JACK TURNED HIS WHIP FROM THE BACKS OF THE HORSES AND LASHED OUT AT THE WOLVES.

THE BOY ALLIES

(Registered in United States Patent Office)

In the Baltic

OR

Through Fields of Ice to Aid the Czar

By ENSIGN ROBERT L. DRAKE

AUTHOR OF

“The Boy Allies Under the Sea,” “The Boy Allies on the North

Sea Patrol,” “The Boy Allies Under Two Flags,” “The

Boy Allies with the Flying Squadron,” “The Boy

Allies with the Terror of the Seas.”

Copyright, 1916

By A. L. Burt Company

THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALTIC

THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALTIC

CHAPTER I.
ON A RAID.

“Submerge to five fathoms, Mr. Templeton!”

The speaker was Lord Hastings, commander of the British submarine D-17.

Jack Templeton, a British youth and first officer of the under-sea craft, repeated the command for which he had been waiting now for some moments.

“Mr. Chadwick!”

Lord Hastings’ voice again.

“Sir!”

A third figure, standing upon the bridge—now enclosed as the submarine sank from the surface—came to attention before his commander. Frank Chadwick, an American youth and second officer of the vessel, awaited instructions.

“Everything shipshape?” questioned his commander sharply.

“Yes, sir. Engine-room trouble all repaired, sir.”

“Lookout posted forward?”

“Yes, sir!”

“Very well. Ten fathoms, Mr. Templeton!”

Lord Hastings turned from the periscope, through which he had been peering, and for a moment gazed thoughtfully at his two young officers before speaking. At last he said:

“Unless something goes wrong we will be in Heligoland within two hours!”

A startling statement, this, to one who did not know the nature of the man who made it; for it was a fact known to all the world that Heligoland, the great German fortress that guarded the approach to the few miles of German seacoast, was one of the strongest in the world—perhaps as well fortified as Gibraltar itself, and considered by naval experts equally as impregnable.

Apparently the D-17 was bent upon a perilous venture.

Such, indeed, was the case. The D-17, sister ship to the D-16, in which Lord Hastings and his two young officers had seen many exciting adventures, as related in “The Boy Allies with the Terror of the Seas,” had left the coast of England the day before, heading straight for the strongly fortified German base; and now she was almost there.

Just what object Lord Hastings had in view neither Jack nor Frank knew, for Lord Hastings had not yet taken them fully into his confidence concerning this expedition. Since leaving England he had been busy in his cabin almost continuously poring over papers and maps, but both lads had a pretty shrewd idea that the venture was an important one.

Now Frank asked:

“And what are we going to do in there, sir?”

Lord Hastings smiled.

“What would be your idea about that?”

“Well,” said Frank, “there are several things we might do. First, we might sink a couple of German war vessels. We might try and learn the lay of the land—perhaps I should say the water—or we might try and get ashore and so learn other matters of importance. Have I hit it, sir?”

“You have,” returned his commander dryly; “you’ve hit it in more ways than one. In fact, I may say you have guessed shrewdly all through.”

“Then I can do a little guessing, too,” declared Jack.

“Well?” said Lord Hastings inquiringly.

“Well,” said Jack, “we first shall probably make an attempt to get ashore, for there we can learn more than we could reconnoitering beneath the water. That’s where we shall try to find our information. And we shall sink a couple of the enemy on our way out. Am I right, sir?”

“You are,” replied Lord Hastings briefly, and turning on his heel he left the bridge and disappeared in his cabin, only to reappear a few moments later, charts and papers in his hands, announcing:

“Mr. Chadwick, you will take the wheel yourself. I’ll stand beside you and give my orders. These waters are thickly strewn with mines and we can afford to take no chances.”

Frank obeyed this command without question and Lord Hastings took his place beside him, first remarking to Jack:

“You will relieve the lookout forward, Mr. Templeton, and keep your eyes open. I need not mention the need of prompt action should you perceive danger ahead. Slow down to five knots!”

“Very well, sir.”

Jack saluted, and after giving the command that reduced the speed of the vessel, took himself forward.

There, at the extreme bow, he relieved a sailor and took the watch himself.

Now the D-17, like her sister ship the D-16, which had been sunk off the Dardanelles—an accident in which all on board escaped as by a miracle—was as unlike other under-water craft as day is from night.

