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Page 48
Shuffles was more dissatisfied and discontented than he had ever been
before. He had desired to make the tour of Europe with his father, and
he was sorely disappointed when denied this privilege; for with the
family he would be free from restraint, and free from hard study. When
he lost his rank as an officer, he became desperate and reckless. To
live in the steerage and do seaman's duty for three months, after he had
enjoyed the luxuries of authority, and of a state-room in the after
cabin, were intolerable. After the cabin offices had been distributed,
he told Monroe that he intended to run away that night; but he had found
no opportunity to do so; and it was unfortunate for his shipmates that
he did not.
"This isn't bad--is it, Shuffles?" said Wilton, as the ship slowly
ploughed her way through the billows.
"I think it is. I had made up my mouth to cross the ocean in a steamer,
and live high in London and Paris," replied Shuffles. "I don't relish
this thing, now."
"Why not?" asked Wilton.
"I don't feel at home here."
"I do."
"Because you never were anywhere else. I ought to be captain of this
ship."
"Well, you can be, if you have a mind to work for it," added Monroe.
"Work for it! That's played out. I must stay in the steerage three
months, at any rate; and that while the burden of the fun is going on.
If we were going to lie in harbor, or cruise along the coast, I would go
in for my old place."
"But Carnes is out of the way now, and your chance is better this year
than it was last," suggested Monroe.
"I know that, but I can't think of straining every nerve for three
months, two of them while we are going from port to port in Europe. When
we go ashore at Queenstown, I shall have to wear a short jacket, instead
of the frock coat of an officer; and I think the jacket would look
better on some younger fellow."
"What are you going to do, Shuffles?" asked Wilton.
"I'd rather be a king among hogs, than a hog among kings."
"What do you mean by that?"
"No matter; there's time enough to talk over these things."
"Do you mean a mutiny?" laughed Wilton.
"Haven't you forgotten that?"
"No."
"I wonder what Lowington would say, if he knew I had proposed such a
thing," added Shuffles, thoughtfully.
"He did know it, at the time you captured the runaways, for I told him."
"Did you?" demanded Shuffles, his brow contracting with anger.
"I told you I would tell him, and I did," answered Wilton. "You were a
traitor to our fellows, and got us into a scrape."
"I was an officer then."
"No matter for that. Do you suppose, if I were an officer, I would
throw myself in your way when you were up to anything?"
"I don't know whether you would or not; but I wouldn't blow on you, if
you had told me anything in confidence. What did Lowington say?"
"Nothing; he wouldn't take any notice of what I said."
"That was sensible on his part. One thing is certain, Wilton: you can't
be trusted."
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