The orderly saluted and moved away. He was back a few moments later followed by the deposed commander. "And what do you want with me now?" demanded the latter somewhat aggressively. "If I were you," returned General Burgoff quietly, "I would adopt another tone. That kind of talk will do you no good and I am likely to change my mind regarding what disposition I shall make of you." "Influenced by this Englishman, perhaps," sneered General Surgoff, with a malevolent look at Jack. "Hardly," was the grim reply. "Surgoff, I have decided that it is unnecessary to take you before the Czar. I shall attend to your case myself." "You mean that I shall be put to death?" exclaimed the other. "Certainly you dare not shoulder such a responsibility." "I dare anything," was the reply. "But such is not my intention. No; I shall simply turn your command over to your immediately subordinate and allow you to go free, first commanding that you leave Siberia immediately." For a moment it seemed that General Surgoff could not believe he had heard aright. Then he stepped toward General Burgoff and said brokenly: "I thank you, sir. I shall go to the front and seek to enlist in the ranks. Perhaps it is not too late for me to serve Russia well." "Do," replied General Burgoff in a more kindly voice. "But do not thank me for this chance. Thank this young Englishman here." General Surgoff stared at Jack in the utmost surprise. Plainly such cases of forgiveness were beyond his comprehension. "I bear you no ill will," said Jack quietly. "But I do you," growled the deposed officer. "I shall accept this chance, sir," turning to the general again, "but I will thank no one but you. And one more word," again turning to Jack, "if ever I am fortunate enough to lay hands on you, I shall make you pay." Jack shrugged his shoulders. "Oh, all right, if that's the way you feel about it," he said with a slight smile. General Surgoff saluted General Burgoff stiffly; turned on his heel and marched away. "You see," said the latter to Jack. "You see what forgiveness means to a man like Surgoff." "Oh, well," said Jack, "at least I have kept my own conscience clear. That is something." General Burgoff eyed the lad keenly for some moments, considering this remark. At last he turned away; and he also shrugged his shoulders; and he said: "You are right, my lad. That is something!" 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.