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distance than the other dogs in the yielding of himself to the rule of the
gods； and he had learned more thoroughly the futility of opposing their
will。 In addition； the persecution he had suffered from the pack had made
the pack less to him in the scheme of things； and man more。 He had not
learned to be dependent on his kind for companionship。 Besides； Kiche
was well…nigh forgotten； and the chief outlet of expression that remained
to him was in the allegiance he tendered the gods he had accepted as
masters。 So he worked hard； learned discipline； and was obedient。
Faithfulness and willingness characterised his toil。 These are essential
traits of the wolf and the wild…dog when they have become domesticated；
and these traits White Fang possessed in unusual measure。
A companionship did exist between White Fang and the other dogs；
but it was one of warfare and enmity。 He had never learned to play with
them。 He knew only how to fight； and fight with them he did； returning to
them a hundred…fold the snaps and slashes they had given him in the days
when Lip…lip was leader of the pack。 But Lip…lip was no longer leader …
except when he fled away before his mates at the end of his rope； the sled
bounding along behind。 In camp he kept close to Mit…sah or Grey Beaver
or Kloo…kooch。 He did not dare venture away from the gods； for now the
fangs of all dogs were against him； and he tasted to the dregs the
persecution that had been White Fang's。
With the overthrow of Lip…lip； White Fang could have become leader
of the pack。 But he was too morose and solitary for that。 He merely
thrashed his team…mates。 Otherwise he ignored them。 They got out of his
way when he came along； nor did the boldest of them ever dare to rob him
of his meat。 On the contrary； they devoured their own meat hurriedly； for
fear that he would take it away from them。 White Fang knew the law well：
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TO OPPRESS THE WEAK AND OBEY THE STRONG。 He ate his share
of meat as rapidly as he could。 And then woe the dog that had not yet
finished！ A snarl and a flash of fangs； and that dog would wail his
indignation to the uncomforting stars while White Fang finished his
portion for him。
Every little while； however； one dog or another would flame up in
revolt and be promptly subdued。 Thus White Fang was kept in training。 He
was jealous of the isolation in which he kept himself in the midst of the
pack； and he fought often to maintain it。 But such fights were of brief
duration。 He was too quick for the others。 They were slashed open and
bleeding before they knew what had happened； were whipped almost
before they had begun to fight。
As rigid as the sled…discipline of the gods； was the discipline
maintained by White Fang amongst his fellows。 He never allowed them
any latitude。 He compelled them to an unremitting respect for him。 They
might do as they pleased amongst themselves。 That was no concern of his。
But it WAS his concern that they leave him alone in his isolation； get out
of his way when he elected to walk among them； and at all times
acknowledge his mastery over them。 A hint of stiff…leggedness on their
part； a lifted lip or a bristle of hair； and he would be upon them； merciless
and cruel； swiftly convincing them of the error of their way。
He was a monstrous tyrant。 His mastery was rigid as steel。 He
oppressed the weak with a vengeance。 Not for nothing had he been
exposed to the pitiless struggles for life in the day of his cubhood； when
his mother and he； alone and unaided； held their own and survived in the
ferocious environment of the Wild。 And not for nothing had he learned to
walk softly when superior strength went by。 He oppressed the weak； but he
respected the strong。 And in the course of the long journey with Grey
Beaver he walked softly indeed amongst the full…grown dogs in the camps
of the strange man… animals they encountered。
The months passed by。 Still continued the journey of Grey Beaver。
White Fang's strength was developed by the long hours on trail and the
steady toil at the sled； and it would have seemed that his mental
development was well…nigh complete。 He had come to know quite
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thoroughly the world in which he lived。 His outlook was bleak and
materialistic。 The world as he saw it was a fierce and brutal world； a world
without warmth； a world in which caresses and affection and the bright
sweetnesses of the spirit did not exist。
He had no affection for Grey Beaver。 True； he was a god； but a most
savage god。 White Fang was glad to acknowledge his lordship； but it was
a lordship based upon superior intelligence and brute strength。 There was
something in the fibre of White Fang's being that made his lordship a thing
to be desired； else he would not have come back from the Wild when he
did to tender his allegiance。 There were deeps in his nature which had
never been sounded。 A kind word； a caressing touch of the hand； on the
part of Grey Beaver； might have sounded these deeps； but Grey Beaver did
not caress； nor speak kind words。 It was not his way。 His primacy was
savage； and savagely he ruled； administering justice with a club； punishing
transgression with the pain of a blow； and rewarding merit； not by
kindness； but by withholding a blow。
So White Fang knew nothing of the heaven a man's hand might
contain for him。 Besides； he did not like the hands of the man…animals。 He
was suspicious of them。 It was true that they sometimes gave meat； but
more often they gave hurt。 Hands were things to keep away from。 They
hurled stones； wielded sticks and clubs and whips； administered slaps and
clouts； and； when they touched him； were cunning to hurt with pinch and
twist and wrench。 In strange villages he had encountered the hands of the
children and learned that they were cruel to hurt。 Also； he had once nearly
had an eye poked out by a toddling papoose。 From these experiences he
became suspicious of all children。 He could not tolerate them。 When they
came near with their ominous hands； he got up。
It was in a village at the Great Slave Lake； that； in the course of
resenting the evil of the hands of the man…animals； he came to modify the
law that he had learned from Grey Beaver： namely； that the unpardonable
crime was to bite one of the gods。 In this village； after the custom of all
dogs in all villages； White Fang went foraging； for food。 A boy was
chopping frozen moose…meat with an axe； and the chips were flying in the
snow。 White Fang； sliding by in quest of meat； stopped and began to eat
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the chips。 He observed the boy lay down the axe and take up a stout club。
White Fang sprang clear； just in time to escape the descending blow。 The
boy pursued him； and he； a stranger in the village； fled between two tepees
to find himself cornered against a high earth bank。
There was no escape for White Fang。 The only way out was between
the two tepees； and this the boy guarded。 Holding his club prepared to
strike； he drew in on his cornered quarry。 White Fang was furious。 He
faced the boy； bristling and snarling； his sense of justice outraged。 He
knew the law of forage。 All the wastage of meat； such as the frozen chips；
belonged to the dog that found it。 He had done no wrong； broken no law；
yet here was this boy preparing to give him a beating。 White Fang scarcely
knew what happened。 He did it in a surge of rage。 And he did it so quickly
that the boy did not know either。 All the boy knew was that he had in some
unaccountable way been overturned into the snow； and that his club…hand