How did the "Marco Polo" game, where one child says "Marco" and another responds with "Polo", come about?

Some children's games depict dark events (such as "Ring around the Rosy" which drew it's origins from the Black Plauge). My theory is that Marco Polo is a game that reinacts the return voyage of Marco Polo. The voyage involved a fleet of ships and a large number of voyagers. When Marco Polo finally did return, over 600 of his travel companions were missing. My theory is that the fleet was caught in a great storm that destroyed many of the ships and left the crew and passengers in the ocean. Hoping to be found, they yell for the expedition leader. Visibility is very low (hence the closed eyes) and Marco Polo tries desparately to find the swimmers (hence the pool). The yells come from all around which adds to the confusion. The game ends when he finally connects with one player which portrays the small percentage of people that survived the voyage.