they jump under you like a mad horse, than for us."

"I suppose I shall have a chance to try it next term."

"Why so?"

"I lost twenty marks last night. I got mad, lighted the lamp, and smoked
a cigar in my state room."

"Will the loss of the twenty marks throw you over?"

"Yes? I'm a goner!" added Pelham, with a smile.

"What made you mad?"

"The captain snubbed me; then Lowington came the magnificent over me. A
single slip throws a fellow here."

A single slip in the great world throws a man or woman; and young men
and young women should be taught that "single slips" are not to be
tolerated. More children are spoiled by weak indulgence than by
over-severe discipline. But a boy had a better chance to recover from
the effects of his errors in the Young America, than men and women have
in the community.

By gradual approaches, Shuffles informed the fourth lieutenant of the
object of the "Chain," which Pelham promptly agreed to join, declaring
that it was just the thing to suit his case. He was in a rebellious
frame of mind; and though he could not feel that the enterprise would be
a complete success, it would afford him an opportunity to annoy and
punish the principal for his degrading and tyrannical regulation, as the
recreant officer chose to regard it.

By the exercise of some tact, the conspirators found a convenient place
under the top-gallant forecastle to consider the project. Pelham was
duly "toggled," and offered no objection to the penalty; indeed, he only
laughed at it.

"Suppose we get possession of the ship--what then?" asked Pelham.

"We will go on a cruise. I understand that she has provisions for a six
months' voyage on board. I'm in favor of going round Cape Horn, and
having a good time among the islands of the South Sea."

Pelham laughed outright at this splendid scheme.

"Round Cape Horn!" exclaimed he.

"Yes? why not? We should be up with the cape by the first of June;
rather a bad time, I know, but this ship would make good weather of it,
and I don't believe we should see anything worse than this."

"What will you do with the principal and the professors?" asked Pelham,
lightly.

"We can run up within ten or fifteen miles of Cape Sable, give them one
of the boats, and let them go on shore."

"Perhaps they won't go."

"We have ten fellows already in the Chain, who are seventeen years old.
If we get half the crew, we can handle the other half, and the
professors with them."