Part 23 (2/2)
”You said you wouldn't trust me,” answered Wilton, still pacing the deck in front of the brig.
”You told Lowington about something he had no business to know; but I forgive you, Wilton.”
”You are very willing to forgive me, now you are in a tight place.”
”It was mean of you to do it, Wilton; you can't deny that. Lowington was on the best of terms with me when I was in the after cabin, and I might have told him a hundred things about you.”
”Didn't you tell him anything?”
”Not a word.”
”Well, you are a good fellow, and I always thought you were. I couldn't see why you turned traitor to us when we intended to spend the Fourth of July on sh.o.r.e.”
”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 s.h.i.+p 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.
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