uld 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."

"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."

"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 inven