In the first place, she was able to remain under water indefinitely. It was not necessary for her to return to the surface every so often to replenish her air tanks, for she carried no tanks. The D-17 generated her air supply from the water, by means of a secret process known only to high officials of the British admiralty. Also, the D-17 was the last word in submarine craft in other respects. She had a speed of more than thirty knots when submerged, could move along even faster upon the surface of the water, and her bow, a solid piece of substantial glass, in which reposed a huge searchlight, made it possible for her to pick her course under the water—something that no other submarine craft was able to do. For this latter reason she could venture places where no other vessel would dare.

The huge light flashing in front now, Jack took his stand and stood with eyes straining into the distance ahead.

And while the D-17 is thus moving toward the strongest fortification of the enemy, a few words concerning the two subordinate officers aboard are necessary.

Frank Chadwick, an American youth of some seventeen years of age, found himself in his present position as a result of a series of strange happenings. He had lost his father in Italy immediately after the outbreak of the great war, and while hunting him in Naples, had been shanghaied aboard an Italian schooner. Here, following a mutiny of the crew and the death of the captain, he found himself a prisoner, remaining so until released by Jack Templeton.

The latter’s appearance came about in this manner: Jack, the son of an Englishman, nevertheless had spent most of his life in a little African coast town. His father died there and Jack found himself sole owner of a little store, which had almost a native trade alone, though an occasional ship put in for supplies.

One day a schooner hove in sight. A boat put over the side and its occupants obtained provisions at Jack’s store. In the lad’s absence, they departed without making payment. Jack hurried after them to collect and climbed aboard the schooner just as she raised anchor. A fight followed his demand for payment. By some resourcefulness and some good hard fighting, the lad succeeded in gaining the upper hand. Then he released Frank, whom he found a prisoner with another, a British secret service agent.

A series of subsequent events threw the lads into the company of Lord Hastings, who, taking a liking to them, answered their pleas to be made sailors by securing them commissions and taking them aboard his own ship at the opening of the great world war.

Then had followed months of excitement and adventure. They had taken part in British successes and reverses on all the seven seas. They had been “in at the death” in the first British naval victory off Heligoland; they had followed the German cruiser Emden, “the Terror of the Sea”; they had been in action with the British fleet that destroyed the German squadron off the Falkland Islands in the western hemisphere; they had seen action in other parts of the globe—at the Dardanelles, with the Japanese at Tsingchau, with the French in the Adriatic and with the Russians in the Baltic.

In a word, they were veterans.

Many were the narrow escapes they had had, but they had always survived. Their latest venture had almost cost Frank his life, for, after the submarine upon which they sailed had been destroyed, Frank engaged in a death struggle with a British traitor in the waters of the North Sea and had won by a scant fraction. He was unconscious when rescued by his chum and he had remained inactive, as had the others, in England for several weeks.

But now, the D-17 having been put in service, Lord Hastings had been named to command her and all were eager to get busy again.

Frank, though sturdy and strong, was by no means a match for his chum, a powerful and husky young Englishman. Also he was naturally more hot-headed than his friend, and given to taking foolhardy chances—at times. Jack’s coolness had saved both more than once.

Jack was what Frank called a real fighter and had proved his mettle more than once since the two had been together. Strong as an ox, he was a bad customer to tackle in a rough and tumble and he was exceedingly proficient in the use of his fists. Also he was a fair swordsman and a fair shot.

It was in the latter accomplishment that Frank excelled. He was a dead shot with either rifle or revolver, as he had proved in several tight situations where straight shooting had been necessary. He had never failed in this respect.

Fortunately, both lads spoke German and French as well as English, and under Lord Hastings’ tutoring, they had also picked up a smattering of Italian, Russian and Hungarian—not much, perhaps, but enough to carry on a conversation, although with some difficulty.

At the time the D-17 made her way toward Heligoland, the great war was almost at a standstill. It seemed that the warring nations had reached a deadlock that could not be broken.

On sea, of course, the Allies held the whip hand, except for the submarine warfare instigated by the Central Powers. This, however, due in a measure to the activities of British under-sea craft upon which Jack and Frank had served, had been somewhat lessened lately and German U-boats, as they had come to be known, had not been so active recently.

On land, however, it seemed that neither side had gained much in the last few months. What advantage there was seemed to have rested with the Germans, for the Kaiser’s mighty drive through the Balkans had completely crushed heroic little Serbia and had opened a path to Constantinople for the German hordes. Also it had brought Bulgaria into the war on the side of the Central Powers, giving them the armed weight necessary to keep Greece and Roumania from throwing their support to the Allies, much as they would have liked to do so.

