its supposed track; or (3) to run outward, to one side or the other, away from the centre. The state of wind and sea, the seaworthiness of the ship, and the proximity of land are all factors which may modify the action to be taken at any time during the continuance of the storm. Only one rule is absolute, viz: If obliged to lie-to, do so on the coming-up tack. The reason for this is two-fold: first, it avoids being taken aback, an occurrence which might prove fatal where shifts of wind are sudden and heavy in a rough sea; and second, it keeps the ship's head to the old sea which is naturally slower in drawing aft than the wind. This rule, like the one for determining the semicircle, is common to all cyclonic storms in either the northern or the southern hemisphere.

To understand the reasons for the other rules, see figure E, which represents a cyclone in the northern hemisphere. The short arrows show the direction of the winds, incurving two points on all sides of the storm; the path of the storm centre is toward N.N.E., in the direction of the long

arrow.

Then the ship at a has the wind at E.N. E.; she is to the left of the track, or in the left semicircle. The ship at b has the wind at E. S. E., and is in the dangerous semicircle. As the cyclone advances, these ships, if lying-to, take the successive positions a1, a2, etc., and b1, b2, etc., respectively. The wind of ship a shifts to the left as shown by the arrows; so in lying-to on the starboard tack, her wind will draw ahead and she may be struck aback, for the shifts are sometimes sudden and very heavy. Since the sea changes less rapidly than the wind, the old sea will draw aft as the ship falls off. Even if not struck aback it is always dangerous to get stern-on to a heavy sea unless driving fast before it. Evidently ship a should be laid-to on the port tack. It is also clear that she should be kept under scant canvas on the port tack lest she make too much headway and run into the centre. However, stress of weather usually regulates that. With plenty of sea room the ship at a may be able to run out of the severe part of the storm along the faint dotted line drawn from that position. Still, at that assumed position, or rather with the wind at E.N.E., as shown, the ship a, if on our coast north of Hatteras, has grave doubts as to the semicircle she is in; she will probably lie-to on the starboard tack for a time to watch the barometer and the shifting of the wind. If her barometer falls decidedly, and the wind holds steady and increases, she will think herself directly in the track of the storm-a very dangerous situation-and will bear up, doubtless, while she can, and run off along the dotted line. If, however, the wind "backs" (shifts to the left), while at a, she will decide that

she is in the left semicircle and will run, or else lie-to on the port tack under storm sail.

Assuming again that the storm track is along the large arrow, the other ship b, being laid-to in the right semicircle, will have shifts of wind to the right, and being laidto on the starboard tack, her wind in that semicircle will gradually draw aft. As she comes up to the gradually shifting wind she will come head-on to the old sea. Plainly, then b is on the proper tack. But sailing ships are not always laid-to in storms. For example: Both a and b may be able to run to the southward after the centre has passed. It is sometimes the case that ships take advantage of the character of cyclonic winds to make a quick passage.

Reverting to the case of ship b, she may, finding herself nearly in front of the centre, and fearing that the storm track may recurve towards her, decide to run for safety across the front, into the other semicircles, along the dotted line. This is sometimes done. Another advantage occasionally taken of the known rotary movement of the wind is, when in a gale at sea, to anchor the ship, or lay her to, under a weather shore, the commander feeling sure that the wind in shifting will have the effect to afford him a continuous lee under the land.

In Front of the Storm Centre. If the ship is on or very near the track of the advancing storm centre, the squalls will freshen without any decided shift of wind. Here, as in all other cases, the lower clouds will give the approximate bearing of the centre, by the eightpoint rule; if the barometer falls decidedly (say half an inch), and the wind remains steady in direction, the ship should run with the wind aft on the starboard quarter and keep the compass course thus taken. An exception to this rule is made where a ship finds herself in a "Belt of Intensified Trade Winds."

Belt of Intensified Trade Winds. When. a hurricane is moving along the equatorial limits of a tradewind region there is a belt of intensified trades to windward of its track, and outside of the true storm area. In this case the assumption might be made, judging by the character of the weather, the steadiness of the wind, and its increase in force, that the vessel is on the track in advance of the storm. Not until the barometer has fallen six-tenths of an inch below the normal should this be assumed. By attempting too early to cross the track, running free as soon as the wind begins to freshen, a vessel is liable to plunge directly into the vortex.

