|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 107
Paul took them.
"Now you must give one to Grossbeck, and the other to McKeon, without
letting any fellow see you do it. If any fellow does see you give it to
either of them, he will say, in a low tone, 'Don't know Beans,' and then
the butt must drop it on deck. When the even bell strikes, Grossbeck and
McKeon must count their beans. The one who has the most must appoint the
next two bean-pots, or butts; and the one who has the smaller number
must pick up all the beans that have been dropped on the deck. There is
fun 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 beans
to the receivers without any one uttering the warning words. He was
rather pleased with the game, so suddenly invented, and the two officers
of his watch were induced to try the experiment. Then Blackburn,
Endicott, and Bennington were supplied with beans by Shuffles, who
instructed his auditors that not a word must be said about the matter to
the "butts," or to any one in the waist. The last three were as
successful as the first three. Then Thompson and Cartwright were equally
fortunate. Finally, Captain Gordon's attention was attracted, and he
descended so far from his dignity as to deposit the beans.
Shuffles was satisfied. He had procured nine votes, and he was confident
that he had thus defeated his rival. As a matter of precaution, he
directed McKeon to pick up the beans scattered in the waist; and the
"outsiders" who had cast the nine votes believed that he was the unlucky
butt, who had been beaten in the game.
"The captain and half the officers voted," whispered Grossbeck at four
bells.
"Certainly; that's all right. You and McKeon will meet Pelham and me in
the waist at eight bells," replied Shuffles, as he went below.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE RESULT OF THE BALLOT.
The first part of the port watch went on duty at eight o'clock, when the
secret poll for the choice of a captain, under the new order of events,
was closed. Shuffles was in this watch, but as neither his "trick at the
wheel" nor his turn on the lookout came within the first hour, he had an
opportunity to attend to the important business of the League. Pelham
and the two receivers of votes belonged in the second part of the port
watch, and there was nothing to prevent them from attending the
conference which Shuffles had appointed.
While Shuffles had been teaching the "outsiders" the game of "Don't know
Beans," Pelham, as officer of the deck, remained abaft the mizzenmast,
and had failed to notice what was taking place in the waist. The
officers who were off duty, and who had unconsciously voted for
Shuffles, said nothing to those in charge of the ship. In accordance
with the requirements of man-of-war discipline, the weather side of the
deck was given up to the captain and the officers on duty, while all the
idlers were required to keep on the lee side. Captain Gordon was a
privileged person. On the weather side, even the denizens of the after
cabin did not presume to address him on any question not connected with
the discipline of the ship. When he went over to the lee side, it was
understood that he was simply a student, and even an ordinary seaman
might speak to him when he walked forward.
Shuffles had explained the game to the outsiders on the lee side, out of
the hearing of the officer of the deck; and Pelham, entirely satisfied
that he was already elected, did not trouble himself about the matter.
If "Don't know Beans" was not much of a game, it was better than
nothing, and Shuffles soon found that there was danger of his little
scheme being exposed. During the second dog watch, at supper time, and
as other opportunities were presented, he told Wilton, Monroe, Adler,
and others, that the second lieutenant, seeing so many beans on the
deck, wished to know where they came from, and that, to deceive him and
the rest of the officers, he had invented the game which he described,
and wished them to play while off duty on deck. "Our fellows" thought
this was a good joke, and the new pastime was soon understood throughout
the ship, and "butts" were appointed in each quarter watch to play it
the next day.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|