in the softest of tones.

"I don't understand it," answered the disappointed candidate.

"Don't you? Well, you will remember that neither of us was to raise any
question about the fairness of the ballot."

"I don't say a word about its fairness; I only said I did not
understand it," answered Pelham, in surly tones.

"I don't understand it any better than you do; but the point just now
is, whether you acknowledge me as captain, or not."

"Of course I do. When I pledge myself to do a thing, I always do it, I
hail you as captain."

"All right," added Shuffles. "Then nothing more need be said. You have
kept your bond like a gentleman and I now appoint you my first officer,
as I promised to do."

"Thank you," replied Pelham, in a sneering tone.

"What's the matter, my dear fellow? Are you not satisfied?" demanded
Shuffles.

"Entirely satisfied with the result;" but he talked like one who was
anything but satisfied.

"It was a fair thing--wasn't it?"

"I suppose it was; I don't know."

"You speak as though you were not satisfied, Pelham."

"I am not disposed to grumble. I only say that I don't understand it."

"What don't you understand?" asked Shuffles, sharply. "The election was
conducted on a plan furnished by yourself; the receivers were of your
own choice; the results agree; and I can't see, for the life of me, that
there is any chance to find fault."

"I don't find fault. The result perplexes me, because I can't see
through it."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I don't see where your twenty-two votes came from."

"And I don't see where your nineteen came from," retorted the successful
candidate.

"The whole number of votes was forty-one," added Pelham, who was quite
sure there was something wrong.

"The long and short of it is, that there are more fellows on board that
'know beans,' than you thought there were," laughed Shuffles.

"Can you tell me where the forty-one votes came from, Shuffles?"
demanded Pelham.

"Came from the fellows, of course."

"It's no use to snuff at it, my dear fellow. I do not purpose to set
aside the election. I acknowledge you as captain. Can I do any more?"

"You can't; but you seem disposed to do something more."

"I merely wish to inquire into this thing, and find out how we stand.
Had you any idea that forty-one fellows belonged to the Chain?"

"I had not," replied Shuffles, honestly. "I was never more surprised in
my life, than when I saw Tom Ellis and And