“Of course you have some hopes.”

“To be sure I have; and I suppose you have, too.”

“Certainly I have; if I hadn’t, I should have given the thing up without the trouble and risk of a ballot,” replied Pelham.

“We both expect it, and it follows that one of us must be disappointed.”

“You know the bond.”

“I do.”

“Here is my hand, Shuffles.  I pledge myself over again to abide the result of the vote, whether it is for me or against me,” continued Pelham, extending his hand.

“And here is my hand, Pelham, with the same pledge, honor bright,” replied Shuffles, as he took the offered hand.

“I am tolerably confident of the result,” added Pelham.

“I am quite confident that I shall be chosen,” replied Shuffles.

“Don’t be too certain, my dear fellow,” laughed the fourth lieutenant.  “I have taken in a great many recruits.”

“I’m glad you have—­the more the better.  I have also taken in a good many.  Pelham, do you know this is very shaky business?”

“Shaky?”

“Yes—­between you and me, I mean.  If either of us should back down, the whole thing would fall to the ground.”

“Back down!” exclaimed Pelham.  “Why, after what has passed between us, I consider it impossible that either of us should back down.  I am pledged; so are you; and if either of us should back down, I hope he will—­fall overboard accidentally.”

“So do I,” replied Shuffles, heartily.

“My dear fellow, if you should back out, I should be mad enough to help you over the rail, some dark evening, if I had a good chance.”

“I don’t believe I should feel any better-natured if you should break your agreement.  One of us is doomed to disappointment.  We have tried to make this thing as fair as possible.”

“Certainly we have, and it will be as fair as anything can be.  I am entirely satisfied with the voting.”

“Are you?”

“Of course I am.”

Shuffles was very glad of this acknowledgment in advance of the reception of the result.

“But, after all, Pelham,” said he, “there may be an appearance of unfairness in the voting, after the result is declared.”

“There may be; but each of us is pledged not to claim anything on account of such an appearance.  If the figures of the two receivers agree, that is the end of the whole thing, and you or I will be the captain.”

“That’s so; but here comes McKeon,” replied Shuffles, as the receiver gave him the paper on which the result of the votes he had received was written.

It was too dark to see it, and the rivals waited, in great excitement of mind, for the appearance of Grossbeck.  He came, and his paper was handed to Pelham.  The conditions of the agreement had now all been complied with, and the two papers were to be placed side by side, where both of the candidates could see them at the same instant.  It was necessary, in the darkness, to obtain the use of a light for a moment and they decided to wait till the midshipman on duty in the waist went into the steerage to make the half-hourly inspection.