This very lively game is played by both boys and girls, and the more,
of course, the merrier. The hunter must be a boy, and to decide which
boy, it is best to count out. Use for counting the old rhyme,
Ana, mana, mona, mike,
Bassa, lona, bona, strike,
Hare, ware, frown, stack,
Halloka, balloka, wee, woe, why, whack.
Whoever is fortunate enough to have the word “whack” counted to him is
out, and then the rhyme must be repeated over and over, and finally the
hunter is left. It now becomes his duty to name the rest of the company
as his equipments as sportsman, and also as his game; for example,
pointer, setter—two species of hunting dogs—and shot, belt, powder,
gun, powder-flask, rifle, cartridge, rabbit, squirrel, partridge,
kingfisher, etc., etc.
Put two rows of chairs back to back. There should be one chair less
than there are players. This done, each one of the company except the
hunter takes a chair. The hunter, standing before the rest of the
players, then sings, to the tune of “I Love a Sixpence,”
I am a hunter, a jolly, jolly hunter;
I love hunting as I love my life.
This he may sing over as many times as he likes, but finally stops
short in the middle or anywhere, and immediately calls out a name—for
instance, “Shot.” The person bearing this name must at once rise, and
hurrying towards the hunter, must take hold of the back of his coat or
jacket. Then the hunter continues his song, and calls for each one,
until all are behind him, each holding firmly to the one in front. When
all are in place, the hunter starts running, all of the party following
and holding tightly together. He may run around the chairs or wherever
he pleases, provided he keeps in the room. For fully two minutes this
must keep up, when suddenly he will call, “Bang!” and instantly sit on
one of the chairs. Of course there is a great scramble for every one to
do likewise, but as one chair is short, some one is necessarily left
out, and this person now becomes the hunter.
The game now continues as before, or it may be varied by the hunter
having to find something hidden.
Any object may be placed out of sight in the room, and when the hunter
nears it, the company may aid him by the usual words, “warm, warmer,
hot,” or “cool, very cold, freezing, zero, below zero,” etc. If he
finds it within five minutes, he may choose another hunter, but if not
he must pay a forfeit, to be determined by the rest of the players.
Or the game may be played in a similar way by the use of nautical
instead of hunting terms. Should this be preferred, the hunter becomes
the captain, and instead of singing to his company he may blow a few
blasts on a horn. He is supposed to be on shipboard, so he must have
ship equipment, crew, officers, passengers, cargo. Again the players
must be named, only this time call them lifeboat, rope, anchor, sailor,
steward, captain’s boy, purser, first-mate, doctor, etc.