be indorsed to different persons, a competition may arise for the goods; and the rule generally is that if the equities be equal, the property passes by the bill first indorsed. See CHARTER PARTY. Bill of Parcels. A written account, given by seller to buyer, of the quantities, sorts, and prices of goods bought. Bill of Rights. In English law the declaration delivered by the two houses of Parliament to the Prince of Orange, February 18, 1688, at the period of his succession to the British throne, in which, after a full specification of various acts of James II. which were alleged to be illegal, the rights and privileges of the people were asserted. In the United States the term is applied to a declaration of the fundamental rights and liberties of the people which, in the shape of abstract propositions and elementary principles, forms part of the constitutions of many of the States. Bill of Sale. See VESSELS, TITLE TO. Bill of Sight. When an importer, from ignorance of the actual quantities or qualities of goods assigned to him, is unable to make an exact entry at the custom-house, he is allowed to make an entry by bill of sight, that is, according to the best description that can be given. On this, the collector or comptroller is empowered to grant warrant for the landing of the goods, the importer being bound to make, within three days afterwards, a perfect entry, and either to pay down the duties or to warehouse the goods. Bill of Store. A license granted by the custom-officers for carrying, free of duty, such stores as may be necessary for a voyage. Returned goods may be entered by a bill of store. Bill-boards. Projections of oak plank secured to the bow of the ship abaft the cat-heads for the fluke of the anchor to rest on. Billet. The tin tag hung above the hammock-hook on which the number is painted. An individual's situation or employment. A memorandum of the various duties and stations of a seaman, which is given to him when he first comes on board for duty. Billet-head. A scroll-head. A round piece of wood fitted to the bow or stern of a whaleboat, around which the line is veered when the whale is struck. Billet-wood. Small wood used for dunnage. Bill-fish. See GAR-FISH. Billow. A great wave or surge of the sea. Bindings. A general term for beams, knees, clamps, transoms, and other connecting parts of a vessel. Binding Strakes. Thick planks on the decks, running just outside the line of hatches, jogged down over the beams and ledges. The principal strakes of plank in a vessel, especially the sheerstrake and wales. Binge. To rinse a cask. Bingid. An old term for locker. Binnacle. A case or box to contain the compass. It is fitted with a lamp to light up the card at night. BINNACLE-LIGHT. The lamp used in a bin nacle. Binocle. A telescope adapted to the use of both eyes. BINOCULAR TELESCOPE. A two-barreled tele scope invented by Galileo in 1617, though the invention is sometimes credited to Schyrleus de Rheita. Bior-linn. A very old word for boat. Bird's-foot Sea-star. The Palmipes membranaceous, one of the Arteriadæ, with a flat, thin, pentagonal body, of a bright scarlet color. Bird's-nest. A round top at a mast-head for a look-out station. A smaller crow's-nest. Chiefly used in whalers, where a constant lookout is kept for whales. See EDIBLE BIRD'S NEST. Bireme. In Roman antiquity, a vessel with two rows of oars. Birt. A kind of turbot. Birth-marks. Marks denoting the depth to which a ship may be loaded with safety. Biscuit. Hard bread for naval use. Bishop. A name of the great northern diver (Colymbus glacialis). Bismer. A name of the stickleback (Gasterosteus spinachia). Bissextile (Lat. bis, twice, and sextus, sixth). "Leap-year." In the Julian calendar every fourth year consisted of 366 days. The additional day was inserted after the 24th of February, which in the Roman calendar was called "the sixth day before the Calends of March," and being reckoned twice over every fourth year it was called bissextus dies, and the year was named Bissextilis. Bit. A short bit is equal to 121 cents, a long bit to 25 cents. The term arose from the cutting of Spanish silver coins into "bits." It is still in use in the west, especially in California. Bite. The hold which the short end of a lever has under the object to be lifted. When the fluke of an anchor enters the ground it is said to bite. Bitt. To take a turn with the cable around the head of the bitts. To double bitt or to weather-bitt the cable is to take an extra turn around the head of the bitts. Bitter. Any turn of the cable around the bitts. Hence a ship is brought to a bitter when the chain has run out to that poi point. Bitter-end. The last end. The end of the cable not bent to the anchor. Bitt-head. The upper part of the bitts. Bitt-pin. A large iron pin in the head of the bitts to prevent the chain from slipping off in veering. Bitts. Vertical