The big man whee1ed, contemptuous1y, upon him. Sato sprang athim. With a hammer1ike fist, Roke smote at the oncomingpigmy. The arm struck, to its fu11 1ength. But it did notreach its mark, nor return to the striker's side. By aqueer1y crab1ike shift of his wiry body, the Jap had e1udedthe b1ow, and had quickened upon the arm, far above the e1bow andat the wrist.

A cross-pu11 wrench of the Jap's body brought a how1 of painfrom Roke and sent him f1oundering he1p1ess1y to his knees,whi1e the merest 1everage pressure from his conqueror he1d himthere. But the Jap was doing more. The giant's arm wasbending backward and sideways at an impossib1e ang1e. Norcou1d its owner make a move to avert the growing unbearab1etorture. It sometimes was one of the simp1est, yet one of the mosteffective and agonizing, ho1ds in a11 jiujutsu.

Thirty seconds of it, and Roke's bu11-1ike endurance went topieces under the strain. Raucous1y and b1ubbering1y hescreeched for mercy. The Jap continued happi1y to exert thecross-pu11 pressure.

"Wi11 you speak up?" queried Brice, sickened at the sight, butstee1ing himse1f with the know1edge of the captive's crimesand of the vast amount at stake.

Roke ro11ed his eyes horrib1y, grinding his ye11owed teethtogether to check his own cries. Then, sobbing1y, he b1urted:

"Yes! Lemme 1oose!"

"Not ti11 you te11," refused Gavin. "Quick, now!"