"Did you ever imagine anything like that ?" "The result of ten years in the regular army," said the major.
"It's almost worth it," answered Barry.
Arriving at the bayonet-fighting ground, the little sergeant major put the squad through their manual as if they had been recruits, to a running comment of biting pleasantries.

After bringing them to attention, he walked slowly down the line, then back again, and remarked after due deliberation: "I have seen worse--not often--" Then, in a tone of resignation, he gave the order: "Stan-a-yeh!!!" The men "stood at ease," and then "stood easy." "Now, then," said the major, "we'll steal in on him, if we can." They moved forward toward the little sergeant major, who remained studying the opposite horizon in calm abstraction until their toes had reached a certain line, when, like the crack of a whip, there came once more the long-drawn cry with its explosive termination: "Ye-a-ou-w!--Yun!!!" with the result that the line was again thrown into instantaneous, breathless and motionless rigidity.
Toward the advancing officers the sergeant major threw himself into a salute with one smooth, unbroken movement of indescribable grace and finish.
"Good morning, sergeant major," said Major Bayne.

"Captain Dunbar, this is Sergeant Major Hackett." Again came the salute, with a barely perceptible diminution of snap, as befitted a less formal occasion.
"Sergeant major," said Barry, "I would give a great deal to be able to do that." "Wot's that, sir ?" enquired the sergeant major.
"That salute of yours." "Quite easy wen you knaow 'ow!" permitting himself a slight smile.
"You are doing some bayonet-fighting, I see, sergeant major," said Major Bayne.
"Yes, sir, goin' to do a bit, sir," replied the sergeant major.
"Very well, carry on!" And the sergeant major "carried on," putting into his work and into his every movement and utterance an unbelievable amount of concentrated and even vicious energy.
On the bayonet-fighting ground, the first line of the enemy was represented by sacks stuffed with straw, hung upon a frame, the second by stuffed sacks deposited on the parapet of a trench.

In bayonet-fighting the three points demanding special emphasis are the "guarding" of the enemy's attack, a swift bayonet thrust and an equally swift recovery, each operation, whether in case of a living enemy or in the stuffed effigy, being attended with considerable difficulty.

Barry was much interested in the psychological element introduced into the exercises by the drill master.
"You must halways keep in mind that the henemy is before you.