“What do you mean by your ticket?” demanded Kendall, who was rather confused by the technical terms of the wire-puller.

Wilton explained that his little party had selected a candidate for each of the offices; and if all the fellows agreed to it, there would be fifteen votes for their ticket, to begin with.

“Well, what is your ticket?” demanded Kendall, impatiently.  “If they are all good fellows, I will go for them.  Of course you mean to vote for Carnes for captain.”

“Not exactly,” replied Wilton, with evident disgust.  “We shall put up a better fellow than he is for captain.”

“Why, all the boys are going for him,” added Kendall, astonished to find there were any who did not believe in Carnes.

“No, they are not.”

“I thought they were.”

“He will not be elected, and you need not throw your vote away upon him, because, if you don’t want a place in the after cabin, there are plenty of fellows who do,” added the wire-puller, with apparent indifference.

“But I do want it.”

“Then all you have to do, is to go for our ticket.”

“I think Carnes will make the best captain.”

“Very well; if you think so, you have a right to your own opinion.  I haven’t any mortgage on it.”

“Whom are you going to run for captain?”

“It’s no use to talk any more about it, if you are going for Carnes,” replied Wilton, as he turned to move away.

The wire-puller was playing a part.  Paul Kendall was a noble little fellow, and was already a great favorite on board, not only with the boys, but with the principal and the professors.  Wilton knew that he had a great deal of influence, and it was important to secure him for their ticket.  If he could tell others that Kendall was going for their men, it would induce many to join their party.  The “favorite,” though he was an honest, noble-hearted fellow, was still human, and a berth in the after cabin was a strong temptation to him.

“I’m not going to say I’ll vote for a fellow till I know who he is,” added Kendall.  “If he’s the right person, perhaps I’ll go for him, though I wanted to see Carnes captain.”

“Carnes can’t be elected, I tell you.  We are going against him.”

“Whom are you going for, then?”

“For Bob Shuffles,” replied Wilton, desperately, for he did not wish to mention his candidate till he had won the assent of his companion.

“Shuffles!” exclaimed Kendall, with something like horror mingled with his astonishment; “I shall not go for him, anyhow.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t think he is the right person for the place.”

“I do; he’s a first-rate fellow—­none of your milk and water chaps, that swallow camels and strain at gnats.”

Kendall had some decided objections to Shuffles, and he positively refused to vote for him, even to obtain the coveted position in the after cabin.  Wilton argued the matter with much skill and cunning; but his logic and his eloquence were both wasted.