Again the attendant started to protest, but Lord Hastings, taking a step forward, pushed him violently backward with his right hand and walked on. In vain did the attendant walk after him, trying to halt him. Lord Hastings paid no heed to his words, and Frank followed close at his heels.

Then, perceiving that words were of no value, the attendant suddenly produced a revolver.

“My lord,” he said quietly, “one more step and you are a dead man.”

Before Lord Hastings could reply Frank had sprung upon the attendant and wrested the revolver from his hand. The latter sent up a loud cry and footsteps immediately could be heard hurrying toward them.

Half a dozen soldiers entered the room and surrounded the struggling knot of men. An officer gave a command:

“Shoot them!”

Rifles were brought to bear, and just as it seemed that the two were about to be shot down, another figure, attracted by the sounds of confusion, entered the room.

“Hold!” he exclaimed to the officer, and the soldiers lowered their rifles.

“What is the meaning of this confusion in my palace?” asked the Czar, for it was he, angrily. “Why this unseemly noise?”

Suddenly his eyes fell upon Lord Hastings.

“Lord Hastings!” he exclaimed in surprise. “What brings you here, and what is the meaning of this fighting? If my people have been discourteous to you they shall answer for it,” and the Czar gazed about him angrily.

The eyes of all fell before him.

Czar Nicholas advanced and took Lord Hastings by the hand.

“Of what service can I be to you?” he asked. “And will you kindly tell me the cause of this trouble? My own subjects seem to be tongue-tied.”

“The cause of the trouble, your majesty,” said Lord Hastings, “is that one of your attendants refused to tell your majesty that I desired an audience immediately, on a matter of life and death.”

“So!” exclaimed the Czar. “They shall answer for it. But I have been engaged already in some such matter. An attempt was made to assassinate me not an hour ago.”

“So I have been told,” said Lord Hastings, “and it is concerning that that I would speak.”

“And what do you know about it?” asked the Czar in surprise.

“Only, your Majesty, that you have the wrong man.”

The Czar took a step back.

“That is what the prisoner says,” he replied drily. “But what do you know of this matter?”

“Your prisoner,” said Lord Hastings, “is one of the lads I presented to you this morning, my own first officer.”

“By Jove!” said the Czar in perfect English, “I thought his face looked familiar. So it is he, eh? Well, if he did not try to kill me how does it come that he was seen with the bomb in his hand?”

Frank stepped forward.

“I can explain that, if your majesty will give me permission,” he said quietly.

The Czar looked at him.

“And you,” he said, “are Lord Hastings’ second officer, are you not?”

“I am, your majesty.”

“Then tell me what you know of this attempted assassination, if anything.”

As briefly as possible Frank reconstructed the scene for the Czar. As he progressed with his tale, the Czar became more and more interested.

“And so,” Frank concluded, “had it not been for my friend, who your majesty is pleased to believe would have killed him, the real assassin would have accomplished his work.”

“You tell exactly the same story as the prisoner,” said the Czar thoughtfully. “There must be truth in it.”

“I can vouch for both of them, your majesty,” interposed Lord Hastings. “Why, time after time they have been instrumental in dealing smashing blows to the enemy. Do you believe, then, that one of them would attempt to murder the ruler of one of England’s allies?”

The Czar struck the table violently with his clenched fist.

“No!” he shouted. “I don’t believe it. The lad is innocent, and he shall be freed immediately, no matter what my counselors may have to say.”

He called for his chief aide, and to that worthy gave the command:

“Have the prisoner brought before me at once.”

“But, your majesty——” began the aide.

The Czar turned on him angrily.

“There are no buts!” he exclaimed. “Have him brought here immediately—immediately, do you understand?”

The aide saluted and left the room hurriedly.

The Czar turned to Frank.

“And can you lead my men to the rendezvous where this plot was hatched?” he asked.

“Yes, your majesty,” replied Frank.

“Good. Then, perhaps as they are unaware that their rendezvous has been discovered, they may be captured.”

Frank bowed.

Perhaps five minutes later the Czar’s chief aide returned, followed by Jack, still looking very weak and shaky as the result of his experiences of a few hours. Motioning to the others in the room to remain silent, the Czar advanced and addressed Jack.

“So,” he exclaimed in a harsh voice, “you are the man who tried to kill me, eh?”

“No, your majesty,” replied Jack, “I——”

The Czar silenced him with a gesture.

“Oh, I know your excuse,” he said. “Your friends have interceded for you, and I have every confidence in Lord Hastings. Of you, however, I know nothing. A hundred people saw you with the bomb in your hand. The case is perfectly plain.”

“But,” began Jack.

“Silence!” exclaimed the Czar, raising a hand.

He turned to his aide again.

“Bring me,” he commanded, “the small velvet box on my writing desk.”

He turned and addressed all in the room as the aide hurried away.

“You shall all see,” he exclaimed, “how I dispose of a case like this.”

There was silence until the aide returned, and put the little box in the Czar’s hand.

Concealing the contents from Jack, the Czar opened it and took out something. Then he commanded:

“Approach!”

Jack did so, and with his left hand the Czar took him by the right shoulder, while with his right he touched him over the heart; and when Jack stepped back and his fingers touched the spot where the Czar’s had rested so lightly he felt something pinned thereon. Examining it he found it to be The Cross of St. George.

He had been decorated by the Czar himself for personal gallantry.

“Your majesty——” stammered Jack, and fell upon his knee.

The Czar stretched forth his right hand, which Jack bent over and touched with his lips.

“There, there,” said the Czar, with the suspicion of huskiness in his voice. “I shouldn’t have fooled you so, but I simply could not resist. Mr. Templeton, you are a brave lad, and I envy my friend Lord Hastings the possession of so gallant an officer.”

Lord Hastings and Frank both now approached Jack and shook hands with him. Jack smiled faintly.

“I thought it was all over with me,” he said as he turned to Frank. “Of course,” he added, “I knew you would do all you possibly could for me, but I was afraid you couldn’t do enough, and you, too. Lord Hastings.”

“Now,” said the Czar, “if you will lead my men to the spot where you discovered the plot, I shall appreciate it.”

The lads signified their willingness to obey this command, and some minutes later, with a squad of mounted troops they drew rein at the tobacco shop.

The door was closed, and a knock brought no response. One of the soldiers burst in the door with the toe of his boot and all entered. They ransacked the place from top to bottom, but could find no one.

“When they came back and found the storekeeper bound, they released him and all moved,” said Frank.

“That’s about the size of it,” Jack agreed. “They knew when they found him that their rendezvous had been discovered.”

“They have left no clue,” said the Russian officer in command, “so there is nothing to be done. Come, we shall go.”

They returned to the palace, where the Czar insisted on having Lord Hastings, Frank and Jack dine with him.

This they did, and at a late hour returned aboard the D-16.

“And which way shall we go now?” asked Frank.

“Well,” said Lord Hastings, “I had thought of going back the way we came.”

“Suits me,” said Jack. “Of course there is considerable action over here, but I am not particularly fond of the brand. I would rather get back on the other side.”

“As long as we are practically free agents,” said Frank, “I have a plan to propose.”

“And that is?” asked Lord Hastings.

“Well, it probably will be weeks before the allied ships are able to force a passage of the Dardanelles, and with our speed, we can reach there long before that. See what I mean?”

Lord Hastings smiled.

“I see,” he replied briefly.

“And what do you think of the plan?”

“I am in favor of it,” said Jack.

“And so am I,” declared Lord Hastings. “But, remember, to get there quickly we shall once more have to pass through the Kiel canal.”

“We did it once. We can do it again,” replied Frank quietly.