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john emms

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 john emms

concise chess
the compact guide for beginners

EVERYMAN CHESS
Gloucester Publishers plc www.everymanchess.com
First published in 2003 by Gloucester Publishers plc (formerly Everyman Publish­
ers plc), Gloucester Mansions, 140A Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8HD

Copyright© 2003 John Emms

The right of John Emms to be identified as the author of this work has been
asserted in accordance with the Copyrights, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
electrostatic, magnetic tape, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior
permission of the publisher.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN 1 85744 327 6
Distributed in North America by The Globe Pequot Press, P.O Box 480, 246
Goose Lane, Guilford, CT 06437-0480.
All other sales enquiries should be directed to Everyman Chess, Gloucester
Publishers plc, Gloucester Mansions, 140A Shaftesbury Avenue, London
WC2H 8HD. (tel: 020 7539 7600 fax: 020 7379 4060)
email: [email protected]; website: www .everymanchess.com

Everyman is the registered trade mark of Random House Inc. and is used in
this work under license from Random House Inc.
EVERYMAN CHESS SERIES (formerly Cadogan Chess)
Chief advisor: Garry Kasparov
Commissioning editor: Byron Jacobs
Typeset and edited by First Rank Publishing, Brighton.
Production by Navigator Guides.
Printed and bound in Great Britain by The Cromwell Press Ltd.
 Contents

Introduction 5

1 Getting to Know the Chessboard 8

2 Getting to Know the Pieces 12
3 Check and Checkmate 45
4 Castling, Pawn Promotion and En Passant 62
5 Chess Notation 75
6 How the Game Ends 86
7 Checkmating Methods and Patterns 100

8 Attacking and Defending Pieces 127

9 Tactics 159
10 Opening Play 216
11 Thinking Ahead 262
12 What to do Next 281

Glossary 282
 Introduction
I have written this book for those, young and old, who are keen to
learn how to play chess but have no prior knowledge of the game and
also for those of you who know the rules but not much more and are
inrcrested in becoming better players.
As the title suggests, I have endeavoured to keep things as simple
as possible. I have tried to eliminate any superfluous information, kept
I< •ng textual explanations to a minimum and have used plenty of dia­
�·.rams to illustrate ideas. Chess can seem daunting enough to the new­
,., nner without the author making things more difficult with unneces­
sary complications. I'm confident that virtually all the material in this
hook is accessible and understandable for beginners and inexperi­
l'IJCed players. I've tried to make sure that the level of difficulty of
.. ach chapter rises only slightly.

The Fascination with Chess

The game of chess has captivated and enchanted people for hundreds
',f years. The big advantage it has over many games is that it's quite
l'asy to learn yet difficult to play well. Indeed, there are still mysteries
',f the game that rack the brains of the world's top grandmasters.
Chess can be very rewarding, something new can be learnt every
day, and there are no limits to the number of possible positions you
ran come across. Practice is generally rewarded and improvement can
l�t· easily gauged by results. Chess can be very addictive (some people

5
 Concise Chess

spend many hours at a time playing friends over the board or on the
Internet). It is also different from many other games in that there is
no element of luck involved. Each player begins with the same num­
ber of pieces and you do not have to rely on the throw of a dice or
the turn of a card.
On a personal level, I've played chess for over thirty years and my
enthusiasm for the game has not dipped one bit. I'm still discovering
new secrets virtually every day and still have the same enthusiasm and
aspirations to keep improving my game. And, unlike some physical
sports, chess is not something you have to retire from!

How the Game is Played

I will go over the rules thoroughly in the first few chapters of the
book but I will just point out a few important things here. Chess is a
game for rwo players. It's played on a square board consisting of 64
squares. Each player starts the game with an army of 16 chess pieces:
a king, a queen, rwo rooks, rwo bishops, rwo knights and eight pawns.
One player has the white pieces and the other has the black ones.
The player with the white pieces makes the first move of the game
and after this the players move alternately. A move consists of moving
one of the pieces from one square on the board to another. Only one
move is allowed per turn and the player is not allowed to pass. Players
are allowed to capture enemy pieces with their own pieces.
The eventual aim of the game is to trap your opponent's king (to
give checkmate) and a player wins the game if he is able to do this.

6
 Introduction

In competitive games a chess clock is used. Each player is allo­

cated a certain amount of time for either the whole game or a number
',f moves. If a player runs out of time before making the allotted
moves, he will automatically lose the game. However, in 'friendly'
�ames the use of a chess clock is not essential, although they are gen­
nally used in on-line chess clubs.
I very much hope that you enjoy reading this book, and that this is
I lie beginning of an exciting new adventure into the world of chess.

JohnEmms
Kent
July 2003

7
 Chapter One
Getting to Know the Chessboard

This is a typical chessboard. It comprises of 64 coloured squares, 32

light coloured and 32 dark coloured. These squares are often referred
to as 'white' and 'black', but in reality chessboards come in different
colour combinations, one of the most popular being light and dark
brown. Following standard practice, here we will refer to squares as
'light' and 'dark' and the pieces, 'white' and 'black'.

8
 Getting to Know the Chessboard

The Board and Its Coordinates

3
2

a b c d e f g h

The board as a diagram

This is how the board looks as a diagram. Note that the squares at the
),.,, tom right and the top left corner are light rather than dark. The
tlltmbers and letters at the side and at the bottom are a coordinate
�ystem that acts as a reference map when discussing individual
"luares. For example, the star is on 'd4' (or the d4-square), while the
ITC>SS is on 'fS' (or the fS-square). The normal convention is to show
the board from W'hite's point of view- W'hite plays 'up' the board.

9
 Concise Chess

Ranks and Files

8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5

4 4

3 3
2 2

a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

The fourth rank The d· and g-files

In order to help to explain certain ideas, components of the board are

given names. The lines of squares going across the board are known
as ranks. For example, the line of squares containing the stars in the
first diagram is referred to as the fourth rank.
In a similar way, the lines travelling up the board are known as
files. The line of squares containing stars in the second diagram is
known as the d-file, while the line with crosses is referred to as the g­
ftle.

