Playground; gymnasium; parlor; schoolroom.
One player, who is especially resourceful or skillful, is chosen as a leader. The others all form in single file behind him, and imitate anything that he does. The leader aims to keep the line moving, and should set particularly hard tasks for them, such as climbing or vaulting over obstacles, under others, jumping to touch high points or objects, going through difficult feats, jumping certain distances, taking a hop, skip, and jump, walking backward, turning around while walking, walking or running with a book on the head, etc. Any one failing to perform the required feat drops out of the game or goes to the foot of the line; or at the pleasure of the players may pay a forfeit for the failure and continue playing, all forfeits to be redeemed at the close of the game.
FORCING THE CITY GATES
Reprinted from Dr. Isaac T. Headland's "The Chinese Boy and Girl," by kind permission of Messrs. Fleming H. Revell & Co.
FORCING THE CITY GATES
10 to 30 or more players.
Playground; gymnasium.
Two captains are selected, who alternately choose players until all are in two groups. The two sides then line up in two straight lines, facing each other about ten feet apart, and holding hands, each line representing the gates of a city. The captains dispose their men in line as they see fit, but it is advisable to alternate the larger or stronger players with the smaller or weaker ones, to equalize the strength at the points of attack. The captain of one side then names one of his players, who steps forward and tries to break through the hands of the opposing side, or he may dodge under them. If he does not succeed in one place, he may try in another, but may not have more than three trials. Should he succeed in breaking the opposing line or dodging under, he returns to his side, taking the two whose hands had been parted or evaded, as prisoners to reënforce his side. Should he fail in the third attempt, he is to remain on the side of his opponents. The captains alternate turns in sending forth a man to "force the city gates." The players taken from the opposing side must thereafter work for the side to which they are taken captive, each prisoner being placed in the line between two of the original team. The side wins which eventually secures all of the opposing players. The action may be made more rapid where a large number are playing by sending out two or more players at once.