"It would take the mainmast out of her," added Archie sharply.
"I respectfully asked you to be reasonable, in the beginning, Mr. Pinkler," interposed the skipper.
"He called the mainmast simply the mast," pleaded the critic.
"Will you be kind enough to point to the mast?" When he did so, "What are you pointing with?" asked Thad.
"With my finger."
"With your forefinger, you mean. But it is not always necessary to specify exactly what particular thing is meant. I told you that mast was enough in a sloop, though when we come down to the proper names of parts, we should apply the right name. The flaw would take the mast out of her, and it would be likely to do so. What rigging keeps the mast in its place when the flaw comes, Hop?"
"The shrouds. One of them is on each side of b, nearest to the mast," answered the student indicated.
"Then, there are two of them?"
"Two in the drawing; but the Goldwing has only one on each side of the boat," added Hop. "A ship may have nine or ten of them; and I suppose they put on as many of them as are needed."
"Sensible you are, Hop. They are shrouds, and the number of them differs with the size of the vessel. But they are not often called shrouds in small boats as in larger craft. Boatmen call them stays, though the word is rather confusing sometimes. You observe that the shrouds, or stays, in the drawing are both set up abaft the mast."