of the chain_."

"I am a link of the chain," repeated Wilton.

"_I will obey my superior officers_."

"I will obey my superior officers."

"_And I will reveal none of its secrets_."

"And I will reveal none of its secrets."

"_This I promise_----"

"This I promise----"

"_On penalty of falling overboard accidentally_."

"On penalty of what?" demanded Wilton, both puzzled and terrified by the
mysterious words.

"Repeat the words after me. On penalty," said Shuffles, sternly.

"I know what the words are, but I'll be hanged if I will repeat them.
'Falling overboard accidentally!' What does that mean?"

"It means that, if you betray the secrets of The Chain, you might fall
overboard accidentally, some day."

"That is, you would push me over when no one was looking," added Wilton,
involuntarily retreating from the conspirator, whom, for the moment, he
regarded as a very dangerous companion.

"That's what the words mean," replied Shuffles, coolly.

"Have I been toggled?" demanded Wilton.

"No; you didn't repeat all the words."

"Then you needn't toggle me any more. I've got enough of this thing."

"All right; just as you say. But I can tell you this, my dear fellow? if
you should whisper the first word of what has passed between us
to-night, you might fall overboard," continued Shuffles, sharply, as he
laid his hand on his companion's shoulder.

Wilton grasped the sheet of the fore-topmast staysail which was the
nearest rope to him, and held on as though he was then in imminent
danger of "falling overboard accidentally."

"I won't say a word," protested he, vehemently; for he did not know but
that Shuffles was wicked enough to push him into the sea.

"Wilton, you are a fool!" added the disappointed conspirator, with deep
disgust. "Why didn't you say what I told you?"

"I don't want to be bound in any such way as that," replied the
terrified student.

"Don't you see it is only a form?"

"No, I don't; or if it is, I don't want anything to do with such forms.
You won't get any fellows to be toggled in that way."

"Yes, I shall? I shall get plenty of them. They are not babies, like
you."

"I'm not a baby."

"Yes, you are--a great calf! What are you afraid of?"

"I'm not afraid; I didn't think you meant to have any murder in your
Chain."

"I don't; no fellow will think of such a thing as betraying one of the
secrets."

"Then what's the use of having such a penalty?"

"It will prevent any