_Four._--Cut horizontally from left to right, and come to the "Engaging Guard" (_vide_ Fig. 22). THE FOUR GUARDS. _First._--Raise the hand smartly above the head, and a little in advance of it, the point of the sword lowered to the left front, edge upwards. _Second._--Draw back the elbow to the right, and bring the sword to a diagonal position, covering the right cheek and shoulder, point upwards, inclining to the left, edge to the right. _Third._--Bring the hand across the body towards the left shoulder, edge of the sword to the left, point down and inclining to the front. _Fourth._--Square the upper arm with the shoulder, the forearm to be in front line with the elbow, and wrist slightly below it, point of the sword inclined to the front, edge to the right. _Engage._--As before. POINTS AND PARRIES. _First._--With a quick motion, direct the point to the front by extending the arm, the arm moving in a straight line to the front of the "First Guard" position, and without altering the direction of the edge. _Parry._--Brace up the arm quickly and parry upwards by forming "First Guard." _Second._--Deliver the point quickly by extending the arm and sword to the front. _Parry._--Draw back the arm and parry to the right, by forming "Second Guard." _Third._--Lowering the point, extend the arm. _Parry._--Draw back the arm, and parry to the left by forming "Third Guard." _Fourth._--Raise the point and deliver the thrust. _Parry._--Parry downwards to the right by forming "Fourth Guard." It will be worth the reader's while to compare carefully the preceding four cuts and points and their guards and parries, with the earlier exercises, the description of which commences on p. 37. It will be seen that the third and fifth guards (old style) are merged in one, that the fourth and sixth are also merged in one, and the first guard--the old guard in quarte--is dispensed with altogether, and its place taken by a low hanging guard, which is a variation of the old seventh guard, formed with the hand held rather more to the left. It will also be observed that the parries for the points are also very different. My advice is, "Learn in the old style and then glean all you can from the new." EXTENSION MOTIONS. It is a good plan to practise the following movements every morning before beginning the sword exercises. To avoid confusion they are here given as in the little Manual on the Infantry Sword; they are effected without any accessories, and you commence by being in the position of "Attention," _i.e._ stand with the heels close together at an angle of about sixty degrees, arms hanging down by the sides, chest expanded, back straight, shoulders back, and head well up. FIRST EXTENSION MOTIONS.