Page 424 - The Ashley Book of Knots

TRICKS AND PUZZLES

2576. Puzzle: To hold in hand the opposite corners of an un-

knotted handkerchief and, without once letting go, to tie a knot in

the handkerchief. This has also been called the "FOURTH-DI1\1EN-

SIONAL KNOT" because it appears from nowhere in particular. The

spectators having failed to solve the puzzle, the performer seats

himself at a table with a handkerchief stretched before him. He

folds his arms and dallies negligently, first with one end of the hand-

2576
kerchief, then the other; suddenly, as he unfolds his arms, the knot

appears.

It is necessary to get hold of both ends of the handkerchief with

the finger tips while the arms are folded. When the arms are un-

folded the knot is transferred from the arms to the handkerchief.

2577. To spill a REEF or SQUARE KNOT that has been tied by one of

the audience. While talking you ostensibly tighten the knot by pull-

ing at first one end and then the other, and at the right moment, un-

seen by the audience, you pull and straighten out the knot as shown

__ _ LV .... L_ -A,i·-.---~=- -.C __ ~ ___ ~1 __ 1 _~ ___ ~ ..... L ______ L __ ..l "l"lTL __________ _
-~ -~- --=- ::-~~ ---U; -~~'li(;:--u agi-all j~;~ Gu-v-cr->(HC--1UTU(: - WTi..l (~y0-11.r -. Ca.ll u-.-------y"i°-J.I..:il.- ~y 0' u·v 'p(;;Yi- -

your hand there is no knot, it having slipped off the end as shown by

the arrows in the second diagram. This is the way sailors untie reef

• 2577
pomts.

2578. To untie a CLOVE HITCH. Take a stiff piece of rope about

four yards long; new sash cord three eighths of an inch in diameter

is recommended. Have a member of the audience tie a CLOVE HITCH

with a long end tightly around a square upturned table or chair

leg.

Then in an unhurried way stroll around and around the table

leg, and the audience, to their amazement, will see the much- 2S76

respected knot unwind itself without offering any resistance what-

ever.

2579. The WHATNOT provides one of the prettiest of rope tricks.

Take two pieces of sash cord or banding each five feet long. Tie the

knot loosely as in the center diagram and grasp the two untied ends

in the hands. Pull on the two ends and the knot will take the form

2S1'3
of the left diagram and roll before the spectators' eyes from one

end of the rope to the other. Watch the rope carefully and as it

twists (which it will) untwist the ends just enough to relieve it.

Shift your grip as frequently as is necessary. When the knot has

traveled the full length of the ropes, let go the two ends you have

in hand, and roll the knot back again by pulling on the other two

ends. If the knot tends to tighten shift back to the opposite ends

and keep the knot moving. Finally, as you watch closely, you will

see the two ends shift position and take the form shown in the right

diagram. (The difference is in the upper center crossing.) At once

stop pulling and invite two spectators to assist you. Give each one

an end to pull. They will be utterly unable to move the knot the

fractional part of an inch.

2580. To tie a SQUARE KNOT in the bight. A puzzle, shown to me
2580

by Arthur Carlsen. Get your cord into the form of each diagram in

turn, before proceeding to the ne-xt.