CHAPTER XXVI.
JACK IN THE TOILS.
Petrograd again.
It was evening five days after Frank and Jack had returned to theRussian capital from Siberia. Since their arrival they had made severaltrips of inspection to the D-17, but upon their last visit this same daythey learned that it would be another week before the submarine wasready to take to sea again.
The lads had passed the long five days in various ways. They hadreceived the thanks of the Czar for the part they had played in exposingCount Blowinski and His Majesty had commissioned them honorarylieutenants in the Russian army.
Of days they had strolled about the city taking in the sights ofinterest; of nights they had taken in the theaters--for there was stillamusement to be found in Petrograd--a few of the most popularrestaurants and other places where crowds congregated.
As the two lads walked along the street this particular evening theywere discussing the D-17 and the fact that they were soon to put to seaagain.
"I'll be glad to get back in British waters again," said Jack.
"So will I," agreed Frank, "but there is no sign that when we leave herewe shall go straight home."
"Where else would we go?"
"I don't know. But you must remember Lord Hastings has begun to keep hisplans more to himself than he used to do. In fact, he told us so. We arejust as likely to head for the Dardanelles or South Africa, for all weknow."
"Well, that's so, too," said Jack. "However, I have one of those thingsyou call--that you call--By Jove! I can't think of the word.Premonitions, I mean."
"The word you want," said Frank, "is hunch."
"That's it," cried Jack. "A hunch. I have a hunch that it will not belong before we are back in England."
"Well, I won't object to that."
"I will be glad," said Jack, "when the time comes when we can go ashoreand stay--when the war will be a thing of the past."
"I am afraid that is a long ways off."
"It does seem so. And still when peace does come, it probably will comesuddenly."
At this point in the conversation Frank looked at his watch.
"Seven o'clock," he said, "and I am getting hungry. Suppose we stop inthe restaurant for supper. Lord Hastings will not expect us back veryearly."
"Suits me," said Jack.
Frank led the way and a few minutes later the two lads were seated in acozy corner of the restaurant, gazing upon the crowd that thronged theplace.
"This," said Frank, "reminds me of a night in Heligoland."
"So it does," said Jack, and added slyly: "Except that there is acertain fair singer missing."
"I had noticed that difference," said Frank. "I wonder what happened toher? I hope she did not get into trouble."
"I think she is smart enough to look out for herself," said Jack. "Someof these days, when the war is over, we may possibly encounter her someplace."
"I wish we would. We owe her a whole lot."
"So we do," agreed Jack. "Now if she----"
The lad broke off suddenly and laid a hand on his chum's arm.
"What's the matter?" demanded Frank.
For answer Jack pointed cautiously to a form at the far end of the room.The man's back was turned and he had not seen the lads.
"Well?" said Frank inquiringly, after glancing at the man.
"Doesn't he look familiar to you?" asked Jack.
"No; I can't say that he does--not from the back, at any rate. Whom doyou think he is?"
"Well," said Jack, "I feel positive that he is none other than our oldfriend Count Blowinski."
"What!" exclaimed Frank incredulously. "But Count Blowinski is inSiberia by this time."
"He should be, I'll admit," agreed Jack. "But he can't be in two places,and he's here. Therefore, he can't be in Siberia."
"Pshaw!" said Frank. "Now that you have called my attention to the man Ido see a certain resemblance in build, but I don't believe he is CountBlowinski."
"All right," said Jack. "But I do believe it."
Their supper was now placed before them and the lads fell to with awill, Jack the while casting an occasional glance toward the man hebelieved to be Count Blowinski.
Frank and Jack finished their meal before the big man--whoever hewas--and Frank was for leaving immediately. But Jack protested.
"Maybe the fellow is not Count Blowinski," he said, "but it will do noharm to make sure. If I could get a look at his face, I believe I wouldknow him whether he was disguised or not."
"Well, go over and accost him," said Frank with a smile.
"Not much," returned Jack; "for if he did happen to be the count therewould be an uproar and he might get away. No, we'll wait here until hegoes out and then we'll follow him."
"Good night!" said Frank. "Here you are hunting more trouble again. Whatwould Lord Hastings say?"
"I don't know what he'd say. However, he is not here, so we won't worryabout that. But if you don't want to come along, I can trail the fellowby myself."
"Oh, I'll go along," said Frank.
It was probably twenty minutes later that the man at the other end ofthe room rose, called for his hat and coat and made his way from therestaurant. Strain as they would, the lads were unable to catch sight ofhis face; so they hurried after him.
Outside, Jack recognized the figure half a block down the street. He ledthe way in pursuit, Frank a few paces behind.
If the man, fearing he was followed, was trying to shake off possiblepursuers, he could not have gone about it in a manner more to havearoused Jack's suspicions.
First he crossed the street and then turned to the left down a sidestreet. At the next corner he again turned to the left, walked twoblocks ahead, and again turned to the left.
"Whoever he is, he's up to something with all this maneuvering," saidFrank.
Jack nodded.
"I'll bet I'm right," he declared.
Again the man ahead turned a corner, this time, however, to the right.Jack and Frank came around the corner a moment later and the formeruttered an exclamation of dismay. The man they had been trailing wasnowhere to be seen.
"Now where do you suppose he has gone?" demanded Jack in deep disgust.
"Not knowing, I can't say," said Frank. "But it wouldn't be much of aguess to say that he disappeared in one of these houses. Which one, Ihaven't any idea."
