Rollo on the Atlantic

by Jacob Abbott

"Ding—ding! Ding—ding! Ding!"

"Half past two."

"Ding—ding! Ding—ding! Ding—ding!"

"Three!"

"Ding—ding! Ding—ding! Ding-ding! Ding!"

"Half past three."

"Ding—ding! Ding—ding! Ding—ding! Ding—ding!"

"Four o'clock."

"Yes," said the surgeon, "that is eight bells, and that is the end. Now they stop and begin again with one bell, which means half past four; and so they go on to eight bells again, which makes it eight o'clock. The next eight bells is twelve o'clock at night, and the next is at four o'clock in the morning, and the next at eight o'clock. So that eight bells means four o'clock, and eight o'clock, and twelve o'clock, by day; and four o'clock, and eight o'clock, and twelve o'clock, by night."

"Yes," said Rollo, "now I understand it."