he reflected glare from the esplanade。
The palm was quivering； not from The Shadow's well placed weight； but from the clutch of hands that were using the branches to gain the summit of the wall。
Five coconuts； bobbing and dipping crazily against the dim light。 One went down from sight； but came up again； bringing another with it。 Then one more extra coconut appeared right beside the first newer。 Releasing his grip on the palm boughs； The Shadow lurched out into space； his hands ahead of him。
Crazy business； grabbing hanging coconuts to prevent a fall。 Ordinarily； they'd be slippery； and useless as support； since they would drag down the boughs if grasped。
Not these coconuts。 They weren't the sort that grew on palm trees。 They were interlopers。
Catching the two he wanted； with an insweep of his hands； The Shadow's lurch was halted by supporting bulks attached beneath the coconuts。
Nothing； however； could have stayed the swift motion of his powerful hands； ing； as they did； like unseen creatures of the night。 They bounced the coconuts together as a musician would crash a pair of cymbals。
The Shadow had chosen the right coconuts。 The rest flipped upward； as all weight was released from the palm boughs。 Two figures thudded the ground； and in sprawling； they broke the finish of The Shadow's dive。
Rising among the shrubs； the coconut basher turned his flashlight toward the ground； using its white beam。 A low laugh sounded from the darkness above that penciled glow。 The Shadow was viewing the two gatomontes； both limp and stunned。
Having remembered that these fellows always worked in pairs； The Shadow had simply waited for them to introduce a pair of human coconuts among the fruit variety。 They'd done it in their customary precision； making each head a target for the other； under The Shadow's swift clutch。
The gatomontes wore fancy belts with their otherwise drab uniforms。 The Shadow found those belts quite handy in trussing the unconscious pair。 They carried gaudy handkerchiefs； too； in their inside pockets； for； like most Centralbans； they had a dash of the Indian in them。
The Shadow used the handkerchiefs as gags。 Tossing a pair of revolvers into the shrubbery； he started a foot tour of the patio。
There were other guards about； police and soldiers on patrol。 They were easily spotted by The Shadow and were paratively harmless； since The Shadow had eliminated the mainspring of the works in the persons of the gatomontes。
One soldier； however； was a real obstacle。 He stood on guard at a flight of steps leading up to a balcony that offered the only access to Peridor's mansion。
With the notes of the marimba flitting in from the great gate； The Shadow had an excellent musical score acpanying his next exploit。 He skirted the tropical plants； and suddenly confronted the soldier just as the fellow turned。
The Shadow sped both hands toward the sentry's rifle and seized it with a viselike grip。
Naturally； the guard doubled his own grip on the gun； which was exactly what The Shadow wanted。 Dipping； he drove his knee against the sentry's； and as the man caved； The Shadow used the gun for leverage； rolling the surprised soldier right across his shoulders to a headlong landing on the tiled paving of the patio。
There was a thud； but no clatter； for The Shadow was the one who retained the rifle； the sentry losing his own hold under the twist that acpanied the rapid…rolling somersault。
Another guard was ing through the patio； blinking a flashlight toward the shrubs along the walk。 So The Shadow hoisted his stunned prisoner and carried him away； rifle and all； under the fringe of the balcony。
Reaching an isolated marble bench； The Shadow mounted it and shouldered his human burden over the balcony rail。 Poking the rifle through the uprights； The Shadow finished by climbing over the rail itself。
MEANWHILE； the glow from the flashlight had stopped back at the steps。 The Shadow heard orders in Spanish； slurred with the local dialect。 The inspector was evidently an officer e to organize the new guards。 Finding the steps unwatched； he simply supposed that they had been overlooked； so he was summoning another soldier to patrol the weak spot。
Binding and gagging the man who had forcibly gone off duty； The Shadow tried a door leading in from the balcony。 It was locked and bolted on the other side； so he tackled a window； instead。 The window had a heavy grating； clamped on the inside； but The Shadow's fingers； probing through； worked delicate wonders with those clamps。 The grating came loose。
