"I suppose I am higher in rank now than any fellow who has joined the Chain."
"Yes, that's a fact; but we are not going to mind who are officers now, or who have been before. We intend to take the best fellows—those who have done the most work in making the Chain."
"Whether they are competent or not," added Pelham.
"All the fellows know how to work a ship now, except the green hands that came aboard this year."
"This is rather an important matter. Shuffles, for everything depends upon the officers. For instance, who will be captain?" asked Pelham, with assumed indifference.
"I shall, of course," replied Shuffles, with becoming modesty.
"That's a settled matter, I suppose."
"Yes; without a doubt it is."
"I may not agree to that," suggested the new convert.
"You have already agreed to it. You have promised to obey your superiors."