"015 (B069) - The Mystery on the Snow (1934-05) - Lester Dent (b)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

But his unexpected capture of the girl, his suspicion that she was Stroam, her
insistence to the contrary, had him slightly befuddled. He had been totally
unaware that men were lurking behind a door near by. It was possible the
skulkers had made no sound to betray their presenceЧuntil one of them spoke.
This would help explain RennyТs bad luck.
"Grab zem!" yelled the man who had spoken.
The door had been open a crack. It whipped open wider and spouted a flood of
men.
"Wait!" yelled one. "A few bullets will nicelyЧ"
"
Non!" ejaculated the other. "Shots would draw police. With knives is a bettair
way."
If Renny held any delusion about the intent of the attackers, the words
enlightened him.
"Beat it!" he rumbled at the girl. "Vamoose!"
He switched the flash beam over the charging men. They were wiry fellows,
swarthy. They had the look of men who had spent much of their lives in the open.
Two or three wore beaded belts.
Several knives were in evidence, the blades reflecting the flash beam back in
chill glitters.
With an expression of profound gloom, Renny snapped a huge hand out and grabbed
a knife wielder. What happened next was a little too sudden for the assailants
to comprehend.
Their companions came flying back at them. A cannon ball of comparative size
would hardly have wrought more damage. Five men were bowled over.
"
Sacre bleu!" gasped a survivor.
Renny saw the girl had not fled as directed. She was at his side, belligerent as
a small pup.
"Hold this!" he commanded, and gave her his flash. "Keep the light in their
eyes, and out of mine."
"
Bon!" said the girl, and took the flash.
The stairway to MahalТs quarters sloped up behind them. Unexpectedly, a voice
came from above.
"Take them alive!" it yelled. "Stroam wants to question them."
Diminutive Midnat DТAvis turned the flashbeam up the stairs.
The speaker was the slender, almond-faced Mahal.

MAHAL was holding something in one handЧan egg-sized object of metal. He hurled
this at Renny and the girl.
"GrenadeЧ" Renny began, then saw that he was mistaken.
He leaped, tried to catch the thing, but he was a trifle tardy. The metallic
container hit the wall over their heads. The lid was jarred off.
It was nothing more mysterious or dangerous than an ordinary box of pepper, but
it played havoc with their defense. The pepper flakes brought smarting agony to
their eyes.
Renny emitted a bellow which shook the walls. He started a blind charge.
The dark-haired girl gripped his arm, hung on.
"Wait!" she gasped. "You will make them excited, and they will put a knife in