ent."

Taking the box in his hand, he went out into the boat-room.

"Who do you think has got it?" whispered Charles to Fred Harper.

"I have no idea; I only know whom I voted for."

"Whom?" asked Charles.

"What would you give to know?"

"Yourself?"

"Indeed I did not!" replied Fred indignantly.

"There would be no harm in it if you did, would there?" inquired
Charles.

"No harm? It would only amount to saying, 'I am the best fellow in the
club.'"

"No, not that; it would only be saying that you wanted the office."

"Rather more than that."

"But you said you did want it."

"I didn't vote for myself, anyhow. But here comes Captain Sedley.
Hush!"

"Here is the result, Frank," said the Director, handing him the ballots
and a little slip of paper on which he had written the names and number
of votes. "Read it."

There was a breathless silence when Frank rose, and every member
exhibited the deepest interest in the proceedings.

"Whole number of votes, thirteen," the coxswain read from the paper.
"Necessary for a choice, seven. Charles Hardy has one; Frederic Harper
has one; and Anthony Weston has eleven, and is elected coxswain of the
club for the ensuing two weeks."

"Three cheers for Tony Weston!" shouted Fred Harper, rising. "One."

The cheers were given with hearty good-will and emphasis.

"Mr. Chairman," said Charles, "I move we make the vote unanimous."

Charles had been reading the proceedings of a political nominating
convention, where they make the nomination unanimous so as to show the
unity of the party; and his ideas were rather confused.

"Those in favor of Anthony Weston for coxswain the next two weeks say
'Ay,'" continued Frank.

"Ay!"

"It is a unanimous vote. Tony, I am happy to vacate my chair for you,
and I feel that it could not be filled by a more worthy member," said
Frank, leaving his armchair.

"But, Mr. Chairman, I am clerk. I am very much obliged to the club for
the honor," said Tony, blushing up to the eyes.

"You are coxswain, Tony, and the clerkship is vacant," added Captain
Sedley. "The members of the club, without consultation with each other,
have elected you--the most convincing evidence they could possibly give
of the high esteem in which they hold you."

After some persuasion, Tony took the chair, and Fred Harper was elected
clerk. Frank took Tony's number, and the bow oar was appropriated to
him.

The business being finished, the club proceeded to the