This is one of the most interesting house party games for young people for either out of doors or within.

Any player answering a question addressed directly to him or failing to answer one addressed to his partner or giving an incorrect answer to a question changes places with the questioner or pays a forfeit as may have been decided on beforehand.

FOR THE SCHOOLROOM.–When played in the schoolroom the adjacent rows should form a group and face each other so as to leave free aisles between the groups in which the questioners may walk as shown in the diagram of “Old Man Tag.”

The game may be made to correlate with almost any subject in the school curriculum the questioner asking for instance for capital cities boundaries mountains etc. for geography for dates or the names of heroes in great events for history or even for brief problems in mental arithmetic.

GROUND.–The ground is divided into two equal parts by a line across the center. In each part a series of small rings or bases is arranged in a circle at equal distances apart the number and distance depending on the space at disposal and the number of players the small base rings should not be closer to each other than four or five feet and should measure from two to four feet in diameter. The captains place is in one of these bases nearest the center of the ground or dividing line.

TEAMS.–There should be from eight to thirty players on each side exclusive of the captain. Half of these players stand in the bases on their own side the captains base completing the circle and being nearest the dividing line. The other players of the team called guards are stationed at the opening of the game each near one of the opponents bases on the opposite side of the ground from his own basemen. Each guard is chiefly responsible throughout for guarding his particular base but all guards may move about freely in the opponents territory without stepping within the rings (bases).

OBJECTS OF GAME.–The objects of the game are (1) to pass the ball from baseman to baseman in one circle or (2) entirely around one of the circles without its being caught by the opponents guards who seek to gain possession of it and (3) for any baseman or guard to throw the ball as many times as possible to his own captain. The guards try not only to prevent the passage of the ball around the circle or its reaching their opponents captain but also to gain possession of the ball and throw it over to the opposite side to their own basemen and captain.

START.–The ball is put in play at the opening of the game and after each catch by a captain and after each foul by being tossed by a neutral person in the center of the ground the guards on both sides trying to get possession of it. The ball is not considered caught unless it be held in both hands. Any guard so catching it has an opportunity to throw it to his own captain or one of his basemen. The guards on the opposite side of course try to prevent such a catch.

RULES.–It is considered a fair catch for any baseman including the captain if the ball be caught on a bound either from the floor ceiling or any other object or from hitting another player.

A ball that goes afield is secured by the guard standing nearest the point where it left the circle. He puts it in play from the point in the circle where it went out.

Other rules are indicated under “Fouls.”

FOULS.–It is a foul (1) to kick the ball (2) to run with the ball (3) for a guard to step over the dividing line or inside one of the bases (4) for a baseman to step outside of his own base even with one foot (5) to hand the ball instead of tossing (6) to snatch or bat the ball from an opponents hands (7) to hold the ball longer than time enough to turn around quickly or three seconds.

One point is scored by the opponents whenever a foul is made and the ball is then put in play again from the center.

SCORE.–One point is scored for a team every time a baseman catches the ball from another baseman of the same team.

Two points are scored for a team every time its captain makes a fair catch whether the ball has gone around his circle or not and whether the ball was thrown by one of his basemen or one of his guards on the opposite side of the field. Three points are scored if the ball reaches two different basemen and the captain successively whether in regular rotation around the circle or not.

Four points are scored if the ball reaches three different basemen and the captain successively whether in regular rotation around the circle or not. Five points are scored whenever the ball passes entirely around the circle on one side in regular rotation of basemen whether the start and finish of that circle be with the captain or some other baseman. Each foul scores one for the opposing team as described under “Fouls.” After the captain catches the ball no further points may be scored on it in that play and it then goes back to the center to be put again in play.

The players are divided into two equal parties one of which personate defenders and take their places in the barn with the doors and windows open. The other party are the besiegers and are stationed outside the barn. The fighting is done by means of weeds specially prepared for the purpose. The weeds commonly called redroot or iron-weed are very good for this. The stems measuring about a foot and a half in length are stripped except for a small leaf or tuft of leaves at one end. On the opposite end the root is cut away so as to leave only a small knob which will serve to weight the missile.

The game opens with each party provided with a pile of this ammunition which is thrown at the opponents through the doors and windows of the barn. A player hit once with a dart is considered “wounded ” but may keep on playing. A player hit twice is “killed ” and is out of the game. Each party must keep within its own bounds.

The party wins which has the fewest killed at the end of the game. This was a favorite game with a group of Long Island boys from one of whom the author obtained it.