It was too dark to see it, and the rivals waited, in great excitement of mind, for the appearance of Grossbeck. He came, and his paper was handed to Pelham. The conditions of the agreement had now all been complied with, and the two papers were to be placed side by side, where both of the candidates could see them at the same instant. It was necessary, in the darkness, to obtain the use of a light for a moment and they decided to wait till the midshipman on duty in the waist went into the steerage to make the half-hourly inspection.
When one bell struck, the officer left his post, and the conspirators walked up to the binnacle in the waist. By raising one of the slides in the side of the machine, the lamp which threw its light on the face of the compass would enable them to examine the papers.
"Hold your paper by the side of mine," said Pelham as he placed the important document in a position to receive the light from the binnacle when the slide should be moved.
"Open it," replied Shuffles, nervously, as he complied with the direction of his rival.
Pelham raised the slide, and the contents of the papers were read by both.
Peas,........19
Beans,........22
The results given in by the two receivers were the same, and by the terms of the bond, it was an election.
"Shut the slide," said Shuffles.
"Who opened that binnacle?" demanded the first master, walking aft from his station on the forecastle.