“Where is your home?”
“I haven’t got any home,” was the reply. “I never had one.”
“But you must belong somewhere,” Clay insisted. “Where did you live last?”
“I’m not going to tell you anything at all,” Chet replied, “until I see the man that made me promise to keep silent, and until he gives me leave to talk with you.”
“Is the man you mention Red, the riverman?” asked Clay.
“Didn’t I just tell you that I wasn’t going to talk?” demanded the boy.
“All right,” Clay responded. “Take all the time you want! In the meantime, I’ll keep the diamonds. Will you promise to remain on the boat?”
“If I had the diamonds, I’d quit you right now!” said the boy, savagely. “I may as well tell you the truth. If you keep the diamonds, I’ll stay until I get them, but I’ll find them and take them with me if I can. You just mind that!”
“You’re a frank little chap, anyway!” laughed Clay.
“I wasn’t brought up to tell lies!” was the astonishing reply.