timbers projecting above the decks. The bitts for the cable are circular, and are coated with iron. There are generally two pairs of them, the after pair being used for the sheet-chains. The topsail-sheet bitts are fixed near to, and forward of, the masts. Bitt-stopper. A stopper used at the bitts for securing the cable. See STOPPER. Bize. A cold wind from the summits of the Black Indies. Newcastle, Sunderland, and Shields. Blacking down. The operation of tarring and blacking the rigging. Black-jack. A piratical-looking individual. The ensign of a pirate. Black-list. A record of misdemeanors formerly kept by officers for their private use. The list of men who are detailed for extra duty as a punishment. Black Ship. A term applied to a ship built in India, of teak. Black South-easter. A well-known violent wind at the Cape of Good Hope, in which vapory clouds, called the Devil's Table-cloth, appear on Table Mountain. Black Squall. This squall may be principally ascribed to the heated state of the atmosphere near the land. Black-strake. The range of planks just above the wales. Black-strap. Bad port wine. The dark wines of the Mediterranean. Black-tang. The sea-weed Fucus vesicolosus, or tangle. a Blackwall-hitch. A hitch made by putting the bight of a rope over the back of hook, and jamming the end under the standing part. It is used principally for the hauling part of a tackle when there is not sufficient length to make a cat's-paw. Black Whale. A name for the right whale of the south seas (Balæna australis). Black Vomit. A copious vomiting of darkcolored matter, or the substance so discharged; one of the most fatal symptoms in yellow fever. Blad. A term used on the northern coasts of Great Britain for a squall accompanied by rain. Bladder-fish. A name for the tetrodon. See BALLOON-FISH. Blade. The cutting part of a sword or cutlass. The part of the arm of an anchor prepared to receive the palm. One of the projecting arms of a screw-propeller. The part of an oar which is immersed in the water in rowing. Blae, or Blea. The alburnum or sap-wood of timber. Blake, George S., Commodore U.S.N. Born in Massachusetts. Appointed midshipman, April 23, 1818; commissioned as lieutenant, March 31, 1-27; West India Squadron, 1829; survey of Narragansett Bay, 1831-33; navy-yard, Philadelphia, 1834; coast survey, 1837-48; navy-yard, Philadelphia, 1848; commissioned as commander, February 27, 1847; fleet-captain, Mediterranean Squadron, 1850-52; bureau construction, 1853: commissioned as captain, September 14, 1855; special duty, 1856-57; superintendent Naval Academy, 1858-65; commissioned as commodre, July 16, 1862; light-house inspector, 186669: died at Longwood, Mo., June 24, 1871. Blake, Homer C., Commodore U.S.N. Born in New York, 1822. Appointed midshipman, March 2, 1840; frigate "Constellation," East India Squadron, 1841-43; sloop "Preble," coast of Africa, 1843-45; naval school, 1846; sloop *Preble," Pacific Squadron, 1846-48. Promoted to passed midshipman, July 11, 1546; receiving-ship, New York, 1849-50; frigate Raritan," Pacific Squadron, 1850-52; receiving-ship, Boston, 1853-56. Commissioned as lieutenant, September 14, 1855; frigate "St. Lawrence," Brazil Squadron, 1857-59; frigate "Sabine," ," Home Squadron, 1861-62. Commissioned as lieutenant-commander, July 16, 1862; commanding steamer "Hatteras," Western Gulf Blockading Squadron, 1862-63. On January 11, 1863, the "Hatteras," while at anchor off Galveston, Texas, was ordered by signal from the "Brooklyn," flag-ship of the division blockading Galveston, to chase a sail to the southward and eastward. Commander Blake at once obeyed the signal, and steamed at all speed in the direction indicated, and rapidly gained upon the suspicious vessel, which was discovered to be a steamer. When within about four miles of the vessel, it was observed that she had ceased to steam, and was lying "broadside on," awaiting the approach of the "Hatteras." When at about the distance of seventy-five yards, Commander Blake hailed, and asked, "What steamer is that?" The reply was, "Her Britannic Majesty's ship' Vixen." Commander Blake ordered a boat to be sent aboard, but before the order could be obeyed, the commander of the strange craft hailed and said, "We are the Confederate steamer 'Alabama, a," which was accompanied by a broadside. The "Hatteras" returned the fire almost instantly, and steamed directly for the "Alabama" in the hope to carry her by boarding; but the attempt was defeated by the commander of the piratical craft. At length a shell entered the hold of the "Hatteras," and at the same instant another shell passed through the "sick bay," exploding in an adjoining compartment, and setting fire to the vessel. Still another shell entered the cylinder, filling the engine-room and deck with steam, and depriving Commander Blake of all power to manœuvre his vessel or work