=telltale=—An inverted compass, generally mounted on the ceiling of the captain’s cabin. Thus, without going on deck, or even without lifting his head from his pillow, the captain can check up the course the helmsman is steering. =tender=—A small vessel employed to attend a larger one. =tholes= or =thole pins=—Pegs fitted into holes in a boat’s gunwale and between which oars are placed when rowing. =throat=—That part of a gaff that is next to the mast, and the adjoining corner of the sail. =throat halyard=—The rope that elevates the throat. =thwart=—Athwart means across, and in a boat the seats are called the thwarts, because they are placed athwart or across the boat. =tiller=—The handle or beam at the top of the shaft to which the rudder is attached, and by which the rudder is turned. It is in use only on comparatively small vessels. =tonnage=—The measure of a ship’s internal dimensions as the basis for a standard for dues, etc. =top=—In square-rigged ships the platform built on the masts just below the topsails, and to which the sailors climb by means of the ratlines. The name of the mast on which the top is located is prefixed, as, _main top_, _mizzen top_, etc. =topmast=—In a mast built up of two or more parts the topmast is the second from the deck. =topgallant mast=—In a mast built up in sections the topgallant mast is the third section above the deck. =topsail=—The second sail from the deck on any mast of a square-rigged ship. Sometimes ships have lower and upper topsails, but in this case each of these is narrower than the ordinary topsail. The name of the mast on which the topsail is set is prefixed, as, _fore topsail_, _main topsail_, etc. On fore-and-aft rigged vessels the topsail is a triangular sail set between the gaff and the topmast. =topgallant sail=—The third sail from the deck on any mast of a square-rigged ship, except when the ship is equipped with lower and upper topsails, in which case the topgallant sail is the fourth. =topsail schooner=—A schooner which, on the foremast, spreads a square topsail. =torpedo boat=—A small, fast ship of war built to use torpedoes as its major weapons. This type was common during and after the Spanish-American War, but became extinct, or practically so, after the introduction of the torpedo-boat destroyer. =torpedo-boat destroyer=—See DESTROYER. =tramp=—The name usually given to merchant freighters that have no regular routes. They carry almost any cargoes that offer, and may carry them to almost any port. =trawler=—A vessel usually driven by power and used in fishing. It tows a heavy net called a trawl. =trick=—At sea, the time allotted to a man to be at the wheel or on any other duty. =trireme=—In ancient times, a ship propelled by three banks of oars. =trysails=—Small sails used in bad weather when no others can be carried, or, occasionally, for rough work.