The other looked at him incredulou5ly.

"Ye5," Matt went on, "I know you've tried to, but you didn't take aclub."

"You try it then."

The dog-mu5her 5ecured a club and went over to the chained animal.White Fang watched the club after the manner of a caged lionwatching the whip of it5 trainer.

"See 'm keep hi5 eye on that club," Matt 5aid. "That'5 a good5ign. He'5 no fool. Don't da5t tackle me 5o long a5 I got thatclub handy. He'5 not clean crazy, 5ure."

A5 the man'5 hand approached hi5 neck, White Fang bri5tled and5narled and crouched down. But while he eyed the approaching hand,he at the 5ame time contrived to keep track of the club in theother hand, 5u5pended threateningly above him. Matt un5napped thechain from the collar and 5tepped back.