the fact that shuffles had plunged into the sea, and labored so effectively for the rescue of the fourth lieutenant, blinded the eyes of "our fellows," who, knowing the penalty of treachery to the "chain," might otherwise have suspected that he had "fallen overboard accidentally," or, in other words, that he had been pushed into the water by his unscrupulous rival. wilton, monroe, and adler, had discussed the matter, and reached the conclusion that pelham had been knocked over by the shaking of the staysail sheet, or that he had really fallen accidentally. they had been appalled and horrified by the event; and those who were disgusted with the league were not disposed to betray its secrets; for it was possible, though not probable, that the mishap which had befallen pelham was an incident in the history of the "chain."
when a wicked man or a wicked boy exceeds his average wickedness, the excess sometimes produces a moral reaction. a person who tipples moderately may have the drunkard's fate vividly foreshadowed to him by getting absolutely drunk himself, and thus be induced to abandon a dangerous practice. that {319} loathsome disease, small pox, sometimes leaves the patient better than it finds him; and through, and on account of, the vilest sin may come the sinner's reformation.
shuffles had exceeded himself in wickedness; and the fact that his foul design was not even suspected by any other person than his intended victim did not diminish his self-reproaches. he shuddered when he thought of the remorse which must have gnawed his soul during the rest of his lifetime if pelham had been drowned. he would have been a murderer; and while so many knew the penalty of treachery to the league, he could hardly have escaped suspicion and detection.
a reaction had been produced in his mind; but it was not a healthy movement of the moral nature. it was not so much the awful crime he had impulsively committed, as the terrible consequences which would have followed, that caused him to shrink from it. it was an awful crime, and his nature revolted at it. he could not have done it without the impulse of an insane passion; but it was dreadful because it would have shut him out from society; because it would have placed the mark of cain upon him; because the dungeon and the gallows were beyond it,—rather than because it was the sacrifice of a human life, of one created in the image of god.
shuffles was in a state of terror, as one who has just escaped from an awful gulf that yawned before him. he was not sincerely penitent, as one who feels the enormity of his offence. he was not prepared to {320} acknowledge his sin before god, whose law he had outraged.
when pelham came on deck, on the day after the exciting event, he greeted shuffles with his accustomed suavity, and seemed not to bear any malice in his heart against the author of his misfortune. officers and seamen as well as the principal and the professors, congratulated him upon his escape from the peril which had menaced him; and all commended shuffles for his prompt and noble efforts in rescuing him. pelham dissented from none of their conclusions, and was as generous in his praise of the deliverer as the occasion required.
shuffles was rather astonished to find himself a lion on board, and at being specially thanked by mr. lowington for his humane exertions in saving a shipmate. he was so warmly and so generously commended that he almost reached the conclusion himself that he had done a good thing. he was not satisfied with himself. he was in the power of pelham, who, by a word, could change the current of popular sentiment and arraign him for the gravest of crimes. if the fourth lieutenant spoke, shuffles realized that he should be shunned and despised, as well as hated and feared, by all on board the ship. it was quite natural, therefore, for him to desire a better understanding with pelham.
the league had fallen into contempt, at least for the present. even "our fellows" would not have spirit enough to strike the blow; besides, the terrible gulf from which shuffles had just escaped was too vivid in his mind to permit him to place himself on {321} the brink of another. so far the reaction was salutary.
"when may i see you, mr. pelham?" said shuffles as they came together in the waist.
"we will visit the top-gallant forecastle again, and see if we can understand how i happened to fall overboard for really i'm not in the habit of doing such things," replied pelham, with a smile.
they walked forward together, and mounted the ladder to the place indicated.
"shuffles, i never paid much attention to the snapper of the toggle before, and never supposed it meant anything in particular," continued pelham, as he placed himself in the position he had occupied before he went over the bow. "am i in any danger now?"
"no, pelham, no!" replied shuffles, earnestly. "you provoked me so by your cool taunts that i pushed you over before i thought what i was about."
"did you really mean to drown me?"
"upon my soul, i did not. if you knew how i felt when i saw you strike the water, and realized what i had done, you would forgive me."
