In cases of emergency, usually to take in sail, whether by night or day, "All hands on deck to take in sail, ahoy!" "Heave up my hearties!" is bellowed into the forecastle, and comes to the ears of the unwilling sleepers of the watch below.

BOXING THE COMPASS

Is the term used for repeating the thirty-two points of the compass-card by memory from the right hand to the left, (and then back again,) commencing at north, and proceeding to north by east, north, north-east, &c. It is necessary that the amateur and young salt should acquire this, if he desires to ever be able to make use of the most simple problems in boat-sailing, the use of the charts, the finding of the position of the yacht by cross-bearings, &c. In fact, it is indispensable; and the task should be commenced at once. It should not be gotten by rote, without rhyme or reason; but, in repeating the names of the points, the compass-card, or a printed imitation of it, should always be kept before the eye [see frontispiece].

After acquiring the regular thirty-two points, the subdivision of quarter and half points are to be gone into. The smallest division used in navigation is a quarter of a point; thus your course may be N. by E. 1/4 E., or N. by E. 1/2 E., or N. by E. 3/4 E.; but no smaller subdivision is ever made between two courses than one-quarter of a point. This is as near as the yacht can be kept to her course, and is as near as the eye can line a course in an observation for cross-bearings. If, however, one desires more minuteness, it may be well to state that each point of the compass contains 11° 15', or 360° for the whole thirty-two points. The names of the points of the compass, commencing at north, and going towards east, are as follows. The principal points, as they are called, which are marked larger than the others on the compass-card, are here designated by capitals.

1. NORTHN.
2. North by eastN. by E.
3. North, north-eastN.N.E.
4. North-east by northN.E. by N.
5. North-eastN.E.
6. North-east by eastN.E. by E.
7. East, north-eastE.N.E.
8. East by northE. by N.
9. EASTE.
10. East by southE. by S.
11. East, south-eastE.S.E.
12. South-east by eastS.E. by E.
13. South-eastS.E.
14. South-east by southS.E. by S.
15. South, south-eastS.S.E.
16. South by eastS. by E.
17. SOUTHS.
18. South-east by southS.E. by S.
19. South, south-westS.S.W.
20. South-west by southS.W. by S.
21. South-westS.W.
22. South-west by westS.W. by W.
23. West, south-westW.S.W.
24. West by southW. by S.
25. WESTW.
26. West by northW. by N.
27. West, north-westW.N.W.
28. North-west by westN.W. by W.
29. North-westN.W.
30. North-west by northN.W. by N.
31. North, north-westN.N.W.
32. North by westN. by W.

If any one desires to be very salt, he will pronounce these points as follows:—

Nor', nor'-westN.N.W.
Noothe by eastN. by E.
Sou' by westS. by W.
Sou', sou'-westS.S.W.

And, in fact, the above is the way that they are pronounced by all sailors.

It should be remembered that the compass does not move; that is to say, the yacht moves, which seemingly makes the card in the compass-box revolve. It is absolutely an optical illusion to "land-lubbers" and except by the jar of the yacht, or by pitching about in a heavy sea, the compass-card does not revolve, but is stationary, and it is the change of the course of the yacht which seems to give it motion.