white fang(白牙)-第19节
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man's fire and be made warm。
One of the Indians arose and walked over to him and stooped above
him。 The cub cowered closer to the ground。 It was the unknown；
objectified at last； in concrete flesh and blood； bending over him and
reaching down to seize hold of him。 His hair bristled involuntarily； his lips
writhed back and his little fangs were bared。 The hand； poised like doom
above him； hesitated； and the man spoke laughing； 〃WABAM WABISCA
IP PIT TAH。〃 （〃Look！ The white fangs！〃）
The other Indians laughed loudly； and urged the man on to pick up the
cub。 As the hand descended closer and closer； there raged within the cub a
battle of the instincts。 He experienced two great impulsions … to yield and
to fight。 The resulting action was a compromise。 He did both。 He yielded
till the hand almost touched him。 Then he fought； his teeth flashing in a
snap that sank them into the hand。 The next moment he received a clout
alongside the head that knocked him over on his side。 Then all fight fled
out of him。 His puppyhood and the instinct of submission took charge of
him。 He sat up on his haunches and ki…yi'd。 But the man whose hand he
had bitten was angry。 The cub received a clout on the other side of his
head。 Whereupon he sat up and ki…yi'd louder than ever。
The four Indians laughed more loudly； while even the man who had
been bitten began to laugh。 They surrounded the cub and laughed at him；
while he wailed out his terror and his hurt。 In the midst of it； he heard
something。 The Indians heard it too。 But the cub knew what it was； and
with a last； long wail that had in it more of triumph than grief； he ceased
his noise and waited for the coming of his mother； of his ferocious and
indomitable mother who fought and killed all things and was never afraid。
She was snarling as she ran。 She had heard the cry of her cub and was
dashing to save him。
She bounded in amongst them； her anxious and militant motherhood
making her anything but a pretty sight。 But to the cub the spectacle of her
protective rage was pleasing。 He uttered a glad little cry and bounded to
meet her； while the man…animals went back hastily several steps。 The she…
wolf stood over against her cub； facing the men； with bristling hair； a snarl
rumbling deep in her throat。 Her face was distorted and malignant with
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menace； even the bridge of the nose wrinkling from tip to eyes so
prodigious was her snarl。
Then it was that a cry went up from one of the men。 〃Kiche！〃 was
what he uttered。 It was an exclamation of surprise。 The cub felt his mother
wilting at the sound。
〃Kiche！〃 the man cried again； this time with sharpness and authority。
And then the cub saw his mother； the she…wolf； the fearless one；
crouching down till her belly touched the ground； whimpering； wagging
her tail； making peace signs。 The cub could not understand。 He was
appalled。 The awe of man rushed over him again。 His instinct had been
true。 His mother verified it。 She； too； rendered submission to the man…
animals。
The man who had spoken came over to her。 He put his hand upon her
head； and she only crouched closer。 She did not snap； nor threaten to snap。
The other men came up； and surrounded her； and felt her； and pawed her；
which actions she made no attempt to resent。 They were greatly excited；
and made many noises with their mouths。 These noises were not indication
of danger； the cub decided； as he crouched near his mother still bristling
from time to time but doing his best to submit。
〃It is not strange；〃 an Indian was saying。 〃Her father was a wolf。 It is
true； her mother was a dog； but did not my brother tie her out in the woods
all of three nights in the mating season？ Therefore was the father of Kiche
a wolf。〃
〃It is a year； Grey Beaver； since she ran away；〃 spoke a second Indian。
〃It is not strange； Salmon Tongue；〃 Grey Beaver answered。 〃It was the
time of the famine； and there was no meat for the dogs。〃
〃She has lived with the wolves；〃 said a third Indian。
〃So it would seem； Three Eagles；〃 Grey Beaver answered； lying his
hand on the cub； 〃and this be the sign of it。〃
The cub snarled a little at the touch of the hand； and the hand flew
back to administer a clout。 Whereupon the cub covered its fangs； and sank
down submissively； while the hand； returning； rubbed behind his ears； and
up and down his back。
〃This be the sign of it；〃 Grey Beaver went on。 〃It is plain that his
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mother is Kiche。 But this father was a wolf。 Wherefore is there in him
little dog and much wolf。 His fangs be white； and White Fang shall be his
name。 I have spoken。 He is my dog。 For was not Kiche my brother's dog？
And is not my brother dead？〃
The cub； who had thus received a name in the world； lay and watched。
For a time the man…animals continued to make their mouth… noises。 Then
Grey Beaver took a knife from a sheath that hung around his neck； and
went into the thicket and cut a stick。 White Fang watched him。 He notched
the stick at each end and in the notches fastened strings of raw…hide。 One
string he tied around the throat of Kiche。 Then he led her to a small pine；
around which he tied the other string。
White Fang followed and lay down beside her。 Salmon Tongue's hand
reached out to him and rolled him over on his back。 Kiche looked on
anxiously。 White Fang felt fear mounting in him again。 He could not quite
suppress a snarl； but he made no offer to snap。 The hand； with fingers
crooked and spread apart； rubbed his stomach in a playful way and rolled
him from side to side。 It was ridiculous and ungainly； lying there on his
back with legs sprawling in the air。 Besides； it was a position of such utter
helplessness that White Fang's whole nature revolted against it。 He could
do nothing to defend himself。 If this man…animal intended harm； White
Fang knew that he could not escape it。 How could he spring away with his
four legs in the air above him？ Yet submission made him master his fear；
and he only growled softly。 This growl he could not suppress； nor did the
man…animal resent it by giving him a blow on the head。 And furthermore；
such was the strangeness of it； White Fang experienced an unaccountable
sensation of pleasure as the hand rubbed back and forth。 When he was
rolled on his side he ceased to growl； when the fingers pressed and
prodded at the base of his ears the pleasurable sensation increased； and
when； with a final rub and scratch； the man left him alone and went away；
all fear had died out of White Fang。 He was to know fear many times in
his dealing with man； yet it was a token of the fearless companionship
with man that was ultimately to be his。
After a time； White Fang heard strange noises approaching。 He was
quick in his classification； for he knew them at once for man… animal
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noises。 A few minutes later the remainder of the tribe； strung out as it was
on the march； trailed in。 There were more men and many women and
children； forty souls of them； and all heavily burdened with camp
equipage and outfit。 Also there were many dogs； and these； with the
exception of the part…grown puppies； were likewise burdened with camp
outfit。 On their backs； in bags that fastened tightly around underneath； the
dogs carried from twenty to thirty pounds of weight。
White Fang had never seen dogs before； but at sight of them he felt
that they were his own kind； only somehow different。 But they displayed
little difference from the wolf when they discovered the cub and his
mother。 There was a rush。 White Fang bristled and snarled and snapped
