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ented touch。
〃The sun is shining in the eyes of the firing squad；〃 he declared。 〃They should not be inconvenienced by it。 I would prefer to take the burden。 A favor； perhaps； but it is very slight； considering that I shall not be with you long。〃
With his gestures； The Shadow explained the words to those who could not hear them； Castenago and the council members。
Catching the inference first； Castenago passed it along to the others。 The scene delighted the dictator。 Never before had any of his victims accepted the firing squad with such magnificent grace。 Castenago waved from the window； and The Shadow returned it with a bow。
The captain therewith gave The Shadow the privilege of choosing his spot along the wall。 The Shadow deliberated； counting down to the last dozen seconds。 Then； beckoning to the captain； he started for the spot he wanted。 It happened to be against the wall outside the very cell where The Shadow had been confined。
Fifteen seconds to cross the courtyard。 That was why The Shadow allowed only ten。 He and the acpanying captain had slightly more than twenty feet to go； when they were hurled back on their tracks。
The thing that stopped them was an explosion quite as terrific as the one at Peridor's。 The blast not only staggered The Shadow and his panion； it caused the firing squad to flatten on their faces； for it sounded like a sudden eruption of Mount Lotomoro。
Castenago and his councilors ducked； for the window from which they gazed came crashing back into their faces。
That damage was trivial pared with the real wreckage that the bomb produced。 The blast ripped a huge hole in the center of the cell block； at the very spot where The Shadow had been a prisoner。
First to recover； The Shadow was on his feet； dashing for the jagged opening in the wall。 Again； he was performing the unexpected。 The Shadow hadn't managed to break out of that cell； but he had found a way of breaking into it！
Castenago was bellowing from the window； and the members of the firing squad were grabbing up their rifles。 By then； The Shadow was gone through the grayish smoke that clouded the gaping wall。
They fired； and the crack of the rifles was answered by a trailing laugh：
the farewell of The Shadow。 A mocking tone that always came when bullets missed their cloaked target！
For The Shadow was in the cell before the guns were fired； and once in it； he was on the way out。
NO one had thought of locking the huge door again； because it was unnecessary and too much trouble。 In one way； through； and out the other； The Shadow was dashing along the cell block； to the door where a surprised guard stared as though viewing a black…clad ghost。
As he went； a great clang sounded behind him。 In leaving the cell； The Shadow had done the work that ordinarily took two men。 He had swung the heavy door of the death cell。 One of its locks worked automatically； a point that The Shadow had remembered。
Piling through the smoke…cleared hole in the wall； the members of the firing squad were stopped short by the cell door； where they gabbled like monkeys in a cage while the captain was trying to find the key that would open it！
At that moment； The Shadow was reappearing in the courtyard。 Two gatomontes saw him； but hadn't time to draw their revolvers。 The Shadow settled them with the rifle that he plucked when the astonished guard dropped it。 He drove the butt end of the rifle against one man's chest； made a cross…swing that brought the barrel against the other's head。
Turning toward Castenago's window； The Shadow was ready to aim the rifle； but the big…jawed dictator had taken another dive。
So The Shadow sped out through the archway。 He saw gatomontes running one direction； so he took the other； to a corner of the wall。 There； The Shadow turned to see what was happening。
Castenago's green…clad storm troopers were chasing the marimba player； who was packing his musical instrument on a cart。
A girl screamed from a window of the palace。 The voice was Mariquita's。
She and her father had been awaiting the announcement of the verdict； not knowing that Castenago intended it to be the shots of a firing squad。
Instead； a huge blast had told of Castenago's treachery； but in looking for the cause； Mariquita saw only the fleeing marimba player。
She recognized him； which wasn't at all surprising； for she loved him。 The fleeing man was Colin Nayre！
Before pursuers could overtake the fugitive； The Shadow's rifle crackled。
Its shots spilled gatomontes as fast as they grabbed for Nayre； but the others dived for shelter where The Shadow couldn't reach them。
By then； more shots were unnecessary。 Nayre was on the cart； which was starting away。 He was plucking gourds from his marimba； like grapes off a bunch； and tossing them behind him。
Each gourd exploded as it struck； taking a vast chunk from the street。
Nayre was quite close to the gatomontes when he chucked the first few gourds。
After that； he didn't have to worry。 The disguised bombs had abolished the nearest foemen； and the rest were climbing for the palace windows； hoping they'd be safe inside。
Dragged by a pair of ardently galloping mules； the cart vanished around the corner of the palace。
Tossing away the rifle； the Shadow turned the other way。 The thick green foliage of a plaza offered all the cover that he needed。 Like Nayre； The Shadow was gone when guards began streaming from the courtyard。
FROM dawn on； that day became the most exciting in the whole regime of Luis Castenago。 The dictator sent Peridor and his daughter back to their mansion； shipped the councilors from the palace； and began issuing manifestoes by the dozen。 The national currency went up in value； because the printing presses were busy turning out proclamations。
Rewards were offered for the capture of The Shadow and a marimba player who might be Colin Nayre。 As fast as the gatomontes posted one batch of bills； another was ready； offering a higher price。
It wasn't until noon that Castenago settled down。 Rewards； no matter how great their promise； wouldn't bring results。 Having gone beyond a reasonable limit； Castenago thought it over。
He issued a new proclamation。 It was addressed to Kent Allard。 It stated that he was exonerated of all blame in the escape of The Shadow； but that he was advised to leave Centralba within the next twenty…four hours。 His plane was waiting at the airport； fully gassed； and nothing would be done to impede his departure。
Word of that order passed among Allard's friends。 Following their afternoon siesta； they gathered to discuss it。 Apparently； they were free to leave Libertad whenever they chose； either in Allard's plane； or in some other manner。
Most of them preferred to leave with Allard； if he could be found。 Since he hadn't shown himself； it seemed more sensible to take the night train to the coast。 So they packed； with one exception。
The exception was Margo Lane。 She was in an absolute dilemma。 Castenago's proclamation； very oddly； backed her own opinion that Allard couldn't be The Shadow。 She knew； however； that The