The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1890-09-19

Tho play soon began. The Raiah
had the first move; and one OF hi
pawns. Or English soldiers. he having
chosen the whites. came out two
squares. ! followed with one OF my
Iiindoo soldiers. After three or four
moves there was an exchange Of pawns.
The two soldiers were carried out, and
In sight OF every one they were OK
ecuted. This bloodthirsty act unsettled
my nerves 50 that could hardly coll
lect my thoughts; but when / was in
formed that the Hindoo soldiers were
traitors condemned 10 death. and that
the English soldiers had likewise been
sentenced TO execution, partly recov-
cred my composurc.
1.-THE game then proceeded. The
white queen OF the Rajah soon began to
make great havoc with my black men.
and II seemed necessary to take her IL
intended TO win. Then the terrible
thought that II took her she would be
executed the same as the rest OF the
living chess-men. made the cold sweat
stand out on my forehead. could not
~ tNH>' vAAn wiz W VIC FAttAlA0n-
er's sword. not even II | lost the game
and my life with it, The Rajah seemed
TO understand this, and he moved his
queen around recklessly among my
men, taking pawn after pawn. The
game became doubly difficult, for ! felt
that could not take the Rajah's strong
est piece.
ssI tonf INV ubnlo mind - &ha ~ ., a
and tried TO lay some trap for the RAJ
jahs men. After little mnneuvering
succeeded in taking two Of his bish-
ops, one castle and both OF his knights;
but the reckless queen was still hedg-
ing me in on every side. putting her.
self in positions where l could easily
have taken her IL 1t had not been a
question OF life or death with her. Ev-
elvn's face was pale and anxious as she
watched me play. and l tried TO give
her rcassuring smile now and then.
But she saw how difficult it was for me
to avoid taking her of the chess-board
and having her xecuted so that Icould
win the game and thus save my own
life.
The Rajah, seeing my difficulty, soon
became reckless in his playing with his
other pieces. studied to take advant-
age Of his folly. l suddenly saw an ad-
vantage that his reckless playing had
given me. and worked il up carefully.
made move: he fell into the trap with
the very next move. Two or three swift
moves followed. and the Rajah's king
was checkmated.
1T 50 astonished the native Prince
circle or two around his head with .
heavy sword. But he was man Of his
word; and after looking at the chess
board minute or two to convince him
self there was no cheating, he turned to
me and told me tLat | had played we'll.
In reward for my good playing was to
have my liberty. along with the remain
ing white chess-men on the board.
These consisted Of the queen, Jacks
wife, and three English soldiers.
The Rajah was true TO his word; and
that afternoon we were conducted out
Of the Rajah's territory, and started
safely on our way to Calcutta. The re-
bellion had been quel.ed there, and the
English were again in power. When
we reached the city we had no difficulty
in finding Jack, who was nearly desper-
ate over the loss Of his wife.
"You can easily imagine the meeting
that took place between them; and IL is
needless to say that was their ideal
hero ever afterwards. They heaped all
sorts OF kindness upon me. and made me
really ashamed OF myself. Every Christ
mas am now reminded Of that game
with living chess-men, and Of Jack and
his wife, by receiving some elaborate
present from India. The present,
though, that | value the most highly.
Is small ivory chess-bcard with pieces
in exact imitation OF those living chess
men who played in that memorable
game. Whenever play with 1t think
OF that critical time in my life when
there was only straw between me and
death. "-George Ethelbert Walsh. in
Democrats Mavazine