Darkspruceforestfrownedoneithersidethefrozenwaterway。Thetreeshadbeenstrippedbyarecentwindoftheirwhitecoveringoffrost，andtheyseemedtoleantowardeachother，blackandominous，inthefadinglight。Avastsilencereignedovertheland。Thelanditselfwasadesolation，lifeless，withoutmovement，soloneandcoldthatthespiritofitwasnoteventhatofsadness。Therewasahintinitoflaughter，butofalaughtermoreterriblethananysadness——alaughterthatwasmirthlessasthesmileoftheSphinx，alaughtercoldasthefrostandpartakingofthegrimnessofinfallibility。Itwasthemasterfulandincommunicablewisdomofeternitylaughingatthefutilityoflifeandtheeffortoflife。
ItwastheWild，thesavage，frozen-heartedNorthlandWild。
Buttherewaslife，abroadinthelandanddefiant。Downthefrozenwaterwaytoiledastringofwolfishdogs。Theirbristlyfurwasrimedwithfrost。Theirbreathfrozeintheairasitlefttheirmouths，spoutingforthinspumesofvaporthatsettleduponthehairoftheirbodiesandformedintocrystalsoffrost。Leatherharnesswasonthedogs，andleathertracesattachedthemtoasledwhichdraggedalongbehind。Thesledwaswithoutrunners。Itwasmadeofstoutbirch-bark，anditsfullsurfacerestedonthesnow。Thefrontendofthesledwasturnedup，likeascroll，inordertoforcedownandundertheboreofsoftsnowthatsurgedlikeawavebeforeit。Onthesled，securelylashed，wasalongandnarrowoblongbox。Therewereotherthingsonthesled——blankets，anaxe，andacoffee-potandfrying-pan；butprominent，occupyingmostofthespace，wasthelongandnarrowoblongbox。
Inadvanceofthedogs，onwidesnowshoes，toiledaman。Attherearofthesledtoiledasecondman。Onthesled，inthebox，layathirdmanwhosetoilwasover，——amanwhomtheWildhadconqueredandbeatendownuntilhewouldnevermovenorstruggleagain。ItisnotthewayoftheWildtolikemovement。Lifeisanoffencetoit，forlifeismovement；
andtheWildaimsalwaystodestroymovement。Itfreezesthewatertopreventitrunningtothesea；itdrivesthesapoutofthetreestilltheyarefrozentotheirmightyhearts；andmostferociouslyandterriblyofalldoestheWildharryandcrushintosubmissionman——man，whoisthemostrestlessoflife，everinrevoltagainstthedictumthatallmovementmustintheendcometothecessationofmovement。
Butatfrontandrear，unawedandindomitable，toiledthetwomenwhowerenotyetdead。Theirbodieswerecoveredwithfurandsoft-tannedleather。
Eyelashesandcheeksandlipsweresocoatedwiththecrystalsfromtheirfrozenbreaththattheirfaceswerenotdiscernible。Thisgavethemtheseemingofghostlymasques，undertakersinaspectralworldatthefuneralofsomeghost。Butunderitalltheyweremen，penetratingthelandofdesolationandmockeryandsilence，punyadventurersbentoncolossaladventure，pittingthemselvesagainstthemightofaworldasremoteandalienandpulselessastheabyssesofspace。
Theytravelledonwithoutspeech，savingtheirbreathfortheworkoftheirbodies。Oneverysidewasthesilence，pressinguponthemwithatangiblepresence。Itaffectedtheirmindsasthemanyatmospheresofdeepwateraffectthebodyofthediver。Itcrushedthemwiththeweightofunendingvastnessandunalterabledecree。Itcrushedthemintotheremotestrecessesoftheirownminds，pressingoutofthem，likejuicesfromthegrape，allthefalseardorsandexaltationsandundueself-valuesofthehumansoul，untiltheyperceivedthemselvesfiniteandsmall，specksandmotes，movingwithweakcunningandlittlewisdomamidsttheplayandinterplayofthegreatblindelementsandforces。
Anhourwentby，andasecondhour。Thepalelightoftheshortsunlessdaywasbeginningtofade，whenafaintfarcryaroseonthestillair。
Itsoaredupwardwithaswiftrush，tillitreacheditstopmostnote，whereitpersisted，palpitantandtense，andthenslowlydiedaway。Itmighthavebeenalostsoulwailing，haditnotbeeninvestedwithacertainsadfiercenessandhungryeagerness。Thefrontmanturnedhisheaduntilhiseyesmettheeyesofthemanbehind。Andthen，acrossthenarrowoblongbox，eachnoddedtotheother。
Asecondcryarose，piercingthesilencewithneedlelikeshrillness。
Bothmenlocatedthesound。Itwastotherear，somewhereinthesnowexpansetheyhadjusttraversed。Athirdandansweringcryarose，alsototherearandtotheleftofthesecondcry。
\"They\'reafterus，Bill，\"saidthemanatthefront。
Hisvoicesoundedhoarseandunreal，andhehadspokenwithapparenteffort。
\"Meatisscarce，\"answeredhiscomrade。\"Iain\'tseenarabbitsignfordays。\"
Thereaftertheyspokenomore，thoughtheirearswerekeenforthehunting-criesthatcontinuedtorisebehindthem。
Atthefallofdarknesstheyswungthedogsintoaclusterofsprucetreesontheedgeofthewaterwayandmadeacamp。Thecoffin，atthesideofthefire，servedforseatandtable。Thewolf-dogs，clusteredonthefarsideofthefire，snarledandbickeredamongthemselves，butevincednoinclinationtostrayoffintothedarkness。
\"Seemstome，Henry，they\'restayin\'remarkableclosetocamp，\"Billcommented。
