“Well, I hadn’t thought anything about it,” replied Jack with a smile, as he glanced at the wry face of his friend; “and, what’s more, I don’t mean to think anything about it.” “You are a thoughtless boy,” sighed Bob. “Some of us will lose the number of our mess before many weeks have passed by.” “Very likely, Bob: but we are going out to fight for our country; and, if we are not ready to die for her, we have no business here.” “Very true, my lad; but the future is dark and uncommunicative.” “Come, Bob, you splice too many syllables on your words. You are a brave fellow, and ready to do your duty.” “I trust I am; but sad thoughts come like the autumn of the year.” “Avast there, Bob!” said Ben Blinks. “Don’t frighten the lad.” “He doesn’t frighten me,” added Jack. “I put my trust in God; and, come what may, I know it will be all right with me as long as I do my duty to my God and my country.” “Why, darken my top-lights, if the lad don’t talk like a parson!” said Ben. But, while they were laughing at Jack for his pious expression of faith, the drum beat to quarters; and, in a moment more, the great guns were belching forth the customary salute. This was a new experience to our sailor-boy; for, though he had been through with all the forms of firing the guns, he had not before heard them “speak.” The sound was perfectly stunning: but Jack was a lad of too much spirit to exhibit any signs of dislike; and, though he could not hear himself speak, he worked like an old man-of-war’s man at his post. The Harrisburg continued on her course down the river under steam alone. The strict discipline of sea service commenced, and everything went along on board like clockwork. The regular watches were set; and the second-lieutenant, who was the officer of the deck, walked up and down on the weather-side, upon which no idlers, and no officers or men not on duty, were permitted to intrude. In a ship-of-war, as in a merchant-vessel, the twenty-four hours are divided into watches of four hours each. Commencing at eight o’clock in the evening, the starboard watch is on duty till twelve. At half-past eight, one bell is struck; at nine, two bells; and so on till the end of the watch, when eight bells indicate the time for the port watch to relieve the other.