SCIENTIFIC CROQUET. 301 



were restricted to two, with two balls each. But his 

 misery when as now and then happened he was 

 forced to serve as one of eight was really almost pitiable 

 to witness. But at last he hit upon an expedient, 

 which had the double advantage of quickly releasing 

 him from bondage, and minimising the chance of his 

 being again pressed to undergo a similar martyrdom; 

 and, ignoring his partners altogether, he would simply 

 run the round of the hoops at a single turn (which,, 

 with no less than seven balls to help him, he could 

 easily do), and then " peg out " and go away. After a 

 time this custom of his became notorious, the desired 

 result followed, and the detested eight- ball game was- 

 no longer inflicted upon him. 



Given what he considered as the proper require- 

 ments the heavy balls, narrow hoops, loaded mallet, 

 and lawn as true as a bowling-green his play wa& 

 wonderfully accurate, and he was especially good in his 

 management of the balls with a view to their future use. 

 Thus the next player would always find himself at the 

 far end of the ground, with nothing to aim at which 

 was not partially protected by a wire or a stake ; while 

 his own following ball was sure to be in position, with 

 the fourth ball in readiness to help it on. The game, 

 indeed, came with him to resemble billiards rather than 

 croquet, and he played it with his head quite as much 

 as with his hands. 



Of billiards itself, too, he was very fond, and sub- 

 scribed, while at Belvedere, to a small private club, so 

 as to be able to play a game whenever he could aflord 