Henry，squattingoverthefireandsettlingthepotofcoffeewithapieceofice，nodded。Nordidhespeaktillhehadtakenhisseatonthecoffinandbeguntoeat。
\"Theyknowwheretheirhidesissafe，\"hesaid。\"They\'dsoonereatgrubthanbegrub。They\'reprettywise，themdogs。\"
Billshookhishead。\"Oh，Idon\'tknow。\"
Hiscomradelookedathimcuriously。\"FirsttimeIeverheardyousayanythin\'abouttheirnotbein\'wise。\"
\"Henry，\"saidtheother，munchingwithdeliberationthebeanshewaseating，\"didyouhappentonoticethewaythemdogskickedupwhenIwasa-feedin\'\'em？\"\"Theydidcutupmore\'nusual，\"Henryacknowledged。
\"Howmanydogs\'vewegot，Henry？\"
\"Six。\"
\"Well，Henry……\"Billstoppedforamoment，inorderthathiswordsmightgaingreatersignificance。\"AsIwassayin\'，Henry，we\'vegotsixdogs。Itooksixfishoutofthebag。Igaveonefishtoeachdog，an\'，Henry，Iwasonefishshort。\"
\"Youcountedwrong。\"
\"We\'vegotsixdogs，\"theotherreiterateddispassionately。\"tookoutsixfish。OneEardidn\'tgetnofish。Icomebacktothebagafterwardan\'got\'mhisfish。\"
\"We\'veonlygotsixdogs，\"Henrysaid。
\"Henry，\"Billwenton，\"Iwon\'tsaytheywasalldogs，buttherewassevenof\'mthatgotfish。\"
Henrystoppedeatingtoglanceacrossthefireandcountthedogs。
\"There\'sonlysixnow，\"hesaid。
\"Isawtheotheronerunoffacrossthesnow，\"Billannouncedwithcoolpositiveness。\"Isawseven。\"
Hiscomradelookedathimcommiseratingly，andsaid，\"I\'llbealmightygladwhenthistrip\'sover。\"
\"Whatd\'yemeanbythat？\"Billdemanded。
\"Imeanthatthisloadofournisgettin\'onyournerves，an\'thatyou\'rebeginnin\'toseethings。\"
\"Ithoughtofthat，\"Billansweredgravely。\"An\'so，whensawitrunoffacrossthesnow，Ilookedinthesnowan\'sawitstracks。ThenIcountedthedogsan\'therewasstillsixof\'em。Thetracksisthereinthesnownow。D\'yewanttolookat\'em？I\'llshow\'mtoyou。\"
Henrydidnotreply，butmunchedoninsilence，until，themealfinished，hetoppeditwithafinalcupofcoffee。Hewipedhismouthwiththebackofhishandandsaid:
\"Thenyou\'rethinkin\'asitwas——\"
Alongwailingcry，fiercelysad，fromsomewhereinthedarkness，hadinterruptedhim。Hestoppedtolistentoit，thenhefinishedhissentencewithawaveofhishandtowardthesoundofthecry，\"——oneofthem？\"
Billnodded。\"I\'dablamesightsoonerthinkthatthananythingelse。
Younoticedyourselftherowthedogsmade。\"
Cryaftercry，andansweringcries，wereturningthesilenceintoabedlam。Fromeverysidethecriesarose，andthedogsbetrayedtheirfearbyhuddlingtogetherandsoclosetothefirethattheirhairwasscorchedbytheheat。Billthrewonmorewood，beforelightinghispipe。
\"I\'mthinkin\'you\'redowninthemouthsome，\"Henrysaid。\"Henry……\"Hesuckedmeditativelyathispipeforsometimebeforehewenton。
\"Henry，Iwasa-thinkin\'whatablamesightluckierheisthanyouan\'
me\'lleverbe。\"
Heindicatedthethirdpersonbyadownwardthrustofthethumbtotheboxonwhichtheysat。
\"Youan\'me，Henry，whenwedie，we\'llbeluckyifwegetenoughstonesoverourcarcasestokeepthedogsoffofus。\"
\"Butweain\'tgotpeoplean\'moneyan\'alltherest，likehim，\"Henryrejoined。\"Long-distancefuneralsissomethin\'youan\'mecan\'texactlyafford。\"
\"Whatgetsme，Henry，iswhatachaplikethis，that\'salordorsomethinginhisowncountry，andthat\'sneverhadtobotheraboutgrubnorblankets，whyhecomesa-buttin\'roundtheGod-forsakenendsoftheearth——that\'swhatIcan\'texactlysee。\"
\"Hemighthavelivedtoaripeoldageifhe\'dstayedtohome，\"Henryagreed。
Billopenedhismouthtospeak，butchangedhismind。Instead，hepointedtowardthewallofdarknessthatpressedaboutthemfromeveryside。Therewasnosuggestionofformintheutterblackness；onlycouldbeseenapairofeyesgleaminglikelivecoals。Henryindicatedwithhisheadasecondpair，andathird。Acircleofthegleamingeyeshaddrawnabouttheircamp。Nowandagainapairofeyesmoved，ordisappearedtoappearagainamomentlater。
Theunrestofthedogshadbeenincreasing，andtheystampeded，inasurgeofsuddenfear，tothenearsideofthefire，cringingandcrawlingaboutthelegsofthemen。Inthescrambleoneofthedogshadbeenoverturnedontheedgeofthefire，andithadyelpedwithpainandfrightasthesmellofitssingedcoatpossessedtheair。Thecommotioncausedthecircleofeyestoshiftrestlesslyforamomentandeventowithdrawabit，butitsettleddownagainasthedogsbecamequiet。
\"Henry，it\'sablamemisfortunetobeoutofammunition。\"
Billhadfinishedhispipeandwashelpinghiscompanionspreadthebedoffurandblanketuponthespruceboughswhichhehadlaidoverthesnowbeforesupper。Henrygrunted，andbeganunlacinghismoccasins。
\"Howmanycartridgesdidyousayyouhadleft？\"heasked。
\"Three，\"cametheanswer。\"An\'Iwisht\'twasthreehundred。ThenI\'dshow\'emwhatfor，damn\'em!\"
Heshookhisfistangrilyatthegleamingeyes，andbegansecurelytoprophismoccasinsbeforethefire。
\"An\'Iwishtthiscoldsnap\'dbreak，\"hewenton。\"It\'sbenfiftybelowfortwoweeksnow。An\'IwishtI\'dneverstartedonthistrip，Henry。I
