CHAPTER IV.
HOW THE TROY GALLANTS CHALLENGED THE LOOE DIEHARDS.
That it was the Major's idea goes without saying.

At Looe they had neither the originality for it nor the enterprise.
I have already told you with what sardonic emphasis he quoted the saying that 'twas hardly worth while for Great Britain to go to war merely to prove that she could put herself in a good posture for defence.

The main secret of strategy, he would add, is to impose your idea of the campaign on your enemy; to take the initiative out of his hands; to throw him on the defensive and keep him nervously speculating what move of yours may be a feint and what a real attack.
If the Ministry had given the Major his head, so to speak, Agincourt at least might have been repeated.
But since it enforced him to wait on the enemy's movements, at least (said he) let us be sure that our defence is secure.

Concerning the Troy battery he had not a doubt; but over the defences of Looe he could not but feel perturbed.

To be sure, Looe's main battery stood out of reach of harm, but with the compensating disadvantage of being able to inflict none.