the pumps, upon which the reduction of the fire depended. With the vessel on fire in two places and her engine disabled, Commander Blake felt that it was useless to sacrifice the lives of his command, and so ordered a lee gun to be fired. The "Alabama" then asked if assistance was desired, to which an affirmative answer was given. After considerable delay, the "Alabama" sent assistance, and the crew and officers of the "Hatteras" were transferred to the "Alabama." Ten minutes after the crew left her decks, the "Hatteras" went down bow first. The battery upon the "Alabama" brought into action against the "Hatteras" numbered seven guns, consisting of four long 32-pounders, one 100-pounder riffed gun, one 68-pounder, and one 24-pounderrifled gun. Theguns used in the action by the "Hatteras" were twoshort 32-pounders, one 30-pounder rifled Parrot, and one 20-pounder rifled gun. The action was fought at a distance of about seventy-five yards. The crew of the "Hatteras" was landed at Port Royal, Jamaica, and was with all dispatch conveyed from Port Royal to Kingston, under the guidance of the American vice-consul, John N. Camp. Commanding steamer "Utah," North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, 1863-65; shelled three divisions of rebel army at Malvern Hill, 1864; assisted to repulse an attack of the rebels on the right of the army of the James, October, 1864; engagement with rebel batteries at Trent Reach, James River, 1865; navy-yard, Portsmouth, N. H., 1866-68. Commissioned as commander, March 3, 1866; commanding steam-sloop "Swatara," European Squadron. Squadron, 1868-69; commanding steam-sloop "Alaska," Asiatic Fleet, 1870-72. Commissioned as captain, May 25, 1871; commanding naval rendezvous, New York, 1873-78. Promoted to commodore, 1880, and died in February of that year. Blake, Robert. Born at Bridgewater, in Somersetshire, in 1599. In the annals of the Commonwealth of England few names stand higher than that of this bold seaman. He was appointed for his pre-eminent ability and singular intrepidity "General of the Sea" in 1649, yet he was fifty years of age before he became a sailor. One of his earliest exploits was the defeat of Prince Rupert's fleet on the Tagus in 1651. In 1652 he gained a victory over Van Tromp after a running fight of three days. The piratical Tunisians had no mercy at his hands. His greatest achievement was at Santa Cruz, in 1657. The Spaniards, with several treasureships, were, as they supposed, impregnable within the fortified harbor; but Blake dashed in, faced the fire of the castle, silenced the smaller redoubts, and, seizing the richly-laden galleons, sailed out without the loss of a single ship. was truly said of him that "it would have been hard to find the thing which Blake dared not do." Died at Plymouth, August 17, 1657. It Blakeley, Johnston, Captain U.S.N. Born at Seaford, county Down, Ireland, October, 1781; lost at sea in 1814. His father emigrated to Wilmington, N. C. The members of his family dying one by one, he was left alone in the world, and had also the misfortune to lose the little remnant of their property. A friend gave him an education, and procured for him a midshipman's warrant, February 5, 1800. Made lieutenant, February 10, 1807; master-commander, July 24, 1818; captain, November 24, 1814. In 1813 he commanded the brig "Enterprise," and did good service in protecting our coasting trade. In August he was appointed to "The Wasp," in which, June 28, 1814, he captured, after an action of nineteen minutes, in latitude 48° 36′ north, H. B. M. ship "Reindeer," which he was obliged to burn. This severe action showed the manifest superiority of American gunnery. The "Reindeer" made three attempts to board, in the last of which her gallant commander was slain. For this exploit Congress voted him a gold medal with suitable devices. September ber 1, 1, 1814, in a severe action with the brig "Avon," he compelled her to strike; but the approach of another enemy prevented his taking possession of her. "The Wasp" was afterward spoken off the Western Isles, and on September 21 captured the brig "Atalanta," which arrived safely in Savannah, and brought the last direct intelligence ever received from "The Wasp." Being heavily armed and sparred, and very deep-waisted, she probably foundered in a gale. His only child, a daughter, was educated at the expense of the State of North Carolina. Blank. The white mark in the centre of a target. See POINT-BLANK and CARTRIDGE. Blanket. The layer of blubber under the skin of a whale. Blare. To bellow or roar vehemently. A mixture of hair and tar, used for calking the seams of boats. Blashy. Watery or dirty; as, a blashy day. In parlance, trifling, flimsy. Blast. A sudden and violent gust of wind. Blast-engine. An apparatus for urging the fire of a furnace. A ventilating machine to draw off the foul air from a ship's