This was the situation, then, when the D-17 steamed slowly toward the German naval fortress of Heligoland.

As Lord Hastings, standing by Frank at the wheel, gave the course, avoiding mines as well as he could by the chart that had somehow come into his possession, Jack retained his place forward in the glass-like cage, his eyes steadily ahead.

For an hour, perhaps, he sat there, seeing nothing that indicated danger.

Then, suddenly, his right hand shot out, his finger touched a little push-button; the throb of the engines ceased as if by magic and the D-17 seemed to halt in her track.

Jack approached Lord Hastings.

“Mine, sir,” he said, quietly.

CHAPTER II.
WITHIN THE FORTRESS.

“Good work, Jack,” said Frank, approvingly.

“What do you advise?” asked Lord Hastings. “Up or down?”

“Depends on the depth, sir,” replied Jack.

“We’ll have a look at the chart,” said Lord Hastings.

He spread it out before him and the three pored over it for several moments.

“Here you are, sir,” said Frank, at last, placing a finger on the chart.

“Plenty of water,” was Lord Hastings’ comment. “Submerge another five fathoms, Mr. Templeton.”

Jack gave the order and then returned to his post.

The D-17 submerged another five fathoms and proceeded at a snail’s pace. Jack kept his eyes glued to the course ahead.

Half an hour later the vibrations of the engine ceased. Then Jack made his way aft to where Lord Hastings and Frank were conversing.

“Unless I am badly off in my calculations,” said Lord Hastings, “we should now be able to come to the surface beyond the mine field.”

“And as soon as we do, some German warship will send us to the bottom,” remarked Frank dryly.

“So they will—if they see us,” returned his commander. “We must make it a point that they do not see us. That’s all.”

“All very well, sir,” said Jack, “but if we go up now they are sure to see us—and they won’t mistake us for one of themselves this time.”

Lord Hastings smiled quietly.

“Then we won’t go up now,” he replied as he looked at his watch and noted that it was half past five. “It’ll be dark in less than an hour. We’ll remain here until then.”

This ended the conversation and the commander of the D-17 went to his cabin, leaving Jack in command.

The time passed slowly, but darkness came at last; and with its coming Lord Hastings emerged from his cabin, attired in the uniform of a German lieutenant-commander.

“I forgot to tell you lads to don your German uniforms,” he said. “I’ll wait now, but make haste.”

Frank and Jack hurried away in response to this command and soon were attired in the full regalia of German lieutenants. Lord Hastings eyed them approvingly.

“There is no use talking,” he said, “I have always thought it—and I am sure of it now—both of you would make first-class Germans. You may give the command to come to the surface, Mr. Templeton.”

A few moments later the D-17 rode gently upon the calm sea within the fortifications of Heligoland, the greatest German military fortresses, and considered among the strongest and most impregnable in the world.

It was very dark and the night was perfectly still when the three forms ascended the ladder and emerged from the conning tower to the bridge—open now that the submarine was above water. A fourth figure followed them, that of Price, an aged British tar, whom Lord Hastings had designated to take command in their absence.

“Don’t forget now, Price,” said Lord Hastings sternly, “you will submerge immediately we have put off and on no account will you come to the surface again until 9 o’clock to-morrow night. Then you will rise in exactly this spot—and be sure that you are on time. Do I make myself clear?”

“Perfectly, sir,” replied Price, saluting.

“Good. Then launch the boat.”

This was done immediately and a few moments later Lord Hastings, Jack and Frank were proceeding rapidly shoreward, the engine of the small motor-boat muffled so that all that could be heard was the faint sound of the exhaust.

In the darkness, as they sped on, loomed great, dark shapes—the forms of some of the most powerful of the Kaiser’s formidable sea fighters. Smoke poured from their funnels and faint lights glowed aboard.

“Ready for action at any moment,” said Lord Hastings.

“So they are,” agreed Frank. “Great Scott! It doesn’t seem possible that so many of these great craft could be afraid to venture forth to give battle.”

“No, it doesn’t,” declared Jack. “But at the same time, you must remember there are more and still more formidable craft waiting for them to come out and try it.”

“That’s true, too,” admitted Frank. “I wish they would try it, though. I don’t believe many of them would get back.”

“Evidently the Germans have the same belief—which is the reason they haven’t tried it,” said Lord Hastings, smiling in the darkness.

