[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 ship'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 Seamanship,"

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 ship 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 ship 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.

These knots are formed by pa.s.sing the end of a rope twice or more times through the loop of the simple knot and then drawing it tight (Fig. 68). They are known as "Double," "Treble," "Fourfold," or "Sixfold" knots and are used to prevent a rope from pa.s.sing through a ring or block as well as for shortening. All gradations from the double to the sixfold are shown in Fig. 69, both in process of making and as they appear when drawn taut. Another very simple form of shortening is shown in Fig. 70 and is known as the "Single Plait," or "Chain Knot." To make this shortening, make a running loop (_A,_ Fig.

70), then draw a bight of the rope through this loop, as shown at _B_, draw another bight through this, as at _C_ to _D_, and continue in this way until the rope is shortened to the desired length; the free end should then be fastened by pa.s.sing a bit of stick through the last loop, _F_, or by running the free end through the last loop, as at _E_. To undo this shortening, it is only necessary to slip out the free end, or the bit of wood, and pull on the end, when the entire knot will quickly unravel. The "Twist," or "Double Chain," is made in a similar manner but is commenced In a different way (_A_, Fig. 71).

It may also be made with three separate pieces of line, as shown in _B_, Fig. 71. Hold the double loop in the left hand; the part _A_ is then brought over _B_; with a half turn _B_ is crossed over to _A_, and then proceed as in the ordinary three-strand plait until the end of loop is reached, when the loose end is fastened by pa.s.sing through the bight and the completed shortening appears as in Fig. 72. This same process is often used by Mexicans and Westerners in making bridles, headstalls, etc., of leather. The leather to be used is slit lengthwise from near one end to near the other, as shown in Fig. 73, and the braid is formed as described. The result appears as in Fig.

74, and in this way the ends of the leather strap remain uncut, and thus much stronger and neater than they would be were three separate strips used.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 67.--Twofold shortening (making).]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 68.--Twofold shortening (taut).]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 69.--Three- and fivefold shortening.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 70.--Single plait or monkey chain (making).]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 70 _F_.--Monkey chain or single plait (complete).]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 71.--Twist braid (making).]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 72.--Twist braid (complete).]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 73.--Leather cut to braid.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 74.--Leather braid (complete).]

Another handsome knot for shortening is the more highly ornamental "Open Chain" (Fig. 75). Make the first loop of the rope secure by a twist of the rope and then pa.s.s the loose end through the preceding loop, to right and left alternately, until the knot is complete.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 75.--Open chain.]

The simplest of all shortenings consists of a loop taken in the rope with the bights seized to the standing part (Fig. 76). This is particularly well adapted to heavy rope or where a shortening must be made quickly. Fig. 77 shows another very simple shortening, which requires no description. This will not withstand a very great strain but is secure from untying by accident and is very useful for taking up spare rope of lashings on bundles or baggage. "Sheepshanks," or "Dogshanks," are widely used for shortening rope, especially where both ends are fast, as they can be readily made in the centre of a tied rope. There are several forms of these useful knots. The best and most secure form is shown in Fig. 78. A simple running knot is first made; a bend is pushed through the loop, which is then drawn taut; the other end of the bend is fastened in a similar manner and the shortening is complete. A much simpler form is shown in Fig. 79, but this can hardly be depended upon unless the ends are seized, as shown in Fig. 80. Figs. 81-82 ill.u.s.trate two other forms of shortenings, but these can only be used where the end of the rope is free, and are intended for more permanent fastenings than the ordinary sheepshank; while Fig. 83 is particularly adapted to be cast loose at a moment's notice by jerking out the toggles, _A_, _B_.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 76.--Seized shortening.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 77.--Bow shortening.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 78.--Sheepshank.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 79.--Another sheepshank.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 80.--Sheepshank with ends seized.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 81.--Sheepshank for free-ended rope.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 82.--Sheepshank for free-ended rope.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 83.--Sheepshank with toggle.]