don\'tlikethelooksofit。Itdon\'tfeelright，somehow。An\'whileI\'mwishin\'，Iwishtthetripwasoveran\'donewith，an\'youan\'mea-sittin\'
bythefireinFortMcGurryjustaboutnowan\'playin\'cribbage——that\'swhatIwisht。\"
Henrygruntedandcrawledintobed。Ashedozedoffhewasarousedbyhiscomrade\'svoice。
\"Say，Henry，thatotheronethatcomeinan\'gotafish——whydidn\'tthedogspitchintoit？That\'swhat\'sbotherin\'me。\"
\"You\'rebotherin\'toomuch，Bill，\"camethesleepyresponse。\"Youwasneverlikethisbefore。Youjes\'shutupnow，an\'gotosleep，an\'you\'llbeallhunkydoryinthemornin\'。Yourstomach\'ssour，that\'swhat\'sbotherin\'
you。\"
Themenslept，breathingheavily，sidebyside，undertheonecovering。
Thefiredieddown，andthegleamingeyesdrewcloserthecircletheyhadflungaboutthecamp。Thedogsclusteredtogetherinfear，nowandagainsnarlingmenacinglyasapairofeyesdrewclose。OncetheiruproarbecamesoloudthatBillwokeup。Hegotoutofbedcarefully，soasnottodisturbthesleepofhiscomrade，andthrewmorewoodonthefire。Asitbegantoflameup，thecircleofeyesdrewfartherback。Heglancedcasuallyatthehuddlingdogs。Herubbedhiseyesandlookedatthemmoresharply。
Thenhecrawledbackintotheblankets。
\"Henry，\"hesaid。\"Oh，Henry。\"
Henrygroanedashepassedfromsleeptowaking，anddemanded，\"What\'swrongnow？\"
\"Nothin\'，\"cametheanswer；\"onlythere\'ssevenof\'emagain。Ijustcounted。\"
Henryacknowledgedreceiptoftheinformationwithagruntthatslidintoasnoreashedriftedbackintosleep。
InthemorningitwasHenrywhoawokefirstandroutedhiscompanionoutofbed。Daylightwasyetthreehoursaway，thoughitwasalreadysixo\'clock；andinthedarknessHenrywentaboutpreparingbreakfast，whileBillrolledtheblanketsandmadethesledreadyforlashing。
\"Say，Henry，\"heaskedsuddenly，\"howmanydogsdidyousaywehad？\"
\"Six。\"
\"Wrong，\"Billproclaimedtriumphantly。
\"Sevenagain？\"Henryqueried。
\"No，five；one\'sgone。\"
\"Thehell!\"Henrycriedinwrath，leavingthecookingtocomeandcountthedogs。
\"You\'reright，Bill，\"heconcluded。\"Fatty\'sgone。\"
\"An\'hewentlikegreasedlightnin\'oncehegotstarted。Couldn\'t\'veseen\'mforsmoke。\"
\"Nochanceatall，\"Henryconcluded。\"Theyjes\'swallowed\'malive。
Ibethewasyelpin\'ashewentdowntheirthroats，damn\'em!\"
\"Healwayswasafooldog，\"saidBill。
\"Butnofooldogoughttobefoolenoughtogooffan\'commitsuicidethatway。\"Helookedovertheremainderoftheteamwithaspeculativeeyethatsummedupinstantlythesalienttraitsofeachanimal。\"Ibetnoneoftheotherswoulddoit。\"
\"Couldn\'tdrive\'emawayfromthefirewithaclub，\"Billagreed。\"I
alwaysdidthinktherewassomethin\'wrongwithFatty，anyway。\"
AndthiswastheepitaphofadeaddogontheNorthlandtrail——lessscantthantheepitaphofmanyanotherdog，ofmanyaman。WhiteFang:PartI:TheWild:Chapter2:TheShe-WolfPartI:TheWildChapter2
THESHE-WOLF
Breakfasteatenandtheslimcamp-outfitlashedtothesled，thementurnedtheirbacksonthecheeryfireandlaunchedoutintothedarkness。
Atoncebegantorisethecriesthatwerefiercelysad——criesthatcalledthroughthedarknessandcoldtooneanotherandansweredback。Conversationceased。Daylightcameatnineo\'clock。Atmiddaytheskytothesouthwarmedtorose-color，andmarkedwherethebulgeoftheearthintervenedbetweenthemeridiansunandthenorthernworld。Buttherose-colorswiftlyfaded。
Thegraylightofdaythatremainedlasteduntilthreeo\'clock，whenit，too，faded，andthepalloftheArcticnightdescendedupontheloneandsilentland。
Asdarknesscameon，thehunting-criestorightandleftandreardrewcloser——soclosethatmorethanoncetheysentsurgesoffearthroughthetoilingdogs，throwingthemintoshort-livedpanics。
Attheconclusionofonesuchpanic，whenheandHenryhadgotthedogsbackinthetraces，Billsaid:
\"Iwishtthey\'dstrikegamesomewheres，an\'goawayan\'leaveusalone。\"
\"Theydogetonthenerveshorrible，\"Henrysympathized。
Theyspokenomoreuntilcampwasmade。
Henrywasbendingoverandaddingicetothebubblingpotofbeanswhenhewasstartledbythesoundofablow，anexclamationfromBill，andasharpsnarlingcryofpainfromamongthedogs。Hestraightenedupintimetoseeadimformdisappearingacrossthesnowintotheshelterofthedark。ThenhesawBill，standingamidthedogs，halftriumphant，halfcrest-fallen，inonehandastoutclub，intheotherthetailandpartofthebodyofasun-curedsalmon。
\"Itgothalfofit，\"heannounced；\"butIgotawhackatitjes\'thesame。D\'yehearitsqueal？\"
\"What\'ditlooklike？\"Henryasked。
\"Couldn\'tsee。Butithadfourlegsan\'amouthan\'hairan\'lookedlikeanydog。\"
\"Mustbeatamewolf，Ireckon。\"
\"It\'sdamnedtame，whateveritis，comin\'inhereatfeedin\'timean\'
gettin\'itswhackoffish。\"
Thatnight，whensupperwasfinishedandtheysatontheoblongboxandpulledattheirpipes，thecircleofgleamingeyesdrewinevencloserthanbefore。
