Elementary Knots.--The three elementary knots which every one should know
are here represented--viz., the Timber-hitch, the Bowline, and the
Clove-hitch. (See also "Knots," p. 49; "Malay hitch," p. 147.)
Timber-hitch.--The virtues of the timber-hitch (fig. 1, p. 326) are,
that, so long as the strain upon it is kept up, it will hold fast; when
the strain is taken off, it can be cast loose immediately. A timber-hitch
had better have the loose end twisted more than once, if the rope be
stiff.
Bowline.--The bowline (fig. 2) makes a knot difficult to undo; with it
the ends of two strings are tied together, or a loop made at the end of a
single piece of string, as in the drawing. For slip nooses, use the
bowline to make the draw-loop. When tying a bowline, or any other knot
for temporary purposes, insert a stick into the knot before pulling
tight. The stick will enable you, at will, to untie the knot--to break
its back, as the sailors say--with little difficulty. A bowline is
firmer, if doubled; that is, if the free end of the cord be made to wrap
round a second time.
[3 fig of knots tied as described].
Clove-hitch.--The clove-hitch (fig. 3) binds with excessive force, and by
it, and it alone, can a weight be hung to a perfectly smooth pole, as to
a tent-pole. A kind of double clove-hitch is generally used, but the
simple one suffices, and is more easily recollected. A double clove-hitch
is firmer than a single one; that is, the rope should make two turns,
instead of one turn, round the pole beneath the lowest end of the cord in
the figure. (See"Tent-poles, to tie things to.")
Knots at End of Rope.--To make a large knot at the end of a piece of
string, to prevent it from pulling through a hole, turn the end of the
string back upon itself, so as to make it double, and then tie a common
knot. The string may be quadrupled instead of doubled, if required.
Toggle and Strop.--This is a tourniquet. A single or a double band is
made to enclose the two pieces of wood it is desired to lash together;
then a stick is pushed into the band and forcibly twisted round. The band
should be of soft material, such as the strands of a rope that has been
picked to pieces for that purpose: the strands must each of them, be
untwisted and well rubbed with a stick to take the kink out of them, and
finally twisted in a direction opposite to their original one.
[Sketch of knot as described].
To sling a Jar.--Put it in a handkerchief or a net.
To tie a Parcel on the back, like a Knapsack.--Take a cord 10 feet long,
double it, and lay the loop end upon a rock or other convenient
elevation; then place the object to be carried upon the cord, taking care
that the loop is so spread out as to admit of its ultimately enclosing
the object with a good hold and balance. Next pass the free ends of the
cord over the object and through the loop; then, bringing your shoulder
to a level with the package, draw the free ends of the cords over your
right shoulder: the cords will by this time have assumed the appearance
shown in the sketch.
[Sketch of cords as described].
Now pass the left arm between the left-hand cord and the package at B,
and the right arm between the right-hand cord and the package at C.
Lastly, draw the cords tight, and the object will be found to be fastened
on to your back like a knapsack. A gun may be passed between the cords
and the top of the object. This is a capital method of carrying a load of
game over a broken country, where at least one hand is required to be
free. I am indebted to Mr. F. M. Wyndham for a knowledge of it: he found
it frequently in use in Norway. In hot countries the plan would not be so
convenient, as the heat of a soft package strapped closely to the back is
very oppressive.