SECOND POSITION,

Bend the right arm as high as the elbow, and at the same time bring it across the body; take hold of the foil, thumb stretched along the convex, In this movement the body must be kept quite steady, shoulders square, eyes front, head up without appearing stiff, knees perfectly straight," waist in. (Plate I., Fig. 2.)

THIRD POSITION,

Raise both hands above the head, holding the button of the foil with the thumb and first finger of the left hand, turn your eyes to the right, so as to see your opponent full in the face. (Plate I., Fig. 3.)

MANNER OF HOLDING THE FOIL IN HAND.

Let the concave of the handle rest in the palm of the hand, the thumb stretched along the convex, the first finger about half an inch in advance of the thumb; the foil should only be held firm in the hand when parrying or thrusting, otherwise the fingers and thumb will get stiff from grasping it too Jong.

PLATE II.

ON GUARD IN CARTE.

Bend both knees together until they are in a perpendicular line with the toes; step out with the right foot in a direct line from the left ankle, about twenty-two inches or more, according to the length of the legs; keep the left arm up and bent, so as to form a half-circle, as high as the head, palm of the hand turned towards the left face; keep the body upright, the weight to be kept equally on both legs; bring the point of the foil down to the height of your adversary's left eye; this is the engage of carte; arm bent and the elbow drawn inwards, the hand as high as the centre of the chest. (Plate II.)

THE HALF-LONGE.

I. Straighten the right arm without moving the body, point of the foil as high as the chest of an opponent, hand as high as your face.

2. Throw the left hand backwards, at the same time press the shoulder well back, palm of the left hand to the front, about four inches from the thigh.

3. Straighten the left knee and incline the weight of the body forward on the right, without moving the foot from the ground.

1. Bend the left knee.

TO RECOVER.

2. Throw the left arm upwards to the position of the guard, bear the weight of the body again equally on both knees, right arm bent, elbow turned inwards; stand firm on guard without appearing stiff; head held easy and upright.

PLATE III.

THE LONGE.

1. Extend the right arm, direct the point of your foil to the height of your chest, longe in carte, looking over the right arm, the hand as high as your face. 2. Throw the left hand backwards to within four inches of the left thigh, palm of the hand to the front; press the shoulders well back.

3. Straighten the left knee and keep the foot flat on the ground.

4. Longe forward in a direct line from the left ankle, about forty inches or more, according to the length of the limbs, until the right knee is in a vertical line with the instep, toes turned out.

These four motions should be repeated often, so as to give freedom of action to all the joints.

HOW TO RECOVER GUARD.

1. Bend the left knee back.

2. Throw the left hand upwards to the position of the guard, palm of the hand turned inwards towards the left face, arm bent,

3. Bring the right foot up to the guard, supporting the weight of the body equally on both knees.

4. Bend the right arm, nails upwards, point opposite the face, hand as high as the chest, elbow rather inwards, head kept up. The groundwork of fencing depends on the attention given to all those preceding movements of the body.

THE ASSEMBLE OR FINISH.

This is done by beating twice with the flat of the right foot on the ground, without moving the body; secondly, bring the left foot up to the right heel; thirdly, bring the right hand under the chin, dropping the left hand to the side at the same time; fourthly, straighten the right arm to the right side as low as the knees, knuckles downwards.

HOW TO ADVANCE.

Being on guard, take one step forward with the right foot, about twelve inches, bring up the left foot directly, keeping the same distance between both feet, as if making one movement with both; the knees equally bent, the body held upright, eyes fixed on the opponent or object in front.

HOW TO RETIRE.

Take one pace back with the left foot, bringing the right foot up immediately, at the same time beat once with the flat of the right foot firmly on the ground. The distance in walking backwards should be longer than the advancing by two or three inches, taking care that the weight of the body is kept equally on both feet; the left breast should be turned slightly towards the adversary. Having practised these movements frequently, finish by beating twice with the right foot, bringing up the left foot, and right hand under the chin, lastly straightening the right arm on the right side.

PLATE IV.

THE ENGAGE OF CARTE.

Inside guard high.-Being engaged in carte with an adversary, turn the

nails upwards, cross foils about nine inches from the button: this half of the foil is called the foible, from being the next part to the end; the other half is termed the forte or part next the hilt: oppose the opponent's foil sufficiently to prevent him from touching you in the engage, keep the right arm bent inwards, point of your foil opposite your adversary's face, right arm as high as your chest.

The straight thrust. If your opponent does not cover himself in the engage, straighten your arm, lower the point to his chest, longe in carte, looking over the right arm, hand as high as the face, recover, and engage in carte, crossing foils as before.

THE ENGAGE OF TIERCE.

Outside guard high.-This being the opposite guard to carte, it only differs from it in the position of the hand, nails of which are turned downwards. Engaged in tierce, join foils as in carte; if your adversary is not well covered

PLATE V.

in the engage, straighten your right arm by lowering the point to his chest, longe in tierce, looking inside the arm, shoulders pressed well back, left foot firm on the ground, left knee straight, the body not thrown forward but rather upright; recover in tierce.

THE GUARD OF HALF-CIRCLE.

Inside guard low. - The half-circle guard is generally used against the thrust of second and low carte. The guard is generally taken in the following manner: raise the hand as high as the left shoulder, nails upwards, the elbow turned well in towards the body, the foil to be held firm in hand, and opposed to your adversary, the point as low as your opponent's waist. If an opening should occur, raise the point and return carte.

PLATE VI.

THE GUARD OF OCTAVE.

Outside guard low. - The guard of octave is the opposite guard to the halfcircle, and is used against the thrust of octave; it also prevents the adversary from counter disengaging. Raise the hand as high as your chest, keep the point as high as the lower part of the opponent's chest. This is a very useful parry in returning the thrust of low carte.

PLATE VII.

THE DISENGAGE FROM CARTE.

If your adversary presses your foil, lower your point to within about two or