\"Iwishtthey\'dspringupabunchofmooseorsomethin\'，an\'goawayan\'leaveusalone，\"Billsaid。
Henrygruntedwithanintonationthatwasnotallsympathy，andforaquarterofanhourtheysatoninsilence，Henrystaringatthefire，andBillatthecircleofeyesthatburnedinthedarknessjustbeyondthefirelight。
\"Iwishtwewaspullin\'intoMcGurryrightnow，\"hebeganagain。
\"Shutupyourwishin\'an\'yourcroakin\'，\"Henryburstoutangrily。\"Yourstomach\'ssour。That\'swhat\'sailin\'you。Swallowaspoonfulofsody，an\'
you\'llsweetenupwonderfulan\'bemorepleasantcompany。\"
Inthemorning，HenrywasarousedbyfervidblasphemythatproceededfromthemouthofBill。Henryproppedhimselfuponanelbowandlookedtoseehiscomradestandingamongthedogsbesidethereplenishedfire，hisarmsraisedinobjurgation，hisfacedistortedwithpassion。
\"Hello!\"Henrycalled。\"What\'supnow？\"
\"Frog\'sgone，\"cametheanswer。
\"No。\"
\"Itellyouyes。\"
Henryleapedoutoftheblanketsandtothedogs。Hecountedthemwithcare，andthenjoinedhispartnerincursingthepowersoftheWildthathadrobbedthemofanotherdog。
\"Frogwasthestrongestdogofthebunch，\"Billpronouncedfinally。
\"An\'hewasnofooldogneither，\"Henryadded。
Andsowasrecordedthesecondepitaphintwodays。
Agloomybreakfastwaseaten，andthefourremainingdogswereharnessedtothesled。Thedaywasarepetitionofthedaysthathadgonebefore。
Thementoiledwithoutspeechacrossthefaceofthefrozenworld。Thesilencewasunbrokensavebythecriesoftheirpursuers，that，unseen，hungupontheirrear。Withthecomingofnightinthemid-afternoon，thecriessoundedcloserasthepursuersdrewinaccordingtotheircustom；
andthedogsgrewexcitedandfrightened，andwereguiltyofpanicsthattangledthetracesandfurtherdepressedthetwomen。
\"There，that\'llfixyoufoolcritters，\"Billsaidwithsatisfactionthatnight，standingerectatcompletionofhistask。
Henrylefthiscookingtocomeandsee。Notonlyhadhispartnertiedthedogsup，buthehadtiedthem，aftertheIndianfashion，withsticks。
Abouttheneckofeachdoghehadfastenedaleatherthong。Tothis，andsoclosetotheneckthatthedogcouldnotgethisteethtoit，hehadtiedastoutstickfourorfivefeetinlength。Theotherendofthestick，inturn，wasmadefasttoastakeinthegroundbymeansofaleatherthong。
Thedogwasunabletognawthroughtheleatherathisownendofthestick。
Thestickpreventedhimfromgettingattheleatherthatfastenedtheotherend。
Henrynoddedhisheadapprovingly。
\"It\'stheonlycontraptionthat\'lleverholdOneEar，\"hesaid。\"Hecangnawthroughleatherascleanasaknifean\'jes\'abouthalfasquick。
Theyall\'llbehereinthemornin\'hunky-dory。\"\"Youjes\'bettheywill，\"
Billaffirmed。\"Ifoneof\'emturnsupmissin\'，I\'llgowithoutmycoffee。\"
\"Theyjes\'knowweain\'tloadedtokill，\"Henryremarkedatbedtime，indicatingthegleamingcirclethathemmedthemin。\"Ifwecouldputacoupleofshotsinto\'em，they\'dbemorerespectful。Theycomeclosereverynight。Getthefirelightoutofyoureyesan\'lookhard——there!Didyouseethatone？\"
Forsometimethetwomenamusedthemselveswithwatchingthemovementofvagueformsontheedgeofthefirelight。Bylookingcloselyandsteadilyatwhereapairofeyesburnedinthedarkness，theformoftheanimalwouldslowlytakeshape。Theycouldevenseetheseformsmoveattimes。
Asoundamongthedogsattractedthemen\'sattention。OneEarwasutteringquick，eagerwhines，lungingatthelengthofhissticktowardthedarkness，anddesistingnowandagaininordertomakefranticattacksonthestickwithhisteeth。
\"Lookatthat，Bill，\"Henrywhispered。
Fullintothefirelight，withastealthy，sidelongmovement，glidedadoglikeanimal。Itmovedwithcommingledmistrustanddaring，cautiouslyobservingthemen，itsattentionfixedonthedogs。OneEarstrainedthefulllengthofthesticktowardtheintruderandwhinedwitheagerness。
\"ThatfoolOneEardon\'tseemscairtmuch，\"Billsaidinalowtone。
\"It\'sashe-wolf，\"Henrywhisperedback，\"an\'thataccountsforFattyan\'Frog。She\'sthedecoyforthepack。Shedrawsoutthedogan\'thenalltherestpitchesinan\'eats\'mup。\"
Thefirecrackled。Alogfellapartwithaloudsplutteringnoise。Atthesoundofitthestrangeanimalleapedbackintothedarkness。
\"Henry，I\'ma-thinkin\'，\"Billannounced。
\"Thinkin\'what？\"
\"I\'ma-thinkin\'thatwastheoneIlambastedwiththeclub。\"
\"Ain\'ttheslightestdoubtintheworld，\"wasHenry\'sresponse。
\"An\'righthereIwanttoremark，\"Billwenton，\"thatthatanimal\'sfamilyaritywithcampfiresissuspiciousan\'immoral。\"
\"Itknowsforcertainmore\'naself-respectin\'wolfoughttoknow，\"
Henryagreed。\"Awolfthatknowsenoughtocomeinwiththedogsatfeedin\'
timehashadexperiences。\"
\"Ol\'Villanhadadogoncethatrunawaywiththewolves，\"Billcogitatedaloud。\"Ioughttoknow。IshotitoutofthepackinamoosepastureoveronLittleStick。An\'Ol\'Villancriedlikeababy。Hadn\'tseenitforthreeyears，hesaid。Benwiththewolvesallthattime。\"
