"Captain Carg would make a splendid motion picture actor，"declared the younger Miss Stanton，audaciously."He sticks close to his cues，you see，and won't move till he gets one.He will answer your questions；yes，he has said he would；but you may prattle until doomsdayc without effect，so far as he is concerned，unless you ？nish your speech with an interrogation pointd."Mrs.Montrose gave a gasp of dismay，while Maud ？ushed painfully.The captain，however，allowed a gleam of admiration to soften his grim features as he stared fixedly atsaucy Flo.Patsy marked this ？eeting 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."Suchabsurd reticencea 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 whereaboutsa from the outside world，as well as the fact that its pearl ？sheries are very rich.We understand that an in？uxb of treasure—seekers would embarrass the Sangoans.But we are close friends of young Mr.Jones and have no desire to usurp his island kingdom or seize his pearls.Our only anxiety is tofree him from an unjust suspicion.A foolish man named Le Drieux accuses Jones of stealing a choice collection of pearls from a lady in Austria and fleeing with them to America.He has a photograph of the real criminal，taken abroad，which curiously resembles your young master."Here the captain turned a quick look upon the speaker and for the ？rst time his eyes lost their dull expression.But he made no remark and Uncle John continued：
"This man Le Drieux found several choice pearls in the possession of Mr.Jones，which he claims are a part of thestolen collection.Hence he obtained your master's arrest.Jones says he brought the pearls from Sangoa，his home，where they were found.No one here knows anything of Sangoa，so they regard his story with suspicion.Now，sir，we believe that through you we can prove he has told the truth，and so secure his release.Here is the important question：Will you help us？""Willingly，sir，"replied the captain.
"Are you forbidden to tell us where Sangoa is，or anything about the island ？""Yes，sir；I am forbidden to d o t h a t ，u n d e r a n y circumstances，"was the ready answer.
"Have you been to Sangoa since you landed Mr.Jones in San Francisco，some ？fteen months ago ？""Yes，sir.""And did you bring back with you，on this trip，any pearls ？""Yes，sir.""Have you already disposed of them ？""No，sir.""Why not ？""I am awaiting orders from my master.""Has he been aboard since you anchored here ？""No，sir.""What were your instructions ？""To anchor on this coast and await his coming.""Well，"said Mr.Merrick，reflectively，"I believe you can prove our case without telling the location of Sangoa.An exhibition of the pearls you have brought ought to convince any reasonable judge.Are there many of them in this lot？""Not so many as usual，sir.""Are they very choice ones？""Not so choice as usual，sir."Uncle John was greatly disappointed，but Maud exclaimed eagerly：
"Let us see them，please！"
That was not a question，but the captain rose at once，bowed and left the cabin.It was some ten minutes before he returned，followed by two men who bore between them a heavy bronze chest which they placed upon the cabin floor.Then they left the room and the captain took a key from his pocket and unlocked a secret panel in the wainscotinga of the cabin.A small compartment was disclosed，in which hung another key on an iron hook.He removed this and with it unlocked the chest，drawing—from its recesses several trays which he deposited upon the table.These trays were lined and padded with white velvet and when the covers were removed，the girls，who had crowded around the table，uttered cries of astonishment and delight.
"They may not be as numerous or as choice 'as usual，'"murmured Mrs.Montrose，"but they are the most amazing lot of pearls I have ever beheld.""And did all these come from Sangoa ？"Maud asked thecaptain.
"They represent two months'fishing on the coast of our island，"he replied；"but not the best two months of the year.The weather was bad；there were many storms.""Why，the pearls that Ajo gave us were insigni？cant when compared with these ！"cried Beth."This collection must be worth an enormous sum.Uncle John."Uncle John merely nodded.He had been thinking，as hestudied the pearls，and now turned to Captain Carg.
"Will you come ashore and testify before the judge in behalf of your master ？""Yes，if he asks me to do so.""And will you bring these pearls with you ？""If my master orders it.""Very good.We will have him send you instructions."The captain bowed，after which he turned to the table and began replacing the trays in the chest.Then he locked it，again hung the key in the secret aperture and closed the panel.A whistle summoned the two seamen，who bore away the chest，accompanied by the captain in person.
When they were left alone，Maud said anxiously：
"Is there anything more we can do here？""I think not，"replied Mr.Merrick.
"Then let us get back.I want to complete my evidence at once，for no one knows when the judge will summon Ajo for examination."They thanked the captain when he rejoined them，but heremained as silent and undemonstrativea as ever，so they took their departure without further ceremony and returned to the shore.