CHAPTER XVIII.
A PLOT.
"What do you suppose that fellow is sneaking along like that for?" askedJack.
Frank shrugged his shoulders.
"Search me," he replied.
The object of the lads' conversation was hurrying furtively along one ofthe narrow streets of the Russian capital, casting occasional glancesabout him.
It was the afternoon of the day following that upon which they hadreached Petrograd, and Frank and Jack, together with Lord Hastings, hadonly just come from the palace, where they had been given an audiencewith the Czar. Upon leaving the palace Lord Hastings had been forreturning aboard the D-16 immediately, but the lads had expressed adesire to see something of the city, and had set out by themselves. Theonly instructions Lord Hastings had given them was to be aboard beforedark.
"Well," said Jack, still eyeing the little man slinking along thestreet, "I'm sure that fellow is up to something. I'd like to knowwhat."
"I suppose the easiest way to find out," said Frank, "is to follow him."
"That suits me," replied Jack. "Come on."
A hundred yards behind they set out in pursuit of the suspect.
"What's that thing he is carrying under his arm?" asked Frank.
"Looks like it might be a bomb."
Frank laughed.
"Not much danger of that," he said.
"Oh, I don't know," was the reply. "I have read enough about Russia andSt. Petersburg to believe that all the nihilists and anarchists are notdead yet."
"Well, I think you have this one spotted wrong. Look at him. He wouldn'thave the nerve to carry a bomb, much less throw one."
"You can't judge a man's nerve by his looks," said Jack quietly.
"Perhaps not always," agreed Frank. "But I believe I am right in thiscase, at least."
"All right, but we'll have to look sharp or he'll lose us. There he goesaround the corner. Hurry up."
The lads quickened their steps and rounded the corner just in time tosee the man they were pursuing disappear in a little shop. Approachingcloser they perceived the place to be a tobacconist's, and they alsoentered.
The shop keeper eyed them keenly, and to avoid any suspicion Frankbought a package of cigarettes. Then they went out.
"Did you see him?" asked Jack.
"I thought I caught a glimpse of him in the little room in the rear ofthe shop," replied Frank.
"I am sure it was he," agreed Jack. "He poked his head out just as Iglanced in that direction."
"Well, what are we going to do about it?"
"I don't know that there is anything to do. In the first place weprobably are on a wild goose chase and I fail to see why we shouldbother with him any longer."
"Nor I. Still I am curious."
"My curiosity is not entirely satisfied either. What do you say? Shallwe let him go or shall we try and get in and see what it's all about?"
"Well," said Frank, "we have followed him this far. We might as wellstay for the finish, whatever it may be."
"All right, then. Let's see if we can get in."
Two doors away from the tobacco shop a narrow alleyway led toward therear. Making certain that no one was watching them, the boys slunk intothis and made their way to the rear of the shop.
Here they looked around carefully. Not a soul was in sight. Near bystood a barrel. Frank dragged it close to a little window in the roombehind the shop and while Jack stood on guard, Frank climbed up andpeered in.
The blind was drawn, but it did not reach the bottom by an inch. Theopening was just level with Frank's eyes when he stood upon the barrel.
He looked in, exercising the greatest care to avoid detection. His eyesbeheld a strange sight.
Gathered about a little table in the room were four men, their headsclose together, scrutinizing an object that lay between them. At firstFrank could not make out what it was, but as one of the men leaned backin his chair, Frank, over his shoulder, recognized it.
Quickly he jumped from the barrel and whispered to Jack.
"You were right."
"Right? How?" asked Jack.
"Bomb," replied Frank briefly.
Jack stepped back in surprise.
"A bomb!" he exclaimed.
"Yes," Frank repeated, "a bomb. They are examining it, or something. Ican't tell just what."
"Couldn't you hear what they were saying?"
"No; the window is closed."
"What do you suppose they intend to do with it?"
"You know as much about it as I do."
"Well, then, what are we going to do about it?"
"That's the question. I suppose we might call the police, but if we didthe chances are they would find nothing when they entered the place; orwe might notify the military authorities, but the conspirators would begone before they arrived."