10
 Getting to Know the Chessboard

Sectors of the Board

8
7
6
5
4
3
2

a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

The queenside The kingside

;\gain very much for descriptive purposes, the chessboard is split into
lwo halves. Looking from White's point of view, the left side (the a-,
I• , c- and d-ftles) is known as the 'queenside', whereas the right side
(I he e-, f-, g- and h-ftles) is known as the 'kingside'. The reason why
1lu:y are named so becomes much more obvious once we see the
•.!arcing positions of the pieces (see page 36).

11
 Chapter Two
Getting to Know the Pieces

Some chess pieces

The next step is to familiarise yourself with the chess pieces -the
king, the queen, the rook, the bishop, the knight and the pawn, All the
pieces move in different ways and some are more powerful than oth­
ers due to their different levels of mobility.
12
 Getting to Know the Pieces

Introducing the Rook

The rook

Perhaps the best place to start is with the rook, which is probably the
easiest piece to understand. As can be seen above, the rook looks
rather like a castle and is sometimes called this by those unfamiliar
with the game. Each player has two rooks at the start of the game.

13
 Concise Chess

How the Rook Moves

3
2

a b c d e f g h

The rook moves on an open board

Above is how a rook -appears on a chess diagram. The rook moves

vertically and horizontally, up, down and across on the board. It can
move either forwards or backwards and the number of squares it can
travel in one go is unlimited. In the diagram above, the stars indicate
all the possible moves for the rook starting from the d4-square on an
empty board.

14
 Getting to Know the Pieces

A Rook with Pieces

3
2

a b c d e f g h

The rook with other pieces

As with all other chess pieces, the rook is not allowed to occupy the
same square as another piece. And like most other pieces, the rook is
also not allowed to jump over its own or opposing pieces. In the dia­
)!;ram the stars indicate all possible moves for the rook from the c4-
square. We can see that the rook is denied access to the c1- and c2-
squares on the c-ftle, and the g4- and h4-squares on the fourth rank.

15
 Concise Chess

Rook Captures
8 8
7 7

6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1

a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h
Before the rook captures After the rook captures

Rooks are not allowed to jump over pieces, but they are allowed to
capture (or take) enemy pieces. In the first diagram above, the rook
can move to h4, f4, e4 and d4, while it can also capture the black
piece and take its place on c4 (diagram 2). The black piece is returned
to the chess box and plays no further part in the game.
The rook can also move to gS, g6, g7, g8 and g3. However, you
are not allowed to capture your own pieces, so in the first diagram the
rook has no access to the g2-square.

16
 Getting to Know the Pieces

Introducing the Bishop

The bishop

The next piece we meet is the bishop. This is one of the taller pieces -

it lies only behind the king and queen in the height stakes. A distinc­
tive feature of the bishop is that its top is shaped rather like a mitre.

17
 Concise Chess

How the Bishop Moves

3
2

a b c d e f g h

The bishop moves on an open board

Above is how we see the bishop in a chess diagram. It moves diago­

nally in any direction and, as with the rook, the distance it can travel
in one move is unlimited. In the diagram, the stars indicate all the
possible moves for the bishop starting from the e4-square on an oth­
erwise empty board. Here it has 13 possible moves. Note that if the
bishop were on the h 1-square it would only have seven possible
moves.

18
 Getting to Know the Pieces

The Two Bishops

3
2

a b c d e f g h

A pair of bishops

Each player begins the game with two bishops. One of these operates
on the light squares whereas the other moves on the dark squares. A
bishop on its own only has the potential to move to half the squares
on the entire board, but of course as a pair they can cover all the
squares.
The diagram above shows the starting positions for the white
bishops and the squares that they are able to move to.

19
 Concise Chess

Bishop Captures
8 8
7 7

6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1

a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

Before the bishop captures After the bishop captures

In the first diagram above, the bishop can move to e4, g2, hl, dl, e2
and g4. The bishop is also able to capture the black piece on hS and
takes its place on that square (see the second diagram).
Going back to the first diagram, the bishop is not allowed to cap­
ture the black rook on b7 because there is a white pawn in the way on
the dS-square. Just like rooks, bishops are not allowed to jump over
pieces.

20
 Getting to Know the Pieces

Introducing the Queen

The queen

The next piece we move onto is the queen (pictured above). The
queen is the second tallest chess piece (second only to the king). Styles
can vary depending on the set of pieces, but the queen often has what
looks like a crown on its top. Each player has one queen at the begin­
ning of the game.
21
 Concise Chess

How the Queen Moves

3
2

a b c d e f g h

Queen moves on an open board

Above is how a queen looks on a chess diagram. The queen is the

most powerful piece on the board. It combines the powers of the
rook and the bishop - it can move in all directions and the number of
squares it can travel in one move is unlimited. In the diagram the stars
indicate all the possible moves for the queen starting from the e4-
square on an empty board. Here the queen has 27 possible moves.

22
 Getting to Know the Pieces

The Queen with pieces

3
2

a b c d e f g h

A queen and some other pieces

As with the rook and bishop, the queen is not allowed to jump over
its own or opposing pieces. In the diagram above all three of White's
other pieces prevent the queen from reaching certain squares. Stars
once again indicate all the possible moves for the queen from the c4-
square. It can be seen that the queen has 17 possible moves here.

23
 Concise Chess

Queen Captures
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2

a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

The queen before capturing The queen after capturing

In the first diagram above, the queen has twenty possible moves. One
of these is to capture the black rook on the c7-square (diagram 2).
However, the queen cannot capture the black bishop on the a4-square
because, as with the rook and the bishop, the queen is not allowed to
jump over its own or enemy pieces. If the queen had been on the c4-
square instead, it would have been able to capture either the black
bishop or the black rook.

