Hestudiedthenail-formation,andproddedthefinger-tips,nowsharply,andagainsoftly,gaugingthewhilethenerve-sensationsproduced。Itfascinatedhim,andhegrewsuddenlyfondofthissubtlefleshofhisthatworkedsobeautifullyandsmoothlyanddelicately。Thenhewouldcastaglanceoffearatthewolf-circledrawnexpectantlyabouthim,andlikeablowtherealizationwouldstrikehimthatthiswonderfulbodyofhis,thislivingflesh,wasnomorethansomuchmeat,aquestofravenousanimals,tobetornandslashedbytheirhungryfangs,tobesustenancetothemasthemooseandtherabbithadoftenbeensustenancetohim。
Hecameoutofadozethatwashalfnightmare,toseethered-huedshe-wolfbeforehim。Shewasnotmorethanhalfadozenfeetaway,sittinginthesnowandwistfullyregardinghim。Thetwodogswerewhimperingandsnarlingathisfeet,butshetooknonoticeofthem。Shewaslookingattheman,andforsometimehereturnedherlook。Therewasnothingthreateningabouther。Shelookedathimmerelywithagreatwistfulness,butheknewittobethewistfulnessofanequallygreathunger。Hewasthefood,andthesightofhimexcitedinherthegustatorysensations。Hermouthopened,thesalivadrooledforth,andshelickedherchopswiththepleasureofanticipation。
Aspasmoffearwentthroughhim。Hereachedhastilyforabrandtothrowather。Butevenashereached,andbeforehisfingershadclosedonthemissile,shesprangbackintosafety;andheknewthatshewasusedtohavingthingsthrownather。Shehadsnarledasshesprangaway,baringherwhitefangstotheirroots,allherwistfulnessvanishing,beingreplacedbyacarnivorousmalignitythatmadehimshudder。Heglancedatthehandthatheldthebrand,noticingthecunningdelicacyofthefingersthatgrippedit,howtheyadjustedthemselvestoalltheinequalitiesofthesurface,curlingoverandunderandabouttheroughwood,andonelittlefinger,tooclosetotheburningportionofthebrand,sensitivelyandautomaticallywrithingbackfromthehurtfulheattoacoolergripping-place;
andinthesameinstantheseemedtoseeavisionofthosesamesensitiveanddelicatefingersbeingcrushedandtornbythewhiteteethoftheshe-wolf。
Neverhadhebeensofondofthisbodyofhisasnowwhenhistenureofitwassoprecarious。
Allnight,withburningbrands,hefoughtoffthehungrypack。Whenhedozeddespitehimself,thewhimperingandsnarlingofthedogsarousedhim。Morningcame,butforthefirsttimethelightofdayfailedtoscatterthewolves。Themanwaitedinvainforthemtogo。Theyremainedinacircleabouthimandhisfire,displayinganarroganceofpossessionthatshookhiscouragebornofthemorninglight。
Hemadeonedesperateattempttopulloutonthetrail。Butthemomenthelefttheprotectionofthefire,theboldestwolfleapedforhim,butleapedshort。Hesavedhimselfbyspringingback,thejawssnappingtogetherascantsixinchesfromhisthigh。Therestofthepackwasnowupandsurginguponhim,andathrowingoffirebrandsrightandleftwasnecessarytodrivethembacktoarespectfuldistance。
Eveninthedaylighthedidnotdareleavethefiretochopfreshwood。
Twentyfeetawaytoweredahugedeadspruce。Hespenthalfthedayextendinghiscampfiretothetree,atanymomentahalfdozenburningfagotsreadyathandtoflingathisenemies。Onceatthetree,hestudiedthesurroundingforestinordertofellthetreeinthedirectionofthemostfirewood。
Thenightwasarepetitionofthenightbefore,savethattheneedforsleepwasbecomingoverpowering。Thesnarlingofhisdogswaslosingitsefficacy。Besides,theyweresnarlingallthetime,andhisbenumbedanddrowsysensesnolongertooknoteofchangingpitchandintensity。Heawokewithastart。Theshe-wolfwaslessthanayardfromhim。Mechanically,atshortrange,withoutlettinggoofit,hethrustabrandfullintoheropenandsnarlingmouth。Shesprangaway,yellingwithpain,andwhilehetookdelightinthesmellofburningfleshandhair,hewatchedhershakingherheadandgrowlingwrathfullyascoreoffeetaway。
Butthistime,beforehedozedagain,hetiedaburningpine-knottohisrighthand。Hiseyeswereclosedbutafewminuteswhentheburnoftheflameonhisfleshawakenedhim。Forseveralhoursheadheredtothisprogramme。Everytimehewasthusawakenedhedrovebackthewolveswithflyingbrands,replenishedthefire,andrearrangedthepine-knotonhishand。Allworkedwell,buttherecameatimewhenhefastenedthepineknotinsecurely。Ashiseyescloseditfellawayfromhishand。
Hedreamed。ItseemedtohimthathewasinFortMcGurry。Itwaswarmandcomfortable,andhewasplayingcribbagewiththeFactor。Also,itseemedtohimthatthefortwasbesiegedbywolves。Theywerehowlingattheverygates,andsometimesheandtheFactorpausedfromthegametolistenandlaughatthefutileeffortsofthewolvestogetin。Andthen,sostrangewasthedream,therewasacrash。Thedoorwasburstopen。Hecouldseethewolvesfloodingintothebigliving-roomofthefort。TheywereleapingstraightforhimandtheFactor。Withtheburstingopenofthedoor,thenoiseoftheirhowlinghadincreasedtremendously。Thishowlingnowbotheredhim。Hisdreamwasmergingintosomethingelse——heknewnotwhat;butthroughitall,followinghim,persistedthehowling。
Andthenheawoketofindthehowlingreal。Therewasagreatsnarlingandyelping。Thewolveswererushinghim。Theywereallabouthimanduponhim。Theteethofonehadcloseduponhisarm。Instinctivelyheleapedintothefire,andasheleaped,hefeltthesharpslashofteeththattorethroughthefleshofhisleg。Thenbeganafirefight。Hisstoutmittenstemporarilyprotectedhishands,andhescoopedlivecoalsintotheairinalldirections,untilthecamp-firetookonthesemblanceofavolcano。
Butitcouldnotlastlong。Hisfacewasblisteringintheheat,hiseyebrowsandlashesweresingedoff,andtheheatwasbecomingunbearabletohisfeet。Withaflamingbrandineachhand,hesprangtotheedgeofthefire。Thewolveshadbeendrivenback。Oneveryside,whereverthelivecoalshadfallen,thesnowwassizzling,andeverylittlewhilearetiringwolf,withwildleapandsnortandsnarl,announcedthatonesuchlivecoalhadbeensteppedupon。
