Scouting For Girls, Official Handbook of the Girl Scouts Part 72

The name of the knot the purpose of which is to tie together two ends of equal thickness, either to make them fast or to lengthen a rope, is the Square or Reef knot. It is made so that the ends come out alongside of the standing part and the knot will not jam. It is used when tying bundles, such as the blanket-roll, and packages; for tying on splints, fastening the ends of a sling or mending broken strings, ropes or cords, as shoestrings, clotheslines, etc. It is the knot used more commonly than any other.

To make the Square Knot:

Take an end in each hand;

Cross the end in the right hand over the end in the left hand;

Bend it around the rope in the left hand;

Cross the end in the left hand over the end in the right hand;

Bend it around the rope in the right hand;

Pull tight.

2. Sheet-bend

Another knot that is used for tying two ends together, generally those of unequal thickness, or for fastening an end to a permanent loop, is the Sheet-bend.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 2a. Sheet Bend: Loose]

[Ill.u.s.tration: 2b. Sheet Bend: Drawn Tight]

To make a Sheet-bend:

Make in the end of the larger rope a small bight or use the permanent loop in its place;

Pa.s.s the end of the smaller rope up through the bight;

Under the bight;

Over the bight;

Under its own standing part;

Pull the loops tight.

This is the way the Girl Scout tied the rope together for the stage hands.

3. Bowline-Knot

If the people on the bridge at Niagara Falls had made a Bowline-knot in the end of the rope before throwing it as a life-line they might have saved one if not three lives. A Bowline is used chiefly for hoisting and lowering; it can be used for a halter or with the Sheet-bend in making a guard-line or fence. It is a knot holding fast a loop which can be made of any size and which will not jam or give.

To make a Bowline-knot:

Take the end in the right hand;

Draw the rope toward you over the palm of the left hand, measuring off as much as is needed to make the required size loop;

Drop the end;

Make a small bight in the palm of the left hand by turning the rope toward the ends of the fingers;

Take the end in the right hand;

Pa.s.s it up through the bight;

Back of and around the standing part;

Down through the bight;

Pull the end and the rope forming the loop against the standing part.

When the Bowline is used for hoisting or lowering a person as in case of fire, the loop should be large enough to be used as a seat; it should be pa.s.sed over the head and shoulders, the standing part in front of the body, to be held on to with both hands.

When using a rope for a life-line:

Fasten securely one end to something that will not give.

Make a Bowline at the other end of the line large enough to go over the head and shoulders;

Hold the knot in the right hand, the end toward you;

Take the standing part in the left hand, measure off about three feet of rope;

Draw the rope toward you, pa.s.s it over the palm of the right hand and hold fast.

Again measure off the same amount, draw the rope toward you, pa.s.s it over the palm of the right hand, and hold fast;

Continue this process until enough rope is coiled to more than cover the distance to the person in the water.

Grasp the coil firmly in the right hand;

Hold the standing part in the left hand;

Draw the right arm back from the shoulder;

[Ill.u.s.tration: 3. Bowline]

Swing the arm forward and throw the coil out over the water to the person in distress;

Make sure that the person in the water gets a firm grasp on the rope;

Quickly take the standing part in both hands;

Pull on the rope with a hand over hand motion, keep the line taut and pull the person to safety.