"i have done that already, shuffles."
"i would have given my own life for yours at that instant, pelham."
"you saved me, after all, shuffles. when i went over, i either hit the side of the ship, or struck my stomach on the water, for all the breath seemed to be knocked out of me. i hardly knew what i was about in the water till i saw you. at first i supposed you had jumped overboard to finish your job." {322}
"you wronged me; i would have saved you, if i had been sure of perishing myself."
"you did save me, and i am willing to let that act offset the other."
"i'm grateful to you for this, pelham. you treat me better than i deserve."
"never mind it now; we will call it square," replied pelham, lightly. "how about the chain, shuffles? we shall be in sight of land by to-morrow."
"we can't do anything now."
"why not?"
"how can we? after what has happened, i will not reproach you for what you did. you know how you provoked me. you have exposed the whole affair to the officers."
"not a bit of it."
"no."
"certainly not. did you ever know augustus pelham to violate his obligations?" demanded pelham with dignity.
"never before; but the captain, the second lieutenant and seven others, who would no more join the league than they would steal your pocket-book, went through all the signs with me."
"they all voted too," laughed pelham.
"i am willing to confess that i played off a mean trick upon you."
"and i have only made myself even with you. i have not betrayed a single secret of the chain to any one not posted—except the signs. if i had, of course you and i would both have been in the brig before this time." {323}
"i was puzzled to find nothing was said," added shuffles.
"no one knows anything. the chain is as perfect as ever. give me your orders, and i will carry them out."
"the fellows have backed out now."
"then, of course, we must do the same. i doubt whether we could have carried the thing out."
"no matter whether we could or not; we must drop it for the present. the fellows all suppose they are caught now, and expect every moment to be hauled up to the mast for an investigation."
"they are all safe; at least we can purchase their safety for ten shillings apiece," laughed pelham.
"purchase it!" exclaimed shuffles, mystified by the language of his companion.
"just so—purchase it," added pelham; and he proceeded to inform his late rival of the trick he had invented in retaliation for the one shuffles had put upon him.
"it was tit for tat," said shuffles.
"i told nothing which would harm either of us, for i am just as deep in the mud as you are in the mire."
"that's true. we must hang together."
"i hope not," replied pelham, laughing. "we have got into this scrape, and we must get out of it."
"suppose the captain or the second lieutenant should make the signs to one of our fellows, and he should tell what we were going to do."
"i told all my recruits not to answer any signs now, whoever made them." {324}
"i did the same, when i found the captain knew them."
"then we are safe; but the silver pitcher must be forthcoming."
"the fellows will all be glad enough to get out of this scrape by paying ten shillings."
"very well; then every one of them must sign an order on mr. lowington for ten shillings, payable to dr. winstock," added pelham.
"they will do it. are you sure nothing has leaked out?"
"very sure; there would have been a tremendous commotion before this time, if our real object had been even suspected."
"no doubt of that."
"after all, shuffles, do you really think we intended to take the ship?"
"i did; i know that."
"i don't believe i did," said the fourth lieutenant. "nothing seemed exactly real to me, until i went overboard."
"it was more real to me then than ever before," replied shuffles. "what shall we do with the chain now?"
"nothing; we may want to use it again, some time. let every fellow keep still. when the principal gets his silver pitcher, which the doctor will procure as soon as he can go up to cork, he will think the members of the chain are the best fellows on board."
"i think you have sold the whole of us, pelham," {325} continued shuffles, with a sheepish smile. "here's the end of the chain——"
"yes, and we may be thankful that it isn't the end of a rope instead of a chain," laughed pelham. "the penalty of mutiny is death."
"i have had no fear of that; it would have been regarded only as a lark. but it is really amusing to think where we have come out," added shuffles. "we formed the 'chain' because lowington was tyrannical; most of the fellows joined it because he took their money from them."
"precisely so."
"and we are going to end it by giving lowington a silver pitcher, in token of our respect and esteem!"
"in other words, shuffles, we have played this game, and whipped out each other, without any help from the principal. it was mean business—i really think so; and while we were trying to overreach each other, the game slipped through our fingers. i am really grateful when i think what an awful scrape we have avoided."