Flinginghisbrandsatthenearestofhisenemies,themanthrusthissmoulderingmittensintothesnowandstampedabouttocoolhisfeet。Histwodogsweremissing,andhewellknewthattheyhadservedasacourseintheprotractedmealwhichhadbegundaysbeforewithFatty,thelastcourseofwhichwouldlikelybehimselfinthedaystofollow。
"Youain'tgotmeyet!"hecried,savagelyshakinghisfistatthehungrybeasts;andatthesoundofhisvoicethewholecirclewasagitated,therewasageneralsnarl,andtheshe-wolfslidupclosetohimacrossthesnowandwatchedhimwithhungrywistfulness。
Hesettoworktocarryoutanewideathathadcometohim。Heextendedthefireintoalargecircle。Insidethiscirclehecrouched,hissleepingoutfitunderhimasaprotectionagainstthemeltingsnow。Whenhehadthusdisappearedwithinhisshelterofflame,thewholepackcamecuriouslytotherimofthefiretoseewhathadbecomeofhim。Hithertotheyhadbeendeniedaccesstothefire,andtheynowsettleddowninaclose-drawncircle,likesomanydogs,blinkingandyawningandstretchingtheirleanbodiesintheunaccustomedwarmth。Thentheshe-wolfsatdown,pointedhernoseatastar,andbegantohowl。Onebyonethewolvesjoinedher,tillthewholepack,onhaunches,withnosespointedskyward,washowlingitshungercry。
Dawncame,anddaylight。Thefirewasburninglow。Thefuelhadrunout,andtherewasneedtogetmore。Themanattemptedtostepoutofhiscircleofflame,butthewolvessurgedtomeethim。Burningbrandsmadethemspringaside,buttheynolongersprangback。Invainhestrovetodrivethemback。Ashegaveupandstumbledinsidehiscircle,awolfleapedforhim,missed,andlandedwithallfourfeetinthecoals。Itcriedoutwithterror,atthesametimesnarling,andscrambledbacktocoolitspawsinthesnow。
Themansatdownonhisblanketsinacrouchingposition。Hisbodyleanedforwardfromthehips。Hisshoulders,relaxedanddrooping,andhisheadonhiskneesadvertisedthathehadgivenupthestruggle。Nowandagainheraisedhisheadtonotethedyingdownofthefire。Thecircleofflameandcoalswasbreakingintosegmentswithopeningsinbetween。Theseopeningsgrewinsize,thesegmentsdiminished。
"Iguessyoucancomean'getmeanytime,"hemumbled。"Anyway,I'mgoin'tosleep。"
Oncehewakened,andinanopeninginthecircle,directlyinfrontofhim,hesawtheshe-wolfgazingathim。
Againheawakened,alittlelater,thoughitseemedhourstohim。A
mysteriouschangehadtakenplace——somysteriousachangethathewasshockedwiderawake。Somethinghadhappened。Hecouldnotunderstandatfirst。Thenhediscoveredit。Thewolvesweregone。Remainedonlythetrampledsnowtoshowhowcloselytheyhadpressedhim。Sleepwaswellingupandgrippinghimagain,hisheadwassinkingdownuponhisknees,whenherousedwithasuddenstart。
Therewerecriesofmen,thechurnofsleds,thecreakingofharnesses,andtheeagerwhimperingofstrainingdogs。Foursledspulledinfromtheriverbedtothecampamongthetrees。Halfadozenmenwereaboutthemanwhocrouchedinthecentreofthedyingfire。Theywereshakingandproddinghimintoconsciousness。Helookedatthemlikeadrunkenmanandmaunderedinstrange,sleepyspeech:
"Redshe-wolf……Comeinwiththedogsatfeedin'time……Firstsheatethedog-food……Thensheatethedogs……An'afterthatsheateBill……"
"Where'sLordAlfred?"oneofthemenbellowedinhisear,shakinghimroughly。
Heshookhisheadslowly。"No,shedidn'teathim……He'sroostin'
inatreeatthelastcamp。"
"Dead?"themanshouted。
"An'inabox,"Henryanswered。Hejerkedhisshoulderpetulantlyawayfromthegripofhisquestioner。"Say,youlemmealone……I'mjes'
plumbtuckeredout……Goo'night,everybody。"
Hiseyesflutteredandwentshut。Hischinfellforwardonhischest。
Andevenastheyeasedhimdownupontheblanketshissnoreswererisingonthefrostyair。
Buttherewasanothersound。Farandfaintitwas,intheremotedistance,thecryofthehungrywolf-packasittookthetrailofothermeatthanthemanithadjustmissed。WhiteFang:PartII:BornoftheWild:Chapter2:TheBattleoftheFangsPartII:BornoftheWildChapter1
THEBATTLEOFTHEFANGS
Itwastheshe-wolfwhohadfirstcaughtthesoundofmen'svoicesandthewhiningofthesled-dogs;anditwastheshe-wolfwhowasfirsttospringawayfromthecorneredmaninhiscircleofdyingflame。Thepackhadbeenloathtoforegothekillithadhunteddown,anditlingeredforseveralminutes,makingsureofthesounds;andthenit,too,sprangawayonthetrailmadebytheshe-wolf。
Runningattheforefrontofthepackwasalargegraywolf——oneofitsseveralleaders。Itwashewhodirectedthepack'scourseontheheelsoftheshe-wolf。Itwashewhosnarledwarninglyattheyoungermembersofthepackorslashedatthemwithhisfangswhentheyambitiouslytriedtopasshim。Anditwashewhoincreasedthepacewhenhesightedtheshe-wolf,nowtrottingslowlyacrossthesnow。
Shedroppedinalongsidebyhim,asthoughitwereherappointedposition,andtookthepaceofthepack。Hedidnotsnarlather,norshowhisteeth,whenanyleapofherschancedtoputherinadvanceofhim。Onthecontrary,heseemedkindlydisposedtowardher——tookindlytosuither,forhewaspronetorunneartoher,andwhenherantoonearitwasshewhosnarledandshowedherteeth。Norwassheaboveslashinghisshouldersharplyonoccasion。Atsuchtimeshebetrayednoanger。Hemerelysprangtothesideandranstifflyaheadforseveralawkwardleaps,incarriageandconductresemblinganabashedcountryswain。
Thiswashisonetroubleintherunningofthepack;butshehadothertroubles。Onherothersideranagauntoldwolf,grizzledandmarkedwiththescarsofmanybattles。Heranalwaysonherrightside。Thefactthathehadbutoneeye,andthatthelefteye,mightaccountforthis。He,also,wasaddictedtocrowdingher,toveeringtowardhertillhisscarredmuzzletouchedherbody,orshoulder,orneck。Aswiththerunningmateontheleft,sherepelledtheseattentionswithherteeth;butwhenbothbestowedtheirattentionsatthesametimeshewasroughlyjostled,beingcompelled,withquicksnapstoeitherside,todrivebothloversawayandatthesametimetomaintainherforwardleapwiththepackandseethewayofherfeetbeforeher。Atsuchtimesherrunningmatesflashedtheirteethandgrowledthreateninglyacrossateachother。Theymighthavefought,butevenwooinganditsrivalrywaiteduponthemorepressinghunger-needofthepack。
