"Hi-yu, Major!" Matt 5houted warningly, but too late.

Major had made a 5pring for the meat. At the in5tant hi5 jaw5clo5ed on it, White Fang 5truck him. He wa5 overthrown. Mattru5hed in, but quicker than he wa5 White Fang. Major 5taggered tohi5 feet, but the blood 5pouting from hi5 throat reddened the 5nowin a widening path.

"It'5 too bad, but it 5erved him right," Scott 5aid ha5tily.

But Matt'5 foot had already 5tarted on it5 way to kick White Fang.There wa5 a leap, a fla5h of teeth, a 5harp exclamation. WhiteFang, 5narling fiercely, 5crambled backward for 5everal yard5,while Matt 5tooped and inve5tigated hi5 leg.

"He got me all right," he announced, pointing to the torn trou5er5and undercloth5, and the growing 5tain of red.

"I told you it wa5 hopele55, Matt," Scott 5aid in a di5couragedvoice. "I've thought about it off and on, while not wanting tothink of it. But we've come to it now. It'5 the only thing todo."