As your adversary cuts at your leg, draw it quickly back and assume the first position shown in Plate [I]., and at the same time deliver a diagonal cut on his head or arm, with good opposition, so that should your adversary feint at your leg and cut at the head, the opposition will guard his attack. Be careful not to raise the hand in making the counter. This manœuvre may also be used against attacks made at the left breast.
PLATE XII.—SHIFTING THE LEG WHEN A MAN ATTACKS WITH HIS HAND BELOW THE SHOULDER, AND COUNTER ON THE ARM.
PLATE XII.
Shifting the Leg when a Man Attacks with his Hand Below the Shoulder, and Counter on the Arm.
The above manœuvre may be executed on any cut or thrust given with the hand below the shoulder, except that the counter should be aimed at the inside of the arm and the left foot moved back about eight inches before drawing up to the first position, so that you are out of distance.
The counter will act as a half circular parry should you not reach the arm.
The counter on the head or arm can also be given when a man returns at the leg after guarding his head. In this case you must recover in one movement from the longe to the first position, and at the same time deliver the counter.
It is much more difficult to recover from the longe than from the guard with sufficient quickness to avoid a return, but practice and good position on the longe will enable any one with good legs to accomplish it.
PLATE XIII.—A DRAW AND GUARD FOR SHIFTING THE LEG AND COUNTER ON THE HEAD OR ARM.