hem this injustice.
His Majesty, I dare to say, has no braver, no more gallant
subjects, than the inhabitants of East and West Looe; and if, or
when, you choose to invade us you may count on a determined
resistance and, at its conclusion, on a hearty invitation to
supper, or breakfast, as the length of the operations may
dictate.--I am, yours truly,"
"Aen. Pond (_Capt_. E. and W.L.V.A.)."

"P.S.--If you will accept a suggestion, it is that on the night
of the 30th of April, or in the early hours of May morning,
large numbers of our inhabitants fare out to the neighbouring
farmhouses to eat cream and observe other unwholesome but
primitive and interesting ceremonies before day-break.
A similar custom, I hear, prevails at Troy. Now it occurs to me
that if we agreed upon that date for our surprise attack, we
should, so to speak, be killing two birds with one stone, and at
a season when the night air in some degree loses its
insalubrity.

"P.P.S.--You will, of course, take care--it is the essence of our
agreement--that all ammunition shall be strictly blank.
And pray bring your full band. Though superfluous before and
during the surprise, their strains will greatly enhance the
subsequent festivities."

Thus did Captain Pond accept our challenge. The Major acknowledged
its acceptance in the following brief note:

"My dear Pond,--Your letter has highly gratified me.
Between this and April 30th I will make occasion to meet you and
arrange details. Meanwhile, could you discover and send the
correct words and tune of an old song I remember hearing sung,
when I was a boy, in honour of your town? It was called, I
think, 'The George of Looe'; and if between this and then our
musicians learnt to play it, I daresay your men would appreciate
the compliment from their (temporary) foes.--Yours truly,"
"Sol. Hymen (_Major_)."

But this was before our Vicar's announcement of the Millennium.

Captain Pond promised to obtain, if possible, the words and music of
the old song. "Courtesies such as yours," he wrote, "refine the
spirit, while they mitigate the ferocity, of warfare."

CHAPTER V.

INTERFERENCE OF A GUERNSEY MERCHANT.

A smaller man than Major Hymen--I allude to character rather than to
stature--had undoubtedly pos