"I desire to say, for the information of the last speaker, that an arrangement has been made by which the ship is to have the office of commodore for two months out of four, while the consorts are to have it the other two months," interposed Cumberland. "I don't recognize any such arrangement," replied De Forrest, angrily. This remark was greeted with a shout of laughter, for the runaway spoke as though he had the control of the whole matter. "If the speaker had been on board at Cronstadt when the agreement was made, he would understand it better," said the chairman. "The question is upon the nomination of Captain Wolff." It was voted down almost unanimously. "I move that Captain Cantwell be nominated," said Billy Bobstay, who was filled with gratitude at the generous conduct of the captain towards him. "I second the motion," added Lincoln. "Mr. Chairman, I wish to decline being considered a candidate. I cannot accept the nomination on any conditions," said Cantwell, in a loud, clear, and decided voice. His remark was hailed with the most emphatic applause; and Cantwell hastened to Billy Bobstay, and begged him to withdraw his motion, which he did. "If there is no objection, the motion may be withdrawn," said the chairman. "I object," interposed Lincoln. "Then I hope the ship's company will vote it down, as a favor to me, if for no other reason," added Cantwell. "Question!" called the impatient seamen. It was voted down, but in a mild and gentle manner, which indicated that the students did not do so from any ill will to Cantwell. "Now, Mr. Chairman, I nominate Commodore Lincoln for reëlection," continued the captain. The motion was seconded, and carried with only a single voice against it, and that was De Forrest's, his "no" being uttered in the most malignant tone. "Mr. Chairman," shouted Scott, as soon as this question was settled, "I made a speech somewhere up north of here, among the eternal solitudes of nature, and all that sort of thing, you know. I went in for fair play then, as I do now. Some of us didn't vote the regular nominations at the election, and the consequence was, that Captain Cantwell was chosen. I think he has made a very good captain, and been very courteous and gentlemanly to all hands. I shall therefore move that he be nominated again." "Mr. Chairman," said Cantwell, interrupting the applause which followed the joker's speech. "I am very much obliged to those who have supported me, and for this kind response to the motion of the last speaker; but I have already made up my mind not to accept the nomination of captain. In the excitement of the last election, I was chosen to a position for which I was not as competent as many others. I have done my best to improve in seamanship, but I will no longer occupy a place for which others are better fitted than I am."