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upon a chicken that had escaped from the chicken…yard。 White Fang's
natural impulse was to eat it。 A couple of bounds； a flash of teeth and a
frightened squawk； and he had scooped in the adventurous fowl。 It was
farm… bred and fat and tender； and White Fang licked his chops and
decided that such fare was good。
Later in the day； he chanced upon another stray chicken near the
stables。 One of the grooms ran to the rescue。 He did not know White
Fang's breed； so for weapon he took a light buggy…whip。 At the first cut of
the whip； White Fang left the chicken for the man。 A club might have
stopped White Fang； but not a whip。 Silently； without flinching； he took a
second cut in his forward rush； and as he leaped for the throat the groom
cried out； 〃My God！〃 and staggered backward。 He dropped the whip and
shielded his throat with his arms。 In consequence； his forearm was ripped
open to the bone。
The man was badly frightened。 It was not so much White Fang's
ferocity as it was his silence that unnerved the groom。 Still protecting his
throat and face with his torn and bleeding arm； he tried to retreat to the
barn。 And it would have gone hard with him had not Collie appeared on
the scene。 As she had saved Dick's life； she now saved the groom's。 She
rushed upon White Fang in frenzied wrath。 She had been right。 She had
known better than the blundering gods。 All her suspicions were justified。
Here was the ancient marauder up to his old tricks again。
The groom escaped into the stables； and White Fang backed away
before Collie's wicked teeth； or presented his shoulder to them and circled
round and round。 But Collie did not give over； as was her wont； after a
decent interval of chastisement。 On the contrary； she grew more excited
and angry every moment； until； in the end； White Fang flung dignity to the
winds and frankly fled away from her across the fields。
〃He'll learn to leave chickens alone；〃 the master said。 〃But I can't give
him the lesson until I catch him in the act。〃
Two nights later came the act； but on a more generous scale than the
master had anticipated。 White Fang had observed closely the chicken…
yards and the habits of the chickens。 In the night…time； after they had gone
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to roost； he climbed to the top of a pile of newly hauled lumber。 From
there he gained the roof of a chicken… house； passed over the ridgepole and
dropped to the ground inside。 A moment later he was inside the house； and
the slaughter began。
In the morning； when the master came out on to the porch； fifty white
Leghorn hens； laid out in a row by the groom； greeted his eyes。 He
whistled to himself； softly； first with surprise； and then； at the end； with
admiration。 His eyes were likewise greeted by White Fang； but about the
latter there were no signs of shame nor guilt。 He carried himself with pride；
as though； forsooth； he had achieved a deed praiseworthy and meritorious。
There was about him no consciousness of sin。 The master's lips tightened
as he faced the disagreeable task。 Then he talked harshly to the unwitting
culprit； and in his voice there was nothing but godlike wrath。 Also； he held
White Fang's nose down to the slain hens； and at the same time cuffed him
soundly。
White Fang never raided a chicken…roost again。 It was against the law；
and he had learned it。 Then the master took him into the chicken…yards。
White Fang's natural impulse； when he saw the live food fluttering about
him and under his very nose； was to spring upon it。 He obeyed the impulse；
but was checked by the master's voice。 They continued in the yards for
half an hour。 Time and again the impulse surged over White Fang； and
each time； as he yielded to it； he was checked by the master's voice。 Thus
it was he learned the law； and ere he left the domain of the chickens； he
had learned to ignore their existence。
〃You can never cure a chicken…killer。〃 Judge Scott shook his head
sadly at luncheon table； when his son narrated the lesson he had given
White Fang。 〃Once they've got the habit and the taste of blood 。 。 。〃 Again
he shook his head sadly。
But Weedon Scott did not agree with his father。 〃I'll tell you what I'll
do；〃 he challenged finally。 〃I'll lock White Fang in with the chickens all
afternoon。〃
〃But think of the chickens；〃 objected the judge。
〃And furthermore；〃 the son went on； 〃for every chicken he kills； I'll
pay you one dollar gold coin of the realm。〃
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〃But you should penalise father； too；〃 interpose Beth。
Her sister seconded her； and a chorus of approval arose from around
the table。 Judge Scott nodded his head in agreement。
〃All right。〃 Weedon Scott pondered for a moment。 〃And if； at the end
of the afternoon White Fang hasn't harmed a chicken； for every ten
minutes of the time he has spent in the yard； you will have to say to him；
gravely and with deliberation； just as if you were sitting on the bench and
solemnly passing judgment； 'White Fang； you are smarter than I thought。'〃
From hidden points of vantage the family watched the performance。
But it was a fizzle。 Locked in the yard and there deserted by the master；
White Fang lay down and went to sleep。 Once he got up and walked over
to the trough for a drink of water。 The chickens he calmly ignored。 So far
as he was concerned they did not exist。 At four o'clock he executed a
running jump； gained the roof of the chicken…house and leaped to the
ground outside； whence he sauntered gravely to the house。 He had learned
the law。 And on the porch； before the delighted family； Judge Scott； face to
face with White Fang； said slowly and solemnly； sixteen times； 〃White
Fang； you are smarter than I thought。〃
But it was the multiplicity of laws that befuddled White Fang and
often brought him into disgrace。 He had to learn that he must not touch the
chickens that belonged to other gods。 Then there were cats； and rabbits；
and turkeys； all these he must let alone。 In fact； when he had but partly
learned the law； his impression was that he must leave all live things alone。
Out in the back…pasture； a quail could flutter up under his nose unharmed。
All tense and trembling with eagerness and desire； he mastered his instinct
and stood still。 He was obeying the will of the gods。
And then； one day； again out in the back…pasture； he saw Dick start a
jackrabbit and run it。 The master himself was looking on and did not
interfere。 Nay； he encouraged White Fang to join in the chase。 And thus he
learned that there was no taboo on jackrabbits。 In the end he worked out
the complete law。 Between him and all domestic animals there must be no
hostilities。 If not amity； at least neutrality must obtain。 But the other
animals … the squirrels； and quail； and cottontails； were creatures of the
Wild who had never yielded allegiance to man。 They were the lawful prey
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of any dog。 It was only the tame that the gods protected； and between the
tame deadly strife was not permitted。 The gods held the power of life and
death over their subjects； and the gods were jealous of their power。
Life was complex in the Santa Clara Valley after the simplicities of the
Northland。 And the chief thing demanded by these intricacies of
civilisation was control； restraint … a poise of self that was as delicate as
the fluttering of gossamer wings and at the same time as rigid as steel。 Life
had a thousand faces； and White Fang found he must meet them all … thus；
when he went to town； in to San Jose； running behind the carriage or
loafing about the streets when the carriage stopped。 Life flowed past him；
deep and wide and varied； continually impinging upon his senses；
demanding of him instant and endless adjustments and correspondences；
and compelling him； almost alway