CHAPTER XIX.
THE PLOTTERS FOILED.
When the conspirators passed through the tobacco shop they did not evenglance toward the counter, and therefore did not notice the absence ofthe shopkeeper. Had they done so, there probably would have been adifferent story to tell.
Frank and Jack, once outside the store, breathed easier, and followedthe conspirators at what they deemed a safe distance, neverthelesskeeping close enough upon their heels not to lose sight of them shouldthey turn into some place suddenly.
"Lucky for us they didn't see what we did to the proprietor of thatshop," said Jack.
"I should say so," replied Frank.
"Now if we can just keep close enough without being discovered," saidFrank, "we may be able to find some means of preventing this tragedy."
"If they don't stop some place, we are all right," agreed Frank.
Jack looked at his watch.
"By Jove!" he ejaculated.
"What's the matter?" asked Frank.
"Why, it's after four o'clock now. There is not much time. Evidently wemust be closer to the palace than I thought."
"Well, the sooner this is over the better I shall be pleased."
"Not losing your nerve, are you?"
"Not exactly; still I feel a little uncomfortable."
Turning off the narrow side street, the lads followed the men down amuch busier thoroughfare, where, at the far end, they could see a greatcrowd gathered. The men made directly for it, and, approaching closer,the lads recognized the Czar's palace.
Right through the large crowd gathered about, the four men pushed theirway; then, abruptly they separated into pairs.
Jack grasped Frank by the arm.
"Quick!" he exclaimed. "You follow those two," pointing, "and I'll takethe others. We don't know which one has the bomb."
Frank nodded and set out in pursuit of the two moving toward the left.
In the crowd there was little danger that the men would notice that theywere being followed, and Frank felt safe in crowding right on behindthem. Jack followed the same plan with the other pair.
The crowd was held back by long lines of troops on either side of thestreet, spectators not being permitted closer than a hundred feet of theline of march.
In the extreme front, where they forced their way by dint of muchpushing and shoving, the conspirators took their stand. Frank glancedabout. Perhaps a hundred yards down the line he thought he caught sightof the large stature of his friend, but of this he could not bepositive.
Half an hour passed, then three quarters, then the sound of a distantbugle and galloping hoofs gave notice that the troops were approaching.Almost at the same moment a figure descended the palace steps andmounted a large black charger. The figure was handsomely garbed, andgold glittered over his uniform. Even from where he stood Frank couldmake out that he wore a beard.
It was Nicholas Romanoff, Czar of all the Russias.
The Czar rode his horse slowly down the lane of spectators and Frank andJack, each in his respective place, became tense, expectant and readyfor instant action.
Suddenly one of the men near Frank made a move and the lad half drew hisrevolver. The man simply produced a handkerchief, however, and wipedbeads of perspiration from his brow. Frank thrust his revolver back inhis pocket, but kept his hand upon it.
The Czar, riding slowly, drew near to where Jack and the other twoconspirators stood. Then it was that Jack recognized that he was the onewho held the Czar's life in his hands.
The conspirator to his left thrust his hand under his coat and drewforth a round dark object, which he concealed from the crowd. Jack'ssharp eyes had seen the move, but he did not act yet.
Now the Czar was directly abreast them, not more than a hundred feetaway.
Slowly the conspirator drew back his hand, and in another instant wouldhave hurled the bomb upon the Czar; but at that moment Jack came tolife.
As the man drew back his arm, Jack stepped quickly forward, and, seizingthe upraised hand in both his, wrenched the arm violently. The manstaggered back with a cry of pain, and dropped the bomb.
But before it could touch the ground, where it would undoubtedly haveexploded, killing and maiming many, Jack slipped one hand beneath it andcaught it gently.
Then the two thwarted conspirators sprang upon him.
There seemed to be no one in the crowd who had perceived the cause ofJack's struggle with the two men, and the latter, taking advantage ofthis fact, struggled fiercely with Jack, uttering loud cries of"Assassin!" "Kill him!" "He tried to assassinate the Czar!"
With his one free hand, Jack fought desperately, but the crowd,attracted by the cries of the two conspirators, closed in on himangrily. Some one wrenched the bomb from his hand, and other handsclawed and struck at his face and body.
