Adventure, July 1, 1928 — page 56: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

50 . CLARK BROCKMAN The warning was useless. The men were already disappearing. The Britisher knew that he was in greater danger than the others. He could not reach the cover of the jungle before the tusker would be upon him. A house would be of no protec- tion, as Father Eclipse of the Moon could knock it to a pulp in one charge and Som- merfield could not climb a tree like a barefoot native. He looked fora tree that was. easy to climb and yet strong enough to stand under the charges of an infuri- ated elephant. “The rope!” shouted Red Moon, as he pointed to the rope hanging from a large tying tree a few yards away. Sommerfield ran for it, made all the height he could on his jump, and started laboriously up toward the branches. Something caught his legs and he was lifted a full two feet. It was Red Moon. With his hands under the soles of Sommer- field’s feet, he helped again. The Britisher’s hand caught the limb. He raised his legs and wrapped them about dt affectionately. - As he raised his chin above the branch a wild trumpet of rage echoed through the jungle. Sommerfield saw that the great tusker had broken loose from the tree and was gazing’ around as if bewildered, his trunk outstretched and his ears cocked. “Hurry,” whispered Sommerfield. SHE TUSKER caught sight of the dangling figure, and with another trumpet, charged. Red Moon was coming up the rope like a monkey. Sommerfield braced himself in the branches, reached down, caught the rider’s hand and with one jerk swung him to the branch, as the elephant’s extended trunk caught the rope and snapped it as if it had been a piece of twine. Furiously, Father Eclipse of the Moon charged the tree. It shook, but held. Again the elephant charged. “He can’t get us,” panted Red Moon. “This will never come down.” The tusker tried again and bellowed with rage. ' In the distance, Sommerfield caught cries of warning. “Take your elephants away! Father Eclipse of the Moon is loose. Fiee!’’ Father Eclipse of the Moon also heard the cry, and made off in the direction of the sound. As he passed a sapling he snapped it as if it had been a reed and disappeared into the jungle, waving it over his head. Both Sommerfield and Red Moon sat motionless listening to the crashing of the undergrowth. When the noise of the charge was no longer audible they could still hear an occasional trumpet and an angry bellow. Even these sounds died out in the distance. Slowly they came down, and as they did, they saw the men slipping from trees and emerging from the surrounding wall of jungle. Nai Kow was the first to arrive. “Send for Sewai,” ordered Sommer- field. ‘‘Tell him to bring his poisoned arrows and shoot Father Eclipse of the Moon. Tell him that I will give him ten ticals more than the usual price if he gets him today, but also tell him that I do not want the elephant shot full of arrows. Just in the foot and just enough to cripple him temporarily. You understand?” “Kow chai—understood,” replied the head man. oe He turned to one of the men and gave the orders, telling the man to make all possible speed. “‘Sewai is not at home,” broke in a deep voice. Sommerfield turned to see who was speaking. It was Panya, the aged and shriveled spirit doctor, who was some- what of a demigod in the district, because of his supposed control over the legions of evil spirits that daily harassed the jungle people. Sommerfield had known Panya for years and had had long and interesting talks with the old man on the subject of spirits and exorcism. Panya was no charlatan. He was a real student of his profession and honestly believed in his amulets and formulas. “Where is Sewai?”’ asked Sommerfield. “He has gone to shoot Paa Luang, Chow Rajaboot’s tusker who has been on must for the past two weeks and has comnlicloooks.com