PRINCE MORDGE. 247 



CHAPTER II. 



A GAME we were fond of playing was tins. A bit of 

 stick or stone was chosen, lots cast to determine who 

 was to carry it first, and (that point settled) the in- 

 dividual so distinguished was allowed a fair start, and 

 then whoever could catch him won a point. It was of 

 course considered a triumph to be the first who laid 

 hands on the "game," and whoever did so took his 

 place. If the pursued was clever at doubling and 

 dodging, he could give us a long chase up and down, 

 round and round the prescribed bounds. 



Slop seldom refused to join in this game, when 

 judiciously requested to assist. He might easily have 

 run down the swiftest of us, but he never did until he 

 considered the " run " had passed reasonable bounds. 



Then he would run up and catch the " game." 



As soon as he did so there would be a shout of, 

 " Now, Slop, it is your turn ; " and Slop would take the 

 stick and make off as the others had done. 



Such rare runs as he gave us ! Letting us come so 

 near that our hands were almost on him, then with a 

 quick bound leaving us far behind. 



Sometimes he would trot slowly ahead, so that we 

 felt sure he was tired, and to be easily caught; but 

 when we had almost encircled him, and were excitedly 

 calling to each other that he could not escape. Slop 

 would slip through us like an eel. 



Once when he was beset on every hand he took a 