24
Exploring the Variety of Random
Documents with Different Content
"Oh!" Don Martial continued a moment later, "I feel my recollections
crowding upon me at this moment. I feel as if the veil that covers
my memory is torn asunder, in order to recall events, already so
distant, but which have left so deep an impression on my mind. I,
too, recognize you now; you are the famous hunter whom the count
was trying to find in the desert; but he did not call you by any of the
names you have mentioned."
"I dare say," Valentine answered, "that he alluded to me as the 'Trail
Hunter,' the name by which the white hunters and the Indians of the
Far West are accustomed to call me."
"Yes; oh, now I remember perfectly, that was indeed the name he
gave you. You were right in saying that we had been long
acquainted, though we had never met."
"And now that we meet in this desert," the hunter said, offering his
hand, "connected as we are by the memory of our deceased friend,
shall we be friends?"
"No, not friends," the Tigrero exclaimed, as he heartily pressed the
hunter's honest hand; "not friends, but brothers."
"Well, then, brothers, and each for the other against all comers," the
hunter answered. "And now that you are convinced that curiosity
plays no part in my eager desire to know what has befallen you
since the moment when you so hurriedly left your friends, speak,
Don Martial, and then I will tell you, in my turn, what are the
motives that directed my steps to these desolate regions."
The Tigrero, in a few moments, began his narrative as follows:—
"My friends must have fancied me dead, hence I cannot blame them
for having abandoned me, although they were, perhaps, too quick in
doing so without an attempt either to recover my corpse, or assure
themselves at least that I was really dead, and that assistance would
be thrown away; but though I am ignorant of what happened in the
cavern after my fall, the bodies left on the battlefield proved to me
afterwards that they had a tough fight, and were compelled to fly
before the Indians; hence, I say again that I do not blame them.
You are aware that I was attacked by Black Bear at the moment
when I believed that I had succeeded in saving those whom I had
sworn to protect. It was on the very verge of the pit that Black Bear
and myself, enwreathed like two serpents, began a final and decisive
struggle: at the moment when I had all but succeeded in foiling my
enemy's desperate efforts, and was raising my arm to cut his throat,
the war yell of the Comanches suddenly burst forth at the entrance
of the cavern. By a supreme effort the Apache chief succeeded in
escaping from my clutch, bounded on his feet, and rushed towards
Doña Anita, doubtless with the intention of carrying her off, as the
unforeseen assistance arriving for us would prevent the
accomplishment of his vengeance. But the maiden repulsed him with
that strength which despair engenders, and sought refuge behind
her father. Already severely wounded by two shots, the chief
tottered back to the edge of the pit, where he lost his balance.
Feeling that he was falling, by an instinctive gesture, or, perhaps,
through a last sentiment of fury, he stretched out his arms as if to
save himself, caught hold of me as I rose, half-stunned by my recent
contest, and we both rolled down the pit, he with a triumphant
laugh, and I with a shriek of despair. Forgive me for having
described thus minutely the last incidents of this fight, but I was
obliged to enter into these details to make you thoroughly
understand by what providential chance I was saved, when I fancied
myself hopelessly lost."
"Go on, go on;" the hunter said, "I am listening to you with the
greatest attention."
Don Martial continued:—
"The Indian was desperately wounded, and his last effort, in which
he had placed all his remaining strength, cost him his life: it was a
corpse that dragged me down, for during the few seconds our fall
lasted he did not make a movement. The pit was not so deep as I
fancied, not more than twenty or five-and-twenty feet, and the sides
were covered with plants and grass, which, although they bent
beneath our weight, prevented us from falling perpendicularly. The
chief was the first to reach the bottom of the abyss, and I fell upon
his body, which deadened my fall, though it was serious enough
entirely to deprive me of consciousness. I cannot say how long I
remained in this state, but, from a calculation I made afterwards, my
faint must have lasted two hours. I was aroused by a cold sensation
which suddenly affected me. I opened my eyes again, and found
myself in utter darkness. At the first moment it was impossible for
me to account for the situation in which I found myself, or what
events had placed me in it; but my memory gradually returned, my
thoughts became more lucid, and I only desired to emerge as
speedily as possible from the pit into which I had fallen. I was
suffering fearfully, although I was not actually wounded. I had
received numerous contusions in my fall, and the slightest
movement caused me an atrocious pain, for I was so bruised and
shaken. In my present state I must endure the evil patiently:
attempting to scale the sides of the pit when my strength was
completely exhausted would have been madness, and I therefore
resigned myself to waiting. I was in complete darkness, but that did
not trouble me greatly, as I had about me everything necessary to
light a fire. Within a few moments I had a light, and was enabled to
look about me. I was lying at the bottom of a species of funnel, for
the pit grew narrower in its descent, which had greatly helped to
deaden my fall; my feet and legs almost to the knee were bathed in
a subterranean stream, while the upper part of my body leant
against the corpse of the Indian chief. The spot where I found
myself was thirty feet in circumference at the most, and I assured
myself by the help of my light that the sides of the pit, entirely
covered with creepers, and even sturdy shrubs, rose in a gentle
slope, and would not be difficult to escalade when my strength had
sufficiently returned. At this moment I could not dream of
attempting the ascent, so I bravely made up my mind, and although
my anxiety was great about the friends I had left in, the cavern, I
resolved to wait a few hours before proceeding to save myself. I
remained thus for twenty hours at the bottom of the pit, tête-à-tête
with my enemy's corpse. Many times during my excursions in the
desert I had found myself in almost desperate situations, but never,
I call heaven to witness, had I felt so completely abandoned and left
in the hands of Providence. Still, however deplorable my position
might be, I did not despair; in spite of the frightful pain I suffered, I
