"Won't you please tell us something about the hitches and knots which the sailors make?"
"They have a great many forms, each designed for some particular purpose, and if you get a rope I will try and give you some of the principal ones. Get a piece long enough so that the knots and hitches can be kept for future reference."
Fig. 16. Slip knot. Fig. 17. Overhand knot. Fig. 18. Flemish Loo. Fig. 20. Stevedore knot. Fig. 21. Bowline knot. Fig. 22. Double knot. Fig. 23. Weaver's knot. Fig. 24. Carrick bend. Fig. 25. Reef bend.
He then proceeded to make the knots, and continued: "The seven knots (Figs. 16 to 22, inclusive) are made at the ends of the rope, as you will notice, and are the forms used to attach the rope to an object. In the next three forms two ropes are attached to each other, and are usually called 'bends' (Figs. 23, 24, 25).
"Then, in addition to that, the sailor has several ways of attaching the rope by a hitch around a standard, or other object. Look at these two forms (Figs. 26, 27). Look at the boat knot, where the hitch is made in the rope itself; and the sheet bend toggle, where the ends of two ropes are attached together to a standard or cleat. And now I am making what are called hitches, and the three forms (Figs. 28, 29, 30) are the best examples."
Fig. 26. Boat Knot. Fig. 27. Sheet bend and Toggle.
Clove Hitch Fig. 28. Half Hitch Fig. 29. Timber Hitch Fig. 30.
Thus the conversation drifted from one subject to another, covering a variety of interesting topics. George reminded the Professor that he had not yet explained to them what the spectroscope was, and its uses. He laughingly responded:
"That instrument is one of the most wonderful in all the ranges of human discoveries. By its means the elements of substances are determined, and the composition of the heavenly bodies are ascertained."