lts at the sides of the port. The men on both sides
haul them taut and stop the parts of the tackles together, with
knittles provided by the Quarter Gunner, and then expend the
remainder of the falls by passing them around the breech of the gun,
through the jaws of the cascabel, and stopping the bights alternately
to the eye-bolts on each side of the port until expended; or, at
four-truck carriages, take two half hitches over the tail of the
brackets, and expend the ends of the falls.

The Train-tackle men hook the train-tackle to the side-tackle bolts on
each side of the port, the double block on the left side, haul the
tackle taut, expend the end round the breech, and stop the parts in
with the side-tackles.[8]

The Gun Captain then directs the Handspikemen, or if the screw is
used, the 2d Captain, to raise the breech so as to level the gun and
bring all parts of the tackles and breeching taut.

The Loader and Sponger put in and secure the upper half-ports, if
directed, and the Loader swabs the deck to collect any loose powder
which may have been scattered on it.

The several persons who provided the arms and implements used in the
exercise, return them to their proper places, or to the persons
appointed to take charge of them, care being taken that the small arms
are unloaded and reported so before they are sent below, unless
otherwise directed by the Captain.

HOUSING LOWER-DECK GUNS.

230. If the lower-deck guns are to be housed, the Gun Captain directs
the gun to be laid square in the middle of the port and run in to a
taut breeching, and if loaded, the load to be drawn. The Loader and
Sponger place the housing-chocks before the front trucks.

The gun is then run close up against the housing-chocks, and the
chocking-quoins are placed square up behind the rear trucks.

The Handspikemen raise the breech to free the quoin; the 2d Captain
withdraws it and the bed; the Handspikemen lower the breech upon the
axletree, so that in case the gun should break adrift, the muzzle will
take the upper port-sill; and the Port-tacklemen lower the port-lid.

The 2d Loader and 1st Shellman bring the port-bar to the Loader and
Sponger, who put it in place across the port, hook the port-hooks in
the ring-bolts in the port-lids, and drive in the keys until the port
is perfectly closed.

The men on both sides shift the side-tackles from the training-bolts
to the securing-bolts, haul them taut, and expend the ends between t