7, 9, or whatever the number of moves may be. The gradual shortening of
play is fascinating, and first attempts are surprisingly lengthy.


386.--A TRICK WITH DICE.

[Illustration]

Here is a neat little trick with three dice. I ask you to throw the dice
without my seeing them. Then I tell you to multiply the points of the
first die by 2 and add 5; then multiply the result by 5 and add the
points of the second die; then multiply the result by 10 and add the
points of the third die. You then give me the total, and I can at once
tell you the points thrown with the three dice. How do I do it? As an
example, if you threw 1, 3, and 6, as in the illustration, the result
you would give me would be 386, from which I could at once say what you
had thrown.


387.--THE VILLAGE CRICKET MATCH.

In a cricket match, Dingley Dell v. All Muggleton, the latter had the
first innings. Mr. Dumkins and Mr. Podder were at the wickets, when the
wary Dumkins made a splendid late cut, and Mr. Podder called on him to
run. Four runs were apparently completed, but the vigilant umpires at
each end called, "three short," making six short runs in all. What
number did Mr. Dumkins score? When Dingley Dell took their turn at the
wickets their champions were Mr. Luffey and Mr. Struggles. The latter
made a magnificent off-drive, and invited his colleague to "come along,"
with the result that the observant spectators applauded them for what