"These seem to be," replied Luke Bennington, "but the mainmast is generally longer than the foremast."
"These are of the same length. This afternoon we will put them in their places. The first thing to do is to rig the shears. Do you know what they are?"
"Something to cut with—a pair of scissors," replied a shore-boy.
"Not exactly, though it is rigged something like a pair of shears. It is a kind of derrick, used for hoisting heavy weights."
Bates had been at work for some time on a couple of the long round sticks on the wharf, and had lashed them together at a point about three feet from the smaller ends. The students were required to carry this machine to the deck of the Lily; and, after guy-lines had been attached to it, it was raised in the forward part of the deck. A purchase-block had been attached to the lashing, and a single block to one of the arms of the shears above.
A noose was then slipped on the mast just above the centre of gravity, to which the purchase-block was hooked. A couple of lines were fastened to the top of the spar, so that it could be swayed in any direction desired.
"Now we need a snatch-block," said the principal; and Bates immediately brought one from the pile on the wharf. "What is a block for?"
"To increase the effect of the power applied," answered Leo Pownall, who had been called upon as one who would be likely to know.
"Is that so?" asked the principal, looking around among the students.
"No, sir," replied one indicated. "The power is gained only with movable blocks."