"Haven't you an idea?"
"Yes, I have an idea, but it involves considerable risk."
"Since when have you become so cautious? Risk didn't use to bother you."
"It wouldn't now, if I were sure we had a chance of success."
"What's your plan?"
"There is but one way I can think of by which we can overhear theconversation in that room. It is impossible for us to get in this waywithout being seen, and the only other entrance, so far as I know, isthrough the tobacco shop. Therefore we shall have to go in that way."
"And I suppose the shopkeeper will stand right there and let us do it,"said Jack with some sarcasm.
"We'll have to tie him up before he can give the alarm."
"Suits me," said Jack. "I am willing to take a chance if you are. Comeon."
Quickly the lads made their way back to the street, and once moreentered the store. The shopkeeper recognized them instantly by theiruniforms, and approached.
"These cigarettes you gave me," said Frank, "are no good. I want anotherpackage."
"What's the matter with them?" demanded the storekeeper. "Let me seethem."
Frank laid the package in his hand, and as the latter turned his eyesdown to look at the package, Frank seized him about the throat with bothhands. Jack picked up a strong piece of cord from the floor, and boundthe man's hands securely, while Frank kept him from making an outcry.Making a gag of his handkerchief, he stuffed it into the man's mouth insuch a way that it was impossible for him to utter a sound. Then theylaid him behind the counter on the floor.
"Now we shall see what we can hear," said Frank.
He approached the door to the next room noiselessly, Jack close at hisheels. For a few minutes they waited in silence, but there was no soundfrom the adjoining room. At last Frank ventured to peer in. He steppedback in astonishment.
"Gone!" he exclaimed.
"Gone," repeated Jack.
"Yes; and I would like to know where."
"Let's go in and see."
Their hands rested upon their revolvers as they advanced into the roomand looked about. From one end to the other they searched, when as theywere about to give up, Frank discovered a door behind some old barrelsin the far corner.
"Here is where they went," he whispered.
He tried the door, and it gave way before him, though not until he hadused considerable force. A pair of stairs, going down, confronted them.
"Shall we go down or not?" asked Frank, turning to Jack.
"Suit yourself," was the reply. "I'm with you either way."
Without another word Frank turned about and began to descend the stairs,taking care to make no noise. Jack followed him.
At the bottom, where it was pitch dark, they brought up against a seconddoor, and making sure that his revolvers were ready for instant use,Frank pushed it gently.
It swung open.
Seated about a table were the figures of four men. Fortunately for theboys, perhaps, their backs were toward the door, and they did not see itopen.
Motioning to Jack to follow, Frank crept in quietly and as quietly san
kbehind a pile of old boxes in the nearest corner. Jack did likewise, andthe two made themselves as comfortable as possible, without making asound, for there was no telling how long they might have to remainthere.
Kneeling, Jack poked up his head until he could just see over the top ofthe barrel. One of the men made some remark, but it was in Russian, andneither lad could understand what he said. No sooner had he spoken,however, than a second man turned on him angrily.
"I thought we had agreed to speak English," he said. "Of course it makesno difference here, but practice is good for you. Unless you get used tospeaking English you are likely to make a slip the first thing you knowin some place where it will spoil everything."
"You are right," said the first speaker. "I shall try to be morecareful."
"See that you do," growled the second speaker.
"Well," said a third voice, "this thing seems to be all right. Now aboutthe time."
"We have decided upon that," said the fourth man. "Czar Nicholas willreview his troops before the palace at five o'clock. Ivan and I can getclose enough for him to throw with accuracy."
"Good. Has it been decided that Ivan is to do the work?"
"Yes."
"All right. Then we may as well go. Remember, do not speak to Stephan asyou go out. It might spoil everything."
The men arose, and made their way from the room, without noticing thelads.
The latter, being sure they were gone, arose to their feet and followed.
"Careful," whispered Frank, as they ascended the stairs.
The Boy Allies with the Terror of the Seas; Or, The Last Shot of Submarine D-16 Page 18
