white fang(白牙)-第20章
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him directly from the hunting generation of wolves。 So it was that White
Fang's method when he took the offensive； was： first to find a young dog
alone； second； to surprise it and knock it off its feet； and third； to drive in
with his teeth at the soft throat。
Being but partly grown his jaws had not yet become large enough nor
strong enough to make his throat…attack deadly； but many a young dog
went around camp with a lacerated throat in token of White Fang's
intention。 And one day； catching one of his enemies alone on the edge of
the woods； he managed； by repeatedly overthrowing him and attacking the
throat； to cut the great vein and let out the life。 There was a great row that
night。 He had been observed； the news had been carried to the dead dog's
master； the squaws remembered all the instances of stolen meat； and Grey
Beaver was beset by many angry voices。 But he resolutely held the door of
his tepee； inside which he had placed the culprit； and refused to permit the
vengeance for which his tribespeople clamoured。
White Fang became hated by man and dog。 During this period of his
development he never knew a moment's security。 The tooth of every dog
was against him； the hand of every man。 He was greeted with snarls by his
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kind； with curses and stones by his gods。 He lived tensely。 He was always
keyed up； alert for attack； wary of being attacked； with an eye for sudden
and unexpected missiles； prepared to act precipitately and coolly； to leap
in with a flash of teeth； or to leap away with a menacing snarl。
As for snarling he could snarl more terribly than any dog； young or old；
in camp。 The intent of the snarl is to warn or frighten； and judgment is
required to know when it should be used。 White Fang knew how to make
it and when to make it。 Into his snarl he incorporated all that was vicious；
malignant； and horrible。 With nose serrulated by continuous spasms； hair
bristling in recurrent waves； tongue whipping out like a red snake and
whipping back again； ears flattened down； eyes gleaming hatred； lips
wrinkled back； and fangs exposed and dripping； he could compel a pause
on the part of almost any assailant。 A temporary pause； when taken off his
guard； gave him the vital moment in which to think and determine his
action。 But often a pause so gained lengthened out until it evolved into a
complete cessation from the attack。 And before more than one of the
grown dogs White Fang's snarl enabled him to beat an honourable retreat。
An outcast himself from the pack of the part…grown dogs； his
sanguinary methods and remarkable efficiency made the pack pay for its
persecution of him。 Not permitted himself to run with the pack； the curious
state of affairs obtained that no member of the pack could run outside the
pack。 White Fang would not permit it。 What of his bushwhacking and
waylaying tactics； the young dogs were afraid to run by themselves。 With
the exception of Lip…lip； they were compelled to hunch together for mutual
protection against the terrible enemy they had made。 A puppy alone by the
river bank meant a puppy dead or a puppy that aroused the camp with its
shrill pain and terror as it fled back from the wolf…cub that had waylaid it。
But White Fang's reprisals did not cease； even when the young dogs
had learned thoroughly that they must stay together。 He attacked them
when he caught them alone； and they attacked him when they were
bunched。 The sight of him was sufficient to start them rushing after him； at
which times his swiftness usually carried him into safety。 But woe the dog
that outran his fellows in such pursuit！ White Fang had learned to turn
suddenly upon the pursuer that was ahead of the pack and thoroughly to
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rip him up before the pack could arrive。 This occurred with great
frequency； for； once in full cry； the dogs were prone to forget themselves
in the excitement of the chase； while White Fang never forgot himself。
Stealing backward glances as he ran； he was always ready to whirl around
and down the overzealous pursuer that outran his fellows。
Young dogs are bound to play； and out of the exigencies of the
situation they realised their play in this mimic warfare。 Thus it was that the
hunt of White Fang became their chief game … a deadly game； withal； and
at all times a serious game。 He； on the other hand； being the fastest…footed；
was unafraid to venture anywhere。 During the period that he waited vainly
for his mother to come back； he led the pack many a wild chase through
the adjacent woods。 But the pack invariably lost him。 Its noise and outcry
warned him of its presence； while he ran alone； velvet…footed； silently； a
moving shadow among the trees after the manner of his father and mother
