"Who knows?"
"Eighty-six noses."
"Right, Brother Bangwhanger; come to my arms. Vote for Lincoln for commodore," said Scott; "and pass it along to every member."
After repeating this direction in due form to several others, the C. B. returned to the boat, and did the same thing on board of the Tritonia. In each of the two consorts, the members of the order were to nominate a ticket to suit themselves; and so far as they were concerned, the pledge to vote for Cantwell was meaningless. When the boat returned, all hands were piped to muster, and the principal, with the merit-roll in his hand, mounted the rostrum over the main hatch.
"Young gentlemen, in accordance with the change in the method of appointing the officers, announced at Åbo yesterday, the election of commodore of the squadron will take place at ten o'clock to-day," said Mr. Lowington. "The result of the balloting in the consorts will be transmitted without delay to the ship. The election of captain will immediately follow, and then of the four lieutenants, each in the order of rank, and on separate ballots."
"We have printed ballots containing the names of all the candidates," said De Forrest.
"I think it best to elect only one officer at a ballot."
"I hope the election will be postponed till eleven o'clock then, in order to give us time to prepare the separate ballots."
"Very well; I consent to the change of time; and the consorts shall be notified at once," replied the principal, who went to the cabin, wrote two notes, and sent them to the vice-principals by the adult forward officers.