y to get a slap at the craw.
But, before beginning, the guard of the craw must cry out:--

Ane, twa, three--my craw's free.

And the first whom he strikes becomes craw, the former craw then
becoming guard. When the guard wants respite, he must cry:--

Ane, twa, three--my craw's no free.

* * * * *

"~Neevie-neevie-nick-nack.~"--A lottery game, and confined to boys, is
of simple movement, but convenient in this--that only two players are
required. They stand facing each other, the leader whirling his two
closed fists, one containing a prize, the other empty, while he cajoles
his opponent with the rhyme--

Neevie-neevie-nick-nack,
Whilk hand will ye tak'--
The richt are or the wrang,
I'll beguile ye gin I can?

If he guesses correctly, he gains the prize. If he misses, he has to
equal the stake. Until success falls to the second, the original player
continues the lead.

* * * * *

"~Blind Man's Buff~," though not a rhyme-game, is yet so well known it
is worth mentioning for the mere purpose of telling its story. Like many
more such--if we only knew how--it is based on fact. It is of French
origin, and of very great antiquity, having been introduced into Britain
in the train of the Norman conquerors. Its French name, "Colin
Maillard," was that of a brave warrior, the memory of whose exploits
still lives in the chronicles of the Middle Ages.

In the year 999 Liege reckoned among its valiant chiefs one Jean Colin.
He acquired the name Maillard from his chosen weapon being a mallet,
wherewith in battle he used literally to crush his opponents.

In one of the feuds which were of perpetual recurrence in those times,
he encountered the Count de Lourain in a pitched battle, and--so runs
the story--in the first onset Colin Maillard lost both his eyes.

He ordered his esquire to take him into the thickest of the fight, and,
furiously brandishing his mallet, did such fearful execution that
victory soon declared itself for him.

When Robert of France heard of these feats of arms, he lavished favour
and honours upon Colin, and so great was the fame of the exploit that it
was commemorated in the pantomimic representations that formed part of
the rude dramatic performances of the age. By degrees the children
learned to act it for themselves, and it took the form of a familiar
sport.

The blindfold pursuer, as with bandaged eyes and extended hand