\"Ireckonyou\'vecalledtheturn，Bill。Thatwolf\'sadog，an\'it\'seatenfishmany\'sthetimefromthehandofman。\"
\"An\'ifIgetachanceatit，thatwolfthat\'sadog\'llbejes\'meat，\"
Billdeclared。\"Wecan\'taffordtolosenomoreanimals。\"\"Butyou\'veonlygotthreecartridges，\"Henryobjected。
\"I\'llwaitforadeadsureshot，\"wasthereply。
InthemorningHenryrenewedthefireandcookedbreakfasttotheaccompanimentofhispartner\'ssnoring。
\"Youwassleepin\'jes\'toocomfortableforanythin\'，\"Henrytoldhim，asheroutedhimoutforbreakfast。\"Ihadn\'tthehearttorouseyou。\"
Billbegantoeatsleepily。Henoticedthathiscupwasemptyandstartedtoreachforthepot。Butthepotwasbeyondarm\'slengthandbesideHenry。
\"Say，Henry，\"hechidedgently，\"ain\'tyouforgotsomethin\'？\"
Henrylookedaboutwithgreatcarefulnessandshookhishead。Billhelduptheemptycup。
\"Youdon\'tgetnocoffee，\"Henryannounced。
\"Ain\'trunout？\"Billaskedanxiously。
\"Nope。\"
\"Ain\'tthinkin\'it\'llhurtmydigestion？\"
\"Nope。\"
AflushofangrybloodpervadedBill\'sface。
\"Thenit\'sjes\'warman\'anxiousIamtobehearin\'youexplainyourself，\"
hesaid。
\"Spanker\'sgone，\"Henryanswered。
Withouthaste，withtheairofoneresignedtomisfortune，Billturnedhishead，andfromwherehesatcountedthedogs。
\"How\'dithappen？\"heaskedapathetically。
Henryshruggedhisshoulders。\"Don\'tknow。UnlessOneEargnawed\'mloose。Hecouldn\'ta-doneithimself，that\'ssure。\"
\"Thedarnedcuss。\"Billspokegravelyandslowly，withnohintoftheangerthatwasragingwithin。\"Jes\'becausehecouldn\'tchewhimselfloose，hechewsSpankerloose。\"
\"Well，Spanker\'stroublesisover，anyway；Iguesshe\'sdigestedbythistimean\'cavortin\'overthelandscapeinthebelliesoftwentydifferentwolves，\"wasHenry\'sepitaphonthis，thelatestlostdog。\"Havesomecoffee，Bill。\"
ButBillshookhishead。
\"Goon，\"Henrypleaded，elevatingthepot。
Billshovedhiscupaside。\"I\'llbeding-dong-dangedifIdo。IsaidIwouldn\'tifarydogturnedupmissin\'，an\'Iwon\'t。\"
\"It\'sdarngoodcoffee，\"Henrysaidenticingly。
ButBillwasstubborn，andheateadrybreakfast，washeddownwithmumbledcursesatOneEarforthetrickhehadplayed。
\"I\'lltie\'emupoutofreachofeachotherto-night，\"Billsaid，astheytookthetrail。
Theyhadtravelledlittlemorethanahundredyards，whenHenry，whowasinfront，bentdownandpickedupsomethingwithwhichhissnowshoehadcollided。Itwasdark，andhecouldnotseeit，butherecognizeditbythetouch。Heflungitback，sothatitstruckthesledandbouncedalonguntilitfetcheduponBill\'ssnowshoes。
\"Mebbeyou\'llneedthatinyourbusiness，\"Henrysaid。
Billutteredanexclamation。ItwasallthatwasleftofSpanker——
thestickwithwhichhehadbeentied。
\"Theyate\'mhidean\'all，\"Billannounced。\"Thestick\'sascleanasawhistle。They\'veatetheleatheroffenbothends。They\'redamnhungry，Henry，an\'they\'llhaveyouan\'meguessin\'beforethistrip\'sover。\"
Henrylaugheddefiantly。\"Iain\'tbeentrailedthiswaybywolvesbefore，butI\'vegonethroughawholelotworsean\'keptmyhealth。Takesmore\'nahandfulofthempeskycritterstodoforyourstruly，Bill，myson。\"
\"Idon\'tknow，Idon\'tknow，\"Billmutteredominously。
\"Well，you\'llknowallrightwhenwepullintoMcGurry。\"
\"Iain\'tfeelin\'specialenthusiastic，\"Billpersisted。
\"You\'reoffcolor，that\'swhat\'sthematterwithyou，\"Henrydogmatized。
\"Whatyouneedisquinine，an\'I\'mgoin\'todoseyouupstiffassoonaswemakeMcGurry。\"
Billgruntedhisdisagreementwiththediagnosis，andlapsedintosilence。
Thedaywaslikeallthedays。Lightcameatnineo\'clock。Attwelveo\'clockthesouthernhorizonwaswarmedbytheunseensun；andthenbeganthecoldgrayofafternoonthatwouldmerge，threehourslater，intonight。
Itwasjustafterthesun\'sfutileefforttoappear，thatBillslippedtheriflefromunderthesled-lashingsandsaid:
\"Youkeeprighton，Henry，I\'mgoin\'toseewhatIcansee。\"
\"You\'dbetterstickbythesled，\"hispartnerprotested。\"You\'veonlygotthreecartridges，an\'there\'snotellin\'whatmighthappen。\"
\"Who\'scroakin\'now？\"Billdemandedtriumphantly。
Henrymadenoreply，andploddedonalone，thoughoftenhecastanxiousglancesbackintothegraysolitudewherehispartnerhaddisappeared。
Anhourlater，takingadvantageofthecut-offsaroundwhichthesledhadtogo，Billarrived。
\"They\'rescatteredan\'rangin\'alongwide，\"hesaid；\"keepin\'upwithusan\'lookin\'forgameatthesametime。Yousee，they\'resureofus，onlytheyknowthey\'vegottowaittogetus。Inthemeantimethey\'rewillin\'
topickupanythin\'eatablethatcomeshandy。\"
\"Youmeantheythinkthey\'resureofus，\"Henryobjectedpointedly。
ButBillignoredhim。\"Iseensomeofthem。They\'reprettythin。Theyain\'thadabiteinweeks，Ireckon，outsideofFattyan\'Frogan\'Spanker；an\'
