CHAPTER XVI.
THE TRAP IS SPRUNG.
Troops, troops, troops. Hundreds, even thousands of men marching throughthe streets of Moscow drew the eyes of the populace. From the railroadstation they emerged in squadrons and regiments; and the roads of alllay in the same direction--toward the palace.
Czar Nicholas and his retinue had arrived two hours earlier and wereeven now in the palace. It still lacked an hour of the time when theCzar was to make his address from the palace steps to Count Blowinski'sown men, but these were gathered about the palace in dense masses.
The first regiment of troops to leave the railroad station and movetoward the palace attracted little attention, nor did the second; but asthe men continued to stream along word of their coming finally reachedthe ear of Count Blowinski.
That worthy, at the moment in consultation with some of hisfellow-conspirators, among whom was Jack, became greatly excited whenthe first word reached him.
"Can it be possible that the Czar has an inkling of our plans?" heasked.
Jack took it upon himself to reply.
"It is hardly likely, count. I should judge that the presence of troopshere at this time has no peculiar significance. Rather, their presenceis probably part of a prearranged plan to have them go to the front.Perhaps the Czar intends to go with them."
"It may be as you say," was the reply, "but my messenger informs me thatthey are surrounding the palace, hemming my own men in, as thoughpurposely."
"It does look a bit odd," Jack agreed. "But if you are afraid to gothrough with your plans now, count, why not postpone the coup?"
"It must be done now or never," replied the count decisively. "A delaywould prove fatal. If it comes to the worst, I shall abandon my plan ofseizing the Emperor and shoot him."
Jack gave a start. This was more than he had bargained for; and herealized that if the count really determined to put this latter planinto execution, there was no time to give the warning. The lad alsorealized that, in the event the count did try to assassinate the Czar,he, himself, was the only person who could hope to prevent it.
Jack determined, therefore, to stick close to Blowinski; and as heaccompanied the count and his staff to the palace grounds to meet theCzar, he felt more certain at every step that the count's last plan wasthe one to be feared.
In the large open space in front of the palace stood Blowinski's ownmen; but even from where he stood, Jack could see the still more densebodies of the Czar's troops hemming in those of the count. The lad coulddiscern their attitude of hushed expectancy and he felt certain thattheir officers had their commands.
"It's shoot or nothing," the lad told himself, and he followed the countclosely.
Now Count Blowinski approached the Czar and the latter extended a hand.
"Welcome, your Majesty," cried the count, and falling to his knee hetook the hand and pressed his lips to it.
"I am glad to see you, Count," replied Czar Nicholas. "A fine body ofmen you have here."
"Thank you, sire! They are indeed a likely body of men and they wouldhave you say a few words to them."
The count now presented the others of his retinue to the Czar, andfollowed his majesty to the top of the palace steps, as one befittinghis rank and station.
There, he turned and surveyed the crowd below--a host of uniformedfigures. He spoke a few words to them himself, and announced that theCzar would address them.
Then the count fell back a trifle, as the Czar advanced.
Jack watched the big Russian closely, noting that Blowinski's handrested upon his belt, where was exposed the butt of a revolver. Jack'shand rested in his coat pocket and his fingers gripped his own weaponfirmly.
"I wish Frank were here," he muttered. "I am not certain of my own aim."
Now the Czar began to speak and a hush fell over the vast assemblage.
"Soldiers!" said the Czar. "It gives me happiness to address you; and itwould give me ever more happiness, were it not for one thing."
Here the Czar paused and his gaze went to the troops farther back, hisown men, whom he knew could be trusted.
Jack saw the officers there exhorting their men to some sort of actionas the Czar continued: "Yes, it would give me greater happiness did Inot know that there are traitors among you--men who would betray me tothe enemy. I----"
What else the Czar might have said was lost in two sharp revolverreports. For a moment thereafter there was a deathly silence; followedby a tremendous uproar and the sharp crack, crack of rifles.
Jack, his eye ever keen, had been watching Count Blowinski like a hawk.As the emperor spoke of traitors, the lad saw the count's form stiffen.Then the big Russian suddenly whipped out his revolver and fired at theCzar.
But Jack had acted just as promptly. As he saw the count's revolver leapforth, the lad jerked out his own weapon. Hardly taking time to aim, butbreathing a fervent prayer, Jack pressed the trigger a moment before thecount's finger tightened on the trigger of his revolver.
