by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER XX.
THE END OF THE CHAIN LEAGUE.
The fact that Shuffles had plunged into the sea, and labored soeffectively for the rescue of the fourth lieutenant, blinded the eyes of"our fellows," who, knowing the penalty of treachery to the "Chain,"might otherwise have suspected that he had "fallen overboardaccidentally," or, in other words, that he had been pushed into thewater by his unscrupulous rival. Wilton, Monroe, and Adler, haddiscussed the matter, and reached the conclusion that Pelham had beenknocked over by the shaking of the staysail sheet, or that he hadreally fallen accidentally. They had been appalled and horrified by theevent; and those who were disgusted with the League were not disposed tobetray its secrets; for it was possible, though not probable, that themishap which had befallen Pelham was an incident in the history of the"Chain."
When a wicked man or a wicked boy exceeds his average wickedness, theexcess sometimes produces a moral reaction. A person who tipplesmoderately may have the drunkard's fate vividly foreshadowed to him bygetting absolutely drunk himself, and thus be induced to abandon adangerous practice. That loathsome disease, small pox, sometimes leavesthe patient better than it finds him; and through, and on account of,the vilest sin may come the sinner's reformation.
Shuffles had exceeded himself in wickedness; and the fact that his fouldesign was not even suspected by any other person than his intendedvictim did not diminish his self-reproaches. He shuddered when hethought of the remorse which must have gnawed his soul during the restof his lifetime if Pelham had been drowned. He would have been amurderer; and while so many knew the penalty of treachery to the League,he could hardly have escaped suspicion and detection.
A reaction had been produced in his mind; but it was not a healthymovement of the moral nature. It was not so much the awful crime he hadimpulsively committed, as the terrible consequences which would havefollowed, that caused him to shrink from it. It was an awful crime, andhis nature revolted at it. He could not have done it without the impulseof an insane passion; but it was dreadful because it would have shut himout from society; because it would have placed the mark of Cain uponhim; because the dungeon and the gallows were beyond it,--rather thanbecause it was the sacrifice of a human life, of one created in theimage of God.
Shuffles was in a state of terror, as one who has just escaped from anawful gulf that yawned before him. He was not sincerely penitent, as onewho feels the enormity of his offence. He was not prepared toacknowledge his sin before God, whose law he had outraged.
When Pelham came on deck, on the day after the exciting event, hegreeted Shuffles with his accustomed suavity, and seemed not to bear anymalice in his heart against the author of his misfortune. Officers andseamen as well as the principal and the professors, congratulated himupon his escape from the peril which had menaced him; and all commendedShuffles for his prompt and noble efforts in rescuing him. Pelhamdissented from none of their conclusions, and was as generous in hispraise of the deliverer as the occasion required.
Shuffles was rather astonished to find himself a lion on board, and atbeing specially thanked by Mr. Lowington for his humane exertions insaving a shipmate. He was so warmly and so generously commended that healmost reached the conclusion himself that he had done a good thing. Hewas not satisfied with himself. He was in the power of Pelham, who, by aword, could change the current of popular sentiment and arraign him forthe gravest of crimes. If the fourth lieutenant spoke, Shuffles realizedthat he should be shunned and despised, as well as hated and feared, byall on board the ship. It was quite natural, therefore, for him todesire a better understanding with Pelham.
The League had fallen into contempt, at least for the present. Even "ourfellows" would not have spirit enough to strike the blow; besides, theterrible gulf from which Shuffles had just escaped was too vivid in hismind to permit him to place himself on the brink of another. So far thereaction was salutary.
"When may I see you, Mr. Pelham?" said Shuffles as they came together inthe waist.
"We will visit the top-gallant forecastle again, and see if we canunderstand how I happened to fall overboard for really I'm not in thehabit of doing such things," replied Pelham, with a smile.
They walked forward together, and mounted the ladder to the placeindicated.
"Shuffles, I never paid much attention to the snapper of the togglebefore, and never supposed it meant anything in particular," continuedPelham, as he placed himself in the position he had occupied before hewent over the bow. "Am I in any danger now?"
"No, Pelham, no!" replied Shuffles, earnestly. "You provoked me so byyour cool taunts that I pushed you over before I thought what I wasabout."
