"Sheridan, for one. If you won't do anything for this ticket, I will say no more about it." "Don't say any more, then," replied Scott; and De Forrest left him, angry and disgusted. "What's up now, Scott?" asked Sheridan, stepping up to the joker at this point. "The first purser's dander," answered Scott. "I hear that you proposed my name with his for the journey." "I did mention it, certainly; but he had told me in the beginning that he would not vote for you; he would jump overboard first. I suggested the names, then, by way of jest, and he snapped at the idea as a codfish at a clam." "I see," laughed Scott. "I couldn't give him any comfort, and declined to vote for the ticket. I won't vote for any fellow that goes around electioneering for himself." "My sentiment exactly," replied Sheridan. "But we ought to agree on some fellows to vote for." "I go for Lincoln, for one." "I'm with you!" exclaimed the lieutenant. "I am sure that he has not asked anybody to vote for him. Now, we want another real good fellow, from the steerage. Who shall it be?" "I don't know; we have so many good fellows it is hard to fix upon any one. I will look them over and let you know." "But do you know whom Cantwell will select?" asked Sheridan. "I don't. I'm not in the way of seeing much of him since he went into the captain's cabin. He don't go on shore at all now, and I suppose he has been studying rigging, and making knots and splices, all day with Peaks." "Perhaps he will select himself," suggested Sheridan. "If he does I will never vote for him again for anything. But he won't do it." "I don't see that we can agree on anything till we know whom he chooses. He may pick out the very one we decide to vote for." "I go in for a caucus of all hands." "So do I; that is the fairest way," replied Sheridan, as the steamer stopped at the side of the ship, and the students, without waiting for planks and steps, leaped to her deck. After supper all hands were called, and Captain Cantwell was requested to appoint the student for the journey to the interior. The ship's crew were all silent, curious and anxious to know who the favored one was to be. The captain mounted the rostrum with the principal, and took off his cap. "I appoint Thomas Scott," said he. The announcement was greeted with the most emphatic applause on the part of the seamen, in which a few of the officers joined. "Of course Scott knew he was to be appointed before," sneered De Forrest. "He did not know it," replied Sheridan; "and if he did, I don't know that it alters anything." "Scott made him captain, and this is his reward." "You made Cantwell captain," retorted Sheridan. "Scott worked for him, and I am glad to see that he remembers his friends." "I supposed the captain would appoint himself." "You judged him by yourself. I can tell you one thing, De Forrest: these fellows that work for themselves don't accomplish much."