For a time, it seemed that Jack would succeed. As the count came forward, Jack crouched, and sent a hard right hand blow to the count's nose. Apparently the count didn't think much of this style of fighting, for he rushed forward. This time Jack was able to sidestep nimbly and he floored the count with a well-directed right blow just above the ear as he passed. He sprang forward to take advantage of this opening, but the count suddenly reached out and grabbed the lad by the legs. Jack tumbled over on top of his foe. Now both combatants threw their arms about one another and struggled for supremacy. Jack was still on top and he was determined to stay there if it were humanly possible. The count was struggling as strenuously to get from beneath Jack. Suddenly Jack felt a finger press his cheek, missing his eye by a scant inch. Immediately Jack, by a great effort, freed himself of the other's hold, and sprang to his feet. "Trying to gouge, eh?" muttered the lad. It was exactly what the count had tried to do. He had been seeking Jack's eye with his finger, and he had all but found his mark. Count Blowinski also got to his feet. One rush he made at Jack. This, too, the lad escaped by a quick side leap, and again his fist crashed to the side of his opponent's head. Once more the count turned and rushed and again Jack adopted the same tactics. The count staggered from the effect of the blow he received as he passed, then righted himself and seemed about to charge again. Jack made ready to receive him. But, so suddenly that Jack could make no move to stop him, the count turned in his tracks, leaped to the door, pulled it open and disappeared into the hall. With a startled cry Jack leaped after him. But when the lad reached the outside door and gazed up and down the street there was no sign of Count Blowinski. "Now I wonder where he could have gone to," said the lad. He gazed both ways for several minutes. Then, with a shrug of his shoulders, he turned and re-entered the house. "He's gone," said Jack. "Now I'll see what I can do for Frank." He ascended the stairs. CHAPTER XXVIII. COUNT BLOWINSKI IS CAPTURED. "And so the count has escaped, eh?" It was Czar Nicholas who spoke as he gazed at Jack and Lord Hastings. "Yes, your Majesty," replied the lad, and for a second time, at the Czar's request, he went over the details of the struggle with the count. "Well," said the Czar when the lad had concluded, "there is no telling in what part of the city he may be located now. Still, I would like to catch him. I wonder how he escaped from Siberia? or if he was ever taken?" "Probably the latter was the case," declared Lord Hastings. "The count has been a powerful man and must have made friends. It is probable that the officer who had charge of him became temporarily blind, purposely." "If I were sure----" said the Czar, and he banged his fist on the table angrily.