"The next thing is to make out a list of officers and crew," suggested Louis. "But we can't have a great many officers, for we have not fellows enough to fill the places. First we want a captain, and we will vote for him by ballot." Morris was appointed to collect the votes, and three of them were for Louis, and one for Scott. "This is very complimentary, and I thank you," Louis proceeded, after Scott had declared the result of the ballot. "But I must respectfully and resolutely decline the honor. I do not think I am fitted for the position, and therefore I must refuse to accept it. Please to bring in your votes for captain." Felix caught a sight of Louis's ballot, and the vote stood two for the owner of the Guardian-Mother and two for Scott. The Milesian, knowing very well what his crony desired, and how he had voted both times before, did a little electioneering in a whisper with Morris, and the next ballot gave the hero of the battle with the smugglers a majority of the votes. Scott returned his thanks; but he had voted every time for Louis, and thought he ought to have the position. "We don't want any compliments about this business, fellows," replied Louis. "If I wanted to be simply complimentary, I should vote for Morris, and he is better qualified for the position than I am; but I believe Scott has had more experience than any other fellow in the crowd, for he navigated the Seahound from New York to Florida, and through the Bahama Islands. I think we have done the right thing, and Captain Scott it is." "So say we all of us," repeated Felix and Morris. "The next place is that of pilot, who shall be at the same time the mate," continued Louis. "Flix will collect the votes." Three of them were for Morris; for Louis had unconsciously done a little electioneering when he spoke of the successful candidate, who had modestly voted for the usual leader of the party. "Morris is elected first officer and pilot by your votes," said Louis. "I don't see but what we have got to the end of the rope, for we can't all be officers, and Flix and I will be seamen or deck-hands." "That don't seem to be just right," protested Captain Scott. "The idea of Louis being a deck-hand is simply absurd." "But it is just the position I like best," the subject of the remark insisted. "Faix, Oi'm in good company as the oder deck-hand," added Felix, with a merry laugh. "Sorra one bit of ambition have Oi to be an officer. They're the fellers that will do the worruck while we gintlemanly deck-hands will luk on and see 'em do it." "What about the engineer?" asked Captain Scott. "Of course Felipe Garcias will be the engineer," replied Louis. "But he is wanted as an oiler on board the ship," suggested the captain. "Captain Ringgold can easily ship another here." "But I thought we were to use the Maud only when we were in port to run about the harbors," said Morris.