"The main to' bowline is what I want to know about," added Bark.
"You have been trying to put yourself into the pickle," added the principal with a smile, as he noticed the manner in which he clipped out the p. "This is the leech of the main-topsail, we will suppose, though it will answer just as well for any other sail. These are the bridles," he added, as he drew three lines of unequal length from the leech at the lower part.
Then starting a line from above the upper one, he carried it so as to touch the outer end of each of the short ones, and continued it in a curve for some distance from the leech.
"The long line is the bowline, and the short ones are the bridles. The bowline leads to the foremast, and through a block down to the deck. All the square-sails may be provided with bowlines, which lead forward, either to a mast or to a stay. They are used only on the windward-side of the ship."
"What are they for, sir?"
"They are used only when the ship is close-hauled; and by them the leech of the sail is hauled forward so as to catch all the wind there is," replied the principal.
"I don't know about close-hauled," said Rag Spinner.
"Tell him, Ash Burton."
"A vessel is close-hauled when she is sailing as nearly as she can to windward, as when she is beating," answered Ash.
"Precisely so; and a vessel is sailing on a bowline when she is as close to the wind as she can get. On a taut bowline is the same thing."