"I see it all," continued Pelham. "The receivers were the 'butts,' and about a dozen fellows voted for Shuffles, including Gordon and Kendall, supposing they were simply playing 'Don't know Beans.'"
It did not require a great deal of penetration on the part of the fourth lieutenant to comprehend the trick of his rival. He was indignant and angry, and all the more so because he had been outwitted, even while he was attempting to outwit his unscrupulous competitor.
The next day, the quarter watches off duty played "Don't know Beans" to their satisfaction. It was found, when everybody was watching the "butts," that very few could deposit their beans without detection. A few hours' trial of the new pastime convinced all except "our fellows" that it was a senseless game, and it was speedily abandoned.
On the nineteenth day of the voyage, the Young America encountered another gale, but it was not nearly so severe as the one through which she had passed when off Cape Sable. The ship ran for twelve hours under close-reefed topsails; but as the gale came from the south-west, she laid her course during the whole of it, and behaved herself to the entire satisfac tion of all on board. On the following day, the wind had hauled round to the north-west, and the sea subsided, so that the ship went along very comfortably.
Notwithstanding his doubts of the good faith of Pelham, who, however, nominally adhered to the terms of the compact, Shuffles arranged his plans for the capture of the ship. He had decided to defer the grand strike until the ship had come up with Cape Clear, so that the faculty, and all the students who would not take a part in the enterprise, might be put on shore immediately. In the course of three days, the land would probably be sighted. The rising was to take place in Pelham's watch, the officers of which were members of the League. All the details had been carefully arranged, and trusty "links" appointed to perform the heavy work. As soon as the "old folks" had been locked up in the cabin, and the new captain had taken the command, the ship was to be headed for the shore. The great event was to come off at six o'clock in the afternoon of the twenty-third or twenty-fifth day. The ship would be near the coast for at least a part of two days. If she was within six hours' sail of the land on the twenty-third day out, when Pelham would have the second part of the first dog watch, the rising was to take place then; if not, it was to be deferred till the twenty-fifth day, when the watches were again favorable.
Shuffles communicated with his discontented first officer as often as he could, and unfolded his plans without reserve. Pelham listened, and, still professing his willingness to obey his superior officer, promised to do all that was required of him.
"In your watch, Pelham, you will see that the helm is in the hands of some of our fellows," said Shuffles.
"Certainly," replied Pelham, with more indifference than suited the enthusiastic chief of the enterprise "By the way, Captain Shuffles, have you laid out any work for Captain Gordon to do?"
"What's the use of talking to me about him now that we are on the very point of accomplishing our purpose?" demanded Shuffles, with deep disgust.
"You can't deny that Gordon is an able fellow, and, as a good commander, of course you intend to give him some important position," chuckled Pelham. "Have you appointed the rest of your officers yet?"