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



distant for them to accurately observe what happens ; 

 for it is impossible for both of them to keep pace 

 with the ball. 



In important matches a referee (see Hurlingham 

 Rule, No 4) may be appointed ; but his services 

 are really never required except to decide a knotty 

 point upon which the umpires have disagreed. 



HITTING OUT FROM BETWEEN THE GOAL POSTS, IN 

 CONSEQUENCE OF AN EXACTED PENALTY. 



When hitting out from between the goal posts, 

 the hitting out side should arrange themselves to 

 the best advantage, according to the direction in 

 which the hitter out means to send the ball (Fig. 27). 



Either Back or No. 3 will hit out, and which ever 

 of them makes the stroke, the other should follow 

 him up, in case of a miss-hit. The striker should 

 tell his No. r and No. 2 to which side he 

 intends to hit the ball ; for he should never hit it 

 down the centre of the ground. Nos. i and 2 should 

 have their ponies well in hand, about ten yards 

 behind the line, and should gallop up, when the 

 striker starts to gallop at the ball, so as to pass the 

 line at full speed a fraction of a second later than 

 the ball is struck. The Captain of the side will 

 make up his mind whether he hits the ball for No. i 

 or No. 2 to follow. In Fig. 27, No. i is shown 

 on the left, and No. 2 on the right ; but this entirely 

 depends on the Captain's wishes. 



The attacking side should divide themselves, so 

 that No. I and No. 2 are near the semi-circular line, 

 and No. 3 and Back farther out in the centre. It 

 is the duty of the opposing No. i to dash in and 



