Adventure Magazine Cover — page 131: what you’re looking at

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

The Man-Eater both gaffs through the back of his hand. Hash danced and howled, claiming all kinds of fouls, but the audience was with Uncle Mose for the first time when he explained— “No nigger would be fool enough to stick his han’ thar a purpose.” But Hash had seen the trick before and claimed the fight. Whatever the referee’s opinion may have been, he resented this town negro’s airs of superiority. This Memphis coon had been in the center of the stage too long, and Babe looked able to carry out his threat when he replied— “Put yo’ rooster down on de groun’, nigger, fore I bust yo’ one.” The argument had been a life-saver for _ Uncle Mose. He worked intelligently and could feel the old veteran tighten in his hands, IN ALL his glorious life Old Calo- mel had never sulked or faltered and as sorely wounded as he was, he hurtled forward, breaking upward with all his remaining strength. Finding that he would be topped, he threw himself backward and met the Roundhead with flying feet. A rapid clashing of steel, a sharp snap, and both were down. As neither moved they were given a minute’s time, and when pitted again The General angled aimlessly across with a - dragging wing. The Reverend Bung dashed the perspira- tion from his eyes and murmured— “Bress de Lawd!”’ For the first time since the battle started he could hear the sweet tones of the new organ playing the interlude to “Come Sal- vation from the Skies.” Perhaps some rude barbarian of ages past I2I . had perpetuated a certain strain of cocks, so . valiant, so indomitable that they had been passed uncontaminated down through the golden days of chivalry and thence to us. Be that as it may, there exists today one type of perfect courage that should be our national emblem—the gamecock. Such were these two.and both went for- ward to face the inevitable—not driven, not encouraged—but of their own free will. If there was an element of cruelty in this contest, it was not in evidence. ‘They were both so perfectly matched that there was no under-dog to arouse the sympathy of the audience. This last great fight of the two old warriors was theScrowning glory of their lives. At the end The General struck with his last remaining gasp. The old Red Quill picked weakly in the direction of his de- parted foe, and died before the count proclaimed him victor. That evening, while John was reading beneath the big catalpa, Uncle Mose passed on his way to the kennels. . John glanced up and smiled. “Uncle Mose,” he said, “a understand your church is free from debt.’ “Yas, sah, hit shorely is,” was the reply. “And you ‘remembered your tactics?” “Yas, sah,” he answered as he looked ruefully at his bandages. “Dem tictacs er all right fo’ de church, but dey sho’ is hard on er nigger’s han’s!” Eomichboo (E@) 124 8 PS He |