Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.
Which when they had taken up, they used helps (or 'stays'), undergirding the ship - that is, passing four or five turns of a cable-laid rope round the hull or frame of the ship, to enable her to resist the violence of the seas, an operation rarely resorted to in modern seamanship.
And, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands. 'The word (as Humphrey says) was sometimes used in that general sense; but with the article [eis (G1519 ) teen ( G3588 ) Surtin (G4950 )] it must be restricted (at least here) to the place properly so called-the Syrtis Major-on the coast of Africa, a gulf dangerous from its shoals, lying southwest of Crete.' It should then be, 'fearing lest they should drift on the Syrtis.'
Strake (or, 'struck') sail, [chalasantes ( G5465) to ( G3588) skeuos ( G4632)]. This cannot be the meaning; for 'it would be equivalent (to use the words of Mr. Smith) to saying that, fearing a certain danger, they deprived themselves of the only possible means of avoiding it, and let themselves be driven directly toward the Syrtis.' The sense must be, 'they lowered the gear,' or, 'let down the tackling;' here, perhaps, referring to the heavy mainyard with the sail attached to it, and hoisting a small storm-sail, instead.
And so were driven - or 'borne along,' on the starboard tack (as Mr. Smith says); the only course by which she could avoid falling into the Syrtis. With this notice concludes the first eventful day.