e of
certainty. The true lover of croquet will no more be tempted into an
eight-ball game than a scientific chess-player will indulge in that
abnormal monstrosity "four-handed chess." Played with two balls only,
the game degenerates into a mere race. The four-ball game with two
players is preferred by many, though lacking the sociality which is one
of the charms of croquet. As the rules are the same in all cases, I
shall hereafter, for convenience of illustration, take it for granted
that there are four balls and four players. If the sides are not
otherwise made up, two of the players are selected as chiefs. They
strike for the first choice, (see definition); the one who wins it
chooses a friend, then the other, and so on till the sides are made up.
The winning chief plays first if he chooses, or, if not, the other chief
leads, and the winning chief plays second; then one of the friends of
the first player, and so on, the members of the two sides playing
alternately. The first player uses the ball the color of which is
highest on the stake, and the next takes the color immediately below. It
is usual to have the rings on the stake alternately some light and dark
color, so that the light colors form one side and the dark the other.
After leading, the function of the chief ceases, except in match games,
when he is allowed to direct the play of his side. At the commencement
of the game the first player places his ball upon the spot, and strikes
it with his mallet in the direction of the first bridge. If it run the
bridge--that is, pass completely through it, he has the right to another
blow; if not it is called a booby, and he must wait till the others have
played and his turn comes round again. Suppose, however, that he has run
the first bridge, and on his second blow runs the second bridge, he thus
takes another step on the "grand round," or makes another point, which
entitles him to still another blow. As it is generally impossible to run
the third bridge on the third blow, he now tries to get "position" for
his ball in front of the third bridge; but as he does not make a point
on this last blow, he is not entitled to continuance of tour. He
therefore stops, and the first player of the other side begins by
placing his ball upon the spot and attempting to run the first bridge.
If he runs it he has a little more latitude in his play, for he may now
make a point in two ways--either by hitting the other ball, provided it
is n