"Possibly," sneered the Filipino, "when you know more, you'll feel like making a noise. Let me assure you that no friend will hear if you do call. But any great amount of noise on your part might provoke me, and that would not be wise under the circumstances." Showing his white, even teeth in an evil smile, Tomba took out of the breast of his blouse a small, bright-bladed creese that might have been borrowed from one of the wall cases in Cerverra's shop. "Why has this trick been played on me?" demanded Sergeant Hal angrily. "A trick?" laughed Tomba softly. "Is that what you think it is? My friend, you will find that it is much more than a trick--it is a decree!" "A decree?" raged Sergeant Overton. "What do you mean?" "It is a decree from Senor Draney," went on Tomba coldly, maliciously. "It can do no harm to mention that name since you can never repeat it to anyone but me, for Senor Draney's decree is that, when you go forth from here--to-night--you will know nothing afterwards, for you will be _past knowing_." CHAPTER VI LIFE HANGS ON A WORD "You are talking like a madman," sneered Hal. "And next you will be begging like one," returned Tomba, with that same easy but deadly laugh. Hal, despite his grit, felt a start of terror. Cold sweat was now gathering on his forehead. "You refused my friendship some days ago," continued Tomba. "You did not know how valuable it might be." "Can the friendship of a scoundrel like you ever be valuable?" asked Overton. "In the present case it would be worth a little to you--your life!" "What did you want of me, when you sought my acquaintance?" demanded Hal. He had suddenly become seized with a desire to prolong the talk with this little brown monster--to gain time! "There was something that you could have done for me," replied Vicente Tomba. The Tagalo, like others of his race, was not averse to talking, either. The little Filipino knew that he had the whole situation in his hands. With the cruelty of a cat, Tomba delighted in the feline pastime of playing with a victim that could not escape him. "What did you want me to do?" Hal asked almost blandly. "I wanted your services." "Yes, but what kind of services?" "What is the use of telling you--_now_?" "Tell me one thing, though, Tomba." "Why?" "Just to gratify my curiosity," explained Sergeant Hal, and he spoke slowly while his eyes watched those of the Filipino. "Did you want me to betray my Flag?" "Not the Flag itself." "But, in some way, you wanted me to turn against my comrades--to serve you and your friends at the expense of the United States Government." "Yes," assented Tomba. "But do not think to deceive me. It is too late now to save yourself by promising what I would have wanted of you." "I don't intend to serve you and your rascal friends at any price--at least, I haven't yet come to that decision," Hal added, in a more conciliatory tone. "However, I am curious."