"The fellows say that three of the new cabin officers are members of Scott's secret society," added De Forrest.
"Then they will be likely to interfere with the secret proceedings of the after cabin."
"Brown, the fourth midshipman, is one of them. He may be the next captain;" and there was an expression akin to horror on De Forrest's face.
"He may be; and he is a better seaman than Cantwell, for he has been in the ship two years."
"But it will be too bad to jump him over the heads of all of us."
"That is one of the difficulties incident to your plan. Even politicians will acknowledge that the ablest and best statesmen in our country are very seldom elected to the highest offices; but in the army and navy, in time of war, the ablest men are almost certain to find their proper sphere."
"I hope the old plan will be restored, sir; for I don't like the idea of a secret society jumping the lowest officer over all our heads, simply because he is a member. It doesn't look right to me."
"It isn't right; but I expect to see the same spirit of fairness at the next election which was displayed at the last one. If the cabin officers give the crew fair play, I have no doubt the seamen will exhibit the same spirit. If you wish to do the business just right, have a fair caucus, and you will nullify all the influence of the secret society."
The principal went on deck then, but in the evening he had a long talk with Scott, who declared that all he wanted was fair play, and that the secret society would not, and could not, be used in the interest of anything but fair play.
The next morning the squadron was approaching Helsingfors. The town is protected by the extensive fortifications of Sveaborg, planted on seven islands, and from its great strength the fortress has been called the "Gibraltar of the North." The scenery in the vicinity, consisting of vast numbers of islands, is quite picturesque. The works were bombarded by the combined English and French squadrons during the Crimean war, in 1855; but though the attack was a very fierce one, it was entirely unsuccessful. It was the last stronghold of the Swedes in Finland, and when it was besieged by the Russians, in 1808, it was surrendered to them by Admiral Cronstedt, while he had still sufficient means of defence; and he is charged with treachery, though it has never been proved, for he did not enter the Russian service, and left no fortune at his death. The Finns were indignant at his conduct, and their patriot poet, Runeberg, has written some indignant verses, which have the ring of Scott's minstrel poem:—