Part 29 (2/2)
”And I will reveal none of its secrets.”
”_This I promise_----”
”This I promise----”
”_On penalty of falling overboard accidentally_.”
”On penalty of what?” demanded Wilton, both puzzled and terrified by the mysterious words.
”Repeat the words after me. On penalty,” said Shuffles, sternly.
”I know what the words are, but I'll be hanged if I will repeat them.
'Falling overboard accidentally!' What does that mean?”
”It means that, if you betray the secrets of The Chain, you might fall overboard accidentally, some day.”
”That is, you would push me over when no one was looking,” added Wilton, involuntarily retreating from the conspirator, whom, for the moment, he regarded as a very dangerous companion.
”That's what the words mean,” replied Shuffles, coolly.
”Have I been toggled?” demanded Wilton.
”No; you didn't repeat all the words.”
”Then you needn't toggle me any more. I've got enough of this thing.”
”All right; just as you say. But I can tell you this, my dear fellow? if you should whisper the first word of what has pa.s.sed between us to-night, you might fall overboard,” continued Shuffles, sharply, as he laid his hand on his companion's shoulder.
Wilton grasped the sheet of the fore-topmast staysail which was the nearest rope to him, and held on as though he was then in imminent danger of ”falling overboard accidentally.”
”I won't say a word,” protested he, vehemently; for he did not know but that Shuffles was wicked enough to push him into the sea.
”Wilton, you are a fool!” added the disappointed conspirator, with deep disgust. ”Why didn't you say what I told you?”
”I don't want to be bound in any such way as that,” replied the terrified student.
”Don't you see it is only a form?”
”No, I don't; or if it is, I don't want anything to do with such forms.
You won't get any fellows to be toggled in that way.”
”Yes, I shall? I shall get plenty of them. They are not babies, like you.”
”I'm not a baby.”
”Yes, you are--a great calf! What are you afraid of?”
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