white fang(白牙)-第20节
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little difference from the wolf when they discovered the cub and his
mother。 There was a rush。 White Fang bristled and snarled and snapped in
the face of the open…mouthed oncoming wave of dogs； and went down and
under them； feeling the sharp slash of teeth in his body； himself biting and
tearing at the legs and bellies above him。 There was a great uproar。 He
could hear the snarl of Kiche as she fought for him； and he could hear the
cries of the man…animals； the sound of clubs striking upon bodies； and the
yelps of pain from the dogs so struck。
Only a few seconds elapsed before he was on his feet again。 He could
now see the man…animals driving back the dogs with clubs and stones；
defending him； saving him from the savage teeth of his kind that somehow
was not his kind。 And though there was no reason in his brain for a clear
conception of so abstract a thing as justice； nevertheless； in his own way；
he felt the justice of the man… animals； and he knew them for what they
were … makers of law and executors of law。 Also； he appreciated the power
with which they administered the law。 Unlike any animals he had ever
encountered； they did not bite nor claw。 They enforced their live strength
with the power of dead things。 Dead things did their bidding。 Thus； sticks
and stones； directed by these strange creatures； leaped through the air like
living things； inflicting grievous hurts upon the dogs。
To his mind this was power unusual； power inconceivable and beyond
the natural； power that was godlike。 White Fang； in the very nature of him；
could never know anything about gods； at the best he could know only
things that were beyond knowing … but the wonder and awe that he had of
these man…animals in ways resembled what would be the wonder and awe
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of man at sight of some celestial creature； on a mountain top； hurling
thunderbolts from either hand at an astonished world。
The last dog had been driven back。 The hubbub died down。 And White
Fang licked his hurts and meditated upon this； his first taste of pack…
cruelty and his introduction to the pack。 He had never dreamed that his
own kind consisted of more than One Eye； his mother； and himself。 They
had constituted a kind apart； and here； abruptly； he had discovered many
more creatures apparently of his own kind。 And there was a subconscious
resentment that these； his kind； at first sight had pitched upon him and
tried to destroy him。 In the same way he resented his mother being tied
with a stick； even though it was done by the superior man…animals。 It
savoured of the trap； of bondage。 Yet of the trap and of bondage he knew
nothing。 Freedom to roam and run and lie down at will； had been his
heritage； and here it was being infringed upon。 His mother's movements
were restricted to the length of a stick； and by the length of that same stick
was he restricted； for he had not yet got beyond the need of his mother's
side。
He did not like it。 Nor did he like it when the man…animals arose and
went on with their march； for a tiny man…animal took the other end of the
stick and led Kiche captive behind him； and behind Kiche followed White
Fang； greatly perturbed and worried by this new adventure he had entered
upon。
They went down the valley of the stream； far beyond White Fang's
widest ranging； until they came to the end of the valley； where the stream
ran into the Mackenzie River。 Here； where canoes were cached on poles
high in the air and where stood fish…racks for the drying of fish； camp was
made； and White Fang looked on with wondering eyes。 The superiority of
these man…animals increased with every moment。 There was their mastery
over all these sharp… fanged dogs。 It breathed of power。 But greater than
that； to the wolf…cub； was their mastery over things not alive； their
capacity to communicate motion to unmoving things； their capacity to
change the very face of the world。
It was this last that especially affected him。 The elevation of frames of
poles caught his eye； yet this in itself was not so remarkable； being done
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by the same creatures that flung sticks and stones to great distances。 But
when the frames of poles were made into tepees by being covered with
cloth and skins； White Fang was astounded。 It was the colossal bulk of
them that impressed him。 They arose around him； on every side； like some
monstrous quick… growing form of life。 They occupied nearly the whole
circumference of his field of vision。 He was afraid of them。 They loomed
ominously above him； and when the breeze stirred them into huge
movements； he cowered down in fear； keeping his eyes warily upon them；
and prepared to spring away if they attempted to precipitate themselves
upon him。
But in a short while his fear of the tepees passed away。 He saw the
women and children passing in and out of them without harm； and he saw
the dogs trying often to get into them； and being driven away with sharp
words and flying stones。 After a time； he left Kiche's side and crawled
cautiously toward the wall of the nearest tepee。 It was the curiosity of
growth that urged him on … the necessity of learning and living and doing
that brings experience。 The last few inches to the wall of the tepee were
crawled with painful slowness and precaution。 The day's events had
prepared him for the unknown to manifest itself in most stupendous and
unthinkable ways。 At last his nose touched the canvas。 He waited。 Nothing
happened。 Then he smelled the strange fabric； saturated with the man…
smell。 He closed on the canvas with his teeth and gave a gentle tug。
Nothing happened； though the adjacent portions of the tepee moved。 He
tugged harder。 There was a greater movement。 It was delightful。 He tugged
still harder； and repeatedly； until the whole tepee was in motion。 Then the
sharp cry of a squaw inside sent him scampering back to Kiche。 But after
that he was afraid no more of the looming bulks of the tepees。
A moment later he was straying away again from his mother。 Her stick
was tied to a peg in the ground and she could not follow him。 A part…
grown puppy； somewhat larger and older than he； came toward him slowly；
with ostentatious and belligerent importance。 The puppy's name； as White
Fang was afterward to hear him called； was Lip…lip。 He had had
experience in puppy fights and was already something of a bully。
Lip…lip was White Fang's own kind； and； being only a puppy； did not
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seem dangerous； so White Fang prepared to meet him in a friendly spirit。
But when the strangers walk became stiff…legged and his lips lifted clear of
his teeth； White Fang stiffened too； and answered with lifted lips。 They
half circled about each other； tentatively； snarling and bristling。 This lasted
several minutes； and White Fang was beginning to enjoy it； as a sort of
game。 But suddenly； with remarkable swiftness； Lip…lip leaped in；
delivering a slashing snap； and leaped away again。 The snap had taken
effect on the shoulder that had been hurt by the lynx and that was still sore
deep down near the bone。 The surprise and hurt of it brought a yelp out of
White Fang； but the next moment； in a rush of anger； he was upon Lip…lip
and snapping viciously。
But Lip…hp had lived his life in camp and had fought many puppy
fights。 Three times； four times； and half a dozen times； his sharp little teeth
scored on the newcomer； until White Fang； yelping shamelessly； fled to
the protection of his mother。 It was the first of the many fights he was to
have with Lip…lip； for they were enemies from the start； born so； with
natures destined perpetually to clash。
Kiche licked White Fang soothingly with her tongue； and tried to
prevail up
