"That I know," said Whittinghame. It was a sheer piece of bluff, for up to the present he had had a suspicion that the Mexican might have returned.
"Nor is he in Naocuanha."
"We do not wish to know where he is not, but where he is."
"Señor, I know not."
Gerald Whittinghame pulled out his watch.
"You are lying," he thundered. "I give you thirty seconds. At the end of that time if you do not tell the truth——" and he pointed significantly towards the door.
The silence was so intense that the ticking of the watch could be distinctly heard. The prisoner's face was working spasmodically.
"Twenty-eight, twenty-nine ——" counted Gerald.
Before he could say the word "thirty" the Valderian leapt upon him like a tiger. The watch was hurled across the cabin, while ere Whittinghame and his companions quite realized what was taking place the prisoner was clawing Gerald's face like a wild cat.
Two or three of the "Meteor's" crew threw themselves upon the violent prisoner and secured him.