The captain drew the curtain over the window, so that it was impossible for any boy to see the interior of the box, as he had to thrust his arm through the folds of the curtain.
“If there is any thing unfair about this method of assigning the places, I want you to say so now,” added the captain, when the preparations were completed.
“It is all as fair as any thing can be,” added Dave Windsor; and all the others expressed their satisfaction.
“As fast as you draw your cards you will go down to the main deck. As you take the card from the box, you will give me your name; and I
shall write it down in a book I have prepared for the purpose, against the name of the position. Now, one at a time.”
Bob Swanton was the first to come forward. He drew a card, and held it up so that the captain could read what was on it.
“First steward,” said the captain, reading it, and writing the position against the name in his book.
The next one was Tom Ridley, one of the Genverres boys. He drew “fourth fireman.”
Dick Short was “starboard watch, No. 1.”
“All the starboard watch have odd numbers, and the port even numbers,” explained the captain.