Baseekwasold，andalreadyhehadcometoknowtheincreasingvalorofthedogsithadbeenhiswonttobully。Bitterexperiencesthese，which，perforce，heswallowed，callinguponallhiswisdomtocopewiththem。
Intheolddays，hewouldhavesprunguponWhiteFanginafuryofrighteouswrath。Butnowhiswaningpowerswouldnotpermitsuchacourse。Hebristledfiercelyandlookedominouslyacrosstheshin-boneatWhiteFang。AndWhiteFang，resurrectingquiteadealoftheoldawe，seemedtowiltandtoshrinkinuponhimselfandgrowsmall，ashecastaboutinhismindforawaytobeataretreatnottooinglorious。
AndrighthereBaseekerred。Hadhecontentedhimselfwithlookingfierceandominous，allwouldhavebeenwell。WhiteFang，onthevergeofretreat，wouldhaveretreated，leavingthemeattohim。ButBaseekdidnotwait。
Heconsideredthevictoryalreadyhisandsteppedforwardtothemeat。
Ashebenthisheadcarelesslytosmellit，WhiteFangbristledslightly。