straight against the side of such a
vessel, it would either blow it over, flat on its side, or urge it
slowly _sideways_ over the water, after the fashion of a crab. Now
remove one of these masts--say the stern one--and erect it close to the
lee-side of the vessel (that is, away from the windward-side), still
keeping the sail extended. The immediate effect would be that the sail
would no longer present itself _flatly_ against the wind, but
diagonally. The wind, therefore, after dashing against it would slide
violently off in the direction of the mast that had been removed, that
is, towards the stern. In doing so it would, of course, give the vessel
a shove in the opposite direction; on the very same principle that a
boy, when he jumps violently off a chair, not only sends his body in one
direction, but sends the chair in the opposite direction. So, when the
wind jumps off the sail towards the stern, it sends the ship in the
opposite direction--namely, forward. Reverse this; bring back the mast
you removed to its old place in the centre of the deck, and shift the
_front_ mast near to the lee-bulwarks. The wind will now slide off the
sail towards the _bow_, and force our vessel in the opposite direction--
namely, backward; so that, with the same side wind, two ships may sail
in exactly opposite directions.

By means of the rudder, and placing the sails in various positions, so
as to cause them to press against the masts in a particular manner,
vessels can be made to sail not only with a side wind, but with a breeze
blowing a good deal _against_ them--in nautical phraseology, they can be
made to sail "close to the wind." In short, they can sail in every
direction, except directly in the "teeth" of the wind. Some ships sail
closer to the wind than others; their powers in this respect depending
very much on the cut of their sails and the form of their hulls.

The _Lighter_ is a small, rough, clumsy species of coasting-vessel,
usually of the sloop rig. It is used for discharging cargoes of large
vessels in harbours, and off coasts where the depth of water is not
great. Lighters are usually picturesque-looking craft with dingy sails,
and they seldom carry top-sails of any kind. Being seldom decked, they
are more properly huge boats than little ships. But lighters are not
classed according to their rig,--they may be of any rig, though that of
the sloop is most commonly adopted.

THE CUTTER.

This species of ve