Part 2 (1/2)

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 53.--Fisherman's. .h.i.tch.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 54.--Gaff-topsail halyard bend.]

CHAPTER IV

NOOSES, LOOPS AND MOORING KNOTS

Nothing is more interesting to a landsman than the manner in which a sailor handles huge, dripping hawsers or cables and with a few deft turns makes then fast to a pier-head or spile, in such a way that the s.h.i.+p's winches, warping the huge structure to or from the dock, do not cause the slightest give or slip to the rope and yet, a moment later, with a few quick motions, the line is cast off, tightened up anew, or paid out as required. Clove hitches, used as ill.u.s.trated in Fig. 55, and known as the ”Waterman's Knot,” are often used, with a man holding the free end, for in this way a slight pull holds the knot fast, while a little slack gives the knot a chance to slip without giving way entirely and without exerting any appreciable pull on the man holding the end.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 55.--Waterman's knot.]

”Larks' Heads” are also used in conjunction with a running noose, as shown in Fig. 56, while a few turns under and over and around a cleat, or about two spiles, is a method easily understood and universally used by sailors (Fig. 57). The sailor's knot par excellence, however, is the ”Bow-line” (Fig. 58), and wherever we find sailors, or seamen, we will find this knot in one or another of its various forms. When you can readily and surely tie this knot every time, you may feel yourself on the road to ”Marline-spike Seamans.h.i.+p,”

for it is a true sailor's knot and never slips, jams, or fails; is easily and quickly untied, and is useful in a hundred places around boats or in fact in any walk of life. The knot in its various stages is well shown in Fig. 59 and by following these ill.u.s.trations you will understand it much better than by a description alone. In _A_ the rope is shown with a bight or cuckold's neck formed with the end over the standing part. Pa.s.s _A_ back through the bight, under, then over, then under, as shown in _B_, then over and down through the bight, as shown in _C_ and _D_, and draw taut, as in _E_. The ”Bow-line on a Bight”

(Fig 60) is just as easily made and is very useful in slinging casks or barrels and in forming a seat for men to be lowered over cliffs, or buildings, or to be hoisted aloft aboard s.h.i.+p for painting, cleaning, or rigging. A ”Running Bow-line” (Fig. 61) is merely a bow-line with the end pa.s.sed through the loop, thus forming a slip knot. Other ”Loops” are made as shown in Figs. 62-65, but none of these are as safe, sure, and useful as the bow-line. One of these knots, known as the ”Tomfool Knot” (Fig. 66), is used as handcuffs and has become quite famous, owing to its having baffled a number of ”Handcuff Kings”

and other performers who readily escaped from common knots and manacles. It is made like the running knot (Fig. 62), and the firm end is then pa.s.sed through the open, simple knot so as to form a double loop or bow. If the hands or wrists are placed within these loops and the latter drawn taut, and the loose ends tied firmly around the central part, a pair of wonderfully secure handcuffs results.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 56.--Larks' heads and running noose.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 57.--Cleat and wharf ties.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 58.--Bow-line.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 59.--Tying bow-line.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 60.--Bow-line on bight.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 61.--Running bow-line.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 62.--Loop knot.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 63.--Loop knot.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 64.--Loop knot.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 65.--Loop knot.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 66.--Tomfool knot.]

CHAPTER V

SHORTENINGS, GROMMETS, AND SELVAGEES

In many cases a rope may prove too long for our use or the free ends may be awkward, or in the way. At such times a knowledge of ”shortenings” is valuable. There are quite a variety of these useful knots, nearly all of which are rather handsome and ornamental, in fact a number of them are in constant use aboard s.h.i.+p merely for ornament.

The simplest form of shortening, shown in Fig. 67, is a variation of the common and simple overhand knot already described and ill.u.s.trated.