by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER XVII.
PEAS AND BEANS.
The business of the Chain had been managed with extreme caution by theconspirators, and more than one third of the crew had been initiatedwithout the knowledge of the principal and professors, or of theofficers and seamen who were not members. Pelham and Shuffles orderedthe affairs of the League, and no "link" was allowed to approach anoutsider for the purpose of inducing him to join without the consent ofone of these worthies.
As the scheme progressed, various modifications had been made in theplan to adapt it to circumstances, the principal of which was the choiceof two "shackles," who should be deemed the officers of the League untila regular election had taken place. By this invention, Shuffles andPelham had been enabled to compromise their differences, for theyassumed the newly-created offices, and labored as equals in the badcause. Each endeavored to make as many new "links" as possible, foralready the conspirators consisted of two factions, one of which favoredthe election of Shuffles, and the other that of Pelham, to thecaptaincy. Each, in a measure, controlled his own recruits, and wasreasonably sure of their votes when the election should be ordered.
These young gentlemen were not only plotting to take the ship, but to"take in" each other. While both worked for the League as a whole, eachworked for himself as an individual. Shuffles was much more thoroughthan his rival in the making of his converts. He told them the wholestory, and taught them to look full in the face the extreme peril of theundertaking. He did not conceal anything from them. On the other hand,Pelham merely represented the project as a means of redressing thegrievances of the officers and crew; of having their money restored tothem, and abolishing certain portions of the regulations which pressedhard upon those who were disposed to be unruly.
Though the number of "links" in the "Chain" has been mentioned, it wasnot known to either of the rivals. Each knew his own peculiar followers,but he did not know how many the other could muster. Though there weresigns and passwords by which the members could know each other, therewere no means by which any one could precisely sum up the whole numberof "links." Shuffles could count thirteen including his rival, whilePelham could number nineteen without his coequal in authority. Theformer believed the list to consist of about twenty four, while thelatter estimated it above thirty. With them it was a struggle for anoffice, as well as to redress their fancied wrongs, and they mutuallydeceived each other in order to obtain the advantage.
"How many do you suppose we can muster now?" asked Shuffles, on theevening of the eighteenth day out, as they met in the waist, when bothwere off duty.
"About twenty," replied Pelham.
"There are more than that."
"Perhaps there are."
"But it is time to stretch the Chain," added Shuffles, in a whisper.
"Not yet."
"If we are ever going to do anything, we must begin soon. We have somany members now that the danger of exposure increases every day."
"We can't do anything here. Besides, I am not in favor of having thetime or the manner of accomplishing the work talked about among themembers. I believe in one-man power in an affair of this sort. Thereshould be one head, who should plan and command; all the rest shouldobey. If every step in the thing must be discussed and agreed upon, weshall never do anything. One fellow will want it done in one way, andanother in some other way."
"I think you are more than half right," replied Shuffles, who wasconfident that he should be the person chosen to arrange the plans andissue the commands.
"I know I am wholly right," added Pelham, who was equally confident thathe should enjoy the undivided sway of the League. "If you are chosencaptain I will cheerfully obey your orders. I go a step farther: whoeveris elected captain should appoint his own officers."
"I will agree to that also," replied the complaisant Shuffles.
"Very well, then; the understanding is, that when one of us is electedcaptain, he shall appoint his own officers, and do all the planning andall the commanding," answered Pelham.
"Exactly so; we are now in about longitude thirty-one, and Cork Harboris in longitude eight, according to Bowditch, for I was looking thematter up in the steerage to-day. We have to make about twenty-threedegrees more. A degree of longitude, in latitude fifty-one, isthirty-seven and three quarters miles, which would make it eight hundredand sixty-eight miles more to run in order to reach Queenstown. You seeI am posted," said Shuffles.
"I see you are. By the way, had you noticed that Queenstown is not inthe Navigator, or on the older maps?" added Pelham.
"Yes; the place was called the Cove of Cork until 1849, when, in honorof her majesty's visit to the town, the name was changed to Queenstown."
"All right," said Pelham.
It need not be supposed that the distance to Queenstown and the changein the name of that place had anything to do with the League. The factwas, that Mr. Fluxion had passed near the conspirators, and had paused amoment in the waist to glance up at the fore-top-gallant sail, which wasnot in good trim; and the conversation had been changed to suit theoccasion. In talking of the affairs of the "Chain," it was required thatone of the party should look forward, and the other aft, if there weretwo of them; and that the third, if there were three, should stand backto the nearest rail. It was further required that the conversationshould not take place in a situation where it would be possible for anyone to overhear them. The lee side of the waist,--the midshipman of thewatch always being on the weather side,--the top-gallant forecastle, andthe tops were the favorite resorts of the conspirators. If any oneapproached, the parties in conversation were instantly to change thetopic, as Shuffles had done.
