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

Duty.
Ahmanzade Mehemed, the Serdar of
the troops of TuniS, says Moritz Jokai,
the eminent Hungarian novelist, in his
tale entitled The Last Game of Chess,
was renowned for his extraordinary
under his command. Don't fear the
enemy" Mehemed used to say, ''only
fear AhmanZade Mehemed, your COM
mander,' and it is recorded as a fact
that his soldiers did not know such a
word as fear on the battle field, but
that they trembled in the presence Of
their general, Mehemed.
The first war in which Mehemed
was engaged was against the insur-
recting Greeks in Albanus, and it was
in this expedition that his troops first
eXceled. In this campaign Mehemed
ordered eight cavalrymen to watch
the five wells of Arta, a spot which
the Greeks often visited. These eight
soldiers had received orders to chal-
lenge every pasSer-by, never to close
as the saying goes, even one eye, and
not to dismount on any consideration
About midnight on the first day of
their watch driver of a wagon tried
to pass by unObserved. When he saw
that he could not carry out his inten-
tons he left the wagon and his team
Of HnI Tho
loaded with q caSk, and without dis
mounting the soldiers succeeded in re
moving the bung, and they then soO1
detected from the smell that the cask
contained brandy, an excellent beyer
age, most probably distilled from figs
and raisinS.
MehemedS soldiers were not forbid
den to drink cOnfiscated liquors
They managed to get some reeds
which they inserted in the bunghole
and began to suck the delicious
brandy to their hearts content. They
never thought of the prophets saying
that wine IN any form was a wicked
drink of Satan, and Satan soon saw
that he had all the soldiers at his
mercy. First of all, the soldiers were
asking each other why they were sit
ing in their saddles when they cOulC
enjoy much needed rest on the lawn
Nobody would ever know if they were
to dismount and to stretch their tired
limbs on the grass. They could faster
their horses to the wagon and nobody
would betray them.
And they finally did lie on the lawn
the hellish drink persuaded them tt
be still more ncautiouS. Why SHOULD
eight of them be watching, when foul
would do just as we'll? And a min
ute later four were fast asleep, anC
the rest-welI, they tried to keep the
watch, but not for long. The remain
ing four soon argued that two would
be enough to keep the watch, two
more went to sleep, and Maruf and
Sefer were the two left to guard the
wells of Arta and their comrades.
LET me tell YOU" said Sefer Il
Maruf, lone man would do just as
well as two; what do you say?"
Maruf, being of the same opinion
answered, LET us play a game Of
chess; the loser must keep the watch
the winner may rest" Sefer accepted
the proposition.
The two drew a chessboard on The
sand; they made chess pieces out OF
wild pears to represent the kings
wild apples served as queens, nuts
oil vn1
rocks, knights and pawns, and the
game began. AT first Sefer had an ad
vantage, but getting rather mixed up
and not being able to distinguish the
pieces, he lost his queen and was
about to resign, as he could not pre-
vent mate in two moves; Maruf III
terrupted the game by eXclaiming
You are in a precarious position
Sefer."
Eyes, [ know" replied the latter, 81
shall be mated in two moves. l could
not play well, for 1 am almost
asleep"
"Go on, then, and sleep" said Maruf,
II shall watch for you all "
An instant later seven of thee eight
soldiers were fast asleep,
Maruf, gun in arm, was now walk
ing to and fro after the fashion Of
sentinels, principally to keep sleep
away. After awhile he decided to sit
down on the lawn. He next closed his
eyes, thinking that he could rely on
his ears if anybody should approach,
and only a few minutes had elapsed
and the eight soldiers were fast
asleep.
The Greeks, who lay in ambush,
came forth, unfastened the horses,
and would certainly have killed the
Turks but for the noise made by one
of the animals when led away.
Maruf was the first on his feet. In
an instant the eight were standing in
fighting attitude, but it was useless.
The Greeks had mounted the horses
and laughed at the pursuing Turks.
Maruf's horse, however, made it hot
for the Greek who rode it. The rider
was thrown and the horse joined the
eight Turks. One horse for eight,
cavalrymen!
what will Mehemed have to say
to this?" exclaimed the soldiers.
They knew that their lives were
forfeited, but they really We're more
unset abo11f tho LOGS IF tho hnrSaS !,