“I will be short and blunt with you!” he began again.  “I know your history!  You were in Portuguese Africa with Lord Montdidier.  There he came in possession of the secret of Tippoo Tib’s ivory; how, I do not yet know, but you shall tell me that presently!  You and your friends came with him to Zanzibar, where you made certain inquiries—­sufficient to set the Sultan of Zanzibar by the ears.  You left Zanzibar for Mombasa, and for some reason that you shall also tell me presently, Lord Montdidier did not leave the ship at Mombasa but continued the voyage toward London.  Certain individuals decided that it would be better not to permit Lord Montdidier to reach Europe alive.  There were agents charged with the duty of attending to that.  It was considered safest to throw him overboard into the Mediterranean; men were ordered by cable to board the ship at Suez.  Yet when the ship reached Suez nobody knew anything about him!  Tell me where he left the ship, and why!”

He glared with eyes accustomed to extorting facts from savages, depending on physical weakness so to undermine my will that I would give my secret away, perhaps without knowing it.

I lowered my eyes, not being minded to match the strength of my eye-muscles against his.  The news that Monty had not reached Suez as a matter of fact made me feel physically sick.  If it were true, it meant most likely that he had been the victim of foul play, for that steamer was not scheduled to stop anywhere before reaching the Suez Canal.  As for the people on the ship knowing nothing about him they no doubt preferred not to talk to strangers.  That sort of news is easily kept under cover for a while.  Schillingschen grew angry at my silence, and changed his tactics.

“Where did he leave the ship?” he shouted—­suddenly—­savagely.

I did not answer.  He came round to my side of the grave, and laid a heavy clenched fist on my shoulder.  It seemed to weigh like lead in the weak condition I was in.

“You shall tell me what Lord Montdidier is doing now, or that grave shall resemble in your imagination a bed of roses!”

He seized my neck in a grasp like iron, and squeezed it.  I rose suddenly and struck him in the stomach with my elbow.  Strength had returned more swiftly than I had guessed, or perhaps it was indignation at the touch of his fingers.  At any rate he staggered clear of me, and I thought he would assault me now in real earnest; but perhaps he suspected me of having weapons concealed somewhere.  Instead of rushing at me like an angry bull he calmed himself and laughed.

“You are strong for a man they thought of burying!"’ he said.  “Never mind!  You shall see reason presently!  It is well understood that you and your friends know where Tippoo Tib’s ivory is hidden.  You imagine you can keep the secret.  If you keep it, you shall never make use of it, my young friend!  If you choose to tell, you shall be suitably rewarded!  Come now—­I thought you were going to look for it down in these parts.  I admit you fooled me.  You simply made a false move to draw attention off from Lord Montdidier.  Tell me where he is and what he does—­and—­or—­”