erectandreadytopiercethesoftpadsofhisfeet. Theporcupinemethisapproachwithafurioussquealingandaclashingofitslongteeth. Ithadmanagedtorollupinaballagain,butitwasnotquitetheoldcompactball; itsmusclesweretoomuchtornforthat. Ithadbeenrippedalmostinhalf,andwasstillbleedingprofusely.