Adventure, July 1, 1928 — page 60: what you’re looking at

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

54 CLARK BROCKMAN “Mai dai. It can’t be done,” whis- pered Boon. “Dai! It can!” insisted Sommerfield. Boomp! warned Bua Kam. AUTIOUSLY Sommerfield madehis way through the undergrowth. Boon was right behind him, but the other two kept timorously to the rear. Bua Kam continued her warnings until ‘Sommerfield was within ten yards of her, and then let out a nasal shriek. Through the bushes before him, Som- merfield could seé the little clearing that Bua Kam had trampled down. In the shade of a tree lay the calf. It was of a pale red color and seemed to be covered with light fuzz. Its toenails were white and there were five on each hind foot instead of the customary four. On its tail the larger hairs stood out, white and stiff. The eyes were closed so it was impossible to tell their color; but whether they were black or pink made no differ- ence. The calf was an albino—a white elephant, a representative of Buddha, the indubitable warrant of a favored king. “I think he needs water,” whispered Sommerfield. ‘See how he is panting.” “Yes, water. He has no water. God Buddha, he has,no water.” Boon’s whis- per was hoarse as if he also needed water. “We must bring water. Here .on the ridge there is no waterand the little onecan not walk down the steep hill. She can not carry him and will not leave him to get water. GodBuddha! Ifheshould perish!” Like a wild animal he darted noise- lessly through the bushes to the place where the priests were waiting. When Sommerfield arrived, a prayer service for the little elephant was in progress. Seated on a decaying log, his ceremonial fan before his face to prevent thoughts of mundane things from creeping into his mind, was the head priest. On the ground before him with elbows on the-ground and palms together in the attitude‘ of prayer, were the brown villagers. Heads were bowed low to the ground or thrown back with faces uplifted to the leafy dome made by the great jungle monarchs whose branches spread out between them and Nirvana. Prayer after prayer fell fervently from the shriveled lips of the aged priest. When the priest had finished his pleas for the mercy of Buddha, Panya, the spirit doctor, took charge of affairs as naturally as if it were a part of the same service, as indeed it was. The priest saw nothing incongruous in it. Why should the people? But Panya’s tactics were totally differ- ent. His was not the attitude of a sup- pliant coming to a greater power for help. He stood before the spirits of the jungles with shoulders back and head up. He called them by name, dared them to lay so much as a finger upon him who was their master. He reminded them that the spirit he controlled was greater than they, singly or collectively. He recounted his marvelous deeds and threatened to bind them and tie them for eternity if they did not accede to his will. He ordered all spirits of disease and in- sanity away from Bua Kam and the white elephant. He called in the thirty-two good elements which are necessary to the health of men and animals alike. Spirit after spirit was called upon and ordered to perform certain duties. The angry bellow of an elephant broke through the stillness of the jungle. It was not Bua Kam. It was from the op- posite direction. The animal trumpeted and bellowed again. The confident, haughty expression on Panya’s face seemed to be frozen there. He stared incredulously in the direction of the noise. Some jungle spirit was evidently dis- puting his authority. The crowd was ina panic. They could hear the crash-crash, as the elephant broke wildly through the jungle. There was another trumpet. With one accord they started down the steep path toward the salt lick. Men and women dropped the silver bowls and spilled the scented water which they had brought to sprinkle on the sacred animal. The smaller chil- dren were swung up to their elders’ hips and carried off in the rush for safety. comicloooks.com