before him。 Further he was more directly connected with the Wild than
they； and he knew more of its secrets and stratagems。 A favourite trick of
his was to lose his trail in running water and then lie quietly in a near…by
thicket while their baffled cries arose around him。
Hated by his kind and by mankind； indomitable； perpetually warred
upon and himself waging perpetual war； his development was rapid and
one…sided。 This was no soil for kindliness and affection to blossom in。 Of
such things he had not the faintest glimmering。 The code he learned was to
obey the strong and to oppress the weak。 Grey Beaver was a god； and
strong。 Therefore White Fang obeyed him。 But the dog younger or smaller
than himself was weak； a thing to be destroyed。 His development was in
the direction of power。 In order to face the constant danger of hurt and
even of destruction； his predatory and protective faculties were unduly
developed。 He became quicker of movement than the other dogs； swifter
of foot； craftier； deadlier； more lithe； more lean with ironlike muscle and
sinew； more enduring； more cruel； more ferocious； and more intelligent。
He had to become all these things； else he would not have held his own
nor survive the hostile environment in which he found himself。
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CHAPTER IV … THE TRAIL OF THE GODS
In the fall of the year； when the days were shortening and the bite of
the frost was coming into the air； White Fang got his chance for liberty。
For several days there had been a great hubbub in the village。 The summer
camp was being dismantled； and the tribe； bag and baggage； was preparing
to go off to the fall hunting。 White Fang watched it all with eager eyes；
and when the tepees began to come down and the canoes were loading at
the bank； he understood。 Already the canoes were departing； and some had
disappeared down the river。
Quite deliberately he determined to stay behind。 He waited his
opportunity to slink out of camp to the woods。 Here； in the running stream
where ice was beginning to form； he hid his trail。 Then he crawled into the
heart of a dense thicket and waited。 The time passed by； and he slept
intermittently for hours。 Then he was aroused by Grey Beaver's voice
calling him by name。 There were other voices。 White Fang could hear
Grey Beaver's squaw taking part in the search； and Mit…sah； who was Grey
Beaver's son。
White Fang trembled with fear； and though the impulse came to crawl
out of his hiding…place； he resisted it。 After a time the voices died away；
and some time after that he crept out to enjoy the success of his
undertaking。 Darkness was coming on； and for a while he played about
among the trees； pleasuring in his freedom。 Then； and quite suddenly； he
became aware of loneliness。 He sat down to consider； listening to the
silence of the forest and perturbed by it。 That nothing moved nor sounded；
seemed ominous。 He felt the lurking of danger； unseen and unguessed。 He
was suspicious of the looming bulks of the trees and of the dark shadows
that might conceal all manner of perilous things。
Then it was cold。 Here was no warm side of a tepee against which to
snuggle。 The frost was in his feet； and he kept lifting first one fore…foot
and then the other。 He curved his bushy tail around to cover them； and at
the same time he saw a vision。 There was nothing strange about it。 Upon
his inward sight was impressed a succession of memory…pictures。 He saw
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the camp again； the tepees； and the blaze of the fires。 He heard the shrill
voices of the women； the gruff basses of the men； and the snarling of the
dogs。 He was hungry； and he remembered pieces of meat and fish that had
been thrown him。 Here was no meat； nothing but a threatening and
inedible silence。
His bondage had softened him。 Irresponsibility had weakened him。 He
had forgotten how to shift for himself。 The night yawned about him。 His
senses； accustomed to the hum and bustle of the camp； used to the
continuous impact of sights and sounds； were now left idle。 There was
nothing to do； nothing to see nor hear。 They strained to catch some
interruption of the silence and immobility of nature。 They were appalled
by inaction and by the feel of something terrible impending。
He gave a great start of fright。 A colossal and formless something was
rushing across the field of his vision。 It was a tree…shadow flung by the
moon； from whose face the clouds had been brushed away。 Reassured； he
whimpered softly； then he suppressed the whimper for fear that it might
attract the attention of the lurking dangers。
A tree； contracting in the cool of the night； made a loud noise。 It was
directly above him。 He yelped in his fright。 A panic seized him； and he ran
madly toward the village。 He knew an overpowering
