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Page 39
CHAPTER VII.
HEAVING THE LOG.
The Young America, under topsails and top-gallant sails, was making
about ten knots an hour. After passing the last island in the bay, she
was headed to the south-east, which brought the wind over the starboard
quarter. The ship was of the clipper class, though not as sharp as many
of this model. It was found that her sailing ability was excellent, and
Mr. Lowington and Mr. Fluxion expressed much satisfaction at her
performance, both in respect of speed and weatherly qualities.
When the ship left her moorings, the principal had not decided where to
go, or how long to remain at sea, intending to be governed by the
circumstances of the hour. It had never been his purpose to keep her at
one anchorage, but to go from port to port, remaining a few days or a
few weeks at each, as the discipline of the ship and the progress of the
boys in their studies suggested. There were many elements of seamanship
which could not be effectively practised while the ship lay at anchor,
such as heaving the log, sounding and steering, though the boys had been
carefully instructed in the theory of these operations.
The instructor in mathematics, the boatswain, the carpenter, and the
sailmaker, all of whom were good seamen, were in great demand as soon as
the ship was under way; but when she had sea-room enough, the helm was
handed over to the boys, under the charge of a juvenile quartermaster.
Peaks stood by, and gave the necessary directions, till the students
were able to do the work themselves.
"Now, my lads, we will heave the log," said the boatswain, when the ship
was well out from the land.
"We know how to do that," replied Smith, one of the quartermasters.
"I dare say you do, young gentlemen; but in my opinion, you can't do it.
You know how to write a psalm, but I don't believe you could write one,"
added Peaks. "You have to learn how to do these things by the feeling,
so that they will do themselves, so to speak. After-guard, stand by to
haul in the log-line. Here, quartermaster, you will hold the glass, and
the officer of the deck will throw the chip."
"We know all about it, Mr. Peaks," repeated Smith.
"I know you do; but you can't tell within five knots how fast the ship
is going," laughed the boatswain. "Let's do it right a few times, and
then you can be trusted."
The quartermaster took the glass, and Gordon, then officer of the watch,
the chip, which he cast into the water over the stern of the ship.
"Turn!" said he, when the stray line had run out.
Now, Smith, at this particular moment, was watching a vessel over the
quarter, and he did not instantly turn the glass, as he should have
done; but Peaks said nothing.
"Up!" cried the quartermaster, when the sand had all run through the
glass.
Gordon stopped the reel from which the line was running out, and noted
the mark.
"Seven knots," said he.
"Not right," replied the boatswain, sharply. "This ship is going nine or
ten knots an hour, and any man who has snuffed salt water for six months
could guess nearer than you make it. Now try it once again, and if you
don't hit nearer than that next time, you may as well throw the reel
overboard, and hire a Yankee to guess the rate of sailing."
"I thought we knew all about it," added Smith.
"I think you do, young gentlemen; but you were star-gazing when you
ought to have been all attention. The line ran out two or three knots
before you turned the glass."
Gordon took the chip again. It was a thin piece of board, in the form of
a quarter circle. The round side was loaded with just lead enough to
make it float upright in the water. The log-line was fastened to the
chip, just us a boy loops a kite, two strings being attached at each end
of the circular side, while the one at the angle is tied to a peg, which
is inserted in a hole, just hard enough to keep it in place, while there
is no extra strain on the board, but which can be drawn out with a smart
pull. When the log-line has run out as far as desired, there would be
some difficulty in hauling in the chip while it was upright in the
water; but a sudden jerk draws the peg at the angle, and permits the
board to lie flat, in which position the water offers the least
resistance to its passage.
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