“High port.” In this position the hands hold the rifle as in guard; the left wrist level with, and directly in front of, the left shoulder; the right hand above the right groin and on level with the belt. When jumping ditches, surmounting obstacles, etc., this position of the rifle should be approximately maintained with the left hand alone, leaving the right hand free. [Illustration: PLATE I.--“GUARD.”] Being in the position of _guard_, to execute “long thrust,” grasp the rifle firmly, vigorously deliver the thrust to the full extent of the left arm, butt running alongside and kept close to the right forearm; body inclined forward; left knee well bent; right leg braced, and weight of the body pressed well forward, with the fore part of the right foot, heel raised. The chief power in a thrust is derived from the right arm with the weight of the body behind it, the left arm being used more to direct the point of the bayonet. The eye must be fixed on the object thrust at. In making thrusts other than straight to the front, the left foot should move in the same direction as that in which the thrust is made. During the later stages of this lesson the men should be practised in stepping forward with the rear foot when delivering the thrust. COMMON FAULTS. 1. Rifle drawn back before delivering the thrust. 2. Butt of the rifle held as high as or against the right shoulder. 3. The eyes not directed on the object. 4. Left knee not sufficiently bent. 5. Body not thrust sufficiently forward. REMARKS. The “long thrust” is made against an opponent at a range of about four to five feet from the attacker’s eye. To withdraw the bayonet after a long thrust has been delivered, draw the rifle straight back until the right hand is well behind the hip and immediately resume the guard. If the leverage or proximity to the object transfixed renders it necessary, the left hand must first be slipped up close to the stacking swivel and, when a pupil has reached that stage of delivering a thrust while advancing on a dummy, he will adopt this method. After every thrust a rapid “withdrawal,” essential to quick work with the bayonet, should be practised before returning to the guard. PROGRESSION. First Practice: [Illustration: PLATE II.--“LONG THRUST.”] Men should always be made to thrust at a target, _e.g._, at a named part of the body of the opposite man--“At the right eye; thrust, withdraw.” Oblique thrust should be practised by thrusting at the men to the right or left fronts. [Illustration: PLATE III.--“WITHDRAWAL.”] As progress is attained, the pause between the thrust and the withdrawal should be shortened, until the men reach the stage when they withdraw and come to guard directly after making the thrust, judging their own time. They should be taught to thrust at two or more parts of the body. To practise action against a retreating foe, first show the position of the kidneys (small of back, either side of the spine).