0 to 30 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium; parlor._

One player is chosen to be bear, and sits in the center on a stool.
The bear chooses a second player to be his keeper. The keeper stands
by the bear, each of them holding an end of a short rope about two
feet in length and knotted at either end to give a firm hold. The rest
of the players stand around in a circle inclosing these two. The
object of the players is to tag (baste or buffet) the bear, without
themselves being tagged by the bear or his keeper. The players may
only attack the bear when the keeper calls "My bear is free!" Should a
player strike at the bear before the keeper says this, they change
places, the striker becomes bear, the former bear becomes the keeper,
and the keeper returns to the ring. The keeper does his best to
protect his bear by dodging around him on all sides to prevent the
attacks of the players who dodge in from the circle to hit him.
Should the keeper or bear tag any player, the same exchange is made;
that is, the player tagged becomes bear, the former bear the keeper,
and the keeper returns to the ring.

Should a rope not be conveniently at hand, the game may be played in
any of the three following ways: (1) by the bear and his keeper
clasping hands; (2) a circle may be drawn around the bear beyond which
the keeper may not go; (3) the keeper may be subjected to the general
rule of not going more than two steps away from the bear in any
direction.

Where there are more than thirty players, two or more rings should be
formed, each having its own bear and keeper.

This is an old game, popular in many countries. It contains
excellent sport, with opportunity for daring, narrow escapes,
and much laughter.

BEAR IN THE PIT

_10 to 30 players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

A bear pit is formed by the players joining hands in a circle with one
in the center as the bear. The bear tries to get out by breaking apart
the bars (clasped hands), or by going over or under these barriers.
Should he escape, all of the other players give chase, the one
catching him becoming bear.

This is a favorite game with boys, and is not so rough a game as Bull
in the Ring, the means of escape for the bear being more varied. He
can exercise considerable stratagem by appearing to break through the
bars in one place, and suddenly turning and crawling under another,
etc.

BEND AND STRETCH RELAY

_10 to 60 players._

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