Tunis could not have walked up to any adult person on Wreckers' Head
and asked the question which he put to little John-Ed on the spur of
the moment:
"Where is she?"
He did not have to utter Sheila's name. Indeed, he was doubtful by
what name it would be wise to call her. But he did not have to be
plainer with little John-Ed. He saw in the sly expression of the
boy's eyes that he knew whom he meant. But he shook his head.
"You know where she went," was the schooner captain's accusation.
"Where is she?"
"I--I can't tell you," stammered the boy. "I promised not."
A promise is a promise, especially to a small boy who scorns to
"snitch." Tunis thought a moment.
"Show me," he said, and his voice had in it that tone which made the
foremast hands jump to obey when a squall was coming.
The boy got promptly off the wall.
"All right," he said gruffly. "But don't you tell her I showed you,
Cap'n Tunis Latham."
"Trust me," agreed the captain of the _Seamew_, and followed after
little John-Ed with such tremendous strides that the latter had to
run to keep ahead of him.
Tunis was led to that point on the bluff from which a curl of smoke
from the cabin chimney could be seen.
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