On the following Saturday morning at daylight, Dory and his class were on board of the Goldwing for an entire day of sailing, and were going to Plattsburg. The sloop had been provisioned for the cruise; and the party were in a high state of enthusiasm, for it had been promised them a week before. Dory had rigged out the flying jib-boom, and put all the "kites" on board, so that the sloop could make the best of a light wind. At four o'clock in the morning, when the party were ready to sail, there was scarcely a breath of air. Thad had taught them all there was to learn about a gaff-topsail, and they had worked the parts and methods over in their own minds. But when they came to apply their knowledge, they found that practice was quite different from theory. "Bend on the gaff-topsail-halyards," said Dory, after the mainsail had been set. This place had been assigned to Archie Pinkler; while Con Bunker was stationed at the tack, and Syl Peckman at the sheet. Dory had put all the running-rigging in place for handling the extra sails, but Archie did not know where to find the halyard. Both ends of this rope were made fast at the rail, on the port-side of the mast. "You will always find the halyards there, Archie; and it is not necessary for you to learn about any other rigging connected with the gaff-topsail at present, though you can't help picking up all the other parts as they are brought into use. Now overhaul the halyards, and see that they are not foul, so that you can hoist the sail without any hitch." The instructor would not allow any one to assist him; and he soon had the rope in running order, and bent it on the sail. When he had hauled the sail up so that the lower clews were just above the deck, Dory stopped him. "Now, Con, bend on the tack," continued the skipper. "We don't bend any thing: what's the use of having such a word?" "That's my son Yoppa's name," added Hop, laughing. "Bend is the nautical word for make fast, and that is the particular reason why I use it. Would you have me say, 'Tie the halyard to the sail'? Bend it on, Con." "I don't know where to look for it." "The end you bend on to the sail is on the port-side, and the end you haul upon is on the starboard-side. It is made fast abaft the cleat used for the halyard, and you never need make a mistake. When Archie hoists the sail to the mast-head, you will stand by the tack on the starboard-side, and haul the rope over the gaff. The sheet is made fast to a cleat on the main-boom, Syl; and, as the sail goes up, you will haul on it just enough to prevent the rope from fouling. Hoist away, Archie." The setting of the sail was a decided success; and with less system, the whole affair might easily have been snarled up, as it often is.