按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The junk was on fire！
Other wreaths curled upward from spots of the deck as the dried wood of the old Pung…Shoon blazed like tinder。
Amidst the rising holocaust； the terrible man on the deck swept back toward the cabin from which he had e。 Not a single shot defied him。
The Shadow's revolvers were empty。 He tossed them away； and stooped to pick up the revolver which Ling Soo had let fall。
Something gleamed through the air。 A knife was whistling from the rigging； its sharp point driving straight for the back of the stooping man。
Was it instinct that told The Shadow？ Or did his keen ears sense the approach of that murderous blade； delivered from the mast； high above？
With his hand upon Ling Soo's gun； The Shadow dived suddenly away。 The shimmering blade passed within an inch of his twisting body。 It struck the deck at the exact spot where Ling Soo's gun had lain。
With point buried deep in the wood； the blade quivered。 It had missed its mark！
But The Shadow did not let the thrust remain unanswered。 Swinging upward； the muzzle of his revolver seemed to follow the path along which the knife had e。 No one was visible； behind the sail where lay the cowering wretch whose skillful hand had sent the blade along its way。
A burst of flame from the revolver。 A cry from high above。 The form of a man tumbled from the darkness； clawing helplessly； until it reached the deck； forty feet below！
That master stroke ended all resistance。 Yellow faces ducked behind the sails。 Knives； already in hand； were thrust back in the belts from which they had been drawn。 Not a single gun spoke。
The Shadow； backing toward the rail； had stifled all opposition。 Wherever that revolver might point； there would it find a mark…and every cringing enemy knew it！
With another peal of taunting mirth； The Shadow passed the huddled forms of Ling Soo and his two bodyguards。 Over the rail and down the ladder； yet from the side of the junk； these gibing peals of laughter still told their terrible threat。
A muffled motor chugged。 The little boat brought by Ling Soo had left the side of the big ship。 In it was a lone； crouching figure； stooping at the wheel…so low that he was almost invisible。
Whistles were sounding。 Boats were putting out from everywhere to reach the junk； which was now a mass of smoke； tinged with spurts of rising flame。
Forms were leaping from the rigging； seeking the safety of the bay。
A police boat； swinging by the burning Pung…Shoon； was capturing these miserable survivors。
All remaining on the junk were doomed。 Some had missed when they had leaped for safety。 Others had fallen wounded and helpless from The Shadow's bullets。
Among these； The Shadow knew； was Ling Soo。 The insidious leader of the Wu…Fan had gone to a deserved fate。 But there was another yet to be accounted for。
The little motor boat was speeding swiftly through the bay； lost against the blackened waves； far from the glare of the blazing junk。
Within that craft； a crouching man was carefully placing his fingers to his face。 Two tiny spots of color glowed beneath his finger tips as they pressed beneath the eyebrows。
From the jet…black center of the tiny craft came the laugh of The Shadow！
CHAPTER XXII
GREEN EYES MEETS THE SHADOW
THE trim yacht Sepia was anchored in the bay； close to the Oakland side。 A man was standing by the window of a lighted cabin。
It was Joseph Darley。 He had e here after he had left the Pung…Shoon。
Darley was smiling as he looked across the bay and saw the miniature blaze that indicated the burning Pung…Shoon。 Let the old junk go up in smoke； he thought。 So much the better。
The burning might have been an accident； through excitement of the crew； or it might have been by new design of Ling Soo； the crafty Chinaman。
That did not matter。 The junk was burning。 All police boats； all other craft； would be at the side of the flaming ship； upon which the fire had bee a holocaust。 Here； in the silence of the bay； the work would soon be over。
The Sepia was a seaworthy craft； but its crew was small。 They were trusted men； who obeyed Darley's mands as implicitly as the followers of Ling Soo obeyed the leader of the Wu…Fan。 Darley could rely on them tonight。
He glanced at his watch。 In ten minutes； the others would be here。 Darley drew the list with the Chinese characters from his pocket。 This would be useful； now…in case of any disagreement。
Darley suddenly received the impression that someone was in the cabin； close beside him。 He turned quickly。 He found himself staring into the face of Foy！
Darley was amazed。 He had believed Foy to be dead； in the torture chamber of the Pung…Shoon。 But here was Foy； now…and in his hand gleamed a revolver； its muzzle pointed toward Darley's body！
Instinctively； Darley looked at Foy's eyes。 They were wide open…glaring； as Darley had never seen them before。
Small wonder that Darley quailed。 He was staring into the eyes of The Shadow！
Now； Foy was speaking…not in singsong Chinese…but in English！ His firm； cold tones were scarcely more than a weird whisper； but the sound made Darley shudder。
〃Joseph Darley〃…the voice carried an accusation…〃I have e to settle scores with you！〃
〃Scores for what？〃 challenged Darley。
〃For your misdeeds；〃 declared The Shadow。 〃You； pretended man of influence； are the worst of all the plotters！ The one who shared your wickedness…Ling Soo…has met his fate。 Prepare for yours！〃
〃Ling Soo！〃
〃Ling Soo has perished in the flames of the Pung…Shoon。〃
DARLEY was too astounded to reply。 He stood； helpless； beside the cabin window； wondering at the strange transformation that had e over Foy。 For； the crouching man was growing tall。 His shadow lay across the floor； and seemed to hover over Darley like a phantom of death。
〃You are wondering about Foy；〃 said The Shadow； in a mocking voice。 〃I am not Foy。 I am The Shadow。〃
Darley made no reply。
〃Perhaps you have never heard of The Shadow；〃 resumed the sardonic voice。
〃Little wonder…for although The Shadow may be everywhere； The Shadow is seldom seen。
〃It was I who rescued Cleve Branch from that den； the Sun Kew； where he went as Hugo Barnes。 It was I who saved him from the knife of Foy； in your apartment。
〃I found it necessary to kill Foy。 I took his body with me。 Some day it may be found。 But I thought it best that Foy should seem to live…so I took his place。
〃I learned your fiendish schemes while I lived there in the abode of Ling Soo。 I attended the meetings of the inner group。 I heard Green Eyes deliver his verdict of death to Cleve Branch。 I saved the doomed man from that death。
〃You cannot strive against me longer； Joseph Darley！ I have learned every step in your plotting。 This yacht is yours。 Its pretended owner is a blind。 On the way from San Pedro； you met the Pung…Shoon； and transferred its secret cargo to this vessel。
〃While the Pung…Shoon burns； you are awaiting the Wu…Fan men who are ing to unload your million…dollar cargo。 That list in your hand tells how the packages shall be distributed。〃
Darley g