An ancient painting represents this game. Cupids are playing together. One of these, with his face turned away, has his hands before his eyes, and appears to be counting. Another is running to a place of concealment, while a third peeps from behind the door. Children, with us, usually count a hundred before beginning the search; but there is an abbreviated method, not accounted fair-- Ten, ten, and double ten, Forty-five and fifteen. The "home" is usually a tree. When the seeker catches sight of any of the players, he (or she) runs to the tree, and touches it thrice, saying, "One, two, three, for----" (naming the child). On the other hand, if the latter can reach the tree first, he touches it, saying, "One, two, three, for myself."[103] In a variety of the game, a stick is set up against a tree. One of the players seizes it, and throws it as far as possible. The children hide, while the one who happens to be "it" gets and replaces the stick, after which he proceeds to look for the rest. Those whom he discovers he captures as above described, until all are taken. If any of the hiders can reach the tree and throw down the stick, all prisoners are released, and the seeker must begin over again. A similar game, in New York, is called "Yards off." "Hide and Seek" differs only in this, that there is no home to be touched, but the game is ended when the concealment is discovered. When the players are hidden they announce it by "whooping." No. 106. _Sheep and Wolf._ This is a very ancient hiding-game. A wolf is chosen by "counting out" or otherwise, who conceals himself, and then indicates that he is ready by howling. The rest of the party, who are supposed to be sheep, walk round the corner in a casual way, until one calls out, "I spy a wolf," whereupon all immediately take to their heels. Whoever is caught by the wolf before reaching home must take his place for the next turn. This game is nearly identical in most European countries. _New York._ No. 107. _Blank and Ladder._ A boy is selected by the following peculiar counting rhyme: In came a little man with a white hat; If you want a pretty girl, pray take that; Take your choice of one, two, or three, If you want a pretty girl, pray take she. Lad after lad being successively excluded, the last remaining is "it," and has to hide himself, when he calls out, Blank and ladder! The searcher may summon the fugitive to indicate his whereabouts: Halloo if you're far off, whistle if you're nigh. _Salem, Mass._ In Portland, Me., the shout of the concealed party is, "Blank, blank, Cornelia!" and in the western part of the State of New York, "Blancalilo!" The searcher, on discovering one of the hidden players, calls "Hi spy!" and tries to touch the latter before he can reach goal, the rule being that Elbow and knee Always go free.