hold and force fresh air into it. Blast-furnace. A furnace in which the supply of air is furnished by a pneumatic apparatus. Blast-pipe. A pipe to convey steam into the smoke-stack to aid the draft. Blather. Thin mud; idle nonsense. Blay. A name of the bleak (which see). Blazer. A term applied to a mortar-vessel, from the great emission of flame when the mortar is fired. Blazing-star. A popular name for a comet. Bleak. The Leuciscus alburnus of naturalists, and the fresh-water sprat of Izaak Walton. The name of this fish is from the Anglo-Saxon blican, owing to its shining whiteness, -its lustrous scales having long been used in the manufacture of false pearls. Bleed the Buoys. To let the water out. Bleeding the Monkey. The monkey was a tall pyramidal kid or bucket, which conveyed the grog from the grog-tub to the mess, -stealing from this in transitu was termed bleeding the monkey. Blenny. A small acanthopterygious fish (Blennius). Blether-head. A blockhead. Blethering. Talking idle nonsense; insolent prate. Blind. A name on the west coast of Scotland for the pogge, or miller's-thumb (Cottus cataphractus). Blind-bucklers. Those fitted for the hawseholes, which have no aperture for the cable, and used at sea to prevent the water coming in. Blind-harbor. One, the entrance of which is so shut in as not readily to be perceived. Blind-rock. One lying just under the surface of the water, so as not to be visible in calms. Blind-shell. A shell with a large fuse-hole and filled with composition, to indicate the range at night. A shell which does not explode. Blind-stakes. A sort of river-weir. Blink. A term in Greenland for iceberg. Blink of the Ice. The reflection of an iceberg in the air above it. Blirt. A gust of wind and rain. Bloat. To dry by smoke; a method applied almost exclusively to cure herrings. Bloated is also applied to any half-dried fish. BLOATER. A herring dried by smoke. Blocco. Paper and hair used in calking a vessel's bottom. Block. The large piece of timber out of which a figure-head is carved. One of the transverse timbers on which a ship is built or placed for repairs. A flat oval piece of wood containing one or more sheaves. Blocks are used either to gain an increase of power or to give a rope a fair lead. A block consists of the shell, sheave, pin, and strap. The shell is the frame or outside part, and is made of ash or elm. In the morticed block the shell is composed of but one piece of wood; in the made block it consists of two or more pieces pinned together, the two principal outside pieces being called cheeks. On the sides and at each Blarney. Idle discourse; obsequious flattery. ❘ end of the shell is cut a single or a double score, which allows the strap to set snugly on the block and prevents it from slipping off. The size of a block is determined by the length of the shell. The sheare is the wheel over which the rope runs, and is made of metal or lignum-vitæ. It has a hole in the centre to receive the pin. In a lignum-vitæ sheave this hole is generally bouched, or lined with metal, to decrease the friction and to protect the sheave from chafe. Friction rollers are sometimes inserted in the sheave when it is not to be subjected to a very great strain. Around the circumference of the sheave a groove is cut, which serves to retain the rope in place and prevent it from chafing against the shell. The pin is the bolt through the shell and sheave on which the latter revolves. The strap is a rope which encircles the shell, and by which it is attached to its particular place. The swallow is the aperture through which the rope reeves. The hook is attached to the strap, and is prevented from chafing by means of a thimble. Two of these thimbles joined together are called lock-thimbles. The breech is the end of the block farthest from the hook. The becket is a small grommet to which the standing part of the fall is made fast. Blocks are single, double, threefold, or fourfold, according to the number of their sheaves, and vary in size from four to thirty inches. Iron blocks, and wooden blocks with iron straps, are now coming more generally into use. Under the general head of blocks come hearts, collar-hearts, dead-eyes, bull's-eyes, wooden thimbles, fairleaders, euphroes, cleats, cavils, wooden belayingpins, wooden rollers, chocks, toggles, travelers, wooden hanks, hoops, trucks, etc. (which see under their proper heads). Blocks receive their names from some peculiarity of form, from the position they occupy, or from the rope leading through them. For description of blocks, see under the following heads: BEE-BLOCks, or BEES, BRAIL-, CAT-, CHEEK-, CLEW-GARNET-, CLEWLINE-, CHUNK-, CLUMP-, D-, DASHER-, DOUBLE-, FIDDLE-, FISH-, FIXED-, FLY-, GIRTLINE-, GIN-, GUN-TACKLE-, HANGING-, Јаск-, JEER-, JEWEL-, LONG-TACKLE-, MONKEY-, NINE-PIN-, NIB-, PATENT-, QUARTER-, RUNNING, RACK-, SHOE-, SPAN-, SPRING-, SINGLE-, SHOULDER-, SISTER-, SECRET-, STANDING-, SMATCH-, TELEGRAPH-, TREBLE-, TAIL-, TOP-, TYE, VIOL-, and