By the exercise of some tact, the conspirators found a convenient place under the top-gallant forecastle to consider the project.  Pelham was duly “toggled,” and offered no objection to the penalty; indeed, he only laughed at it.

“Suppose we get possession of the ship—­what then?” asked Pelham.

“We will go on a cruise.  I understand that she has provisions for a six months’ voyage on board.  I’m in favor of going round Cape Horn, and having a good time among the islands of the South Sea.”

Pelham laughed outright at this splendid scheme.

“Round Cape Horn!” exclaimed he.

“Yes? why not?  We should be up with the cape by the first of June; rather a bad time, I know, but this ship would make good weather of it, and I don’t believe we should see anything worse than this.”

“What will you do with the principal and the professors?” asked Pelham, lightly.

“We can run up within ten or fifteen miles of Cape Sable, give them one of the boats, and let them go on shore.”

“Perhaps they won’t go.”

“We have ten fellows already in the Chain, who are seventeen years old.  If we get half the crew, we can handle the other half, and the professors with them.”

“All right!  I’m with you, whether you succeed or not.  I’m not going to be ground under Lowington’s feet, and be snubbed by such fellows as Gordon.  If I want to smoke a cigar, I’m going to do it.”

“Or take a glass of wine,” suggested Shuffles.

“If there is any on board.”

“There is, plenty of it.  I’ll make you a present of a bottle, if you wish it.”

“Thank you.  Suppose we get the ship, Shuffles, who are to be the officers?” asked Pelham.

“We shall have good fellows for officers.  You will be one, of course.”

“I suppose I am higher in rank now than any fellow who has joined the Chain.”

“Yes, that’s a fact; but we are not going to mind who are officers now, or who have been before.  We intend to take the best fellows—­those who have done the most work in making the Chain.”

“Whether they are competent or not,” added Pelham.

“All the fellows know how to work a ship now, except the green hands that came aboard this year.”

“This is rather an important matter.  Shuffles, for everything depends upon the officers.  For instance, who will be captain?” asked Pelham, with assumed indifference.

“I shall, of course,” replied Shuffles, with becoming modesty.

“That’s a settled matter, I suppose.”

“Yes; without a doubt it is.”

“I may not agree to that,” suggested the new convert.

“You have already agreed to it.  You have promised to obey your superiors.”

“But who are my superiors?”

“I am one of them.”

“Who appointed you?”

“I appointed myself.  I got up the Chain.”

“I think I have just as much right to that place as you have.  Shuffles.”