The Bondage

           ThedayswerethrongedwithexperienceforWhiteFang. DuringthetimethatKichewastiedbythestick,heranaboutoverallthecamp,inquiring,investigating,learning. Hequicklycametoknowmuchofthewaysoftheman-animals,butfamiliaritydidnotbreedcontempt. Themorehecametoknowthem,themoretheyvindicatedtheirsuperiority,themoretheydisplayedtheirmysteriouspowers,thegreaterloomedtheirgod-likeness. 

           Tomanhasbeengiventhegrief,often,ofseeinghisgodsoverthrownandhisaltarscrumbling;buttothewolfandthewilddogthathavecomeintocrouchatman’sfeet,thisgriefhasnevercome. Unlikeman,whosegodsareoftheunseenandtheoverguessed,vapoursandmistsoffancyeludingthegarmentureofreality,wanderingwraithsofdesiredgoodnessandpower,intangibleout-croppingsofselfintotherealmofspirit —unlikeman,thewolfandthewilddogthathavecomeintothefirefindtheirgodsinthelivingflesh,solidtothetouch,occupyingearth-spaceandrequiringtimefortheaccomplishmentoftheirendsandtheirexistence. Noeffortoffaithisnecessarytobelieveinsuchagod;noeffortofwillcanpossiblyinducedisbeliefinsuchagod. Thereisnogettingawayfromit. Thereitstands,onitstwohind-legs,clubinhand,immenselypotential,passionateandwrathfulandloving,godandmysteryandpowerallwrappedupandaroundbyfleshthatbleedswhenitistornandthatisgoodtoeatlikeanyflesh. 

           AndsoitwaswithWhiteFang. Theman-animalsweregodsunmistakableandunescapable. Ashismother,Kiche,hadrenderedherallegiancetothematthefirstcryofhername,sohewasbeginningtorenderhisallegiance. Hegavethemthetrailasaprivilegeindubitablytheirs.Whentheywalked,hegotoutoftheirway. Whentheycalled,hecame.Whentheythreatened,hecowereddown.Whentheycommandedhimtogo,hewentawayhurriedly.