"Ay, ay, vote; we know how to do that," cried Walker.
"All right, shipmates; bring in your ballots," added Captain York. "The one who gets the most votes shall be chief mate."
I brought up some paper from the cabin, cut it into small slips, and gave each man one of them. Pencils were provided, and each hand wrote the name of his candidate, if he could write: if he could not, he came to me, and I wrote it for him. The sentinel in the steerage was called upon to exercise his privilege. I was appointed to receive the votes; and when I had counted them, I found they stood eight to eight, for the captain voted with the others. We balloted a second time with the same result.
The Crew Vote for Chief Mate.
After I had announced the vote, I saw that Sanderson and Baxter were very busy among the men; and on the third ballot I was not a little astonished to find that Phil Farringford had twelve of the sixteen votes, and was therefore chosen. I positively declined to serve, where-upon Baxter withdrew his name once more; but Sanderson did the same. I distributed the votes a fourth time, and did a little electioneering for my man, Sanderson. This time he had ten votes, and was therefore elected. He began to decline, but Baxter and several others assured him it was his duty to serve, and he finally consented.
"Now, my lads," said the master, "neither the captain nor the mate you have chosen is a navigator; and the second mate ought to be the only one on board who can take an observation and lay down the ship's position on the chart. Those who are in favor of Phil Farringford for second mate will say, Ay."
"Ay!" shouted the whole crew.