had convinced myself that my limbs were in a satisfactory state, and
that all I needed was patience. When I fancied my strength
sufficiently restored, I lighted two torches, which I fixed in the
ground, in order to see more clearly. I threw my rifle on my back,
placed my navaja between my teeth, and clinging to the shrubs, by
a desperate effort I began my ascent. I will not tell you of the
difficulty I had in conquering the terrible shocks I was obliged to
give my aching bones in surmounting almost unsurpassable
obstacles; sufficient for you to know that I reached the mouth of the
pit after an hour and a half's struggle, in which I expended all the
energy a man possesses who hopes to save himself. When I reached
the floor of the cavern, I lay for more than half an hour on the sand,
exhausted, panting, unable to make the slightest movement, scarce
breathing, hearing nothing, seeing nothing, not even conscious of
the frightful state into which I was plunged. Fortunately for me, this
terrible condition did not last long, the refreshing air from without,
reaching me through the passages of the cavern, recovered me, and
restored the entire use of my mental faculties. The ground around
me was covered with dead bodies, and there had, doubtless, been a
terrible struggle between the white men and the redskins. I sought
in vain for the corpses of Doña Anita and her father. I breathed
again, and hope re-entered my heart, for my sacrifice had not been
fruitless. Those for whom I had given my life were saved, and I
should see them again. This thought restored my courage, and I felt
quite a different man. I rose without any excessive difficulty, and,
supporting myself on my rifle, went toward the mouth of the cavern,
after removing my stock of provision, and taking two powder horns
from the stores I had previously cached, and which my friends in
their flight had not thought of removing. No words can describe the
emotion I felt when, after a painful walk through the grotto, I at
length reached the riverbank, and saw the sun once more: a man
must have been in a similar desperate situation to understand the
cry, or rather howl of joy which escaped from my surcharged bosom
when I felt again the blessed sunbeams, and inhaled the odorous
breath of the savannah. By an unreflecting movement, though it was
suggested by my heart, I fell on my knees, and piously clasping my
hands, I thanked Him who had saved me, and who alone could do
so. This prayer, and the simple thanks expressed by a grateful heart,
were, I feel convinced, borne upwards to heaven on the wings of my
guardian angel.
"As far as I could make out by the height of the sun, it was about
the second hour of the tarde. The deepest silence prevailed around
me; so far as the vision could extend, the prairie was deserted;
Indians and palefaces had disappeared: I was alone, alone with that
God who had saved me in so marvellous a fashion, and would not
abandon me. Before going further, I took a little nourishment, which
the exhaustion of my strength rendered necessary. When, in the
company of Don Sylva de Torrés and his daughter, I had sought a
refuge in the cavern, our horses had been abandoned with all the
remaining forage in an adjacent clearing, and I was too well
acquainted with the instinct of these noble animals to apprehend
that they had fled. On the contrary, I knew that, if the hunters had
not taken them away, I should find them at the very spot where I
had left them. A horse was indispensable for use, for a dismounted
man is lost in the desert, and hence I resolved to seek them. Rested
by the long halt I had made, and feeling that my strength had
almost returned, I proceeded without hesitation towards the forest.
At my second call I heard a rather loud noise in a clump of trees; the
shrubs parted, and my horse galloped up and gladly rubbed its
intelligent head against my shoulder. I amply returned the caresses
the faithful companion of my adventures bestowed on me, and then
returned to the cavern, where my saddle was. An hour later,
mounted on my good horse, I bent my steps toward houses. My
journey was a long one, owing to my state of weakness and
prostration, and when I reached Sonora the news I heard almost
drove me mad. Don Sylva de Torrés had been killed in the fight with
the Apaches, as was probably his daughter, for no one could tell me
anything about her. For a month I hovered between life and death;
but God in His wisdom, doubtless, had decided that I should escape
once again. When hardly convalescent, I dragged myself to the
house of the only man competent of giving me precise and positive
information about what I wanted to learn. This man refused to
recognize me, although I had kept up intimate relations with him for
many years. When I told him my name he laughed in my face, and
when I insisted, he had me expelled by his peons, telling me that I
was mad, that Don Martial was dead, and I an impostor. I went
away with rage and despair in my heart. As if they had formed an
agreement, all my friends to whom I presented myself refused to
recognize me, so thoroughly was the report of my death believed,
and it had been accepted by them as a certainty. All the efforts I
attempted to dissipate this alarming mistake, and prove the
falsehood of the rumour were in vain, for too many persons were
interested in it being true, on account of the large estates I
possessed; and also, I suppose, through a fear of injuring the man
to whom I first applied—the only living relation of the Torrés family,
who, through his high position, has immense influence in Sonora.
What more need I tell you, my friend? Disgusted in every way,
heartbroken with grief, and recognising the inutility of the efforts I
made against the ingratitude and systematic bad faith of those with
whom I had to deal, I left the town, and, mounting my horse,
returned to the desert, seeking the most unknown spots and the
most desolate regions in which to hide myself and die whenever God
decrees that I have suffered sufficiently, and recalls me to Him."
After saying this the Tigrero was silent, and his head sunk gloomily
on his chest.
"Brother," Valentine said gently to him, slightly touching his shoulder
to attract his attention, "you have forgotten to tell me the name of
that influential person who had you turned out of his house, and
treated you as an impostor."
"That is true," Don Martial answered; "his name is Don Sebastian
Guerrero, and he is military governor of the province of Sonora."
The hunter quickly started to his feet with an exclamation of joy.
"Don Martial," he said, "you may thank God for decreeing that we
should meet in the desert, in order that the punishment of this man
should be complete."

