"Not at all; though the expressions all mean the same thing, and Con used them all to prove that he knew what they mean. When we are going about, or going to tack, the proper way is to put the helm down, moving it slowly at first, and then hard down, which is down as far as you can get it. Ready about! That is the order to get ready to tack. Here we are!"
The skipper put the helm down, and in a moment the reefed mainsail began to shake and bang: then it went over on the other side, and filled there.
"What tack are we on now, Archie?" asked Thad.
"On the port-tack; but you did not explain the port-tack," replied the innocent youth.
"Didn't I, indeed! Then, how in the world do you happen to know that we are on the port-tack? for you are as correct as though you had been to sea all your life."
"I knew it must be the other one."
"You must have studied logic."
"With the port-tacks aboard," added Con. "Or would be, if this were a ship."
"Now we will attend to this wheel," continued the skipper. "We have been talking about a tiller. You can see that there is a cast-iron frame in the shape of a quadrant."
"I never saw a quadrant," said Archie.