But the jib-sheets led aft, and Dory trimmed them down himself. It was a dead beat to windward to get out of Beechwater, and the two sails were close-hauled. In a moment every thing was in good order, the cable and the halyards had all been disposed of, as directed, and Ben had made a very nice coil of the spare part of the main-sheet on the floor of the standing-room. The crew were surprised to see with how little fuss the boat had got under way. Dory knew how, and every thing seemed to work to a charm for that reason. "Now what tack are we on?" asked the skipper. "On the starboard-tack," replied all of them in one breath, for they had profited by the instructions of Thad in the morning. "Right. And the act of getting under way, as we did, is called 'casting on the starboard-tack,'" added Dory. "Well, we couldn't cast on any other," suggested Hop, as they were all seated in the standing-room. "It would have been just as easy to cast on the port-tack as on the starboard," replied the instructor. "It seems to me that it is just as the wind happens to hit the sails on one side or the other," added Hop. "There is no happen about it. I cast on the starboard because it gives us the longest tack in this pond. When any boat or vessel is at anchor, she points her nose directly into the wind. Then it is as easy to cast on one tack as the other." "But after the mainsail is set, the boat keeps flopping one way and the other," said Con. "If you make fast the main-sheet, it will. In that case, you are to take advantage of the right moment to trip the anchor and set the jib. It is sometimes necessary to sway off the boom to get her in position." By this time the Goldwing was nearing the shore on the west side. CHAPTER XXIX. ALL OF DORY'S CLASS BECOME SKIPPERS. "Ready about!" shouted Dory, with more vim than he usually put into his orders. But there was nothing to do, for any one except Ash at the wheel; for the skipper had not stationed the crew for tacking. He had not had time to do so. The lower block of the main-sheet ran on a traveller, which is an iron rod set a couple of inches above the taffrail, or piece across the top of the stern. The ring under the block plays freely, or travels on it, from one side to the other. As the wind carries the sail and boom over, the sheet-block follows it. Of course, the sheet is trimmed so the boom may be at the right angle with the keel, on whichever tack the boat may be. Dory explained the working of the sheet, and gave the names of the parts of the rigging used. He took hold of the jib-sheets himself, and gave the order to put the helm to port. As the sails began to shake, he cast off the lee-sheet, and passed over to the other side of the standing-room. "Hard a-lee!" he continued, which meant that the helm was to be put down as far as it would go.