Morris tribune., 1882-08-03
THEFETTERED KNIGHT.

WAS ueSSNSo' ohS day having Stiaye u
some distance from my party, was
seized by band of horse guards of one
of the most powerful sheiks. I pre-
sumo he was ignorant of the difference
between Frenchman and an English
man, or, perhaps, he thus wantonly took
the opportunity to secure slave. Pos
sibly he may have confounded me with
one of the British cavalry officers whom
l had been told l resembled. At any
rate was in his power, and certainly
from no friendly design on his part. ASH
was brought into his presence he was en-
gagged in game of chess with a female
of graceful person, but whose features on
account of the customary veil, could
not discover. The sheik addressed me-
but as did not understand the Persian
language did not reply. Bending
fierce, vindictive glance al me, he gave
some order to my attendants which in
terpreted from their movements to be
my immediate death. Re-iterating the
order in peremptory tone, he turned
to finish his game.
AS l was being led out lucky thought
struck me. Motioning to my guards to
allow me to address their ruler, l adj
vanced, and by signs intimated that l,
too, could play chess. | had not calcu-
lated wrongly. Like all players the
Persian was DESTROYS of encountering
new antagonists, and no doubt he felt
a special desire to engage with one who
came from foreign land. Ordering my
hands to be unbound, he motioned
me to a seat opposite him, the young
female yielding me her place. Chance
gave him the move. He opened with
proceeded, soon saw that l was
stronger player than my captor. |
feared, however, to play my strength;
for to win the game might be to lose
my slender chance of respite. So, after
struggle which 1purposely prolonged,
the game was drawn.
The chief appeared somewhat nettled
at this, and inferred that he was I'M
used to lack of success, still less to defeat
So the next game l allowed him to win,
after brisk but sharp contest. This put
HIM in thorough good humor, and he
Immediately reset the men for third
game, at the same time dismissing all
the guards but one. At this my spirits
and hopes rose. Could so play my game
IS to interest this savage my execution
time might be gained, if opportunity
should offer, to even effect escape-so
ready is Hope with her promise So,
after long series of moves, | allowed
him to score the third. Highly elated at
his successes he pushed the board from
him and spoke to the attendant guard
was then conducted through the gar
den into an outer building or sort oftowe1
From this l conjectured that it was
the whim of the sheik to amuse him
with my chess play. My conjecture
proved to be correct; for, on the follow
ing day, l was conducted again to the
sheik, and, as before, we played three
games-he, of course, scoring them all
For three weeks affairs thus continued,
the chief winning from me each day two
or three hard-fought games. At our in
terviews the same yelled female to whom
have before alluded was always pres
ent I tried hard to get sight of her
face, but was baff1ed by the impervious
veil. thought, however, that l could
detect in her eyes, which were large
and luscious, an expression of compass
sion and Fsympathy when they encoun-
tered my glance.
During the intervals between our daily
bouts l infinitely and anXiously scanned
every possible avenue of escape. The
apartment in which | was confined over
looked a river about fifty yards wide
On the inside, in the garden, guards
were stationed. So escape seemed i'm
possible. -
One day, as Hooked from my window,
l thought detected the presence of q
body Of armed men in the plain on the
other side of the river. 1t Immediately
occurred to me that this might be de
tachment of British cavalry. But or
looking in the direction of the course Of
the stream 1 detected at some distance
another similar body of men. 1t coulC
not be that they were both English, fol
their attitude toward each other wa
hostile and their demonstrations men
aClng.
However, l had no time for further oh
servation as [ was sent for to furnish my
The sheik's apartment l noticed anon!
the guards preparation for departure
The household attendants were alst
packing up. AS I took my place at the
board, 1 also noticed that the yelled la
dy gave me a glance which was NOR
than usually sorrowful, and that tn
sheik looked stern and threatening. M
fears were suddenly reused, and de
duced the conclusion that as an enem,
was near at hand, removal necessar
and fight imminent, my execution S
long delayed, was to take place afte
this our last contest.
While revolving these bitter thought
in my mind, the skeik, as usual had VOL
the game. As though bored by constan
success he was about to sweep the mel
from the board. A thought struck me
If am to die, 1 will at least disposses
your mind of the idea that you are m
superior at chess! So | reset my me
and his, too, thus pointedly chailengln
him to one more trial. He turned again t
play, 1t was my move, and held tn
attack throughout. After seventee
moves, announced mate in fv
moves. The skeik was astonished
Though provoked, he evidently attribut
ed my success. to lack of attention o
his part. So we set to again. This tim
the Persian had evidently made up hi
mind not to allow himself to be distrac
ed. But again 1 won with ease. TIL
third game resulted in like manner.
On commencing the fourth it remove
the rock and this time the result was,
anything, more disastrous for the shei
than before. By this time the chief We
wild with rage. But l reset the mel
anxious for another game, as took
grim delight in thus revenging myself
When he at length brought himself
resume play, / crowned my queen
knight, signing to him that with ths
piece l would mate him. The game the
proceeded.
AS was about to deliver the fin
coup, the sheik sprang up in frenzy (
passion. Springing to the window, wit
voice hoarse with passion, he yelled
the guards. AS this was transpiring til
yelled lady came forward, and Selling
piece herself, executed the final NOV
saying in Spanish as she did SO.
'Thus the fettered knight wins acroi
the river"
She could say no more, as til
guards entered and seized me. Fro
their manner on our way to my quartz
in the tower, inferred that my exec1
ton was fixed to take place at sunris
Left alone, l began to reflect on tt
strange demeanor of the mysteriol
female Could she have meant mo,