Always remember, when guarding points, to do so with that portion of the staff which lies between your hands. This portion really corresponds with the "forte" of a sword or stick. If you have learned fencing with the foils it will be of the greatest possible advantage to you, for you will then understand how slight an effort brought to bear on the foible of your opponent's staff--in this case it will be somewhere within two feet of the end--will suffice to turn aside the most vigorous thrust. [Illustration: Fig. 9.--Second hit.] It may not be out of place to add that any man who has gone through any sort of apprenticeship in fencing--either with foils or single-sticks--will not fail, when a quarter-staff is put into his hands, to know what to do with his weapon. He may, at first, feel awkward, and the length of the staff may hamper him and its weight fatigue him, but he will, with his knowledge of general principles, very soon get into the work and enjoy it. [Illustration: Fig. 10.--Point.] Though the staves used are often made of light bamboo cane, one may get very severe hits and prods, so it is as well, before engaging in an encounter, to have (_a_) a good mask, such as broad-swordsmen wear; (_b_) a thick jacket of stout leather, with a high collar; (_c_) boxing-gloves on both hands; (_d_) a good pad for the middle of the body, from waist to knee; and (_e_) cricket pads for both legs, which are apt to come in for nasty jars on or about the knee. Never _on any account try to dispense with the pads_--they may save you from permanent injury; and do they not add to your good health by promoting a beneficial opening of the sweat-glands? In quarter-staff, as in stick-play, broad-sword exercise, fencing, etc., it is better to sink down with the knees bent, for in this position you present a smaller area for your opponent to strike at than you do when quite erect. In leading off it is better to slide the hand which is at M or N (see Fig. 11) down to the hand which is at D or B; you then gain several feet of reach added to your lunge out; only be careful to recover quickly, and get the hand you have thus moved back to its former position. Advancing and retreating are effected much in the same way as in bayonet exercise; viz. for the advance, move the left foot swiftly forward in the direction of your opponent for a distance of, say, eighteen inches or two feet, following this up with the right foot _for the same distance_, so that the same relative positions are maintained; for the retreat, move the right foot back the required distance and follow up with the left foot.