Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-10-17

help quell the rebellions. l, of course,
was left to protect his home and wife.
There was little or no disturbance around
Calcutta at the time, but the insurgents
soon rose up around us on every side,
until we were completely hcmmed in.
The soldiers were off in another part of
the country, and Jacks home was left in
a helpless condition.
"The result was that one day we were
surrounded, and after brave defense
we were captured by party Of natives,
and carried away hundred miles or so
into the interior. After our capture l
did not get another glimpse of Jacks
wife for long time, and felt consider
ably worried about her fate. Twas car
ried before Rajah, or native Prince,
who had rebelled against the British
rule. The Rajah was a great chess
PLAYER, and be had been indulging in his
favorite game before was brought into
his presence. The chess-board was
standing before him, while a member Of
his court was studying out the problem
of checkmating the Rajah's king. In
fact, the Princes men were cornered,
and the game seemed to be. lost. l had
always taken lively interest in chess,
and when saw the predicament in
which the Rajah had gotten his men, I
began to study the positions Of the pieces
while the rest of the prisoners were be-
ing examined.
"Well, in my eagerness forgot my
position, and when l discovered an ave-
nue. of escape for the nearly checkmated
king, I stepped forward and made a
move with the Rajah's bishop. The
court player looked at me in aStonish-
ment for q moment, and then moved
one of his pawns. 1 followed it up with
another move, and in less than fifteen
minutes had his king checkmated.
clapped my hands in triumph then, and
on looking up saw the Rajah watching
me closely. He had been an interested
spectator of the game.
''That game of chess saved my life
for short time. was sent to prison,
but not condemned to death. The next
day. and in fact every day for several
weeks, l was brought out Of the prison
and commanded to play chess with the
Prince. He was far from being poor
player; but after l had met him several
times felt confident that I could beat
him. From policy's sake, however, l LET
him win most of the games, which
seemed to please him immensely. This
sort of thing went on for long time,
until 1 began to get restless and anxious
to learn what my fate was to be. be-
oan to look around to discover some
means of escape; but the prison wai
guarded so carefully that my chances
were very poor.
zone day was called into the RaJah'
presence earlier in the day than common
and I instinctively felt that l was going
there to learn my fate. l was led int
another part of the royal quarters, place
that I had never entered before. wa
conducted between two lines OF soldiers
until spacious balcony, where the Rajai
was sitting was reached. The balloon.
overlooked great courtyard, which wa
thronged with people and native soldiers
Tn the centre of the courtyard was
large vacant space, divided up into larg
SQUARES of alternating black and whit
marble. 1t was, in fact huge chess
/ board, laid out in the most costly way
GAS a great lover of the game, l ID
stinctly uttered an exclamation OF SUI
T prise and pleasure. My position was sue
that 1 could see every one of the sixty
four squares. While was still looking
{ the crowd at one side fell back, and fou
elephants, two draped with black AM
t two with white, entered, and took thei
: places at the four corners of the strang
5 chess-board. Small castle-shaped struc
r tures were on their backs, which mad
them look like the castles of the chess
| hoard. Then came in the knights, tw
/ borsemen on white steeds, and two o
| black. These also took their proper pc
sitions on the chess-board. Fools, 0
? CLOVIS, then took the places Of the bishops
5 which is the custom in the Orienta
9 countries. Two were Hindoos, and tn
other two were captured Englishmen
, Then eight Hindoo soldiers took th
: places Of the pawns on one side, an
eight English soldiers were placed in
a row on the opposite side. The two king
a next entered, one a white man, and tn
/. other a Hindoo, and both richly dresse
I in magnificent robes. The two queer
g followed, carried in on sedan chairs. On
was Hindoo maiden, and the other
. well, one glance was sufficient-w'
/ Evelyn, Jacks wifel
2 "The whole matter was getting prett
i interesting by this time, and felt M
self worked up to feverish heat. Th
!, chess-men were all living ones, and the
were in position, ready for the playerl
= The Rajah then told me that had b'
" one chance for my life. III won
e this game ofchess I could have my liber
y tv and also that of the white Queen,