“Suppose he should lose some of them?” suggested Shuffles.

“If he does, he is as likely to lose peas as beans.”

“I don’t want to be chosen in any such manner as by the loss of the votes.”

“I can’t see that there is any more danger of his losing them than there is of his losing his head.  I see you are not entirely satisfied with the plan.”

“To tell you the truth, Pelham, I am not.  There is, at least, a chance for mistakes.”

“I’m willing to do anything you like, that will make the election a fairer one.”

“I have it!” exclaimed Shuffles.  “We can give each fellow two peas and two beans, and let him vote twice.”

“What good will that do?”

“I’ll tell you.  We want another receiver; then let each fellow vote twice, giving a pea or a bean to both of the receivers.  If the two results don’t agree, it shall not be an election.”

“That’s a first-rate idea, Shuffles, and I go in for it with all my might,” replied Pelham, with so much warmth that his companion was put in the best of humor.  “Who shall be the other receiver?”

“Name some one,” said Shuffles, generously conceding the nomination to his confederate.

“Perth.”

“No.”

Shuffles objected because Pelham had done so when he had mentioned two names.

“Richton.”

“Once more.”

“McKeon.”

“Right.  McKeon is an honest, careful fellow,” added Shuffles.  “Now I think there can be no mistake.”

The minor details of the election were carefully arranged, and the boys went below again.  They gave satisfactory replies to the first lieutenant, who questioned them in regard to the steamer they had gone aloft to examine.  Pelham thought she was a “Cunarder,” but Shuffles was confident she belonged to the Inman line; and it is quite certain neither of them had any opinion whatever in regard to her, except that she was going west; for the red light on her port side was visible.

On the following day, Grossbeck and McKeon, the receivers who had been appointed, were waited upon, separately, by the two “Shackles.”  They accepted the important trust which was confided to them, and each was duly and solemnly admonished of the necessity of entire fairness.  They were informed that any discrepancy in the number of ballots in the hands of the two receivers would cause the vote to be rejected; and they individually promised to be both faithful and careful.

The beans and the peas were readily obtained, and were distributed among the members of the League, with the necessary secrecy.  Some of the independent voters needed a little persuasion to induce them to vote, when informed that the choice was between the “Shackles” only; but they yielded the point, and entered heartily into the excitement of the event; for, secret as were the proceedings, they were attended with no little exhilaration of feeling.