Outward Bound by Oliver Optic — Read

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.