"If it is true, Lowington will not leave us behind, especially if he finds we are not as gentle as lambs."
"Perhaps not; but as the matter stands, we are already condemned to stay on board during the rest of the season."
"I know that; but Lowington will let us off."
"He will be more likely to do so if we behave well."
"Not he! Don't you believe it."
"They say Shuffles is teasing him to remit the rest of the penalty."
"Shuffles!"
"That's so; and Lowington promised to consider the matter. Tom Perth told me this; and he heard Shuffles talking to the principal about it."
"Humph! I don't want to go on those terms," replied Howe, in disgust. "That's some more of Shuffles's cant! One of his sensations! He thinks he whipped us out on board of the Josephine, and now he wants to be magnanimous with his victims. If we go with the crowd, it will be because Lowington is afraid to leave us behind. We are not a set of babies, Sheffield, to be whipped and sent to bed when we are naughty. Neither are we sailors before the mast, to be kicked here and there, at the pleasure of our masters. What do you suppose the fellows came to Europe for, if it was not to see the country? Are we to be left on board just because we went on a little lark? Not much!"
"That's all very good, but it won't go down," laughed Sheffield.