cident, they are all imprudently out of the camp, one of their opponents profits by their negligence, and deprives them in an instant of the fruits of numerous victories; and neither he nor those he has relieved are to touch or be touched in their return to their own camp. Thus Prisoners' Base exemplifies the maxim, "That it is more easy to make conquests than to keep them." As the runners on both sides are generally well matched, this game is very long; for each party, by making prisoners, regains frequently whatever had been previously lost. The addition of prisons occasions a considerable degree of variety in the pastime, and is frequently productive of much pleasantry; but the practice of thus detaining prisoners is bad, because it compels them to remain inactive after violent exercise it is better, therefore, to count points, or to take forfeits, of which a sufficient number would be got to afford amusement at the conclusion of the game. There is another variety of this game in which the prisoners are not rescued, but are drafted into the enemy's camp, and the game is over when all the players on one side have passed into the other camp. FOLLOW MY LEADER. PLATE VIII. It is scarcely necessary to describe this game. The most skilful or active is selected to perform a series of manœuvres in running, climbing, jumping, &c., in which he must be followed by all the rest who have joined in the game; and those who fail, always fall behind those who succeed. This is an excellent game of exercise when performed in an extensive space, and where all the players are nearly equal in size and strength. |