On the other hand, it should be noted that in this portion of its path the motion of the centre is slow, sometimes less than 10 miles per hour, and it is possible for a swift vessel, by skillful seamanship and careful observa

tion, to outstrip the hurricane (indicated by a slow rise of the barometer), and to cross its track in comparative safety; but it should always be remembered that within the region of tropical hurricanes, and during the season of their occurrence, to continue to carry on with a fair wind, which increases in strength while the barometer falls, can only be attempted with great risk.

SUMMARY OF RULES.

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE.

To recapitulate the rules of action by which a ship should be governed in a cyclone may be summarized under five heads:

RULE 1.—If the squalls freshen without any shift of wind, you are on or near the storm track: heave-to on the starboard tack and watch for some indications of a shift, observing the low clouds particularly; if the barometer falls decidedly (say half an inch) without any shift, and if wind and sea permit, run off with the wind on the starboard quarter and keep your compass course.

RULE 2.-If the wind shifts to the right, you are to the right of the storm track, in the dangerous semicircle: put the ship on the starboard tack and make as much headway as possible until obliged to lie-to (starboard tack).

RULE 3.-If the wind shifts to the left, you are to the left of the storm track, in the navigable semicircle: bring the wind on the starboard quarter and keep your compass course; if obliged to lie-to, do so on the port tack, and make as little headway as possible.

RULE 4.-In scudding, keep the wind well on the starboard quarter, in order to run out of the storm.

RULE 5.-If you decide to lie-to, always do so on the coming-up tack.

N. B. While cyclones in any one hemisphere are much the same the world over, local peculiarities and occasional irregularities are such as to justify the caution against following any thumb rule made to fit every case.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

The first manoeuvre of heaving-to, in order to watch the wind, should be on the port tack. Facing the wind, the bearing of the storm centre will be ten or more points to the left, or about eight points to the left of the direction from which the lower clouds are coming.

If no decided shifts of wind take place, you are on, or near, the path of the centre; in which case, as the squalls

freshen and the barometer continues to fall, you should put the ship before the wind and keep the course so taken.

The rules for finding what semicircle you are in are the same in both hemispheres. Shifts of wind to the left show that you are in the left semicircle. Shifts of wind to the right show that you are in the right semicircle. the southern hemisphere the left is the more dangerous semicircle.

Finding the ship to be in the left semicircle, carry sail as long as possible on the port tack. If obliged to lie-to, do so on the same tack, making as much headway as you can, because you are heading away from the storm centre.

In the right semicircle, run with wind on the port quarter; note the course and keep it. If obliged to lie-to, do so on the starboard tack, and make as little headway as possible, because you are heading toward the storm centre. In lying-to, always use the coming-up tack; this rule is absolute.

CHAPTER XXVII.

IN A GALE-SCUDDING-LYING TO-RUDDER GONE-CUTTING AWAY MASTS-USE OF OIL.

LET the wind be supposed to be increasing gradually, the topsails to be single reefed, and the topgallant sails furled.

To Take In the Jib, and Set the Fore Topmast Staysail. Man the jib downhaul! Topmast staysail halliards! Clear away the downhaul! HOIST AWAY! Clear away the halliards! HAUL DOWN! The jib sheet should be eased down. In setting the staysail, first then ease it off as the sail goes up. jib when blowing hard, it is always off if possible.

off as the sail comes haul aft the sheet, and To take in and stow a better to run the ship

As the wind freshens, take a second reef in the topsails, and a single reef in the courses.

The wind increasing, to take a third reef in the topsails proceed as with the second reef, observing not to brace the topsail or lower yards too sharp up. Get preventer-braces and parrels on. See Chapter XXI.

To Haul up and Furl the Mainsail. Man the main clew-garnets and buntlines! the weather clew-garnet, both buntlines and leechlines are manned. Before starting anything, haul taut the lee main lift, and ease off a fathom or two of the main sheet. Ease away the main tack and bowline! HAUL UP TO WINDWARD!

The lee buntline is hauled up as far as it will go.

When the weather clew is up, Ease away the main sheet! HAUL UP TO LEEWARD! Run up all the gear, send the men aloft and furl the sail, keeping the ship as near the wind as possible, and not sending the men on the yard until it is secured and sail hauled close up. *

To Send Down Royal Yards. The officer of the deck commands, Get the royal yards ready for coming down! At this order, the royal yardmen lay aloft and unbend royal gear, stop the yard rope out to leeward, bend the tripping-line to the snorter to windward, and send it down to windward and abaft everything; the topmen on deck

* If the main yard is weak, get a jumper on the weather yard-arm, before starting the main tack.