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Page 66
"I don't want to go in till I know more about it," said he, after
walking two or three times across the top-gallant forecastle.
"You can't know anything more about it until you have been toggled,"
replied Shuffles.
"Toggled?" repeated the sceptic, curiously.
"This thing is to be well managed, Wilton. We shall not use any hard
words, that outsiders can understand; and if any of them happen to hear
anything that don't concern them, they will not know what it means. Will
you join, or not?"
"I will," replied Wilton, desperately.
The strange words which Shuffles used, and the confidence he manifested
in the success of his project, carried the hesitating lookout man. He
was fascinated by the "clap-trap" which the leader of "our fellows" had
adopted to help along his scheme, for it promised to afford no little
excitement during the voyage.
"Now you talk like a man, Wilton," replied Shuffles. "You shall be a
member of the league at once."
"What's the league?"
"The Chain League."
"Upon my word, Shuffles, you have been reading yellow-covered novels to
some purpose."
"I didn't get this idea from a novel. I invented it myself."
"The Chain League!" repeated Wilton, who was pleased with the title of
the conspirators.
"It will be called simply 'The Chain.' I am the first member, and you
are the second; or you will be when you have been toggled."
"Toggled again!" laughed Wilton. "What do you mean?"
"Initiated."
"Go ahead, then."
"Repeat after me."
"Go on," replied Wilton, deeply interested in the proceeding, even while
he was amused at its formality.
"_I am a link of the chain_."
"I am a link of the chain," repeated Wilton.
"_I will obey my superior officers_."
"I will obey my superior officers."
"_And I will reveal none of its secrets_."
"And I will reveal none of its secrets."
"_This I promise_----"
"This I promise----"
"_On penalty of falling overboard accidentally_."
"On penalty of what?" demanded Wilton, both puzzled and terrified by the
mysterious words.
"Repeat the words after me. On penalty," said Shuffles, sternly.
"I know what the words are, but I'll be hanged if I will repeat them.
'Falling overboard accidentally!' What does that mean?"
"It means that, if you betray the secrets of The Chain, you might fall
overboard accidentally, some day."
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