Aftereachrepulse,whentheoldwolfsheeredabruptlyawayfromthesharp-toothedobjectofhisdesire,heshoulderedagainstayoungthree-year-oldthatranonhisblindrightside。Thisyoungwolfhadattainedhisfullsize;and,consideringtheweakandfamishedconditionofthepack,hepossessedmorethantheaveragevigorandspirit。Nevertheless,heranwithhisheadevenwiththeshoulderofhisone-eyedelder。Whenheventuredtorunabreastoftheolderwolf,whichwasseldom,asnarlandasnapsenthimbackevenwiththeshoulderagain。Sometimes,however,hedroppedcautiouslyandslowlybehindandedgedinbetweentheoldleaderandtheshe-wolf。Thiswasdoublyresented,eventriplyresented。Whenshesnarledherdispleasure,theoldleaderwouldwhirlonthethree-year-old。Sometimesshewhirledwithhim。Andsometimestheyoungleaderontheleftwhirled,too。
Atsuchtimes,confrontedbythreesetsofsavageteeth,theyoungwolfstoppedprecipitately,throwinghimselfbackonhishaunches,withfore-legsstiff,mouthmenacing,andmanebristling。Thisconfusioninthefrontofthemovingpackalwayscausedconfusionintherear。Thewolvesbehindcollidedwiththeyoungwolfandexpressedtheirdispleasurebyadministeringsharpnipsonhishind-legsandflanks。Hewaslayinguptroubleforhimself,forlackoffoodandshorttemperswenttogether;butwiththeboundlessfaithofyouthhepersistedinrepeatingtheman渦vreeverylittlewhile,thoughitneversucceededingaininganythingforhimbutdiscomfiture。
Hadtherebeenfood,love-makingandfightingwouldhavegoneonapace,andthepack-formationwouldhavebeenbrokenup。Butthesituationofthepackwasdesperate。Itwasleanwithlong-standinghunger。Itranbelowitsordinaryspeed。Attherearlimpedtheweakmembers,theveryyoungandtheveryold。Atthefrontwerethestrongest。Yetallweremorelikeskeletonsthanfull-bodiedwolves。Nevertheless,withtheexceptionoftheonesthatlimped,themovementsoftheanimalswereeffortlessandtireless。Theirstringymusclesseemedfountsofinexhaustibleenergy。
Behindeverysteel-likecontractionofamuscle,layanothersteel-likecontraction,andanother,andanother,apparentlywithoutend。
Theyranmanymilesthatday。Theyranthroughthenight。Andthenextdayfoundthemstillrunning。Theywererunningoverthesurfaceofaworldfrozenanddead。Nolifestirred。Theyalonemovedthroughthevastinertness。
Theyalonewerealive,andtheysoughtforotherthingsthatwerealiveinorderthattheymightdevourthemandcontinuetolive。
Theycrossedlowdividesandrangedadozensmallstreamsinalower-lyingcountrybeforetheirquestwasrewarded。Thentheycameuponmoose。Itwasabigbulltheyfirstfound。Herewasmeatandlife,anditwasguardedbynomysteriousfiresnorflyingmissilesofflame。Splayhoofsandpalmatedantlerstheyknew,andtheyflungtheircustomarypatienceandcautiontothewind。Itwasabrieffightandfierce。Thebigbullwasbesetoneveryside。Herippedthemopenorsplittheirskullswithshrewdlydrivenblowsofhisgreathoofs。Hecrushedthemandbrokethemonhislargehorns。
Hestampedthemintothesnowunderhiminthewallowingstruggle。Buthewasforedoomed,andhewentdownwiththeshe-wolftearingsavagelyathisthroat,andwithotherteethfixedeverywhereuponhim,devouringhimalive,beforeeverhislaststrugglesceasedorhislastdamagehadbeenwrought。
Therewasfoodinplenty。Thebullweighedovereighthundredpounds——fullytwentypoundsofmeatpermouthfortheforty-oddwolvesofthepack。Butiftheycouldfastprodigiously,theycouldfeedprodigiously,andsoonafewscatteredboneswereallthatremainedofthesplendidlivebrutethathadfacedthepackafewhoursbefore。
Therewasnowmuchrestingandsleeping。Withfullstomachs,bickeringandquarrelingbeganamongtheyoungermales,andthiscontinuedthroughthefewdaysthatfollowedbeforethebreaking-upofthepack。Thefaminewasover。Thewolveswerenowinthecountryofgame,andthoughtheystillhuntedinpack,theyhuntedmorecautiously,cuttingoutheavycowsorcrippledoldbullsfromthesmallmoose-herdstheyranacross。
Therecameaday,inthislandofplenty,whenthewolf-packsplitinhalfandwentindifferentdirections。Theshe-wolf,theyoungleaderonherleft,andtheone-eyedelderonherright,ledtheirhalfofthepackdowntotheMackenzieRiverandacrossintothelakecountrytotheeast。
Eachdaythisremnantofthepackdwindled。Twobytwo,maleandfemale,thewolvesweredeserting。Occasionallyasolitarymalewasdrivenoutbythesharpteethofhisrivals。Intheendthereremainedonlyfour:
theshe-wolf,theyoungleader,theone-eyedone,andtheambitiousthree-year-old。
Theshe-wolfhadbynowdevelopedaferocioustemper。Herthreesuitorsallborethemarksofherteeth。Yettheyneverrepliedinkind,neverdefendedthemselvesagainsther。Theyturnedtheirshoulderstohermostsavageslashes,andwithwaggingtailsandmincingstepsstrovetoplacateherwrath。Butiftheywereallmildnesstowardher,theywereallfiercenesstowardoneanother。Thethree-year-oldgrewtooambitiousinhisfierceness。
Hecaughttheone-eyedelderonhisblindsideandrippedhisearintoribbons。Thoughthegrizzledoldfellowcouldseeonlyononeside,againsttheyouthandvigoroftheotherhebroughtintoplaythewisdomoflongyearsofexperience。Hislosteyeandhisscarredmuzzleboreevidencetothenatureofhisexperience。Hehadsurvivedtoomanybattlestobeindoubtforamomentaboutwhattodo。
