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〃The Blessed Wolf！〃 chorused the women。
Judge Scott surveyed them triumphantly。
〃Out of your own mouths be it；〃 he said。 〃Just as I contended right
along。 No mere dog could have done what he did。 He's a wolf。〃
〃A Blessed Wolf；〃 amended the Judge's wife。
〃Yes； Blessed Wolf；〃 agreed the Judge。 〃And henceforth that shall be
my name for him。〃
〃He'll have to learn to walk again；〃 said the surgeon； 〃so he might as
well start in right now。 It won't hurt him。 Take him outside。〃
And outside he went； like a king； with all Sierra Vista about him and
tending on him。 He was very weak； and when he reached the lawn he lay
down and rested for a while。
Then the procession started on； little spurts of strength coming into
White Fang's muscles as he used them and the blood began to surge
through them。 The stables were reached； and there in the doorway； lay
Collie； a half…dozen pudgy puppies playing about her in the sun。
White Fang looked on with a wondering eye。 Collie snarled warningly
at him； and he was careful to keep his distance。 The master with his toe
helped one sprawling puppy toward him。 He bristled suspiciously； but the
master warned him that all was well。 Collie； clasped in the arms of one of
the women； watched him jealously and with a snarl warned him that all
was not well。
The puppy sprawled in front of him。 He cocked his ears and watched it
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White Fang
curiously。 Then their noses touched； and he felt the warm little tongue of
the puppy on his jowl。 White Fang's tongue went out； he knew not why；
and he licked the puppy's face。
Hand…clapping and pleased cries from the gods greeted the
performance。 He was surprised； and looked at them in a puzzled way。
Then his weakness asserted itself； and he lay down； his ears cocked； his
head on one side； as he watched the puppy。 The other puppies came
sprawling toward him； to Collie's great disgust； and he gravely permitted
them to clamber and tumble over him。 At first； amid the applause of the
gods； he betrayed a trifle of his old self…consciousness and awkwardness。
This passed away as the puppies' antics and mauling continued； and he lay
with half…shut patient eyes； drowsing in the sun。
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