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.

Physically the two men appeared perfectly matched and each was fighting
for his life, but from the first it was apparent that the Black Odwar
was the better swordsman, and Gahan knew that he had another and
perhaps a greater advantage over his antagonist. The latter was
fighting for his life only, without the spur of chivalry or loyalty.
The Black Odwar had these to strengthen his arm, and besides these the
knowledge of the thing that Gahan had whispered into the ears of his
players before the game, and so he fought for what is more than life to
the man of honor.

It was a duel that held those who witnessed it in spellbound silence.
The weaving blades gleamed in the brilliant su