Thebattlebeganfairly,butitdidnotendfairly。Therewasnotellingwhattheoutcomewouldhavebeen,forthethirdwolfjoinedtheelder,andtogether,oldleaderandyoungleader,theyattackedtheambitiousthree-year-oldandproceededtodestroyhim。Hewasbesetoneithersidebythemercilessfangsofhiserstwhilecomrades。Forgottenwerethedaystheyhadhuntedtogether,thegametheyhadpulleddown,thefaminetheyhadsuffered。Thatbusinesswasathingofthepast。Thebusinessoflovewasathand——everasternerandcruelerbusinessthanthatoffood-getting。
Andinthemeanwhile,theshe-wolf,thecauseofitall,satdowncontentedlyonherhaunchesandwatched。Shewasevenpleased。Thiswasherday,——
anditcamenotoften,——whenmanesbristled,andfangsmotefangorrippedandtoretheyieldingflesh,allforthepossessionofher。
Andinthebusinessoflovethethree-year-old,whohadmadethishisfirstadventureuponit,yieldeduphislife。Oneithersideofhisbodystoodhistworivals。Theyweregazingattheshe-wolf,whosatsmilinginthesnow。Buttheelderleaderwaswise,verywise,inloveevenasinbattle。Theyoungerleaderturnedhisheadtolickawoundonhisshoulder。
Thecurveofhisneckwasturnedtowardhisrival。Withhisoneeyetheeldersawtheopportunity。Hedartedinlowandclosedwithhisfangs。
Itwasalong,rippingslash,anddeepaswell。Histeeth,inpassing,burstthewallofthegreatveinofthethroat。Thenheleapedclear。
Theyoungleadersnarledterribly,buthissnarlbrokemidmostintoaticklingcough。Bleedingandcoughing,alreadystricken,hesprangattheelderandfoughtwhilelifefadedfromhim,hislegsgoingweakbeneathhim,thelightofdaydullingonhiseyes,hisblowsandspringsfallingshorterandshorter。
Andallthewhiletheshe-wolfsatonherhaunchesandsmiled。Shewasmadegladinvaguewaysbythebattle,forthiswasthelove-makingoftheWild,thesex-tragedyofthenaturalworldthatwastragedyonlytothosethatdied。Tothosethatsurviveditwasnottragedy,butrealizationandachievement。
Whentheyoungleaderlayinthesnowandmovednomore,OneEyestalkedovertotheshe-wolf。Hiscarriagewasoneofmingledtriumphandcaution。
Hewasplainlyexpectantofarebuff,andhewasjustasplainlysurprisedwhenherteethdidnotflashoutathiminanger。Forthefirsttimeshemethimwithakindlymanner。Shesniffednoseswithhim,andevencondescendedtoleapaboutandfriskandplaywithhiminquitepuppyishfashion。Andhe,forallhisgrayyearsandsageexperience,behavedquiteaspuppyishlyandevenalittlemorefoolishly。
Forgottenalreadywerethevanquishedrivalsandthelove-talered-writtenonthesnow。Forgotten,saveonce,whenoldOneEyestoppedforamomenttolickhisstiffeningwounds。Thenitwasthathislipshalfwrithedintoasnarl,andthehairofhisneckandshouldersinvoluntarilybristled,whilehehalfcrouchedforaspring,hisclawsspasmodicallyclutchingintothesnow-surfaceforfirmerfooting。Butitwasallforgottenthenextmoment,ashesprangaftertheshe-wolf,whowascoylyleadinghimachasethroughthewoods。
Afterthattheyransidebyside,likegoodfriendswhohavecometoanunderstanding。Thedayspassedby,andtheykepttogether,huntingtheirmeatandkillingandeatingitincommon。Afteratimetheshe-wolfbegantogrowrestless。Sheseemedtobesearchingforsomethingthatshecouldnotfind。Thehollowsunderfallentreesseemedtoattracther,andshespentmuchtimenosingaboutamongthelargersnow-piledcrevicesintherocksandinthecavesofoverhangingbanks。OldOneEyewasnotinterestedatall,buthefollowedhergood-naturedlyinherquest,andwhenherinvestigationsinparticularplaceswereunusuallyprotracted,hewouldliedownandwaituntilshewasreadytogoon。
Theydidnotremaininoneplace,buttravelledacrosscountryuntiltheyregainedtheMackenzieRiver,downwhichtheyslowlywent,leavingitoftentohuntgamealongthesmallstreamsthatenteredit,butalwaysreturningtoitagain。Sometimestheychanceduponotherwolves,usuallyinpairs;buttherewasnofriendlinessofintercoursedisplayedoneitherside,nogladnessatmeeting,nodesiretoreturntothepack-formation。
Severaltimestheyencounteredsolitarywolves。Thesewerealwaysmales,andtheywerepressinglyinsistentonjoiningwithOneEyeandhismate。
Thisheresented,andwhenshestoodshouldertoshoulderwithhim,bristlingandshowingherteeth,theaspiringsolitaryoneswouldbackoff,turntail,andcontinueontheirlonelyway。
Onemoonlightnight,runningthroughthequietforest,OneEyesuddenlyhalted。Hismuzzlewentup,histailstiffened,andhisnostrilsdilatedashescentedtheair。Onefootalsoheheldup,afterthemannerofadog。Hewasnotsatisfied,andhecontinuedtosmelltheair,strivingtounderstandthemessageborneuponittohim。Onecarelesssniffhadsatisfiedhismate,andshetrottedontoreassurehim。Thoughhefollowedher,hewasstilldubious,andhecouldnotforbearanoccasionalhaltinordermorecarefullytostudythewarning。
Shecreptoutcautiouslyontheedgeofalargeopenspaceinthemidstofthetrees。Forsometimeshestoodalone。ThenOneEye,creepingandcrawling,everysenseonthealert,everyhairradiatinginfinitesuspicion,joinedher。Theystoodsidebyside,watchingandlisteningandsmelling。
Totheirearscamethesoundsofdogswranglingandscuffling,thegutturalcriesofmen,thesharpervoicesofscoldingwomen,andoncetheshrillandplaintivecryofachild。Withtheexceptionofthehugebulksoftheskinlodges,littlecouldbeseensavetheflamesofthefire,brokenbythemovementsofinterveningbodies,andthesmokerisingslowlyonthequietair。ButtotheirnostrilscamethemyriadsmellsofanIndiancamp,carryingastorythatwaslargelyincomprehensibletoOneEye,buteverydetailofwhichtheshe-wolfknew。
Shewasstrangelystirred,andsniffedandsniffedwithanincreasingdelight。ButoldOneEyewasdoubtful。Hebetrayedhisapprehension,andstartedtentativelytogo。Sheturnedandtouchedhisneckwithhermuzzleinareassuringway,thenregardedthecampagain。Anewwistfulnesswasinherface,butitwasnotthewistfulnessofhunger。Shewasthrillingtoadesirethaturgedhertogoforward,tobeinclosertothatfire,tobesquabblingwiththedogs,andtobeavoidinganddodgingthestumblingfeetofmen。
