The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1890-10-16
THE LIVING CHEss-MEN.


This game reminds me OF great cbess
game ihs, once played. said the Captain
rs he ebscimsied his opponents king
md drew back bis chair 10 begin story
1, wss the great game OF my life. he con
iirasd. and shall never forget IL il
fact. we were playing With living cbess
men You don'l believe il. thg Well Jus
listen TO my story. and you'll ttink sucl
playing Is this mere ieoliGs.
We had been playing for nearly ts'
hours. and the. Captains skiil had ~op
His love for the game OF chess vas opl,
second 10 his love for his profession. snt
his life ~ . soldier had given him plent,
OF opportunities TO crafty his passion il
this particular.
You remember | spent couple yesrI
in India. when Young fellow. and dur
ing that time met with many sdveniuri
that none Of you have ever heard. Al
though have seen considerable service
since then. and some hard work and 6gLt
log, think. ON tbs whole. that these two
years were the most exciting Of my life
We were on tho constant CO. then. and i
We weren't hunting men. We were hunt.
ing wild beasts in the iuugles.
My friend Captain Rawden was an Ea
elish officer stationed at Calcutta at the
time be invited me to visit him. He had
Just taken q wife 10 that far of country.
and they we're living happily 10 neat lit.
tie place a short distance ont OF the city,
ae wanted me 10 come out and see him,
and, above sll, TO select wife from among
the English ladies that we're living there
at the time Jack always took fatherly
interest 10 me in this way. but fortunate-
y his plans never worked out we'll,
Well, to make long story short, l went
ont to Calcutta one year. and found every.
thing just as my friend represented it. 1t
was q delightful place for bunting. and
We did some pretty rough riding over the
country and through the jungles 10 pur
suit Of game. ! managed to secure my
first man eater shortly after ! arrived, aud
several other tough customers. Jack roam
ed over the country with me whenever he
could get away from his duty. and togeth.
er we succeeded in having pretty lively
time. jacks wife was pretty. piquant
looking lady, the daughter Of an old En
glish officer who had died in the East In-
dian service. She took great friendly
interest 10 me. and I returned her feelings
with interest When we were not hunt
ing We would spend hours listening to
Evelyn's playing or singing, which WAS
truly delightful recreation:
Mutual friendship thus grew apace. and
We oil three began TO look ahead and re
sret the time Of our parting. My duty
called me back 10 America 10 few mon
tbs, and l WAS almost Is losth TO leave as
they we're to have me 60. Jack vaiuly i'm
plored me to enter into business in Calcut
ts, and take up my permanent abode there;
but told him that had other ties and
interests to draw me away; yet ! should
have almost decided to stay with them
longer. il an accident had not occurred
which made me rather tired OF India.
One day rumors came in that there was
trouble with the Hindoos. They were ris
ings in various parts OF the country, and
the British residents began to tremble for
their lives. Jack. ss Captain in the army
had to leave his homel 10 help quell the
rebellions' /. OF course. was left to to pro
tect his home and wife. There was little
or no disturbance around Calcutta at the
time. but the insurgents soon ross up
around US on every side, until we were
hemmed 10. The soldiers we're
of in another part Of the country, and
Jacks home was left 10 helpless condi.
tion.
The result was that one day we were
and after brave defence we
were captured by party Of natives. and
carried away hundred miles or SO into
the interior. After our capture did not
get another glimpse Of Jacks wife for
long time, and ! felt considerably worried
about her fate. l was carried before
Rsjah. or native Prince, who had rebelled
against the Britisb-rule. The Rsjsh was
. great chess player. and he had been 10
dulging 10 his favorite game before l was
brought into bis presence. The chess
board was standing before him. while Q
member Of his court was studying out the
problem OF cbeckmatipg the Rsjsh's king.
10 fact, the Princes men we're cornered,
and the game seemed TO be lost. had d
ways taken lively interest in chess. and
when saw The predicsment 10 which the
Rsjsh had gotten his men. began 10
study the positions Of the pieces while the
rest OF the prisoners were being examin.
cd.
Well. 10 my eagerness forgot my posi-
lion, aud when discovered an svenue OF
escape for the nearly checkmated king. 1
stepped forward and made move
with the Rsiah's bishop. The court play
er lock at me 10 sstonisl ment for nom
snt, and then moved one Of his pawns. !
il up with another move, and 10
less than fifteen minutes ] bad bis king
check msted. l clsppei my hands 10 tri
umpL then. and on locking mp say the
Rsjab watching me closely. He bad been
an interested spectator OF the game.
Tbs, game OF chess saved my life for :
short time. l vas sent 10 prison. but not
nsndemned 10 death, The next dsy, aud