"Then, what makes the boat go this way, my lad?"
"Because Ben steers it this way."
"Correct; but suppose I should rig a sail in the Bouquet, and steer her with all my might, could I make her go as the Goldwing is going?"
"Of course not: she has no keel, or next to none."
"Correct again. The wind carries the paper in the direction towards which it is blowing. If the breeze struck square against the sail, it would blow the boat over to-day. We trim the sail at an angle, at a slant, with the way the wind blows. The sloop is not forced ahead, as the paper was, by the direct action of the wind."
Thad placed the bailing-bucket on the floor of the standing-room, and then with the boat-hook, passed along the side of it, caused the pail to be moved athwart-ships, though the boat-hook was carried fore and aft.
"The bucket is moved by the friction of the boat-hook, as the sail is by the friction of the wind against the canvas," said Thad. "If it were not for the keel, the boat would slide off sideways: it would be all leeway, and no headway. With the helm, we keep the several forces balanced."
The sloop went into the river; but another hand was sent to the wheel when Ben Sinker had obtained some practical idea of steering, and the lesson was continued.
CHAPTER XXIII.
OPERATIONS IN THE HOLD OF THE LA MOTTE.
The La Motte, under a reefed mainsail and a single jib, worked very well in the heavy sea to which she was soon fully exposed when she had made a short distance from the beach off which she had been anchored. Mr. Jepson had found some boards under the fore-scuttle in the forecastle, with which he had covered the hatches. On the top of them he had placed a plank, used for rolling barrels or other freight ashore, which bore equally on all the boards. Then with a handspike he worked the spare anchor upon this plank.