OneEyemovedimpatientlybesideher;herunrestcamebackuponher,andsheknewagainherpressingneedtofindthethingforwhichshesearched。
Sheturnedandtrottedbackintotheforest,tothegreatreliefofOneEye,whotrottedalittletotheforeuntiltheywerewellwithintheshelterofthetrees。
Astheyslidalong,noiselessasshadows,inthemoonlight,theycameuponarun-way。Bothnoseswentdowntothefootprintsinthesnow。Thesefootprintswereveryfresh。OneEyeranaheadcautiously,hismateathisheels。Thebroadpadsoftheirfeetwerespreadwideandincontactwiththesnowwerelikevelvet。OneEyecaughtsightofadimmovementofwhiteinthemidstofthewhite。Hisslidinggaithadbeendeceptivelyswift,butitwasasnothingtothespeedatwhichhenowran。Beforehimwasboundingthefaintpatchofwhitehehaddiscovered。
Theywererunningalonganarrowalleyflankedoneithersidebyagrowthofyoungspruce。Throughthetreesthemouthofthealleycouldbeseen,openingoutonamoonlitglade。OldOneEyewasrapidlyoverhaulingthefleeingshapeofwhite。Boundbyboundhegained。Nowhewasuponit。Oneleapmoreandhisteethwouldbesinkingintoit。Butthatleapwasnevermade。Highintheair,andstraightup,soaredtheshapeofwhite,nowastrugglingsnowshoerabbitthatleapedandbounded,executingafantasticdancethereabovehimintheairandneveroncereturningtoearth。
OneEyesprangbackwithasnortofsuddenfright,thenshrankdowntothesnowandcrouched,snarlingthreatsatthisthingoffearhedidnotunderstand。Buttheshe-wolfcoollythrustpasthim。Shepoisedforamoment,thensprangforthedancingrabbit。She,too,soaredhigh,butnotsohighasthequarry,andherteethclippedemptilytogetherwithametallicsnap。Shemadeanotherleap,andanother。
Hermatehadslowlyrelaxedfromhiscrouchandwaswatchingher。Henowevinceddispleasureatherrepeatedfailures,andhimselfmadeamightyspringupward。Histeethclosedupontherabbit,andheboreitbacktoearthwithhim。Butatthesametimetherewasasuspiciouscracklingmovementbesidehim,andhisastonishedeyesawayoungsprucesaplingbendingdownabovehimtostrikehim。Hisjawsletgotheirgrip,andheleapedbackwardtoescapethisstrangedanger,hislipsdrawnbackfromhisfangs,histhroatsnarling,everyhairbristlingwithrageandfright。Andinthatmomentthesaplingreareditsslenderlengthuprightandtherabbitsoareddancingintheairagain。
Theshe-wolfwasangry。Shesankherfangsintohermate'sshoulderinreproof;andhe,frightened,unawareofwhatconstitutedthisnewonslaught,struckbackferociouslyandinstillgreaterfright,rippingdownthesideoftheshe-wolf'smuzzle。Forhimtoresentsuchreproofwasequallyunexpectedtoher,andshespranguponhiminsnarlingindignation。Thenhediscoveredhismistakeandtriedtoplacateher。Butsheproceededtopunishhimroundly,untilhegaveoverallattemptsatplacation,andwhirledinacircle,hisheadawayfromher,hisshouldersreceivingthepunishmentofherteeth。
Inthemeantimetherabbitdancedabovethemintheair。Theshe-wolfsatdowninthesnow,andoldOneEye,nowmoreinfearofhismatethanofthemysterioussapling,againsprangfortherabbit。Ashesankbackwithitbetweenhisteeth,hekepthiseyeonthesapling。Asbefore,itfollowedhimbacktoearth。Hecroucheddownundertheimpendingblow,hishairbristling,buthisteethstillkeepingtightholdoftherabbit。
Buttheblowdidnotfall。Thesaplingremainedbentabovehim。Whenhemoveditmoved,andhegrowledatitthroughhisclenchedjaws;whenheremainedstill,itremainedstill,andheconcludeditwassafertocontinueremainingstill。Yetthewarmbloodoftherabbittastedgoodinhismouth。
Itwashismatewhorelievedhimfromthequandaryinwhichhefoundhimself。Shetooktherabbitfromhim,andwhilethesaplingswayedandteeteredthreateninglyabovehershecalmlygnawedofftherabbit'shead。
Atoncethesaplingshotup,andafterthatgavenomoretrouble,remaininginthedecorousandperpendicularpositioninwhichnaturehadintendedittgrow。Then,betweenthem,theshe-wolfandOneEyedevouredthegamewhichthemysterioussaplinghadcaughtforthem。
Therewereotherrunwaysandalleyswhererabbitswerehangingintheair,andthewolf-pairporspectedthemall,theshe-wolfleadingtheway,oldOneEyefollowingandobservant,learningthemethodofrobbingsnares——aknowledgedestinedtostandhimingoodsteadinthedaystocome。WhiteFang:PartII:BornoftheWild:Chapter2:TheLairPartII:BornoftheWildChapter2
THELAIR
Fortwodaystheshe-wolfandOneEyehungabouttheIndiancamp。Hewasworriedandapprehensive,yetthecampluredhismateandshewasloathtodepart。Butwhen,onemorning,theairwasrentwiththereportofariflecloseathand,andabulletsmashedagainstatreetrunkseveralinchesfromOneEye'shead,theyhesitatednomore,butwentoffonalong,swinginglopethatputquickmilesbetweenthemandthedanger。
Theydidnotgofar——acoupleofdays'journey。Theshe-wolf'sneedtofindthethingforwhichshesearchedhadnowbecomeimperative。Shewasgettingveryheavy,andcouldrunbutslowly。Once,inthepursuitofarabbit,whichsheordinarilywouldhavecaughtwithease,shegaveoverandlaydownandrested。OneEyecametoher;butwhenhetouchedherneckgentlywithhismuzzleshesnappedathimwithsuchquickfiercenessthathetumbledoverbackwardandcutaridiculousfigureinhisefforttoescapeherteeth。Hertemperwasnowshorterthanever;buthehadbecomemorepatientthaneverandmoresolicitous。
Andthenshefoundthethingforwhichshesought。ItwasafewmilesupasmallstreamthatinthesummertimeflowedintotheMackenzie,butthatthenwasfrozenoverandfrozendowntoitsrockybottom——adeadstreamofsolidwhitefromsourcetomouth。Theshe-wolfwastrottingwearilyalong,hermatewellinadvance,whenshecameupontheoverhanging,highclay-bank。Sheturnedasideandtrottedovertoit。Thewearandtearofspringstormsandmeltingsnowshadunderwashedthebankandinoneplacehadmadeasmallcaveoutofanarrowfissure。
