white fang(白牙)-第48节
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perpetrated against her ancestry。 Not in a day nor a generation were the
ravaged sheepfolds to be forgotten。 All this was a spur to her； pricking her
to retaliation。 She could not fly in the face of the gods who permitted him；
but that did not prevent her from making life miserable for him in petty
ways。 A feud； ages old； was between them； and she； for one； would see to
it that he was reminded。
So Collie took advantage of her sex to pick upon White Fang and
maltreat him。 His instinct would not permit him to attack her； while her
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persistence would not permit him to ignore her。 When she rushed at him
he turned his fur…protected shoulder to her sharp teeth and walked away
stiff…legged and stately。 When she forced him too hard； he was compelled
to go about in a circle； his shoulder presented to her； his head turned from
her； and on his face and in his eyes a patient and bored expression。
Sometimes； however； a nip on his hind…quarters hastened his retreat and
made it anything but stately。 But as a rule he managed to maintain a
dignity that was almost solemnity。 He ignored her existence whenever it
was possible； and made it a point to keep out of her way。 When he saw or
heard her coming； he got up and walked off。
There was much in other matters for White Fang to learn。 Life in the
Northland was simplicity itself when compared with the complicated
affairs of Sierra Vista。 First of all； he had to learn the family of the master。
In a way he was prepared to do this。 As Mit…sah and Kloo…kooch had
belonged to Grey Beaver； sharing his food； his fire； and his blankets； so
now； at Sierra Vista； belonged to the love…master all the denizens of the
house。
But in this matter there was a difference； and many differences。 Sierra
Vista was a far vaster affair than the tepee of Grey Beaver。 There were
many persons to be considered。 There was Judge Scott； and there was his
wife。 There were the master's two sisters； Beth and Mary。 There was his
wife； Alice； and then there were his children； Weedon and Maud； toddlers
of four and six。 There was no way for anybody to tell him about all these
people； and of blood… ties and relationship he knew nothing whatever and
never would be capable of knowing。 Yet he quickly worked it out that all
of them belonged to the master。 Then； by observation； whenever
opportunity offered； by study of action； speech； and the very intonations of
the voice； he slowly learned the intimacy and the degree of favour they
enjoyed with the master。 And by this ascertained standard； White Fang
treated them accordingly。 What was of value to the master he valued； what
was dear to the master was to be cherished by White Fang and guarded
carefully。
Thus it was with the two children。 All his life he had disliked children。
He hated and feared their hands。 The lessons were not tender that he had
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learned of their tyranny and cruelty in the days of the Indian villages。
When Weedon and Maud had first approached him； he growled warningly
and looked malignant。 A cuff from the master and a sharp word had then
compelled him to permit their caresses； though he growled and growled
under their tiny hands； and in the growl there was no crooning note。 Later；
he observed that the boy and girl were of great value in the master's eyes。
Then it was that no cuff nor sharp word was necessary before they could
pat him。
Yet White Fang was never effusively affectionate。 He yielded to the
master's children with an ill but honest grace； and endured their fooling as
one would endure a painful operation。 When he could no longer endure； he
would get up and stalk determinedly away from them。 But after a time； he
grew even to like the children。 Still he was not demonstrative。 He would
not go up to them。 On the other hand； instead of walking away at sight of
them； he waited for them to come to him。 And still later； it was noticed
that a pleased light came into his eyes when he saw them approaching； and
that he looked after them with an appearance of curious regret when they
left him for other amusements。
All this was a matter of development； and took time。 Next in his regard；
after the children； was Judge Scott。 There were two reasons； possibly； for
this。 First； he was evidently a valuable possession of the master's； and next；
he was undemonstrative。 White Fang liked to lie at his feet on the wide
porch when he read the newspaper； from time to time favouring White
Fang with a look or a word … untroublesome tokens that he recognised
White Fang's presence and existence。 But this was only when the master
was not around。 When the master appeared； all other beings ceased to exist
so far as White Fang was concerned。
White Fang allowed all the members of the family to pet him and
make much of him； but he never gave to them what he gave to the master。
No caress of theirs could put the love…croon into his throat； and； try as they
would； they could never persuade him into snuggling against them。 This
expression of abandon and surrender； of absolute trust； he reserved for the
master alone。 In fact； he never regarded the members of the family in any
other light than possessions of the love…master。
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Also White Fang had early come to differentiate between the family
and the servants of the household。 The latter were afraid of him； while he
merely refrained from attacking them。 This because he considered that
they were likewise possessions of the master。 Between White Fang and
them existed a neutrality and no more。 They cooked for the master and
washed the dishes and did other things just as Matt had done up in the
Klondike。 They were； in short； appurtenances of the household。
Outside the household there was even more for White Fang to learn。
The master's domain was wide and complex； yet it had its metes and
bounds。 The land itself ceased at the county road。 Outside was the
common domain of all gods … the roads and streets。 Then inside other
fences were the particular domains of other gods。 A myriad laws governed
all these things and determined conduct； yet he did not know the speech of
the gods； nor was there any way for him to learn save by experience。 He
obeyed his natural impulses until they ran him counter to some law。 When
this had been done a few times； he learned the law and after that observed
it。
But most potent in his education was the cuff of the master's hand； the
censure of the master's voice。 Because of White Fang's very great love； a
cuff from the master hurt him far more than any beating Grey Beaver or
Beauty Smith had ever given him。 They had hurt only the flesh of him；
beneath the flesh the spirit had still raged； splendid and invincible。 But
with the master the cuff was always too light to hurt the flesh。 Yet it went
deeper。 It was an expression of the master's disapproval； and White Fang's
spirit wilted under it。
In point of fact； the cuff was rarely administered。 The master's voice
was sufficient。 By it White Fang knew whether he did right or not。 By it he
trimmed his conduct and adjusted his actions。 It was the compass by
which he steered and learned to chart the manners of a new land and life。
In the Northland； the only domesticated animal was the dog。 All other
animals lived in the Wild； and were； when not too formidable； lawful spoil
for any dog。 All his days White Fang had foraged among the live things
for food。 It did not enter his head that in the Southland it was otherwise。
But this he was to learn early in his residence in Santa Clara Valley。
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Sauntering around the corner of the house in the early morning； he came
upon a chicken that had escaped from the chicken…yard。 White Fang's
