white fang(白牙)-第7章
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had planned through the long hours of the night。 Chopping down young
saplings； he made them cross…bars of a scaffold by lashing them high up to
the trunks of standing trees。 Using the sled…lashing for a heaving rope； and
with the aid of the dogs； he hoisted the coffin to the top of the scaffold。
〃They got Bill； an' they may get me； but they'll sure never get you；
young man；〃 he said； addressing the dead body in its tree… sepulchre。
Then he took the trail； the lightened sled bounding along behind the
willing dogs； for they； too； knew that safety lay open in the gaining of Fort
McGurry。 The wolves were now more open in their pursuit； trotting
sedately behind and ranging along on either side； their red tongues lolling
out； their…lean sides showing the udulating ribs with every movement。
They were very lean； mere skin…bags stretched over bony frames； with
strings for muscles … so lean that Henry found it in his mind to marvel that
they still kept their feet and did not collapse forthright in the snow。
He did not dare travel until dark。 At midday； not only did the sun warm
the southern horizon； but it even thrust its upper rim； pale and golden；
above the sky…line。 He received it as a sign。 The days were growing longer。
The sun was returning。 But scarcely had the cheer of its light departed；
than he went into camp。 There were still several hours of grey daylight and
sombre twilight； and he utilised them in chopping an enormous supply of
fire…wood。
With night came horror。 Not only were the starving wolves growing
bolder； but lack of sleep was telling upon Henry。 He dozed despite himself；
crouching by the fire； the blankets about his shoulders； the axe between his
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knees； and on either side a dog pressing close against him。 He awoke once
and saw in front of him； not a dozen feet away； a big grey wolf； one of the
largest of the pack。 And even as he looked； the brute deliberately stretched
himself after the manner of a lazy dog； yawning full in his face and
looking upon him with a possessive eye； as if； in truth； he were merely a
delayed meal that was soon to be eaten。
This certitude was shown by the whole pack。 Fully a score he could
count； staring hungrily at him or calmly sleeping in the snow。 They
reminded him of children gathered about a spread table and awaiting
permission to begin to eat。 And he was the food they were to eat！ He
wondered how and when the meal would begin。
As he piled wood on the fire he discovered an appreciation of his own
body which he had never felt before。 He watched his moving muscles and
was interested in the cunning mechanism of his fingers。 By the light of the
fire he crooked his fingers slowly and repeatedly now one at a time； now
all together； spreading them wide or making quick gripping movements。
He studied the nail…formation； and prodded the finger…tips； now sharply；
and again softly； gauging the while the nerve…sensations produced。 It
fascinated him； and he grew suddenly fond of this subtle flesh of his that
worked so beautifully and smoothly and delicately。 Then he would cast a
glance of fear at the wolf…circle drawn expectantly about him； and like a
blow the realisation would strike him that this wonderful body of his； this
living flesh； was no more than so much meat； a quest of ravenous animals；
to be torn and slashed by their hungry fangs； to be sustenance to them as
the moose and the rabbit had often been sustenance to him。
He came out of a doze that was half nightmare； to see the red…hued
she…wolf before him。 She was not more than half a dozen feet away sitting
in the snow and wistfully regarding him。 The two dogs were whimpering
and snarling at his feet； but she took no notice of them。 She was looking at
the man； and for some time he returned her look。 There was nothing
threatening about her。 She looked at him merely with a great wistfulness；
but he knew it to be the wistfulness of an equally great hunger。 He was the
food； and the sight of him excited in her the gustatory sensations。 Her
mouth opened； the saliva drooled forth； and she licked her chops with the
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pleasure of anticipation。
A spasm of fear went through him。 He reached hastily for a brand to
throw at her。 But even as he reached； and before his fingers had closed on
the missile； she sprang back into safety； and he knew that she was used to
having things thrown at her。 She had snarled as she sprang away； baring
her white fangs to their roots； all her wistfulness vanishing； being replaced
by a carnivorous malignity that made him shudder。 He glanced at the hand
that held the brand； noticing the cunning delicacy of the fingers that
gripped it； how they adjusted themselves to all the inequalities of the
surface； curling over and under and about the rough wood； and one little
finger； too close to the burning portion of the brand； sensitively and
automatically writhing back from the hurtful heat to a cooler gripping…
place； and in the same instant he seemed to see a vision of those same
sensitive and delicate fingers being crushed and torn by the white teeth of
the she…wolf。 Never had he been so fond of this body of his as now when
his tenure of it was so precarious。
All night； with burning brands； he fought off the hungry pack。 When
he dozed despite himself； the whimpering and snarling of the dogs aroused
him。 Morning came； but for the first time the light of day failed to scatter
the wolves。 The man waited in vain for them to go。 They remained in a
circle about him and his fire； displaying an arrogance of possession that
shook his courage born of the morning light。
He made one desperate attempt to pull out on the trail。 But the moment
he left the protection of the fire； the boldest wolf leaped for him； but
leaped short。 He saved himself by springing back； the jaws snapping
together a scant six inches from his thigh。 The rest of the pack was now up
and surging upon him； and a throwing of firebrands right and left was
necessary to drive them back to a respectful distance。
Even in the daylight he did not dare leave the fire to chop fresh wood。
Twenty feet away towered a huge dead spruce。 He spent half the day
extending his campfire to the tree； at any moment a half dozen burning
faggots ready at hand to fling at his enemies。 Once at the tree； he studied
the surrounding forest in order to fell the tree in the direction of the most
firewood。
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The night was a repetition of the night before； save that the need for
sleep was becoming overpowering。 The snarling of his dogs was losing its
efficacy。 Besides； they were snarling all the time； and his benumbed and
drowsy senses no longer took note of changing pitch and intensity。 He
awoke with a start。 The she…wolf was less than a yard from him。
Mechanically； at short range； without letting go of it； he thrus
