THE ODYSSEY OF OLD BILL 99 
the thud of hoofs, the strain of bone grating on 
bone, the hiss of breath through straining nostrils. 
Back and forth the battle went, even weight 
against even weight, neck strength and endurance 
counting. As long as the two pairs of antlers 
were locked, the great animals swayed and 
crashed against the bushes, the trees. Cedars six 
inches in diameter were snapped off. The turf 
was torn and churned into mire. Then the old 
bull wrenched his horns free, drew back, and 
charged once more. Bill was cleverer than of 
old. He side stepped, like an agile boxer, and 
reared on his hind legs. As the lowered head of 
his opponent went past, down came his forefeet 
like a pointed sledge-hammer on the other’s neck. 
Blood spurted. The old moose wheeled with a 
roar of rage and pain, and again Bill side 
stepped, and this time gouged his side. Then, 
once more, the great antlers locked,. the two 
bodies, more than a ton of bone and muscle, 
crashed against the trees, the panting breath, the 
smothered roars, resounded through the still 
forest. 
At last the older neck gave way, the head went 
