Handbook for Light Artillery

by A. B. Dyer

Fig. 28.

Fig. 29.

While Nos. 1 and 2 are tying and placing the cargo, No. 3 takes the lash-rope, throws the free end to the rear of the mule, convenient to No. 2, and places the cincha end in front of No. 1. No. 1 grasps the rope with the right hand, three feet from the cincha, and passes the hook end of the cincha under the mule to No. 2, who takes the hook (H, [Fig. 24]) in the left hand; No. 1 with the left hand grasps the rope three feet above the right, raises the rope and lays it between the side-packs from rear to front (P P′), pulling it to the front until a long enough loop (A) is formed to pass over the cargo and fasten in the cincha-hook (H). The right hand, back down, holds the cincha end of the rope, the loop (A) falling outward over the right forearm; the left hand, back up, holding the other part of the rope between the loop and the middle of the packs; No. 1 now throws the loop (A) over the pack, then lets the part in the left hand drop on the mule's neck, thus forming another loop (A′, Fig. 25); No. 2 passes the rope through the hook, pulls the cincha end of the rope till the hook is drawn up so that, when tightened, the hook shall be near the lower edge of the off pad. No. 1 now grasps the rope at G, [Fig. 26], and tucks a loop from rear to front, under the part AA, [Fig. 26], over the centre of the near-side pack (G, [Fig.] 27); No. 2 passes the free end of the rope under the part EE, [Fig. 27], and throws it over on the near side of the mule's neck; No. 1 draws the tucked loop forward and forces the rope under the corners and lower edge of the near pad and hauls it taut from above the rear corner; No. 2 grasps the rope at I, [Fig. 27], with the left hand, and at K with the right hand, and passes the rope under the corners and lower edge of off pad (KL, [Fig. 28]) and hauls taut at the front corner, No. 1 taking in the slack at the free end of the rope.

The lash is now ready for the final tightening. No. 2 removes the blind, leads the mule forward a few steps, No. 1 in rear at the same time looking to see if the packs are properly adjusted. The mule is again blinded. The object of the final tightening is to lash the load firmly to the saddle; pulling all the parts of the lash-rope taut, and taking up the slack, commencing at the cincha; and continuing the process from part to part, until the slack is taken up at the free end of the lash-rope. While No. 2 is pulling the parts taut, No. 1 takes up the slack or steadies the cargo, or vice versa; the pulling is done in such manner as not to shake the cargo out of position.

No. 2 grasps the lash-rope above where it leaves the hook and below the edge of the pad, right hand below left, places left knee against rear corner of pad; No. 1 grasps with the right hand the same part of the rope where it comes over the pack on the near side, and with the left hand at G, [Fig. 28], places his right shoulder against the pack to steady it; he then says, "Pull." No. 2 tightens by steady pulls and, without letting the rope slip back through the hook, gives the slack to No. 1, who takes it up by steady pulls. When No. 2 thinks the cincha is sufficiently drawn, he says, "Enough." No. 1 holds solid with the right hand, slips the left down to where the rope passes over the front edge of the pad, and holds solid; the right hand then grasps the continuation of the rope at rear corner of pad and pulls taut; then with both hands, placing his right knee against rear corner of pad, pulls the rope well home, No. 2 taking up the slack by grasping the rope (I, [Fig. 28]) where it comes over the rear end of off-side pack, with both hands. No. 1 steps to the front and steadies the pack; No. 2 then pulls taut the parts on his side, taking up the slack; this draws the part of the lash-rope AA, [Fig. 28], well back at the middle of the pack; he then with the left hand at the rear corner of pad (K) pulls taut, and holds solid, while with right hand at front corner of pad (L) he takes up slack; he then, with both hands at, and placing his knee against, the front corner of the pad, pulls well taut, No. 1 taking up the slack on his side, and then pulls solid, drawing the part EE, [Fig. 28], of the rope coming out from the hook well forward at the middle of the pack, then carries the free end under the corners and end of pad, draws taut and ties the end fast by a half-hitch near cincha end of lash-rope. If the rope should be long enough to reach over the load, after passing under the corners, it is passed over and made fast on the off side by tying around both parts of the lash-rope above the hook and drawing them well together.

To tighten the lash rope on the load it is necessary to take up and pass the slack as in the final tightening.

To slacken the rope on the load it is necessary to begin to slacken from the free end, and carry the slack by reversing the process of tightening.