It was because such thoughts as these were passing through his head that
he did not speak for at least a minute, but stood steadily regarding Paul
and Long Jim. He knew instinctively that it was Paul to whom he must
speak, the boy with the thoughtful, dreamy eye, who, like himself, would
gaze far into the future.
"Where are your comrades?" he asked, "the other three who helped you to
steal my boat?"
"Captured it, you mean," replied Paul, calmly. "So long as you use the
words 'steal' and 'thief,' you can talk to the air. I've nothing to say."
"Nor me either, Paul," said Long Jim, "I can't remember another time in my
life when I felt so little like talkin'."
Long Jim leaned his head against the wall and half closed his eyes. His
manner expressed the utmost indifference. Alvarez frowned, but he
remembered that they were wholly in his power and he had plans.
"I'll change the words," he said, "but I repeat the question. Where are
your comrades?"
"I don't know," replied Paul, and feeling a sudden happy thrill of
defiance he added: "They are probably somewhere arranging the details of
our rescue."
Alvarez frowned again.
"That is impossible," he said. "Perhaps you do not know your position. You
are not at New Orleans.
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