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

boat. The man in question was right behind the thwart upon which Harry sat;
and
he certainly deserved thanks for his effort. Harry turned around to face him.
Though his mouth was opened wide, Harry couldn't manage to pipe a word of
gratitude.
He was staring at the sallow face of Third Officer Pell, the man that
Harry had picked as Traitor No. 1 aboard the Ozark!
Pell didn't guess the thoughts in Harry's mind. He supposed that the
rescued man was faltering merely because he could not find suitable expression
for his thanks. Pell clapped a friendly hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Forget it, old chap!" he said. "We all did our part. You wouldn't have
been tangled on that rail, if you hadn't worked at lowering the lifeboat. I'm
the one that ought to be thanking you."
Pell's hand shoved forward, and Harry gripped it. The Shadow's agent
grinned, somewhat grimly. Again, Pell didn't catch the significance.
Through Harry's brain were flashing many thoughts; a complete sequence
that explained the past.
He had misinterpreted events back at the New York pier. Pell's actions
there had been produced by honest worry. The third officer had suspected that
matters were wrong aboard the Ozark, but hadn't had enough evidence to go on.
Pell had tried to delay the freighter's departure because he sensed that
fog, outside the harbor, would make navigation difficult and therefore be of
advantage to anyone who tried to make trouble.
When battle had begun along the pier, Pell hadn't been able to contain
himself. That was why he had opened fire from the rail. But he hadn't been
shooting at The Shadow. He had tried to pick off some of the thugs who were
making it tough for their black-cloaked foeman.
From Harry's report, The Shadow had divined exactly how Pell stood. That
realization brought a startling sequel.
The message that Pell had read and tossed away, had been given him by The
Shadow!
It was all clear at last; as plain as the early daylight that now
streamed
upon the plodding lifeboat. Foggy thoughts were vanishing from Harry's brain
as
rapidly as the sea mist was dissolving in the dawn.
Pell had recognized The Shadow as a friend. Encountering him aboard the
Ozark, the third officer had taken orders from the cloaked stowaway. Those
orders had been to change the freighter's course; and Pell had done so.
But why had The Shadow wanted it?
The answer came suddenly to Harry Vincent, as a shout broke from the
survivors aboard the small craft. Swinging about, Harry saw other tiny boats
bobbing in the swells. They carried the first survivors who had left the
Ozark,
but the motorized crook-manned lifeboat was not among them. It had vanished on
another course.
It wasn't sight of the other boats that had caused the enthusiastic
shout.
Men were pointing elsewhere, to the west. Harry swung farther around. Beyond
the