THELAWOFCLUBANDFANG

    BucksfirstdayontheYeabeachwaslikeanightmare.Everyhourwasfilledwithshodsurprise.Hehadbeensuddenlyjerkedfromtheheartofcivilizationandflungintotheheartofthingsprimordial.Nolazy,sun-kissedlifewasthis,withnothingtodobutloafandbebored.Herewasherpeaorrest,noramomentssafety.Allwasfusionanda,andeverymomentlifeandlimbwereinperil.Thereerativeobestantlyalert;forthesedogsandmeowndogsaheyweresavages,allofthem,whoknewnolawbutthelawofclubandfang.

    Hehadneverseendogsfightasthesewolfishcreaturesfought,andhisfirstexperieaughthimanunfettablelesson.itistrue,itwasavicariousexperience,elsehewouldnothavelivedtoprofitbyit.Curlywasthevictim.Theywerecampedhelogstore,whereshe,inherfriendlyway,madeadvaoahuskydogthesizeofafull-grownwolf,thoughnothalfseasshe.Therewasn,onlyaleapinlikeaflash,ametallicclipofteeth,aleapoutequallyswift,andCurlysfacepedopenfromeyetojaw.

    Itwasthewolfmanneroffighting,tostrikeandleapaway;buttherewasmoretoitthanthis.Thirtyorfortyhuskiesrantothespotandsurrouhebatantsinaandsilentcircle.Buckdidnotprehendthatsilentiness,northeeagerhichtheywereligtheirchops.Curlyrushedherantagonist,whostruckagainandleapedaside.Hemetherrushwithhischest,inapeculiarfashionthattumbledheroffherfeet.Sheneverregaihem.Thiswaswhattheonlookinghuskieshadwaitedfor.Theyclosedinuponher,snarlingandyelping,andshewasburied,screamingwithagohthebristlingmassofbodies.

    Sosuddenwasit,andsoued,thatBuckwastakenaback.HesawSpitzrunouthisscarlettongueinawayhehadoflaughing;andhesaw