"I saw a fellow in Genverres yesterday who was set up," said Con Bunker. "He did it with whiskey."
"He was tight; and that is just what rigging is when it is set up, though we don't do it with liquor. Suppose we should rig a purchase on the shrouds of the sloop in the cut, and continue to tighten them as long as we could, what would be the effect on the mast?"
"It would bend the mast towards the stern," replied Ash promptly.
"Then the shrouds would support it from that direction," added Thad. "If no other rigging were used, it would be likely to bend it towards the stern. Look at g g on the diagram; and what do you call it?"
"The jibstay, on which the jib is set," answered Ben Sinker.
"Never mind the jib now. The name is right. Suppose we rig a purchase, and tighten the jibstay: what will be the effect?"
"If we haul it taut enough, it will straighten up the mast," replied Ash. "Therefore it will support the mast from the bow of the boat."
"And all of you will see that it would be impossible to take the mast out of her in a blow unless something broke," added the skipper.
"But tightening the jibstay would hoist the bowsprit," suggested Syl Peckman.
"That is just where I was leading you, my hearty. Now, look at f, if you please; and what do you call it?"