"Yes, sir," I replied.
I could see the malice twinkling in his eye, as he walked away, and left me to perform the difficult job. Fortunately I knew what a cringle was, and I had even worked one upon the leech-line of a sail belonging to my yacht. But I never had done such a piece of work as that now required of me, and I felt that I was caught. Still I did not give it up. I saw some of the seamen grinning as though they enjoyed my chagrin. I had put a cringle upon the gaff-topsail of the Ella Gracewood, and there was no reason why I should not do the same job on a larger scalp. I knew most of the knots in common use—could make a short splice, an eye splice, and a Flemish eye.
I took the short piece of rope of which I was to make the cringle, and proceeded to calculate the details of the work. I found a cringle in another sail, and using this as a pattern, I went at the job in good earnest. I watched the other hands, and used the marlin-spike and slush, as I saw them do it. Having a mechanical head, I soon satisfied myself that I was on the right track; and then Jack Sanderson contrived to get near me. He gave me a few hints which helped me very much, and within a reasonable time my cringle was finished.
"It's well done, Phil. I believe you are an able seaman, after all," said Jack.
"No; I am not."
"No sailor could have done that job any better. Can you make an eye splice?"
"I can; and a short splice."
"Can you make a long splice?"
"I never did; but I think I could. I owned a yacht for a year and a half, and I used to do most of the work on her rigging."
"You'll do," laughed Jack, as Mr. Waterford came on deck.