uffles, when Mr. Fluxion had gone aft.

"Whenever you are ready, I am," replied Pelham.

"I am ready now."

"So am I."

"Very well; it shall come off to-morrow, say."

"To-morrow it is, then."

"But how shall it be conducted?" asked Shuffles.

"That will not be an easy matter. I think, however we can hit upon some
plan for having it fairly done."

"Of course the matter lies between you and me," added Shuffles.

"To be sure."

"I suppose both of us are ready to abide the issue, whatever it may be,"
said Shuffles, who was not a little fearful that his powerful rival
would refuse to acknowledge him when he was chosen, as he confidently
expected to be.

"I pledge you my word and honor, that I will obey you in all things if
you are fairly elected captain," replied Pelham, who was equally sure of
being chosen himself.

"Fairly? Who is to decide whether it is fairly done or not?" demanded
Shuffles, unwilling to leave a loop-hole through which his companion
could crawl out of the bargain.

"When we have agreed upon the means of electing the captain, the choice
shall be final."

"Good! You and I shall have no difficulty!" exclaimed Shuffles, rather
astonished to find his rival so easily managed, as he regarded it.

"We will make it a little more binding, if you choose," suggested
Pelham, who, the reader has already been assured by the figures given,
was completely outwitting the author and inventor of the Chain League.

"With all my heart!"

"We will toggle each other on this special question if you like."

"The stronger we make the bond the better," said Shuffles. "Repeat after
me."

"Not here, Shuffles. There is a steamer on our weather bow. Let's go up
into the mizzentop, and have a look at her with a night glass."

Mr. Haven, the first lieutenant, who was in charge of the deck,
permitted them to go aloft with the glass, for the officers were
empowered to grant small favors. On reaching the top, they glanced at
the steamer, and then resumed the conversation which had been suspended
on deck, it being too dark for the officers below to see what they were
doing.

"Now go ahead," said Pelham.

"Repeat after me."

"All right."

"I promise, without any reservation, to acknowledge Shuffles as captain,
if he is chosen, and faithfully to obey his orders, on penalty of
falling overboard accidentally."

Pelham repeated these words, and then "toggled" his rival in the same
manner.

"Now we understand