Adventure, July 1, 1928 — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

56 CLARK BROCKMAN the two elephants struggled. At first neither seemed to be able to get an advantage, but Father Eclipse of the Moon was stockier and could use his weight with greater effect. Gradually Paa Luang lost ground. With a tremen- dous effort Moon pushed him back a full foot. At the same time Moon ducked his head and disentangled his tusks which had been straddling the long slender ones of his foe. As quick as a cat he twisted his head to the left and sank his right tusk into Paa Luang’s tough chest. Before the chow’s elephant could take advantage of his own unprotected side, Moon’s head was back and their tusks were interlocked. At that game, Paa Luang did not have a chance. His tusks curved together and were so long that only at an angle could they do effective damage. Again they struggled in a circle with heads lowered, straining and grunting. Again Moon tried to slip past his oppo- nent’s guard to make another thrust, but Paa Luang lifted his head suddenly to keep the short tusks from slipping free. So suddenly did both elephants move and so fierce was their attack, that the long, slender tusks of Paa Luang were broken. Two stubs remained, one a foot long, the other over two. The ends were jagged and sharp. The maneuver had disengaged their tusks. Moon, with his head below Paa Luang’s, lunged forward for a deadly thrust, but the short jagged tusk caught him between the eyes and tore the skin from his forehead and raked it back be- tween the ears. The heavy skull had pro- tected his head, and Moon had sent a second thrust into the massive chest. As Moon drew back for a second lunge, Paa Luang backed and dropped his head to the defensive. Again they maneuvered ina circle. Bellows of pain mingled with those of rage. Paa Luang became desperate:as he felt himself being pushed back. He exerted every ounce of strength in a supreme effort. Moon went back. His hind feet struck a decaying log and he faltered. Bees grunting and bellowing, Paa Luang was upon him ina flash. Moon struggled to maintain his balance. Paa Luang caught a ragged tusk in his shoul- der. He thrust again into Moon’s right side, and. was making a third jab as Moon regained his balance and whipped his hind quarters to the left. Paa Luang’s jagged tusk raked Moon’s leathery side. Like a demon Moon tore into Paa Luang’s unprotected flank. Once, twice, three times, Moon sent his tusks home. Bellows of pain echoed through the jun- gle. Then they were head to head again, tusks locked and heads lowered. Moon’s thick tusks were now between his enemy’s broken stubs. With a tre- mendous effort he forced Paa Luang back. He shoved again and suddenly raised his head. His tusks fitted closely around Paa Luang’s neck. Moon seemed to expand upward. Both elephants’ forefeet were off the ground. Still Moon was coming forward. Suddenly he twisted to the right. Paa Luang was unbalanced and fell to his side. He did not move. His neck had been broken. But Father Eclipse of the Moon was not through. Time after time he thrust his tusks into his prostrate foe, stamped on him and knelt on him and stamped on him again. He seemed controlled by a demon. He was even more savage than during the fight. Bua Kam gave a quiet, coaxing call. He stopped suddenly and faced her, bleary eyed and wild. She approached him fearlessly. The call was repeated. She slipped her flexible trunk over the wound on the fighter’s head and seemed to tickle his ear. Father Eclipse of the Moon, swaying and heaving from his exertions, looked at her with dull, stupid eyes. The quiet coaxing sound was re- peated. Bua Kam turned back to her calf and ran her trunk over his little body as if caressing him. She felt the dry, panting mouth. Father Eclipse of the Moon fol- lowed. He too ran his trunk over the - little form, but he did not seem to be caressing it. It was more as if he were trying to decide just what it was. Bua comnlicloooks.com