These persons were hardly off the deck, before another party came up the opposite side of the ship.

They announced themselves to be a nominating committee of the Perpendiculars, on exactly the same errand as their opponents.

They, too, wished to propitiate the foreign interests, and were in search of a proper candidate.

Captain Poke had been an attentive listener to all that occurred during the circumstances that preceded my nomination; and he now stepped promptly forward, and declared his readiness to serve.

As there was quite as little squeamishness on one side as on the other, and the Perpendicular committee, as it owned itself, was greatly pressed for time, the Horizontals having the start of them, the affair was arranged in five minutes, and the strangers departed with the name of NOAH POKE, THE TRIED PATRIOT, THE PROFOUND JURIST, AND THE HONEST MONIKIN, handsomely placarded on a large board--all but the name having been carefully prepared in advance.
When the committee were fairly out of the ship, Noah look me aside, and made his apologies for opposing me in this important election.