"I rather think I shall go for Bob Shuffles. In my opinion, he is the best fellow on board," replied the owner of that name.
"That's modest," laughed Wilton.
"Do you know of any fellow that would make a better captain than I should?"
"You don't know the first thing about a ship."
"What odds does that make? I can learn as fast as anybody else."
"Do you expect every fellow to vote for himself?" asked Howe, another of the group.
"Of course I don't; I expect them to vote for me," answered Shuffles, with great good-nature.
"You are rather cheeky, Shuffles."
"What's the use of mincing the matter? Here we are, half a dozen of the best fellows in the ship. We can't all be captain; but one of us can be just as well as not."
"That's so," added Howe, approvingly. "But who shall that one be?"