"perhaps you are right," replied shuffles, thoughtfully; "but there was fun in the scheme."
"there might have been, if we had succeeded; but it would have been anything but fun if we had failed. some of us would have found quarters in the brig, and we should not have been allowed to go on shore when we reached queenstown."
"a fellow won't want to go on shore without any money," growled shuffles, who was not wholly cured of his discontent.
"since i went overboard i have been thinking a {326} great deal of this matter. i have come to the conclusion that mr. lowington is not the worst man in the world."
"he is harsh and tyrannical."
"i don't think he ought to have taken our money from us; but i judge him from all his acts, not by one alone."
pelham seemed to have turned over a new leaf, and to be sincerely sorry for his attitude of rebellion. shuffles was not to be convinced; he was to be overwhelmed in another manner.
the rivals separated, with their differences removed and with full confidence in each other. pelham wrote thirty-one orders on the principal for ten shillings each, in favor of the surgeon, during his off-time on that day, which were to be signed and handed to paul kendall. as opportunity occurred, the "situation" was explained to the members of the league; and though many of them growled at the idea of giving a present to mr. lowington for taking their money from them, not one of them refused to sign the orders; none of them dared to refuse.
in due time dr. winstock had possession of all these little drafts, amounting in the aggregate to fifteen pounds, ten shillings, which would purchase quite a respectable piece of plate. paul kendall was the happiest student on board, for the presentation heralded the era of good feeling. the league was virtually dead for the present, if not forever. the inherent evil of the organization, with the bickerings and bad passions of its members, had killed it—the turtle had swallowed his own head. {327}
the weather continued fine; the routine of ship's duty and the studies went on without interruption. on the twenty-fourth day out, at three bells in the afternoon watch, a tremendous excitement was created on board.
"land on the port bow!" shouted one of the crew, who had been stationed on the fore yard-arm as a lookout.
all on deck sprang into the rigging, to get a sight of the welcome shore. it looked like a fog bank in the distance; there was really nothing to be seen, but the fact that the ship was in sight of land was enough to create an excitement among the boys.
at three bells, in the first dog watch, the land was distinctly visible. it was the island of dursey, and was now seen on the beam, while other land appeared in sight ahead. it was sunday, and all hands were at liberty to enjoy this first view of the new continent. the boys thought the land looked just like that they had last seen on the shore of the western continent, and perhaps some of them were disappointed because everything looked so natural.
the officers and crew were impatient to make their destined port; but the wind subsided as the sun went down on that quiet sabbath day on the ocean. the ship hardly made twenty miles before daylight in the morning.
at eight o'clock, on monday, when paul kendall had the deck, the young america was off fastnet rock, and not more than half a mile from it. it is about ten miles from cape clear, and is a solitary rock rising out of the sea, on which a lighthouse is {328} located. the water around it was covered with small boats engaged in fishing. the port watch were all on deck, and the scene was full of interest to them. the people whom they saw belonged to another continent than that in which they lived. all was new and strange to them, and all were interested in observing the distant shore, and the objects near the ship.
at one bell in the afternoon watch, when the young america was off gally head, all hands were piped to muster. mr. lowington, on taking the rostrum, said that he had received a petition signed by a majority of the officers and crew.
"a petition to go ashore, i suppose," said shuffles to pelham.
"i think not," laughed the fourth lieutenant, who appeared to know what was coming.
"young gentlemen," continued the principal, whose face wore an unusually pleasant smile, "a few days since you were all filled with admiration at the noble conduct of one of your number, who saved the life of another at the peril of his own."
"want to go ashore, shuffles?" whispered pelham.
shuffles was too much confused to make any reply; he did not know whether he was to be praised or blamed.
"i have received a petition, requesting me to appoint robert shuffles second lieutenant of the ship, in place of paul kendall, resigned," added mr. lowington.
shuffles was overwhelmed with astonishment, and a large proportion of the students received the announcement with hearty applause.
