"That's just what the principal says," added Wainwright. The students embarked, and were soon on board of their vessels. "What were you fellows up to in that old shanty?" said De Forrest to Wainwright, as they met in the cabin. "That's telling," replied the second purser. "It was that secret society." "Well, what if it was?" "What are you up to now? Are you getting ready for the next election." "That's our affair." "I don't believe in a secret society to control the elections." "You are entitled to your own belief." "It isn't right." "But it's just what you fellows in the cabin did before Cantwell was elected," answered Wainwright. "We hadn't any secret society: we only met in the cabin to talk over the matter." "In the cabin, where no one but yourselves could come." "We are going to do away with this thing, anyhow, and go back to the old plan," added De Forrest. "And confess that your famous plan was good for nothing?" "The plan was a good one, but the fellows won't be fair." "Which means that they wouldn't make you first lieutenant." "It don't mean that. It means that a majority of the fellows--all of them in the steerage--voted for a fellow for captain whom they did not like, and who, they knew, was not fit for the place, out of spite to the officers. If they had voted on their own judgment, instead of following Scott's lead--" "They would have elected you," laughed Wainwright. "No; they would have chosen Lincoln captain." "But they did choose him commodore." "And shoved Cumberland down to first lieutenant." "And you down to first purser--the ship's chief clerk." "I think I ought to have had a better position than the one I got." "But you have your merit-rank; and it looks now as though your plan was intended to save yourself from a bad fall, rather than to keep Cantwell from being captain." "I wasn't thinking of myself at all." "All the fellows say that you nominated yourself for first lieutenant." "I suppose all the officers wanted to get as good places as they could." "If that was what they were driving at, they needn't blame the fellows in the steerage for taking things into their own hands." "I say, Wainwright, can't a fellow join the secret society?" "That depends upon who the fellow is." "One about my size." "Yes, if the society will take him in." "Will they take me in?" "I don't know." "I want to join." "Because you want to be captain, or something of that sort," laughed the second purser. "I don't believe it would do you any good. Are you willing to vote for Cantwell for commodore next month?" "No! I am not. Is that your game?" "I didn't say it was." "If it is, I won't join." "No one has asked you to do so." "Cantwell for commodore!" exclaimed De Forrest, in disgust, as he walked away from his companion.