As is usual in the run of human affairs, some of the men made the thrust excellently, others indifferently, and some missed altogether.
"Rest," ordered the lieutenant, presently, and the men stood at ease in the platoon line.
"Some of you men do not get hold of this bayonet work as well as I could wish," Dick spoke up, all eyes turned on him.

"The man who learns his bayonet work thoroughly has a reasonably good chance of coming back from Europe alive.

The man who learns it indifferently has very little chance of seeing his native land at the close of the war.

Remember that.

Bayonet fighting is one of the things no American soldier can afford to be dull about.
Lieutenant Morris, if you will pick up a blob-stick we can show these men some of the value of swift work in the simpler thrusts and parries." Each armed with a blob-stick, captain and second lieutenant faced each other.