“Well, I didn’t know,” Dan said in embarrassment. “That is, I’d heard Jabowski had a nephew, but I never once thought of his being Jacques. The boy was taken away from the Cave, and when I saw him here—”
“You jumped to wild conclusions,” Mr. Manheim cut in furiously.
“Jacques will tell you I take good care of him and provide him with everything he needs,” Jabowski added.
“But you’ve kept him a prisoner,” Dan accused.
“That’s not so,” Jabowski denied. He gazed hard at his nephew. “You tell ’em, Jacques. Are you held a prisoner here?”
Jacques remained silent.
“Answer up,” Jabowski ordered harshly.
“No!” the boy replied, his face sullen.
“Jacques don’t like it much here in this country,” his uncle explained. “He came over from France six months ago and is learning to speak English.”
“You see,” Mr. Manheim broke in again. “This entire situation has been misunderstood. Everything is in order here. I foolishly gave the Cub Scouts permission to camp on my island and they’ve allowed their imaginations to run riot.”