"I think it is about time for the election to take place," continuedShuffles, 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 someplan 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 rivalwould refuse to acknowledge him when he was chosen, as he confidentlyexpected to be.
"I pledge you my word and honor, that I will obey you in all things ifyou are fairly elected captain," replied Pelham, who was equally sure ofbeing chosen himself.
"Fairly? Who is to decide whether it is fairly done or not?" demandedShuffles, unwilling to leave a loop-hole through which his companioncould crawl out of the bargain.
"When we have agreed upon the means of electing the captain, the choiceshall be final."
"Good! You and I shall have no difficulty!" exclaimed Shuffles, ratherastonished to find his rival so easily managed, as he regarded it.
"We will make it a little more binding, if you choose," suggestedPelham, 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 afterme."
"Not here, Shuffles. There is a steamer on our weather bow. Let's go upinto 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 wereempowered to grant small favors. On reaching the top, they glanced atthe steamer, and then resumed the conversation which had been suspendedon deck, it being too dark for the officers below to see what they weredoing.
"Now go ahead," said Pelham.
"Repeat after me."
"All right."
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p; "I promise, without any reservation, to acknowledge Shuffles as captain,if he is chosen, and faithfully to obey his orders, on penalty offalling overboard accidentally."
Pelham repeated these words, and then "toggled" his rival in the samemanner.
"Now we understand each other perfectly, and there will be no chance ofdragging the anchor," said Shuffles, satisfied that his sway would beundisputed. "Let me say, in addition to this, that if I should happen tobe chosen, I shall make you my first officer, Pelham."
"And I will make you my first officer, if I should happen to be chosen,"replied the obliging Pelham. "Of course I don't expect to be chosen; youhave had the swing of this affair, and you will have all the advantage."
"No, I think not; you are an officer now, and you have more influencethan I have," added the modest Shuffles.
If both had been laboring for the organization of the League on the sameterms, Shuffles would certainly have the better chance of an election;but Pelham had been taking in members on false pretences, merelyrepresenting to those whom he approached that the League was anassociation having for its object the redress of their grievances. Toonly a few had he mentioned the fact that a regular mutiny wascontemplated; that the ship was to be taken out of the hands of theprincipal, and an independent cruise commenced. He was afraid the wholetruth would be more than some of them could bear; and perhaps he had solittle faith in the extreme measures to be carried out by the League,that he was unwilling even to mention them.
Those who serve the evil one can neither trust each other nor trusttheir master.
The only real confidence in each other which can exist among men or boysmust be based on moral and religious principle.
The man who pays his debts, or who performs his obligations to hisfellow-men, for his reputation's sake, rather than from devotion to pureprinciple, will fail of his duty when he can conceal his infidelity, orwhen his reputation will not suffer from his acts.
A man or a boy without principle is not to be trusted out of the line ofhis own interest.
While Shuffles and Pelham were pledging themselves to a kind of romanticfidelity, they were plotting each against the other, each beingsatisfied that he had the advantage of the other.
"Now, I'm afraid the election will give us some trouble," continuedShuffles. "It will not be an easy matter to conduct it fairly--not thatany fellow means to cheat, but it must be conducted with so much secrecythat we can't superintend the ballot properly."
"I know there is all that difficulty, but I have thought of a methodwhich I believe will give us a fair election," replied Pelham.
"Have you? So have I."
"Well, what is your plan? If it is better than mine, I am willing toadopt it."
"I was thinking, as you and I are the only candidates that each of usmight be represented by one side of the ship. You shall be port, and Iwill be starboard Then every link in the Chain shall hand his vote, onwhich shall be written the single word port or starboard either to youor me; and if there are more port than starboard, you will be captain;if more starboard than port, I shall be captain! How does that ideastrike you?"
"Pretty well; but the fellows have all got to write their votes, andothers will want to know what it means. It will set outsiders tothinking, and I don't believe the plan is quite safe."
"Well, what is your method?" asked Shuffles, who was willing toacknowledge the force of his rival's objections.
"Perhaps my plan is as open to objection as yours," answered Pelham;"but it will require no writing. Each of us shall get a handful of beansand a handful of peas. We can easily obtain them when the store roomsare opened. You shall be beans, and I will be peas."
