"That's a good way to get her to her place," said Rollo.
"Yes," said Mr. George. "I don't know how seamen could manage their vessels in docks and harbors without this process of warping."
"I suppose they can't warp any where but in docks and harbors," said Rollo.
"Why not?" asked Mr. George.
"Because," replied Rollo, "unless there was a quay or a shore close by, they would not have any thing to fasten the line to."
Mr. George then explained to Rollo that they could warp a vessel among the ice in the arctic regions by fastening the line to posts set for the purpose in the great floes.
"O, of course they can do that," said Rollo.
"The ice, in that case, is just the same as a shore; I mean where there is not any shore at all."
"Well," said Mr. George, "they can warp where there is not any shore at all, provided that the water is not too deep. In that case they take a small anchor in a boat, and row forward to the length of the line, and then drop the anchor, and so warp to that."
"Yes," said Rollo; "I see. I did not think of that plan. But when they have brought the vessel up to where the anchor is, what do they do then?"