Part 29 (1/2)
”I know what I'm about,” replied Shuffles, confidently.
With this information Wilton thought more favorably of the mad enterprise. If it was to be a winning game, he wished to have a part in it; if a losing one, he desired to avoid it. There was something in the decided manner of the chief conspirator which made an impression upon this doubting mind.
”I don't want to go in till I know more about it,” said he, after walking two or three times across the top-gallant forecastle.
”You can't know anything more about it until you have been toggled,”
replied Shuffles.
”Toggled?” repeated the sceptic, curiously.
”This thing is to be well managed, Wilton. We shall not use any hard words, that outsiders can understand; and if any of them happen to hear anything that don't concern them, they will not know what it means. Will you join, or not?”
”I will,” replied Wilton, desperately.
The strange words which Shuffles used, and the confidence he manifested in the success of his project, carried the hesitating lookout man. He was fascinated by the ”clap-trap” which the leader of ”our fellows” had adopted to help along his scheme, for it promised to afford no little excitement during the voyage.
”Now you talk like a man, Wilton,” replied Shuffles. ”You shall be a member of the league at once.”
”What's the league?”
”The Chain League.”
”Upon my word, Shuffles, you have been reading yellow-covered novels to some purpose.”
”I didn't get this idea from a novel. I invented it myself.”
”The Chain League!” repeated Wilton, who was pleased with the t.i.tle of the conspirators.
”It will be called simply 'The Chain.' I am the first member, and you are the second; or you will be when you have been toggled.”
”Toggled again!” laughed Wilton. ”What do you mean?”
”Initiated.”
”Go ahead, then.”
”Repeat after me.”
”Go on,” replied Wilton, deeply interested in the proceeding, even while he was amused at its formality.
”_I am a link of the chain_.”
”I am a link of the chain,” repeated Wilton.
”_I will obey my superior officers_.”
”I will obey my superior officers.”
”_And I will reveal none of its secrets_.”