CHAPTER III. 



INSTRUCTION OF THE INDIVIDUAL PACKER IN PREPARATION 

 FOR HIS DUTIES IN THE PACK TRAIN. 



SECURING AND COILING ROPES. 



Sec 10. How to prepare lash, sling, and lair ropes for use. — Take 

 a rope, standard size and length (see table of sizes of rope and can- 

 vas, sec. 88), and form an eye or loop on one end and wrap or seize 

 the opposite end in this manner: 



To form the eye unravel about 6 or 7 inches of end selected and 

 double this portion back so as to form a loop about 4 inches long; 

 divide the strands in the order of their twist, placing the second or 

 middle strand against the strand on rope selected. For this purpose 

 do not keep the rope at a twist as held by the left hand, as the loop 

 or eye when formed will be at a twist, i. e., not in proper alignment. 

 Now untwist the strand selected sufficiently to pass the end of second 

 or middle strand through opening thus made and draw snug. (See 

 fig. 100.) Next untwist the strand at the left and pass the first strand 

 through opening thus made and draw snug. (Fig. 101.) Now turn 

 the rope over and untwist the remaining strand of rope and pass this 

 third or last strand through opening thus made from rigM to left and 

 draw snug. (Fig. 102.) By this operation each raveled strand passes 

 between its mates on the twist of rope. 



Now draw the strands more snugly against the free end or twist of 

 rope, and commencing with either one of the three strands pass each 

 one from right to left between its mates, following the twist of rope 

 until the operation is performed twice ; cut off the remaining portion 

 of each strand, allowing about one-half inch extending. Now place 

 the rope on something solid ; place the foot over the splice thus made 

 and roll rope under foot to smooth splice and the eye or loop is 

 properly formed. (Fig. 103.) 



On tiie opposite end a wrapping of canvas twine ma}^ be formed 

 about three-fourths of an inch long; use a needle to pass the end of 

 cord between each strand of rope, embracing the wrapping in doing so 

 and draw snug each time. The cord may be waxed — beeswax is good 

 for the purpose — or when a cord is not available untwist the strands 

 for about 7 inches and hold the rope in the left hand close to strands. 

 Now take a single cord of each strand and untwist close to the fingers 

 of the left hand, bringing each cord to the front in the order of the 

 strands. 



Now hold the strands between the first and second fingers of the 

 left hand, and with the right hand take the first cord and loop it 

 over toward the second or middle cord, and place this second cord 



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