To this I made no reply.

“How long have you been on the island?” questioned my guardian.

“I shall not tell you,” I replied firmly.

“I say you will!” he ejaculated, getting angry at once.

I remained silent.

“Are you going to tell me?”

I wiped the perspiration from my brow and adjusted my clothes.

“Do you hear me, Reuben?” he stormed.

“Please give me my cap,” I said to Yates; and he handed it over.

“If the boy is going to act like a mule, what is the use of wasting time over him,” put in Avery. “The question is, now we’ve got him, what are we going to do with him?”