"I will not."
"Be careful! You don't know what you are going to suffer!"
"You have my answer. I'll not tell you where the gold is, and you had better be careful what you do. Friends are on the way to rescue us."
"They will arrive too late."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that unless you reveal the secret you will be left out in the open all night, with only such clothing as you now have on, and not a morsel of food, nor a drop of warm drink shall you have. Now do you still refuse to tell me?"
Mr. Baxter hesitated. The double hardship might be more than the boys could stand. As for himself, he believed he could hold out until help came. But it was terribly cold, and the storm that was now howling about the camp gave promise of being a fierce one. Should he give in?
A moment's reflection decided him. He thought Holfax must be near at hand. Perhaps he would come by morning, and they could stand the cold and exposure until then.
"Well?" asked Callack impatiently.
"You can go ahead with your cruelty," replied Mr. Baxter. "I'll never tell you where the gold is."