ow you must give one to Grossbeck, and the other to McKeon, without
letting any fellow see you do it. If any fellow does see you give it to
either of them, he will say, in a low tone, 'Don't know Beans,' and then
the butt must drop it on deck. When the even bell strikes, Grossbeck and
McKeon must count their beans. The one who has the most must appoint the
next two bean-pots, or butts; and the one who has the smaller number
must pick up all the beans that have been dropped on the deck. There is
fun in it; though, perhaps, you wouldn't think so."

"I will try it, at any rate."

Paul did try it, and succeeded, as all others did, in giving the beans
to the receivers without any one uttering the warning words. He was
rather pleased with the game, so suddenly invented, and the two officers
of his watch were induced to try the experiment. Then Blackburn,
Endicott, and Bennington were supplied with beans by Shuffles, who
instructed his auditors that not a word must be said about the matter to
the "butts," or to any one in the waist. The last three were as
successful as the first three. Then Thompson and Cartwright were equally
fortunate. Finally, Captain Gordon's attention was attracted, and he
descended so far from his dignity as to deposit the beans.

Shuffles was satisfied. He had procured nine votes, and he was confident
that he had thus defeated his rival. As a matter of precaution, he
directed McKeon to pick up the beans scattered in the waist; and the
"outsiders" who had cast the nine votes believed that he was the unlucky
butt, who had been beaten in the game.

"The captain and half the officers voted," whispered Grossbeck at four
bells.

"Certainly; that's all right. You and McKeon will meet Pelham and me in
the waist at eight bells," replied Shuffles, as he went below.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE RESULT OF THE BALLOT.

The first part of the port watch went on duty at eight o'clock, when the
secret poll for the choice of a captain, under the new order of events,
was closed. Shuffles was in this watch, but as neither his "trick at the
wheel" nor his turn on the lookout came within the first hour, he had an
opportunity to attend to the important business of the League. Pelham
and the two receivers of votes belonged in the second part of the port
watch, and there was nothing to prevent them from attending the
conference which Shuffles had appointed.

While Shuffles had been teaching the "outsiders" the game of