"So am I," added Shuffles. "I did not expect to be on board this year, or I should have been there now."
"You can be, next term, if you like."
"This thing yesterday has ruined all my prospects."
"That was rather bad. I never was so sorry for anything in my life before," answered Paul, warmly. "You and I were always good friends after we got well acquainted, though I did vote for another at the election a year ago."
"You did what you thought was right, and I don"t blame you for that. I always did my duty when I was an officer."
"That you did, Shuffles; and we always agreed first rate. Isn"t it a little strange that I have not lived in the steerage since the ship"s company were organized?"
"That"s because you were always a good boy, and a smart scholar. I think you would not like it."
"If it wasn"t for losing my rank, I should like to try it," replied Paul. "I should like to get better acquainted with the fellows."
"You wouldn"t like them in the steerage. You would see a great many things there which you never see in the cabin; a great many things which Mr. Lowington and the professors know nothing about."
"Why, what do you mean, Shuffles?" demanded Paul, astonished at this revelation.
"I ought not to say anything about it; but I believe these things will break up the Academy Ship one of these days, for the boys are growing worse instead of better in her, and their folks will find it out sooner or later."
"You surprise me!" exclaimed Paul, sadly, for he held the honor of the ship and her crew as the apple of his eye. "If there is anything wrong there, you ought to make it known."
"I suppose I ought; but you know I"m not a tell-tale."
"You have told me, and I"m an officer."
"Well, I blundered into saying what I have. What you said about going into the steerage made me let it out. I am sorry I said anything."
"You have raised my curiosity."
"I will tell you; or rather I will put you in the way of seeing for yourself, if you will not mention my name in connection with the matter, even to Mr. Lowington, and certainly not to any one else."
"I will not, Shuffles."
"The fellows are gambling in the steerage at this very moment," added Shuffles, in a low tone. "Don"t betray me."
"I will not. Gambling!" exclaimed Paul, with natural horror.
"You will find them in No. 8," continued Shuffles, walking away, and leaving the astonished officer to wonder how boys could gamble.
CHAPTER XII.
THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL.
Paul Kendall, who had not occupied a berth in the steerage since the first organization of the ship, was greatly surprised and grieved to learn that some of the crew were addicted to vicious practices. Gambling was an enormous offence, and he was not quite willing to believe that such a terrible evil had obtained a foothold in the ship. He could hardly conceive of such a thing as boys engaging in games of chance; only the vilest of men, in his estimation, would do so. Shuffles had told him so, apparently without malice or design, and there was no reason to doubt the truth of his statement, especially as he had given the particulars by which it could be verified.
The second lieutenant went down into the steerage. Cla.s.ses were reciting to the professors, and studying their lessons at the mess tables. There was certainly no appearance of evil, for the place was still, and no sound of angry altercation or ribald jest, which his fancy connected with the vice of gambling, saluted his ears. He cautiously entered Gangway D, and paused where he could hear what was said in mess room No.
8.
"I"m five shillings into your half sovereign," said one of the gamblers; and then Paul distinctly heard the rattling of the props.
"There"s the half sovereign," added another, whose voice the officer recognized as that of Wilton. "You own five shillings in it, and I own five shillings."
"That"s so," replied Sanborn, who appeared to be the lucky one.
"Let us shake for the coin," added Wilton. "It"s my throw."
"That"s rather steep."
"We get along faster--that"s all. If I throw a nick, or a browner, it"s mine; if an out, it"s yours."
"I am agreed--throw away," replied Sanborn, without perceiving that the one who held the props had two chances to his one.
The props rattled, and dropped on the bed.
"A browner!" exclaimed Wilton, thereby winning all he had lost at one throw.
"Hush! don"t talk so loud," interposed Adler. "You"ll have the profs down upon us."
"I"ll go you another five shillings on one throw," said Sanborn, chagrined at his loss.
"Put down your money."
The reckless young gambler put two half crowns, or five shillings, upon the bed, and Wilton shook again.
"A nick!" said he, seizing the two half crowns.
"Try it again," demanded Sanborn.
Paul Kendall was filled with horror as he listened to this conversation.
When he had heard enough to satisfy him that the speakers were actually gambling, he hastened to inform Mr. Lowington of the fact. Paul was an officer of the ship, and this was so plainly his duty that he could not avoid it, disagreeable as it was to give testimony against his shipmates. It seemed to him that the ship could not float much longer if such iniquity were carried on within her walls of wood; she must be purged of such enormities, or some fearful retribution would overtake her. There was no malice or revenge in the bosom of the second lieutenant; he was acting solely and unselfishly for the good of the inst.i.tution and the students.
He went on deck again. Shuffles was still there, and they met in the waist.
"You told me the truth," said Paul.
"You did not think I was joking about so serious a matter--did you?"
replied Shuffles.
"No; but I hoped you might be mistaken."
"How could I be mistaken, when I have seen, at one time and another, a dozen fellows engaged in gambling? Of course such things as these will ruin the boys, and bring the ship into disrepute."