"You said you wouldn't trust me," answered Wilton, still pacing the deck in front of the brig.
"You told Lowington about something he had no business to know; but I forgive you, Wilton."
"You are very willing to forgive me, now you are in a tight place."
"It was mean of you to do it, Wilton; you can't deny that. Lowington was on the best of terms with me when I was in the after cabin, and I might have told him a hundred things about you."
"Didn't you tell him anything?"
"Not a word."
"Well, you are a good fellow, and I always thought you were. I couldn't see why you turned traitor to us when we intended to spend the Fourth of July on shore."
"I was obliged to do what I did. If I hadn't, I should have been turned out of my office."
"Perhaps you were right, Shuffles, and we won't say anything more about the past," replied Wilton, who was too willing to be on good terms with the powerful malcontent, even while he was a prisoner and in disgrace.
"Wilton, I am going to be captain of this ship within ten days," said Shuffles, in a whisper. "Now you may go and tell Lowington of that."