Page:Lacrosse- The National Game of Canada (New Edition).djvu/231

208 “Twelve” on a hard-fought field successful. It would be like holding a reserve of skirmishers in check until the advance were all cut off. In the chapter on “,” to show the necessity for goal-keeper sometimes leaving his place; in describing the duties of Home, Point and Cover-point in the present chapter, we have also attempted to prove the same necessity in their cases. It may be well to illustrate this point more fully in its individual and collective bearings, as recognized both in Indian and pale-face play.

The men chosen for the several particular points are their legitimate possessors, with prescriptive right at proper times to move out or in, or dash down the field; but the vicinity they occupy should seldom be left vacant. If Point utterly forsakes his port, Cover-point or a near fielder should retreat to the vicinity; if Cover-point leaves, an adjacent fielder should take his place. The fielders nearest at any time to the special points, are always their supposed supports, and should relieve and support them when necessary.

The number of men on each side influences the