Part 5 (1/2)
”Exactly so; that's just what we are going to do. I'm going to be captain; can you tell me of any better fellow for the place?” demanded Shuffles, who, putting aside the jesting manner in which he had commenced the discussion, now a.s.sumed an earnest and impudent tone.
”Didn't you hear what Lowington said when he wound up his speech?” asked Wilton.
”What?”
”About vetoing our choice if it was not a proper one.”
”What of it?” asked Shuffles, innocently.
”Don't you think he would veto you?”
”Me! Not he! Lowington knows that I'm smart; I was too smart for him once, and he knows it. He won't veto me. We have been the best of friends lately.”
”I don't believe he'll have a chance to veto you,” said Wilton.
”What do you mean?”
”I don't believe you will be elected.”
”I know I shall, if we manage it right. Let us look at it,” continued Shuffles, as he took a pencil from his pocket. ”Got a piece of paper?”
Monroe gave him a piece of paper, and the wire-puller began to make his calculations.
”Eighty-seven votes,” said he, writing the number on the paper.
”Necessary to a choice, forty-four. Here are six votes to start with.”
”For whom?” asked Monroe.
”For me, for captain, first, and for each of the others for whatever place he wants; say for Wilton for first lieutenant; Howe for second, Sanborn for third, Monroe for fourth, and Adler for first master. What do you say to that, fellows?”
As with the political ”slate,” there was some difference of opinion in regard to the minor officers, even after Shuffles' claim to the captaincy had been conceded But this disposition of the spoils was finally agreed to.
”Now we want thirty-eight more votes,” Shuffles proceeded.
”Just so; and you might as well attempt to jump over the main royal yard as to get them,” added Adler, who, having been a.s.signed to the office lowest in rank, was least satisfied with the ”slate.”
”Hold on; we haven't done yet. There are nine more offices. Now we will pick out some good fellow that will work for us, for each of these places; then we will promise him six votes if he will go our ticket, and do what he can for us.”
”That will give us only fifteen votes,” said Adler.
”I think that will be doing very well to start with. Then you five fellows can electioneer for me, and I'll do the same for you.”
”I think we have made one mistake,” added Sanborn. ”Most of the fellows will go for Carnes for captain. He is an old salt, and has more influence than any other student in the s.h.i.+p. We ought to offer him some place.”
”Make him purser, if you like,” said Shuffles, contemptuously.
”That won't go down. Make him first lieutenant.”