"But a fellow never believes a thing of this sort till he has proved it," added the skipper. "Pull the handles of the wheel towards you, and it throws the head of the boat up into the wind. Remember this--'only this, and nothing more.' But there is one thing that a beginner has to learn; and that is, to steer small."
"I know about that," replied Ash.
"The others don't. A new hand is always apt to move the tiller too much. To move the tiller, or wheel, very little at a time, is to steer small. Move it gradually, and note the effect upon the boat's head."
Ash Burton took his place at the wheel; and, as he had had some experience in steering a boat with a tiller, he did very well. In fact, he was competent to handle a boat, though he had picked up his knowledge himself. But he did not boast of his skill, and wished to learn more.
"I always take an object on the shore, and steer for it, when the boat is going free," said he.
"I do, whether she is going free, or not," added Thad. "If I am close hauled, I watch both the sail and the object. When a fellow is steering, he ought to give the closest attention to the business he has in hand; and it isn't a bad rule to follow, whatever he is doing. If the helmsman doesn't mind what he is about, he keeps the boat yawing and staggering, like a man who has taken too much whiskey. I don't like to see a boat going that way. If she is kept steady, she not only makes her course better, but she gets along faster."
"I am running for the point," said Ash.
"Then, you may make too much northing. You should always take an object to windward of the point you want to reach, for the boat will always get in more or less leeway; though it don't make much difference when you have a free wind. But you can steer well enough, Ash. Let Ben Sinker try his hand at the wheel."
"I don't believe I can do it," replied Ben modestly. "I never tried to steer a sail-boat."
"Then, you are just the fellow we want. Take an object on the shore near the south side of the mouth of the river," continued the skipper.