Patsy marked this fleeting change of expression at once and said hastily: "I think.

Maud, dear, the captain is waiting to be questioned." At this he cast a grateful look in Miss Doyle's direction and bowed to her.

Maud began to appreciate the peculiar situation and marshalled her questions in orderly array.
"Tell me, please, where _is_ Sangoa ?" she began.
"In the South Seas, Miss." "Will you give me the latitude and longitude ?" "I cannot." "Oh, you mean that you _will_ not ?" "I have been commanded to forget the latitude and longitude of Sangoa." "But this is folly!" she exclaimed, much annoyed.

"Such absurd reticence may be fatal to Mr.Jones' interests." He made no reply to this and after reflection she tried again.
"What is the nearest land to Sangoa ?" "Toerdal," said he.
"What is that, an island ?" "Yes." "Is it on the maps?
Is it charted ?" "No, Miss." She silenced Flo's aggravating giggle with a frown.
"Tell me, sir," she continued, "what is the nearest land to Sangoa that is known to the world ?" He smiled faintly as he replied: "I cannot tell." Uncle John had grown very uneasy by this time and he decided he ought to attempt to assist Maud.

So, addressing Captain Carg, he said in a positive tone: "We quite understand, sir, that it has been the policy of the owners of Sangoa to guard all knowledge of the island's whereabouts from the outside world, as well as the fact that its pearl fisheries are very rich.