Part 48 (2/2)
”Did they?” laughed Pelham? ”I suppose they had no use for them.”
”The second lieutenant saw them, and wanted to know what they meant,”
added Shuffles.
”Whew!” exclaimed Pelham.
”I made it all right, though I was obliged to invent a new game to throw him off the track.”
”Good!” said Pelham. ”But we must go on with the counting. When you have found the number of peas and of beans, you will write the result on a piece of paper, each of you. McKeon, you will hand your paper to Shuffles, and, Grossbeck, you will hand yours to me. That's fair--isn't it?”
”Certainly,” replied Shuffles.
”Then we will put the two papers together; if they agree, the election is made; if they do not agree, we must do it all over again,” continued Pelham.
”All right,” added Shuffles.
The two receivers were sent away to count the votes. As one went forward, and the other aft, and the two ”Shackles” stood between, no communication whatever could pa.s.s from one to the other. It was now quite dark, and most of those off duty had turned in, for the students had become so well accustomed to sea life that they could sleep whenever their presence was not required on deck.
”I hope this thing will be settled now once for all,” said Pelham, who feared that some mistake might defeat his hopes.
”So do I,” replied Shuffles, who was disturbed by the same dread.
”Have you any idea what the result will be?” asked Pelham, who, in spite of the mutual ”toggling,” and the mutual a.s.surances of good faith, had some doubts whether his rival would be willing to accept the result.
”Well, I don't know,” replied Shuffles, cautiously, and with the same want of confidence which disturbed his companion. ”There is no knowing who will be governor till after election.”
”Of course not, but you might have some idea of the way the thing is going?”
”I might, but what's the use of talking when we shall know all about it in ten or fifteen minutes?”
”Of course you have some hopes.”
”To be sure I have; and I suppose you have, too.”
”Certainly I have; if I hadn't, I should have given the thing up without the trouble and risk of a ballot,” replied Pelham.
”We both expect it, and it follows that one of us must be disappointed.”
”You know the bond.”
”I do.”
”Here is my hand, Shuffles. I pledge myself over again to abide the result of the vote, whether it is for me or against me,” continued Pelham, extending his hand.
”And here is my hand, Pelham, with the same pledge, honor bright,”
replied Shuffles, as he took the offered hand.
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