A Genius at the Chalet School by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer

That means cross-legged and right down on the floor. There are eight bags for each ring, so everyone will have a turn at bringing the bag and beginning the tossing. The ring who first brings me the last bag wins. Got your bags, Bess and Hilda? Then begin - NOW!"
   The fun began. The bags went whirling round the rings and Mary Yates, the last in Nina's ring, was up half a second before Vi Lucy and tearing up the length of the gym to toss the bag to Miss Burnett, grab the second one, come racing back and sit down. However, Vi gained time by crossing her legs and dropping to the ground that way so that the new bags started the round together. By the time it came to Nina's turn, she had grasped what was wanted and she was on her feet and flying down to the mistress before Rosemary King had sprung up. Back came Nina, full tilt, moving Hilary to mutter to Lesley Malcolm who was next to her, "Some sprinter!" She dropped into her place, feet crossed, and the bag went on its journey before Rosemary could sit down. Thanks to this, Hilda's side won by one second and the other ring clapped them vigorously.
   "Leapfrog to wind up," Miss Burnett decided. "That ought to shake all the fidgets out of you! Round the room, and mind you space out evenly. Mary-Lou, show Nina what to do. And remember, girls; you only touch the back of the girl you are leaping over. Don't press with all your weight. Hilda, be careful! People being leaped over, remember to keep your heads down."
   Mary-Lou took over Nina in her usual capable manner. "Stand here," she said. "Stoop down and grip your ankles - or as near them as you can get. No; keep your feet apart a little to get a firm stance. Now, you're the last, so you'll jump last. When we do it in the garden, of course, we start off as soon as we've been jumped but we can't do that here. Grass is soft to fall on and wood isn't. Now to you quite understand?"
   Nina said she did and Mary-Lou went off to her own place while Bess got ready to do the round. The new girl gasped as she saw long-legged Bess leap lightly over girl after girl in her run around the room. Then the form prefect was coming up to her, so she remembered what Miss Burnett had said and tucked her head in. A minute later there was the light touch of hands on her back and Bess was over and running to stand further along, bent down for Mary-Lou to follow her example.
   All went well with the first seven and Nina was enjoying the fun. Then Hilda Jukes came. Now Hilda was a big creature, kind, pleasant and very well-meaning, but as heedless a girl as you could find anywhere. Miss Burnett warned her once more about not bearing with her whole weight on the bent backs and started her off. Hilda remembered most of the way round. Then she came to Vi, who was behind Nina. In her excitement, she forgot and if Vi had not been prepared, she would have been bowled over. As it was, she just managed to keep her balance. Nina, new to the game, was not prepared at all. Hilda clamped a pair of big hands firmly on her, bore down and leapt. Nina gave way and the pair of them rolled over, Nina undermost.
   Miss Burnett rushed to the spot at once and hauled Hilda off with more speed than gentleness. Then she bent over the new girl who was sitting up holding her left wrist with the other hand and biting her lips to keep from crying out with the pain. Somehow, she had bent the wrist under her and Hilda's weight on top had done the mischief.
   The mistress examined the injured wrist gently but thoroughly, while Hilda, having come to her senses, stood gasping out apologies.
   "Shut up, ass!" Mary-Lou said, hushing her. "Shall I get Nina some water, Miss Burnett?"
   "Yes - do," Miss Burnett replied. "No, Nina, no bones broken, but you've given that wrist a nasty wrench. You must go to Nurse and she'll bandage it for you and give you a sling to rest it. It'll be all right in a day or two. Thank you, Mary-Lou!" as that young woman brought the water.