WARPING-BLOCK. Blockade. The shutting up of a port or ports by troops or ships, so as to prevent egress or ingress, or the reception of supplies. To constitute blockade the investing power must be able to apply its force to every point of practicable access, so as to render it dangerous to attempt to enter or depart. See INTERNATIONAL LAW. Block-and-block. An expression denoting that the two blocks of a tackle have been drawn together, and that the tackle is inoperative. Synonymous with two-blocks and chock-a-block. Blockmaker. A manufacturer of blocks. Blockmaking Machine. The first set of machinery for making blocks was invented by Brunel early in the present century, and was set up at Portsmouth, England, in 1808. The saving in the cost of blocks is about $100,000 per annum. Blood-sucker. A skulker; one who throws his proportion of work on the shoulders of his shipmates. Bloody. A slang superlative, principally used by Englishmen. Bloody Flag. A large red flag. Bloom. A warm blast of wind. A mass of iron which has been deprived of its dross by squeezing or shingling. Blore. An old word for a stiff gale. Blouse. A light single-breasted sack-coat. Blout. A name to denote the sudden breaking up of a gale. Blow. A gale of wind. The moving of the air; as, the winds blow. A violent stroke of the hand, or any instrument. To eject wind from the mouth; hence the term as applied to the breathing of cetaceans, -the air expelled from the lungs, being heavily charged with moisture, condenses on contact with the atmosphere, and appears like a column of steam. There she blows! the cry of the look-out when a whale is sighted. Blowe. An old word for scold; hence the term "blowing-up" for a reprimand. Blow-holes. The nostrils of the cetaceans. In some species they are slits placed side by side; in others there is but one opening. Blow Home. The wind does not blow home when its course is diverted by a chain of mountains or other obstacle. Blowing Great Guns. An expression to denote a violent gale. Blowing Off. The operation of ejecting from the boiler the water which has become saturated with salt, to prevent the formation of scale. Blowing the Grampus. Throwing water over a sleeper on watch. Blowing Through. The operation of clearing the valves, cylinders, and condenser of air before starting the engine. Blowing Weather. A term to signify a continuance of strong gales. Blow-off Pipe. A pipe leading from the bottom of the boiler to convey the sediment overboard. Blown. Half-dried; applied to cod and herrings. Blown Itself Out. A gale is said to have blown itself out when its energy is expended. Blow-out. A jollification or spree. Blow-pipe. An engine of offense used by the A Blow-pipe.A Borneans, and with the latter termed sumpitan: the poisoned arrow, sumpit, will wound at the distance of 140 or more yards. The arrow is forced through by the forcible and sudden exertion of the lungs. A wafer can be hit at 30 yards to a certainty, and small birds are unerringly stunned at 30 yards by pellets of clay. Blow the Gaff. To reveal a secret; to expose or inform against a person. Blow-through Valve. A valve admitting steam into the cylinder and condenser, in order to clear them of air and water before starting the engine. Blow Up. To abuse angrily. Blow-valve. The snifting-valve. The valve which permits the steam to escape on blowing through. Blubber. The layer of fat in whales between the skin and the flesh, varying from 10 to 20 inches in thickness, which is flinched or peeled off, and boiled for oil. See SEA-BLUBBER. Blubber-forks and Choppers. The implements with which blubber is "made off," or cut for stowing away. Blubber-guy. A large rope stretched from the main- to the foremast-head of whalers, to which the speck-falls are attached for the operation of flensing. Blue. Till all's blue: carried to the utmost, -a phrase borrowed from the idea of a vessel making out of port, and getting into blue water. To look blue, to be surprised, disappointed, or taken aback, with a countenance expressive of displeasure. Blue-book. The name by which the book containing the regulations for the navy is known; also, a book containing the names of all persons in the employ of the United States government, with the amount of their pay. Blue-jackets. The seamen as distinguished from the marines. Blue-light. A pyrotechnical preparation for signals by night. Also called Bengal light. Blue-lightism. Affected sanctimoniousness. Blue Moon. An indefinite period. Blue-nose. A native of Nova Scotia, or a Nova Scotian vessel. Blue Peter. A flag with a blue ground and a white centre, which, when hoisted at the fore, denotes that the ship is ready to sail. It corresponds to the cornet in the navy. Blue Pigeon. A nickname for the sounding lead. Blue