"I will—if you'll answer my questions."
"He was picked up out of the ocean by some folks on a yacht, and those folks brought him to San Juan."
"Do you know what he had to say for himself when he was picked up?"
"He thinks he was shoved overboard from the steamship."
At this Joseph Farvel started, but as quickly recovered, and gave a hollow, unnatural laugh.
"Robert Menden always was full of queer ideas. He was sick, and even the captain of the steamship thought he acted queerly. You know his story, but you don't know mine. What both of us are after here belongs to me."
"I guess it will belong to the first man who finds it."
Joseph Farvel grated his teeth. "It belongs to me—and I will have it. Now tell me where Menden is at this moment."
"I haven't the least idea."
"You want me to rescue you, don't you?"