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Passing a the players already at their stations the two took their places upon their respective squares At Tara's left was the Black Chief, Gahan of Gathol; directly in front of her the Princess' Panthan, Floran of Gathol; and at her right the Princess' Odwar, Val Dor of Helium And each of these knew the part that he was to play, win or lose, as did each of the other Black players As Tara took her place Val Dor bowed low "My sword is at your feet, Tara of Helium," he said

She turned and looked at him, an expression of surprise and incredulity upon her face "Val Dor, the dwar!" she exclaimed "Val Dor of Helium-one of my father's trusted captains! Can it be possible that my eyes speak the truth?"

"It is Val Dor, Princess," the warrior replied, "and here to die for you if need be, as is every wearer of the Black upon this field of jetan today Know Princess," he whispered, "that upon this side is no man of Manator, but each and every is an enelance toward Gahan "But what of hiht her breath quickly in surprise "Shade of the first jeddak!" she exclaiuise"

"And you trust him?" asked Val Dor "I know him not; but he spoke fairly, as an honorable warrior, and we have taken him at his word"

"You have made no mistake," replied Tara of Helium "I would trust him with my life-with my soul; and you, too, may trust him"

Happy indeed would have been Gahan of Gathol could he have heard those words; but Fate, who is usually unkind to the lover in such ame was on

U-Dor ht, which placed the piece upon the Black Chief's Odwar's seventh The -a game of blood, rather than of science-and evidenced his contempt for his opponents

Gahan folloith his Odwar's Panthan one square straight forward, a more scientific h his line of Panthans, as well as announcing to the players and spectators that he intended having a hand in the fighting hiame forced it upon him The move elicited a ripple of applause from those sections of seats reserved for the co perhaps that U-Dor was none too popular with these, and, too, it had its effect upon the morale of Gahan's pieces A Chief a his own square, where, mounted upon a thoat, he may overlook the entire field and direct each e should he elect thus to play the game since, by the rules, were he to be slain or so badly wounded as to be coht 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 oordse, two attributes that were calculated to fill the Black players with hope and valor when evinced by their Chief thus early in the game