The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-03-14

Is to 6 check Is K toKt2
7 AS was about to deliver the final coup, which
was OF course to place the marked cavalier at r
9TH, the sheikh sprang up in frenzy of passion.
SpriDging TO the window, In q voice hoarse with
passion he yelled to the guards. As this was
transporting, the vailed lady came forward and
seizng the piece herself, executed the final move
saying in Spanish as she did 80
THUS the fettered knight wins-across the
river"
She could say no more. as the guards entered
and seized me. From their manner on our way
TO my quarters in the tower. inferred that my
execution was fixed to take place at sunrise. Left
alone, fbegan to reflect on the strange demeanor
of the mysterious female. Could she have meant
more than she said Her repeating my move was
natural and her words across the rivers might
mean nothing as they applied strictly to the board,
which like all Oriental chess boards, represented
two plains separated BY river. But then the
word 'fettered.n This was unusual the custo.
mary and acknowledged term is crowned Surely
that was meant for me. And though the words
across the river" might apply to the board, used
in this connection with the fettered knight, thew
too possessed meaning. But then / recollected
there were two detachments of armed men, the
one above and the other below us on the other
side Of the river. In which direction should hshape
my course! Even supposing one of them to be
English, might land in the hostile camp after ALL
As sat on my hard couch revolving these thoughts.
/ kept mechanically repeating, "Thus the fet-
tered knight wins-thus the fettered knight WINS
a significant word in this connection. Then Il
flashed upon me that the direction of the knights
move might indicate my own course. Yes must
move down stream; for the fettered cavalier on
the board crossed the stream to the right. AT
length the problem was solved.
Anxlously and eagerly l waited for night.
Hardly had darkness enveloped the earth, when
climbing through my window dropped myself in.
TO the stream. The current and my own strenuous
exertion soon carried me far away from nv TAILOR,
AS went drifting and swimming down stream
suddenly heard the well known cry ''halt.r Ii was
the British outpost and soon was in the midst of
friendly Englishmen. / recited my adventures
and learned from them that il was their design to
attack at daybreak the party which had seen
from my window. After some persuasion pre-
vailed upon their officer to forego this plan and
instead, TO let me conduct them, by detour, 10
the rear of the sheikh's stronghold. During nv
had observed the extent of their
force and knew that the detachment was with |
could easily carry the place.
The thought OF capturing my old enemy added |
zeal TO my undertaking. We Immediately set ont. |
Swimming our horses across the stream we ar /
rived in the rear of the Persian citadel at daylight
The assault being totally unexpected was co m.
pielely successful. The sheikh, however, fought |
like tiger and succeeded in rallying around him
q few Of bis guards ! endeavored TO make nv /
way to him and called to him to surrender but the /
confusion and tumult were at first too great /
Finally l succeeded In reaching him and through |
one of the captured guards summoned him to sur. /
render as This game was lost" At this be gave one
quick and nervous glance around. He turned to /
fee but found himself bsffled on all sides. Re. /
ceiling step or two, he raised his hand TO his /
mouth. Then, In the Persian dialect exclaimed /
Is The king is never taken--he is mat" and fell /
dead at my feet.
Bending over the corpse. saw at once the /
cause Of bis death. On one of his fingers was a
ring with hollow seal. From this it was that
be had imbibed the poison. Craven on the seal |
Of the ring was problem strangely in keeping
with the wearer's tragic end. 1t was in five |
to play and force white to mate.
The place was soon sacked and fred. As soon |
rs could, hastened in quest of the vailed lady
who had given me the key move TO escape.
found her safely concealed in the very tower in |
" hich had been confined. When our party with |
rev she went with u.s. From her learned that |
she was the daughter OF Spanish marine, and |
hat her name was Emilia Valiente. Her father, |
he said, was Of an adventurous spirit, constantly
making perilous voyages to distant lands. While on |
/ cruise to Bombay, their vessel had been wrecked |
n the Gulf OF Oman. OF all on board she was |
he only one saved. The sheikh, from whose |
hands she and myself bad just escaped, had
aiken her from the friendly tribe in whose midst
sbe found herself after her rescue from the |
wreck. Like me, she had been held prisoner TO |
.mnse him at CHESS Our fortunes were 40 sinpu. |
ar and so like, and the circumstances under l
which we were brought together seemed to have |
% much Of fatality that we were not long to- |
,etner before we loved.
So the fettered knight" and the nobled
ueen" were wed.
Here the manuscript ended. In the desk also
ound a miniature of beautiful lady. The INF.
als on the reverse side, "E. w." showed that IL
II