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Aunt Jane's Nieces Out West

"He sticks close to his cues, you see,

and won't move till he gets one. He will answer your questions; yes, he

has said he would; but you may prattle until doomsday without effect, so

far as he is concerned, unless you finish your speech with an

interrogation point."

Mrs. Montrose gave a gasp of dismay, while Maud flushed painfully. The

captain, however, allowed a gleam of admiration to soften his grim

features as he stared fixedly at saucy Flo. Patsy marked this fleeting

change of expression at once and said hastily:

"I think. Maud, dear, the captain is waiting to be questioned."

At this he cast a grateful look in Miss Doyle's direction and bowed to

her. Maud began to appreciate the peculiar situation and marshalled her

questions in orderly array.

"Tell me, please, where _is_ Sangoa?" she began.

"In the South Seas, Miss."

"Will you give me the latitude and longitude?"

"I cannot."

"Oh, you mean that you _will_ not?"

"I have been commanded to forget the latitude and longitude of Sangoa."

"But this is folly!" she exclaimed, much annoyed. "Such absurd reticence

may be fatal to Mr. Jones' interests."

He made no reply to this and after reflection she tried again.

"What is the nearest land to Sangoa?"

"Toerdal," said he.

"What is that, an island?"

"Yes."

"Is it on the maps? Is it charted?"

"No, Miss."

She silenced Flo's aggravating giggle with a frown.

"Tell me, sir," she continued, "what is the nearest land to Sangoa that

is known to the world?"

He smiled faintly as he replied: "I cannot tell."

Uncle John had grown very uneasy by this time and he decided he ought to

attempt to assist Maud. So, addressing Captain Carg, he said in a

positive tone:

"We quite understand, sir, that it has been the policy of the owners of

Sangoa to guard all knowledge of the island's whereabouts from the

outside world, as well as the fact that its pearl fisheries are very

rich. We understand that an influx of treasure-seekers would embarrass

the Sangoans. But we are close friends of young Mr.

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