white fang(白牙)-第7节
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the she…wolf。 Never had he been so fond of this body of his as now when
his tenure of it was so precarious。
All night； with burning brands； he fought off the hungry pack。 When
he dozed despite himself； the whimpering and snarling of the dogs aroused
him。 Morning came； but for the first time the light of day failed to scatter
the wolves。 The man waited in vain for them to go。 They remained in a
circle about him and his fire； displaying an arrogance of possession that
shook his courage born of the morning light。
He made one desperate attempt to pull out on the trail。 But the moment
he left the protection of the fire； the boldest wolf leaped for him； but
leaped short。 He saved himself by springing back； the jaws snapping
together a scant six inches from his thigh。 The rest of the pack was now up
and surging upon him； and a throwing of firebrands right and left was
necessary to drive them back to a respectful distance。
Even in the daylight he did not dare leave the fire to chop fresh wood。
Twenty feet away towered a huge dead spruce。 He spent half the day
extending his campfire to the tree； at any moment a half dozen burning
faggots ready at hand to fling at his enemies。 Once at the tree； he studied
the surrounding forest in order to fell the tree in the direction of the most
firewood。
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The night was a repetition of the night before； save that the need for
sleep was becoming overpowering。 The snarling of his dogs was losing its
efficacy。 Besides； they were snarling all the time； and his benumbed and
drowsy senses no longer took note of changing pitch and intensity。 He
awoke with a start。 The she…wolf was less than a yard from him。
Mechanically； at short range； without letting go of it； he thrust a brand full
into her open and snarling mouth。 She sprang away； yelling with pain； and
while he took delight in the smell of burning flesh and hair； he watched
her shaking her head and growling wrathfully a score of feet away。
But this time； before he dozed again； he tied a burning pine…knot to his
right hand。 His eyes were closed but few minutes when the burn of the
flame on his flesh awakened him。 For several hours he adhered to this
programme。 Every time he was thus awakened he drove back the wolves
with flying brands； replenished the fire； and rearranged the pine…knot on
his hand。 All worked well； but there came a time when he fastened the
pine…knot insecurely。 As his eyes closed it fell away from his hand。
He dreamed。 It seemed to him that he was in Fort McGurry。 It was
warm and comfortable； and he was playing cribbage with the Factor。 Also；
it seemed to him that the fort was besieged by wolves。 They were howling
at the very gates； and sometimes he and the Factor paused from the game
to listen and laugh at the futile efforts of the wolves to get in。 And then； so
strange was the dream； there was a crash。 The door was burst open。 He
could see the wolves flooding into the big living…room of the fort。 They
were leaping straight for him and the Factor。 With the bursting open of the
door； the noise of their howling had increased tremendously。 This howling
now bothered him。 His dream was merging into something else … he knew
not what； but through it all； following him； persisted the howling。
And then he awoke to find the howling real。 There was a great snarling
and yelping。 The wolves were rushing him。 They were all about him and
upon him。 The teeth of one had closed upon his arm。 Instinctively he
leaped into the fire； and as he leaped； he felt the sharp slash of teeth that
tore through the flesh of his leg。 Then began a fire fight。 His stout mittens
temporarily protected his hands； and he scooped live coals into the air in
all directions； until the campfire took on the semblance of a volcano。
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But it could not last long。 His face was blistering in the heat； his
eyebrows and lashes were singed off； and the heat was becoming
unbearable to his feet。 With a flaming brand in each hand； he sprang to the
edge of the fire。 The wolves had been driven back。 On every side；
wherever the live coals had fallen； the snow was sizzling； and every little
while a retiring wolf； with wild leap and snort and snarl； announced that
one such live coal had been stepped upon。
Flinging his brands at the nearest of his enemies； the man thrust his
smouldering mittens into the snow and stamped about to cool his feet。 His
two dogs were missing； and he well knew that they had served as a course
in the protracted meal which had begun days before with Fatty； the last
course of which would likely be himself in the days to follow。
〃You ain't got me yet！〃 he cried； savagely shaking his fist at the hungry
beasts； and at the sound of his voice the whole circle was agitated； there
was a general snarl； and the she…wolf slid up close to him across the snow
and watched him with hungry wistfulness。
He set to work to carry out a new idea that had come to him。 He
extended the fire into a large circle。 Inside this circle he crouched； his
sleeping outfit under him as a protection against the melting snow。 When
he had thus disappeared within his shelter of flame； the whole pack came
curiously to the rim of the fire to see what had become of him。 Hitherto
they had been denied access to the fire； and they now settled down in a
close…drawn circle； like so many dogs； blinking and yawning and
stretching their lean bodies in the unaccustomed warmth。 Then the she…
wolf sat down； pointed her nose at a star； and began to howl。 One by one
the wolves joined her； till the whole pack； on haunches； with noses pointed
skyward； was howling its hunger cry。
Dawn came； and daylight。 The fire was burning low。 The fuel had run
out； and there was need to get more。 The man attempted to step out of his
circle of flame； but the wolves surged to meet him。 Burning brands made
them spring aside； but they no longer sprang back。 In vain he strove to
drive them back。 As he gave up and stumbled inside his circle； a wolf
leaped for him； missed； and landed with all four feet in the coals。 It cried
out with terror； at the same time snarling； and scrambled back to cool its
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paws in the snow。
The man sat down on his blankets in a crouching position。 His body
leaned forward from the hips。 His shoulders； relaxed and drooping； and his
head on his knees advertised that he had given up the struggle。 Now and
again he raised his head to note the dying down of the fire。 The circle of
flame and coals was breaking into segments with openings in between。
These openings grew in size； the segments diminished。
〃I guess you can come an' get me any time；〃 he mumbled。 〃Anyway；
I'm goin' to sleep。〃
Once he awakened； and in an opening in the circle； directly in front of
him； he saw the she…wolf gazing at him。
Again he awakened； a little later； though it seemed hours to him。 A
mysterious change had taken place … so mysterious a change that he was
shocked wider awake。 Something had happened。 He could not understand
at first。 Then he discovered it。 The wolves were gone。 Remained only the
trampled snow to show how closely they had pressed him。 Sleep was
welling up and gripping him again； his head was sinking down upon his
knees； when he roused with a sudden start。
There were cries of men； and churn of sleds； the creaking of harnesses；
and the eager whimpering of straining dogs。 Four sleds pulled in from the
river bed to the camp among the trees。 Half a dozen men were about the
man who crouched in the centre of the dying fire。 They were shaking and
prodding him into consciousness。 He looked at them like a drunken man
and maundered in strange； sleepy speech。
〃Red she…wolf。 。 。 。 Come in with the dogs at feedin' time。 。 。 。 First she
ate the dog…food。 。 。 。 Then she
