"I told you," said Lord Hastings quietly, "that we did not fire upon you. You were attacked by a German submarine, which we have just had the pleasure of sending to the bottom." The Russian officer looked skeptical. "May I ask to see your papers?" he asked. "You may," replied Lord Hastings, now somewhat nettled, "but you won't." "In that event," replied the officer, "I must place you under arrest." Lord Hastings smiled sardonically. "Which would be quite a task," he said. "Remember, you are aboard my ship now, and if I choose, I can have you thrown into the sea. However, as there seems to be some misunderstanding, I am ready to accompany you aboard your ship, where I shall explain matters to your commander." The officer could but be satisfied with this. "Very well," he said. Lord Hastings turned to Jack. "You shall go with me," he said. "Frank, you remain here." He stepped into the boat and Jack and the Russian officer followed him. The boat put off toward the Russian cruiser. Aboard the cruiser Lord Hastings was at once ushered into the presence of the Russian commander, Captain Bergoff. To him he told the same story he had related to his officer. "Then how did you get in the Baltic Sea?" asked the Russian officer. "Through the Kiel canal," replied Lord Hastings. The Russian commander smiled. "And you expect me to believe that?" he said. "Impossible." "Nevertheless," said Lord Hastings, drawing himself up, "it is true." "I won't dispute you," was the reply. "Have your own way. However, I fear that I must place you under arrest." "Under arrest!" "Yes. I have no doubt that you are English, but I believe you are traitors to your country. Your speech proves you are English, but it would be impossible for a British vessel to force a passage of the Kiel canal. I suppose you will tell me, however, that you sank several German vessels there." "We did," replied Jack, breaking into the conversation for the first time. Again the Russian smiled. "And here seem to be two full grown men asking me to believe a thing like that," he said. "It's too much. Lieutenant!" The officer who had escorted the two aboard approached. "Have them confined in irons," was the command. "But," protested Lord Hastings, "regardless of our nationality, we came here under a flag of truce." "Spies in British uniforms," said the Russian sternly. "You will leave here under the Russian flag and in irons." CHAPTER XVII. PETROGRAD. Lord Hastings stepped close to the Russian commander. "You will interfere with us at your peril," he said quietly. "We are all that we represent ourselves to be, as you could plainly see if you were not so thick headed." "What!" exclaimed the Russian. "You insult me? Take them away."