Chapter 15 A New Arrangement, Beauty Smith wanted White Fang for himself and would stop at nothing to get him.
He knew it would not be easy to get him away from his master.
Even though Gray Beaver paid little attention to White Fang, he understood that the wolf was valuable.
He was the strongest sled dog he had ever had.
Therefore, Beauty needed a plan.
Gray Beaver was almost finished with Fort Yukon and would soon start his long trip home.
Beauty sneaked into his camp when he knew Gray Beaver was in town.
Using a heavy axe, he chopped Gray Beaver's sled in two.
He broke the runners and smashed the body.
There was no way to leave Fort Yukon during the winter without a sled.
His next step was to steal a new sled, an even better one from the Hudson's Bay Company.
He approached Gray Beaver, offering to trade his new sled for White Fang.
Gray Beaver thought carefully about it.
It would be hard to let the wolf go, but he would need the sled to get home.
He agreed to the trade.
Beauty Smith tied a piece of leather around White Fang's neck and pulled him away.
The wolf did not want to go.
He tugged at the rope and dragged his feet, but his master told him to go with this new man, so he stopped fighting.
White Fang was worried, though.
This new man made him uncomfortable.
Beauty was very quick to let White Fang know he was in charge.
He surprised the wolf with a kick to the side of his head, knocking him sideways.
White Fang did not have a moment to react before being thrown in a cage.
Beauty locked the door and walked away.
This was yet another form of torture for White Fang.
He had never been trapped before or locked in such a small space.
His instincts and nature demanded room, demanded that he roam.
He paced back and forth as best he could.
He was panicked and angry and could not understand how his master Gray Beaver had let this happen.
Beauty brought him food and water, but would not let him out of the cage.
He poked at the wolf with a stick through the bars.
White Fang growled and bit at the club and tried to jump at Beauty, but he couldn't pass between the bars.
This went on for days.
If he was let out, it was only so that Beauty could hit or kick him.
Every day White Fang became angrier, more desperate for escape, and more dangerous.
At last there was a chance.
Beauty opened the cage door just a little too wide and White Fang jumped through, knocking his cruel master down.
The wolf did not stop for a moment.
He ran back to Gray Beaver.
There must have been a mistake.
His master must be wondering what had happened to him.
Gray Beaver was surprised to see the wolf return.
He was almost finished packing his new sled.
Any later and he would have been gone.
White Fang ran to his side.
What are you doing here?
Gray Beaver asked.
White Fang looked up at him.
He did not know if he would receive praise or a beating.
It did not matter, though.
He knew this was where he belonged.
You were sold, fair and square, Gray Beaver said.
You have to go back.
Gray Beaver found some rope and tied it around White Fang's neck.
Let's go.
You don't belong here anymore.
White Fang followed his master because that was what he did.
When they arrived at Beauty Smith's and Gray Beaver handed him the rope, White Fang stopped fighting.
He knew this was his fate.
Although he could not understand these rules of men, he knew that he must obey.
Beauty beat him savagely, so much that White Fang was sick.
He threw the wolf back in his cage, locking it tight.
Beauty was careful never to open the cage door so carelessly again.
This was unnecessary, though, as White Fang never tried to escape again.
Wasn't there someone who used to save him?
Someone who would rush through the forest to rescue him from danger?
These were only memories for White Fang.
He could no longer recall his mother or her gentle touch.
He accepted his fate.
His fate was to be with Beauty Smith.
His fate was to become meaner, angrier, and more spiteful than ever before.
