New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-24
THE BLACK KNIGHT.
BEING THE ACCOUNT OF AN EXCITING
GAMES OF CHESS
3Y RAYMOND ALLEN.


sY RAYMOND ALLEN.
storm Of wind and rain had come on sud
denly, and, as there were no cabs 10 be got near
at hand. there was nothing for it but to set out
on foot. l was going to dine with old Colonel
Bradshaw, whose acquaintance had lately made
at the local chess club, and | was due at half
past Z, so / pulled my coat collar up TO my
ears and started of through the muddy streets.
Several times in the course Of my exceedingly
unpleasant walk the foulness of the weather had
given rise 10 wish my part that | had in
vented some excuse for staying by my own COIN
Portable freside. Once arrived, however. the
CHEEKY welcome of the old soldier quickly dis
persed all regrets for my own hearth, and restored
me to the good-humor necessary for the proper
appreciation of good dinner
Colonel Bradshaw had served in India during
the time of the Mutiny. had received a severe
wound in the left leg, which still caused him to
limp, and had led TO his comparatively early re-
tirement from the service. He had returned TO
England on his retirement. and had lately leased
snug little house in our town. which he APP
parcntly intended to occupy for the rest Of his
days in the quiet enjoyment Of peaceful obscurity
/ had made his acquaintance as | have said, at
the chess club where, l believe be used to spend
most of his evenings, and where lie had earned the
not as yet encountered him over the board
In his note of invitation the Colonel had asked
me to bring my men with me. he had left his
own at the clubrooms, on the occasion of match
for which they had been called into rcquision,
and il was accordingly my set Of cheSsmen which
we now arranged in the customary OrGer of bat
tie. To my annoyance however. | found t4at
one Of my black knights was missing, and cast
my eyes round the room in search of some article
on which we might for the occasion confer the
spurs of knighthood. On the Coloners writing
table, acting as a paper-weight. / saw the very
object we were in want ola black knight. Not
of the orthodox Stanton pattern it is true. nor
indeed were its grotes1uely protruding eyes and
nl1ieiously grinning mouth Characteristic Of any
pat. with which l was familiar; but still il
JAdeniably black chess knight. and would
serve ar turn admirably. Ny host hesitated, and
eJ.4 med the least trihe annoyed when sug-
sd the eXpedency of pressing it into the
s,Ivice. The beast certainly looked ncOngruOus
among my StauntonS, but something in his human
eyes and lifelikc expression Of malicious humor
caught my fancy, and asked 10 be allowed TO play
with the black men. Tie Colonel acquiesccd,
but declined the privilege of first move which
usually goes with the white. We accordingly
drew for the move. and won it,
Led partly by my fancy for the black knight.
books" began the game by making the paper
weight first take the field AS did so, iancicd
my host gave little start, and, as he certainly
appeared to he annoyed at my irregular open
ing. was sorry that | had begun by a move which
/ supposed lie objected to on the ground that il
Centrally leads to u close game. lie SAID
nothing, however, and the game was continued
for some time by very ordinary moves on both
sides, and presently l began to be absorbed in the
study OF the position and III the tndeavor 10
gauge the strength Of my opponent FOR Time
ne seemed TO play decidedly good game, ana III
spite of continuous COnccntratiDI m nv pert, 10
maintain some superiority Of position Presently
however. lie embarked on series OF moves whlch
apueared 10 give me decisive advantage and 10
have no more rational object than the capture oil
my swarthy champion at "a runous sacrifice oi ms
own pieces. This eccentric proceeding puZzHa
me- and added to his previous hesitation about
using the substitute. excited my curiosity So
reiinquishing the object of winning the game III
the ordinary way, devoted all my ,skli 10 the
defence Of my kings knight, thought 1t were
piece collie with which i was pledged 70 give
checkmate Rocks were sacrificed for bishops.
and bishops exchanged for inOilenslve pawIs, whlle
tho kinas stood disregarded THEN knights
squares, and the fight ragged holly round the PACK
knight who seemed TO bear charmed ne ana
sprang nimbly abont the board. aI"als eNauimg
my opponents headlong attempts at has capture
Al last in desperation, he offered the pflpc Oh
the white queen but | obstnatcly refused at any
price to part with my dusky cavalier. ara leW
moyes later brought the game 10 a successful end
with n smothercti mate, the very bone OF cOhteh-
ton infctng the deatAbow.
The Colonel leaned back in his armchair ana iOf
some minutes continued silently to blow ont thlck
clouds of smoke. After pause during when ms
brow was compressed into "A frown, as though by
the contemplation Of some bewildenng enigma
IN which he could not find the cew. ne broke
silence with the remark that there were more
things in heaven and earti--" ana then again
relapscd into silence in apparent orgetfulnGss OF
my presence As he made no further remark for
some time, ! rose from my seat and mutterhS
something about it's being late, prepared to take
INV leave wait moment: look here, sad
The Colonel. rising 70 stop me with the air Of
man who had formed sudden determination, and
nointing to the board, 3" dare say YOU wonder
what earth was driving at IN n t dr game
at that outAndish black knight instead of at my
Exactly and perhaps 7 ought to apologize for
fancy: but IL You will sit down again and refill
your pipe will tell you a curious experience
which had many Years ago in n excs and which 1
Nothing should like better. I replied "for
confess, you have considerably aroused my
well, then I think can. partly satisfy it,"
and my host thr,w fresh log on to the fire.
stretched himself in the chair, and began
II don't know whether You take any interest
IN such subjects as hypnotism, thought-rcsding.
and so on but If you do you may perhaps be
sse 70 psrson sp used 70 be very nnbeevns
in such matters. but my skepticism was con
tiderably modified by the adventure am going TO
in I1din. many years ago, had got leave from
my regiment for few weeks in order TO Join
shooting expedition which had been got up by
one Of nv greatest friends, man mnny years
older than I was then, and Of much higher rank
IN the service When. however. I arrived at
appointed meeting-place. I found my friend, the
S~sinst . marauding tribe who had lately been