The sea-mans grammar and dictionary explaining all the difficult terms in navigation : and the practical navigator and gunner : in two parts / by Captain John Smith, sometimes governour of Virginia, and admiral of New England.

CHAP. XXIII.

Shewing how to amend a Shot, which (by some accident) doth carry over, under, or wide of the Mark intended.

WHEN you have made one Shot, which doth not an∣swer your expectation, it must be either Higher, Low∣er, or Wide of the Mark, or both: To remedy any of which observe these following Rules:

First, If at the first Shot you find the Piece to shoot directly over the Mark; Then so much make your Dispart longer, that the top of it may be just seen from the top of the Base Ring to the stroke of the Shot; and with this new Dispart level your Piece and give Fire.

Secondly, If the first Shot had strook just under the Mark, then bring the Piece to its former position, and mark how much the Dispart is over the stroke of the Shot, and cut off of it just so much as being at the Breech of the Piece, you may discern the top of it, the Mark on the Base Ring, and the stroke of the Shot, in a right Line; and when you have brought it to such a length, level the Piece as before; Prime and give Fire.

Thirdly, If the first Shot had strook on the right hand of the Mark; to mend it, you must level the Piece as before; then standing at the Breech of the Piece, observe the stroke of the Shot over the Dispart, and on that part of the Base Ring which you then look over in a right line towards the Dispart and stroke of the Shot, set up a Pin with a little soft Wax: Then level your Piece to the Mark by this Pin and the Dispart, and then doubtless you will make a good Shot.—For when you level by the Metal of the Base Ring, where the Pin is pla∣ced, and the Mark, the Piece standing at that direction, look over the top of the Dispart, from the mark in the Base Ring, and you shall find the Piece to lie so much to the Left, as the former Shot strook to the Right of the Mark; and should now in all probability hit the Mark.

Fourthly, If the first shot be both wide, and too high, or too low; then use both the foregoing Directions:—First, Re∣gulate the Dispart by making it longer, or cutting of it shor∣ter, by the First and Second Directions hereof, the Shot be∣ing Lower or Higher, and then make Use of this Third Dire∣ction, for Shooting Wide: Which things being done with care and diligence, will doubtless mend a bad Shot.