CHAPTER III.

THE COMPACT.
Don Martial gazed at the hunter in amazement.
"What do you mean?" he asked him. "I don't understand you."
"You will soon do so, my friend," Valentine answered. "How long
have you been roaming about this neighbourhood?"
"Nearly two months."
"In that case you are well acquainted, I presume, with the
mountains among which we are at this moment?"
"There is not a tree or a rock whose exact position I cannot tell, nor
a wild beast trail which I have not followed."
"Good: are we far from a spot called the 'Fort of the Chichimèques?'"
The Tigrero reflected for a moment.
"Do you know by what Indians these mountains are inhabited?" he
at length asked.
"Yes, by poor wretches who call themselves the Root-Eaters, and
whom the hunters and trappers designate by the name of the
'Worthy of Pity.' They are, I believe, timid, harmless creatures, a
species of incomplete men, in whom brutal instincts have stifled the
intellect; however, I only speak of them from hearsay, for I never
saw one of the poor devils."
"You are perfectly well informed about them, and they are what you
depict them. I have often had opportunities of meeting them, and
have lamented the degree of brutalization into which this hapless
race has fallen."
"Permit me to remark that I do not see what connection can exist
between this unhappy tribe and the information I ask of you."
"There is a very great one. Since I have been roaming about these
mountains you are the first man of my own colour with whom I have
consented to enter into relations. The Root-Eaters have neither
history nor traditions. Their life is restricted to eating, drinking, and
sleeping, and I have not learned from them any of the names given
to the majestic peaks that surround us. Hence, though I perfectly
well know the spot to which you refer, unless you describe it
differently, it will be impossible for me to tell you its exact position."
"That is true; but what you ask of me is very awkward, for this is the
first time I have visited these parts, and it will be rather difficult for
me to describe a place I am not acquainted with. Still, I will try.
There is, not far from here, I believe, a road which traverses the
Rocky Mountains obliquely, and runs from the United States to Santa
Fe; at a certain spot this road must intersect another which leads to
California."
"I am perfectly well acquainted with the roads to which you refer,
and the caravans of emigrants, hunters, and miners follow them in
going to California, or returning thence."
"Good! At the spot where these two roads cross they form a species
of large square, surrounded on all sides by rocks that rise to a
considerable height. Do you know the place I mean?"
"Yes," the Tigrero answered.
"Well, about two gunshots from this square is a track winding nearly
in an east-south-east course, along the side of the mountains. This
track, at first so narrow that a horse even passes with difficulty,
gradually widens till it reaches a species of esplanade, or terrace, if
you like it better, which commands an extensive prospect, while on
its edge are the remains of barbarous erections, which can, however,
be easily recognized as an ancient parapet. This terrace is called the
'Fort of the Chichimèques,' though for what reason I cannot tell
you."
"I know no more than you do on that head, although I can now
assure you that I am perfectly acquainted with the place to which
you refer, and have often camped there on stormy nights, because
there is a deep cavern, excavated by human hands, and divided into
several passages, every turning of which I know, and which has
offered me a precious shelter during those frightful tempests which,
at intervals, overthrow the face of nature in these regions."
"I was not aware of the existence of this grotto," the hunter said,
with a glad start, "and I thank you for having told me of it; it will be
very useful for the execution of the plans I have formed. Are we any
great distance from this terrace?"
"In a straight line, not more than five or six miles, and, if it were
day, I could show it to you; but as we must ride round to reach the
caravan road, which we are obliged to follow in order to reach the
tracks, we have about three hours' ride before us."
"That is a trifle, for I was afraid I had lost my way in these
mountains, which are strange to me. I am delighted to find that my
old experience has not failed me this time, and that my hunter's
instincts have not deceived me."
While saying this, Valentine had risen to explore the clearing. The
storm had ceased, the wind had swept away the clouds, the deep
blue sky was studded with brilliant stars, and the moon profusely
shed its rays, which imparted a fantastic appearance to the
landscape by casting the shadows of the lofty trees athwart the
snow, whose pallid carpet spread far as eye could see.
"'Tis a magnificent night," the hunter said, after carefully examining
the sky for some moments. "It is an hour past midnight, and I do
not feel the slightest inclination to sleep. Are you fatigued?"
"I am never so," the Tigrero answered, with a smile.
"All right: in that case you are like myself, a thorough wood ranger.
What do you think of a ride in this magnificent moonlight?"
"I think that after a good supper and an interesting conversation
nothing so thoroughly restores the balance of a man's thoughts as a
night ride in the company of a friend."
"Bravo! that is what I call speaking. Now, as every ride to be
reasonable should have an object, we will go, if you have no
objection, as far as the Fort of the Chichimèques."
"I was about to propose it; and, as we ride along, you will tell me in
your turn what imperious motive compelled you to come to these
unknown regions, and what the project is to which you alluded."
"As for that," the hunter said, with a knowing smile, "I cannot satisfy
you; at any rate not for the present, as I wish you to have the
pleasure of a surprise. But be easy, I will not put your patience to
too long a trial."
"You will act as you think proper, for I trust entirely to you. I know
not why, but I am persuaded, either through a sentiment or
sympathy, that in doing your own business you will be doing mine at
the same time."
"You are nearer the truth at this moment than you perhaps imagine,
so be of good cheer, brother."
"The happy meeting has already made a different man of me," the
Tigrero said, as he rose.
The hunter laid his hand on his shoulder. "One moment," he said to
him; "before leaving this bivouac, where we met so providentially, let
us clearly agree as to our facts, so as to avoid any future
misunderstanding."
"Be it so," Don Martial answered. "Let us make a compact in the
Indian fashion, and woe to the one who breaks it."
"Well said, my friend," Valentine remarked, as he drew his knife from
his belt. "Here is my navaja, brother; may it serve you as it has done
me to avenge your wrongs and mine."
"I receive it in the face of that Heaven which I call as witness of the
purity of my intentions. Take mine in exchange, and one half my
powder and bullets, brother."
"I accept it as a thing belonging to me, and here is half my
ammunition for you; henceforth we cannot fire at one another, all is
in common between us. Your friends will be my friends, and you will
point out your enemies to me, so that I may aid you in your