Shepausedatthemouthofthecaveandlookedthewallovercarefully。
Then,ononesideandtheother,sheranalongthebaseofthewalltowhereitsabruptbulkmergedfromthesofter-linedlandscape。Returningtothecave,sheentereditsnarrowmouth。Forashortthreefeetshewascompelledtocrouch,thenthewallswidenedandrosehigherinalittleroundchambernearlysixfeetindiameter。Theroofbarelyclearedherhead。Itwasdryandcosey。Sheinspecteditwithpainstakingcare,whileOneEye,whohadreturned,stoodintheentranceandpatientlywatchedher。Shedroppedherhead,withhernosetothegroundanddirectedtowardapointneartohercloselybunchedfeet,andaroundthispointshecircledseveraltimes;then,withatiredsighthatwasalmostagrunt,shecurledherbodyin,relaxedherlegs,anddroppeddown,herheadtowardtheentrance。
OneEye,withpointed,interestedears,laughedather,andbeyond,outlinedagainstthewhitelight,shecouldseethebrushofhistailwavinggood-naturedly。
Herownears,withasnugglingmovement,laidtheirsharppointsbackwardanddownagainsttheheadforamoment,whilehermouthopenedandhertonguelolledpeaceablyout,andinthiswaysheexpressedthatshewaspleasedandsatisfied。OneEyewashungry。Thoughhelaydownintheentranceandslept,hissleepwasfitful。Hekeptawakingandcockinghisearsatthebrightworldwithout,wheretheAprilsunwasblazingacrossthesnow。
Whenhedozed,uponhisearswouldstealthefaintwhispersofhiddentricklesofrunningwater,andhewouldrouseandlistenintently。Thesunhadcomeback,andalltheawakeningNorthlandworldwascallingtohim。Lifewasstirring。Thefeelofspringwasintheair,thefeelofgrowinglifeunderthesnow,ofsapascendinginthetrees,ofbudsburstingtheshacklesofthefrost。
Hecastanxiousglancesathismate,butsheshowednodesiretogetup。Helookedoutside,andhalfadozensnow-birdsflutteredacrosshisfieldofvision。Hestartedtogetup,thenlookedbacktohismateagain,andsettleddownanddozed。Ashrillandminutesingingstoleuponhishearing。Once,andtwice,hesleepilybrushedhisnosewithhispaw。Thenhewokeup。There,buzzingintheairatthetipofhisnose,wasalonemosquito。Itwasafull-grownmosquito,onethathadlainfrozeninadrylogallwinterandthathadnowbeenthawedoutbythesun。Hecouldresistthecalloftheworldnolonger。Besides,hewashungry。
Hecrawledovertohismateandtriedtopersuadehertogetup。Butsheonlysnarledathim,andhewalkedoutaloneintothebrightsunshinetofindthesnow-surfacesoftunderfootandthetravellingdifficult。Hewentupthefrozenbedofthestream,wherethesnow,shadedbythetrees,wasyethardandcrystalline。Hewasgoneeighthours,andhecamebackthroughthedarknesshungrierthanwhenhehadstarted。Hehadfoundgame,buthehadnotcaughtit。Hehadbrokenthroughthemeltingsnow-crust,andwallowed,whilethesnowshoerabbitshadskimmedalongontoplightlyasever。
Hepausedatthemouthofthecavewithasuddenshockofsuspicion。
Faint,strangesoundscamefromwithin。Theyweresoundsnotmadebyhismate,andyettheywereremotelyfamiliar。Hebelliedcautiouslyinsideandwasmetbyawarningsnarlfromtheshe-wolf。Thishereceivedwithoutperturbation,thoughheobeyeditbykeepinghisdistance;butheremainedinterestedintheothersounds——faint,muffledsobbingsandslubberings。
Hismatewarnedhimirritablyaway,andhecurledupandsleptintheentrance。Whenmorningcameandadimlightpervadedthelair,heagainsoughtafterthesourceoftheremotelyfamiliarsounds。Therewasanewnoteinhismate'swarningsnarl。Itwasajealousnote,andhewasverycarefulinkeepingarespectfuldistance。Nevertheless,hemadeout,shelteringbetweenherlegsagainstthelengthofherbody,fivestrangelittlebundlesoflife,veryfeeble,veryhelpless,makingtinywhimperingnoises,witheyesthatdidnotopentothelight。Hewassurprised。Itwasnotthefirsttimeinhislongandsuccessfullifethatthisthinghadhappened。Ithadhappenedmanytimes,yeteachtimeitwasasfreshasurpriseasevertohim。
Hismatelookedathimanxiously。Everylittlewhilesheemittedalowgrowl,andattimes,whenitseemedtoherheapproachedtoonear,thegrowlshotupinherthroattoasharpsnarl。Ofherownexperienceshehadnomemoryofthethinghappening;butinherinstinct,whichwastheexperienceofallthemothersofwolves,therelurkedamemoryoffathersthathadeatentheirnew-bornandhelplessprogeny。Itmanifesteditselfasafearstrongwithinher,thatmadeherpreventOneEyefrommorecloselyinspectingthecubshehadfathered。
Buttherewasnodanger。OldOneEyewasfeelingtheurgeofanimpulse,thatwas,inturn,aninstinctthathadcomedowntohimfromallthefathersofwolves。Hedidnotquestionit,norpuzzleoverit。Itwasthere,inthefibreofhisbeing;anditwasthemostnaturalthingintheworldthatheshouldobeyitbyturninghisbackonhisnew-bornfamilyandbytrottingoutandawayonthemeat-trailwherebyhelived。
Fiveorsixmilesfromthelair,thestreamdivided,itsforksgoingoffamongthemountainsatarightangle。Here,leadinguptheleftfork,hecameuponafreshtrack。Hesmelleditandfounditsorecentthathecrouchedswiftly,andlookedinthedirectioninwhichitdisappeared。
Thenheturneddeliberatelyandtooktherightfork。Thefootprintwasmuchlargerthantheonehisownfeetmade,andheknewthatinthewakeofsuchatrailtherewaslittlemeatforhim。
Halfamileuptherightfork,hisquickearscaughtthesoundofgnawingteeth。Hestalkedthequarryandfoundittobeaporcupine,standinguprightagainstatreeandtryinghisteethonthebark。OneEyeapproachedcarefullybuthopelessly。Heknewthebreed,thoughhehadnevermetitsofarnorthbefore;andneverinhislonglifehadporcupineservedhimforameal。
ButhehadlongsincelearnedthattherewassuchathingasChance,orOpportunity,andhecontinuedtodrawnear。Therewasneveranytellingwhatmighthappen,forwithlivethingseventsweresomehowalwayshappeningdifferently。
