Indoors; out of doors.
There are two ways of playing this game. The one first described is better suited to schools and general playground conditions; the second is quite distinct, and may have better sport for parlor use.
The players stand in a circle, numbering preferably twenty or less, with a little space between each two players, and not holding hands. They represent a sheepfold, but later, as each is chosen from the circle, he takes the part of a sheep. One player is chosen to be Jacky Lingo, who walks around outside of the circle. Another, who is the shepherd or owner of the sheep, stands in the center of the circle.
The owner says, "Who goes round my stone wall?" The outside player answers, "Nobody; only little Jacky Lingo."
"Pray don't steal any of my fat sheep."
Jacky Lingo answers: "Unless I take one-by-one, two-by-two, three-by-three! Follow me!"
As Jacky Lingo says his last line, he taps three different players on the back, one for "one-by-one," another for "two-by-two," and a third for "three-by-three." If a large number be playing, he may tap two for each count instead of one, making six in all. As the players are tapped, they step out from the sheepfold and line up back of Jacky Lingo, each one in the line placing his hands on the shoulders of the one next in front. This is continued until all the players are taken by Jacky Lingo, who then runs off around the ground with them. The owner goes after them, faces Jacky Lingo, and says, "Have you seen anything of my black sheep?"
"Yes; I gave them a lot of bread and butter and sent them up there" (pointing to left or right).
"Then what have you got behind you?"