vengeance. My horse is yours."
"Mine belongs to you, and in a few moments I will place it at your
service."
Then the two men, leaning shoulder to shoulder, with clasped hands,
eyes fixed on heaven, and outstretched arm, uttered together the
following words:
"I take God to witness that of my own free will, and without
reservation, I take as my friend and brother the man whose hand is
at this moment pressing mine. I will help him in everything he asks
of me, without hope of reward, ready by day and night to answer his
first signal, without hesitation, and without reproach, even if he
asked me for my life. I take this oath in the presence of God, who
sees and hears me and may He come to my help in all I undertake,
and punish me if I ever break my oath."
There was something grand and solemn in this simple act,
performed by these two powerful men, beneath the pallid
moonbeams, and in the heart of the desert, alone, far from all
human society, face to face with God, confiding in each, and
seeming thus to defy the whole world. After repeating the words of
the oath, they kissed each other's lips in turn, then embraced, and
finally shook hands again.
"Now let us be off, brother," Valentine said; "I confide in you as in
myself; we shall succeed in triumphing over our enemies, and
repaying them all the misery they have caused us."
"Wait for me ten minutes, brother; my horse is hidden close by."
"Go; and during that time I will saddle mine, which is henceforth
yours."
Don Martial hurried away, leaving Valentine alone.
"This time," he muttered, "I believe that I have at length met the
man I have been looking for so long, and whom I despaired to find;
with him, Curumilla, and Belhumeur, I can begin the struggle, for I
am certain I shall not be abandoned or treacherously surrendered to
the enemy I wish to combat."
While indulging after his wont in this soliloquy, the hunter had
lassoed his horse, and was busily engaged in saddling it. He had just
put the bit in its mouth, when the Tigrero re-entered the clearing,
mounted on a magnificent black steed.
Don Martial dismounted.
"This is your horse, my friend," he said.
"And this is yours."
The exchange thus effected, the two men mounted, and left the
clearing in which they had met so strangely. The Tigrero had told no
falsehood when he said that a metamorphosis had taken place in
him, and that he felt a different man. His features had lost their
marble-like rigidity; his eyes were animated, and no longer burned
with a sombre and concentrated fire. Even though his glances were
still somewhat haggard, their expression was more frank and, before
all, kinder; he sat firm and upright in the saddle, and, in a word,
seemed ten years younger.
This unexpected change had not escaped the notice of the all-
observing Frenchman, and he congratulated himself for having
effected this moral cure, and saved a man of such promise from the
despair which he had allowed to overpower him.
We have already said that it was a magnificent night. For men like
our characters, accustomed to cross the desert in all weathers, the
ride in the darkness was a relaxation rather than a fatigue. They
rode along side by side, talking on indifferent topics—hunting,
trapping, expeditions against the Indians—subjects always pleasing
to wood rangers, while rapidly advancing towards the spot they
wished to reach.
"By-the-bye," Valentine all at once said, "I must warn you, brother,
that if you are not mistaken, and we are really following the road to
the Fort of the Chichimèques, we shall probably meet several
persons there; they are friends of mine, with whom I have an
appointment, and I will introduce them to you; for reasons you will
speedily learn, these friends followed a different road from mine,
and must have been waiting for some time at the place of meeting."
"I do not care who the persons are we meet, as they are friends of
yours," the Tigrero answered; "the main point is that we make no
mistake."
"On my word, I confess my incompetence, so far as that is
concerned; this is the first time I have ventured into the Rocky
Mountains, where I hope never to come again, and so I deliver
myself entirely into your hands."
"I will do my best, although I do not promise positively to lead you
to the place you want to reach."
"Nonsense!" the hunter said with a smile; "two places like the one I
have described to you can hardly be found in these parts,
picturesque and diversified though they be, and it would be almost
impossible to lose our way."
"At any rate," the Tigrero answered, "we shall soon know what we
have to depend on, for we shall be there within half an hour."
The sky was beginning to grow paler; the horizon was belted by
wide, pellucid bands, which assumed in turn every colour of the
rainbow. In the flashing uncertain light of dawn, objects were
invested with a more fugitive appearance, although, on the other
hand, they became more distinct.
The adventurers had passed the crossroads, and turned into a
narrow track, whose capricious windings ran along rocks, which
were almost suspended over frightful abysses. The riders had given
up all attempts to guide their horses, and trusted to their instinct;
they had laid their bridles on their necks, leaving them at liberty to
go where they pleased—a prudent precaution, which cannot be
sufficiently recommended to travellers under similar circumstances.
All at once a streak of light illumined the landscape, and the sun
rose radiant and splendid; behind them the travellers still had the
shadows of night, while before them the snowy peaks of the
mountains—were glistening in the sun.
"Well," the hunter exclaimed, "we can now see clearly, and I hope
that we shall soon perceive the Fort of the Chichimèques."
"Look ahead of you over the jagged crest of that hill," the Tigrero
answered, stretching out his arm; "that is the terrace to which I am
leading you."
The hunter stopped, for he felt giddy, and almost ready to fall off his
horse. About two miles from him, but separated from the spot where
he stood by an impassable canyon, an immense esplanade stretched
out into space in the shape of a voladero; that is to say, in
consequence of one of those earthquakes so common in these
regions, the base of the mountain had been undermined, while the
crest remained intact, and hung for a considerable distance above a
valley, apparently about to fall at any moment; the spectacle was at
once imposing and terrific.
"Heaven forgive me!" the hunter muttered, "but I really believe I
was frightened; I felt all my muscles tremble involuntarily. Oh! I will
not look at it again; let us get along, my friend."
They set out again, still following the windings of the tract, which
gradually grew steeper; and, after a very zigzag course, reached the
terrace half an hour later.
"This is certainly the place," the hunter exclaimed, as he pointed to
the decaying embers of a watch fire.
"But your friends—?" the Tigrero asked.
"Did you not tell me there was a grotto close by?"
"I did."
"Well, they doubtless concealed themselves in the grotto when they
heard us approaching."
"That is possible."
"It is true: look."
The hunter discharged his gun, and at the sound three men
appeared, though it was impossible to say whence they came. They
were Belhumeur, Black Elk, and Eagle-head.

