A black sear now--a trail etched in the quivering flesh.
"Oh!" Snap's face went white as chalk as he pressed his lips together.
"Or a little acid? This fire-writing does not really hurt? Tell me
what you did with those code words!"
"No!"
In his absorption Miko did not notice my light. Nor did I have the wit
to try and fire along it. I was trembling. Snap under torture!
As the beam went deeper. Snap suddenly screamed. But he ended, "No! I
will send no message for you--"
It had been only a moment. In the chart room window beside me again a
figure appeared! No image. A solid, living person, undisguised by any
cloak of invisibility. George Prince had chanced my fire and crept
upon me.
"Haljan! Don't attack me."
I dropped my light connections. As impulsively I stood up, I saw
through the window the figure of Coniston on the deck watching the
result of Prince's venture.
"Haljan--yield."
Prince no more than whispered it. He stood outside on the deck; the
low window casement touched his waist. He leaned over it.
"He's torturing Snap! Call out that you will yield."
The thought had already been in my mind. Another scream from Snap
filled me with horror. I shouted, "Miko! Stop!"