In ten minutes he had told half of the officers that the secret society intended to make Cantwell commodore next month, and when his duties as first purser required him to visit the main cabin soon after, he revealed the momentous secret to Mr. Lowington. "If this is a secret society, how do you know?" asked the principal. "Wainwright, who is a member, said as much to me," replied the purser. The second purser was called. "I have heard a great deal about your secret society, Wainwright," continued the principal. "You have just had a meeting on the island?" "Yes, sir." "I do not believe in secret societies for political purposes. Do you intend to make Cantwell commodore next month?" "We have no such plan at present." "Didn't you ask me, when I spoke of joining, if I would vote for Cantwell for commodore?" asked De Forrest. "I did." "I think that's enough, sir," added the first purser. "If Cantwell is using this society to make himself commodore, it is time to suppress the society." "Cantwell is not a member of it, sir," replied Wainwright. "It was got up simply to defeat the plan of the officers to control the election. At the meeting on the island to-day, not a word was said about the elections in any way. If the nominations are fairly made next time, I don't believe the society will meddle with them." "I hope not," added Mr. Lowington. "If the officers nominate in the cabin, without consulting the seamen, very likely the society will do something." "In that case, I should not object; for a secret society in the steerage is no worse than one in the cabin." "But what is the society for?" asked De Forrest, dissatisfied with the situation. "Simply for fun, for amusement--nothing else." replied Wainwright. "Where do you meet?" asked the principal, curiously. "We met in that old fish-house on the island. We have no place in the ship. I was going to ask you, sir, if we might fit up a place in the hold," added Wainwright. "The hold is not a fit place for any meeting. I can do better, if assured that your society is a proper one." "I think it is, sir. There is nothing in it contrary to the rules of the ship. In all the colleges there are secret societies, such as the Φ. Β. Κ." "You may have the main cabin one evening in a week." "Thank you, sir. We shall be very grateful to you," replied Wainwright, utterly confounded by the generosity of the principal.