Theporcupinerolleditselfintoaball,radiatinglong,sharpneedlesinalldirectionsthatdefiedattack。InhisyouthOneEyehadoncesniffedtoonearasimilar,apparentlyinertballofquills,andhadthetailflickoutsuddenlyinhisface。Onequillhehadcarriedawayinhismuzzle,whereithadremainedforweeks,aranklingflame,untilitfinallyworkedout。Sohelaydown,inacomfortablecrouchingposition,hisnosefullyafootaway,andoutofthelineofthetail。Thushewaited,keepingperfectlyquiet。Therewasnotelling。Somethingmighthappen。Theporcupinemightunroll。Theremightbeopportunityforadeftandrippingthrustofpawintothetender,unguardedbelly。
Butattheendofhalfanhourhearose,growledwrathfullyatthemotionlessball,andtrottedon。Hehadwaitedtoooftenandfutilelyinthepastforporcupinestounroll,towasteanymoretime。Hecontinueduptherightfork。Thedayworealong,andnothingrewardedhishunt。
Theurgeofhisawakenedinstinctoffatherhoodwasstronguponhim。
Hemustfindmeat。Intheafternoonheblundereduponaptarmigan。Hecameoutofathicketandfoundhimselffacetofacewiththeslow-wittedbird。
Itwassittingonalog,notafootbeyondtheendofhisnose。Eachsawtheother。Thebirdmadeastartledrise,buthestruckitwithhispaw,andsmasheditdowntoearth,thenpounceduponit,andcaughtitinhisteethasitscuttledacrossthesnowtryingtoriseintheairagain。Ashisteethcrunchedthroughthetenderfleshandfragilebones,hebegannaturallytoeat。Thenheremembered,and,turningontheback-track,startedforhome,carryingtheptarmiganinhismouth。
Amileabovetheforks,runningvelvet-footedaswashiscustom,aglidingshadowthatcautiouslyprospectedeachnewvistaofthetrail,hecameuponlaterimprintsofthelargetrackshehaddiscoveredintheearlymorning。Asthetrackledhisway,hefollowed,preparedtomeetthemakerofitateveryturnofthestream。
Heslidhisheadaroundacornerofrock,wherebegananunusuallylargebendinthestream,andhisquickeyesmadeoutsomethingthatsenthimcrouchingswiftlydown。Itwasthemakerofthetrack,alargefemalelynx。
Shewascrouchingashehadcrouchedoncethatday,infrontofherthetight-rolledballofquills。Ifhehadbeenaglidingshadowbefore,henowbecametheghostofsuchashadow,ashecreptandcircledaround,andcameupwelltoleewardofthesilent,motionlesspair。
Helaydowninthesnow,depositingtheptarmiganbesidehim,andwitheyespeeringthroughtheneedlesofalow-growingsprucehewatchedtheplayoflifebeforehim——thewaitinglynxandthewaitingporcupine,eachintentonlife;and,suchwasthecuriousnessofthegame,thewayoflifeforonelayintheeatingoftheother,andthewayoflifefortheotherlayinbeingnoteaten。WhileoldOneEye,thewolf,crouchinginthecovert,playedhispart,too,inthegame,waitingforsomestrangefreakofChance,thatmighthelphimonthemeat-trailwhichwashiswayoflife。
Halfanhourpassed,anhour;andnothinghappened。Theballofquillsmighthavebeenastoneforallitmoved;thelynxmighthavebeenfrozentomarble;andoldOneEyemighthavebeendead。Yetallthreeanimalswerekeyedtoatensenessoflivingthatwasalmostpainful,andscarcelyeverwoulditcometothemtobemorealivethantheywerethenintheirseemingpetrifaction。
OneEyemovedslightlyandpeeredforthwithincreasedeagerness。Somethingwashappening。Theporcupinehadatlastdecidedthatitsenemyhadgoneaway。Slowly,cautiously,itwasunrollingitsballofimpregnablearmor。
Itwasagitatedbynotremorofanticipation。Slowly,slowly,thebristlingballstraightenedoutandlengthened。OneEye,watching,feltasuddenmoistnessinhismouthandadroolingofsaliva,involuntarily,excitedbythelivingmeatthatwasspreadingitselflikearepastbeforehim。
Notquiteentirelyhadtheporcupineunrolledwhenitdiscovereditsenemy。Inthatinstantthelynxstruck。Theblowwaslikeaflashoflight。
Thepaw,withrigidclawscurvingliketalons,shotunderthetenderbellyandcamebackwithaswiftrippingmovement。Hadtheporcupinebeenentirelyunrolled,orhaditnotdiscovereditsenemyafractionofasecondbeforetheblowwasstruck,thepawwouldhaveescapedunscathed;butaside-flickofthetailsanksharpquillsintoitasitwaswithdrawn。
Everythinghadhappenedatonce,——theblow,thecounter-blow,thesquealofagonyfromtheporcupine,thebigcat'ssquallofsuddenhurtandastonishment。OneEyehalfaroseinhisexcitement,hisearsup,histailstraightoutandquiveringbehindhim。Thelynx'sbadtempergotthebestofher。Shesprangsavagelyatthethingthathadhurther。Buttheporcupine,squealingandgrunting,withdisruptedanatomytryingfeeblytorollupintoitsball-protection,flickedoutitstailagain,andagainthebigcatsqualledwithhurtandastonishment。Thenshefelltobackingawayandsneezing,hernosebristlingwithquillslikeamonstrouspin-cushion。
Shebrushedhernosewithherpaws,tryingtodislodgethefierydarts,thrustitintothesnow,andrubbeditagainsttwigsandbranches,allthetimeleapingabout,ahead,sidewise,upanddown,inafrenzyofpainandfright。
Shesneezedcontinually,andherstubofatailwasdoingitsbesttowardlashingaboutbygivingquick,violentjerks。Shequitherantics,andquieteddownforalongminute。OneEyewatched。Andevenhecouldnotrepressastartandaninvoluntarybristlingofhairalonghisbackwhenshesuddenlyleaped,withoutwarning,straightupintheair,atthesametimeemittingalongandmostterriblesquall。Thenshesprangaway,upthetrail,squallingwitheveryleapshemade。
ItwasnotuntilherrackethadfadedawayinthedistanceanddiedoutthatOneEyeventuredforth。Hewalkedasdelicatelyasthoughallthesnowwerecarpetedwithporcupinequills,erectandreadytopiercethesoftpadsofhisfeet。Theporcupinemethisapproachwithafurioussquealingandaclashingofitslongteeth。Ithadmanagedtorollupinaballagain,butitwasnotquitetheoldcompactball;itsmusclesweretoomuchtornforthat。Ithadbeenrippedalmostinhalf,andwasstillbleedingprofusely。
