CHAPTER XVII.
PETROGRAD.
Lord Hastings stepped close to the Russian commander.
"You will interfere with us at your peril," he said quietly. "We are allthat we represent ourselves to be, as you could plainly see if you werenot so thick headed."
"What!" exclaimed the Russian. "You insult me? Take them away."
"One moment," said Lord Hastings, raising a hand. "First it would bewell if you were to allow me to inform the officer in command of mysubmarine what has happened, for when we fail to go back, he is likelyto believe that you are a German and sink you."
"We escaped your torpedoes before, we can do it again," said theRussian.
"I have told you," said Lord Hastings calmly, "that we are not the samesubmarine that pursued you. You don't believe it. Very well. However,you will learn that you cannot run away from us as you did the other."
"We shall see," said the Russian.
"Oh, you'll see, all right," said Lord Hastings. "However, we are hereand that's all there is about it. Now, if you will not have us confined,we promise to make no attempt to escape."
The Russian considered this proposal for some minutes.
"Very well," he said at last. "I shall accept your paroles. See that youdo not attempt to break them."
He turned and went on deck.
Five minutes later and the Russian cruiser had come about and washeading east once more. Gradually she gathered headway, until she wastraveling at full speed.
The Russian kept close watch on the D-16, which now lay to the rear. Andas the cruiser began to draw away, the D-16, which had been lying idle,also came to life, and started in pursuit.
Frank, aboard the submarine, was greatly puzzled when the cruiser cameabout and started off toward the east.
"Wonder what on earth the reason is?" he muttered to himself. "Well, Isuppose we had better go along also."
He gave the signal and the D-16 started in pursuit.
Frank held a consultation with the German prisoner.
"I believe," said the latter, "that the Russian has refused to acceptyour commander's explanation and has had him and his first officerplaced under arrest."
"By Jove!" said Frank. "I hadn't thought of that. I wouldn't besurprised if you are right."
He gave the order for full speed ahead, and gradually the submarinebegan to overhaul the Russian cruiser. As he came nearer, Frankperceived signs of action aboard the larger vessel, and then he washailed across the water.
"Sheer off, or we shall fire into you."
"Don't you try it," cried Frank, angrily. "Where is my commander?"
"He is a prisoner," came back the reply, "and has given his parole notto escape."
"Let me speak to him," demanded Frank.
When this command was taken to the Russian commander, he hesitated. Butat length he decided to allow Lord Hastings to hail the D-16.
"What's the matter, sir?" asked Frank, when his commander's voicereached him across the water.
Lord Hastings explained.
"But what shall I do, sir?" asked Frank.
"Just follow us. That's the best thing that can be done under thecircumstances," replied Lord Hastings.
"All right," said Frank, and the conversation ended.
The Russian commander, who had listened to this conversation, still wasunconvinced, and he said to Lord Hastings:
"I would advise that you have the submarine keep away, for if she comestoo close we shall sink her."
Lord Hastings made no reply.
All the afternoon the Russian cruiser continued her eastward journey,the D-16 trailing behind at a considerable distance.
It was five o'clock.
Came a cry from the lookout aboard the Russian cruiser.
"Cruiser off the port bow!"
Instantly all was haste and bustle aboard the war vessel.
"German cruiser!" came the next cry, and it was followed immediately bythe cry of the Russian commander:
"Clear for action!"
"Now," said Jack to Lord Hastings, "we shall see how the Russiansfight."
In spite of the fact that the ship bearing down on them appeared to bemuch larger, the Russian commander determined to give battle, and this,too, in face of his belief that one of the enemy's submarines wastrailing him.
At last the vessels came within range. A shell from the German struckthe Russian squarely in the bow, cutting a deep hole and sending up acloud of splinters, which, falling, laid three men low.
The first three Russian shells went wild.
"Rotten," said Lord Hastings.
"I should say so," agreed Jack. "Now----"
He broke off suddenly, for at that moment, chancing to glance back, hesaw the D-16, half a mile to stern, disappear from sight.
"The fight won't last long now," he said to his commander.
"Why?" demanded the latter.
"Because the D-16 is going into action."
