How
was Private Quelch's knowledge exposed even further as the Sergeant's
classes went on?
How was Private Quelch's knowledge exposed even further as the Sergeant's classes went on?
The
first lecture of musketry was delivered by the Sergeant. He was
teaching the mechanism of a service rifle. He was explaining the
muzzle velocity or speed of a bullet when it leaves the rifle, he
said, it “is well
over two thousand feet per second.”
However, The Professor had to exhibit his knowledge, so went on
correcting the Sergeant with the exact figure, which is “two
thousand, four hundred and forty feet per second.”
When the Sergeant finished, he put questions to Quelch; however, it
only enhanced his glory as he answered them with perfect “technical
definitions, the
parts of the rifle, its use and care, he had them all by heart”.
Later, the Sergeant asked Private Quelch, if he had any training
before. The Professor replied with a phrase that was to become
familiar to the whole platoon; he said, “No,
Sergeant. It's all a matter of
intelligent reading.”
Then it was it, all were introduced to Private Quelch’s
knowledge, “he had brains”. And the author narrates that
“he was sure to get a commission before long and as a first
step, he meant to get a stripe.”
The first lecture of musketry was delivered by the Sergeant. He was teaching the mechanism of a service rifle. He was explaining the muzzle velocity or speed of a bullet when it leaves the rifle, he said, it “is well over two thousand feet per second.” However, The Professor had to exhibit his knowledge, so went on correcting the Sergeant with the exact figure, which is “two thousand, four hundred and forty feet per second.” When the Sergeant finished, he put questions to Quelch; however, it only enhanced his glory as he answered them with perfect “technical definitions, the parts of the rifle, its use and care, he had them all by heart”. Later, the Sergeant asked Private Quelch, if he had any training before. The Professor replied with a phrase that was to become familiar to the whole platoon; he said, “No, Sergeant. It's all a matter of intelligent reading.” Then it was it, all were introduced to Private Quelch’s knowledge, “he had brains”. And the author narrates that “he was sure to get a commission before long and as a first step, he meant to get a stripe.”