"young gentlemen, i have only to say that the {329} petition is granted. i ought to add, however, that no officer will lose his rank, except mr. kendall, who, at his own desire, will take the vacant number in the steerage, now belonging to robert shuffles, promoted. i take great pleasure in granting this petition, because the request is honorable to you, and shows a proper appreciation of the noble conduct of your shipmate. but let me add, that you should divide your admiration between the one who rescued his friend from death, and him who voluntarily resigned his honorable position in the after cabin, in order to make a place in which merit could be acknowledged and rewarded. nothing but a matter of life and death could have induced me to vary the discipline of the ship. young gentlemen, you are dismissed from muster."
"three cheers for paul kendall!" shouted one of the boys.
they were given.
"three cheers for robert shuffles!" added paul; and they were given.
"mr. shuffles will repair to the after cabin, where he will be qualified, and take his position at once."
"mr. lowington, i must decline mr. kendall's generous offer," interposed shuffles, who was actually choking with emotion.
"this matter has been well considered, shuffles," replied the principal; "and as it is the desire of a large majority of your shipmates that you should accept the position, i think you had better do so."
"there isn't a student in the ship who desires it so much as i do," added paul, with generous enthusiasm "you know i told you i would like {330} to be in the steerage, for i have always been an officer."
"allow me till to-night, if you please, to consider it, mr. lowington," replied shuffles, as he grasped the hand of paul.
"certainly, if you desire it."
shuffles was overwhelmed by the magnanimity of paul and the kindness of the principal. at that moment he would have given everything to be such a young man as the second lieutenant; to be as good and true, as free from evil thoughts and evil purposes, as he was. a light had dawned upon the rebel and the plotter which he had never seen before. goodness and truth had vindicated themselves, and overwhelmed the guilty one.
"mr. shuffles, i congratulate you on your promotion," said the chaplain, extending his hand.
"i cannot accept it, sir," replied the repentant malcontent "i would like to speak with you alone, mr. agneau."
the chaplain took him to his state room in the main cabin? and there, shuffles, conquered and subdued by the kindness of his friends, confessed the terrible crime he had committed—that he had pushed pelham overboard.
the chaplain was confounded at this confession, but still more so when the self-convicted conspirator revealed all the secrets of "the chain." shuffles mentioned no names; he took all the guilt upon himself.
"i am astonished, my dear young friend," said the {331} chaplain. "is it possible the life you saved was imperilled by your own violent passions?"
"it is true, sir," replied shuffles, hardly able to control his feelings.
"then i think you had better not accept the promotion that has been offered to you."
"i will not; i would jump overboard first. i am willing to be punished; i deserve it."
"shuffles, you have almost atoned for your errors by confessing them; and your courageous conduct, after you had pushed pelham into the sea, proves that you sincerely repented that act. shall i tell mr. lowington what you have said?"
"yes, sir; let him know me as i am; let him despise me as i deserve," replied shuffles, wiping away a genuine tear of repentance.
mr. agneau talked to the penitent for two hours; and finally he prayed with him and for him. if never before, the moral condition of the culprit was now hopeful, and the chaplain labored earnestly and faithfully to give him right views of his relations to god and his fellow-beings.
"paul," said shuffles, when he met his generous and self-sacrificing friend in the waist, after the conference in the state room, "i am the meanest and vilest fellow on board."
"no, you are not!" exclaimed paul.
"i would give the world to be like you."
"no, no! you wrong yourself, and overdo me."
"i have confessed all to the chaplain, and you will soon know me as i am, paul. i will not take your place in the cabin. your kindness and generosity {332} have overcome me. you have convinced me that doing right is always the best way."
paul did not know what to make of this remarkable confession; but, after supper, all hands were piped to muster again, the ship being off kinsale head, nearly becalmed. the chaplain had informed the principal of the substance of shuffles' confession. mr. lowington laughed at "the chain league," the signs and the passwords, and regarded the mutiny as a matter of little consequence. he did not believe that shuffles or his followers, had really intended to take the ship. the project was too monstrous to be credible. the fact that the conspirator had attempted the life of his companion was a grave matter, and it was treated as such. mr. agneau was entirely confident of the sincerity of the culprit's repentance. shuffles had refused to take the proffered promotion, which was abundant evidence that he was in earnest.
the penitent was sent for, and repeated his confession to the principal. he did not ask to be exempted from punishment; but he did ask to be forgiven. he was forgiven; but when the crew were piped to muster all the particulars of the intended mutiny were exposed to the astonished "outsiders." paul understood it now. mr. lowington ridiculed the mutiny; but he spoke very seriously of the consequences of insubordination.
