isdom 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 awe, seemed
to wilt and to shrink in upon himself and grow small, as he cast about in
his mind for a way to beat a retreat not too inglorious.

And right here Baseek erred. Had he contented himself with looking
fierce and ominous, all would have been well. White Fang, on the verge
of retreat, would have retreated, leaving the meat to him. But Baseek
did not wait. He considered the victory already his and stepped forward
to the meat. As he bent his head carelessly to smell it, White Fang
bristled slightly. Even then it was not too late for Baseek to retrieve
the situation. Had he merely stood over the meat, head up and glowering,
White Fang would ultimately have slunk away. But the fresh meat was
strong in Baseek's nostrils, and greed urged him to take a bite of it.

This was too much for White Fang. Fresh upon his months of mastery over
his own team-mates, it was beyond his self-control to stand idly by while
another devoured the meat that belonged to him. He struck, after his
custom, without warning. With the first slash, Baseek's right ear was
ripped into ribbons. He was astounded at the suddenness of it. But more
things, and most grievous ones, were happening with equal suddenness. He
was knocked off his feet. His throat was bitten. While he was
struggling to his feet the young dog sank teeth twice into his shoulder.
The swiftness of it was bewildering. He made a futile rush at White
Fang, clipping the empty air with an outraged snap. The next moment his
nose was laid open, and he was staggering backward away from the meat.

The situation was now reversed. White Fang stood over the shin-bone,
bristling and menacing, while Baseek stood a little way off, preparing to
retreat. He dared not risk a fight with this young lightning-flash, and
again he knew, and more bitterly, the enfeeblement of oncoming age. His
attempt to maintain his dignity was heroic. Calmly turning his back upon
young dog and shin-bone, as though both were beneath his notice and
unworthy of his consideration, he stalked grandly away. Nor, until well
out of sight, did he stop to lick his bleeding wounds.

The effect on White Fang wa