"How are you, Peas?" said Shuffles, laughing at the idea.
"How are you, Beans?" added Pelham.
"Go on with your soup."
"We will give to every fellow belonging to the Chain one pea and onebean."
"I understand the plan now; but where are the fellows to deposit theirvegetable ballots?"
"We can have a receiver; appoint some good fellow for the purpose--say,Greenway, the captain of the forecastle; or Tom Ellis, the thirdmaster."
"Tom Ellis! Does he belong?"
"Of course he does," laughed Pelham, who realized that he had been alittle too fast in betraying the strength of his faction.
"I wouldn't appoint an officer."
"Well, you mention some fellow," said the politic Pelham.
"Say Wilton."
"Mention another."
"Lynch."
"No; try again."
"Grossbeck."
"Very well; I will agree to him."
"But he might make some mistake."
"If he does, it will be in your favor, I suppose; for you nominated him,and, of course, he will give you the benefit of any doubt," repliedPelham.
"I want a fellow who will do it fairly. I don't wish to get in by anymistake," said Shuffles, magnanimously.
"Neither do I? and I don't think there will be any mistakes."
"There is a chance for a great many. The fellows may get mixed betweenbeans and peas. When they come to vote, there will be some who don'tknow beans," laughed Shuffles.
"Well, if they don't, they will know peas, which will do just as well,"replied Pelham.
"It would not be pleasant for me to have them know peas, when they oughtto know beans."
"We will give them P.P. as a clew to the whole thing."
"P.P.? That means P's, I suppose."
"It means that, and more. P. for Pelham, and P. for peas. If they getone right, they can't very well get the other wrong."
"That's true," answered Shuffles, silenced, rather than convinced, bythe tactics of his fellow-conspirator.
It was settled that he who knew peas must certainly "know beans."
"When shall the fellows vote?" asked Shuffles.
"After dinner to-morrow afternoon. Every fellow will be off duty an hourin the first or second dog watch," replied Pelham, who seemed to have ananswer ready for every question. "The polls shall be kept open tilleight o'clock. The peas and beans shall be distributed before eightbells in the forenoon watch, so that every fellow will be ready tovote."
"Where will Grossbeck stand when he receives the ballots?"
"He won't stand anywhere in particular. We will see him together, andgive him his instructions. I think it will be better for him to walkabout the ship, and let the fellows hand him the votes on the sly, whichhe must put in his pocket. He shall count them in the presence of bothof us."
"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 thevotes."
"I can't see that there is any more danger of his losing them than thereis of his losing his head. I see you are not entirely satisfied with theplan."
"To tell you the truth, Pelham, I am not. There is, at least, a chancefor mistakes."
"I'm willing to do anything you like, that will make the election afairer one."
"I have it!" exclaimed Shuffles. "We can give each fellow two peas andtwo beans, and let him vote twice."
"What good will that do?"
"I'll tell you. We want another receiver; then let each fellow votetwice, giving a pea or a bean to both of the receivers. If the tworesults don't agree, it shall not be an election."
"That's a first-rate idea, Shuffles, and I go in for it with all mymight," replied Pelham, with so much warmth that his companion was putin the best of humor. "Who shall be the other receiver?"
"Name some one," said Shuffles, generously conceding the nomination tohis confederate.
"Perth."
"No."
Shuffles objected because Pelham had done so when he had mentioned twonames.
"Richton."
"Once more."
"McKeon."
"Right. McKeon is an honest, careful fellow," added Shuffles. "Now Ithink there can be no mis
take."
The minor details of the election were carefully arranged, and the boyswent below again. They gave satisfactory replies to the firstlieutenant, who questioned them in regard to the steamer they had gonealoft to examine. Pelham thought she was a "Cunarder," but Shuffles wasconfident she belonged to the Inman line; and it is quite certainneither of them had any opinion whatever in regard to her, except thatshe was going west; for the red light on her port side was visible.
On the following day, Grossbeck and McKeon, the receivers who had beenappointed, were waited upon, separately, by the two "Shackles." Theyaccepted the important trust which was confided to them, and each wasduly and solemnly admonished of the necessity of entire fairness. Theywere informed that any discrepancy in the number of ballots in the handsof the two receivers would cause the vote to be rejected; and theyindividually promised to be both faithful and careful.
