THE CRUISE OF THE CONDOR

by W. E. Johns

X. THE RAID (Pages 140 – 155)

The following morning Smyth, helped by Biggles, attends to the damaged petrol tank “with the help of that well-known stand-by of long-distance airmen, chewing-gum, which Biggles bought for the purpose, the hole was plugged sufficiently well to hold petrol until such time as a more permanent repair could be effected”. Biggles hears the sound of an aircraft engine and realises that the enemy are taxi-ing (this is how Johns spells it here. He normally spells it ‘taxying’) up the river looking for them. Biggles takes off and comes up with a clever idea to solve their petrol problem. Flying upriver for ten minutes before turning in a wide arc and flying to a point down river of the enemy camp, Biggles gets behind the enemy with the plan of taking their petrol. Landing a safe distance from their camp, where they cannot be heard, Biggles remains with the aircraft whilst the others advance on foot in case there is a guard. There is: it is Philippe, Dickpa’s old carrier. He is captured and he begs for his life. Smyth holds him at gunpoint and Dickpa tells Smyth “We can’t kill him in cold blood, although goodness knows he deserves it, but if he tries any monkey-tricks – shoot”. Cans of petrol are taken and used to fill up the Condor. They have only just finished when they hear the sound of the returning Curtiss flying-boat, this time flying. Biggles flies into the sun so he can’t be seen, then flies to the tributary which leads to the mountains and the treasure-cave. Biggles hands over control of the plane to Algy and parachutes out in order to clear a suitable “run-away” on the prairie below. (He breathed a sigh of relief as the silk chute billowed out like a great mushroom - is the illustration opposite page 150). For quarter of an hour he clears big stones and branches and then lights a signal fire to tell Algy to land, which Algy does safely. Using an axe, the plane is hidden under some trees and camouflaged. Our heroes then set off to clear the mouth of the cave with the tools they had previously left behind. Clearing their way to the Inca built wall, they decide to break through tomorrow.