conceding the nomination to
his confederate.

"Perth."

"No."

Shuffles objected because Pelham had done so when he had mentioned two
names.

"Richton."

"Once more."

"McKeon."

"Right. McKeon is an honest, careful fellow," added Shuffles. "Now I
think there can be no mistake."

The minor details of the election were carefully arranged, and the boys
went below again. They gave satisfactory replies to the first
lieutenant, who questioned them in regard to the steamer they had gone
aloft to examine. Pelham thought she was a "Cunarder," but Shuffles was
confident she belonged to the Inman line; and it is quite certain
neither of them had any opinion whatever in regard to her, except that
she was going west; for the red light on her port side was visible.

On the following day, Grossbeck and McKeon, the receivers who had been
appointed, were waited upon, separately, by the two "Shackles." They
accepted the important trust which was confided to them, and each was
duly and solemnly admonished of the necessity of entire fairness. They
were informed that any discrepancy in the number of ballots in the hands
of the two receivers would cause the vote to be rejected; and they
individually promised to be both faithful and careful.

The beans and the peas were readily obtained, and were distributed among
the members of the League, with the necessary secrecy. Some of the
independent voters needed a little persuasion to induce them to vote,
when informed that the choice was between the "Shackles" only; but they
yielded the point, and entered heartily into the excitement of the
event; for, secret as were the proceedings, they were attended with no
little exhilaration of feeling.

The voting commenced in the afternoon watch. The second part of the
starboard watch, being off duty, gave in their peas and beans first. The
receivers, without even knowing all the members of the League, took
whatever was handed to them "on the sly," and looked as careless and
indifferent as though nothing was going on. The only responsibility that
rested upon them, besides the general duty of carefulness and fidelity,
was to see that no one voted twice. "Vote early and vote often" was not
countenanced; and one receiver acted as a check upon the other.

The election progressed so secretly that no occasion for suspicion was
given; and though the ballots were deposited under the eyes of the
principal and the professors they saw nothing, and ha