“Silence, now,” he cautioned them, after a moment. “We are close to the shore. Let all further talk be in German.”

Five minutes later the motor-boat came to a long pier, which extended far into the water.

“Here we are,” said Lord Hastings in German. He glanced around. “Other boats tied up here. Guess we might as well do the same,” he said. “We may need it. Fortunately, at my suggestion, none of the D-17’s boats bear a mark of identification. Guess it won’t be bothered.”

The three climbed up on the pier and the boat was made fast.

“Which way now, sir?” asked Frank.

“We’ll just do a little prowling,” said Lord Hastings.

He turned and was about to move off when there came a gruff hail:

“Who goes there?”

“Friend!” replied Lord Hastings, wheeling about quickly and looking into the heavy-joweled face of a German sentinel.

The German eyed the three figures keenly; then, apparently satisfied that they were all they seemed, he brought his hand up in a stiff military salute. The three passed on.

“Rather lax methods here, if you ask me,” said Frank, when they were out of hearing.

“Oh, I don’t know,” said Jack. “You must remember that they feel perfectly secure. Evidently they have no idea an enemy would venture within this fortification.”

“Some of them have ventured within ours,” returned Frank.

“Just the egotism of the German, that’s all,” said Lord Hastings. “They all believe they can do things that no other man would even consider.”

“So they do,” declared Frank.

Jack looked at his chum in surprise.

“Just what do you mean by that?” he demanded.

“Oh, I was just thinking of the Lusitania, and a few other things.”

“That’s different,” said Jack.

They continued their walk.

Now they came to a brilliantly lighted street.

“I didn’t know this was a regular city,” was Frank’s comment.

“Neither is it,” returned Lord Hastings, “although there are some few people living here.”

“But look,” protested Frank, pointing, “those are restaurants and cafés; and there are stores and things.”

“So there are,” returned his commander. “Must have changed since I was here last. However, I suppose it is because the garrison has to have some form of entertainment. Guess the best thing we can do is to go in one of these cafés and look about a bit.”

He led the way, and just before entering the brilliantly lighted doorway, paused long enough to say in a low voice:

“No hesitation now. It would prove fatal. Walk as if you owned the place—just as every German does.”

The boys needed no instructions along this line, and they followed Lord Hastings with heads erect, swaggering a trifle.

Inside there was revelry. German officers sat about tables that lined the four walls of the room. With them, or some of them, were their wives. Apparently it was the supper hour.

At a far end of the room a string orchestra furnished music and there were four singers—two men and two women—or rather one young girl, for such Frank perceived her to be after careful inspection.

A courteous waiter met the three at the door as they entered, and with many bows ushered them to a table in a distant corner. They sat down and Lord Hastings gave the order for supper.

Now the music struck up a more lively gait and some of the German officers and their wives arose and danced in the center of the floor. Frank saw a young German lieutenant, who apparently had been drinking, approach the youthful singer. Apparently he asked her to dance, for he indicated the other whirling couples. But the girl shook her head. Whereupon the young German muttered something under his breath and took himself away.

Frank found his eyes continually straying toward the young girl; and once aware of his scrutiny, the girl’s eyes also flashed in his direction more often than was necessary. Jack noticed this, but said nothing.

But there was something else that Jack noticed as he ate. The young German who had so recently been refused by the girl, had followed the direction of her eyes and he now glared at Frank balefully. Jack smiled to himself.

But the lad’s smile soon changed to a frown.

After five minutes, the young German officer again approached the girl and again asked her to dance. He met a second refusal and this time words ensued. The German seemed angry and two of his companions approached and pulled him away.

Frank had been a witness of this scene, as had Jack and Lord Hastings.

“The big bully!” said Frank half aloud. “Just because he wears a German uniform he thinks he owns the earth. I would like to teach him a lesson.”

“Don’t try it here,” said Lord Hastings quietly. “Remember where we are and the position we are in.”

“Oh, I won’t, sir,” replied Frank. “But I don’t like that fellow’s looks.”

“You don’t, eh?” said Jack. “Well, how about the pretty singer. I notice you have been looking that way quite often.”

Frank’s face grew red.

“She doesn’t look like a German to me,” he said.

“No, she doesn’t,” Jack agreed. “Still, she must be or she wouldn’t be here. Besides, she hasn’t a trace of accent.”

“Neither have you and you are not German,” declared Frank.

