The Traditional Children's Games of England Scotland
& Ireland In Dictionary Form - Volume 2

With Tunes(sheet music), Singing-rhymes(lyrics), Methods Of Playing with diagrams and illustrations.

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	44	PITCH AND TOSS
	and had no choice but to lie. F followed in the same way. These being all the players, A threw again, and though his second might have been worse than his first, he has to lie like the others. B and C followed. All the pitchers have been thrown, and are lying round the mark, in the following order of proximity—for that regulates the subsequent play—B's is nearest, then D's follows, in order by A, C, F, E. B takes the pitchers, and piles them up one above the other, and tosses them into the air. Three (let us say) fall head up, D's, A's, and F's. These three B keeps in his hand. D, who was next nearest the mark, takes the three remaining pitchers, and in the same manner tosses them into the air. B's and C's fall head up, and are retained by D. A, who comes third, takes the remaining pitcher, E's, and throws it up. If it falls a head he keeps it, and the game is finished except the reckon­ing ; if it falls a tail it passes on to the next player, C, who throws it up. If it fall a head he keeps it, if a tail, it is passed on to F, and from him to E, and on to B, till it turns up a head. Let us suppose that happens when F throws it up. The game is now finished, and the reckoning takes place— B has three pitchers, D's, A's, and F's. D ,, two          ,, B's and C's. F „ one          „ E's. A,  C, and E have none. Strictly speaking, D, A, and F should each pay a button to B.     B and C should each pay one to D. E should pay one to F. But in practice it was simpler, F holding one pitcher had, in the language of the game, "freed himself." D had "freed himself," and was in addition one to the good. B had " freed himself," and was two to the good. A, C, and E, not having " freed themselves," were liable for the one D had won and the two B had won, and settled with D and B, without regard to the actual hand that held the respective pitchers. It simpli­fied the reckoning, though theoretically the reckoning should have followed the more roundabout method. Afterwards the game was begun de novo. E, who was last, having first pitch —the advantage of that place being meant to compensate him