"No, Pelham, no!" replied Shuffles, earnestly. "You provoked me so by your cool taunts that I pushed you over before I thought what I was about."
"Did you really mean to drown me?"
"Upon my soul, I did not. If you knew how I felt when I saw you strike the 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 the side of the ship, or struck my stomach on the water, for all the breath seemed to be knocked out of me. I hardly knew what I was about in the water till I saw you. At first I supposed you had jumped overboard to finish your job."
"You wronged me; I would have saved you, if I had been sure of perishing myself."
"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 I deserve."
"Never mind it now; we will call it square," replied Pelham, lightly. "How about the Chain, Shuffles? We shall be in sight of land by to-morrow."