"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."