there\'ssomanyof\'emthatthatdidn\'tgofar。They\'reremarkablethin。
Theirribsislikewashboards，an\'theirstomachsisrightupagainsttheirbackbones。They\'reprettydesperate，Icantellyou。They\'llbegoin\'mad，yet，an\'thenwatchout。\"
Afewminuteslater，Henry，whowasnowtravellingbehindthesled，emittedalow，warningwhistle。Billturnedandlooked，thenquietlystoppedthedogs。Totherear，fromaroundthelastbendandplainlyintoview，ontheverytrailtheyhadjustcovered，trottedafurry，slinkingform。
Itsnosewastothetrail，andittrottedwithapeculiar，sliding，effortlessgait。Whentheyhalted，ithalted，throwingupitsheadandregardingthemsteadilywithnostrilsthattwitchedasitcaughtandstudiedthescentofthem。
\"It\'stheshe-wolf，\"Billwhispered。
Thedogshadlaindowninthesnow，andhewalkedpastthemtojoinhispartneratthesled。Togethertheywatchedthestrangeanimalthathadpursuedthemfordaysandthathadalreadyaccomplishedthedestructionofhalftheirdog-team。
Afterasearchingscrutiny，theanimaltrottedforwardafewsteps。
Thisitrepeatedseveraltimes，tillitwasashorthundredyardsaway。
Itpaused，headup，closebyaclumpofsprucetrees，andwithsightandscentstudiedtheoutfitofthewatchingmen。Itlookedattheminastrangelywistfulway，afterthemannerofadog；butinitswistfulnesstherewasnoneofthedogaffection。Itwasawistfulnessbredofhunger，ascruelasitsownfangs，asmercilessasthefrostitself。
Itwaslargeforawolf，itsgauntframeadvertisingthelinesofananimalthatwasamongthelargestofitskind。
\"Standsprettyclosetotwofeetan\'ahalfattheshoulders，\"Henrycommented。\"An\'I\'llbetitain\'tfarfromfivefeetlong。\"
\"Kindofstrangecolorforawolf，\"wasBill\'scriticism。\"neverseenaredwolfbefore。Looksalmostcinnamontome。\"
Theanimalwascertainlynotcinnamon-colored。Itscoatwasthetruewolf-coat。Thedominantcolorwasgray，andyettherewastoitafaintreddishhue——ahuethatwasbaffling，thatappearedanddisappeared，thatwasmorelikeanillusionofthevision，nowgray，distinctlygray，andagaingivinghintsandglintsofavaguerednessofcolornotclassifiableintermsofordinaryexperience。
\"Looksforalltheworldlikeabighuskysled-dog，\"Billsaid。\"Iwouldn\'tbes\'prisedtoseeitwagitstail。
\"Hello，youhusky!\"hecalled。\"Comehere，you，whatever-your-name-is。\"
\"Ain\'tabitscairtofyou，\"Henrylaughed。
Billwavedhishandatitthreateninglyandshoutedloudly；buttheanimalbetrayednofear。Theonlychangeinitthattheycouldnoticewasanaccessionofalertness。Itstillregardedthemwiththemercilesswistfulnessofhunger。Theyweremeat，anditwashungry；anditwouldliketogoinandeatthemifitdared。
\"Lookhere，Henry，\"Billsaid，unconsciouslyloweringhisvoicetoawhisperbecauseofwhathemeditated。\"We\'vegotthreecartridges。Butit\'sadeadshot。Couldn\'tmissit。It\'sgotawaywiththreeofourdogs，an\'weoughterputastoptoit。Whatd\'yesay？\"
Henrynoddedhisconsent。Billcautiouslyslippedthegunfromunderthesled-lashing。Thegunwasonthewaytohisshoulder，butitnevergotthere。Forinthatinstanttheshe-wolfleapedsidewisefromthetrailintotheclumpofsprucetreesanddisappeared。
Thetwomenlookedateachother。Henrywhistledlongandcomprehendingly。
\"Imighthaveknowedit，\"Billchidedhimselfaloud，ashereplacedthegun。\"Ofcourseawolfthatknowsenoughtocomeinwiththedogsatfeedin\'time，\'dknowallaboutshooting-irons。Itellyourightnow，Henry，thatcritter\'sthecauseofallourtrouble。We\'dhavesixdogsatthepresenttime，\'steadofthree，ifitwasn\'tforher。An\'Itellyourightnow，Henry，I\'mgoin\'together。She\'stoosmarttobeshotintheopen。
ButI\'mgoin\'tolayforher。I\'llbushwhackherassureasmynameisBill。\"
\"Youneedn\'tstrayofftoofarindoin\'it，\"hispartneradmonished。
\"Ifthatpackeverstartstojumpyou，themthreecartridges\'dbewuthnomore\'nthreewhoopsinhell。Themanimalsisdamnhungry，an\'oncetheystartin，they\'llsuregetyou，Bill。\"
Theycampedearlythatnight。Threedogscouldnotdragthesledsofastnorforsolonghoursascouldsix，andtheywereshowingunmistakablesignsofplayingout。Andthemenwentearlytobed，Billfirstseeingtoitthatthedogsweretiedoutofgnawing-reachofoneanother。
Butthewolvesweregrowingbolder，andthemenwerearousedmorethanoncefromtheirsleep。Soneardidthewolvesapproach，thatthedogsbecamefranticwithterror，anditwasnecessarytoreplenishthefirefromtimetotimeinordertokeeptheadventurousmaraudersatsaferdistance。
\"I\'vehearnsailorstalkofsharksfollowin\'aship，\"Billremarked，ashecrawledbackintotheblanketsafteronesuchreplenishingofthefire。\"Well，themwolvesislandsharks。Theyknowtheirbusinessbetter\'nwedo，an\'theyain\'ta-holdin\'ourtrailthiswayfortheirhealth。They\'regoin\'togetus。They\'resuregoin\'togetus，Henry。\"
\"They\'vehalfgotyoua\'ready，a-talkin\'likethat，\"Henryretortedsharply。\"Aman\'shalflickedwhenhesaysheis。An\'you\'rehalfeatenfromthewayyou\'regoin\'onaboutit。\"
