"Second the motion," added Lincoln, promptly.
"Question," called several.
The motion was put, and voted down without a count.
De Forrest tried again with the name of Captain Wolff, of the Tritonia, in order to throw out Lincoln and Cantwell, and Beckwith seconded his motion.
"I don't think this is a fair thing, Mr. Chairman," said De Forrest. "A great deal has been said about fair play; but now the ship's company of the Young America want to nominate for commodore, without giving the students in the consorts any voice in the matter."
"I desire to say, for the information of the last speaker, that an arrangement has been made by which the ship is to have the office of commodore for two months out of four, while the consorts are to have it the other two months," interposed Cumberland.
"I don't recognize any such arrangement," replied De Forrest, angrily.
This remark was greeted with a shout of laughter, for the runaway spoke as though he had the control of the whole matter.
"If the speaker had been on board at Cronstadt when the agreement was made, he would understand it better," said the chairman. "The question is upon the nomination of Captain Wolff."
It was voted down almost unanimously.