THE PLOTTERS FOILED.
When the conspirators passed through the tobacco shop they did not even
glance toward the counter, and therefore did not notice the absence of
the shopkeeper. Had they done so, there probably would have been a
different story to tell.
Frank and Jack, once outside the store, breathed easier, and followed
the conspirators at what they deemed a safe distance, nevertheless
keeping close enough upon their heels not to lose sight of them should
they turn into some place suddenly.
"Lucky for us they didn't see what we did to the proprietor of that
shop," said Jack.
"I should say so," replied Frank.
"Now if we can just keep close enough without being discovered," said
Frank, "we may be able to find some means of preventing this tragedy."
"If they don't stop some place, we are all right," agreed Frank.
Jack looked at his watch.
"By Jove!" he ejaculated.
"What's the matter?" asked Frank.
"Why, it's after four o'clock now. There is not much time. Evidently we
must be closer to the palace than I thought."
"Well, the sooner this is over the better I shall be pleased."
"Not losing your nerve, are you?"
"Not exactly; still I feel a little uncomfortable."
Turning off the narrow side street, the lads followed the men down a
much busier thoroughfare, where, at the far end, they could see a great
crowd gathered. The men made directly for it, and, approaching closer,
the lads recognized the Czar's palace.
Right through the large crowd gathered about, the four men pushed their
way; then, abruptly they separated into pairs.
Jack grasped Frank by the arm.
"Quick!" he exclaimed. "You follow those two," pointing, "and I'll take
the others. We don't know which one has the bomb."
Frank nodded and set out in pursuit of the two moving toward the left.
In the crowd there was little danger that the men would notice that they
were being followed, and Frank felt safe in crowding right on behind
them. Jack followed the same plan with the other pair.
The crowd was held back by long lines of troops on either side of the
street, spectators not being permitted closer than a hundred feet of the
line of march.
In the extreme front, where they forced their way by dint of much
pushing and shoving, the conspirators took their stand. Frank glanced
about. Perhaps a hundred yards down the line he thought he caught sight
of the large stature of his friend, but of this he could not be
positive.
Half an hour passed, then three quarters, then the sound of a distant
bugle and galloping hoofs gave notice that the troops were approaching.
Almost at the same moment a figure descended the palace steps and
mounted a large black charger. The figure was handsomely garbed, and
gold glittered over his uniform. Even from where he stood Frank could
make out that he wore a beard.
It was Nicholas Romanoff, Czar of all the Russias.
The Czar rode his horse slowly down the lane of spectators and Frank and
Jack, each in his respective place, became tense, expectant and ready
for instant action.
Suddenly one of the men near Frank made a move and the lad half drew his
revolver. The man simply produced a handkerchief, however, and wiped
beads of perspiration from his brow. Frank thrust his revolver back in
his pocket, but kept his hand upon it.
The Czar, riding slowly, drew near to where Jack and the other two
conspirators stood. Then it was that Jack recognized that he was the one
who held the Czar's life in his hands.
The conspirator to his left thrust his hand under his coat and drew
forth a round dark object, which he concealed from the crowd. Jack's
sharp eyes had seen the move, but he did not act yet.
Now the Czar was directly abreast them, not more than a hundred feet
away.
Slowly the conspirator drew back his hand, and in another instant would
have hurled the bomb upon the Czar; but at that moment Jack came to
life.
As the man drew back his arm, Jack stepped quickly forward, and, seizing
the upraised hand in both his, wrenched the arm violently. The man
staggered back with a cry of pain, and dropped the bomb.
But before it could touch the ground, where it would undoubtedly have
exploded, killing and maiming many, Jack slipped one hand beneath it and
caught it gently.
Then the two thwarted conspirators sprang upon him.
There seemed to be no one in the crowd who had perceived the cause of
Jack's struggle with the two men, and the latter, taking advantage of
this fact, struggled fiercely with Jack, uttering loud cries of
"Assassin!" "Kill him!" "He tried to assassinate the Czar!"
With his one free hand, Jack fought desperately, but the crowd,
attracted by the cries of the two conspirators, closed in on him
angrily. Some one wrenched the bomb from his hand, and other hands
clawed and struck at his face and body.
