Sentence:  While in the school-ships the boys would be instructed in the elements of an ordinary education, in addition to being taught to row, heave the lead, <WSD>box the compass</WSD>, go aloft, reef, steer, and work the guns. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To know, and be able to recite the 32 points and quarter points of the magnetic compass from North, both clockwise and anticlockwise.