Rowdies were crawling from the door — groaning, whining. Beaten men they were. The last one collapsed in the entrance. Then a tall figure appeared from the darkness. It raised the fallen ruffian and held him in mid-air. Red Mike pointed his revolver, seeking an angle from which he could shoot without striking the helpless man who was being used as a shield.
Then the body of the crippled thug was hurled forward. It landed against Red Mike with terrific force, sending the proprietor to the floor.
The door of the inner room closed with a bang. The bolt clicked as it was shot in place. The thick, iron-plated door blocked all entrance.
Then, to the ears of the men of the underworld, came a strange, ominous sound. It could be heard above their excited voices — heard even though it was muffled by the heavy barrier.
It was a hollow, mocking laugh — a chilling laugh — a laugh that made those hardened crooks stare at one another in sudden alarm.
Spotter shuddered as he recognized the laugh of The Shadow!
CHAPTER XXIV. A HORDE ATTACKS
Red Mike restored order. There were fully three dozen angry men in his outer room — would-be killers who uttered mad threats as they saw their comrades stagger from the inner room. These fighters of the underworld had become suddenly silent when they had heard The Shadow's mocking laugh. Then their shouts had recommenced — to stop when the proprietor of the Black Ship held up a commanding hand.
"Quiet!" he howled.
The babel ceased. At Red Mike's summons, several men came to the aid of the wounded crooks who had been in the fight. Not one of the ten had escaped uninjured. Three of them were badly hurt; they were carried to the street.