CHAPTER XXIX.

DEATH OF THE TRAITOR--OLD ENGLAND AGAIN.

Czar Nicholas shrank back.

In the hand of Count Blowinski, which flashed aloft above his head, a knife gleamed in the light. A cry of horror went up from those in that part of the room who were so far back as to preclude a possibility of their being able to interfere in time to save the Emperor.

Those closer to the Czar hurled themselves forward; but they had hesitated a moment when the count sprang forward and they too would have been too late.

In all that room, among the score of officers and soldiers, there was only a single soul who had the presence of mind, the courage and the alertness to act in time.

Jack sprang forward.

In spite of the fact that Count Blowinski had seemed, apparently, resigned to his fate, there was something in the man's eye that had warned Jack and told him to be on his guard.

Even as he leaped Jack knew he was taking a desperate chance. The thought flashed through his mind that even he would be too late to save the Czar. But there was not a moment of hesitation; not a second of indecision on his part.

Straight between the Czar and Count Blowinski Jack sprang, at the same time raising a hand to catch the upraised arm, the hand of which grasped the knife in a firm grip.

But in his haste the lad had not gauged the distance accurately. True he had interposed his body between that of the Czar and the would-be assassin, but he failed to grasp the upraised arm.

The moment that he realized he had missed, Jack swerved a bit, and the knife, descending, slashed his right shoulder. Had he not swerved it had been his heart.

Before Count Blowinski could move to strike again, Jack, whirling suddenly, seized the arm in his left hand and clung to it tightly, his now useless right arm hanging by his side.

The Czar was safe.

With a cry of baffled rage, Count Blowinski gave a desperate wrench and freed himself from the lad's grasp.

With his eyes red with rage, he again raised the knife and cried out at Jack:

"Now die!"

The knife descended, but even as it would have found its mark, it fell clattering to the floor as a revolver shot rang out.

Once, twice, Count Blowinski spun round on his heel, made a desperate effort to keep his feet; then plunged to the floor on his face.

There was a breathless silence in the room as Jack moved forward, turned the count over on his back and laid a hand over his heart. Then he looked up and said quietly:

"He's dead."

The lad got to his feet and turned to Lord Hastings, who still held a smoking revolver in his hand--it was he who had fired the shot that had saved Jack's life.

"You, sir----" he began, then staggered, and before Lord Hastings could raise a hand to catch him, pitched forward across the body of the count.

Instantly the Czar became greatly excited. He waved his arms above his head and cried out:

"Summon my physician immediately! Hurry! What is the matter with you? Can't you see this lad is in need of immediate assistance? My physician! Quickly!"

Instantly all became confusion. Men rushed out the door, treading upon each other's feet and jostling one another furiously in their effort to obey the Czar's command.

Lord Hastings and the Czar sprang to Jack's side at the same moment, but it was the Russian ruler who raised the lad's head to his knee and placed a hand over the heart.

The effort was rewarded by a slight beating.

"He lives!" cried the Czar. "Some water quickly!"

Lord Hastings sprang to obey this command and soon the Czar himself was bathing Jack's face and talking to him, as would a father to a son who was ill.

And at last Jack opened his eyes.

The Czar breathed a sigh of great relief.

"Thank God!" he exclaimed fervently.

Lord Hastings also now stooped over Jack.

"How do you feel, Jack?" he asked anxiously.

Jack smiled up at him feebly.

"Shoulder hurts considerably, sir," he replied, and winced with the pain. "Foolish of me to topple over like this, though, sir."

"Foolish!" repeated the Czar, and then sprang to his feet and exclaimed excitedly:

"My doctor! My doctor! Where is he? Doesn't the man have sense enough to hurry? By my soul, I'll have him sent to Siberia if he is not here in two minutes!"

And His Majesty continued to rave until a few moments later a little man hurried in briskly.

"Where have you been?" exclaimed the Czar. "Don't you know enough to hurry when I send for you? See to this boy at once. At once, do you hear?"

The physician paid no attention to the Emperor of all the Russians more than to push His Majesty aside as he said shortly:

"Stand back, now, all of you and give me room."

Not another man was there in all the empire who could speak to the Czar like that.

He took no heed of any of those standing about, except to give an occasional order as he worked; and after ten minutes he looked up at the Czar and said:

"There is no danger, sire."

"Thank God!" exclaimed the Czar again. "I will not have him die. He shall have the best that the Empire affords. Have him taken to my own suite immediately."

And the Czar would hear of nothing else. Lord Hastings he commanded to be his guest in the palace and the latter could do naught but comply.

And so, for the next three days, Jack lay ill in the Czar's palace. Daily he grew stronger, for he was of a vigorous and healthy constitution and after the first day there was absolutely no danger.

It was a dismal time for Lord Hastings, who now had both of his officers on the sick list; and the commander of the D-17 divided his time between the sick room in the Czar's palace and the hospital, where Frank was confined.

