Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-09-18
THE LIVING CHESS-MEN.
A Desperate Game for Life or
Death In India

This game reminds me Of q greai
chess-gAms that ] once played" said
the c1ptzin. as he checkmated his op
ponenfs king and drew back in his
chair 20 begin = story. 1t was ths
great game Of my life.- he continued,
s,znd shall never forget it In fact
We we're playing with living chess-men.
T0a don't believe it. eh2 Well, just
listen 70 ny story. and you'll think such
playing IS this mere fo0ling."
We had been playing for nearly two
hours. and the Captains skill had won
His love for the game Of chess was only
second 70 his love for his profession. and
his LIE as = soldier had given him plea-
~ Of opportunities % crafty his pas
sion IN this particular.
~Fou remember spent = couple of
years in India, when a young fellow, and
during that time mes with many ad-
ventures that none OF you have ever
heard Although I have seen considerable
service since thea. and some hard work
and fighting. think. on the whole, that
those two years were the most exciting
Of nv life We were On the constant
60 then. and II We weren't hunting men
we were hunting Wild beasts in the
jungleS
MY friend Captain Rawdon was an
English Officer stationed at Calcutta at
the time be invited me 70 visit him. He
had just taken a wife In that far-of
country, and they were living happily
IN neat little place = short distance
cut Of the city. He wanted me TO come
out and see him, and above all to select
q wife from among the English ladies
that wero living there at the time Jack
always took fatherly interest in me in
this way, but unfortunately 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 Is my friend represent
ed IL II was q delightful place for
hunting. and we did some pretty rough
riding over the country and through the
jungles in pursuit Of game. I managed
% secure my first shortly after
l arrived. and several other tough Gus
toners. Jack roaned over the country
with me whenever be could get away
from his duty. and together we succeed-
ed In having = pretty lively time
Jacks wife was . pretty. piquant-loOk-
ing lady. the daughter of an old En-
glish officer who had died IN the East
Indian service. She took a great friend
" interest in me. and / returned her
feelings with interest When we were
not hunting We would spend hours
listening 70 Evelgn's playing or sing
ing. which was truly delightful recrea-
ton
'.Our mutual friendship thus grew
apace. and we all three began to look
anead and regret the time of our part
ing. Ny duty called me back to Amer
ica in few months. and I was almost
as lOath 70 leave as they were 20 have
me 20. Jack Tainly implOred me TO
enter into business in Calcutta and
take up my permanent abode there. but
! told him that had other ties and in
terests to draw me away, yet I should
have almost decided 70 stay with them
longer il an incident lad not occurred
which made me rather tired Of India
.sOne DAY rumors came In that there
was trouble with the HindOOs- There
were risines in various parts Of the
country, and the British residents be
gan 70 trsmble for their lives Jack,
As CAPTAIN IN the army. had 20 leave his,
home 70 help quell the rsbellione 14c<.
soz-.a zzs lsfs = Psos=st his 49, -.