41. If a ball makes two successive steps on the round with one blow of the mallet, and does not decline the latter, it may take ground up to a standard mallet's length before continuing its tour.
The first step cannot be declined from the nature of the case; the second may, but then there is no ground for the premium. The second point will be declined if it is possible to make very good position for the second bridge by roquet, or to glance off from the stake to advantage. If the mallet's length allows a ball to take ground on the reverse side of its proper bridge this will not count as a run, nor will the ball be in position if placed under the arch. Up to a mallet's length of course includes everything less.
42. A step on the round is not declined if it be made the ground for continuance of tour, re-roquet, or taking ground under the last two rules, and in such case it cannot be made again.
Case.—A having already roqueted B's ball, can he decline the run? If he does the hit is no roquet, and no point has been made.
Case.—A runs a bridge and roquets a ball. The two balls rest in such relative positions that A can roquet the same ball back through the bridge. Can he, after doing this, re-run the bridge? Not on that tour; for if he continues his tour, the second hit must have been a roquet; the roquet on the first blow must have been declined; therefore the bridge could not have been declined. Or, if the bridge was declined, the first hit was a roquet and the second no point; therefore his tour is at an end.
43. A roquet made and declined may be made again during the same tour, although the right to re-roquet has not been acquired, and when so made it constitutes a point.
The first hit was not a roquet if really declined. (See Rule 45.) A ball may be hit and moved by concussion before a roquet as well as after one. Thus if a step on the round and a roquet be made on the same blow, the player may at once croquet the roqueted ball, or roquet it again immediately or after other roquets. Not croqueting the ball is evidence enough of having declined, as there could never be any advantage in declining the croquet and not the roquet, if it can properly be declined.
44. A ball making ricochet—that is, roqueting several balls on the same blow—may croquet them all in the order of the roquets.
Any one of the roquets may be declined and made again after croqueting the other balls in their proper order. Not croqueting is sufficient evidence of declining; but if none are croqueted, and the ball is not moved to the side of any one, the player must declare which he means to decline. As soon as a step on the round is made, it no longer makes any difference whether a roquet was declined or not.
Case.—A ball makes roquet on two balls simultaneously. Can it croquet them both? Yes, and the player should have the option of either order.