white fang(白牙)-第52节
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White Fang
teeth were no longer sharp。 There was a playfulness about her nips and a
gentleness that prevented them from really hurting him。 He forgot that she
had made life a burden to him； and when she disported herself around him
he responded solemnly； striving to be playful and becoming no more than
ridiculous。
One day she led him off on a long chase through the back…pasture land
into the woods。 It was the afternoon that the master was to ride； and White
Fang knew it。 The horse stood saddled and waiting at the door。 White Fang
hesitated。 But there was that in him deeper than all the law he had learned；
than the customs that had moulded him； than his love for the master； than
the very will to live of himself； and when； in the moment of his indecision；
Collie nipped him and scampered off； he turned and followed after。 The
master rode alone that day； and in the woods； side by side； White Fang ran
with Collie； as his mother； Kiche； and old One Eye had run long years
before in the silent Northland forest。
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CHAPTER V … THE SLEEPING WOLF
It was about this time that the newspapers were full of the daring
escape of a convict from San Quentin prison。 He was a ferocious man。 He
had been ill…made in the making。 He had not been born right； and he had
not been helped any by the moulding he had received at the hands of
society。 The hands of society are harsh； and this man was a striking sample
of its handiwork。 He was a beast … a human beast； it is true； but
nevertheless so terrible a beast that he can best be characterised as
carnivorous。
In San Quentin prison he had proved incorrigible。 Punishment failed to
break his spirit。 He could die dumb…mad and fighting to the last； but he
could not live and be beaten。 The more fiercely he fought； the more
harshly society handled him； and the only effect of harshness was to make
him fiercer。 Straight…jackets； starvation； and beatings and clubbings were
the wrong treatment for Jim Hall； but it was the treatment he received。 It
was the treatment he had received from the time he was a little pulpy boy
in a San Francisco slum … soft clay in the hands of society and ready to be
formed into something。
It was during Jim Hall's third term in prison that he encountered a
guard that was almost as great a beast as he。 The guard treated him
unfairly； lied about him to the warden； lost his credits； persecuted him。 The
difference between them was that the guard carried a bunch of keys and a
revolver。 Jim Hall had only his naked hands and his teeth。 But he sprang
upon the guard one day and used his teeth on the other's throat just like
any jungle animal。
After this； Jim Hall went to live in the incorrigible cell。 He lived there
three years。 The cell was of iron； the floor； the walls； the roof。 He never
left this cell。 He never saw the sky nor the sunshine。 Day was a twilight
and night was a black silence。 He was in an iron tomb； buried alive。 He
saw no human face； spoke to no human thing。 When his food was shoved
in to him； he growled like a wild animal。 He hated all things。 For days and
nights he bellowed his rage at the universe。 For weeks and months he
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White Fang
never made a sound； in the black silence eating his very soul。 He was a
man and a monstrosity； as fearful a thing of fear as ever gibbered in the
visions of a maddened brain。
And then； one night； he escaped。 The warders said it was impossible；
but nevertheless the cell was empty； and half in half out of it lay the body
of a dead guard。 Two other dead guards marked his trail through the prison
to the outer walls； and he had killed with his hands to avoid noise。
He was armed with the weapons of the slain guards … a live arsenal that
fled through the hills pursued by the organised might of society。 A heavy
price of gold was upon his head。 Avaricious farmers hunted him with shot…
guns。 His blood might pay off a mortgage or send a son to college。 Public…
spirited citizens took down their rifles and went out after him。 A pack of
bloodhounds followed the way of his bleeding feet。 And the sleuth…hounds
of the law； the paid fighting animals of society； with telephone； and
telegraph； and special train； clung to his trail night and day。
Sometimes they came upon him； and men faced him like heroes； or
stampeded through barbed…wire fences to the delight of the
commonwealth reading the account at the breakfast table。 It was after such
encounters that the dead and wounded were carted back to the towns； and
their places filled by men eager for the man…hunt。
And then Jim Hall disappeared。 The bloodhounds vainly quested on
the lost trail。 Inoffensive ranchers in remote valleys were held up by
armed men and compelled to identify themselves。 While the remains of
Jim Hall were discovered on a dozen mountain…sides by greedy claimants
for blood…money。
In the meantime the newspapers were read at Sierra Vista； not so much
with interest as with anxiety。 The women were afraid。 Judge Scott pooh…
poohed and laughed； but not with reason； for it was in his last days on the
bench that Jim Hall had stood before him and received sentence。 And in
open court…room； before all men； Jim Hall had proclaimed that the day
would come when he would wreak vengeance on the Judge that sentenced
him。
For once； Jim Hall was right。 He was innocent of the crime for which
he was sentenced。 It was a case； in the parlance of thieves and police； of
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〃rail…roading。〃 Jim Hall was being 〃rail…roaded〃 to prison for a crime he
had not committed。 Because of the two prior convictions against him；
Judge Scott imposed upon him a sentence of fifty years。
Judge Scott did not know all things； and he did not know that he was
party to a police conspiracy； that the evidence was hatched and perjured；
that Jim Hall was guiltless of the crime charged。 And Jim Hall； on the
other hand； did not know that Judge Scott was merely ignorant。 Jim Hall
believed that the judge knew all about it and was hand in glove with the
police in the perpetration of the monstrous injustice。 So it was； when the
doom of fifty years of living death was uttered by Judge Scott； that Jim
Hall； hating all things in the society that misused him； rose up and raged in
the court…room until dragged down by half a dozen of his blue…coated
enemies。 To him； Judge Scott was the keystone in the arch of injustice； and
upon Judge Scott he emptied the vials of his wrath and hurled the threats
of his revenge yet to come。 Then Jim Hall went to his living death 。 。 。 and
escaped。
Of all this White Fang knew nothing。 But between him and Alice； the
master's wife； there existed a secret。 Each night； after Sierra Vista had
gone to bed； she rose and let in White Fang to sleep in the big hall。 Now
White Fang was not a house…dog； nor was he permitted to sleep in the
house； so each morning； early； she slipped down and let him out before the
family was awake。
On one such night； while all the house slept； White Fang awoke and
lay very quietly。 And very quietly he smelled the air and read the message
it bore of a strange god's presence。 And to his ears came sounds of the
strange god's movements。 White Fang burst into no furious outcry。 It was
not his way。 The strange god walked softly； but more softly walked White
Fang； for he had no clothes to rub against the flesh of his body。 He
followed silently。 In the Wild he had hunted live meat that was infinitely
timid； and he knew the advantage of surprise。
The strange god paused at the foot of the great staircase and listened；
and White Fang was as dead； so without movement was he as he watched
and waited。 Up that staircase the way led to the love… master and to the
love…master's dearest possessions。 White Fang bristled； but waited。 The
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