Case.—A misplaying ball runs a bridge after croqueting its partner through his proper bridge. The enemy challenge and elect to leave both balls in their final position. Can they compel them to renew their bridges? The ball of the misplayer must re-run its bridge; but any other ball has made the step unless it is restored to its former position. The latter is regarded as accidentally displaced, and follows the rule provided for that case. If the misplay consist of illegal continuance of tour, of course the penalty does not extend to the correct play which preceded it.
28. If a player misplay, whether with his own or another ball, he forfeits his next tour.
When a misplay is detected the play is stopped, and the damages under the preceding rules taken, and the player who should have played takes his tour, and so on, omitting the misplayer's next tour. Thus if A play in his partner C's tour, the order will be C, D, B, C, etc. If A play without right to continuance of tour, the order will be B, C, D, B, C, etc.
29. If a misplay is not challenged until the play of another ball has commenced, the play stands, but the misplayer loses his first tour after the discovery.
Case.—D plays after A and is challenged, but shows that A misplayed in his partner's tour. Has D misplayed? No. He played in his proper tour. C has lost his tour through neglect, and A has anticipated a tour, while the other side has lost the right to exact the penalty for A's misplay, the order of play is B, A, D, B, C, etc.
Case.—While B is playing it is discovered that A misplayed. Is B's play correct? Yes. B naturally plays after A. B finishes his play, and the order of play is B, A, B, C, D, B, etc. Here A's tour is merely transposed, and B gains an extra tour, so that in both cases the misplaying side loses one tour. If a player misplays in the tour of an enemy and is not challenged in time, the misplayer and the neglectful party will each lose a tour. Thus if D omit his tour the order will be C, A, B, C, D, B, etc. If A play without right to continuance of tour, so as in effect to take two tours, and it is discovered after B begins to play, A merely anticipates his next turn, and the order is A, A, B, C, D, B, etc.
30. If a misplay has taken place so that the balls are playing in a wrong order, but the original misplayer cannot be discovered, the playing ball must finish its tour and the right order be taken up.
A case of frequent occurrence in the four-ball game. The sides are still playing alternately, but in an inverted order, A, D, C, B. A misplay has evidently been made, but none of the subsequent players can be convicted, because each has followed his partner after the proper interval; hence no penalty can be exacted on either side. If two partners are playing in succession, the last always misplays; and, if detected before the next play, must suffer the full penalty, and any previous player in the same circumstances loses his next turn.
31. If a ball be played before the preceding ball has finished or abandoned its tour, the enemy have the option of replacing the ball to take its tour after the other has finished, or letting the play stand as the player's next tour.
This case is excluded from the definition of misplay, and the penalty exacted is less. As will be seen by the next rule, the ball prematurely played will have had but one blow. If it was a good one the enemy will have the ball replaced; if a poor one they will let it stand; and if an easy point has been made, the player loses the rest of his tour, as in misplay, except that if a step on the round is made it is valid.