Part 36 (1/2)
If Lowington takes snuff, Kendall sneezes.”
”I have seen you talking with him two or three times to-day.”
”I was only pumping him.”
”Well, there is a jolly row on board now, anyhow,” added Wilton, as he prepared to descend over the cat-harpings.
”Hold on; don't let's go on deck yet,” interposed Shuffles. ”I want to know what our fellows are going to do.”
”They will call us down, if we stop here.”
”When they do, we will go down, then,” replied Shuffles, as he seated himself in the top, with his legs through the lubber's-hole. ”What are our fellows going to do? Do they mean to stand this thing?”
”They can't help themselves; they are mad enough to do anything; but what's the use?” added Wilton, as he seated himself by the side of his companion.
”Don't you think they will join the League now?”
”They would join anything that would give them their rights. I'll join now; but I don't want to be toggled in such a way as you said last night.”
”Then you can't be toggled at all.”
”I haven't any idea of falling overboard accidentally. I'd rather lose my money than do that.”
”It's nothing but a form, Wilton. Between you and me, it's only a bugbear, intended to work upon the nerves and the imagination. Of course we shouldn't help any fellow overboard; no one would dare to do any such thing.”
”I don't like the sound of the thing.”
”If you really mean to expose the secrets which are intrusted to you, I advise you not to join.”
”I don't mean any such thing,” added Wilton, indignantly.
”If you didn't, you wouldn't be afraid of the penalty.”
”Toggle me, then; and see what I mean.”
”I don't want you to go in if you don't believe in it.”
”But I do believe in it; so go ahead.”
Shuffles p.r.o.nounced the ridiculous obligation again, and Wilton repeated it after him.
”Now you are toggled,” said the leader.
”What are we going to do?”
”Bring in the rest of our fellows; that is the first job. In my opinion we can get over fifty of them now.”
”I don't know about that,” answered Wilton, doubtfully.
”I'm very sure we can. If we get enough to take the s.h.i.+p, we can have all the rest as soon as we have done the job.”