feel if
the Charge is home.

Nos. 3 and 4 return the rammer.

Nos. 7 and 8, 11 and 12 whip up Shot (or shell), as has been
previously ordered. Nos. 11 and 12 choke luff of whip. Nos. 7 and 8
run shot (or shell) to the muzzle. No. 5, assisted, if necessary, by
No. 6, bears over, when 3 and 4 enter and ram home by sections.

No. 4 removes Patches and passes them to 7, who hands them to Gun
Captain.

IV. "PRIME!"

423. Gun Captain again makes sure that the Vent is clear. No. 2 primes
with priming-powder from a flask or a blank musket-cartridge.

V. "ELEVATE!" (OR DEPRESS).

(Always done before running out.)

424. No. 2 handles lever of Elevating screw under the direction of the
Officer of the piece, who sets the trunnion-sight at the proper degree
of elevation and clamps it there. When the bubble of the
trunnion-level is in the centre,--"Well."

Nos. 3 and 4 lift the muzzle by a section of the rammer-handle; the
preponderance not being sufficient to overcome the friction of the
trunnions in the cap-squares. No. 3 passes to the right of the muzzle.

VI. "RUN OUT!"

425. Nos. 7, 8, 11, and 12 man Truck-crank to run out. Nos. 9 and 10
ease compressor. Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 6 man port-tackle: as muzzle
approaches port-stopper, "Open Port!"

As soon as the gun is out, Nos. 11 and 12 unship truck-crank and place
it clear of gun-slide. No. 9 to Compressor-wheel, which he heaves hand
taut. No 10 ships ratchet-levers and heaves well taut.[43] Gun Captain
inserts percussion-primer.

VII. "TRAIN RIGHT!" (OR LEFT).

426. The officer of the gun sights through sight-hole, and orders
"Right!" or "Left!" as the muzzle is to go. The Engineer at the
starting-bar revolves the turret.

No. 1 to lock-string; when the object comes in view, Officer of piece
gives order.

VIII. "READY--FIRE!"

427. Gun Captain pulls lock-string. No. 3 lets go port-tackle. No. 5
closes port. Engineer revolves the turret so as to point the gun
abeam. (This gets the scuttle clear for passing up ammunition.)

[Illustration: TRUNNION LEDGE AND LEVEL FOR XV INCH GUN. D. Van
Nostrand Publisher. Julius Bien, pr.]

_If necessary,_

Nos. 11 and 12 ship crank, and, with 7 and 8, run the gun in; Nos. 9
and 10 easing compressor. No. 10 ships ratchet-lever to ease
compressor, No. 9 easing it further by hand. The gun is now ready for
loading, and the exercise proceeds as before.

428. The exercise of the left gun is in all respects the same,