e would think because they didn't come
home. It was now quite dark, and there was not a single star to relieve
the gloom of the scene. John even went so far as to admit that it
"looked kind of pokerish," and he was glad they were in so comfortable a
place.

"Come, Paul, isn't it time to turn in?" asked John, after they had come
to the unanimous conclusion that it was a decidedly stormy night.

"You can turn in, John, if you want to," replied Paul.

"Ain't you going to sleep any to-night?"

"I have no idea of leaving the Fawn to take care of herself in such
weather as this."

"Are you going to sit up all night?" asked John.

"It isn't customary, I believe, on board ship, for all hands to turn in,
and let the vessel take her chance."

"There is no danger here."

"If we both go to sleep, we may wake up and find ourselves nowhere.
Suppose the wind should change to the eastward; we should be fully
exposed to all the fury of the storm."

"I didn't think of that. Suppose we watch by turns, then."

"Very well; I will keep the first watch, and you may turn in as soon as
you please."

"What is that?" asked John as he heard three strokes of a bell.

"There is a large ship at anchor off there."

"But it isn't three o'clock yet. Her clocks must be out of order."

"Three bells; that is half-past nine o'clock."

"I don't understand it; how should three bells mean half-past nine?"
inquired John, who did not like to leave any nautical subject till it
had been fully investigated.

"It begins to rain, and we may as well sit in the cuddy;" and they both
retreated to the little cabin, and seated themselves on their berths.
"If we only had a lantern to hang up in here, we should be perfectly at
home."

"We will bring one next time; but about the bells, Paul?"

"Well, they have two watches on board ship, which are called the larbord
and the starbord watches. In large vessels, they are under the care of
the first and second mates. The twenty-four hours, on board ship, are
divided into five watches of four hours each, and two dog-watches of two
hours each. During these watches, the bell is struck every half hour;
that is, one bell at half past eight; two bells at nine, three bells at
half-past nine; and so on, till twelve, when it is eight bells, at which
time one watch goes below, and the other comes on deck. At half past
twelve the bell strikes one again; at one it strikes twice, and so on.
Do you understand me?"

"I