ASHORE.
In spite of the fact that, upon investigation, Lord Hastings found the
D-17 leaking in several places, serious trouble in the engine room and
other minor wounds suffered in her battle with the ice, the submarine
made Petrograd safely and under her own steam.
It was broad daylight of the following day when the vessel sighted land.
At the same time a Russian man-o'-war, sighting the D-17, immediately
cleared for action and gave a signal for the submarine to heave-to. Lord
Hastings obeyed and a launch put over the side and came toward the D-17.
A few moments later Lord Hastings and a Russian officer were closeted in
the former's cabin aboard the submarine. When they emerged, the D-17
proceeded.
Several hours later found Lord Hastings, Frank and Jack ashore, the D-17
having been turned over to the Russian naval authorities for repair. It
was found that it would be necessary to put the craft in dry dock and
this meant that several weeks must elapse before the submarine could be
put in commission again.
"And what are we going to do all that time, I'd like to know?" said
Frank, plainly disappointed.
"Well, we might look about Petrograd a bit," said Jack with a faint
smile.
"Hold on there," said Lord Hastings. "I intend keeping an eye on you
fellows this time. You may remember the trouble you had on your last
trip here. Nothing more like that if I can help it."
"I am afraid we won't have much of a time this trip," said Frank.
"You are afraid you won't, eh?" repeated Lord Hastings. "Well, I'm in
hopes you won't, and neither will you if there is anything I can do to
prevent it. To tell the truth, I am half way inclined to have you both
locked up for safe keeping, until the time comes for us to sail."
"Oh, we'll be good, sir," said Frank.
"You will, you may be sure of that," returned Lord Hastings. "If you're
not, you may take my word that I will have something done with you."
"And now, sir," said Jack, "will you not tell us something of the nature
of the reason for this sudden trip to Russia?"
"You'll learn soon enough," was the reply. "I don't suppose you would
have any objections to paying your respects to the Czar?"
"Not the slightest, sir," said Frank with a smile. "I remember once when
Jack paid his respects in a manner he did not wish."
"Yes; I remember that, too," agreed his chum.
"I have no doubt that the Czar will be glad to see you again," said Lord
Hastings. "He will remember he probably owes his life to you, Jack."
Jack flushed.
"I hope you will not remind him of it, sir," he replied.
"I don't believe that will be necessary," declared Lord Hastings.
Nor was it, as events transpired; and it was in this audience of the
Czar that the boys learned the reason for their trip to Russia.
The Czar received Lord Hastings and his officers the moment their names
were presented. When the three entered his presence, he arose quickly
and came forward with extended hand.
"Why, my lord," he exclaimed, "I had hardly expected to see you again so
soon." He turned to the two lads. "And these," he added, "are your two
young officers who were with you before. Ah, I remember. It is to them I
owe my life."
He extended a hand to each and both lads flushed. Jack, the subject of a
monarch himself, dropped to one knee; but Frank, who recognized no
monarch, bowed low, and remained on his feet. The Czar signalled Jack to
rise and then turned to Lord Hastings.
"Am I to consider this just a friendly call, or have you anything to
impart to me?" he asked.
"Both, your Majesty," replied Lord Hastings gravely. "I may as well come
to the point of my mission at once."
"Do," said the Czar briefly.
"Very well. What I have to say is this: In your service--and in high
standing and authority--is a man who is a traitor--a man who has sold
out to our common foe, the Germans."
"So?" said the Czar, apparently no whit surprised. "His name, if you
please."
"His name," said Lord Hastings with a faint smile, "will surprise you. I
fear you will find it hard to believe; and had I not the proof of the
man's duplicity, I should not have the courage to mention the man."
Evidently Lord Hastings' words made an impression upon the Czar. He
stirred uneasily.
"Come, come," he said. "The man's name. Out with it, my Lord."
"His name," said Lord Hastings very gravely, "is Count Stephan
Blowinski!"
"What!" roared the Czar, leaping from his seat. "Count Blowinski! The
chief of the Russian secret police! Impossible, Lord Hastings. I would
stake my life and throne upon his integrity, my lord."
"Then you would lose both, sire," said Lord Hastings gravely.
"But it cannot be!" protested the Czar of all the Russias. "Count
Blowinski has been, almost, my right hand. He has served me well."
"It is none the less true that he is a traitor," replied Lord Hastings.
Realizing that Lord Hastings was in deadly earnest, the Czar became more
calm.
"You must be mistaken, my lord," he said quietly.