"By Jove!" exclaimed Lord Hastings. "If Frank just acts quickly enough."
"He will, never fear," said Jack quietly.
Still the battle raged. Shells fell aboard the Russian cruiser withgreat regularity now. Men lay wounded and bleeding upon the deck, in theturrets, and in the engine room, where one German shell had penetrated.
But the Germans had not escaped. The Russians, once they had found therange, poured a veritable hail of shells aboard the enemy. The forwardturret guns of the German were silenced by a shell that struck therevolving structure squarely and destroyed it.
For half an hour the battle raged, and then, suddenly, there cameterrible cries from aboard the German, carrying plainly over the waterto the ears of the Russians.
"Submarine!" came the cry. "We have been torpedoed!"
The fight was over. German sailors, those of them who were able, spranginto the sea by the dozens. Others attempted to launch the life boats.And while this was going on, there came a terrific explosion from aboardthe enemy, and she sprang into flame, lighting up the semi-darkness formiles around.
Lord Hastings turned to the Russian commander, who passed him at thatmoment.
"You have my submarine to thank for this victory," he said quietly.
The Russian bowed gravely, and replied:
"I know it. I have treated you badly. I am sorry. However, I am willingto answer for my actions, for I had the good of my country at heart."
Lord Hastings stretched forth a hand.
"I am sure of it," he said simply. "I bear no ill will."
The Russian shook his hand heartily; then turned to the work of lookingafter the dead and wounded. Lord Hastings and Jack turned their eyestoward the German cruiser, which was slowly sinking.
Hundreds of German sailors were in the sea, clinging to such pieces ofdebris as came to hand. Immediately the Russians launched life boats andset about the work of rescue; and all who were in the water were saved,the German commander among them.
Then the German cruiser sank; and as she disappeared from sight, at apoint not half a mile distant, another form appeared upon the surface.It was the D-16.
The Russian commander, who stood near at that moment, turned to LordHastings.
"I shall be pleased," he said, "to have you sent back aboard your shipimmediately. Or I shall be still better pleased to have you accompanyme, as my guests, to Petrograd, for which port I am bound."
Lord Hastings turned to Jack.
"What do you say?" he said. "Would you like to see Petrograd--or St.Petersburg, as it was called before the outbreak of the war?"
"Very much, sir," replied the lad, "if Frank can come along."
"I guess that can be managed," was the reply.
Lord Hastings turned to the Russian commander.
"Is there a safe place where I may leave my submarine?" he asked.
"It shall follow us, and be one of us," was the reply.
"In that case," said Lord Hastings, "we shall be glad to ac
company you."
The Russian bowed.
"Then," said Lord Hastings, "if we may trouble you to set us aboard ourown vessel, we shall follow you at a respectable distance. Besides, Ishould be pleased to have you come aboard, for I can promise to show yousuch a submarine as it has never been your pleasure to see before."
"I shall accept that offer with pleasure," replied the Russian.
Calling his first officer, he ordered that a boat be lowered, into whichthey all stepped and were soon upon the bridge of the D-16.
Frank received his commander and his chum with unfeigned delight, for hehad been greatly worried about them.
"It was all my fault," the Russian commander said. "As your commandertold me, I was thick-headed. I am sorry."
"Say no more about it," declared Lord Hastings. "Mistakes will happen."
All descended below, and, the Russian commander expressing a desire togo beneath the sea, the D-16 submerged.
Then Lord Hastings conducted the Russian on a tour of inspection of thevessel, and explained its mysteries to him. The Russian was charmed, andall sat and talked long into the night.
It was almost noon of the second day when the D-16, still following inthe wake of the Russian cruiser, anchored in the harbor of Petrograd.
"I shall be pleased," said Lord Hastings, "to pay my respects to CzarNicholas."
"I fear," said the Russian, "it may be impossible, for he is very busythese days with affairs of state."
"Nevertheless," said Lord Hastings, "I have his command to alwayspresent myself when in Russia."
"In that case," said the Russian, "it is, of course, different."
"And this time," said Lord Hastings, "I shall present to his majesty myfirst officer, Mr. Templeton, and my second officer, Mr. Chadwick."