"young gentlemen, shuffles has not mentioned the name of a single student in connection with this silly conspiracy; he has asked to be excused from doing so. i grant his request, and i hope that all who have engaged in the affair are as sincerely sorry for their {333} connection with it as he is. under the circumstances, shuffles will not be promoted. young gentlemen, you are dismissed."
"shuffles was a good fellow to keep us in the dark," whispered sanborn to wilton.
"keep still," replied wilton. "we are lucky to get out of the scrape on any terms."
so thought all of them; and it was certainly magnanimous on the part of the chief conspirator to be willing to assume all the guilt, and suffer all the punishment. there was enough of good in shuffles to save him from the evil of his nature.
"paul, there is one more thing i must tell you," said shuffles, that evening, while the ship lay becalmed off kinsale. "you remember when i told you about the gambling in the steerage?"
"i do."
"i was deceiving you then. i only exposed the fellows in order to make trouble. i knew that the students would be closely watched, and the rules more strictly enforced, which would make them mad."
"what did you want to make them mad for?"
"so that they would join the league."
"well, you did a good thing for the ship and for the fellows, if your motives were not good," replied paul. "it was good out of evil, any way."
"i don't think half so many fellows would have joined if mr. lowington hadn't taken their money from them."
"have you seen any gambling since?"
"not a bit of it, paul." {334}
"i am glad to know that."
"one thing more; you know all the members of the league, paul."
"i?"
"yes? you have their names on the orders, for ten shillings each."
"so i have; but we will make a general affair of the presentation, and that will cover up the whole of them."
"thank you, paul. you despise me as much as i like and respect you."
"i don't despise you, shuffles. you have done wrong, but i respect you for undoing the evil you had meditated. we are all weak and erring, and we can't afford to despise any one. on the contrary i like you," replied paul, giving shuffles his hand.
"you treat me better than i deserve, paul; but if you are my friend, i shall be all the better for it; and i hope you will not be worse."
the end of the conspiracy had been reached. before the ship came to anchor in the cove, every boy on board had drawn his order on the principal for ten shillings, and the members of the league were veiled beneath the mass of names.
at sunrise, on tuesday morning, the ship had a gentle breeze; and at three bells in the forenoon watch, she was off roches point, with the union jack at the foremast-head, as a signal for a pilot. on this exciting occasion, the studies and recitations were suspended to enable all the students to see the shores, and enjoy the scene. the pilot made his appearance, {335} gave mr. lowington the latest cork papers, and took charge of the ship. the honest irishman was not a little surprised to find the vessel manned "wid nothing in the wide wurld but by's;" but he found they were good seamen.
the young america ran into the beautiful bay through the narrow opening, with carlisle fort on the starboard and camden fort on the port hand. the students were intensely excited by the near view of the land, of the odd little steamers that: went whisking about, and the distant view of queenstown, on the slope of the hill at the head of the bay. they were in europe now.
"all hands to bring ship to anchor!" said the first lieutenant, when the ship was approaching the town.
the light sails were furled, the port anchor cleared away, and every preparation made for the mooring then the orders to let go the topsail sheets, clew up the topsails, and haul down the jib, were given.
"port the helm! stand clear of the cable! let go the port anchor!"
the cable rattled through the hawse-hole, the anchor went to the bottom, the young america swung round, and her voyage across the ocean was happily terminated. three rousing cheers were given in honor of the auspicious event, and when the sails had been furled, the crew were piped to dinner.
and here, at the close of the voyage, we leave the young america, with her officers and crew wiser and better, we trust, than when they sailed from the shores {336} of their native country. they were now to enter upon a new life in foreign lands; and what they saw and what they did, on sea and shore, during the following weeks, will be related in "shamrock and thistle, or young america in ireland and scotland!"
