CHAPTER IX.
ASHORE.
In spite of the fact that, upon investigation, Lord Hastings found theD-17 leaking in several places, serious trouble in the engine room andother minor wounds suffered in her battle with the ice, the submarinemade 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, immediatelycleared for action and gave a signal for the submarine to heave-to. LordHastings 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 inthe former's cabin aboard the submarine. When they emerged, the D-17proceeded.
Several hours later found Lord Hastings, Frank and Jack ashore, the D-17having been turned over to the Russian naval authorities for repair. Itwas found that it would be necessary to put the craft in dry dock andthis meant that several weeks must elapse before the submarine could beput in commission again.
"And what are we going to do all that time, I'd like to know?" saidFrank, plainly disappointed.
"Well, we might look about Petrograd a bit," said Jack with a faintsmile.
"Hold on there," said Lord Hastings. "I intend keeping an eye on youfellows this time. You may remember the trouble you had on your lasttrip 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 inhopes you won't, and neither will you if there is anything I can do toprevent it. To tell the truth, I am half way inclined to have you bothlocked 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'renot, 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 natureof the reason for this sudden trip to Russia?"
"You'll learn soon enough," was the reply. "I don't suppose you wouldhave any objections to paying your respects to the Czar?"
"Not the slightest, sir," said Frank with a smile. "I remember once whenJack 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 LordHastings. "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 theCzar that the boys learned the reason for their trip to Russia.
The Czar received Lord Hastings and his officers the moment their nameswere presented. When the three entered his presence, he arose quicklyand came forward with extended hand.
"Why, my lord," he exclaimed, "I had hardly expected to see you again sosoon." He turned to the two lads. "And these," he added, "are your twoyoung officers who were with you before. Ah, I remember. It is to them Iowe my life."
He extended a hand to each and both lads flushed. Jack, the subject of amonarch himself, dropped to one knee; but Frank, who recognized nomonarch, bowed low, and remained on his feet. The Czar signalled Jack torise and then turned to Lord Hastings.
"Am I to consider this just a friendly call, or have you anything toimpart to me?" he asked.
"Both, your Majesty," replied Lord Hastings gravely. "I may as well cometo 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 highstanding and authority--is a man who is a traitor--a man who has soldout to our common foe, the Germans."
"So?" said the Czar, apparently no whit surprised. "His name, if youplease."
"His name," said Lord Hastings with a faint smile, "will surprise you. Ifear you will find it hard to believe; and had I not the proof of theman's duplicity, I should not have the courage to mention the man."
Evidently Lord Hastings' words made an impression upon the Czar. Hestirred uneasily.
"Come, come," he said. "The man's name. Out with it, my Lord."
"His name," said Lord Hastings very gravely, "is Count StephanBlowinski!"
"What!" roared the Czar, leaping from his seat. "Count Blowinski! Thechief of the Russian secret police! Impossible, Lord Hastings. I wouldstake 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. "CountBlowinski 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 morecalm.
"You must be mistaken, my lord," he said quietly.
"Would that I were, your Majesty. But I am not. I have the proof here inmy pocket," and he tapped his breast.
"Then let me have it!" exclaimed the Czar. "Let me have it, man! I mustknow the truth of this matter at once."
Quietly and without another word Lord Hastings unbuttoned his coat andfrom his inside pocket took a small packet, which he placed in theoutstretched hand of the Czar. Then he sat back and eyed the Czarkeenly.
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 theycontained. For long minutes he pored over the several documents, hisbrow becoming blacker and blacker; and at last he raised his head andsaid:
"You are right, my lord. Nothing further than these papers are needed toconvince 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 havetreated like a brother and whom I have showered with honors. You wouldbetray me to the Germans. Well, you should know how we deal withtraitors." 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 thismatter."
"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 himsummarily, there is no telling what may result--revolution, anarchy--noman can tell. Let the man convict himself in the eyes of the people--orin his own eyes and put an end to himself."
For the space of several moments the Czar was silent, considering. Whenhe raised his eyes again, Lord Hastings knew that his better judgmentwould prevail.
"You are right, my lord," said the Czar quietly. "Count Blowinski hasindeed a large following, though it is my own fault that he has. I haveenabled him to obtain it. Why, even now he is in Moscow attending todetails of a campaign I have planned that, should it be successful,would be one of the greatest steps toward ending the war that has beentaken."
"And I have no doubt that he is attending to it--in his own way," saidLord Hastings grimly.
"No doubt whatever," agreed the Czar with a faint smile. "But now what'sto be done?"
"The thing to do," said Lord Hastings, "is to catch him in an act oftreason; 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 insome peculiar manner, say, apparently as a German spy himself. Have himarrested by the count's own men and then let a demand that he see thecount, reach the traitor's ears. Thinking that there h
as been some wordsent him, Blowinski will see the man. Then this man will invent aplausible story, that he may ingratiate himself with the count. Such astory should not be hard to concoct. The rest would be a question oftime 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 couldbut lay hands upon the man. He must be one who speaks German like anative German and one whom the count could never, by any chance, haveseen 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 Iwould be only too glad to undertake such a mission. I am sure that wecome 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, mylord. If I can satisfy myself that these young fellows could do thework, I would ask you for their services."
"Well, I am forced to say they could do the work possibly better thanany others," Lord Hastings grudgingly admitted. "In fact, I know it. ButI would hate to lose them."
"But you are not going to lose them," declared the Czar. "If they are assmart as I think they are, they will come through with this thingfamously."
"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 ofyours 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."
The Boy Allies in the Baltic; Or, Through Fields of Ice to Aid the Czar Page 9