es on a high-note "Ah!" something after the manner of Scottish
dancers, though the Morris "Call" is less of a war-whoop and more of a
lusty shout.

LENGTH OF DANCES.

It must always be remembered that the Morris-men themselves vary the
length of their dances, according to the humour of the moment, and their
freshness or fatigue. A dance can always be shortened by leaving out one
or more figures: the musician will know what to do by the call of the
leader.

In "Blue-eyed Stranger," for instance, if the side is feeling
particularly high-spirited, the whole sixteen bars of "B" music may be
danced; but as a rule this will be found too long. Again, to extend "Rigs
o' Marlow" (another trying dance) the music may be played four times
instead of three, when Back-to-back will be danced to "A" music. "Bluff
King Hal," danced to its full length as shown in the Notation, will as a
general rule also be found too long. It can easily be shortened by
leaving out repetitions or certain figures. In brief, once the dances are
learned it is a very simple matter, and quite according to tradition, to
lengthen or abbreviate them in any way desired.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR VARIOUS DANCES.

BEAN-SETTING (STICK DANCE).

TO FORM RING.

This is the only one of those dances we have described that begins with
the Ring. The side starts in Column. To form Ring, Nos. 3 and 4 move a
little outward from the line as "A" music begins. Then all dance in Ring
formation to the right (_see_ Fig. 1) until, at the beginning of bar 4,
all opposites have changed places: that is, Nos. 1 and 6 are each in the
other's position, Nos. 3 and 4, 2 and 5 have also changed. In bar 4,
files close in slightly, j. (_i.e._, form Column), and tap sticks across
on half-bar of bar 4. In remaining four bars of "A" music form Ring
again, and all return to position as they came (_see_ Fig. 2). At
half-bar in bar 8, all j. (forming Column), and partners tap sticks
across.

[Illustration: Fig. 1.]

[Illustration: Fig. 2.]

DIBBING.

This is the term used in the dance, as it is used in field and garden
work, for making a hole with a dib, or dibber, in the soil, into which
the seed is dropped. The dance, of course, represents the setting of
beans--more truly and largely, the sowing of the seed in springtime.

In dibbing (_see_ [small box] in music) all stoop well forward, holding the
right hands outward, with sticks pointing to the ground. The act of
dibbi