"Did you really mean to drown me?"
"Upon my soul, I did not. If you knew how I felt when I saw you strikethe water, and realized what I had done, you would 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 theside of the ship, or struck my stomach on the water, for all the breathseemed to be knocked out of me. I hardly knew what I was about in thewater till I saw you. At first I supposed you had jumped overboard tofinish your job."
"You wronged me; I would have saved you, if I had been sure of perishingmyself."
"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 Ideserve."
"Never mind it now; we will call it square," replied Pelham, lightly."How about the Chain, Shuffles? We shall be in sight of land byto-morrow."
"We can't do anything now."
"Why not?"
"How can we? After what has happened, I will not reproach you for whatyou did. You know how you provoked me. You have exposed the whole affairto the officers."
"Not a bit of it."
"No."
"Certainly not. Did you ever know Augustus Pelham to violate hisobligations?" 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 yourpocket-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 singlesecret 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 yourorders, 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 havecarried the thing out."
"No matter whether we could or not; we must drop it for the present. Thefellows all suppose they are caught now, and expect every moment to behauled up to the mast for an investigation."
"They are all safe; at least we can purchase their safety for tenshillings apiece," laughed Pelham.
"Purchase it!" exclaimed Shuffles, mystified by the language of hiscompanion.
"Just so--purchase it," added Pelham; and he proceeded to inform hislate rival of the trick he had invented in retaliation for the oneShuffles had put upon him.
"It was tit for tat," said Shuffles.
"I told nothing which would harm either of us, for I am just as deep inthe mud as you are in the mire."
"That's true. We must hang together."
"I hope not," replied Pelham, laughing. "We have got into this scrape,and we must get out of it."
"Suppose the captain or the second lieutenant should make the signs toone of our fellows, and he should tell what we were going to do."
"I told all my recruits not to answer any signs now, whoever madethem."
"I did the same, when I found the captain knew the
m."
"Then we are safe; but the silver pitcher must be forthcoming."
"The fellows will all be glad enough to get out of this scrape by payingten shillings."
"Very well; then every one of them must sign an order on Mr. Lowingtonfor ten shillings, payable to Dr. Winstock," added Pelham.
"They will do it. Are you sure nothing has leaked out?"
"Very sure; there would have been a tremendous commotion before thistime, if our real object had been even suspected."
"No doubt of that."
"After all, Shuffles, do you really think we intended to take the ship?"
"I did; I know that."
"I don't believe I did," said the fourth lieutenant. "Nothing seemedexactly real to me, until I went overboard."
"It was more real to me then than ever before," replied Shuffles. "Whatshall we do with the Chain now?"
"Nothing; we may want to use it again, some time. Let every fellow keepstill. When the principal gets his silver pitcher, which the doctor willprocure as soon as he can go up to Cork, he will think the members ofthe Chain are the best fellows on board."
"I think you have sold the whole of us, Pelham," continued Shuffles,with a sheepish smile. "Here's the end of the Chain----"
"Yes, and we may be thankful that it isn't the end of a rope instead ofa chain," laughed Pelham. "The penalty of mutiny is death."
"I have had no fear of that; it would have been regarded only as a lark.But it is really amusing to think where we have come out," addedShuffles. "We formed the 'Chain' because Lowington was tyrannical; mostof the fellows joined it because he took their money from them."
"Precisely so."
"And we are going to end it by giving Lowington a silver pitcher, intoken of our respect and esteem!"
"In other words, Shuffles, we have played this game, and whipped outeach other, without any help from the principal. It was mean business--Ireally think so; and while we were trying to overreach each other, thegame slipped through our fingers. I am really grateful when I think whatan awful scrape we have avoided."
"Perhaps you are right," replied Shuffles, thoughtfully; "but there wasfun in the scheme."
"There might have been, if we had succeeded; but it would have beenanything but fun if we had failed. Some of us would have found quartersin the brig, and we should not have been allowed to go on shore when wereached Queenstown."
"A fellow won't want to go on shore without any money," growledShuffles, who was not wholly cured of his discontent.
"Since I went overboard I have been thinking a great deal of thismatter. I have come to the conclusion that Mr. Lowington is not theworst man in the world."
