44 NIMROD OF THE SEA; OB, 



venient balls, or, by a simple wheel and axle, spinning it 

 into rope-yarn for rigging again. The finer and evener 

 yarn was neatly woven into mats to prevent the yards from 

 chafing. The old sailors would neatly point ends of rig- 

 ging or work the various knots of the " rose," and " double 

 rose," the "wall," and "wall and crown," each having a 

 special place and service. To " man-rope," " bucket-rope," 

 "stoppers," etc., etc., are the accomplishments of the able 

 seaman, next in order to reefing and steering. Inability to 

 place the appropriate splice or knot in the appropriate place 

 is deemed lubberly. Endless were the lessons patiently 

 given and received in this intricate and important part of 

 a sailor's education. Long were the discussions, and count- 

 less the authorities quoted to establish diverse views as to 

 the placing of some knot, splice, point, or seizing. Things 

 were simplified to me, however, when I learned that in all 

 the tangle of- taut, strained, or swinging lines, there were 

 only three ropes in the ship viz., man -rope, monkey- rope, 

 and bucket-rope, with a rope's end to every piece of stand- 

 ing or running rigging. The first piece of rigging my poor 

 brain located was the clew-garnet ; its mineralogical associa- 

 tion fixed that. From this little point I soon got over the 

 lubberly habit of asking some one to "cast off" or "make 

 fast " this or that rope, and began to chatter in the best sea- 

 lingo about " swif ters," " fore " and " back stays," " braces," 

 "halyards," "falls," "purchases," "jewel-blocks," "ear-rings," 

 " chains," " forefoot" and " taff rails," " binnacles" and " lock- 

 ers," and to respond promptly to " bowse, taut, and belay 

 all," and to " cast a bowline " or " double hitch." The mys- 

 tery of the short and long splice, the "grummit" and " thole 

 mat," the "thrum" and the "point," afforded play to the 

 fingers which had practiced with the trout-flies and' lighter 

 tackle of the gentle art taught by Izaak Walton, of most 

 worshipful memory. The useful art of washing and mend- 



