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without leaving his own square, where, mounted upon a thoat, he may overlook
the entire field and direct each move, nor may he be reproached for lack of
courage should he elect thus to play the game since, by the rules, were he to be
slain or so badly wounded as to be compelled to withdraw, a game that might
otherwise have been won by the science of his play and the prowess of his men
would be drawn. To invite personal combat, therefore, denotes confidence in his
own swordsmanship, and great courage, two attributes that were calculated to fill
the Black players with hope and valor when evinced by their Chief thus early in
the game.
U-Dor's next move placed Lan-O's Odwar upon Tara's Odwar's fourth--within
striking distance of the Black Princess.
Another move and the game would be lost to Gahan unless the Orange Odwar
was overthrown, or Tara moved to a position of safety; but to move his Princess
now would be to admit his belief in the superiority of the Orange. In the three
squares allowed him he could not place himself squarely upon the square
occupied by the Odwar of U-Dor's Princess. There was only one player upon the
Black side that might dispute the square with the enemy and that was the Chief's
Odwar, who stood upon Gahan's left. Gahan turned upon his thoat and looked at
the man. He was a splendid looking fellow, resplendent in the gorgeous trappings
of an Odwar, the five brilliant feathers which denoted his position rising defiantly
erect from his thick, black hair. In common with every player upon the field and
every spectator in the crowded stands he knew what was passing in his Chief's
mind. He dared not speak, the ethics of the game forbade it, but what his lips
might not voice his eyes expressed in martial fire, and eloquently: "The honor of
the Black and the safety of our Princess are secure with me!"
Gahan hesitated no longer. "Chief's Odwar to Princess' Odwar's fourth!" he
commanded. It was the courageous move of a leader who had taken up the
gauntlet thrown down by his opponent.
The warrior sprang forward and leaped into the square occupied by U-Dor's piece.
It was the first disputed square of the game. The eyes of the players were fastened
upon the contestants, the spectators leaned forward in their seats after the first
applause that had greeted the move, and silence fell upon the vast assemblage. If
the Black went down to defeat, U-Dor could move his victorious piece on to the
square occupied by Tara of Helium and the game would be over--over in four
moves and lost to Gahan of Gathol. If the Orange lost U-Dor would have
sacrificed one of his most important pieces and more than lost what advantage
the first move might have given him.
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