Chapter V: How “Knot” to Do Several Things

Every day sailors, explorers, mechanics and mountain-climbers risk their lives on the knots that they tie. Thousands of lives have been sacrificed to ill-made knots. The scout therefore should be prepared in an emergency, or when necessity demands, to tie the right knot in the right way.

There are three qualities to a good knot: (1) Rapidity with which it can be tied; (2) Its ability to hold fast when pulled tight, and (3) The readiness with which it can be undone.

The following knots, recommended to scouts, are the most serviceable because they meet the above requirements and will be of great help in scoutcraft. If the tenderfoot will follow closely the various steps indicated in the diagrams, he will have little difficulty in reproducing them at pleasure.

In practising knot-tying, a short piece of hemp rope may be used. To protect the ends from fraying, a scout should know how to “whip” them. The commonest method of “whipping” is as follows:

Lay the end of a piece of twine along the end of the rope. Hold it to the rope with the thumb of your left hand while you wind the standing part around it and the rope until the end of the twine has been covered. Then with the other end of the twine lay a loop back on the end of the rope and continue winding the twine upon this second end until all is taken up. The end is then pulled back tight and cut off close to the rope.

For the sake of clearness, a scout must constantly keep in mind these three principal parts of the rope:

1. _The Standing Part_—The long unused portion of the rope on
which he works;

2. _The Bight_—The loop formed whenever the rope is turned back
upon itself; and,

3. _The End_—The part he uses in leading.

Before proceeding with the tenderfoot requirements, a scout should first learn the two primary knots: the overhand and figure-of-eight knots.

After these preliminary steps, the prospective tenderfoot may proceed to learn the required knots.

Start with the position shown in the preceding diagram. Back the
end around the standing part and up through the bight and draw
tight.

Make a bight as before. Then lead the end around back of the
standing part and down through the bight.

The commonest knot for tying two ropes together. Frequently used
in first-aid bandaging. Never slips or jams; easy to untie.

If the ends are not crossed correctly when making the reef knot,
the false reef or granny is the result. This knot is always bad.

This knot is used in bending the sheet to the clew of a sail and
in tying two rope-ends together.

Make a bight with one rope _A_, _B_, then pass end _C_ of other
rope up through and around the entire bight and bend it under
its own standing part.

A noose that neither jams nor slips. Used in lowering a person
from a burning building, etc.

Form a small loop on the standing part leaving the end long
enough for the size of the noose required. Pass the end up
through the bight around the standing part and down through the
bight again. To tighten, hold noose in position and pull
standing part.

A bight is first formed and an overhand knot made with the end
around the standing part.

Used for shortening ropes. Gather up the amount to be shortened,
then make a half hitch round each of the bends as shown in the
diagram.

Used to fasten one pole to another in fitting up scaffolding;
this knot holds snugly; is not liable to slip laterally.

Hold the standing part in left hand, then pass the rope around
the pole; cross the standing part, making a second turn around
the pole, and pass the end under the last turn.

Used aboard yachts for bending on the gaff topsail halliards. It
consists of two turns around a spar or ring, then a half hitch
around the standing part and through the turns on the spar, and
another half hitch above it around the standing part.

Used in hauling timber. Pass the end of the rope around the
timber. Then lead it around its standing part and bring it back
to make two or more turns on its own part. The strain will hold
it securely.

Useful because they are easily made and will not slip under any
strain. Their formation is sufficiently indicated by the
diagram.

Used to secure a rope to a hook, standing part when hauled tight
holds the end firmly.

For joining a cord to a rope. May be easily made from diagram.

Used for tying silk-worm gut for fishing purposes. It never
slips; is easily unloosed by pulling the two short ends.

The two ropes are laid alongside one another, then with each end
an overhand knot is made around the standing part of the other.
Pull the standing parts to tighten.

Used in uniting hawsers for towing. Is easily untied by pushing
the loops inwards.

Turn the end of one rope _A_ over its standing part _B_ to form
a loop. Pass the end of the other rope across the bight thus
formed, back of the standing part _B_ over the end _A_, then
under the bight at _C_, passing it over its own standing part
and under the bight again at _D_.