"You would never guess!" Sebastian's voice gathered strength. "Ten
thousand men in ten thousand years would never find the place, and
nobody knows the secret but Don Esteban and me."

"I believe you. I knew all the time it was here. Well? Where is
it?"

Sebastian hesitated and said, piteously, "I am dying--"

Isabel could scarcely contain herself. "I'll give you water, but
first tell me where--where! God in heaven! Can't you see that I,
too, am perishing?"

"I must have a drink."

"Tell me first."

Sebastian lifted his head and, meeting the speaker's eyes, laughed
hoarsely.

At the sound of his unnatural merriment Isabel recoiled as if
stung. She stared at the slave's face in amazement and then in
fury. She stammered, incoherently, "You--you have been--lying!"

"Oh no! The treasure is there, the greatest treasure in all Cuba,
but you shall never know where it is. I'll see to that. It was you
who sold my girl; it was you who brought me to this; it was your
hand that whipped me. Well, I'll tell Don Esteban how you tried to
bribe his secret from me! What do you think he'll do then? Eh?
You'll feel the lash on your white back--"