“I was obliged to do what I did.  If I hadn’t, I should have been turned out of my office.”

“Perhaps you were right, Shuffles, and we won’t say anything more about the past,” replied Wilton, who was too willing to be on good terms with the powerful malcontent, even while he was a prisoner and in disgrace.

“Wilton, I am going to be captain of this ship within ten days,” said Shuffles, in a whisper.  “Now you may go and tell Lowington of that.”

“Of course I shall not tell him,” added Wilton, indignantly.

“I told you merely to show you that I had full confidence in you—­that’s all.  You can betray me if you wish to do so.”

“I don’t wish to do anything of the kind.  Of course we shall always go together, as we did before you were an officer.”

“I shall be an officer again soon.”

“What’s the use of talking about such a thing?”

“I shall.”

“Do you mean to get up the mutiny?”

“I do.  I feel more like it now than I ever did before,” replied Shuffles; and his low tones came from between his closed teeth.

“It’s no use to think of such a thing.  It’s too wild.”

“No matter if it is; it shall be carried out.”

“The fellows won’t go in for it; they won’t dare to do it.”

“Yes, they will.  I know them better than you do, Wilton.  It isn’t quite time yet; but in three or four days they will be ready for anything.”

“You can’t bring them up to what you mean.”

“Yes, I can.”

“What do you expect to do, locked up in that place?” demanded Wilton, incredulously.

“When I get ready to go out of this place, I shall go.  I needn’t stay here any longer than I please.”

“Do you really mean to get up a mutiny?”

“Hush!  Don’t call it by that name.”

“What shall I call it?”

“Call it making a chain.”

“I don’t understand you,” answered Wilton, puzzled by the expression.

“I know what I’m about, and I have got more friends in the ship than
Lowington has.  And I know exactly how to manage the whole thing,” added
Shuffles, confidently.

“But the fellows are all perfectly satisfied with their condition.  They wish to go to Europe, and are pleased with the prospect before them.”

“Perhaps they are; and they shall all go to Europe, and travel about without being tied to Lowington’s coat-tails.  I shall come out of this place to-morrow, and we will work the thing up.”

“I’m in for a time with any good fellow; but I don’t think we can make this thing go,” said Wilton.  “Hush!  Don’t say another word.  There comes an officer.”

One bell, indicating half past eight in the evening, struck on deck.  It was the duty of the master and midshipman on deck, alternately, to pass through the steerage every half hour during the watch, to see that there was no disorder, and that the lights were all secure, so as to avoid any danger from fire.  Henry Martyn, the second master, performed this office on the present occasion.  He descended the main ladder, and Wilton, who expected the visit when he heard the stroke of the bell, retreated to his mess room, and threw himself into his berth.  Harry walked around the steerage, and glanced into the gangways, from which the rooms opened.