Each knew his own peculiar followers, but he did not know how many the other could muster.

Though there were signs and passwords by which the members could know each other, there were no means by which any one could precisely sum up the whole number of "links." Shuffles could count thirteen including his rival, while Pelham could number nineteen without his coequal in authority.

The former believed the list to consist of about twenty four, while the latter estimated it above thirty.

With them it was a struggle for an office, as well as to redress their fancied wrongs, and they mutually deceived each other in order to obtain the advantage.
"How many do you suppose we can muster now ?" asked Shuffles, on the evening of the eighteenth day out, as they met in the waist, when both were 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 so many members now that the danger of exposure increases every day." "We can't do anything here.