white fang(白牙)-第50节
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demanding of him instant and endless adjustments and correspondences；
and compelling him； almost always； to suppress his natural impulses。
There were butcher…shops where meat hung within reach。 This meat he
must not touch。 There were cats at the houses the master visited that must
be let alone。 And there were dogs everywhere that snarled at him and that
he must not attack。 And then； on the crowded sidewalks there were
persons innumerable whose attention he attracted。 They would stop and
look at him； point him out to one another； examine him； talk of him； and；
worst of all； pat him。 And these perilous contacts from all these strange
hands he must endure。 Yet this endurance he achieved。 Furthermore； he
got over being awkward and self…conscious。 In a lofty way he received the
attentions of the multitudes of strange gods。 With condescension he
accepted their condescension。 On the other hand； there was something
about him that prevented great familiarity。 They patted him on the head
and passed on； contented and pleased with their own daring。
But it was not all easy for White Fang。 Running behind the carriage in
the outskirts of San Jose； he encountered certain small boys who made a
practice of flinging stones at him。 Yet he knew that it was not permitted
him to pursue and drag them down。 Here he was compelled to violate his
instinct of self…preservation； and violate it he did； for he was becoming
tame and qualifying himself for civilisation。
Nevertheless； White Fang was not quite satisfied with the arrangement。
He had no abstract ideas about justice and fair play。 But there is a certain
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sense of equity that resides in life； and it was this sense in him that
resented the unfairness of his being permitted no defence against the
stone…throwers。 He forgot that in the covenant entered into between him
and the gods they were pledged to care for him and defend him。 But one
day the master sprang from the carriage； whip in hand； and gave the stone…
throwers a thrashing。 After that they threw stones no more； and White
Fang understood and was satisfied。
One other experience of similar nature was his。 On the way to town；
hanging around the saloon at the cross…roads； were three dogs that made a
practice of rushing out upon him when he went by。 Knowing his deadly
method of fighting； the master had never ceased impressing upon White
Fang the law that he must not fight。 As a result； having learned the lesson
well； White Fang was hard put whenever he passed the cross…roads saloon。
After the first rush； each time； his snarl kept the three dogs at a distance
but they trailed along behind； yelping and bickering and insulting him。
This endured for some time。 The men at the saloon even urged the dogs on
to attack White Fang。 One day they openly sicked the dogs on him。 The
master stopped the carriage。
〃Go to it；〃 he said to White Fang。
But White Fang could not believe。 He looked at the master； and he
looked at the dogs。 Then he looked back eagerly and questioningly at the
master。
The master nodded his head。 〃Go to them； old fellow。 Eat them up。〃
White Fang no longer hesitated。 He turned and leaped silently among
his enemies。 All three faced him。 There was a great snarling and growling；
a clashing of teeth and a flurry of bodies。 The dust of the road arose in a
cloud and screened the battle。 But at the end of several minutes two dogs
were struggling in the dirt and the third was in full flight。 He leaped a
ditch； went through a rail fence； and fled across a field。 White Fang
followed； sliding over the ground in wolf fashion and with wolf speed；
swiftly and without noise； and in the centre of the field he dragged down
and slew the dog。
With this triple killing his main troubles with dogs ceased。 The word
went up and down the valley； and men saw to it that their dogs did not
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molest the Fighting Wolf。
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CHAPTER IV … THE CALL OF KIND
The months came and went。 There was plenty of food and no work in
the Southland； and White Fang lived fat and prosperous and happy。 Not
alone was he in the geographical Southland； for he was in the Southland of
life。 Human kindness was like a sun shining upon him； and he flourished
like a flower planted in good soil。
And yet he remained somehow different from other dogs。 He knew the
law even better than did the dogs that had known no other life； and he
observed the law more punctiliously； but still there was about him a
suggestion of lurking ferocity； as though the Wild still lingered in him and
the wolf in him merely slept。
He never chummed with other dogs。 Lonely he had lived； so far as his
kind was concerned； and lonely he would continue to live。 In his
puppyhood； under the persecution of Lip…lip and the puppy…pack； and in
his fighting days with Beauty Smith； he had acquired a fixed aversion for
dogs。 The natural course of his life had been diverted； and； recoiling from
his kind； he had clung to the human。
Besides； all Southland dogs looked upon him with suspicion。 He
aroused in them their instinctive fear of the Wild； and they greeted him
always with snarl and growl and belligerent hatred。 He； on the other hand；
learned that it was not necessary to use his teeth upon them。 His naked
fangs and writhing lips were uniformly efficacious； rarely failing to send a
bellowing on…rushing dog back on its haunches。
But there was one trial in White Fang's life … Collie。 She never gave
him a moment's peace。 She was not so amenable to the law as he。 She
defied all efforts of the master to make her become friends with White
Fang。 Ever in his ears was sounding her sharp and nervous snarl。 She had
never forgiven him the chicken…killing episode； and persistently held to
the belief that his intentions were bad。 She found him guilty before the act；
and treated him accordingly。 She became a pest to him； like a policeman
following him around the stable and the hounds； and； if he even so much
as glanced curiously at a pigeon or chicken； bursting into an outcry of
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indignation and wrath。 His favourite way of ignoring her was to lie down；
with his head on his fore…paws； and pretend sleep。 This always
dumfounded and silenced her。
With the exception of Collie； all things went well with White Fang。 He
had learned control and poise； and he knew the law。 He achieved a
staidness； and calmness； and philosophic tolerance。 He no longer lived in a
hostile environment。 Danger and hurt and death did not lurk everywhere
about him。 In time； the unknown； as a thing of terror and menace ever
impending； faded away。 Life was soft and easy。 It flowed along smoothly；
and neither fear nor foe lurked by the way。
He missed the snow without being aware of it。 〃An unduly long
summer；〃 would have been his thought had he thought about it； as it was；
he merely missed the snow in a vague； subconscious way。 In the same
fashion； especially in the heat of summer when he suffered from the sun；
he experienced faint longings for the Northland。 Their only effect upon
him； however； was to make him uneasy and restless without his knowing
what was the matter。
White Fang had never been very demonstrative。 Beyond his snuggling
and the throwing of a crooning note into his love…growl； he had no way of
expressing his love。 Yet it was given him to discover a third way。 He had
always been susceptible to the laughter of the gods。 Laughter had affected
him with madness； made him frantic with rage。 But he did not have it
