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unaccountable way been overturned into the snow； and that his club…hand
had been ripped wide open by White Fang's teeth。
But White Fang knew that he had broken the law of the gods。 He had
driven his teeth into the sacred flesh of one of them； and could expect
nothing but a most terrible punishment。 He fled away to Grey Beaver；
behind whose protecting legs he crouched when the bitten boy and the
boy's family came； demanding vengeance。 But they went away with
vengeance unsatisfied。 Grey Beaver defended White Fang。 So did Mit…sah
and Kloo…kooch。 White Fang； listening to the wordy war and watching the
angry gestures； knew that his act was justified。 And so it came that he
learned there were gods and gods。 There were his gods； and there were
other gods； and between them there was a difference。 Justice or injustice；
it was all the same； he must take all things from the hands of his own gods。
But he was not compelled to take injustice from the other gods。 It was his
privilege to resent it with his teeth。 And this also was a law of the gods。
Before the day was out； White Fang was to learn more about this law。
Mit…sah； alone； gathering firewood in the forest； encountered the boy that
had been bitten。 With him were other boys。 Hot words passed。 Then all the
boys attacked Mit…sah。 It was going hard with him。 Blows were raining
upon him from all sides。 White Fang looked on at first。 This was an affair
of the gods； and no concern of his。 Then he realised that this was Mit…sah；
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one of his own particular gods； who was being maltreated。 It was no
reasoned impulse that made White Fang do what he then did。 A mad rush
of anger sent him leaping in amongst the combatants。 Five minutes later
the landscape was covered with fleeing boys； many of whom dripped
blood upon the snow in token that White Fang's teeth had not been idle。
When Mit…sah told the story in camp； Grey Beaver ordered meat to be
given to White Fang。 He ordered much meat to be given； and White Fang；
gorged and sleepy by the fire； knew that the law had received its
verification。
It was in line with these experiences that White Fang came to learn the
law of property and the duty of the defence of property。 From the
protection of his god's body to the protection of his god's possessions was
a step； and this step he made。 What was his god's was to be defended
against all the world … even to the extent of biting other gods。 Not only was
such an act sacrilegious in its nature； but it was fraught with peril。 The
gods were all…powerful； and a dog was no match against them； yet White
Fang learned to face them； fiercely belligerent and unafraid。 Duty rose
above fear； and thieving gods learned to leave Grey Beaver's property
alone。
One thing； in this connection； White Fang quickly learnt； and that was
that a thieving god was usually a cowardly god and prone to run away at
the sounding of the alarm。 Also； he learned that but brief time elapsed
between his sounding of the alarm and Grey Beaver coming to his aid。 He
came to know that it was not fear of him that drove the thief away； but fear
of Grey Beaver。 White Fang did not give the alarm by barking。 He never
barked。 His method was to drive straight at the intruder； and to sink his
teeth in if he could。 Because he was morose and solitary； having nothing to
do with the other dogs； he was unusually fitted to guard his master's
property； and in this he was encouraged and trained by Grey Beaver。 One
result of this was to make White Fang more ferocious and indomitable；
and more solitary。
The months went by； binding stronger and stronger the covenant
between dog and man。 This was the ancient covenant that the first wolf
that came in from the Wild entered into with man。 And； like all succeeding
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wolves and wild dogs that had done likewise； White Fang worked the
covenant out for himself。 The terms were simple。 For the possession of a
flesh…and…blood god； he exchanged his own liberty。 Food and fire；
protection and companionship； were some of the things he received from
the god。 In return； he guarded the god's property； defended his body；
worked for him； and obeyed him。
The possession of a god implies service。 White Fang's was a service of
duty and awe； but not of love。 He did not know what love was。 He had no
experience of love。 Kiche was a remote memory。 Besides； not only had he
abandoned the Wild and his kind when he gave himself up to man； but the
terms of the covenant were such that if ever he met Kiche again he would
not desert his god to go with her。 His allegiance to man seemed somehow
a law of his being greater than the love of liberty； of kind and kin。
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CHAPTER VI … THE FAMINE
The spring of the year was at hand when Grey Beaver finished his long
journey。 It was April； and White Fang was a year old when he pulled into
the home villages and was loosed from the harness by Mit…sah。 Though a
long way from his full growth； White Fang； next to Lip…lip； was the largest
yearling in the village。 Both from his father； the wolf； and from Kiche； he
had inherited stature and strength； and already he was measuring up
alongside the full…grown dogs。 But he had not yet grown compact。 His
body was slender and rangy； and his strength more stringy than massive；
His coat was the true wolf…grey； and to all appearances he was true wolf
himself。 The quarter…strain of dog he had inherited from Kiche had left no
mark on him physically； though it had played its part in his mental make…
up。
He wandered through the village； recognising with staid satisfaction
the various gods he had known before the long journey。 Then there were
the dogs； puppies growing up like himself； and grown dogs that did not
look so large and formidable as the memory pictures he retained of them。
Also； he stood less in fear of them than formerly； stalking among them
with a certain careless ease that was as new to him as it was enjoyable。
There was Baseek； a grizzled old fellow that in his younger days had
but to uncover his fangs to send White Fang cringing and crouching to the
right about。 From him White Fang had learned much of his own
insignificance； and from him he was now to learn much of the change and
development that had taken place in himself。 While Baseek had been
growing weaker with age； White Fang had been growing stronger with
youth。
It was at the cutting…up of a moose； fresh…killed； that White Fang
learned of the changed relations in which he stood to the dog… world。 He
had got for himself a hoof and part of the shin…bone； to which quite a bit of
meat was attached。 Withdrawn from the immediate scramble of the other
dogs … in fact out of sight behind a thicket … he was devouring his prize；
when Baseek rushed in upon him。 Before he knew what he was doing； he
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had slashed the intruder twice and sprung clear。 Baseek was surprised by
the other's temerity and swiftness of attack。 He stood； gazing stupidly
across at White Fang； the raw； red shin…bone between them。
Baseek was old； and already he had come to know the increasing
valour of the dogs it had been his wont to bully。 Bitter experiences these；
which； perforce； he swallowed； calling upon all his wisdom to cope with
them。 In the old days he would have sprung upon White Fang in a fury of
righteous wrath。 But now his waning powers would not permit such a
course。 He bristled fiercely and looked ominously across the shin…bone at
White Fang。 And White Fang； resurrecting quite a deal of the old