We must go to work while the fever is on the fellows, and make up----" "In the maintop, ahoy!" shouted the master, from the waist.
"On deck!" replied Shuffles.
"Lay down from aloft!" "Yes, sir." The conspirators descended, after Shuffles had admonished his shaky companion to be discreet.
"What are you doing in the top so long ?" demanded Foster, the first master, as the truants reached the sheer-pole.
"Watching the sea, sir," replied Shuffles.

"It looks fine from the top." "When you have done what you are sent aloft for, it is your duty to come down and report it," added the officer.
Shuffles made no reply, as he probably would have done if he had not had a heavy operation on his hands, which prevented him from indulging in any side quarrels.
Except the wheelmen and the lookout, the watch on deck was divided into little groups, who were quartered in the most comfortable places they could find, telling stones, or discussing the exciting topic of the day.
"Shuffles, some of our fellows want to see you and Wilton," said Adler, as the first master went below, to inspect the steerage, at two bells.
"What's up ?" demanded the conspirator.
"Don't say anything," added the messenger, as he led the way to the steerage skylight, under the lee of which Sanborn and Grimme had stowed themselves away, out of the reach of the stream that was flowing along the water-ways, and of the spray which was dashing over the weather bows.
The party from aloft, with the messenger, increased the group to five, which was the total number of "our fellows" that could be mustered in the first part of the port watch.
"What's up ?" demanded Shuffles, when he had seated himself by the skylight.
"We intend to pipe to mischief, to-night, Shuffles and we want some help from you," said Sanborn, in reply.
"We have been robbed of our money, and we are going to have satisfaction, somehow or other," added Grimme, in explanation.

"We are not going to stand this sort of thing.

We must teach Lowington and the professors that they can't put our noses to the grindstone." "Exactly so!" exclaimed Shuffles.

"And you intend to put them there yourselves.