Jack would have replied, but his attention was suddenly drawn again to the girl, who now seemed to be making signals to catch Frank’s eye.

“Seems to want to talk to you,” said Jack, nudging his chum slyly.

At that moment the girl looked directly at Frank and smiled. Then she motioned him to come to her. Frank was greatly flustered. Not so Jack.

“You’d better go. She probably wants you to dance with her,” said Jack.

“Yes, you had better go, Frank,” said Lord Hastings. “In the first place it would be impolite to refuse, and besides, it might attract attention. Only be careful.”

Frank, his face still red, hesitated a moment; then rose to his feet.

CHAPTER III.
A WARNING.

Now, Frank, attired in his German uniform, made a handsome picture of a young officer and many eyes were turned his way as he strode across the floor. Particularly did the young German officer with whom the singer had refused to dance eye him, but his was not a gaze of admiration—it was anger.

Lord Hastings called Jack’s attention to this.

“Oh, I’ve noticed it,” said Jack. “I’ll keep an eye on him. Now I wonder what that girl wants with Frank?”

Lord Hastings shrugged his shoulders.

“You have as much an idea as I have,” was his reply.

The girl arose from her seat as Frank approached. She extended a hand, and, with the air of a true cavalier, Frank bent low over it. Then, as the music struck up, the girl smiled and would have spoken, but Frank forestalled her.

“Will you dance?” he asked.

She nodded; and a moment later they were whirling about the floor in an old-fashioned waltz.

Thus among the crowd there was a certain privacy and Frank was moved to ask:

“And now will you not tell me why you signalled me?”

Instantly the girl became serious, although she continued to smile.

“I must be brief,” she said, “so listen closely. In the first place you are not German. Oh, I knew it the moment you came in,” she said hurriedly, as Frank gave a start. “I wouldn’t have mentioned it, but the young German officer whom I refused to dance with also suspects. He said as much when he noticed me looking at you. He said he would catch you off your guard and force you to betray yourself.”

“But——” Frank started to protest.

“Oh, there is no use trying to fool me,” said the girl. “I know you are not a German—an Englishman perhaps, eh?”

Frank smiled at her.

“No; not an Englishman,” he replied.

“You are not French,” said the girl, looking up at him. “Even though you speak German without accent, I know you are not French, for I myself am French and I would detect it.”

“No; I am not French,” said Frank with another smile.

“Then what?” asked the girl.

“Well,” said Frank, “what would you say to an American.”

“An American!” exclaimed the girl. “Are you, really? I am glad, for I have wanted to meet an American.”

Suddenly Frank gave another start.

“Great Scott!” he thought. “Suppose this girl is fooling me? Suppose she has taken this means of finding out who we are?”

He looked at her suspiciously. But the girl evidently read his thoughts, for she looked at him steadily and said:

“No, I will not betray you. You need have no fear.”

“But if you are French,” said Frank, “what are you doing here?”

“It’s a long story,” said the girl, “and some day I may tell you. But now I have not time. The music will stop in a moment or two now, and you must return to your friends. But I had to warn you, for I know that Lieutenant Holzen is bent on mischief. It would be well for you and your friends to leave at once.”

“Thanks,” said Frank, “but we are able to take care of ourselves.”

“Oh, I know that,” responded the girl. “But I know also that you would not be here except upon some desperate mission and that you cannot afford to jeopardize for the sake of a quarrel.”

“You are right, of course,” said Frank quietly. “But tell me, what is my mission to you?”

“Nothing,” said the girl slowly, “only that—that I would do anything for France.”

She said it gravely and there could be no mistaking her earnestness. Frank bowed his head in reply; for there was nothing he could say.

Several times more they whirled about the room; and then Frank bethought himself to ask the girl who she was.

“Will you tell me your name?” he asked. “I am Lieutenant Chadwick of His British Majesty’s service.”

The girl smiled and would have replied, but at that moment the music ceased. Frank offered her his arm and led her back to her seat and there was no further opportunity for the girl to reply to the lad’s last question. As she resumed her seat, Frank bowed once more, then turned on his heel and strode back to his own table, where Lord Hastings and Jack were awaiting him eagerly.

“Well, fair charmer,” Jack greeted him. “How——”

Frank silenced his chum with a gesture.

“This is a serious business,” he said quietly and told the others what the girl had said.

“And you admitted it?” exclaimed Jack in a subdued voice. “She’ll tell every German in forty miles.”

