Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-29

mount one horse. But as you are iall
good chess players, let a tournament
decide which of you shall be the one
10 sit on the horse. The other seven
will be shot
He now ordered four sets of chess
men and boards to be brought to
specially appointed spot in the camp.
and the eight began Il tournament in
which, their lives We're at stake.
Twelve Sharpshooters We're ready 20
carry out the sentence of death passed
upon the losers. One or two weak
players soon surrendered to their su-
perior opponents; others got desperate
and Won their games by hazardous
combina tons. The four losers were
announced that they had paid the
loss of the game with their lives.
The first round was over and the
four surviving players were now
pared Tor another so. The excite
ment and the seriousness of the
stakes seemed to prolong the contest.
An ill-cOnsidered move, a loss of a
After a while the second round was
over, two were taken away from the
boards, and few minutes later
twelve shots announced in camp that
two had ended their lives. Only
Maruf and Sefer were LETT for the
third and final round. Both men
were known TO be the best players in
tl,A
down to begin the game, the excite
ment i'll the camp was at a fever heat.
\ big crowd of soldiers was standing
around them, and as the contest re-
, manned even for Il long number of
moves, as neither side was able TO
gain the least advantage in position,
the spectators and players alike be-
came SO interested in the game that
they forgot for the time being the
seriousness of the stakes. The
l0okers-on nodded their appreciation
when good move was made, and
discussed in low tones the position ar
rived at.
! By and by the battle field became
simplitied, pieces were exchanged and
, pawnS taken. Maruf succeeded in
capturing a rock by a seemingly bril-
liant combination. Everybody now
named Maruf as the winner.
/ Sefer, upon losing that important
piece, studied a long time. Maruf,
who thought he had the man beaten,
say, his mind was occupied with other
thoughts. Sefer did not move, but
still kept looking at the position, and
Maruf again directed his attention to
{ the board. AS he did so he became
as pale as death and he trembled all
over. He suddenly perceived that, in
spite OF his numerical advantage of
pieces, his game was hopeless. He
saw now that if Sefer sacrificed his
queen for a rock, he could then effect
a mate by means of a bishop. 'iWill
he see the combinations" Maruf said
to himself. The answer of this queS-
ton meant death or life. Maruf re-
allied i'll an instant that Sefer was
aware of the situation. Maruf Won
dered why Sefer did not make the
move. But Sefer'S thoughts were no
longer given to the game, but to some
other subject altogether. AT last the
silence was broken.
! ''Maruf," said Sefer, chow many
children have you at homer"
Four" came the reply, in a tremb-
, ling voice.
Your wife will shortly present you
with another child?'
Yes
Have you good wife,"
'She is faithful and good" answered
Maruf, while the tears were rolling
down all over his face
! Sefer put his hand to his forehead,
murmured something like a prayer
and asked for dish of water. When
! this was brought he washed his hands
and addressed his adversary thus:
"YOu have always been a good COM
rade. Last night you did not make
me keep watch, although l lost the
game to you" Then he touched the
bishop, and not the queen. A few
moves later Maruf gave a check, the
crowd Of bystanders solemnly cried
mate" in a chorus; Maruf was pro-
claimed as victor.
Sefer got up, shook hands with hts
late antagonist, beckoned to the sharp
shooters who stood in readiness, and
two minutes later Sefer'S noble heart
had ceased to beat.
Maruf, however, remained at the
cheSSbOard. He stared at the pieces
as if abSent-minded, and later he
tried in vain to place the pieces in a
certain position. He placed black
and white men into altogether impOS-
sible positions, and then he kept star
ing at the board.
"Get up" commanded Ahmanzade,
who had been a witness throughout
the tournament. Mount your horse;
your life is spared"
Maruf, however, did not heed the
words of his commander, he still
kept looking at the board, making all
sorts OF silly moves, and winding up
with an outburst Of laughter Then
he wept bitterly for awhile. How
stupid these pieces look" he then
said; zone is a horse, the other wears
a turban.'
Lead him away" ordered Mehemed.
Two soldiers took him away. Maruf
stared like a mailman The surround
ings seemed strange to him. He
looked around, still absent-minded,
and what he said was not the talk OF
a sane man. Ills last game Of chess
had made him mad.-NeW York