But in a moment he again stepped forward, laughing under his breath.
"Por dios!" he exclaimed. "The rats! They must be hungry!"
And he stepped into the room. His foot splashed into a small puddle of water on the reeking, earthen floor. But he pressed on, flashing his lantern about the granite walls.
It was a tiny black cavern into which he had come.
There was a stone bench at one side of the horrible place, and in the wall by it a heavy ring and a thick iron chain.
It was but a minute more before Clif's ankles were locked firmly in the ring, and then he was utterly helpless.
For but a moment Ignacio stood looking at him, flashing the lantern full in his face. And then he turned and motioned to the two men.
Without a word they faced about and stole away. They went out of the door, and Ignacio, trembling all over with his fiendish eagerness, shut the great iron barrier and locked it.
And then with a hoarse cry of rage he faced about.
Clif Faraday was alone with his deadly and merciless foe!