It was a practical conception, but it was truly expressed under the similitude of a battle.

There was to be resistance, and he could comprehend that, for his bump of combativeness took cognizance of the suggestion.

He was to fight; and that was an idea that stood him in better stead than a whole library of ethical subtleties.
Judging Tom by his own standard, he was afraid he would run--that he wouldn't "stand fire." He had not been drilled.

Heretofore, when temptation beset him, he had yielded without even a struggle, and fled from the field without firing a gun.

To go out into the great world was a trying event for the raw recruit.