Білий ікол
The Makers of Fire
Thecub,whohadthusreceivedanameintheworld,layandwatched. Foratimetheman-animalscontinuedtomaketheirmouth-noises. ThenGreyBeavertookaknifefromasheaththathungaroundhisneck,andwentintothethicketandcutastick. WhiteFangwatchedhim. Henotchedthestickateachendandinthenotchesfastenedstringsofraw-hide. OnestringhetiedaroundthethroatofKiche. Thenheledhertoasmallpine,aroundwhichhetiedtheotherstring.
WhiteFangfollowedandlaydownbesideher. SalmonTongue’shandreachedouttohimandrolledhimoveronhisback. Kichelookedonanxiously. WhiteFangfeltfearmountinginhimagain. Hecouldnotquitesuppressasnarl,buthemadenooffertosnap. Thehand,withfingerscrookedandspreadapart,rubbedhisstomachinaplayfulwayandrolledhimfromsidetoside. Itwasridiculousandungainly,lyingthereonhisbackwithlegssprawlingintheair. Besides,itwasapositionofsuchutterhelplessnessthatWhiteFang’swholenaturerevoltedagainstit. Hecoulddonothingtodefendhimself. Ifthisman-animalintendedharm,WhiteFangknewthathecouldnotescapeit. Howcouldhespringawaywithhisfourlegsintheairabovehim? Yetsubmissionmadehimmasterhisfear,andheonlygrowledsoftly. Thisgrowlhecouldnotsuppress;nordidtheman-animalresentitbygivinghimablowonthehead. Andfurthermore,suchwasthestrangenessofit,WhiteFangexperiencedanunaccountablesensationofpleasureasthehandrubbedbackandforth. Whenhewasrolledonhissideheceasedtogrowl, whenthefingerspressedandproddedatthebaseofhisearsthepleasurablesensationincreased; andwhen,withafinalrubandscratch,themanlefthimaloneandwentaway,allfearhaddiedoutofWhiteFang. Hewastoknowfearmanytimesinhisdealingwithman;yetitwasatokenofthefearlesscompanionshipwithmanthatwasultimatelytobehis.
