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ture rack！
This； the most formidable of all contrivances for slow death； was a device that utterly defied escape。 Those hands…bound and wired…could do nothing more than claw the empty air。 Well did Ling Soo know the prisoner's helplessness； for he had seen others in this rack before。
The toes of the prisoner； barely touching the floor； could not support a fraction of his weight。 All strain was on the wrists。 Arms and shoulders must take the burden that would increase with each succeeding minute。
Foy； the traitor； was doomed。 His fate would be a bullet through his heart。 Just how soon his life would pass away depended upon how soon Ling Soo would be ready to kill。
Tomorrow； thought the cackling Ling Soo； this body would be found； before the ship cleared the harbor。 Those who discovered it would see the evidence of a fiendish Chinese plot。 That plot would be attributed to the Tiger Tong。
Let the American authorities learn the identity of Foy！ It would be to Ling Soo's liking。
For it would prove beyond a doubt that the Wu…Fan had been attacked by enemies。 Foy…servant of Ling Soo； the leader…found tortured and slain！
Nothing could be better。
It added the perfect touch that Ling Soo desired。 Members of the Wu…Fan were ing peacefully to his ship。 Here； a short outburst would take place。
The members of the Wu…Fan would flee； Ling Soo among them。
That brief attack would be attributed to the Tiger Tong。 It was to serve another purpose。 For while all attention of harbor patrols would be centered on the Chinese junk； other members of the Wu…Fan would be craftily at work elsewhere！
Shots…lights…flares…all were ready for a short； quickly finished outburst。 It would all be over before investigators arrived。 But with this； there would be a finishing touch later…the finding of Foy； no longer living。
Ling Soo cackled in exuberance。 He took the lantern in his hand。 He reached up and tipped back the head of Foy。 The face； streaked with blood from a gash above the forehead； was grotesque and brutal。 It shone with yellow pallor。
Foy was still living； Ling Soo could see。
The squat Chinaman waited。 He thought that Foy was regaining consciousness。 The slitlike eyelids were moving。 Ling Soo cackled again； and his insidious chuckle was loud in that hollowed space in the heart of the wooden ship。
Foy would have his chance to speak。 If he would not speak； Ling Soo would wait and give him an opportunity。 Then…whether or not he spoke…Foy would die！ That was the verdict。
Ling Soo； as though in ceremony； uttered words aloud…designing； perhaps； that they would reach the ears of the man who was recovering his senses。
〃It is death！ Green Eyes has spoken！〃
These were the words which Ling Soo uttered； in the language of his native land。
CHAPTER XX
ON THE TORTURE RACK
THE eyes of Foy opened。 They were wide； and they gleamed in the light of the lantern…gleamed as Ling Soo had never seen them gleam before。
An instant later； that flash was gone。 The yellow lids were half closed； in the manner of Foy。
Before him； The Shadow saw the merciless form of Ling Soo。 Then The Shadow looked upward； and his half…closed eyes took in the strange surroundings。 His keen brain； usually alert； was working slowly for the moment。
The strain upon the wrists was great。 The Shadow； brought to full wakefulness by pain； began to sense the hopelessness of his predicament。 In this terrible position； escape belonged to the realm of impossibility。
Ling Soo's cackling laugh echoed in the gloomy partment。 The master of the Wu…Fan was gloating。 He spoke to his false henchman； Foy； and his words were filled with sinister significance。
〃Why did you betray？〃 This question was in Chinese。 〃Tell me why…or you shall know the torture。〃
The hanging man did not reply。
〃Your misery will be long；〃 declared Ling Soo solemnly。 〃Speak！ Tell the truth of your perfidy。 Then only shall the torture end。〃
The sullen lips of Foy did not move。
〃You let our enemy escape；〃 gloated Ling Soo； 〃but that shall not save you。 He was overpowered…perhaps he is dead at this moment。 I am to perform the duty that was to be yours。 Our plans shall prevail…in spite of your treachery； Foy。〃
The words had no effect upon the prisoner。
〃You will not speak？〃 Ling Soo's question was malicious。 〃Then know the torture！ Your senses have been gone。 You have not felt the great pain yet。
Unless you speak now； I shall depart。 You shall suffer while I am away。〃
The eyelids of Foy were narrow and defiant。
〃You have had your choice；〃 said Ling Soo calmly。 〃I go。 If you cry out …
it can do you no good。 Our friends； only； are here。〃
He hung the lantern on the wall。 He stood； squat and glaring； by the open door to the next partment。 The shadow of Foy； long and fantastic； spread across the floor。 Ling Soo had no time for shadows。
〃Remember；〃 came his cackling； singsong tones； 〃you are in the rack of torture。 The rack from which no man can save himself！〃
With that； Ling Soo was gone。 Leaving the lantern so its glow would remind Foy of his hopeless position； Ling Soo closed the door。
As an instrument of agony； the Chinese torture rack was one of the strangest and most formidable devices in all the world。 It brought slower pain than did the infernal creations of the Middle Ages； but its work was sure。
Ling Soo had spoken the truth when he had praised this Oriental contrivance； but he had been in error when he had said that escape was impossible。 Some years before； one man had managed to extricate himself from its toils。 The American； Houdini； had allowed himself to be fastened in a Chinese torture rack and had worked his way free after long and strenuous efforts。
There had been only one Houdini…a master of his art。 Strong and powerful； he had used his amazing ingenuity to its utmost in that escape。 Now The Shadow； weakened from his terrible fall into the hold of the ship； was confronted by the same problem that had taxed the skill of Houdini。
With The Shadow； it meant life or death。 Unless his mighty mind could divine the only possible way of overing the hold of this machine； unless his weary muscles could respond to the efforts that were demanded； The Shadow would perish！
Time； too； was short。 The Shadow； with wired ropes about his wrists； had been restrained while unconscious。 He had gained no opportunity to fight against the bonds when they had been placed upon him。
His arms were already wearied from the strain which they had undergone。
For he had dangled long before his consciousness had returned to him！
There he hung。 His fingers could not reach the knots upon his wrists。 They were more than a foot below the cross beam of the rack。 It was humanly impossible to move upward。 Nor could his feet avail him； for they barely touched the floor！
Buried alive in the hollow of the deep…set Chinese junk； The Shadow faced the most terrible situation in his long career。
Free； he could struggle against odds that were seemingly unconquerable。
Bound with ordinary restraints； he could fight his way free。 But he was