"I don't think he ought to be thrown overboard, or deprived of his rights, because he is not popular. When I saw that his brother officers were down upon him, I was rather inclined to stand by him, for, as I told you, I generally go in for the bottom dog. I believe in fair play for every fellow, whether he is popular or not. I wouldn't kick a dog because he didn't belong to anybody." "You are on the committee, Scott." "I have the honor; and I shall see that Cantwell has fair play before the principal." "You have done enough, Scott; why can't you keep still now, and let the thing take its course?" added Beckwith, in an insinuating tone. "And let Cantwell slip up, you mean?" "What do you care for Cantwell? You don't like him any better than any other fellow. If you will only keep still, the chairman of the committee will simply represent to the principal that a majority of the students desire the change," persisted Beckwith. "And the next question he will ask will be, how the vote stood. If he don't ask it, he isn't the fair man I have always taken him to be. Besides, the chairman put me on that committee to represent the opinions of the minority; and I'm going to do it." "The opinions of the minority!" sneered Beckwith. "That is all bosh. They haven't any opinions about it. You made your ridiculous speech as a joke, and the minority took it up as a joke. They don't want Cantwell to be captain any more than we do." "That may be; but if they cut his nose off now, they may cut off their own next month, just to make a soft thing for you nobs in the cabin. Now, I want to tell you one thing, Becky--" "Don't call me Becky; I'm not a girl," interposed the first master. "I beg your pardon: Mr. Beckwith." "I don't ask you to call me mister when off duty, either. You wanted to tell me one thing." "I'm not anxious to tell you anything; but, if I were Cantwell, I should rather hope that the principal would grant the request, and make the change." "Do you think he could ever be elected to any office?" "Perhaps not under ordinary circumstances; but if you cabin nobs will only persecute him a little, only try to keep him out of his rights by De Forrest's plan, he can be elected captain the very next month. You see we fellows throw seventy-two votes in the steerage, and forty-five is a majority of the whole ship's company. If any fourth-rate politician on shore can only get himself persecuted, he can be elected to Congress, for sympathy will do more than merit." "You needn't tell me that the fellows in the steerage are going to elect Cantwell to any office. He couldn't be chosen fourth lieutenant, to say nothing of captain," protested Beckwith. "I believe you have lost your wits, Scott." "Perhaps I have; but you haven't found them. If you get the plan adopted, we will try it on a little." "What do you mean by that?" "If De Forrest's plan is adopted, either Cantwell or I will be elected captain."