"He is harsh and tyrannical."
"I don't think he ought to have taken our money from us; but I judge himfrom all his acts, not by one alone."
Pelham seemed to have turned over a new leaf, and to be sincerely sorryfor his attitude of rebellion. Shuffles was not to be convinced; he wasto be overwhelmed in another manner.
The rivals separated, with their differences removed and with fullconfidence in each other. Pelham wrote thirty-one orders on theprincipal for ten shillings each, in favor of the surgeon, during hisoff-time on that day, which were to be signed and handed to PaulKendall. As opportunity occurred, the "situation" was explained to themembers of the League; and though many of them growled at the idea ofgiving a present to Mr. Lowington for taking their money from them, notone of them refused to sign the orders; none of them dared to refuse.
In due time Dr. Winstock had possession of all these little drafts,amounting in the aggregate to fifteen pounds, ten shillings, which wouldpurchase quite a respectable piece of plate. Paul Kendall was thehappiest student on board, for the presentation heralded the era of goodfeeling. The League was virtually dead for the present, if not forever.The inherent evil of the organization, with the bickerings and badpassions of its members, had killed it--the turtle had swallowed his ownhead.
The weather continued fine; the routine of ship's duty and the studieswent on without interruption. On the twenty-fourth day out, at threebells in the afternoon watch, a tremendous excitement was created onboard.
"Land on the port bow!" shouted one of the crew, who had been stationedon the fore yard-arm as a lookout.
All on deck sprang into the rigging, to get a sight of the welcomeshore. It looked like a fog bank in the distance; there was reallynothing to be seen, but the fact that the ship was in sight of land wasenough to create an excitement among the boys.
At three bells, in the first dog watch, the land was distinctly visible.It was the Island of Dursey, and was now seen on the beam, while otherland appeared in sight ahead. It was Sunday, and all hands were atliberty to enjoy this first view of the new continent. The boys thoughtthe land looked just like that they had last seen on the shore of thewestern continent, and perhaps some of them were disappointed becauseeverything looked so natural.
The officers and crew were impatient to make their destined port; butthe wind subsided as the sun went down on that quiet Sabbath day on theocean. The ship hardly made twenty miles before daylight in the morning.
At eight o'clock, on Monday, when Paul Kendall had the deck, the YoungAmerica was off Fastnet Rock, and not more than half a mile from it. Itis about ten miles from Cape Clear, and is a solitary rock rising out ofthe sea, on which a lighthouse is located. The water around it wascovered with small boats engaged in fishing. The port watch were all ondeck, and the scene was full of interest to them. The people whom theysaw belonged to another continent than that in which they lived. All wasnew and strange to them, and all were interested in observing thedistant shore, and the objects near the ship.
At one bell in the afternoon watch, when the Young America was off GallyHead, all hands were piped to muster. Mr. Lowington, on taking therostrum, said that he had received a petition signed by a majority ofthe officers and crew.
"A petition to go ashore, I suppose," said Shuffles to Pelham.
"I think not," laughed the fourth lieutenant, who appeared to know whatwas coming.
"Young gentlemen," continued the principal, whose face wore an unusuallypleasant smile, "a few days since you were all filled with admiration atthe noble conduct of one of your number, who saved the life of anotherat the peril of his own."
"Want to go ashore, Shuffles?" whispered Pelham.
Shuffles was too much confused to make any reply; he did not knowwhether he was to be praised or blamed.
"I have received a petition, requesting me to appoint Robert Shufflessecond lieutenant of the ship, in place of Paul Kendall, resigned,"added Mr. Lowington.
Shuffles was overwhelmed with astonishment, and a large proportion ofthe students received the announcement with hearty applause.
"Young gentlemen, I have only to say that the petition is granted. Iought to add, however, that no officer will lose his rank, except Mr.Kendall, who, at his own desire, will take the vacant number in thesteerage, now belonging to Robert Shuffles, promoted. I take greatpleasure in granting this petition, because the request is honorable toyou, and shows a proper appreciation of the noble conduct of yourshipmate. But let me add, that you should divide your admiration betweenthe one who rescued his friend from death, and him who voluntarilyresigned his honorable position in the after cabin, in order to make aplace in which merit could be acknowledged and rewarded. Nothing but amatter of life and death could have induced me to vary the discipline ofthe ship. Young gentlemen, you are dismissed from muster."
