After all, the Captain of Templeton _was_ the Captain of Templeton, and those who had not voted for him had made sure other fellows would.

But when five names were read out, and it was found that even Swinstead and Frith were elected, a sudden tide of repentance set in, which found vent in an unexpected cheer as the Captain's name followed.

Templeton felt it had had a narrow escape of making itself foolish, and the cheer was quite as much one of relief as of congratulation.
Mansfield may have understood it.

He had kept his eyes steadily on the reader, with a slight flush on his quiet face, and fellows who watched him could not tell whether the peculiar gleam which passed his eyes as his name was read was one of triumph or vexation.

Whatever it was, every one knew the Captain would be altered neither in purpose nor motive by the incident.