"Do you expect to find them over there? Dory Dornwood rigged this sloop, and he put things in their right places," added Thad.
"I know about the halyards," said Archie.
"But the question just now with you relates to throat-halyards; and you have gone over to the starboard side to look for them."
"That's so: I forgot about it."
"Allow me to inform this crew that the throat-halyards are on the port-side of the mast. Don't try to remember where the peak-halyards are, for that will make two things to recollect. Throat-port. Only this, and nothing more. If you try to hold on to the other at the same time, you will mix them."
"But a fellow wants to know where to find the peak halyards as well as the throat," suggested Con Bunker.
"Exactly; so he does. After he has found the throat, he must box the compass, lay the parallel ruler on the deck, count the anchor three times to make sure of the number, swing six, and cast out nine, and then go to the other side of the mast to look for the peak-halyards; but I will bet half a pint of Champlain water against a hogshead of New-Orleans molasses that he won't find them."
But the two hands designated had found the peak-halyards on the starboard side of the mast. The sail was set, the bow shoved off, and the boat began to gather headway. The jib was set; and, as the wind was still very fresh, the Goldwing heeled over, and darted ahead at a flying rate. Thad took the helm himself; for Dory had put in a horizontal wheel, and not one of the class was competent to steer her.
"Now, how many of you fellows know all the ropes in a sloop?" asked the young instructor, as the boat headed towards the outlet of the little lake. "There are not a great many things to learn about such a craft as this, but a fellow has got to know them all over."
"I know them all," added Archie.