While Shuffles had been teaching the “outsiders” the game of “Don’t know Beans,” Pelham, as officer of the deck, remained abaft the mizzenmast, and had failed to notice what was taking place in the waist.  The officers who were off duty, and who had unconsciously voted for Shuffles, said nothing to those in charge of the ship.  In accordance with the requirements of man-of-war discipline, the weather side of the deck was given up to the captain and the officers on duty, while all the idlers were required to keep on the lee side.  Captain Gordon was a privileged person.  On the weather side, even the denizens of the after cabin did not presume to address him on any question not connected with the discipline of the ship.  When he went over to the lee side, it was understood that he was simply a student, and even an ordinary seaman might speak to him when he walked forward.

Shuffles had explained the game to the outsiders on the lee side, out of the hearing of the officer of the deck; and Pelham, entirely satisfied that he was already elected, did not trouble himself about the matter.

If “Don’t know Beans” was not much of a game, it was better than nothing, and Shuffles soon found that there was danger of his little scheme being exposed.  During the second dog watch, at supper time, and as other opportunities were presented, he told Wilton, Monroe, Adler, and others, that the second lieutenant, seeing so many beans on the deck, wished to know where they came from, and that, to deceive him and the rest of the officers, he had invented the game which he described, and wished them to play while off duty on deck.  “Our fellows” thought this was a good joke, and the new pastime was soon understood throughout the ship, and “butts” were appointed in each quarter watch to play it the next day.

“The fellows have all voted, I suppose,” said Pelham when the party had obtained a good position for the conference.

“The time is out, whether they have or not,” replied Grossbeck.

“All we have to do now is to count the votes,” added Shuffles, impatiently, for he was afraid his little trick would be exposed before the result of the ballot was obtained.

“Well, let us have it counted at once,” said Pelham, who, having no doubt of the result, had no thought of offering any objection to the fairness of the election.

“We can’t count the votes here,” suggested McKeon.  “Some one would see us, and want to know what we were doing.”

“I can’t leave the deck; I’m on duty,” replied Shuffles.

“Let the receivers count it themselves.”

“We ought to see them do it.”

“That is not necessary.  They don’t know how many votes they have.”

“I’m sure I don’t,” said Grossbeck.

“Neither do I,” added McKeon.

“I’ll tell you how we can manage it, without exciting the attention of any one.”

“I will agree to anything that is fair,” replied Shuffles.