"No use; the fellows know him too well. We had a meeting in the cabin, and there will be two tickets. This will be the winning one;" and the third lieutenant handed Longwood one of the printed ballots. "What's the other ticket?" "The present officers; but I have just found out that they are taking my name off the ticket, and putting on Murray's. What do you think of that? Is it fair play?" "Well, I don't know; but if you are working against the regular ticket, you can't expect its friends to go for you," replied Longwood. "But they want to shove me down, and I hope my friends won't let them do it. I got up this plan, you know, but the fellows don't seem to give me any credit for it. Vote this ticket--won't you?" "I'll see," answered the voter, as the candidate passed on to another. The first lieutenant, Judson, knowing the influence of Scott among the crew, went to him the moment he came on board, to present the claims of the regular ticket. "I'm a Cantwell man," replied Scott. "It's no use to go for him; he can't be elected," said Judson. "Who knows?" added Scott. "We have had a meeting in the cabin, and have regularly nominated a ticket." "Probably it didn't occur to you that the crew had any right to meddle with the matter." "Yes; we considered the subject; but we hadn't time to call a meeting of the whole ship's company." "Time is short," laughed Scott. "If the fellows in the steerage wish it, perhaps we can put Cantwell on the regular ticket as fourth lieutenant, instead of Murray." "I am not authorized to speak for our fellows; and I don't know that they would vote your ticket even if you put Cantwell's name on it." "Cantwell's name wouldn't strengthen our ticket at all." "Perhaps not." Scott took one of the ballots, but would not even promise to consider it. "The officers have had a caucus in the cabin, Scott," said Cantwell. "So Mr. Judson informs me; and they haven't put your name on the ticket?" "No; of course I didn't expect them to do it. I told them the crew ought to be consulted, and Captain Lincoln tried to make a motion to that effect, but they wouldn't do it." "Never mind what they do; none of their tickets will be elected." "I don't know about that. They have two tickets, and every fellow in the cabin except me, is at work for one or the other of them. Whichever one is elected, I shall be thrown overboard." "Perhaps not--who knows?" said Scott. "You may be elected captain, after all--who knows?" "Impossible! I should be satisfied if I were fourth lieutenant, and I am sure my merit-rank would give me that place. But it's no use; I'm counted out."