Wilbur Summerfield was placed in the chair, and the meeting proceeded at once to an election of officers.
For a week or two past there had been considerable private canvassing among the boys.

There were several who would like to have been elected captain, and a number of others who, though not aspiring so high, hoped to be first or second lieutenants.

Among the first class was John Haynes.

Like many persons who are unpopular, he did not seem to be at all aware of the extent of his unpopularity.
But there was another weighty reason why the choice of the boys would never have fallen upon him.

Apart from his unpopularity, he was incompetent for the posts to which he aspired.