"How would you furl a royal?
"How would you reef a topsail?
"How would you turn out the reefs of a topsail?
"If two vessels are approaching each other, one by the wind, the other going free, what is the rule for each?
"Make a square knot, a timber hitch, a bowling knot, a clove hitch, a short splice."
For the last requirement two bits of rope were given to each student, who was directed to bring in his work to the examiner, with a card on which his name was written attached to it. The knots and hitches were made with a whale line on a handspike. The other questions were answered orally, or by pointing out the part of the rigging indicated. There were twenty questions in the list, and the promptness, as well as the accuracy, of the answers or the work was to be considered in marking the value of them. If a student was obliged to try two or three times before he could make a square knot, or a clove hitch, he was marked lower. If he did what he was required without hesitation, he had five for each question; if not, he was marked lower, for seamen have no time to deliberate. Though the examination was a very simple and easy one, no student obtained above ninety, and several were below fifty. Most of the officers had over seventy. Captain Lincoln had ninety, and Cantwell only fifty-two, though none of them knew the results till the first of the next month. The addition of these marks to the merit roll for the month made some important changes in the relative standing of the students.
"What do you say now?" inquired Scott, when he met Beckwith, after supper.
"I say just the same that I have always said," replied the first master.
"Do you still desire to have the higher officers chosen by ballot?"
"Certainly I do."