an a year," said St. Clair,
with a slight smile. "It's odd how something always breaks it up.
I wonder what it will be this time. But it's an intelligent game,
Harry."

"I don't think a sport is intellectual, merely because it is slow."

Lieutenant-Colonel St. Hilaire made a move, Colonel Leonidas Talbot made
another, and then promptly uttered a little cry of triumph.

"My king is free! He is free! You made no royal capture, Hector!"
he exclaimed joyously.

"It is so, Leonidas. I did not foresee your path of retreat. I must
enter upon a new campaign against you."

Harry, who was looking toward the heights on the other side of the river,
saw a flash of flame and a puff of smoke. A rumbling noise came to him.

"What is it, Harry?" asked Colonel Talbot.

"A Yankee cannon. I suppose it was telling us Christmas is over.
The ball struck somewhere in Fredericksburg."

"A waste of good ammunition. Why, they've done all the damage to
Fredericksburg that they can do. It's your move, Hector."

Lieutenant-Colonel St. Hilaire corded and knotted his brow again,
and once more the two heads nearly met over the chessboard. A whistling
sound suddenly came from the street without. Something struck with a
terrible impact, and then followed a blinding flash and roar. The whole
house shook and several of the men were thrown down, but in a half
minute they sprang to their feet.

Colonel Leonidas Talbot and Lieutenant-Colonel Hector St. Hilaire were
standing erect, staring at each other. The chessmen were scattered on
the floor and the board was split in half. A fragment of the exploding
shell had entered the window and passing directly between them had done
the damage. The same piece had gone entirely through the opposite wall.

Harry's quick glance told him that nothing had suffered except the
chessboard. He sprang forward, picked up the two halves, and said:

"No real harm has been done. Two strips underneath, a few tacks,
and it's as good again as ever."

The other lads carefully gathered up the scattered chessmen and
announced that not one of them was injured.

"Thank you, boys," said Colonel Talbot. "It is a pleasing thing to see
that, despite the war, the young still show courtesy to their elders.
You will bear in mind, Hector, when this game is resumed at a proper
time and place, that the position of one of your knights was very
delicate."

"Assuredly I will not forget it, Leonidas. It will be no t