"I suppose you're right," said Jack. "I wonder if he suspected he wasbeing followed?"
"I don't believe so. I saw him turn once or twice, but I am sure he didnot suspect we were trailing him."
Jack moved on.
"Here's a little alley," he called back to Frank. "Maybe he ducked inhere."
"Well, take my advice and don't go fooling around there in the dark,"advised Frank. "It's darker than pitch there. A man in the alley couldsee you, and if he were there, he'd crack your skull before you even sawhim."
"Oh, I'm not going to try it," said Jack. "I was just wondering; that'sall."
"As long as you stay outside and wonder, it's all right, I guess," saidFrank.
But events so shaped themselves that they were not to stay out of thedark alley. Jack's sharp ears caught the sound of a body moving in thealley.
"There is some one in there," he called excitedly to Frank. "I'm goingafter him."
"Hold on," cried Frank. "Come back here," he added as Jack startedforward.
But it was too late. Jack had already disappeared in the darkness.Drawing his revolver, Frank also sprang forward.
In the darkness it was impossible to see a hand before one, but Jackmoved forward, revolver in hand, without fear.
"Who's here?" he demanded, first in French and then in German.
There was no reply, and the lad repeated the question, continuing towalk further up the dark alley.
And then, before the lad could raise a hand to prevent it, something thenature of which he could not distinguish in the brief moment before helapsed into unconscio
usness, struck him over the head. Jack fell to theground without so much as a murmur.
There was silence again in the alley, at last broken by an exclamationfrom Frank, as he moved slowly forward.
"Jack! Are you all right?" he demanded.
"Jack!" exclaimed Frank again. "Are you there?"
Again there was no reply and Frank became greatly alarmed. Thinking onlyof his friend, and forgetful of his own safety, the lad sprang forward.
In the darkness he tripped over a prostrate form at the same moment thata blow, the exact counterpart of the one that had laid Jack low, struckhim upon the head.
Frank also crumpled up without a word.
From within the darkness of the alley there came a hoarse chuckle.
"So!" exclaimed a voice that would have been familiar to both lads couldthey have heard it. "So! You thought to recapture Count Blowinski, eh?You fools. You should have known I would be on my guard. Now what am Igoing to do with them? I would like to take them with me, but I can'tlug them both. I have it. I'll take one, leaving the other here."
The count stooped over the two forms which lay within a few feet of eachother and lifted Jack in his arms. Then, paying no further heed toFrank, he moved toward the street.
At the mouth of the alley he hesitated for a moment. He gazed up anddown the street, but saw no one. He moved on again, carrying his humanburden.
Half a block from the dark alley, he mounted a pair of steps and openeda door. He glanced back over the street and saw a lone pedestrianhurrying along. Whether the man had seen him with his human burden, thecount could not tell. He shrugged his shoulders and closed the doorbehind him.
"Well, I've got one of them here," he said to himself. "The dog! Had itnot been for him my plot would not have failed. He shall pay!"
The blow which had laid Frank low in the alley had not been as severe asthe one Jack had received for the reason that when Frank tripped overhis friend's body, the blow had glanced off his head rather thancrashing solidly upon it.
Therefore Count Blowinski, carrying Jack's limp body, had hardly passedfrom the alley when Frank returned to consciousness. His first thoughtwas of Jack and he called to him. Receiving no answer, and feelingcertain that there was no longer any enemy in the alley, Frank drew amatch from his pocket and struck it.
The flare showed the lad that except for himself there was no humanbeing there.
"Great Scott! He must have carried Jack away!" the lad exclaimed. "Jackwould never have gone without looking for me."
Frank got quickly to his feet and hurried from the alley. Glancing inboth directions, he saw a man coming toward him. The lad hurried up andaccosted the man in French.
The latter shook his head, signifying that he did not understand.
Frank tried again, this time in German. The man nodded. He couldunderstand.
"Did you see anything of two men, a man and a boy?" asked Frank.
"I saw one man," was the reply. "He seemed to be carrying anotherfigure. Whether it was that of a man or a boy I could not tell."
"Where did he go?" demanded Frank eagerly.
"Into that house there," said the man pointing.
Frank did not waste any further words. He dashed forward, unheeding thecries of the Russian. The latter stared at the hurrying lad for somemoments and then ran after him.
"The boy is going to get himself in trouble," said the Russian. "I maybe able to help him."
At the foot of the steps Frank paused, for it had struck him suddenlythat it would be very foolish to climb the steps and ring the bell, ashe had first thought of doing. As the lad hesitated, the Russian joinedhim.
"What are you going to do?" he asked.
"I'm going in after my friend," replied Frank. "I was just trying tothink of a way to get in without Count Blowinski being aware of mypresence."
"Count Blowinski!" exclaimed the Russian.
"Yes," said Frank.
"The man who would have betrayed the Czar?"
"The same."
The Russian extended a hand to the lad.
"You may count on my help," he said.
"Good!" said Frank. "Now, we may as well try this front door. Perhaps itwill open."
"If it won't, I'll open it for you," said the Russian.
They ascended the steps and Frank laid a hand on the knob and turned itcautiously. The door was locked.
"Let me get there a minute," said the Russian.
He stepped in front of Frank. Taking something from his pocket heinserted it in the keyhole. Then he stepped back as the door swung open.
Frank led the way inside. The Russian followed closely.
The Boy Allies in the Baltic; Or, Through Fields of Ice to Aid the Czar Page 26