But at last the time came when the physician decided that Jack could get up and move about a little. This was indeed welcome news to Jack, who insisted, the first day he was out of bed, upon being taken to see Frank.

"Well," said Frank, as he greeted his chum with outstretched hand, "it seems that if I get into a little trouble, you must do likewise."

"That's not the reason I did it," was the reply. "Say, we're a couple of fine officers for King George, aren't we? We're always in trouble of some kind. The first thing you know, he'll be asking for our resignations."

"Oh, I guess not," said Lord Hastings, who had overheard this remark. "However, I am greatly afraid that I am going to lose you both."

"Going to lose us?" repeated Jack in surprise.

"What do you mean, sir?" demanded Frank anxiously.

"Why," said Lord Hastings, "I shall have to report your conduct to His Majesty, King George, and when I do----"

"I told you," broke in Jack. "His Majesty will ask us to resign."

"By George! I hope not," exclaimed Frank.

"And when I do," continued Lord Hastings, not heeding the interruptions, "I shall probably lose you both, for His Majesty probably will take you away from me."

"What for, sir?" demanded Jack.

"Why," was the reply, "His Majesty will realize, as I have long ago, that you are too valuable officers to be fooling around as lieutenants. You will probably get the promotions you both deserve."

Jack and Frank fell suddenly silent. They had thought of nothing like this. But after some moments Frank said:

"Well, sir, if there is any danger of such a catastrophe, I hope that you will be kind enough to say nothing to the king."

"Frank is right, sir," agreed Jack. "It would indeed be a catastrophe."

"It would be a catastrophe for me if I were to lose you," said Lord Hastings very quietly.

* * * * *

As the days passed the injuries of both lads healed rapidly. At the end of a week both were feeling perfectly fit and each expressed his earnest desire to put to sea again.

"Not until you are absolutely fit," was Lord Hastings' decision. "You must remember that we face a dangerous task passing through the Kiel Canal on the way home and I want you both to be absolutely in ship-shape before I attempt it."

"We've gone through three times now," said Jack quietly. "I guess we can manage it once more."

"And going back," said Lord Hastings, "we shall go as we came this last time--with no stops and no thought of engaging a single one of the enemy."

"But, sir----" began Frank.

"There are no 'buts' in this case," declared Lord Hastings with finality. "I'm the commander of the D-17, and what I say goes, if I have to put you both in irons to keep you quiet."

When Lord Hastings took this tone, both lads knew there was no use of arguing the matter; and while both felt they would like to strike another blow at the German fleet on their homeward journey, they were forced to accept Lord Hastings' dictum.

At length the day for leaving came; but before they could go aboard the D-17, at the Czar's command, they needs must dine with him. This they did, and in the presence of the many notables who sat down to table, the Czar, following the feast, arose and complimented each lad separately and highly.

And he closed with this injunction:

"If, at any time, during the war or after peace has come to bless our several lands, you should chance to be in Russia, either of you, and you fail to come to me before another, I promise you that I shall seek you out and have you sent to Siberia for life--that I may see you whenever I lose my sense of what is right and wrong and need something to set me right."

The Czar finished his remarks amid tremendous applause, much to the embarrassment of the two lads, who stood there, faces flushed and grinning foolishly. But the banquet came to an end at last and Lord Hastings, Frank and Jack took their departure, the praises of the Czar still ringing in their ears.

They went aboard the D-17 the same night and made ready for their departure in the morning.

And as the D-17 steamed slowly along on the surface the following morning, what a terrible din and roar there was, as every Russian ship of war in the harbor fired a farewell salute!

Said Lord Hastings to his two officers:

"You may live many, many years, but it will be long ere you will have the honors heaped upon you that you have earned in Russia."

There was no reply that either lad could make, so they stood silently on the bridge, watching the city of Petrograd disappear in the distance; and presently they came once more to the broad expanse of the Baltic.

The journey back to the shores of old England was without a single incident to mar its peacefulness. They passed through the Kiel Canal without going to the surface, nor were they disturbed by a foe in the depths. The mines they steamed by safely also, and soon they once more found themselves under the protection of the great British fleet.

Lord Hastings immediately ran for London; and six hours after the D-17 had docked there, the lads found themselves once more in Lord Hastings' palatial home. And Lady Hastings took them both by the arms and addressed them thus:

"You know how fond I have grown of you two boys. You have been away long and I have missed you. This time, I shall keep you with me."

As Frank and Jack blushed and bowed and scraped uncomfortably, Lord Hastings only smiled and nodded.

"Yes," said Lady Hastings quietly, "you have done much for England, all three of you boys," and she glanced affectionately at her husband. "Now, for a time, you shall take orders from no one but me. You shall all stay here and rest!"

THE END.

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End of Project Gutenberg's The Boy Allies in the Baltic, by Robert L. Drake