“I told Mr. Pelham I fully approved the purpose, and would help him out with it.”

“What purpose?” asked Shuffles, anxious to know what Paul meant.

“Why, don’t you know?”

“Of course I do; but I wish to know precisely what Mr. Pelham told you.”

“He will tell you himself,” laughed Paul, as he walked aft, in order to afford the other “outsiders” who had voted an opportunity to communicate with Shuffles, for he perceived that they were waiting their turns.

As the second lieutenant went aft, the captain went forward on the lee side of the deck.

“Shuffles!” called Captain Gordon, as the chief conspirator was going forward.

The captain elect turned and walked towards the commander, and touched his cap with becoming respect.

“What do you think of the weather?” demanded Captain Gordon, scratching the tip of his nose.

Paul had instructed the “outsiders” to talk about the weather while they went through with the mystic routine of the signs.

“I think we shall have good weather,” replied Shuffles, who, though he was confounded and amazed to be saluted from this quarter with the language of the “Chain,” dared not refuse to give the signs, after he had done so with the second lieutenant.

“I wish to change my vote? for I don’t think it was fairly given before,” said the captain, when he had gone through all the forms of the recognition.

“Certainly, Captain Gordon, if you desire to do so.”

Fortunately for Shuffles, the captain did not prolong the conversation; for others were waiting an opportunity to make themselves known to the conspirator.  One after another, they saluted Shuffles in the waist, inquiring about the weather, and making the requisite signs.  The captain elect was filled with indignation and rage against Pelham, who had played off this trick upon him; but he was compelled to meet all who came, and go through the signs with them, while the “outsiders,” scattered about the deck, stood watching the motions with intense delight.  He would fain have fled, but he could not leave the deck; and he was afraid that any impatience, or a refusal to answer the signs, would involve him in a worse difficulty.

At last the nine illegal voters had “made themselves known,” and having requested that their votes might be changed, Shuffles was released from torture.  He was both alarmed and indignant.  He had not been able to ascertain what was meant by “the orator of the day;” and he began to fear that Pelham had exposed the whole, or a part, of the real purposes of the League.  He was enraged that he had revealed anything.  Even the captain and the second lieutenant had made all the signs, and they could not have done so without the assistance of a traitor.

“It’s all up with us, Wilton,” said Shuffles, as they met near the foremast.

“What is?”

“Pelham has blowed the whole thing.”