On shipboard time is kept by means of "Bells," though there is but one bell on the ship, and to strike the clapper properly against the bell requires some skill.

First, two strokes of the clapper at the interval of a second, then an interval of two seconds; then two more strokes with a second's interval apart, then a rest of two seconds, thus:

Bell, one second; B., two seconds; B. s; B. ss, B. s; B. ss; B.

1 Bell is struck at 12:30, and again at 4:30, 6:30, 8:30 p. m.; 12:30, 4:30 and 8:30 a. m.

2 Bells at 1 (struck with an interval of a second between each - B. s, B.), the same again at 5, 7, and 9 p.m.; 1, 5 and 9 A. M.

3 Bells at 1:30 (B. s, B. ss, B.), 5:30, 7:30, and 9:30 p. m.; 1:30, 5:30 and 9:30 a. m.

4 Bells at 2 (B. s, B. ss, B. s, B.), 6 and 10 P. m.; 2, 6, and 10 A. M.

5 Bells at 2:30 (B. s, B. ss, B. s, B. ss, B.) and 10:30 p. m.; 2:30, 6:30 and 10:30 a. m.

6 Bells at 3 (B. s, B. ss, B. s, B. ss, B. s, B.) and 11 p. m.; 7, 3 and 11 p. M.

7 Bells at 3:30 (B. s, B. ss, B. s, B. ss, B. s, B. ss, B.) and 11:30 p. m.; 3:30, 7:30 and 11:30 a. m.

8 Bells (B. s, B. ss, B. s, B. ss, B. s, B. ss, B. s, B.) every 4 hours, at noon, at 4 P. M., 8 p. m., midnight, 4 a. m. and 8 a. m.