"All right; just as you say. But I can tell you this, my dear fellow? if you should whisper the first word of what has passed between us to-night, you might fall overboard," continued Shuffles, sharply, as he laid his hand on his companion's shoulder.
Wilton grasped the sheet of the fore-topmast staysail which was the nearest rope to him, and held on as though he was then in imminent danger of "falling overboard accidentally."
"I won't say a word," protested he, vehemently; for he did not know but that Shuffles was wicked enough to push him into the sea.
"Wilton, you are a fool!" added the disappointed conspirator, with deep disgust. "Why didn't you say what I told you?"
"I don't want to be bound in any such way as that," replied the terrified student.
"Don't you see it is only a form?"
"No, I don't; or if it is, I don't want anything to do with such forms. You won't get any fellows to be toggled in that way."
"Yes, I shall? I shall get plenty of them. They are not babies, like you."
"I'm not a baby."