2.—THE SULTAN.
TWO PACKS.
This is, perhaps, the most curious and interesting of all the games of Solitaire, and, if successful, it forms a pretty picture of the sultan or king of hearts, surrounded by his eight queens. As it is rather difficult to understand the arrangement, we have prepared a little diagram to illustrate it.
Take out the ace of hearts and all the kings. Place one king of hearts in the centre. Just above him place the ace of hearts, and below him the other king of hearts. On each side of the ace place the kings of clubs, who represent war. On each side of the first king of hearts are the kings of diamonds, representing the treasury; and on the lower line, each side of the second king of hearts, are the kings of spades, representing the industrial forces.
Then shuffle the remaining cards, and lay off from the pack. Put the first four cards on one side off the square formed by the kings, placing the ends of the cards towards the square. Put the next four cards on the other side in a similar manner; these eight cards form the divan.
Leaving the sultan untouched, form the other families by placing the aces on the kings, and so piling in regular succession, according to suits, ending with the queens. Place all cards which you cannot immediately use, in a pile on the table, which is called the stock. You can use the cards you are laying off from the packs, or the top card of the stock, or any card in the divan, in forming your families. When a card is taken from the divan, you may fill its place, either by the top card from the stock, or by the next card from the pack, as you think most likely to be favorable to your purpose.
When you have exhausted the pack, you can take up the stock and use it as a pack, always keeping your divan full. This you can do twice. Some skill is required in placing the cards in the divan, and in selecting them for use, and constant care is needed that no opportunity in placing a card in the families escape you. You will, after a little experience, generally be rewarded with success.