Tying the Hands.—­To tie a man’s hands behind his back, take a handkerchief, it is the best thing; failing that, a thin cord.  It is necessary that its length should not be less than 2 feet, but 2 feet 6 inches is the right length; for a double tie, it should be 3 feet 6 inches.  Compel him to lay his hands as in the sketch, and, wrapping the cord once (or twice if it be long enough) round the arms, pretty tightly, pass the longest end in between the arms as shown in the figure, and tie quite tightly.  If you are quick in tying the common “tom-fool’s knot,” well known to every sailor, it is still better for the purpose.  Put the prisoner’s hands one within each loop, then draw tightly the running ends, and knot them together.

[Sketch of hands tied as above].

Tying the Thumbs.—­To secure a prisoner with the least amount of string, place his hands back to back, behind him, then tie the thumbs together, and also the little fingers.  Two bits of thin string, each a foot long, will thoroughly do this.  But if you have not any string at hand, cut a thong from his leathern apron, or tear a strip from you own linen.

[Sketch of person with bound hands].

Strait-Waistcoats.—­A strait-waistcoat is the least inconvenient mode of confinement, as the joints of the prisoner are not cut by cords.  A makeshift for one is soon stitched together, by stitching a piece of canvas into the shape of a sleeve, and sewing one end of this to one cuff of a strong jacket, and the other end to the other cuff; so that, instead of the jacket having two sleeves, it has but one long one.  The jacket is then put on in the usual way, and buttoned and sewn in front.  In a proper strait-waistcoat, the opening is behind and the sleeves in front; it laces up behind.

[Sketch of man in waistcoat].

Tying up a Prisoner for the night.—­If a man has to be kept prisoner all night, it is not sufficient to tie his hands, as he will be sure to watch his time and run away.  It is therefore necessary to tie them round a standing tree, or a heavy log of wood.  A convenient plan is to fell a large forked bough, and to make the man’s arms fast round one of the branches.  It is thus impossible for him to slip away, as the fork on one side, and the bushy top of the branch on the other, prevent his doing so; and, notwithstanding his cramped position, it is quite possible for him to get sleep.

Files of Prisoners.—­When several men have to be made fast and marched away, the usual method of securing them is to tie them, one behind another, to a long pole or rope.

In marching off a Culprit, make him walk between two of your men, while a third carrying a gun, walks behind him.  If riding alone, tie the prisoner’s hands together, and, taking your off-stirrup leather (for want of a cord), pass it round his left arm, and round your horse’s girth, and buckle it.  The off-stirrup leather is the least inconvenient one to part with, on account of mounting, and the prisoner is under your right hand.