After the commander the lieutenants. Of these in a battleship three or four are lieutenant-commanders, and five or six lieutenants. The senior of these is known as the first lieutenant, or, less officially, as "No. 1". In smaller ships they are, of course, fewer. One of these will be the gunnery lieutenant, another navigating lieutenant, and a third torpedo lieutenant. The remainder are classed as watch-keepers, in which duty they are now assisted when in harbour by the officers of marines belonging to the ship. As everyone knows, the day and night on board ship are divided into periods of four hours, known as "watches", except for the "dog watches" of two hours apiece. They run as follows:-- NAME. TIME. BELLS. Middle watch ... Midnight to 4 a.m. ... 8 to 8 Morning watch ... 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. ... 8 to 8 Forenoon watch ... 8 a.m. to noon ... 8 to 8 Afternoon watch ... noon to 4 p.m. ... 8 to 8 1st Dog watch ... 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. ... 8 to 4 2nd Dog watch ... 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. ... 4 to 8 First watch ... 8 p.m. to midnight ... 8 to 8 The bell is struck, generally by the marine sentry posted nearest to it, or the corporal of the gangway, every half-hour, after reporting the time to the officer of the watch, and being instructed to "make it so". Thus at 8.30 in the morning he strikes it once, at 9 twice--two strokes quickly following each other; at 9.30 three times--two quick strokes, an interval, and a single stroke--and so on up to eight bells struck in a succession of double strokes. There is also "little one bell", a gentle stroke five minutes after midnight for the watch to "fall in". The dog watches have stood from time immemorial, in order to change the men of the night watches every twenty-four hours. Otherwise the same men would always be keeping the same watches. Some men would always be on at night and others in the daytime. By dividing the 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. watches into two halves--the "first" and "second" dog watches--the rotation is changed, so that men come on watch at fresh periods. There is said to be a tradition that the origin of the word "dog" is "dodge", and that they were originally known as "dodge watches", the reason being obvious. But I should be sorry to vouch for the accuracy of this statement.