The beans and the peas were readily obtained, and were distributed amongthe members of the League, with the necessary secrecy. Some of theindependent voters needed a little persuasion to induce them to vote,when informed that the choice was between the "Shackles" only; but theyyielded the point, and entered heartily into the excitement of theevent; for, secret as were the proceedings, they were attended with nolittle exhilaration of feeling.
The voting commenced in the afternoon watch. The second part of thestarboard watch, being off duty, gave in their peas and beans first. Thereceivers, without even knowing all the members of the League, tookwhatever was handed to them "on the sly," and looked as careless andindifferent as though nothing was going on. The only responsibility thatrested upon them, besides the general duty of carefulness and fidelity,was to see that no one voted twice. "Vote early and vote often" was notcountenanced; and one receiver acted as a check upon the other.
The election progressed so secretly that no occasion for suspicion wasgiven; and though the ballots were deposited under the eyes of theprincipal and the professors they saw nothing, and had not the remotestidea that anything wrong was in progress.
In the last half of the first dog watch, Shuffles began to be excited.He was too much of a politician to be idle while any voting was goingon? and so far as his duty would permit, he had watched the receiverssince the balloting commenced. He had seen seven or eight vote of whosemembership in the Chain he had no previous knowledge. He saw that Pelhamhad made more initiates than he had been willing to acknowledge,apparently concealing the facts for the purpose of favoring his ownelection. He observed that all the officers of his rival's quarter watchvoted, and he was almost certain that he had been defeated.
Shuffles was angry and indignant when he discovered the treacherousshrewdness of his fellow-conspirator; but he had solemnly promised toabide the result of the election, and he could not recede from hisposition without a violation of the "honor among thieves" which is saidto exist. The poll would not be closed for half an hour; and as he hadbeen cheated he deemed it quite right to restore the equilibrium by aresort to the same policy.
"Wilton, I have been cheated," said he, angrily, as he met his old cronyin the waist.
"How do you know you have?"
"I know it. I will explain by and by. Something must be done. I ambeaten as sure as you live."
"Well, I can't help it if you are. You and Pelham have fixed things tosuit yourselves, and now you must fight it out between you," repliedWilton, as he turned on his heel, and left the mighty mischief-makeralone and disconcerted.
"Where do all these beans come from?" said Paul Kendall, as he noticedthe rejected ballots of the Pelhamites, which they had not even takenthe trouble to throw over the rail.
"It's a new game the fellows are playing," replied Shuffles, withapparent indifference, as he walked aft with the second lieutenant.
"What's that?" asked Paul, curiously.
"It's called 'Don't know Beans,'" answered Shuffles in deep thought."The fellows have a good deal of sport out of it in the off-time."
"'Don't know Beans!' I never heard of such a game before. Tell me aboutit."
"You see Grossbeck and McKeon?"
"Yes."
"Well, they are the _butts,_ as we call them. All the fellows in ourwatch have some beans," added Shuffles, taking a handful of them fromhis pocket.
"What do they do with them?"
"You try it yourself. Take two of these beans."
Paul took them.
"Now you must give one to Grossbeck, and the other to McKeon, withoutletting any fellow see you do it. If any fellow does see you give it toeither of them, he will say, in a low tone, 'Don't know Beans,' and thenthe butt must drop it on deck. When the even bell strikes, Grossbeck andMcKeon must count their beans. The one who has the most must appoint thenext two bean-pots, or butts; and the one who has the smaller numbermust pick up all the beans that have been dropped on the deck. There isfun in it; though, perhaps, you wouldn't think so."
"I will try it, at any rate."
Paul did try it, and succeeded, as all others did, in giving the beansto the receivers without any one uttering the warning words. He wasrather pleased with the game, so suddenly invented, and the two officersof his watch were induced to try the experiment. Then Blackburn,Endicott, and Bennington were supplied with beans by Shuffles, whoinstructed his auditors that not a word must be said about the matter tothe "butts," or to any one in the waist. The last three were assuccessful as the first three. Then Thompson and Cartwright were equallyfortunate. Finally, Captain Gordon's attention was attracted, and hedescended so far from his dignity as to deposit the beans.
Shuffles was satisfied. He had procured nine votes, and he was confidentthat he had thus defeated his rival. As a matter of precaution, hedirected McKeon to pick up the beans scattered in the waist; and the"outsiders" who had cast the nine votes believed that he was the unluckybutt, who had been beaten in the game.
"The captain and half the officers voted," whispered Grossbeck at fourbells.
"Certainly; that's all right. You and McKeon will meet Pelham and me inthe waist at eight bells," replied Shuffles, as he went below.
