The reins were strained taut like a yacht's cordage, but the mare was in the hollow of his strong hand.
He watched the mainsail hauled taut like a board, lest it should shiver.
Everything was made taut and trim for them by the brig's crew.
The masts were lofty and tapering, the rigging neat and trim, and every stay as taut as iron.
The taut Guard-ship bristling with big guns seemed to look down kindly on the little vessel, and even the grim old hulks, otherwise sulky enough, appeared to wish her well as she loosed her white sails to a gentle breeze.
The fall of each halyard was coiled and put under the taut part.
Deftly she bound his handkerchief about his arm, drawing ittaut with all her strength.
Out of the void taut fingers came and clasped his own.
Doughty had to unstiffen a knee to prevent himself coming taut and prone on the ground, and a hard shove with Ishmael's elbow, thrown backwards against his shoulder, combined with the leg-play to send him spinning sideways.
Those two big velvet-dark yews that stood sentinel either side of the porch would look splendid when clipped taut and square.
She held the pin toward him; he shook his head; she hesitated, then with a quick movement she snapped the clasp over the taut line and sent it spinning toward the invisible fish.
If there is any roll on, get the hawser set up fiddle-string taut with the tackle, then place all hands so as to surge it sideways every time she lifts on the sea.
The only danger from wire is in setting it up too taut when at its full stretch, but this, in such length as go to make the shrouds of a yacht, is little to be feared.
These lines are extremely useful when anchored in a sea way; by hauling them taut over either quarter you can relieve the strain on the head of the post and gear attached to it.
In the meanwhile I am obliged to taut to him with severity.
That bodkin he drove into the edge of one of the panels of the wainscot, in line with the topmost step; drawing the cord taut at a height of a foot or so above this step, he made fast its other end to the newel-post at the stair-head.
Malay passed the cord over the head of the young orang, and hauled it taut around his neck.
It was laced very taut to the rods, and had slope enough to make the water run off.
Both of the saurians struggled and lashed the dark water into a foam; but both of the men in the sampan kept the line as taut as they could with all their strength; and this is the rule in hauling in all gamey fish.
A groan of satisfaction went up from the taut onlookers.
It was taut and stout, and shone like a gossamer in the mist.
As a matter of course, the ships astern made sail in the same manner, and hauled up on taut bowlines, following the admiral.
Fuller hung there, bent double by the immense weight of him, crushed to painful contact with the taut muscles that carried the strain.
Nevertheless it set the guard back on his heels and split the taut skin where it landed.
With a mighty effort he raised his head to look up into the grinning yellow face of the guard, and his thick neck muscles were taut gnarled ridges under the strain.
Black Hood's voice rang out, and then like a slim arrow unleashed from a taut drawn bow Black Hood sped up the tarvia drive toward where the low slung roadster that belonged to Jeff Weedham was parked.
He could think a little bit more clearly now and the muscles of his powerful body were much more inclined to obey the dictates of his taut nerves.
They are not many, or of a poetical order,' said Glew, with his faint taut smile.
Then another rope is wound round the drum and carried to a capstan, and when that is turned, it turns the drum and the axle-tree, the ropes gettaut as they wind round regularly, and thus they raise the loads smoothly and with no danger.
So, in the same manner, they are passed through to the other side, and stretched taut on the windlasses by means of the handspikes until they give the same sound.
Stuart, re-living in talk one of their strenuous battling hours at sea, when every nerve was strained taut to catch the racing tide into harbour.
Their rounded tops had grown fat, and the tough skin grewtaut as if a strange pressure were being applied from within.
Its tough skin was taut and bulging, resisting the pressure of the spores within.
The hawser was as taut as a bowstring--so strong she pulled upon her anchor.
So far so good; but it next occurred to my recollection that a taut hawser, suddenly cut, is a thing as dangerous as a kicking horse.
Then the knife flew, and penetrated the thin, taut wall, to its handle.
What his fingers flattened against was not a tight, solid surface, but rather an unseen elastic curtain which gave a little under his prodding and then drew taut again.
His face, moments earlier taut and sharp with intelligence, was suddenly slack, his tone slurred as he answered: "Looks like an old shipmate.
Then the weaver dropped to opposite points, unreeling his slender rope behind him and making it taut and fast.
If the catch is heavy enough to draw the line from the reel it is allowed to do so, but the line should be kept taut and reeled in the second he hesitates.
Give him line, but keep ittaut (not tight), and don't become excited.
He then carries the loose end under the corners and ends of the aparejo, and draws that taut and ties the end fast by a half hitch near the cincha end of the lash rope.
He then, with the left hand at the rear corner H, pulls taut and holds solid, while with the right hand in front of G, he takes up slack.
The second packer pulls taut the parts on his side, taking up the slack.
It was drawn by three white steeds that fought with hoof and teeth, the taut reins held in the shield hand of Semiramis.
But still she rose, though her lungs were like to burst, and the sinews across her chest were taut with pain.
It was just the sort of wind for the trial of a new craft--barely ruffling the surface of the sea, and yet filling the sail till its sheet was as taut as a bow-string.
