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

another part Of the royai quArtsrs. place
thai had never sntssod bsicre. ~ss
conducted beiuees swo lioss Of soldiers.
until spacious bslcoey. where the k-ish
was sitting was resshsd- The bslcouy
overlooked great co1xt ysrd. which vs
tbronged ul,h peopls and native soldisrs
Ia the centre Of The oosrtysrd was large
vacant space. divided " isso large squares
OF alternating black ssd vhise marble. i,
was. 10 ist huge eAsss bosrl. laid ops
in the most costly ~
Asa great lover q ~ same. ! liussinct
ly uttered sn exclamalaoa Of surprise and
pleasure. My posislen ~ such that !
could see every one " the sixty four
squares. While l wss siill looking the
crowd .. one side Ia back. and four sle
phants, two draped nith black and two
With white, entered. nd took their places
sl the four corners 81 the strange chess
board. Small castle shaped structures
we're on their backs. vhich made them
look like The castles of th1 chess board.
Then came in the kpi.his, tvo horsemen
o. white s'eede, snd two on black. These
also took their proper positions on the
chess board. Fools, or clowns, then took
the places Of the bishops. which is the
custom in the Oriental countries Two
ere Hindocs. and the other two were
captured Englishmen. Then eight Hin
doc soldiers took the places OF the pawns
on one side aud Eight english soldiers
were placed in row on the opposite side,
The two kings next entered, one white
man, aud the other Hindoo. and both |
richly dressed in magnificent robes. The
two queens followed. carried on sedan
chairs. Oae was Hindoo maiden, and
the other well. one glance was sufici
ent was Evelyn, Jacks wife!
The whole matter vas getting pretty in
teresting by this time. and felt myself
worked up to feverish heat. The chess
men were all living ones. snd they we're
in position, ready for the players. The
Rash then told me that had but one
chance for my life. II | won In this game
OF chess l could have my liberty, and
also that OF the white Queen, il l saved
her.
My heart jvmped into my throat. so to
speak, aud 1 began to study out the game
determined to make IL the game OF my life
felt more confident than ever that could
defent the Rnjah, and SO summoned all
my courage to steady my nerves.
The play soon began. The Rajsh had
the first move; and one OF his pawns. or
English soldiers, be having chosen the
whites, came out two squares. followed
with one of my Hindoo soldiers. After
three or four moves there was an exchange
OF pawps. The two soldiers were carried
out, and 10 sight Of everyone they we're OK
ecuted. This blood.thirsty act unsettled
my nerves so that I'could hardly collect
my thoughts, but when Iwas informed
that the Hindoo soldiers we're traitors con
demned to death, and that the English sol.
diers had likewise been sentenced to ex
ecu,iop, partly recovered my compos
ure. ,
The game then proceeded. The white
queen OF the Rsjah soon began to make
great havoc with my black men, and 1t
seemed necessary to take her II intence
ed to win. Then the terrible thought
that If l took her she would be executed
the same as the rest Of the living chess
men made the cold sweat stand ont on
nv forehead. | could not sentence. Jacks
wife to the txecutioner's sword. not even
il lost the game and my life with it.
The Rsjah seemed to understand this. and 9
be moved bis queen around recklessly I
among my men. taking pawn after pawn
The game became doubly difficult, for !
felt that could not take tie Rajah's '
strongest piece. c
bent my whole mind to the game and i
tried to lay some trap for the hsJah's
men. After little manoeuvering sue b
ceeded 10 taking two OF bis bishops, one I
castle and both Of his knights, but the reck i
less queen was still hedging me In on
every side, putting herself in positions b
" here could easily have taken her il it h
had not been question Of life or death a
with her. Evelyn's face was. pale and
anxious as she watched me plsy, and 4
tried to give her Q resssuring smile now =
and then. But she saw how difficult II n
was for me TO avoid taking her OIL the /
chess board and having her executed 90
that l could win the game and thus save
my own life. b
The R.j.h. seeing my difficulty, soon
became reckless 10 his playing With bis .
other pieces. ] studied TO take advantage /
of bis folly. / suddenly saw an sdvsn
Isee that bis reckless playing bad given Q
me. aud l worked II up carefully. !
made . move; be fell into the trap With /
Ibe very next move. Two or three swift !
noyes followed, and the Rsjsh's king was q
check mated. 9
Itso ssionished the native Prince that
be Jumped to his ieet and made circle b
Dr. two around bis head with heavy d
sword. But be was man Of bis word;
md after looking 81 the chess bosrds min .
ate or two 10 conyivce himself there v" =
no cheating, he turned to me and told me
Ibs, had played we'll. 10 reward OF my
good playing l vas to have my liberty.
,lopg with the remsiniug white chess men
On the board. These consisted OF III,
,ueen, Jacks wife. snd three English
soldiers.