“No, she won’t,” declared Frank. “She was telling the truth.”

Jack laughed aloud.

“Of all the credulous——” he began.

“Look here. I tell you she was telling the truth,” declared Frank angrily.

Again Jack laughed and Frank was about to make another angry remark when Lord Hastings interfered.

“Perhaps Frank is right,” he said quietly. “At all events, it is nothing for you two to fight about.”

“We’re not fighting, sir,” said Jack. “But the idea——”

“The idea nothing!” Frank broke in. “I guess I know what I am talking about. I danced with her, didn’t I? You didn’t.”

“Ha! ha!” said Jack. “You see, sir, he brags about it. She’s fooled him, all right.”

“Don’t you believe it, sir,” declared Frank. “I tell you, sir, the girl was telling me the truth. Why, sir, you have only to look at her——”

“Now we have it, sir,” exclaimed Jack. “That’s it. You have only to look at her. Ha! ha!”

“I tell you——” Frank began angrily again.

Jack made his chum a bow across the table.

“You are right,” he said with a superior air that only angered Frank the more. “She told you the truth.”

“Enough of this,” interposed Lord Hastings. “No matter whether she told the truth or not, we are in danger. If she didn’t tell the truth we are likely to be set upon at any moment and if she did the German officer probably will make trouble. The best thing we can do is get out of here.”

He signaled the waiter and paid the check.

“Come,” he said and got to his feet.

The waiter brought their hats and cloaks and Lord Hastings moved toward the door. Jack followed him and Frank came last.

On the way to the door it was necessary to pass the table at which the German officer and his companions were seated. Lord Hastings walked by without a glance, as did Jack. Frank would have followed, but the German suddenly jumped to his feet and confronted him with an imprecation.

“Stand aside,” said Frank quietly.

The German made no move to comply. At first Frank thought of pushing the man away; then changed his mind, for he realized that such an act would draw all eyes to them. The best plan was to get by quietly if possible.

“What is it?” he asked.

“It is my belief that you are a spy,” declared the German.

“Yes?” said Frank inquiringly. “Well, sir, every man has a right to his own opinion; you as well as another.”

“Smart, aren’t you?” sneered the German. He raised his hand suddenly and, before Frank could realize his intention, slapped the lad smartly across the face.

Frank took a step forward and his hands clenched. His face turned red and he was about to return the blow. A second time his better judgment prevailed and he stepped back, remarking quietly:

“You shall answer for that, Lieutenant Holzen!”

“What! you know my name?” exclaimed the German. “So I shall answer, eh? Yes, so I shall, at any time and place that suits your convenience.”

“I am no duelist,” said Frank quietly.

“No; you are a coward,” was the retort.

Again Frank’s face turned red and his hands clenched; but he restrained himself.

“For that you shall answer also,” he said. “Now, stand aside. I would pass.”

“Not much!” said Lieutenant Holzen. “First you must tell me the time and place of meeting.”

“Look here, I’m getting tired of this foolishness,” said Frank. “Get out of my way.”

“What do you mean by speaking like that to me?” demanded the German angrily. “You shall pass when I allow you to pass, not before.”

“If you don’t get out of my way immediately, I shall have to throw you out,” said Frank very quietly, which was a sure sign that his anger was reaching the bursting point.

“So?” said the German with a laugh. “Now, I say——”

“You’ve said enough,” cried Frank suddenly.

He struck out suddenly with his right fist. The blow went true. Struck upon the point of the jaw, the German reeled back. Frank straightened him up again with a left-handed hook to the stomach and then sent his right fist to the jaw a second time. The German officer sprawled across the table.

Before any of the others could interfere Frank dashed toward the door where Lord Hastings and Jack stood, having watched developments with the assurance that Frank could take care of himself.

All dashed out together.

“This way!” cried Lord Hastings.

The others followed close on his heels.

Behind, as they darted round a corner, they could hear the hue and cry of the pursuers.

“We’ll have to do some sprinting,” declared Lord Hastings.

For perhaps fifteen minutes they ran, turning corner after corner, and at last, when Lord Hastings felt they were safe from pursuit, he drew up for a much needed breath.

“Can’t tell whether they’ll follow us or not,” he said. “If they take any stock in the officer’s story that we are spies, they will. If they think it is just a private quarrel, the chances are they won’t. However, we can do no particular good here. We’ll have to go back and see.”