Jack fought back gamely, for he realized that if once knocked to the
ground he would probably be killed before the authorities could
intervene to save him. He struck out vigorously right and left and men
fell before his terrific blows.
But the odds were too great and were bound to tell at last. Jack went
down, and the crowd piled on top of him.
At that instant a troop of horsemen bore down upon the struggling heap,
striking right and left with their sabres and scattering the crowd in
all directions, and they arrived none too soon.
Jack was unconscious. Bleeding from knife wounds in half a dozen places,
and his face covered with blood from a wound in the forehead where a
missile of some kind had struck, he lay perfectly helpless.
Rough soldier hands lifted him rudely from the ground and flung him
across a horse, and then the troop galloped away.
While all this was going on, Frank had tried in vain to reach the side
of his friend, who he knew was in trouble of some kind, although he
could not make sure what. He did not realize the true state of affairs
until he had seen the troopers take his friend's body from beneath many
others.
"Great Scott!" he cried to himself then. "They believe Jack tried to
kill the Czar! What shall I do?"
The answer to this question came to him like a flash. Lord Hastings, a
personal friend of the Czar, was, perhaps, the only man who, under the
circumstances, would be given a hearing. Frank turned quickly and dashed
madly down the street.
Round corner after corner he ran at full speed, nor did he check his
stride until he reached the harbor and the spot near where the submarine
D-16 was anchored.
A man with a rowboat hustled up at Frank's bidding, and the lad ordered
him to pull for the submarine with all speed.
Jumping aboard and bidding the rower to wait for him, Frank dashed madly
for Lord Hastings' quarters.
The commander of the D-16 rose quickly to his feet as his door was
thrown violently open and Frank, gasping for breath and with pale face,
stood before him.
"What's the matter?" demanded Lord Hastings anxiously.
"Jack--Jack--arrested," panted Frank.
Lord Hastings drew close and took him by the shoulders.
"Take your time," he said quietly. "Nothing was ever gained by too great
haste. Get your breath and then tell me what the trouble is."
For another half a minute Frank gasped on, then finally was able to
speak more calmly.
"Jack has been arrested," he said.
"What for?" asked Lord Hastings calmly.
"He's accused of trying to assassinate the Czar."
"What!" cried Lord Hastings, staggering back and almost losing his
composure.
"It's true, sir," cried Frank.
"By George, this is serious!" said Lord Hastings. "Now tell me all about
it as quickly as you can."
Frank did so, and Lord Hastings listened quietly until he had concluded.
Then he quickly got his hat and coat, and motioning to Frank to follow,
made his way to the bridge. Both climbed into the boat that had brought
Frank aboard the submarine and the rower put off for shore with powerful
strokes.
"Is Jack in much danger, sir?" asked Frank.
"I don't know," said Lord Hastings. "In times of peace, of course, he
would be given a trial; but the anger of the people and the troopers now
will be so great that it is hard to say what will happen."
"Where are we going, sir?"
"First to the chief of police; then to the Czar himself."
Lord Hastings, who knew the Russian police chief well, had no difficulty
in gaining admittance, and Frank with him. To the chief Frank told his
story. The chief appeared somewhat incredulous.
"I have not the slightest doubt of your integrity, Lord Hastings," he
said, "but may you not be mistaken in your officers?"
"I am not mistaken," said Lord Hastings stiffly. "Now, I want to know at
once what action you will take to release my friend at once."
"There is nothing I can do," said the chief. "The prisoner has been
taken out of my hands by the military authorities. I am afraid you must
appeal to the Czar, and I am not at all sure that such an appeal will
result favorably to you."
"Then I have no time to lose here," said Lord Hastings abruptly, and
made for the door, Frank following him.
At the door of the palace Lord Hastings demanded an audience of the Czar
immediately.
"It is impossible, my lord," said the attendant. "His majesty is engaged
in the case of his attempted assassination and cannot be disturbed."
"But I must see his majesty at once," said Lord Hastings hotly, "and it
is of this very case I would consult him."
"I am very sorry----"
Lord Hastings suddenly produced his revolver.
"I am a friend of his majesty's," he said, very quietly, "and you will
either tell him this instant that I desire an audience in connection
with this case, or I shall push my way in over your dead body! This is a
matter of life and death and I am not to be trifled with!"