What with the effects of his blow, and his alarm at his position, Duval lost his customary caution.
“I’m no friend of anybody on Brig Island,” he exclaimed, “but what do you know about that place, anyhow?”
“A whole lot,” grimly rejoined the elder Daniels; “now, see here, my lad, you’d best make a clean breast of it. How did you come by this plan?”
The old fisherman, who was pretty keen-minded, had guessed by Duval’s guilty manner that there was some mystery connected with the document which he now flourished.
Duval sat up on the bunk and pleaded for the return of the plan; but to no avail.
“I’m smart enough to see through a wall when there’s a hole in it,” said old Daniels; “now, see here, I reckon you ain’t no friend of them kids on the island?”
Duval shook his head. He had, of course, no reason to dislike the boys; but he was an arrant coward at heart, and saw that the men in whose power he was, hated the young dwellers on Brig Island. He therefore thought it good policy to affect to be of their way of thinking.
“I’m no friend of theirs,” he said, rather sullenly, “but what’s that to you?”
“May be a whole lot, if this plan is what I think it is. Now I’ve a pretty good idea that you come by it in no very honest way. Ain’t that so?”
“I—I was given it,” stammered Duval uneasily, while Zenas’ little gimlet-like gray eyes bored him through.