"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 166 - Crime Rides The Sea" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

them.
A flashlight gleamed suddenly in their path. An instant later, a finger
flicked a transparent shutter across the flashlight's lens. The glow turned
red. Understanding the signal, Harry and Cliff held back the men who were with
them.
That was The Shadow's signal. He had stopped the rush just in time. The
boat that was putting off was loaded with crooks who would have battled any
boarders. It was a special boat, prepared for this emergency; from it came the
sudden hum of a gasoline motor.
A searchlight swung; in its passing glow, it turned to the interior of
the
motorized lifeboat. From the deck of the Ozark, clustered men caught a glimpse
of the mobsmen who had battled them. In with the gang was Edna Barvale.
Some of the passengers recognized the girl, and shouted angrily. For Edna
was a blonde no longer. She had found time to resume the wig and brunette
make-up which she used when she passed as Ruth Eldrey. Harry expected her to
shout back at the men marooned aboard the freighter, but Edna paid no
attention
to their irate calls.
The brief glimpse was ended. The motorboat was well away, its occupants
too eager for escape to bother about firing shots at those who seemed doomed
on
the Ozark's deck. Nor did The Shadow open fire. He knew that moments were too
precious.
He was at a new spot, where the freighter's rail was level with the
water.
Another flick of his special flashlight; its gleam became green.
Shouting for others to follow, Harry and Cliff reached the point where
The
Shadow had signaled. They came upon the last lifeboat, now released in its
davits by The Shadow. A minute's work, the craft was in the water.
In the darkness, The Shadow was helping launch the boat. His flashlight,
yellow again, showed that everyone was aboard. The Shadow swung across the
stern of the tiny craft.
It was in that final moment when the lifeboat put off, that an accident
occurred beyond The Shadow's reach. Harry Vincent had hold of the lifeboat's
side; but his foot was caught in the rail that he had left. He yelled to
Cliff,
too late. Cliff was shoving away at the lifeboat's bow.
Another man heard the call. Reaching over the side, he clutched at
Harry's
shoulders. His foot freed, Harry was hauled from the water. It was a fortunate
rescue, for at that moment, any delay would have been fatal to all.


AS Harry sprawled into the lifeboat, oars were lashing at the water. The
Ozark was settling for her final plunge, threatening to carry the lifeboat
with
her.
Twisting away, the tiny lifeboat was dwarfed by the keeling bulk of the