"Would that I were, your Majesty. But I am not. I have the proof here in
my pocket," and he tapped his breast.
"Then let me have it!" exclaimed the Czar. "Let me have it, man! I must
know the truth of this matter at once."
Quietly and without another word Lord Hastings unbuttoned his coat and
from his inside pocket took a small packet, which he placed in the
outstretched hand of the Czar. Then he sat back and eyed the Czar
keenly.
The Czar broke the tape that bound the package with nervous fingers,
shook out the papers as nervously and cast his eyes upon the words they
contained. For long minutes he pored over the several documents, his
brow becoming blacker and blacker; and at last he raised his head and
said:
"You are right, my lord. Nothing further than these papers are needed to
convince me of Count Blowinski's treachery."
Lord Hastings bowed quietly, and the Czar, again glancing at the papers,
became lost in his thoughts.
"So," he muttered to himself, "you are a traitor, eh? You, whom I have
treated like a brother and whom I have showered with honors. You would
betray me to the Germans. Well, you should know how we deal with
traitors." He turned to Lord Hastings. "I have to thank you, my lord,"
he said. "I shall deal with this traitor at once."
"Sire!" exclaimed Lord Hastings, "if I may be permitted to say a word."
"Speak," said the Czar briefly.
"Then, sire, I would suggest that you do not act hastily in this
matter."
"And why?" demanded the Russian ruler.
"Because, sire, the Count Blowinski undoubtedly has a strong following.
He will not be deposed so easily as you imagine. If you execute him
summarily, there is no telling what may result--revolution, anarchy--no
man can tell. Let the man convict himself in the eyes of the people--or
in his own eyes and put an end to himself."
For the space of several moments the Czar was silent, considering. When
he raised his eyes again, Lord Hastings knew that his better judgment
would prevail.
"You are right, my lord," said the Czar quietly. "Count Blowinski has
indeed a large following, though it is my own fault that he has. I have
enabled him to obtain it. Why, even now he is in Moscow attending to
details of a campaign I have planned that, should it be successful,
would be one of the greatest steps toward ending the war that has been
taken."
"And I have no doubt that he is attending to it--in his own way," said
Lord Hastings grimly.
"No doubt whatever," agreed the Czar with a faint smile. "But now what's
to be done?"
"The thing to do," said Lord Hastings, "is to catch him in an act of
treason; then expose him."
"Easily said," returned the Czar. "But how?"
"I may be able to help with an idea," said Lord Hastings, and continued:
"Why not set a man to watch him. Let this man come beneath his eye in
some peculiar manner, say, apparently as a German spy himself. Have him
arrested by the count's own men and then let a demand that he see the
count, reach the traitor's ears. Thinking that there has been some word
sent him, Blowinski will see the man. Then this man will invent a
plausible story, that he may ingratiate himself with the count. Such a
story should not be hard to concoct. The rest would be a question of
time only. Learning just when the count planned to take his final step,
the man could communicate with you and when the time for this step came,
you, knowing what he was about to do, would hold the whip hand."
"A clever idea," declared the Czar after some consideration, "if I could
but lay hands upon the man. He must be one who speaks German like a
native German and one whom the count could never, by any chance, have
seen before. If I could only find a man equal to such a task!"
"Or men, or boys, sire," said Frank boldly.
The Czar and Lord Hastings both whirled upon him.
"What is that?" demanded the Czar.
"I mean, sire," said Frank, flushing slightly, "that my chum here and I
would be only too glad to undertake such a mission. I am sure that we
come up to requirements."
"Impossible!" declared Lord Hastings.
But the Czar had been eyeing the two lads keenly.
"Not at all," he said in reply to Lord Hastings' remark. "Not at all, my
lord. If I can satisfy myself that these young fellows could do the
work, I would ask you for their services."
"Well, I am forced to say they could do the work possibly better than
any others," Lord Hastings grudgingly admitted. "In fact, I know it. But
I would hate to lose them."
"But you are not going to lose them," declared the Czar. "If they are as
smart as I think they are, they will come through with this thing
famously."
"Indeed we will, sire," declared Jack.
"Good," laughed the Czar. He turned again to Lord Hastings. "My lord,"
he said, "I crave your permission for the use of these two officers of
yours upon the mission you have suggested."
"I am loath to part with them, your Majesty," Lord Hastings replied.
"But for the cause?" inquired the Czar softly. "For the cause."
Lord Hastings bowed his head.
"For our cause," he replied, "I would do much. I cannot deny you, sire."