"You!" shouted Laybold. "You won't even be captain of a top! You won't come within fifty of the cabin." "So you say. But the highest office lies between Cantwell and me." "That may be; but it's a long way from your side of the house," replied Laybold, as the party moved towards the highest part of the island. Cantwell was vexed and troubled, and he could not decide what course to pursue. CHAPTER II. AN EXCITED MEETING OF OFFICERS AND SEAMEN. Scott was one of the most popular students in the squadron. And it is a lamentable fact, that mere "jokers" obtain a power and influence in society which is denied to persons of infinitely greater dignity and higher character. As Laybold declared, Scott had no personal interest in the question under agitation, for, though he was a good seaman, his scholarship was not above mediocrity. He lacked industry and application; and it was not probable that he would ever win even the lowest rank on the quarter-deck. But he had initiated what he regarded as a stupendous joke, and he was determined to carry it through. While the students were gathering at the flat rock, he electioneered against the De Forrest plan, as it soon came to be called. He declared over and over again, to the intense amusement of the seamen, that the plan was a conspiracy against his individual rights, and was intended to prevent him from being captain the next month. Before the meeting at the rock was called to order he had rallied quite a respectable party under his banner. Every officer and every seaman of the fleet was present at the meeting. The captain and the other officers sitting with the principal had been summoned to the gathering; and those who were most interested in the success of the effort were confident that the measure would be adopted with little if any opposition. The meeting was called to order by Lieutenant Ryder, the oldest officer of the squadron. "The first business of this meeting is the choice of a chairman," said Ryder, taking position on the flat rock, around which the students had collected. "Please to nominate." As in assemblages of older people, the arrangements had been "cut and dried" beforehand, and Beckwith had been appointed by the "ring" to nominate De Forrest as chairman; but Scott, more intent upon carrying out his joke than anything else, had stationed himself close to the rock, and disturbed the arrangements of the ring. "Cantwell!" shouted he, at the top of his lungs, before Beckwith, who certainly was not a dexterous representative of the ring, could open his mouth. "Cantwell!" repeated Laybold. "Cantwell!" cried a dozen others, almost choking with laughter. "I nominate Lieutenant De Forrest as chairman of this meeting," said the tardy Beckwith. "Lieutenant De Forrest is nominated," continued the chairman, anxious to only carry out the programme which had been arranged by the officers.