CHAPTER XXVI.

JACK IN THE TOILS.

Petrograd again.

It was evening five days after Frank and Jack had returned to the Russian capital from Siberia. Since their arrival they had made several trips of inspection to the D-17, but upon their last visit this same day they learned that it would be another week before the submarine was ready to take to sea again.

The lads had passed the long five days in various ways. They had received the thanks of the Czar for the part they had played in exposing Count Blowinski and His Majesty had commissioned them honorary lieutenants in the Russian army.

Of days they had strolled about the city taking in the sights of interest; of nights they had taken in the theaters--for there was still amusement to be found in Petrograd--a few of the most popular restaurants and other places where crowds congregated.

As the two lads walked along the street this particular evening they were discussing the D-17 and the fact that they were soon to put to sea again.

"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 here we shall go straight home."

"Where else would we go?"

"I don't know. But you must remember Lord Hastings has begun to keep his plans more to himself than he used to do. In fact, he told us so. We are just as likely to head for the Dardanelles or South Africa, for all we know."

"Well, that's so, too," said Jack. "However, I have one of those things you 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 be long 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 ashore and 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 come suddenly."

At this point in the conversation Frank looked at his watch.

"Seven o'clock," he said, "and I am getting hungry. Suppose we stop in the restaurant for supper. Lord Hastings will not expect us back very early."

"Suits me," said Jack.

Frank led the way and a few minutes later the two lads were seated in a cozy corner of the restaurant, gazing upon the crowd that thronged the place.

"This," said Frank, "reminds me of a night in Heligoland."

"So it does," said Jack, and added slyly: "Except that there is a certain fair singer missing."

"I had noticed that difference," said Frank. "I wonder what happened to her? I hope she did not get into trouble."

"I think she is smart enough to look out for herself," said Jack. "Some of these days, when the war is over, we may possibly encounter her some place."

"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 do you think he is?"

"Well," said Jack, "I feel positive that he is none other than our old friend Count Blowinski."

"What!" exclaimed Frank incredulously. "But Count Blowinski is in Siberia 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 I do see a certain resemblance in build, but I don't believe he is Count Blowinski."

"All right," said Jack. "But I do believe it."

Their supper was now placed before them and the lads fell to with a will, Jack the while casting an occasional glance toward the man he believed to be Count Blowinski.

Frank and Jack finished their meal before the big man--whoever he was--and Frank was for leaving immediately. But Jack protested.

"Maybe the fellow is not Count Blowinski," he said, "but it will do no harm to make sure. If I could get a look at his face, I believe I would know 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 there would be an uproar and he might get away. No, we'll wait here until he goes out and then we'll follow him."

"Good night!" said Frank. "Here you are hunting more trouble again. What would Lord Hastings say?"

"I don't know what he'd say. However, he is not here, so we won't worry about that. But if you don't want to come along, I can trail the fellow by myself."

"Oh, I'll go along," said Frank.

It was probably twenty minutes later that the man at the other end of the room rose, called for his hat and coat and made his way from the restaurant. Strain as they would, the lads were unable to catch sight of his face; so they hurried after him.

Outside, Jack recognized the figure half a block down the street. He led the way in pursuit, Frank a few paces behind.

If the man, fearing he was followed, was trying to shake off possible pursuers, he could not have gone about it in a manner more to have aroused Jack's suspicions.

First he crossed the street and then turned to the left down a side street. At the next corner he again turned to the left, walked two blocks ahead, and again turned to the left.

"Whoever he is, he's up to something with all this maneuvering," said Frank.

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 former uttered an exclamation of dismay. The man they had been trailing was nowhere 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 a guess to say that he disappeared in one of these houses. Which one, I haven't any idea."

"I suppose you're right," said Jack. "I wonder if he suspected he was being followed?"

"I don't believe so. I saw him turn once or twice, but I am sure he did not suspect we were trailing him."

Jack moved on.

"Here's a little alley," he called back to Frank. "Maybe he ducked in here."

"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 could see you, and if he were there, he'd crack your skull before you even saw him."

"Oh, I'm not going to try it," said Jack. "I was just wondering; that's all."

"As long as you stay outside and wonder, it's all right, I guess," said Frank.

But events so shaped themselves that they were not to stay out of the dark alley. Jack's sharp ears caught the sound of a body moving in the alley.

"There is some one in there," he called excitedly to Frank. "I'm going after him."

"Hold on," cried Frank. "Come back here," he added as Jack started forward.

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 Jack moved 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 to walk further up the dark alley.

And then, before the lad could raise a hand to prevent it, something the nature of which he could not distinguish in the brief moment before he lapsed into unconsciousness, struck him over the head. Jack fell to the ground without so much as a murmur.

There was silence again in the alley, at last broken by an exclamation from 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 only of 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 that a blow, the exact counterpart of the one that had laid Jack low, struck him 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 could they 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 I going to do with them? I would like to take them with me, but I can't lug 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 each other and lifted Jack in his arms. Then, paying no further heed to Frank, he moved toward the street.

At the mouth of the alley he hesitated for a moment. He gazed up and down the street, but saw no one. He moved on again, carrying his human burden.

Half a block from the dark alley, he mounted a pair of steps and opened a door. He glanced back over the street and saw a lone pedestrian hurrying along. Whether the man had seen him with his human burden, the count could not tell. He shrugged his shoulders and closed the door behind him.

"Well, I've got one of them here," he said to himself. "The dog! Had it not 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 as the one Jack had received for the reason that when Frank tripped over his friend's body, the blow had glanced off his head rather than crashing solidly upon it.

Therefore Count Blowinski, carrying Jack's limp body, had hardly passed from the alley when Frank returned to consciousness. His first thought was of Jack and he called to him. Receiving no answer, and feeling certain that there was no longer any enemy in the alley, Frank drew a match from his pocket and struck it.

The flare showed the lad that except for himself there was no human being there.

"Great Scott! He must have carried Jack away!" the lad exclaimed. "Jack would never have gone without looking for me."

Frank got quickly to his feet and hurried from the alley. Glancing in both directions, he saw a man coming toward him. The lad hurried up and accosted 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 could understand.

"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 another figure. 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 the cries of the Russian. The latter stared at the hurrying lad for some moments and then ran after him.

"The boy is going to get himself in trouble," said the Russian. "I may be able to help him."

At the foot of the steps Frank paused, for it had struck him suddenly that it would be very foolish to climb the steps and ring the bell, as he had first thought of doing. As the lad hesitated, the Russian joined him.

"What are you going to do?" he asked.

"I'm going in after my friend," replied Frank. "I was just trying to think of a way to get in without Count Blowinski being aware of my presence."

"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 it will 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 it cautiously. The door was locked.

"Let me get there a minute," said the Russian.

He stepped in front of Frank. Taking something from his pocket he inserted it in the keyhole. Then he stepped back as the door swung open.

Frank led the way inside. The Russian followed closely.