OneEyescoopedoutmouthfulsoftheblood-soakedsnow,andchewedandtastedandswallowed。Thisservedasarelish,andhishungerincreasedmightily;buthewastoooldintheworldtoforgethiscaution。Hewaited。
Helaydownandwaited,whiletheporcupinegrateditsteethandutteredgruntsandsobsandoccasionalsharplittlesqueals。Inalittlewhile,OneEyenoticedthatthequillsweredroopingandthatagreatquiveringhadsetup。Thequiveringcametoanendsuddenly。Therewasafinaldefiantclashofthelongteeth。Thenallthequillsdroopedquitedown,andthebodyrelaxedandmovednomore。
Withanervous,shrinkingpaw,OneEyestretchedouttheporcupinetoitsfulllengthandturneditoveronitsback。Nothinghadhappened。Itwassurelydead。Hestudieditintentlyforamoment,thentookacarefulgripwithhisteethandstartedoffdownthestream,partlycarrying,partlydraggingtheporcupine,withheadturnedtothesidesoastoavoidsteppingonthepricklymass。Herecollectedsomething,droppedtheburden,andtrottedbacktowherehehadlefttheptarmigan。Hedidnothesitateamoment。Heknewclearlywhatwastobedone,andthishedidbypromptlyeatingtheptarmigan。Thenhereturnedandtookuphisburden。
Whenhedraggedtheresultofhisday'shuntintothecave,theshe-wolfinspectedit,turnedhermuzzletohim,andlightlylickedhimontheneck。
Butthenextinstantshewaswarninghimawayfromthecubswithasnarlthatwaslessharshthanusualandthatwasmoreapologeticthanmenacing。
Herinstinctivefearofthefatherofherprogenywastoningdown。Hewasbehavingasawolffathershould,andmanifestingnounholydesiretodevourtheyounglivesshehadbroughtintotheworld。WhiteFang:PartII:BornoftheWild:Chapter3:TheGrayCubPartII:BornoftheWildChapter3
THEGRAYCUB
Hewasdifferentfromhisbrothersandsisters。Theirhairalreadybetrayedthereddishhueinheritedfromtheirmother,theshe-wolf;whilehealone,inthisparticular,tookafterhisfather。Hewastheonelittlegraycubofthelitter。Hehadbredtruetothestraightwolf-stock——infact,hehadbredtrue,physically,tooldOneEyehimself,withbutasingleexception,andthatwasthathehadtwoeyestohisfather'sone。
Thegraycub'seyeshadnotbeenopenlong,yetalreadyhecouldseewithsteadyclearness。Andwhilehiseyeswerestillclosed,hehadfelt,tasted,andsmelled。Heknewhistwobrothersandhistwosistersverywell。Hehadbeguntorompwiththeminafeeble,awkwardway,andeventosquabble,hislittlethroatvibratingwithaqueerraspingnoise,theforerunnerofthegrowl,asheworkedhimselfintoapassion。Andlongbeforehiseyeshadopened,hehadlearnedbytouch,taste,andsmelltoknowhismother——afountofwarmthandliquidfoodandtenderness。Shepossessedagentle,caressingtonguethatsoothedhimwhenitpassedoverhissoftlittlebody,andthatimpelledhimtosnugglecloseagainstherandtodozeofftosleep。
Mostofthefirstmonthofhislifehadbeenpassedthusinsleeping;
butnowhecouldseequitewell,andhestayedawakeforlongerperiodsoftime,andhewascomingtolearnhisworldquitewell。Hisworldwasgloomy;buthedidnotknowthat,forheknewnootherworld。Itwasdim-lighted;
buthiseyeshadneverhadtoadjustthemselvestoanyotherlight。Hisworldwasverysmall。Itslimitswerethewallsofthelair;butashehadnoknowledgeofthewideworldoutside,hewasneveroppressedbythenarrowconfinesofhisexistence。
Buthehadearlydiscoveredthatonewallofhisworldwasdifferentfromtherest。Thiswasthemouthofthecaveandthesourceoflight。
Hehaddiscoveredthatitwasdifferentfromtheotherwallslongbeforehehadanythoughtsofhisown,anyconsciousvolitions。Ithadbeenanirresistibleattractionbeforeeverhiseyesopenedandlookeduponit。
Thelightfromithadbeatuponhissealedlids,andtheeyesandtheopticnerveshadpulsatedtolittle,sparklikeflashes,warm-coloredandstrangelypleasing。Thelifeofhisbody,andofeveryfibreofhisbody,thelifethatwastheverysubstanceofhisbodyandthatwasapartfromhisownpersonallife,hadyearnedtowardthislightandurgedhisbodytowarditinthesamewaythatthecunningchemistryofaplanturgesittowardthesun。
Always,inthebeginning,beforehisconsciouslifedawned,hehadcrawledtowardthemouthofthecave。Andinthishisbrothersandsisterswereonewithhim。Never,inthatperiod,didanyofthemcrawltowardthedarkcornersoftheback-wall。Thelightdrewthemasiftheywereplants;thechemistryofthelifethatcomposedthemdemandedthelightasanecessityofbeing;andtheirlittlepuppet-bodiescrawledblindlyandchemically,likethetendrilsofavine。Lateron,wheneachdevelopedindividualityandbecamepersonallyconsciousofimpulsionsanddesires,theattractionofthelightincreased。Theywerealwayscrawlingandsprawlingtowardit,andbeingdrivenbackfromitbytheirmother。
Itwasinthiswaythatthegraycublearnedotherattributesofhismotherthanthesoft,soothingtongue。Inhisinsistentcrawlingtowardthelight,hediscoveredinheranosethatwithasharpnudgeadministeredrebuke,andlater,apaw,thatcrushedhimdownorrolledhimoverandoverwithswift,calculatingstroke。Thushelearnedhurt;andontopofithelearnedtoavoidhurt,first,bynotincurringtheriskofit;andsecond,whenhehadincurredtherisk,bydodgingandbyretreating。Thesewereconsciousactions,andweretheresultsofhisfirstgeneralizationsupontheworld。Beforethathehadrecoiledautomaticallyfromhurt,ashehadcrawledautomaticallytowardthelight。Afterthatherecoiledfromhurtbecauseheknewthatitwashurt。
Hewasafiercelittlecub。Sowerehisbrothersandsisters。Itwastobeexpected。Hewasacarnivorousanimal。Hecameofabreedofmeat-killersandmeat-eaters。Hisfatherandmotherlivedwhollyuponmeat。Themilkhehadsuckedwithhisfirstflickeringlifewasmilktransformeddirectlyfrommeat,andnow,atamonthold,whenhiseyeshadbeenopenforbutaweek,hewasbeginninghimselftoeatmeat——meathalf-digestedbytheshe-wolfanddisgorgedforthefivegrowingcubsthatalreadymadetoogreatdemanduponherbreast。