There was not the space of a second between the two sharp reports, butJack's revolver spoke the fraction of a second before that of the count.
Count Blowinski staggered back. The bullet from Jack's revolver hadstruck him in the shoulder, but his finger had already tightened on thetrigger, discharging his weapon. But his aim had been deflected byJack's bullet and the missile went wide of its mark.
Before he could fire again, had such been his intention, Jack had leapedforward and his powerful fingers were clasped about the big Russian'sthroat.
The force of Jack's spring had been so great that he bore the big man tothe floor. At the same time he cried to the Czar:
"Back inside, quick, your Majesty!"
But the lad need not have spoken; for at the sound of the first shot,others of the Czar's personal retinue had seized their Emperor and bornehim forcibly away. Then the crack of rifles filled the air.
Under the command of their officers, trapped though they were, thedisloyal Russian troops turned to give battle to the loyal forces whosurrounded them on all sides.
So terrific, however, were the volleys poured in on them from beyond,one after another, and so fast did they drop, that their resistance wasbut momentary. Yet during the time that it took them to lay down theirarms and cry for quarter, fully a thousand of them were shot down.
Immediately thereafter, the commander of the loyal forces gave thecommand to advance, and the men came forward at the double, thrusting toright and left with their swords and long bayonets among the now unarmedmen.
Jack, having choked Count Blowinski into unconsciousness, had paused amoment before going inside to watch the battle. Therefore, he was stillon the palace steps when a squad of loyal troops burst through thedisloyal forces and ascended the steps with a rush.
The officer in command saw Jack standing there almost alone, a revolverstill in his hand, and pointing toward the lad with his sword heexclaimed:
"Seize him!"
Immediately rough hands were laid on Jack. In vain he struggled to freehimself and protested his innocence of any wrong. The grasp of hiscaptors only tightened. In spite of his struggles he was led down thesteps and in among the heart of the Russian troops.
Here he was turned over to another squad of men, with orders to take himat once before General Burgoff.
Half an hour later, together with a number of Russian officers, the ladfound himself before the Russian commander. The latter looked them allover carefully, then motioned to one of his men to have Jack taken out.
"He seems younger than the rest," he said. "Neither is he a Russian. Iwill take up his case after I have disposed of the others."
Jack was taken from the general's quarters, but he had not long to wait.At the end of another hour he was again led before the general. Besidesthis officer and the man who commanded the squad in charge of Jack,there was no one present.
General Burgoff leaned back in his chair and eyed Jack keenly.
> "What is your name?" he demanded.
"Jack Templeton," replied Jack in English. "Lieutenant in the RoyalBritish navy, sir."
"What are you doing here, then?" demanded the general.
"I am here on a special mission by command of the Czar," replied the ladquietly.
The Russian commander smiled into his long beard.
"A likely story," he replied.
"It is true, sir," replied Jack.
"What was the nature of this mission?" asked the general skeptically.
"My friend and I were sent here to expose Count Blowinski," returnedJack. "How well we succeeded you may see by what has just happened."
Again the general smiled skeptically.
"I hope you don't expect me to believe any such story as that?" hequestioned.
"I do, sir, because it is the truth," was the lad's response.
"Well, I don't believe it. Of course, it is only natural that you wouldhave an excuse; all men do when they are caught. It is my belief thatyou are one of the traitors."
"I assure you, sir----" began Jack.
The general rose to his feet abruptly.
"Enough!" he said sternly. "Your lies will gain you nothing. I shallprescribe the same punishment for you as for the other traitors."
"But if you would only investigate my claim, sir," protested Jack.
"A waste of time," replied the general. "The Czar must not be troubledwith such matters."
"You are likely to be troubled when the Czar hears of this," returnedJack quietly.
"What!" exclaimed General Burgoff. "You dare to threaten me?"
"I am making no threats, sir."
"Come, enough of this talking," said the general. "As I have said, yourpunishment shall be the same as that of the other traitors."
"Death?" asked Jack quietly.
"Worse," was the general's response.
Jack was surprised. What could be worse than death, he asked himself.
The answer came in an instant and a chill struck his heart, as GeneralBurgoff said sternly:
"Siberia!"