"008 (B018) - The Sargasso Ogre (1933-10) - Lester Dent" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

The thing happened with such blinding speed that even Long Tom did not get a glimpse of his rescuer before he was out of danger. But he knew who it was, the moment he felt the clutch which jerked him to safety. Only one man possessed such strength and agility -- Doc Savage!





ONE of Pasha Bey's men goggled as Doc appeared before him-a mighty genie of bronze. He yelled, struck with his singa! His yell became an agonized squawl as his wrist was trapped in midair. Came a jerk such as the would-be killer had never felt before. He sailed to one side like a tossed bundle, struck the wall, and bounced back to lie so dazed he could not move.



Knifemen charged the bronze giant, only to have him seemingly vanish before their eyes, so quickly did he whip out of the flashlight luminance.



Two fellows in the rear dropped, knocked stiff as toppling logs, before they knew Doc had attacked again from that point.



This was too much. It bordered on the supernatural. It was hard to believe flesh and blood could move so swiftly.



"Wallah!" wailed a man. "He is a ruh! A spirit!"



Maybe the others thought that, too. Or maybe it was that they had no stomach for a real fight. Ten-to-one odds in a dark alley was their style.



They fled. plunging headlong through the catacomb passages, their flash beams darting like terrified things. One man, less agile, bringing up the rear, screeched as fingers like steel bands trapped his neck. A tap on the temple reduced the fellow to senselessness.



The rest could not run much faster, but that did not keep them from trying to do so.



Far ahead was a bounding flashlight glow. This was Pasha Bey, the master murderer. And master of discretion, too! He knew when flight was wise. He had taken a big head start on the others.



He knew, now. that Long Tom was one of Doc Savage's group of five aids. At least, he had guessed it. And between jumps. he was cursing the man who had hired him to murder Long Tom.



That man would pay for not mentioning the fact that Long Tom was one of Doc Savage's crew. He would pay dearly! And that, as soon as Pasha Bey could hurry to the darkened street off the Place Mehemet Ali for a meeting.