as fair as anything can be. I am
entirely satisfied with the voting."

"Are you?"

"Of course I am."

Shuffles was very glad of this acknowledgment in advance of the
reception of the result.

"But, after all, Pelham," said he, "there may be an appearance of
unfairness in the voting, after the result is declared."

"There may be; but each of us is pledged not to claim anything on
account of such an appearance. If the figures of the two receivers
agree, that is the end of the whole thing, and you or I will be the
captain."

"That's so; but here comes McKeon," replied Shuffles, as the receiver
gave him the paper on which the result of the votes he had received was
written.

It was too dark to see it, and the rivals waited, in great excitement of
mind, for the appearance of Grossbeck. He came, and his paper was handed
to Pelham. The conditions of the agreement had now all been complied
with, and the two papers were to be placed side by side, where both of
the candidates could see them at the same instant. It was necessary, in
the darkness, to obtain the use of a light for a moment and they decided
to wait till the midshipman on duty in the waist went into the steerage
to make the half-hourly inspection.

When one bell struck, the officer left his post, and the conspirators
walked up to the binnacle in the waist. By raising one of the slides in
the side of the machine, the lamp which threw its light on the face of
the compass would enable them to examine the papers.

"Hold your paper by the side of mine," said Pelham as he placed the
important document in a position to receive the light from the binnacle
when the slide should be moved.

"Open it," replied Shuffles, nervously, as he complied with the
direction of his rival.

Pelham raised the slide, and the contents of the papers were read by
both.

Peas,........19

Beans,........22

The results given in by the two receivers were the same, and by the
terms of the bond, it was an election.

"Shut the slide," said Shuffles.

"Who opened that binnacle?" demanded the first master, walking aft from
his station on the forecastle.

"I did, sir," replied Shuffles, unwilling to permit the fourth
lieutenant to answer the question. "We were looking at some figures I
had made."

The master, finding that the fourth lieutenant was one of the party
gathered around the binnacle, said no more, and returned to his place.

"Are you satisfied, Pelham?" asked Shuffles,