Jack fought back gamely, for he realized that if once knocked to theground he would probably be killed before the authorities couldintervene to save him. He struck out vigorously right and left and menfell before his terrific blows.
But the odds were too great and were bound to tell at last. Jack wentdown, and the crowd piled on top of him.
At that instant a troop of horsemen bore down upon the struggling heap,striking right and left with their sabres and scattering the crowd inall directions, and they arrived none too soon.
Jack was unconscious. Bleeding from knife wounds in half a dozen places,and his face covered with blood from a wound in the forehead where amissile of some kind had struck, he lay perfectly helpless.
Rough soldier hands lifted him rudely from the ground and flung himacross a horse, and then the troop galloped away.
While all this was going on, Frank had tried in vain to reach the sideof his friend, who he knew was in trouble of some kind, although hecould not make sure what. He did not realize the true state of affairsuntil he had seen the troopers take his friend's body from beneath manyothers.
"Great Scott!" he cried to himself then. "They believe Jack tried tokill the Czar! What shall I do?"
The answer to this question came to him like a flash. Lord Hastings, apersonal friend of the Czar, was, perhaps, the only man who, under thecircumstances, would be given a hearing. Frank turned quickly and dashedmadly down the street.
Round corner after corner he ran at full speed, nor did he check hisstride until he reached the harbor and the spot near where the submarineD-16 was anchored.
A man with a rowboat hustled up at Frank's bidding, and the lad orderedhim to pull for the submarine with all speed.
Jumping aboard and bidding the rower to wait for him, Frank dashed madlyfor Lord Hastings' quarters.
The commander of the D-16 rose quickly to his feet as his door wasthrown violently open and Frank, gasping for breath and with pale face,stood before him.
"What's the matter?" demanded Lord Hastings anxiously.
"Jack--Jack--arrested," panted Frank.
Lord Hastings drew close and took him by the shoulders.
"Take your time," he said quietly. "Nothing was ever gained by too greathaste. Get your breath and then tell me what the trouble is."
For another half a minute Frank gasped on, then finally was able tospeak more calmly.
"Jack has been arrested," he said.
"What for?" asked Lord Hastings calmly.
"He's accused of trying to assassinate the Czar."
"What!" cried Lord Hastings, staggering back and almost losing hiscomposure.
"It's true, sir," cried Frank.
"By George, this is serious!" said Lord Hastings. "Now tell me all aboutit as quickly as you can."
Frank did so, and Lord Hastings listened quietly until he had concluded.Then he quickly got his hat and coat, and motioning to Frank to follow,made his way to the bridge. Both climbed into the boat that had broughtFrank aboard the submarine and the rower put off for shore with powerfulstrokes.
"Is Jack in much danger, sir?" asked Frank.
"I
don't know," said Lord Hastings. "In times of peace, of course, hewould be given a trial; but the anger of the people and the troopers nowwill be so great that it is hard to say what will happen."
"Where are we going, sir?"
"First to the chief of police; then to the Czar himself."
Lord Hastings, who knew the Russian police chief well, had no difficultyin gaining admittance, and Frank with him. To the chief Frank told hisstory. The chief appeared somewhat incredulous.
"I have not the slightest doubt of your integrity, Lord Hastings," hesaid, "but may you not be mistaken in your officers?"
"I am not mistaken," said Lord Hastings stiffly. "Now, I want to know atonce what action you will take to release my friend at once."
"There is nothing I can do," said the chief. "The prisoner has beentaken out of my hands by the military authorities. I am afraid you mustappeal to the Czar, and I am not at all sure that such an appeal willresult favorably to you."
"Then I have no time to lose here," said Lord Hastings abruptly, andmade for the door, Frank following him.
At the door of the palace Lord Hastings demanded an audience of the Czarimmediately.
"It is impossible, my lord," said the attendant. "His majesty is engagedin the case of his attempted assassination and cannot be disturbed."
"But I must see his majesty at once," said Lord Hastings hotly, "and itis of this very case I would consult him."
"I am very sorry----"
Lord Hastings suddenly produced his revolver.
"I am a friend of his majesty's," he said, very quietly, "and you willeither tell him this instant that I desire an audience in connectionwith this case, or I shall push my way in over your dead body! This is amatter of life and death and I am not to be trifled with!"