All was silent in the mansion。 Occasional lamps； soft in their glow； revealed deserted rooms furnished in exquisite Spanish style。 There were short hallways； abbreviated flights of steps； that gave the house the semblance of catabs； though the atmosphere itself was pleasant。
Below a curving flight of stairs The Shadow saw a stronger light； that indicated a habitable portion of the ancient domicile。 He glided down the curving stairs and came to a square hall； not more than ten feet on a side。
The light was from the ceiling； and the hallway； with tiled floor and walls； was something of a patio in miniature。 Opposite the stairway was a curtained doorway； through which more light came。 On either side were similar curtains； denoting darkened rooms。
Considering the solitude upstairs； those side rooms would also seem deserted。 The Shadow's logical course was across the hallway； to the door at the other end。 He started there。
It was then that the lulling atmosphere produced a warning。 The place was too quiet； too unguarded； to be safe。 The thought flashed to The Shadow's brain a split…second before the trouble came。 Before he could get his hand to a gun； the curtains at each side of the hallway parted simultaneously。
From each direction sprang an attacker。 Wearing no uniforms； their drab attire gave them the look of spies； or servants； both dark…faced； and so alike that they might have been twins。 But The Shadow had no time for such parisons； except in relation to the weapons that the pair carried。 Each dark attacker was brandishing a machete。
Both deadly blades were slashing for The Shadow。 Had he remained rooted； his doom would have been sure。 At best； he was only able to wheel toward the man on the right； meeting him a moment earlier than the other； but the quick twist was a lifesaver。
The first machete sliced above The Shadow； carving nothing more than a portion of his cloak sleeve。 Before the second man could lengthen his lunge to bury the knife blade in The Shadow's back； the cloaked fighter had gripped the first attacker and was wheeling him about。
With a side step toward the stairs； the second man tried to make a cross…stab at The Shadow； but the spin was too swift。 Using the first attacker as a human bludgeon； The Shadow flung him upon his panion。
As both reeled toward the stairs； The Shadow followed up his brief advantage with whippet speed。 He grabbed the first knife hand that came his way and sprawled its owner to the stairs； where a jutting step met the back of the man's head。 Then； lunging from the steps themselves； The Shadow gained an added impetus that flattened the other who was swinging in to meet him。
They landed heavily； the machete specialist beneath。 As the machete clattered the tiles； The Shadow sprang from atop his half…stunned foe and moved toward the curtains at the far end of the hall。
He needed a vantage point from which to hold off his recuperating enemies； who were jolted； but not out of the fight。 His spring； however； stopped before he reached the curtains。
They had parted； and The Shadow was confronted with a leveled revolver； held in the slender but determined hand of a dark…eyed Spanish girl； whose blazing gaze told him that another step would bring action from her trigger finger。
HALTED； his gloved hands lifting slowly； The Shadow laughed softly but grimly。 That touch of strange mirth was induced by the sounds behind him； for he knew that within a dozen seconds the machete experts would be on their feet again； the knives in their hands。
They'd follow the usual rule； those fellows； of striking first and inquiring afterward。
The girl's eyes told that she felt no mercy toward an unannounced intruder。 Small wonder； therefore； that The Shadow laughed。 Unless his wits could prove quicker than a gun trigger； or the strokes of deadly knives； this would be the last time he would ever phrase his famous mirth。
Often； The Shadow's tone had sounded as a knell to dying men of crime。
This time； seemingly； it was the preface to his own death。
CHAPTER XII
THE COURSE AHEAD
FRIENDS of The Shadow！
Such； by rights； should be the dwellers in this mansion； instead； they were proving the deadliest of foes。 Only a Spanish girl's rigid adherence to custom was prolonging The Shadow's slim opportunity to live。
The senorita preferred that the servants should give death to the cloaked intruder； since it was their appointed task。 Her stern gaze assured The Shadow that no ten…second argument could save him。
Perhaps the girl expecte