Kenyon nodded knowingly. Evidently Fosterdyke had learnt something. However, as far as he, Kenyon, was concerned, other things of a more pressing nature demanded his attention--food and sleep. At eight o’clock Fosterdyke ordered his involuntary guest to be brought before him. "There’s something fishy about the breaking adrift business," he observed to Bramsdean as the two sat at a table in the after-cabin awaiting Enrico’s appearance. "Where’s Jackson? We’ll want him. No, don’t disturb Kenyon; he had a pretty sticky time." "More than you imagine, sir," added Peter, and proceeded to tell the baronet the part Kenneth had played in the aerial rescue of the imperilled Rock Scorpion. "Kenyon didn’t say a word about it," he added on the conclusion of the narrative. "He was as mute as an oyster over it all. Frampton and Collings told me. It was----" A knock on the cabin door interrupted Bramsdean’s explanation. "Come in!" exclaimed Fosterdyke. In answer to the invitation entered Leading Hand Jackson, followed in single file by one of the crew, Enrico Jaures, and two other members of the "Golden Hind’s" company. The Scorp was still labouring under the effects of his narrow escape. He looked, to quote Bramsdean’s words, "as if the stuffing had been knocked out of him." Fosterdyke’s handling of the situation was a bold one. Without any preliminaries, without even asking the fellow’s name, he demanded sternly: "How much did Count Karl von Sinzig promise you for last night’s work?" Jaures gave an involuntary start, but almost immediately relapsed into his imperturbably passive attitude. Then with a slight shrug of his shoulders he replied: "Me no spik Englis." "Try again," said Fosterdyke, contracting his bushy eyebrows and looking straight at the man. "All I can say is that if you don’t speak English it’s a case of won’t, not can’t." "Me no spik Englis," reiterated Jaures. Without speaking, Fosterdyke looked straight at the fellow for a full thirty seconds. During that period Enrico attempted three times to meet the searching gaze of his inquisitor. "Now!" exclaimed the baronet at length. Enrico Jaures maintained silence. Fosterdyke slowly and deliberately unstrapped his wristlet watch and placed it on the table. "I give you thirty seconds," he said in level tones. "Thirty seconds in which to make up your mind either to answer or refuse to answer my question. Might I remind you that we are now eight thousand feet above the sea, and it is a long drop. Jackson, will you please remove that hatch?" "Of course the Old Man was only kiddin’," remarked Jackson when he related what had transpired to his companions after the affair was over; "but, bless me, even I thought he meant to do the dirty sweep in. He looked that stern, that it put the wind up the bloke straight away."