"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 postponed a military manoeuvre on finding it
likely to clash with the Millennium, an event so incalculable and
conceivably so disconcerting to the best-laid plans: and, indeed, for
something like forty-eight hours the Major was in two minds about
writing to Captain Pond and hinting at a postponement.
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