Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1893-10-07

Hortally worried at the punishment
they expected, they returned 10 head
quarters, and, brought face to face
with Ahmanzade, they narrated wha,
had happened; how they had dis
obeyed his orders, how they had fallen
asleep after drinking the liquor, how
the last two watchmen had played
chess, and finally how they had lost
their horses. Ahmanzade wes not in
the habit of making display of
passion when he had to pass sentence.
In his imrnovable face, no one could
=ead whether he decreed life or death.
''As for eight men there remains
only one horse" he remarked, ''you
will agree with me, that there are seven
Of you too many. l have never read
in the Koran NOR in the Azorat that
as you are such good players, sit down
and let skill decide which of you is to
horse. All the others are sentenced to
die"
Having said this, Ahmanzade had
four chess boards brought in, for the
Turks are in the habit Of carrying
| clless-boari, with them. even in war.
As soon rs the men were arranged, he
or tered the Bedouins to begin their
| play.
| Twelve Of the best marksmen were
ready with their rifles to shoot the
| losers. Two or three gave in at once
to their stronger adversaries; in others,
| despair battled with craftiness against
the advantage of their more skillful
| opponents, and the former would Win
| when the latter had victory in their
| hands
The losers were Immediately re-
| moved, and the noise OF several shots
! Indicated that they had ceased to ex
| ist.
The first tilt was over. Four had
| lost, four were winners. These last
were paired New hopes and new
fears A danger would pass nn-
observed, and he who had made the
error would raise a cry which was his
| 1aotb cpptanco
Again two lost, and again two were
Shot. And now oh bly, two remained
Maruf and Seer! They found them
selves, as they had been before, in
front Of the camp fire. They were the
best players. They began the game
with good deal of caution, resting
their fozeheads on the palms of their
hands, thoughtfully calculating every
move, without hesitati2g but without
hurrying.
For long while neither of the two
succeeded in obtaining advantage !;
for each gain there waspan equal
sacrince
:he spectators nod to each other
when either one makes brilliant
move. Little by little. the number
ofpawns on the chess board dlmln,shes
the main figures lie scattered to the
right and to the left the situation
becomes palmer: few more moves,
anil Sefer will lose his castle
Marut has one more castle than his
adversary, and this means "A good deal
ct the present stage Of the game. The
crowd b clleves that the game Is III his
hands
All of sudden, great drops Of sweat
cover the forehead Of Maruf-a fear
overtakes him, he trembles through
all his body. He has noticed that. il
his adversary sacrifices his queen in
stead of the castle, he can checkmatt
him with the bishop. Would Sefe,
see that move? On that depends lifs
and death
Sefer looks a. the chess board for &
long while; his looks hetray that ht
, has set n the move that will save him
But he does not touch the men and h.
seems to hesitate.
"Maruf," he asks all Of a sudden
''how many children have sou a
home"
Fonr. is the answer that comet
| from trembling lips
"You have good WIFE,"
''An excellent wife, answers Msru
with sigh.
/ Se;er passes hani over his face,
and begins 10 murmu- As though b.
, were PRAYING
, Then he asks for water; he washe