54 THEORY AND PRACTICE OF POLO. [Chap. II. 



up to him. As soon as the ball is past him, he can 

 gallop on the line of it, and he will then be in 

 possession. It is a great mistake for him to stand 

 too far away, and be obliged to wait standing still for 

 the ball to come up to him ; and he must be well on 

 the outside, so as to enable the Back to hit past 

 him without danger of being struck by the ball. 



When the opposing side is hitting out, he should 

 place himself facing his adversary's line, and on the 

 goal side of where the ball is placed (Figs. 23 and 24). 

 If they are hitting out near goal, he should be right in 

 front of his adversary's goal. There are two reasons 

 for this position : firstly, if his adversary hits the ball 

 across his own goal, he should be able to get to it first, 

 and prevent the opposing side getting a clear opening ; 

 and secondly, if it is hit out to the side, he will be 

 ready in front for his own side to pass to him. When 

 the opposing side is hitting out from between the goal 

 posts. No. 2 should place himself as in Fig. 27. 



DUTIES OF NO. 3. 



No. 3 is perhaps the busiest man on his side, 

 whether for attack or defence. In defence he must 

 never let the opposing No. 2 gallop loose ; because, if 

 he does so, and the opposing No. i rides his Back off. 

 No. 2 will have the chance of a clear run. It is No. 

 3's duty to attend to the carrying out of the rule that, 

 in defence, two opponents should never be allowed on 

 to the Back. In attack, and especially when very close 

 to goal, liberties in this respect are, of course, allowable. 

 In attack, it is No. 3's business to back up his No. 2, 

 and if necessary, to make both No. i and No. 2 clear 

 the way for him. He must be very quick, and, 