"Three cheers for Paul Kendall!" shouted one of the boys.
They were given.
"Three cheers for Robert Shuffles!" added Paul; and they were given.
"Mr. Shuffles will repair to the after cabin, where he will bequalified, and take his position at once."
"Mr. Lowington, I must decline Mr. Kendall's generous offer," interposedShuffles, who was actually choking with emotion.
"This matter has been well considered, Shuffles," replied the principal;"and a
s it is the desire of a large majority of your shipmates that youshould accept the position, I think you had better do so."
"There isn't a student in the ship who desires it so much as I do,"added Paul, with generous enthusiasm "You know I told you I would liketo be in the steerage, for I have always been an officer."
"Allow me till to-night, if you please, to consider it, Mr. Lowington,"replied Shuffles, as he grasped the hand of Paul.
"Certainly, if you desire it."
Shuffles was overwhelmed by the magnanimity of Paul and the kindness ofthe principal. At that moment he would have given everything to be sucha young man as the second lieutenant; to be as good and true, as freefrom evil thoughts and evil purposes, as he was. A light had dawned uponthe rebel and the plotter which he had never seen before. Goodness andtruth had vindicated themselves, and overwhelmed the guilty one.
"Mr. Shuffles, I congratulate you on your promotion," said the chaplain,extending his hand.
"I cannot accept it, sir," replied the repentant malcontent "I wouldlike to speak with you alone, Mr. Agneau."
The chaplain took him to his state room in the main cabin? and there,Shuffles, conquered and subdued by the kindness of his friends,confessed the terrible crime he had committed--that he had pushed Pelhamoverboard.
The chaplain was confounded at this confession, but still more so whenthe self-convicted conspirator revealed all the secrets of "The Chain."Shuffles mentioned no names; he took all the guilt upon himself.
"I am astonished, my dear young friend," said the chaplain. "Is itpossible the life you saved was imperilled by your own violentpassions?"
"It is true, sir," replied Shuffles, hardly able to control hisfeelings.
"Then I think you had better not accept the promotion that has beenoffered to you."
"I will not; I would jump overboard first. I am willing to be punished;I deserve it."
"Shuffles, you have almost atoned for your errors by confessing them;and your courageous conduct, after you had pushed Pelham into the sea,proves that you sincerely repented that act. Shall I tell Mr. Lowingtonwhat you have said?"
"Yes, sir; let him know me as I am; let him despise me as I deserve,"replied Shuffles, wiping away a genuine tear of repentance.
Mr. Agneau talked to the penitent for two hours; and finally he prayedwith him and for him. If never before, the moral condition of theculprit was now hopeful, and the chaplain labored earnestly andfaithfully to give him right views of his relations to God and hisfellow-beings.
"Paul," said Shuffles, when he met his generous and self-sacrificingfriend in the waist, after the conference in the state room, "I am themeanest and vilest fellow on board."
"No, you are not!" exclaimed Paul.
"I would give the world to be like you."
"No, no! You wrong yourself, and overdo me."
"I have confessed all to the chaplain, and you will soon know me as Iam, Paul. I will not take your place in the cabin. Your kindness andgenerosity have overcome me. You have convinced me that doing right isalways the best way."
Paul did not know what to make of this remarkable confession; but, aftersupper, all hands were piped to muster again, the ship being off KinsaleHead, nearly becalmed. The chaplain had informed the principal of thesubstance of Shuffles' confession. Mr. Lowington laughed at "The ChainLeague," the signs and the passwords, and regarded the mutiny as amatter of little consequence. He did not believe that Shuffles or hisfollowers, had really intended to take the ship. The project was toomonstrous to be credible. The fact that the conspirator had attemptedthe life of his companion was a grave matter, and it was treated assuch. Mr. Agneau was entirely confident of the sincerity of theculprit's repentance. Shuffles had refused to take the profferedpromotion, which was abundant evidence that he was in earnest.
