CH. XVII DOUBLE-THONG 407 



wrist. If more than two turns are put on, they will 

 show in the loop, and when it is desired to hit a 

 wheeler hard, they will hold the thong more securely 

 together (see Fig. 167). 



As long as the consecutive motions of catching 

 the double-thong are properly performed, it does 



Fig. 167. 



not make much difference in what position 

 the whip is held ; that is, it can be caught 

 to the right or to the left, directly in front 

 or overhead, and it may be necessary at 

 times to catch it in any of these positions, 

 depending upon whether or not there is anything in 

 the way, but in general, unless there is some reason 

 to the contrary, it should be caught, with the point 

 high and in front, or directly over the horses, for 

 the reason that this is the direction in which the 

 coachman's eyes should be always kept, and if he 

 is tempted to look at his whip he will still be 

 looking in the ri^ht direction. 



What is sometimes called the 'whitewash act,' 

 resorted to by coachmen who have not mastered 

 the double-thong, consists in holding the whip ver- 

 tically downward on the right side of the coach, 

 and stirring it round and round until the proper 

 number of turns are obtained ; it is effective but 

 not elegant. 