Water. The open ocean. Bluff. An abrupt highland, projecting almost perpendicularly into the sea, and presenting a bold front, rather rounded than cliffy in outline. Bluff-bowed. Applied to a vessel that has broad and flat bows, that is, full and square formed; the opposite of lean. Bluff-headed. Built with the stem nearly straight up-and-down. Blunderbuss. A short fire-arm with a large bore and wide mouth. Blunk. A sudden squall. Blustrous. Stormy. Boadnash. Buckhemshein coins of Barbary. Boanga. A Malay piratical vessel impelled by oars. Board. A piece of sawed timber relatively broad and thin. The terms board and plank are often indiscriminately used. See PLANK. The deck or interior of a vessel. To board a vessel is to enter either in a friendly or a hostile manner. The side of a vessel. Overboard, over the side, in the water. In-board, inside, or farther from the side. Out-board, nearer to the side. Board to board, or board and board, side by side. The stretch which a ship makes on one tack in beating to windward. To make a good board, to lose little or nothing to leeward. To make short boards, to tack frequently. When a ship luffs up into the wind until the headway has nearly ceased, and is then made to pay off on the same tack, she is said to make a half-board; with smooth water and a good working breeze a ship can eat her way up to windward in this manner. When the vessel goes astern she makes a sternboard. It is advisable in this case not to put the helm hard over, as great strain would be brought on the rudder. A word applied to certain individuals in a collective capacity who are appointed by competent authority for the management of some public office or trust; as, The Light-house Board (which see); or to perform certain specified duties; as, The Board for the Examination of Officers for Promotion and Retirement (which see), and The Board of Inspection (which see). There are also boards convened from time to time for the purpose of collating facts and expressing opinions, of an advisory character, respecting the matters submitted to them by the convening authority. BOARD, THE ACADEMIC. The collective designation of the heads of the departments of instruction at the Naval Academy. Boarders. The men detailed to attack the enemy by boarding. They are armed with pistols and cutlasses, and are led by the executiveofficer. They are summoned by verbal order and by the springing of the rattle, and assemble in the part of the ship designated, keeping under cover as much as possible. Boarding. The act of entering a vessel, either with hostile intent or in a friendly manner. In boarding with hostile intent the way is cleared for the boarders by a brisk fire from the rifles and machine-guns, by hand-grenades, and by streams of hot water from the steam-pumps. The great guns are depressed, and, at the order board the enemy, the boarders gain the enemy's deck as quickly as possible, and use every endeavor to clear the decks by disabling or driving the men below. While the boarders are absent from their guns, the remaining men keep up as rapid a fire as is possible under the circumstances, and the ports of the guns not in use are closed. If the boarders are driven back they rally on the flanks of the riflemen, taking care to get quickly out of the line of their fire. If the enemy manifest a disposition to board, the marines and riflemen are called away, and open fire from favorable positions, and the great guns, howitzers, and machine-guns are brought to bear on the enemy's boarders. Every effort should be made to shake or disperse them, and, if not successful, it will be necessary, before the enemy closes, to call all hands repel boarders. The marines and riflemen form on the side which is engaged, opposite to the point where the enemy is likely to attempt to enter, the boarders being on the flank and in the rear. The reserves are posted in the rear of the flanks of the riflemen. If the enemy gain a footing he must be charged in force, as the necessity for driving him back at once is absolute. Rallying-points should be designated, and barricades should be constructed. The shaft of a paddle-wheel vessel, or a gun run in to a taut breeching, affords a good shelter. When at close quarters the sword is a more effective weapon than the rifle and bayonet, in which case the bayonets are unfixed and used as swords. When there is a possibility of being boarded, boarding-nettings are got up, and the torpedoes are got ready for use. BOARDING A VESSEL UNDER SAIL. Board to leeward, and do not go alongside while she has stern-way on. See that the line by which the boat rides is long enough to permit the boat to rise and fall with the sea. The line should not be belayed, but kept in hand ready for shipping. Be careful that the masts or oars do not take under the quarter-boats or chains. BOARDING A WRECK. The chief dangers to |