\"They\'vegotawaywithbettermenthanyouan\'me，\"Billanswered。
\"Oh，shetupyourcroakin\'。Youmakemeall-firedtired。\"
Henryrolledoverangrilyonhisside，butwassurprisedthatBillmadenosimilardisplayoftemper。ThiswasnotBill\'sway，forhewaseasilyangeredbysharpwords。Henrythoughtlongoveritbeforehewenttosleep，andashiseyelidsfluttereddownandhedozedoff，thethoughtinhismindwas:\"There\'snomistakin\'it，Bill\'salmightyblue。I\'llhavetocheerhimupto-morrow。\"WhiteFang:PartI:TheWild:Chapter3:TheHungerCryPartI:TheWildChapter3
THEHUNGERCRY
Thedaybeganauspiciously。Theyhadlostnodogsduringthenight，andtheyswungoutuponthetrailandintothesilence，thedarkness，andthecoldwithspiritsthatwerefairlylight。Billseemedtohaveforgottenhisforebodingsofthepreviousnight，andevenwaxedfacetiouswiththedogswhen，atmidday，theyoverturnedthesledonabadpieceoftrail。
Itwasanawkwardmix-up。Thesledwasupsidedownandjammedbetweenatree-trunkandahugerock，andtheywereforcedtounharnessthedogsinordertostraightenoutthetangle。Thetwomenwerebentoverthesledandtryingtorightit，whenHenryobservedOneEarsidlingaway。
\"Here，you，OneEar!\"hecried，straighteningupandturningaroundonthedog。
ButOneEarbrokeintoarunacrossthesnow，histracestrailingbehindhim。Andthere，outinthesnowoftheirback-track，wastheshe-wolfwaitingforhim。Ashenearedher，hebecamesuddenlycautious。Hesloweddowntoanalertandmincingwalkandthenstopped。Heregardedhercarefullyanddubiously，yetdesirefully。Sheseemedtosmileathim，showingherteethinaningratiatingratherthanamenacingway。Shemovedtowardhimafewsteps，playfully，andthenhalted。OneEardrewneartoher，stillalertandcautious，histailandearsintheair，hisheadheldhigh。
Hetriedtosniffnoseswithher，butsheretreatedplayfullyandcoyly。
Everyadvanceonhispartwasaccompaniedbyacorrespondingretreatonherpart。Stepbystepshewasluringhimawayfromthesecurityofhishumancompanionship。Once，asthoughawarninghadinvaguewaysflittedthroughhisintelligence，heturnedhisheadandlookedbackattheoverturnedsled，athisteam-mates，andatthetwomenwhowerecallingtohim。
Butwhateverideawasforminginhismind，wasdissipatedbytheshe-wolf，whoadvanceduponhim，sniffednoseswithhimforafleetinginstant，andthenresumedhercoyretreatbeforehisrenewedadvances。
Inthemeantime，Billhadbethoughthimselfoftherifle。Butitwasjammedbeneaththeoverturnedsled，andbythetimeHenryhadhelpedhimtorighttheload，OneEarandtheshe-wolfweretooclosetogetherandthedistancetoogreattoriskashot。
Toolate，OneEarlearnedhismistake。Beforetheysawthecause，thetwomensawhimturnandstarttorunbacktowardthem。Then，approachingatrightanglestothetrailandcuttingoffhisretreat，theysawadozenwolves，leanandgray，boundingacrossthesnow。Ontheinstant，theshe-wolf\'scoynessandplayfulnessdisappeared。WithasnarlshespranguponOneEar。
Hethrustheroffwithhisshoulder，and，hisretreatcutoffandstillintentonregainingthesled，healteredhiscourseinanattempttocirclearoundtoit。Morewolveswereappearingeverymomentandjoininginthechase。Theshe-wolfwasoneleapbehindOneEarandholdingherown。
\"Whereareyougoin\'？\"Henrysuddenlydemanded，layinghishandonhispartner\'sarm。
Billshookitoff。\"Iwon\'tstandit，\"hesaid。\"Theyain\'ta-goin\'
togetanymoreofourdogsifIcanhelpit。\"
Guninhand，heplungedintotheunderbrushthatlinedthesideofthetrail。Hisintentionwasapparentenough。TakingthesledasthecentreofthecirclethatOneEarwasmaking，Billplannedtotapthatcircleatapointinadvanceofthepursuit。Withhisrifle，inthebroaddaylight，itmightbepossibleforhimtoawethewolvesandsavethedog。
\"Say，Bill!\"Henrycalledafterhim。\"Becareful!Don\'ttakenochances!\"
Henrysatdownonthesledandwatched。Therewasnothingelseforhimtodo。Billhadalreadygonefromsight；butnowandagain，appearinganddisappearingamongsttheunderbrushandthescatteredclumpsofspruce，couldbeseenOneEar。Henryjudgedhiscasetobehopeless。Thedogwasthoroughlyalivetoitsdanger，butitwasrunningontheoutercirclewhilethewolf-packwasrunningontheinnerandshortercircle。ItwasvaintothinkofOneEarsooutdistancinghispursuersastobeabletocutacrosstheircircleinadvanceofthemandtoregainthesled。
Thedifferentlineswererapidlyapproachingapoint。Somewhereoutthereinthesnow，screenedfromhissightbytreesandthickets，Henryknewthatthewolf-pack，OneEar，andBillwerecomingtogether。Alltooquickly，farmorequicklythanhehadexpected，ithappened。Heheardashot，thentwoshotsinrapidsuccession，andheknewthatBill\'sammunitionwasgone。Thenheheardagreatoutcryofsnarlsandyelps。HerecognizedOneEar\'syellofpainandterror，andheheardawolf-crythatbespokeastrickenanimal。Andthatwasall。Thesnarlsceased。Theyelpingdiedaway。Silencesettleddownagainoverthelonelyland。
