Suspend an orange by a piece of thin thread about four or five feet from
the ground. Place yourself with the right toes in a line with the
orange, then, with a very light touch of the sword near to the point,
cut the thread, and quickly turning the hand, divide the orange as it
falls.
The thread may be cut from right to left and the orange from left to
right, or _vice versâ_, whichever you find the handier. In both ways the
cuts must be very small and close.
For this and the following feats any light and handy sword will do. It
should not be very sharp except close to the point, so that you can cut
the thread with ease, and thus cause the orange to fall straight.
[Illustration: PLATE XXXIV.—CUTTING AN APPLE ON A MAN’S HAND.]
PLATE XXXIV.
TO CUT AN APPLE IN TWO ON A MAN’S HAND WITHOUT INJURING HIM.
This is called the “Napier Feat,” from the fact that it was done on Sir
Charles Napier’s hand when in India by a native swordsman.
It is very dangerous and difficult, and none but those who have great
command over a sword should attempt it.
The man who holds the apple should have good nerve, and should keep his
hand very steady. He must raise the palm of his hand as much as
possible, and, keeping the four fingers close together, bend them back.
The thumb must also be pressed back, and kept as far as possible from
the forefinger.
Place the apple on his palm, and standing so that your sword will pass
between his thumb and forefinger and point in the same direction,
deliver a downward cut without the slightest draw and with sufficient
force and no more than will cut the apple.
This is such a delicate and dangerous feat that whenever I have to do it
I practise on several apples of the sort I intend to cut, so that I may
find out the exact force to apply. Apples differ so much in toughness.