“What do you mean by making a chain?” asked Wilton, eagerly.

“A chain is strong.”

“Well; what of it?”

“It is composed of many links.  Can’t you understand that?”

“Hush up!  Some one is coming,” said Wilton, as he walked away from the brig.

“Here! who is that?” demanded Mr. Lowington, as he saw Wilton moving away from the lock-up.

“No. 59, sir—­Wilton,” replied he.  “I was just going on deck to find you, sir.”

“To find me?” asked the principal.

“Yes, sir.  Shuffles called me when I was passing, and wished me to tell you he wanted to see you very much.  I was just going after you, sir.”

“If there is any blame, sir, it rests on me,” interposed Shuffles, through the bars of his prison.

Mr. Lowington unlocked the door of the brig, and entered, followed by Mr. Agneau, leaving Wilton to congratulate himself on the result of the lies he had uttered.

“I am told you wish to see me, Shuffles,” said the principal.

“Yes, sir; I wish to say that I am extremely sorry for what I have done.”

“I thought you were crazy when you refused to obey; and now I find you were.”

“I had been drinking, sir, I confess.”

“Mr. Agneau has told me your story; it is not necessary to repeat it now.  To-morrow I shall require you to acknowledge your error at muster, and promise obedience in the future.  Are you willing to do so?”

“I am, sir.”

“You are discharged from confinement then, and will at once return to your duty,” replied Mr. Lowington, upon whom Shuffles did not venture to intrude his extremely penitential story.  “To which watch do you belong?”

“To the port watch, first part, sir.”

“It will be on deck during the first half of the mid watch, from twelve till two,” added the principal, as he came out of the brig.

Mr. Lowington made no parade of what he had done.  He never subjected any student to unnecessary humiliation.  He indulged in no reproaches, and preached no sermons.  He went on deck, intending to leave the culprit to the influence of the better thoughts which he hoped and believed had been kindled in his mind by the events of the day.  Mr. Agneau remained a moment to give a final admonition to the penitent, as he regarded him, and then went to his cabin.

“Are you going to turn in, Shuffles?” asked Wilton.

“Not yet.  Are there any of our fellows below?”

“Plenty of them.”

“Our fellows” was a term applied to that portion of the crew who were understood to be ready for any scrape which might be suggested.  Shuffles had coined the expression himself, while at the Brockway Academy, and introduced it on board the ship.  Without concealment or palliation, they were bad boys.  By the discipline of the ship they were kept in good order, and compelled to perform their duties.

As in every community of men or boys, where persons of kindred tastes find each other out, the bad boys in the Young America had discovered those of like tendencies, and a bond of sympathy and association had been established among them.  They knew and were known of each other.