Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1903-09-04
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tant game, nor Of the responsibility
placed upon Strander's shoulders.
We took our places upon the white
squares, while the chief ordered some
Of his dusky warriors to take positions
on the black squares.
eve were all arranged then for
actual playing. 1t was a father pic
turesque sight from the chiefs high
point Of view, but the horrible import
Of the whole performance gradually
dawncd upon us, and we had no eyes
for the beauty or picturesqueness of
the scene. We watched Strander
with pale faces, while that individual
returned our gaze stonily and coolly.
He was playing for terrible stake,
and - lives depended upon the skill
of his moves. The chief was no mean
player, although ordinarily Strander
could easily have beaten him, but
the anxiety of his position seemed to
tell severely on him. He played APP
parently with reckless haste, making
blunders that brought forth harsh
laughs from the chief and wild shouts
from the spectators. One by one
Strander's pawns we're captured and
removed from the board. Then one
Of his castles followed, and next
knight. His king was also nearly cor
nered, so that for a time it looked as
if it was caught. The old chief had
the word check already framed on
his lips when Strander seemed opull
himself together with an effort, and
by a dexterous move cXtricated his
king from its perilous position.
"The game then proceeded more
slowly. Strandcr studied the dusky
warriors olhis opponentas they stood
in their positions on the queer chess
board. He moved the few remaining
fellows of his crew with slowness and
precision. I had been selected as
knight, and 1 found myself time and
again brought into such close proXim-
ity to the chiefs knight that feared
for my freedom. But in some strange
way Strander always brought out
Of the dangerous position, and yfar-
sighted planning gave me a chance to
capture some of the pawns of the en-
envy.
My greatest triumph came whenI
captured in a double play the chiefs
bishop and castle. Nothing could
have mademe feel happier at thatmo-
ment, and could see the chief scowl
with anger and determination. The
loss of these men made the battle
more equal, and the chief grew merry
Gus and restless. His fingers played
feverishly with his long tunic, and his
mustache was twisted and twirled
several times between each play. His
warriors also lost their cheerful man
ners and no longer shouted when he
made a move
But Strander was like sphinx
He was soberand serious, and his eyes
we're glued upon the players before
him. Ithoughthe often lookedatme
with a queer expression. and even
when he was watching his opponents
play a CLEAN from the corner Of his.
ewes appeared to takcmcm. Wa, he,
after all, merely playing with The.
king to give him the impression that
it was Il hard-fought game? l began
to believe that he was only fooliug
with his antagonist, and that the game
was well within hand This suspicion
was further confirmed by the way he
eyed me. l felt certain that he had
selected me for the sharp work, and
that he was planning a grand coup
which would end the game l grew
more confident at this and breathed
easier.
But following this came a series
of mishaps or mistakes which raised
the hopes Of the bloodthirsty warri-
ors around. -Four pawns, castle, and
a bishop were swept in rapid success
sion from the chess board. | fairly
gasped in surprise at this, coming SO
soon after my confidence in Sran-
der's strategy. The shouts ofapprov-
al which rent the air made me feel
faint and dizzy. l looked around.
There were barely half dozen Of my
crew left on board. The others had
all been captured. The game was
surely lost, and our lives would pay
the penalty.
''The old chiefin his glee made two
rapid moves to corner Strander's king
and queen. Strander appeared fright
eund and dennOra1izad Tbov bo ~;