$SIG{ALRM} = sub {die 'timeout'};
while ( $number < 10 ) {

   eval {

      alarm(3);

      print $number;
   
      if ( $number == 3 ) { sleep 4; } # This is to simulate the delay the routines may generate...
   
      $number++;
   
      print "\n";
   };

   alarm(0);

   if($@ eq 'timeout') {
     next;
   } else {
     die $@;
   } 

}