"I did, sir," replied Shuffles, unwilling to permit the fourth lieutenant to answer the question. "We were looking at some figures I had made."
The master, finding that the fourth lieutenant was one of the party gathered around the binnacle, said no more, and returned to his place.
"Are you satisfied, Pelham?" asked Shuffles, in the softest of tones.
"I don't understand it," answered the disappointed candidate.
"Don't you? Well, you will remember that neither of us was to raise any question about the fairness of the ballot."
"I don't say a word about its fairness; I only said I did not understand it," answered Pelham, in surly tones.
"I don't understand it any better than you do; but the point just now is, whether you acknowledge me as captain, or not."
"Of course I do. When I pledge myself to do a thing, I always do it, I hail you as captain."
"All right," added Shuffles. "Then nothing more need be said. You have kept your bond like a gentleman and I now appoint you my first officer, as I promised to do."
"Thank you," replied Pelham, in a sneering tone.