"They worked for themselves, and I only did the same."
"If every fellow works for himself, we shall not come out anywhere."
"You needn't say anything, Sheridan. You went from first middy up to fourth lieutenant by the voting," said De Forrest.
"I went just one place higher than my merit-rank, while you were No. 11, and tried to get into No. 3."
"Never mind that now," interposed Beckwith. "Whom shall we elect? That's the question."
"I don't think we need trouble ourselves much about that matter," replied De Forrest, gloomily. "The fellows in the steerage will attend to all that, and neither of the two will be taken from the cabin."
"I will venture to say that one of the two will be elected from the cabin," said Sheridan.
"Do you belong to that secret society, Sheridan?" asked Beckwith.
"I do not; but I think that the fellows that manage it mean to be fair."
"Humph! They lifted you up."