“What were you doing there?”
“We did nothing, senor,” Pedro answered simply.
“You didn’t just happen there!” Cardow snarled. “What did you go for? I haven’t a lot of time to waste, darn it, and if you don’t tell the truth, I’ll have the boys stick your wife’s feet in the fire—”
“Oh—” Mrs. Gonzalas started to scream, but a hand was put quickly over her mouth.
“Hush, mio,” her husband begged earnestly, then turning to the Admiral who had silenced her, he snapped furiously, “You keep your hands to yourself, senor—”
“Let her alone,” Cardow ordered, then he added to Pedro, “No one is going to hurt her if you tell the truth.”
“I searched for platinum,” Pedro told them. “That is the truth, absolutely,” and when he said it the men drew closer, eagerly.
“How did you happen to go there in search of it? Did you find any around that section?” Cardow questioned sharply.
“Si, senor, I did. Once, many weeks ago when hunting I got lost and wandered much time before I happen to cross the stream with the many branches and the dry fork. I found platinum. I noted the place, followed the stream and made my way out. Today—if it is to-day, I and my brother and my wife desired to return and get some of the mineral. We persuaded Senor Austin to take us in his airplane and he did. Before we start, we did not tell him our purpose in going,” Pedro explained at length and deliberately. The men were crowding around now, and Cardow snapped a dozen questions, all of which the elder Gonzalas answered quite frankly.
“You did not find the stuff?”