CHAPTER IV.

THE TRAVELLERS.
We must now leave Valentine and his companions on the esplanade
of the Fort of the Chichimèques, where we shall join them again
however, in order to attend to other persons destined to play an
important part in the narrative we have undertaken to tell the
reader.
About five or six leagues at the most from the spot where Valentine
and the Tigrero met, a caravan, composed of some ten persons, had
halted on the same night, and almost at the same moment as the
hunter, in a narrow valley completely sheltered from the wind by
dense clumps of trees.
The caravan was comfortably lodged on the bank of a running
stream, the mules had been unloaded, a tent raised, fires lighted;
and when the animals were hobbled, the travellers began to make
preparations for their supper.
These travellers, or at any rate one of them, appeared to belong to
the highest class, for the rest were only servants or Indian peons.
Still the dress of this person was most simple, but his stiff manner,
his imposing demeanour, and haughty air, evidenced the man long
accustomed to give his orders without admitting refusal or even the
slightest hesitation.
He had passed his fiftieth year; he was tall, well-built, and his
movements were extremely elegant. His broad forehead, his black
eyes large and flashing, his long gray moustaches and his short hair
gave him a military appearance, which his harsh, quick way of
speaking did not contradict. Although he affected a certain affability
of manner, he at times involuntarily betrayed himself, and it was
easy to see that the modest garb of a Mexican Campesino which he
wore was only a disguise. Instead of withdrawing beneath the tent
prepared for him, this person had sat down before the fire with the
peons, who eagerly made way for him with evident respect.
Among the peons two men more especially attracted attention. One
was a redskin, the other a half-breed, with a crafty, leering manner,
who, for some reason or another, stood on more familiar terms with
his master; his comrades called him Ño Carnero, and at times gave
him the title of Capataz.
Ño Carnero was the wit of the caravan, the funny fellow—ever ready
to laugh and joke, smoking an eternal cigar, and desperately
strumming an insupportable guitar. Perhaps, though, he concealed
beneath this frivolous appearance a more serious character and
deeper thoughts than he would have liked to display.
The redskin formed the most complete contrast with the capataz; he
was a tall, thin, dry man, with angular features and gloomy and sad
face, illumined by two black eyes deeply set in their orbit, but
constantly in motion, and having an undefinable expression; his
aquiline nose, his wide mouth lined with large teeth as white as
almonds, and his thin pinched up lips, composed a far from pleasant
countenance, which was rendered still more lugubrious by the
obstinate silence of this man, who only spoke when absolutely
compelled, and then only in monosyllables. Like all the Indians, it
was impossible to form any opinion as to his age, for his hair was
black as the raven's wing, and his parchment skin had not a single
wrinkle; at any rate he seemed gifted with no ordinary strength.
He had engaged at Santa Fé to act as guide to the caravan, and,
with the exception of his obstinate silence, there was every reason
to be satisfied with the way in which he performed his duty. The
peons called him The Indian, or sometimes José—a mocking term
employed in Mexico to designate the Indios mansos; but the redskin
appeared as insensible to compliments as to jokes, and continued
coldly to carry out the task he had imposed on himself. When supper
was ended, and each had lit his pipe or cigarette, the master turned
to the capataz.
"Carnero," he said to him, "although in such frightful weather, and in
these remote regions, we have but little to fear from horse thieves,
still do not fail to place sentries, for we cannot be too provident."
"I have warned two men, mi amo," the capataz replied; "and,
moreover, I intend to make my rounds tonight; eh, José," he added,
turning to the Indian, "are you certain you are not mistaken, and
that you really lifted a trail?"
The redskin shrugged his shoulders disdainfully, and continued his
quiet smoke.
"Do you know to what nation the sign you discovered belongs?" the
master asked him.
The Indian gave a nod of assent.
"Is it a formidable nation?"
"Crow," the redskin answered hoarsely.
"Caray!" the master exclaimed, "if they are Crows, we shall do well
to be on our guard, for they are the cleverest plunderers in the
Rocky Mountains."
"Nonsense!" Carnero remarked with a grin of derision, "do not
believe what that man tells you; the mezcal has got into his head,
and he is trying to make himself of importance; Indians tell as many
lies as old women."
The Indian's eye flashed; without deigning to reply he drew a
moccasin from his breast, and threw it so adroitly at the capataz as
to strike him across the face. Furious at the insult so suddenly
offered him by a man whom he always considered inoffensive, the
half-breed uttered a yell of rage, and rushed knife in hand on the
Indian.
But the latter had not taken his eye off him, and by a slight
movement he avoided the desperate attack of the capataz; then,
drawing himself up, he caught him round the waist, raised him from
the ground as easy as he would have done a child, and hurled him
into the fire, where he writhed for a moment with cries of pain and
impotent passion. When he at length got out of the fire, half
scorched, he did not think of renewing the attack, but sat down
growling and directing savage glances at his adversary, like a
turnspit punished by a mastiff. The master had witnessed this
aggression with the utmost indifference, and having picked up the
moccasin, which he carefully examined—
"The Indian is right," he said, coldly, "this moccasin bears the mark
of the Crow nation. My poor Carnero, you must put up with it, for
though the punishment you received was severe, I am forced to
allow that it was deserved."
The redskin had begun smoking again as quietly as if nothing had
occurred.
"The dog will pay me for it with his traitor face," the capataz
growled, on hearing his master's warning. "I am no man if I do not
leave his body as food for the crows he discovers so cleverly."
"My poor lad," his master continued, with a jeer, "you had better
forget this affair, which I allow might be disagreeable to your self-
esteem; for I fancy you would not be the gainer by recommencing
the quarrel."
The capataz did not answer; he looked round at the spectators to
select one on whom he could vent his spite, without incurring any
extreme risk; but the peons were on their guard, and offered him no
chance. He then, with an air of vexation, made a signal to two men
to follow him, and left the circle grumbling.
The head of the caravan remained for a few minutes plunged in
serious thought; he then withdrew beneath his tent, the curtain of
which fell behind him; and the peons lay down on the ground, one
after the other, with their feet to the fire, and carefully wrapped up
in their serapes, and fell asleep.
The Indian then took the pipe stem from his mouth, looked
searchingly around him, shook out the ashes, passed the pipe
