“Grossbeck shall go forward, and McKeon aft as far as the mainmast, so that each cannot know what the other is about.  They can count the votes separately without being seen.”

“I don’t see how we can,” said McKeon.

“Can you tell a pea from a bean by the feeling?”

“Of course we can.”

“Where did you put the votes, Grossbeck?” asked Pelham.

“In my trousers’ pocket.”

“So did I,” added McKeon.

“Both of you have on your pea-jackets now, and there is a pocket on each side of them.  Take out all the peas first, and put them in the right-hand pocket of your pea-jacket; then all the beans, and put them in the left-hand pocket; then count each.”

“Some fellow may see us counting them,” said Grossbeck.

“You must take care of that,” answered Pelham.

“If they do, it will not make much difference.  Some of the fellows were careless, and threw their beans on the deck.”

“Did they?” laughed Pelham?  “I suppose they had no use for them.”

“The second lieutenant saw them, and wanted to know what they meant,” added Shuffles.

“Whew!” exclaimed Pelham.

“I made it all right, though I was obliged to invent a new game to throw him off the track.”

“Good!” said Pelham.  “But we must go on with the counting.  When you have found the number of peas and of beans, you will write the result on a piece of paper, each of you.  McKeon, you will hand your paper to Shuffles, and, Grossbeck, you will hand yours to me.  That’s fair—­isn’t it?”

“Certainly,” replied Shuffles.

“Then we will put the two papers together; if they agree, the election is made; if they do not agree, we must do it all over again,” continued Pelham.

“All right,” added Shuffles.

The two receivers were sent away to count the votes.  As one went forward, and the other aft, and the two “Shackles” stood between, no communication whatever could pass from one to the other.  It was now quite dark, and most of those off duty had turned in, for the students had become so well accustomed to sea life that they could sleep whenever their presence was not required on deck.

“I hope this thing will be settled now once for all,” said Pelham, who feared that some mistake might defeat his hopes.

“So do I,” replied Shuffles, who was disturbed by the same dread.

“Have you any idea what the result will be?” asked Pelham, who, in spite of the mutual “toggling,” and the mutual assurances of good faith, had some doubts whether his rival would be willing to accept the result.

“Well, I don’t know,” replied Shuffles, cautiously, and with the same want of confidence which disturbed his companion.  “There is no knowing who will be governor till after election.”

“Of course not, but you might have some idea of the way the thing is going?”

“I might, but what’s the use of talking when we shall know all about it in ten or fifteen minutes?”