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Page 58
"Anger often makes men crazy."
"You don't understand me, Mr. Agneau."
"Indeed, I do. You mean that you deluded yourself into the belief that
you had been wronged, and that you ought not to obey the orders of your
officers, and of the principal. The force that was used made you so
angry that you did not know what you were about," added the sympathizing
chaplain.
"In one word, Mr. Agneau, I had been drinking," said Shuffles, with
something like desperation in his manner, as he bent his head, and
covered his face with his hands.
"Drinking!" gasped the chaplain, filled with horror at the confession.
"I told you I was worse than you thought I was," moaned Shuffles.
"Is it possible!"
"It is true, sir; I say it with shame."
"Are you in the habit of taking intoxicating drinks?" asked the
chaplain, confounded beyond measure at this complication of the
difficulty.
"I am not in the habit of it, because I can't get liquor all the time.
My father has wine on his table, and I always was allowed to drink one
glass."
"Can it be!" ejaculated the chaplain. "A youth of seventeen----"
"I'm eighteen now, sir."
"A youth of eighteen in the habit of taking wine!" groaned Mr. Agneau.
"I drank a great deal more than my father knew of while I was at home."
"I am amazed!"
"I knew you would be, sir; but I have told you the truth now."
"But where did you get your liquor to-day?"
"It was wine, sir."
"Where did you get it?"
"I brought two bottles on board with me when I reported for duty
yesterday."
"This is terrible, Shuffles! Do you know what an awful habit you are
contracting, my dear young friend?"
"I never thought much about it till to-night. It has got me into such a
scrape this time, that I don't believe I shall ever drink any more."
"As you respect yourself, as you hope for peace in this world, and peace
in the next, never put the cup to your lips again. 'Wine is a mocker;
strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.'
Did you drink the two bottles?"
"No, sir; only part of one bottle," replied Shuffles, with commendable
promptness.
"Where is the rest of it?"
"Under my berth-sack."
"Are you willing I should take possession of it, and hand it to Mr.
Lowington?"
"I will agree to anything which you think is right."
"Then I will take the wine and throw it overboard."
"Just as you think best, sir. You will find the two bottles in my berth,
No. 43, Gangway D,--the forward one on the starboard side."
"I hope you will never touch the wine-cup again."
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