through his belt, and, rising negligently, went slowly to crouch at the
foot of a tree, though not before he had taken the precaution of
wrapping himself in his buffalo robe, a measure which the sharp air
rendered, if not indispensable, at any rate necessary.
Ere long, with the exception of the sentries leaning on their guns
and motionless as statues, all the travellers were plunged in deep
sleep, for the capataz himself, in spite of the promise he had made
his master, had laid himself across the entrance of the tent.
An hour elapsed ere anything disturbed the silence that prevailed in
the camp. All at once a singular thing happened. The buffalo robe,
under which the Indian was sheltered, gently rose with an almost
imperceptible movement, and the redskin's face appeared, darting
glances of fire into the gloom. In a moment the guide raised himself
slowly along the trunk of the tree against which he had been lying,
embraced it with his feet and hands, and with undulating
movements resembling those of reptiles, he left the ground, and
raised himself to the first branches, among which he disappeared.
This ascent was executed with such well-calculated slowness that it
had not produced the slightest sound. Moreover, the buffalo robe left
at the foot of the tree so well retained its primitive folds, that it was
impossible to discover, without touching it, that the man it sheltered
had left it.
When the guide was thoroughly concealed among the leaves, he
remained for a moment motionless; though not in order to regain his
breath after having made such an expenditure of strength, for this
man was made of iron, and fatigue had no power over him. But he
probably wished to look about him, for with his body bent forward,
and his eyes fixed on space, he inhaled the breeze, and his glances
seemed trying to pierce the gloom.
Before selecting as his resting place the foot of the tree in which he
was now concealed, the guide had assured himself that this tree,
which was very high and leafy, was joined at about two-thirds of its
height by other trees, which gradually rose along the side of the
mountain, and formed a wall of verdure.
After a few minutes' hesitation, the guide drew in his belt, placed his
knife between his teeth, and with a certainty and lightness of
movement which would have done honour to a monkey, he
commenced literally hopping from one tree to another, hanging by
his arms, and clinging to the creepers, waking up, as he passed, the
birds, which flew away in alarm.
This strange journey lasted about three-quarters of an hour. At
length the guide stopped, looked attentively around him, and gliding
down the trunk of the tree on which he was, reached the ground.
The spot where he now found himself was a rather spacious
clearing, in the centre of which blazed an enormous fire, serving to
warm forty or fifty redskins, completely armed and equipped for war.
Still, singular to say, the majority of these Indians, instead of their
long lances and the bows they usually employ, carried muskets of
American manufacture, which led to the supposition that they were
picked warriors and great braves of their nation; and this, too, was
further proved by the numerous wolf tails fastened to their heels, an
honourable insignia which only renowned warriors have the right to
assume.
This detachment of redskins was certainly on the war trail, or at any
rate on a serious expedition, for they had with them neither dogs
nor squaws. In spite of the slight care with which the Indians are
wont to guard themselves at night, the free and deliberate manner
in which the guide entered their encampment proved that he was
expected by these warriors, who evinced no surprise at seeing him,
but, on the contrary, invited him with hospitable gestures to take a
seat at their fire. The guide sat down silently, and began smoking
the calumet which the chief seated by his side immediately offered
him. This chief was still a young man, his marked features displaying
the utmost craft and boldness. After a rather lengthened interval,
doubtless expressly granted the visitor to let him draw breath and
warm himself, the young chief bowed to him and addressed him
deferentially.
"My father is welcome among his sons; they were impatiently
awaiting his arrival."
The guide responded to this compliment with a grimace, in all
probability intended to pass muster for a smile. The chief continued:
—
"Our scouts have carefully examined the encampment of the Yoris,
and the warriors of the Jester are ready to obey the instructions
given them by their great sachem, Eagle-head. Is my father
Curumilla satisfied with his red children?"
Curumilla (for the guide was no other than the reader's old
acquaintance the Araucano chief) laid his right hand on his chest,
and uttered with a guttural accent the exclamation, "Ugh!" which
was with him a mark of the greatest joy.
The Jester and his warriors had been too long acquainted with
Curumilla for his silence to seem strange to them; hence they
yielded without repugnance to his mania, and carefully giving up the
hope of getting a syllable out of his closed lips, began with him a
conversation in signs.
We have already had occasion, in a previous work, to mention that
the redskins have two languages, the written and the sign language.
The latter, which has among them attained a high perfection, and
which all understand, is usually employed when hunting, or on
expeditions, when a word pronounced even in a low voice may
reveal the presence of an ambuscade to the enemy, whether men or
beasts, whom they are pursuing, and desire to surprise.
It would have been interesting, and even amusing, for any stranger
who had been present at this interview to see with what rapidity the
gestures and signs were exchanged between these men, so
strangely lit up by the ruddy glow of the fire, and who resembled,
with their strange movements, their stern faces, and singular
attitudes, a council of demons. At times the Jester, with his body
bent forward, and emphatic gestures, held a dumb speech, which his
comrades followed with the most sustained attention, and which
they answered with a rapidity that words themselves could not have
surpassed.
At length this silent council terminated. Curumilla raised his hand to
heaven, and pointed to the stars, which were beginning to grow
dim, and then left the circle. The redskins respectfully followed him
to the foot of the tree by the aid of which he had entered their
camp. When he reached it, he turned round.
"May the Wacondah protect my father!" the Jester then said. "His
sons have thoroughly understood his instructions, and will follow
them literally. The great pale hunter will have joined his friends by
this hour, and he is doubtless awaiting us. Tomorrow Koutonepi will
see his Comanche brothers. At the enditha the camp will be raised."
"It is good," Curumilla answered, and saluting for the last time the
warriors, who bowed respectfully before him, the chief seized the
creeping plants, and, raising himself by the strength of his wrists, in
a second he reached the branches, and disappeared in the foliage.
The journey the Indian had made was very important, and needed
to be so for him to run such great risks in order to have an interview
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