towards the direction from which your antagonist is approaching, if he approaches from either side; if from the immediate front, cover with the reverse side to which you play. When a rush is made for it, depress the handle of your crosse so as to bring it almost level with the ball, holding it down stiff so as to secure it. Your antagonist, if running at any speed, will make an attempt to pick up under your crosse, but the instant he attempts it, depress your stick, and the probability is that his will slide over yours, and before he can recover you can pick up without opposition. The crosse must be first kept as seen in the illustration, to deceive your opponent and invite him to thrust at the ball; and must afterwards be depressed to secure it, and to occasion the slide of your opponent's crosse. Neither movement must be done too soon, lest he has time to calculate and draw up; nor too late, lest you are prevented covering the ball. Sometimes, though a player cannot stop suddenly enough, he will make a strike at your crosse as he is passing, and generally just at your lower grasp. In such a case, draw your left hand away when you see the stroke coming, keeping the stick down firm with the right.
