He stepped over to the silent figure in the chair.
“Now, Phalos, we’re going to make you listen to reason,” he said in a tone of deadly determination. “We haven’t followed you half-way around the world to be balked at last. We know that you have the secret of the Tombs of Gold, and we’re going to get it from you. If you tell it to us, we will release you and you won’t be hurt. If you refuse, we have something here that will make you tell. And if we have to torture you, you will wish you had never been born. Now I’m going to take that gag from your mouth, so that you can tell me your decision.”
He turned to his companion.
“Come here, Nepahak,” he commanded. “Stand on that side of him while I remove the gag. Clap your hand over his mouth if he should try to shout an alarm. But first hand me the flashlight.”
He took the light his confederate handed to him and flashed it on the face of his intended victim.
A wild exclamation escaped from him as he noticed the absence of the gag and saw also that the cords had been cut.
“Who has been here?” he cried, in alarm. “What does this mean? Come back here, you,” he called to Nepahak, who was already making toward the door, intent upon escape.
“Now!” whispered Don, touching Teddy’s arm.
CHAPTER VI
The Fight in the Dark
The next instant the boys rushed from their hiding place and launched themselves upon the rascals.