THE CRUISE OF THE CONDOR

by W. E. Johns

XI. THE ANTS (Pages 156 – 166)

Biggles awakes early the following morning only to be shocked to discover the Condor covered in large ants. There are so many of them that it looks like the wings “had some sticky black substance poured over them, a heavy viscous fluid like tar that was still slowly moving and dripping off the edges”. “Ants!” ejaculated Dickpa. “Millions and millions of them!” The ants are after the dope on the fabric. Wondering how on earth to get them off without being eaten alive, the situation takes a new turn when another huge column of smaller ants arrives. “They were quite small, not a quarter of the size of their big brothers on the machine, but they were as countless as the sands on a seashore”. The small ants drive the big ants away and Biggles uses the opportunity to attach a rope to the tail of their aircraft in order to drag it into a brook. It takes an hour but the movement helps get rid of the remaining ants and again the aircraft is camouflaged in its new position. After a meal, they set off to the cave with a view to breaking through the wall and Biggles takes the rope used to pull the Condor with him. “I think I’ll bring this along; it may come in handy,” he observed casually. In such simple actions does Fate show her hand.