“Anything you say, sir,” agreed Frank. “I suppose I shouldn’t have hit that fellow, but he wouldn’t let me by.”

“Don’t worry about that. You did exactly right,” declared Lord Hastings. “Come on.”

He led the way in the direction from which they had come.

CHAPTER IV.
MARIE DULCÉ.

Things seemed to have quieted down when the three found themselves again before the café. Apparently there had been but a faint-hearted pursuit. All breathed easier.

“They can’t have believed very much in that spy story,” remarked Frank.

“It would seem that way,” agreed Lord Hastings. “Evidently they took your friend’s words as the ravings of a man intoxicated.”

“A good thing, too, sir,” said Jack. “None of them will molest us, unless it is the doughty lieutenant himself.”

“We don’t need to worry about him, I guess,” said Lord Hastings. “Now we must get busy. I wonder——” as a sudden thought struck him, “if your friend,” he turned to Frank, “the young lady, I mean, couldn’t give us, or get for us, the information we desire.”

“I guess she could, sir,” replied Frank, “if we could find her.”

“She probably is still in the café,” said Jack.

“And so probably is Lieutenant Holzen,” replied Frank dryly.

“True,” said Lord Hastings. “We can’t afford to risk another encounter. Guess we’ll have to hunt up the place she lives. All we have to do is ask where Mademoiselle—by the way, Frank, what is her name?”

“I don’t know, sir. She didn’t tell me.”

“What?” exclaimed Lord Hastings in surprise. “You are a nice gallant, you are. So you failed to find out her name, eh?”

“Yes, sir. She was just going to tell me when the music stopped.”

Jack laughed.

“Maybe she wasn’t so anxious to tell you,” he said.

“Now look here,” said Frank, “don’t let’s start that again. If it touches you on a sore spot, I’ll drop the subject.”

“Oh, all right,” said Jack.

“Well, the matter should not be so difficult, anyhow,” declared Lord Hastings. “We’ll ask someone the name of the young lady who sings.”

“Perfectly simple, sir,” agreed Jack. “Whom shall we ask?”

“The first person we see,” was the reply.

Lord Hastings led the way down the street. An officer approached. Lord Hastings accosted him in German.

“I have recently been ordered to Heligoland,” he said. “A moment ago I was in yonder café,” pointing, “and the young singer in there bears such a striking resemblance to the daughter of a friend of mine that I should like to know if she is the same.”

“And the name of the young lady to whom you refer?” questioned the German.

“Henrietta! Henrietta Blucher!”

The German laughed.

“Then you are mistaken,” he said pleasantly. “The young lady who sings in yonder café is Marie Dulcé and she is a French girl.”

“I had not taken her to be French,” returned Lord Hastings. “Can you tell me where she lives?”

“Why, certainly,” was the reply, and the German named an address and gave the necessary directions for getting there. “I don’t imagine,” he added, “you will find her home much before 12 o’clock, the café does not close until eleven.”

Lord Hastings thanked the man and the latter took himself off.

“Well, we have that much to go on, anyhow,” said Lord Hastings. “Now the best thing for us to do is to go to Mlle. Dulcé’s home and await her arrival.”

“And maybe they won’t let us in,” said Jack.

“We’ll have to chance that.”

An hour later they sought the address given and mounted the steps. Lord Hastings rang the bell. A pleasant-appearing woman of middle age answered their summons. At a glance Lord Hastings knew she was French and he addressed her in that language.

“Could it be that you are Madame Dulcé?” he inquired courteously.

The woman smiled as she answered in the affirmative.

“We,” said Lord Hastings, indicating Frank and Jack as well as himself, “would have a few words with your daughter Marie when she returns home. We have sought her here rather than at the café for several reasons.”

A look of deep anxiety spread itself over Madame Dulcé’s face and she asked excitedly:

“What has she done, sir? Surely she will not be arrested? You do not take her for a spy?”

“You need have no fear,” returned Lord Hastings reassuringly. “We mean no harm. May we come in and wait?”

“Certainly.”

Madame Dulcé led the way into a small, though cozy parlor and took their hats and coats.

“Marie will be here soon after twelve,” she said. “She always comes straight home, for she knows I worry about her.”

“How does it happen that she sings in the café?” asked Lord Hastings.

“Because we are so poor,” was the reply. “Her salary there enables us to keep the wolf away from the door. Frau Heffler, who also sings, was the one who so kindly gave her the opportunity.”