FIFTH PRACTICE.

Word of
Command.		Front Rank.Rear Rank.
Draw swordsDraw swordsDraw swords
Inside guardInside guardInside guard
Outside guard Outside guardOutside guard
GuardHanging guardHanging guard
HeadSeventh cutSeventh guard
HeadSeventh guardSeventh cut
ArmSecond cut [at arm] Second guard
HeadSeventh guardSeventh cut
HeadSeventh cutSeventh guard
ArmSecond guardSecond cut [at arm]
HeadSeventh cutSeventh guard
HeadSeventh guardSeventh cut
Right sideSixth cutSixth guard
HeadSeventh guardSeventh cut
HeadSeventh cutSeventh guard
Right sideSixth guardSixth cut
GuardHanging guardHanging guard

This practice is capital exercise, and looks very imposing. All these practices ought to be so familiar that the words of command are not needed, the only word required being First, Second, or Third practices, as the case may be.

I can remember once, that two of my pupils had attained such a mastery of their weapons that we used often to go through the practice with real swords. On one occasion, we were acting a charade, and my eldest pupil and myself were enacting the part of two distinguished foreigners (country unknown) who were to get up a fight. So we began by a little quarrel, and finally drew our swords and set hard to work at the fifth practice, which we could do with extreme rapidity, and without the use of words of command. The spectators were horrified, and the ladies greatly alarmed; for there seems to be no particular order in that practice, and an inexperienced eye would certainly fancy that the combatants were in earnest.