A leading block for the tow-rope is placed on the deck by span or bolt a few feet in front of the brake. The safety-key reel, if used, must be fixed in a convenient position on deck, that the man attending it can see how to control it; in a properly-constructed vessel he would be in the pilot-house. The safety-key line leads through a small leading block on the ensign-staff or some convenient point abaft the lead of the tow-rope, that it may be kept well clear of it. The leading block on the yard may be fitted with a lizard, if thought necessary. A sharp instrument should be kept by the brakes ready to sever the tow-rope. PREPARATIONS FOR LAUNCHING AND TOWING. [Illustration: (Z)] The torpedoes, port and starboard, loaded and ballasted, having been hoisted out of the torpedo-room, are placed on the deck on their own sides, with their heads forward under the leading block, and the number of buoys required for each, placed abaft them, strung together as directed (p. 17); the necessary number of exploding bolts having also been taken from the bolt magazine, are now entered into the torpedoes, and forced down until their safety keys rest on the brasswork, taking care that each safety key points in the direction of the eye through which its lanyard has to pass; the brass guard is now taken off, and after top lever placed in the crutch of the exploding bolt; the fore top lever is now placed on the shoulder of the after one, and the two levers secured by their lanyards, as directed in pages 12 and 13. The eye at the end of the buoy-rope is now rove through the large or small ring in the stern end of the torpedo (see p. 17). The tow-rope having been previously rove through the leading block on the deck and on the yard, is rove through the thimble of the slings from forward aft, and bent, with a single or double sheet bend, to the eye of the buoy-rope. The safety-key line having been previously rove through the leading block on the ensign-staff, and the lanyard on the safety key having been led through the eye of the handle, making a fair lead with the slit in the bolt, are bent together with a double-sheet bend, and stopped to the eye by a split yarn of suitable strength, the yarn having been secured outside the bend. It can also be stopped with another split yarn to the slings near the thimble of the slings. The torpedo is now ready for launching. LAUNCHING THE TORPEDO.