Hesatforalongwhileuponthesled。Therewasnoneedforhimtogoandseewhathadhappened。Heknewitasthoughithadtakenplacebeforehiseyes。Once，herousedwithastartandhastilygottheaxeoutfromunderneaththelashings。Butforsometimelongerhesatandbrooded，thetworemainingdogscrouchingandtremblingathisfeet。
Atlasthearoseinawearymanner，asthoughalltheresiliencehadgoneoutofhisbody，andproceededtofastenthedogstothesled。Hepassedaropeoverhisshoulder，aman-trace，andpulledwiththedogs。
Hedidnotgofar。Atthefirsthintofdarknesshehastenedtomakeacamp，andhesawtoitthathehadageneroussupplyoffirewood。Hefedthedogs，cookedandatehissupper，andmadehisbedclosetothefire。
Buthewasnotdestinedtoenjoythatbed。Beforehiseyesclosedthewolveshaddrawntoonearforsafety。Itnolongerrequiredaneffortofthevisiontoseethem。Theywereallabouthimandthefire，inanarrowcircle，andhecouldseethemplainlyinthefirelight，lyingdown，sittingup，crawlingforwardontheirbellies，orslinkingbackandforth。Theyevenslept。Hereandtherehecouldseeonecurledupinthesnowlikeadog，takingthesleepthatwasnowdeniedhimself。
Hekeptthefirebrightlyblazing，forheknewthatitaloneintervenedbetweenthefleshofhisbodyandtheirhungryfangs。Histwodogsstayedclosebyhim，oneoneitherside，leaningagainsthimforprotection，cryingandwhimpering，andattimessnarlingdesperatelywhenawolfapproachedalittlecloserthanusual。Atsuchmoments，whenhisdogssnarled，thewholecirclewouldbeagitated，thewolvescomingtotheirfeetandpressingtentativelyforward，achorusofsnarlsandeageryelpsrisingabouthim。
Thenthecirclewouldliedownagain，andhereandthereawolfwouldresumeitsbrokennap。
Butthiscirclehadacontinuoustendencytodrawinuponhim。Bitbybit，aninchatatime，withhereawolfbellyingforward，andthereawolfbellyingforward，thecirclewouldnarrowuntilthebruteswerealmostwithinspringingdistance。Thenhewouldseizebrandsfromthefireandhurlthemintothepack。Ahastydrawingbackalwaysresulted，accompaniedbyangryyelpsandfrightenedsnarlswhenawell-aimedbrandstruckandscorchedatoodaringanimal。
Morningfoundthemanhaggardandworn，wide-eyedfromwantofsleep。
Hecookedbreakfastinthedarkness，andatnineo\'clock，when，withthecomingofdaylight，thewolf-packdrewback，hesetaboutthetaskhehadplannedthroughthelonghoursofthenight。Choppingdownyoungsaplings，hemadethemcross-barsofascaffoldbylashingthemhighuptothetrunksofstandingtrees。Usingthesled-lashingforaheavingrope，andwiththeaidofthedogs，hehoistedthecoffintothetopofthescaffold。
\"TheygotBill，an\'theymaygetme，butthey\'llsurenevergetyou，youngman，\"hesaid，addressingthedeadbodyinitstree-sepulchre。
Thenhetookthetrail，thelightenedsledboundingalongbehindthewillingdogs；forthey，too，knewthatsafetylayonlyinthegainingofFortMcGurry。Thewolveswerenowmoreopenintheirpursuit，trottingsedatelybehindandrangingalongoneitherside，theirredtongueslollingout，theirleansidesshowingtheundulatingribswitheverymovement。
Theywereverylean，mereskin-bagsstretchedoverbonyframes，withstringsformuscles——soleanthatHenryfounditinhismindtomarvelthattheystillkepttheirfeetanddidnotcollapseforthrightinthesnow。
Hedidnotdaretraveluntildark。Atmidday，notonlydidthesunwarmthesouthernhorizon，butiteventhrustitsupperrim，paleandgolden，abovethesky-line。Hereceiveditasasign。Thedaysweregrowinglonger。
Thesunwasreturning。Butscarcelyhadthecheerofitslightdeparted，thanhewentintocamp。Therewerestillseveralhoursofgraydaylightandsombretwilight，andheutilizedtheminchoppinganenormoussupplyoffirewood。
Withnightcamehorror。Notonlywerethestarvingwolvesgrowingbolder，butlackofsleepwastellinguponHenry。Hedozeddespitehimself，crouchingbythefire，theblanketsabouthisshoulders，theaxebetweenhisknees，andoneithersideadogpressingcloseagainsthim。Heawokeonceandsawinfrontofhim，notadozenfeetaway，abiggraywolf，oneofthelargestofthepack。Andevenashelooked，thebrutedeliberatelystretchedhimselfafterthemannerofalazydog，yawningfullinhisfaceandlookinguponhimwithapossessiveeye，asif，intruth，heweremerelyadelayedmealthatwassoontobeeaten。
Thiscertitudewasshownbythewholepack。Fullyascorehecouldcount，staringhungrilyathimorcalmlysleepinginthesnow。Theyremindedhimofchildrengatheredaboutaspreadtableandawaitingpermissiontobegintoeat。Andhewasthefoodtheyweretoeat!Hewonderedhowandwhenthemealwouldbegin。
Ashepiledwoodonthefirehediscoveredanappreciationofhisownbodywhichhehadneverfeltbefore。Hewatchedhismovingmusclesandwasinterestedinthecunningmechanismofhisfingers。Bythelightofthefirehecrookedhisfingersslowlyandrepeatedly，nowoneatatime，nowalltogether，spreadingthemwideormakingquickgrippingmovements。
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