a long rope is necessary and at least four players, two to turn and two to jump. If more join the game, they must divide into couples and take turns jumping, as the sport requires two to enter and jump the rope together. The places are taken as in Fig. 603. One player is stationed as near as possible to one end of the rope, and the other player close to the other end on the opposite side. As the rope turns the players A and B (Fig. 603) advance, jumping toward each other. They meet, pass and continue on their way toward the opposite end of the rope until they have changed positions, A being in B's place and B in A's. They return to their first positions and run out, leaving the rope free for the next two to have their turn.
Fig. 603.
One of the liveliest rope games is
Red, White and Blue
A long rope is turned by two of the players; another runs in and jumps once; they all sing in chorus “Red, white and blue,” slowly keeping time with the rope, which is turned three times high in air above the head of the jumper. The first turn is for red, the second for white, and the third for blue. As the turners lower the rope to the ground, without once stopping in the turning, the player jumps once, and again the rope goes up and is turned three times in the air while the chorus is repeated. Then, after another jump, all chant the words, “Salt, pepper, MUSTARD, VINEGAR,” the rope turns very slowly for salt, faster for pepper, still faster for mustard and at lightning speed as vinegar is pronounced; the jumper increasing her speed at each turn of the rope.
CHAPTER XXIX
EXPENSIVE GAMES WITH LITTLE OR
NO EXPENSE
Everybody plays
Ping Pong