"Nothing; he wouldn"t take any notice of what I said."
"That was sensible on his part. One thing is certain, Wilton: you can"t be trusted."
"You mustn"t make me mad, then."
"I will keep things to myself hereafter," growled Shuffles.
"Don"t be savage. You served me a mean trick, and I paid you off for it; so we are square."
"We will keep square then, and not open any new accounts."
"But you will want me when anything is up," laughed Wilton. "What would you do without me in getting up a mutiny?"
"Who said anything about a mutiny?"
"I know you are thinking over something, and you don"t mean to submit to the discipline of the ship, if you can help it."
"Well, I can"t help it."
"There goes the boatswain"s whistle, piping to muster," said Monroe.
"Confound the boatswain"s whistle!" growled Shuffles. "I don"t like the idea of running every time he pipes."
Very much to the surprise of his companions, Shuffles, his irritation increased by the conduct of Wilton, took no notice of the call, and went forward, instead of aft. His companions, more wise and prudent, walked up to the hatch, which Mr. Lowington had just mounted.
"Groom, tell Shuffles to come aft," said the princ.i.p.al to one of the midshipmen.
The officer obeyed the order; Shuffles flatly refused to go aft. Mr.
Lowington descended from his rostrum and went forward to enforce obedience. This event created a profound sensation among the students.
"Shuffles," said Mr Lowington, sternly.
"Sir," replied the malcontent, in a surly tone.
"The boatswain piped the crew to muster."
"I heard him."
"You did not obey the call. I sent for you, and you refused to come."
"I don"t think I ought to obey the boatswain"s call."
"May I ask why not?"
"I"ve been an officer three terms, and I should be now if we had had fair play," growled Shuffles.
"I am not disposed to argue this point in your present frame of mind. I order you to go aft."
"And I won"t go!" replied Shuffles, impudently.
"Mr. Peaks," said the princ.i.p.al, calling the senior boatswain.
"Here, sir," replied Peaks, touching his hat to the princ.i.p.al.
"Mr. Leech," added Mr. Lowington.
"Here, sir."
"Walk this young gentleman aft."
"Let me alone!" cried Shuffles, as Peaks placed his hand upon him.
"Gently, my sweet lamb," said the boatswain, with affected tenderness.
"Take your hands off me!" roared the mutinous pupil, as he struggled to release himself from the grasp of the stalwart seaman.
Peaks took him by the collar with one hand, and held his wrist with the other, on one side, while Leech did the same on the other side.
"Walk him aft," repeated the princ.i.p.al.
"Mr. Fluxion, may I trouble you to bring up the irons?" continued Mr.
Lowington, when the boatswain and carpenter had "walked" the rebel aft, in spite of his struggling and kicking.
"Irons!" gasped Shuffles, as he heard the request of the princ.i.p.al.
He trembled with rage as he uttered the word. The irons seemed to pierce his soul. Probably he did not think that the son of a wealthy gentleman would be compelled to submit to such an indignity as being put in irons.
Mr. Fluxion came on deck with a pair of handcuffs. It was the first time they had been seen, and no student even knew there were any on board.
The discipline of the ship had been as gentle as it was firm, and this was the first time such instruments were necessary.
"Mr. Peaks, put the irons on him!" said Mr. Lowington, his usual dignity unruffled by angry emotions.
"Don"t put them on me!" cried Shuffles, making an effort to disengage himself from the grasp of his captors.
"Put them on at once!" added the princ.i.p.al.
"You shall not put them on me! I will die first!" roared the rebel.
It was easier to talk than to do, in the hands of two st.u.r.dy sailors, one of whom had used the cat in the navy, when its use was tolerated.
Shuffles did not die, and he was ironed, in spite of his struggles and his protest.
CHAPTER IX.
THE WATCH-BILL.