“Young gentlemen, to-day we enter upon a new experience on shipboard,” said the principal, without making any further allusion to Shuffles.  “Our short trips last season were so timed that we kept no regular night watches, and, with two or three exceptions, the ship was at anchor when you slept.  Of course that is not practicable on a long voyage, and you must all do duty by night as well as by day.

“This has been a difficult matter to arrange, for you are all too young to be deprived of your regular sleep, though in heavy weather I am afraid you will lose your rest to some extent.  At eight o’clock this evening the starboard watch will be on duty.  We have four times as many hands on board the Young America as are usually employed in merchant ships, so that a quarter watch will be able to handle the ship on all ordinary occasions.  We shall, therefore, keep a quarter watch on ship’s duty at all times through the twenty-four hours.

“During the night, including the time from eight in the evening until eight in the morning, each quarter watch will be on duty two hours, and then off six hours; and each hand will obtain six consecutive hours’ sleep every night.  At eight this evening, the first part of the starboard watch will have the ship in charge, and all others may turn in and sleep.  At ten, the second part of the starboard watch will be called, without disturbing any others.  At twelve, the first part of the port watch will be summoned; at two, the second part; and so on till eight in the morning.

“The first part of the starboard watch, which turned in at ten, will sleep till four, giving them six hours of rest all together, and they may turn in again at six o’clock, when relieved by the second part, and sleep till half past seven, which is breakfast time for those off duty.

“During the daytime, from eight in the morning till eight in the evening, the same routine will be observed To-morrow, at eight in the morning, the first part of the port watch will take charge of the ship till ten; the second part will be off duty, and the time will be their own, to use as they think proper.  At ten, the second part will be in charge, and the first will have their own time till twelve.  All the starboard watch, during these four hours, will study and recite.  In the afternoon the same course will be pursued with the other watch.  Do you understand it?”

“Yes, sir,” replied the boys.

“By this arrangement you will average three hours of duty every night.  To-night the port watch will be on deck two hours, and the starboard watch, whose turn will come twice, four hours; but to-morrow night the operation will be reversed, and the port will have the deck four hours, and the starboard but two.  Two copies of the watch bill will be posted in the steerage, and one in the after cabin.  Young gentlemen, I recommend you to study it, until you are perfectly familiar with its requirements.”