beans," laughed Shuffles.

"Well, if they don't, they will know peas, which will do just as well,"
replied Pelham.

"It would not be pleasant for me to have them know peas, when they ought
to know beans."

"We will give them P.P. as a clew to the whole thing."

"P.P.? That means P's, I suppose."

"It means that, and more. P. for Pelham, and P. for peas. If they get
one right, they can't very well get the other wrong."

"That's true," answered Shuffles, silenced, rather than convinced, by
the tactics of his fellow-conspirator.

It was settled that he who knew peas must certainly "know beans."

"When shall the fellows vote?" asked Shuffles.

"After dinner to-morrow afternoon. Every fellow will be off duty an hour
in the first or second dog watch," replied Pelham, who seemed to have an
answer ready for every question. "The polls shall be kept open till
eight o'clock. The peas and beans shall be distributed before eight
bells in the forenoon watch, so that every fellow will be ready to
vote."

"Where will Grossbeck stand when he receives the ballots?"

"He won't stand anywhere in particular. We will see him together, and
give him his instructions. I think it will be better for him to walk
about the ship, and let the fellows hand him the votes on the sly, which
he must put in his pocket. He shall count them in the presence of both
of us."

"Suppose he should lose some of them?" suggested Shuffles.

"If he does, he is as likely to lose peas as beans."

"I don't want to be chosen in any such manner as by the loss of the
votes."

"I can't see that there is any more danger of his losing them than there
is of his losing his head. I see you are not entirely satisfied with the
plan."

"To tell you the truth, Pelham, I am not. There is, at least, a chance
for mistakes."

"I'm willing to do anything you like, that will make the election a
fairer one."

"I have it!" exclaimed Shuffles. "We can give each fellow two peas and
two beans, and let him vote twice."

"What good will that do?"

"I'll tell you. We want another receiver; then let each fellow vote
twice, giving a pea or a bean to both of the receivers. If the two
results don't agree, it shall not be an election."

"That's a first-rate idea, Shuffles, and I go in for it with all my
might," replied Pelham, with so much warmth that his companion was put
in the best of humor. "Who shall be the other receiver?"

"Name some one," said Shuffles, generously