minutes
from the beat of drum, the guns being secured for sea, and no notice
of what was contemplated announced to men or officers save by the
signal for quarters.

This form of exercise therefore proceeds on the assumption that the
cannon are not loaded, but the order of the commands may be varied to
suit the circumstances of the case.

204. Guns should never remain loaded longer than necessary, as the
cartridge speedily deteriorates by the effects of moisture. If a shell
has been loaded twenty-four hours it should be drawn and refuzed.

[Illustration: MARSILLY CARRIAGE FOR IX. INCH SHELL GUN D. Van
Nostrand Publisher. Julius Bien, pr.]

I. "SILENCE! MAN THE STARBOARD (OR PORT) GUNS!"

205. At this preparatory order the strictest silence is to be
observed. The Captain faces the port, the men, on the right and left,
stand facing the gun; all fix their eyes on the Captain and
attentively wait for orders.

II. "CAST LOOSE AND PROVIDE!"

206. The GUN CAPTAIN commands, sees his gun cleared and cast loose,
portlid unbarred ready for tricing up, or half ports taken out; side
and train tackles hooked, the side-tackle to the side training-bolt,
and the train-tackle to the eye-bolt in the deck in the rear of the
gun; casts loose and middles breeching and places selvagee straps and
toggles amidships; takes off lock-cover, and hands it to the
train-tackleman, who places it amidships; buckles on his waist-belt
(furnished as directed in Article 150); provides himself with a
priming-wire; puts on and secures his thumbstall; and sees that the
gear and implements for the service of the gun are all in place and
ready for use, and that the men are properly equipped.

When the gun is ready for action he sees that the men take their
proper positions, and reports to the Officer of the subdivision to
which he belongs.

It is important that the battery shall be completely provided at every
exercise, otherwise something is sure to be omitted in preparing for
action.

207. 2D CAPTAIN assists in casting loose and middling breeching; takes
off and places amidships sight-covers, selvagee straps, and toggles;
handles quoin; provides thumbstalls, priming-wires, and boring-bit,
and equips himself with the first two; clears lock-string and lays it
in a loose coil round the lock, convenient for use, and buckles on his
waist-belt furnished as 1st Captain's. If the gun is furnished with an
elevating screw, elevates the gun, that the lo