The penitent was sent for, and repeated his confession to the principal.He did not ask to be exempted from punishment; but he did ask to beforgiven. He was forgiven; but when the crew were piped to muster allthe particulars of the intended mutiny were exposed to the astonished"outsiders." Paul understood it now. Mr. Lowington ridiculed the mutiny;but he spoke very seriously of the consequences of insubordination.
"Young gentlemen, Shuffles has not mentioned the name of a singlestudent in connection with this silly conspiracy; he has asked to beexcused from doing so. I grant his request, and I hope that all who haveengaged in the affair are as sincerely sorry for their connection withit as he is. Under the circumstances, Shuffles will not be promoted.Young gentlemen, you are dismissed."
"Shuffles was a good fellow to keep us in the dark," whispered Sanbornto Wilton.
"Keep still," replied Wilton. "We are lucky to get out of the scrape onany terms."
So thought all of them; and it was certainly magnanimous on the part ofthe chief conspirator to be willing to assume all the guilt, and sufferall the punishment. There was enough of good in Shuffles to save himfrom the evil of his nature.
"Paul, there is one more thing I must tell you," said Shuffles, thatevening, while the ship lay becalmed off Kinsale. "You remember when Itold you about the gambling in the steerage?"
"I do."
"I was deceiving you then. I only exposed the fellows in order to maketrouble. I knew that the students would be closely watched, and therules more strictly enforced, which would make them mad."
"What did you want to make them mad for?"
"So that they would join the League."
"Well, you did a good thing for the ship and for the fellows, if yourmotives were not good," replied Paul. "It was good out of evil, anyway."
"I don't think half so many fellows would have joined if Mr. Lowingtonhadn't taken their money from them."
"Have you seen any gambling since?"
"Not a bit of it, Paul."
"I am glad to know that."
"One thing more; you know all the members of the League, Paul."
"I?"
"Yes? you have their names on the orders, for ten shillings each."
"So I have; but we will make a general affair of the presentation, andthat will cover up the whole of them."
"Thank you, Paul. You despise me as much as I like and respect you."
"I don't despise you, Shuffles. You have done wrong, but I respect youfor undoing the evil you had meditated. We are all weak and erring, andwe can't afford to despise any one. On the contrary I like you," repliedPaul, giving Shuffles his hand.
"You treat me better than I deserve, Paul; but if you are my friend, Ishall be all the better for it; and I hope you will not be worse."
The end of the conspiracy had been reached. Before the ship came toanchor in the Cove, every boy on board had drawn his order on theprincipal for ten shillings, and the members of the League were veiledbeneath the mass of names.
At sunrise, on Tuesday morning, the ship had a gentle breeze; and atthree bells in the forenoon watch, she was off Roches Point, with theUnion Jack at the foremast-head, as a signal for a pilot. On thisexciting occasion, the studies and recitations were suspended to enableall the students to see the shores, and enjoy the scene. The pilot madehis appearance, gave Mr. Lowington the latest Cork papers, and tookcharge of the ship. The honest Irishman was not a little surprised tofind the vessel manned "wid nothing in the wide wurld but by's;" but hefound they were good seamen.
The Young America ran into the beautiful bay through the narrow opening,with Carlisle Fort on the starboard and Camden Fort on the port hand.The students were intensely excited by the near view of the land, of theodd little steamers that: went whisking about, and the distant view ofQueenstown, on the slope of the hill at the head of the bay. They werein Europe now.
"All hands to bring ship to anchor!" said the first lieutenant, when theship was approaching the town.
The light sails were furled, the port anchor cleared away, and everypreparation made for the mooring Then the orders to let go the topsailsheets, clew up the topsails, and haul down the jib, were given.
"Port the helm!
Stand clear of the cable! Let go the port anchor!"
The cable rattled through the hawse-hole, the anchor went to the bottom,the Young America swung round, and her voyage across the ocean washappily terminated. Three rousing cheers were given in honor of theauspicious event, and when the sails had been furled, the crew werepiped to dinner.
And here, at the close of the voyage, we leave the Young America, withher officers and crew wiser and better, we trust, than when they sailedfrom the shores of their native country. They were now to enter upon anew life in foreign lands; and what they saw and what they did, on seaand shore, during the following weeks, will be related in "SHAMROCK ANDTHISTLE, or _Young America in Ireland and Scotland_!"
THE END