Read "On the Blockade" by Oliver Optic online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
While enthusiastically pursuing his studies as an engineer, Christy had visited a great many steamers with Paul Vapoor for the purpose of examining the engines, so that he could hardly expect to find one with whose construction he was not familiar, whether it was an American or a foreign built machine. At the first glance after he entered the engine room of the Havana, he knew the engine, and was ready to run it without spending any time in studying it. He had brought the pilot with him in order to come to an understanding in regard to the bells, for in the navy the signals differ from those in the commercial marine.
"This steamer is provided with a gong and a jingling bell," said Christy, as he pointed them out to his companion.