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Page 121
"I will, if I get a chance."
"You will only make the matter ten times worse than it is."
Monroe joined them, and was informed of the desperate situation of the
League.
"It's all your fault, Shuffles," said Monroe, indignantly "I don't blame
Pelham."
"You don't! He has told a dozen outsiders how to make the signs, and let
them into the secrets of the Chain, for all I know."
"If he has, we may thank you for it, Shuffles. You cheated him, and
played a mean trick upon him," replied Monroe. "I wouldn't have stood it
if I had been he."
"Pelham is a traitor, and you are another."
"No matter what he is, or what I am. You got all those fellows to vote
for you, and cheated him out of the place that belonged to him."
"Did you think I was going to have him captain, after I had got up the
Chain, and done all the work?"
"You agreed to leave it out to the fellows who should be captain. They
voted, and you cheated," added Monroe. "I've had enough of the Chain;
and if any fellow makes the signs again, I shall not notice them."
"Humph! It's a pretty time to talk so, after the whole thing is let
out."
"Well, I will face the music, and get out of it the best way I can. I
was a fool to join the Chain."
"So was I," said Wilton.
There was no difficulty in arriving at such a conclusion after the
affair had been exposed; and the sentiments of Wilton and Monroe were,
or would soon be, the sentiments of all the members of the League.
Shuffles realized the truth of the old adage, that rats desert a sinking
ship, and he began to feel lonely in his guilt and his fear of exposure.
But he could not forgive Pelham for his perfidy, forgetting that each
had been treacherous to the other.
In the first dog watch on that day, while Shuffles' heart was still
rankling with hatred towards the alleged traitor, the rivals met in the
waist, which was common ground to officers off duty and seamen.
"I want to see you, Pelham," said Shuffles, in a low tone.
"Well, you do see me--don't you?" laughed Pelham who, feeling that he
was now even with his rival, was in excellent humor.
"Things are going wrong with us."
"O, no; I think not."
"Will you meet me on the top-gallant forecastle, where we shall not be
disturbed?" asked Shuffles.
"That is not exactly the place for an officer."
"You are off duty, and you can go where you please."
"What do you want of me?"
"I want to have an understanding."
"I suppose you think we have too many members--don't you?" asked Pelham,
lightly.
"The more the better."
"I'll meet you there."
Shuffles went to the place designated at once, where he was soon
followed by the fourth lieutenant.
"Well, Shuffles, what is it?" demanded Pelham, as, with one hand on the
sheet of the fore-topmast staysail, he looked over the bow at the bone
in the teeth of the ship.
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