第1章
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。