A tall man ought seldom or never to advance when attacking.

RETURNS.

Returns should be made with a longe with the greatest rapidity after guarding. Great care must be taken not to draw back the hand or point before making them.

They should, as a rule, be made direct, but may sometimes be preceded by a feint, and should be very much varied.

The best returns from the different guards are the following, placed in the order of their comparative merits, that is, the first is a better return than the second, and so on; but their application should depend a great deal on your adversary’s defence:—

From Guarding the Head.
Cutat the head.
Do.under the right arm.
Thrustat breast with palm down (tierce).
Cutat outside the leg.
Do.left breast.
Do.inside the leg.
From Guarding the Right Side under the Arm.
Cutat the head.
Thrustat the breast with palm down (tierce).
Cutunder right arm.
Do.on outside the leg.
Do.on left breast.
Do.on inside the leg.
From Guarding the Left Breast with the Point of the Sword down (Prime).