36 ALONGSHORE t 



your hand, an' luff up an' ease the sheet off too; 

 an' If they rushes upon 'ee white and roaring, all 

 of a boil an' froth, then you let fly the sheet an' 

 reef down snugger, or haul down an' take to your 

 oars, an' get in out o'it so quick as you can. 

 Don't you play wi' they shiny harum-scarum 

 jokers. My senses! Don't you get taken aback 

 by one o' they!' 



Luffing up — bringing boat, and the sail with it 

 more nearly into line with the wind, so that the 

 lateral, capsizing, pressure of the wind becomes 

 less — involves steering out of the course. Easing 

 off the sheet does not; for then only the sail is 

 slacked Into line with the wind. Either method, 

 or both, can be used in a boat with one lug-sail, or 

 a lug and mizzen. Fishermen, who like to keep a 

 hand free and therefore make fast the sheet with 

 a slippery hitch, become marvellously clever at 

 gauging beforehand the strength of a squall and 

 luffing up to it just sufficiently. Seldom do they 

 lose way on a boat or drop over upon the other 

 tack. 'Touch her up through' is an expression 

 of theirs for beating to windward through squalls, 

 and no phrase could hit oft better the delicacy of 

 the operation, as they do it, and their sensitive 

 handling of the tiller. Usually they seem to 



