st time such instruments were necessary.

"Mr. Peaks, put the irons on him!" said Mr. Lowington, his usual dignity
unruffled by angry emotions.

"Don't put them on me!" cried Shuffles, making an effort to disengage
himself from the grasp of his captors.

"Put them on at once!" added the principal.

"You shall not put them on me! I will die first!" roared the rebel.

It was easier to talk than to do, in the hands of two sturdy sailors,
one of whom had used the cat in the navy, when its use was tolerated.
Shuffles did not die, and he was ironed, in spite of his struggles and
his protest.

CHAPTER IX.

THE WATCH-BILL.

Shuffles struggled with the irons and with the stout men who held him
until he had exhausted himself; and then, because his frame, rather than
his spirit, was worn down, he was quiet. It was the first case of severe
discipline that had occurred on board, and it created a tremendous
sensation among the students.

Mr. Lowington stood with folded arms, watching the vain struggles of the
culprit, until he was reduced to a state of comparative calmness. He
looked sad, rather than angry, and his dignity was not impaired by the
assault upon his authority.

"Shuffles, I am sorry to see one who has been an officer of the ship
reduced to your condition; but discipline must and shall be maintained,"
said the principal. "We are on the high seas now, and disobedience is
dangerous. You led me to believe that you had reformed your life and
conduct."

"It isn't my fault," replied Shuffles, angrily.

"You had better not reply to me in that tone," added Mr. Lowington,
mildly.

"Yes, I will!"

"Mr. Topliffe," continued the principal.

"Here, sir," replied the head steward.

"You will have the brig cleared out for use."

"Yes, sir;" and the head steward went below to obey the order.

There was not a boy on board who knew what the "brig" was, though the
establishment had existed in the steerage from the time when the boys
first went on board the ship. It had never before been required for use,
and Mr. Lowington had carefully veiled every disagreeable feature of
discipline, until it was necessary to exhibit it. The brig was the
prison of the ship--the lock-up. It was located under and abaft the main
ladder, in the steerage, being an apartment five feet in length by three
feet in width. The partitions which enclosed it were composed of upright
planks, eight inches in width, with spaces between them