tyranny as you are, and I will do anything
that is reasonable; but I want to know whether the water is hot or cold
before I put my fingers into it. What's the use of blundering into an
enterprise, and making a failure of it?"

"I have no idea of making a failure of it. Did you ever know me to make
a failure of anything that I attempted?"

"Yes, I have."

"What?"

"You failed to get elected captain when we first came aboard of the
ship."

"That was only because we had just come on board? the fellows didn't
know me, and I didn't know them. We are better acquainted now, and I am
just as sure of success as though we had already won it," added
Shuffles, confidently. "I don't believe in making failures."

"I don't believe there is more than one chance in ten for you to
succeed," continued the sceptic.

"There isn't more than one chance in ten for us to fail. You are a bird
of evil omen. You have no faith in anything; and if you are going to
croak like this, I don't want you in the Chain," added Shuffles,
petulantly.

"I'm in for it, already; and when I can see my way clearly, I shall be
as strong as you are."

"Then don't croak any more. We must go to work while the fever is on the
fellows, and make up----"

"In the maintop, ahoy!" shouted the master, from the waist.

"On deck!" replied Shuffles.

"Lay down from aloft!"

"Yes, sir."

The conspirators descended, after Shuffles had admonished his shaky
companion to be discreet.

"What are you doing in the top so long?" demanded Foster, the first
master, as the truants reached the sheer-pole.

"Watching the sea, sir," replied Shuffles. "It looks fine from the top."

"When you have done what you are sent aloft for, it is your duty to come
down and report it," added the officer.

Shuffles made no reply, as he probably would have done if he had not had
a heavy operation on his hands, which prevented him from indulging in
any side quarrels.

Except the wheelmen and the lookout, the watch on deck was divided into
little groups, who were quartered in the most comfortable places they
could find, telling stones, or discussing the exciting topic of the day.

"Shuffles, some of our fellows want to see you and Wilton," said Adler,
as the first master went below, to inspect the steerage, at two bells.

"What's up?" demanded the conspirator.

"Don't say anything," added the messenger, as he led the way to the
steerage skylight, under the lee of which Sanborn an