BIGGLES FLIES AGAIN

by W. E. Johns

IV. FAIR CARGO (Pages 67 – 77)

Back at the Hotel Guibert in La Paz, a formidable heap of letters awaits Biggles and Algy. There are various job offers but one letter is from an old aviation friend, Sandy Wyndham of 207 Squadron saying he is in the coconut business now and asking them if they want “to pick up an easy packet of money?” He is due to sail on the S.S. Antinous and will arrive in Panama on December 4^th. The letter asks if they can they meet him there? They decide to go in the morning. The next night finds them at Buenaventura, where they have broken their long journey to Panama. Biggles asks Algy if he is still pining for Consuelo. Algy replies that had they arrived a few days earlier, their aircraft may have been commandeered as he has been reading in the paper that there had been an attempted revolution. Generalissimio Pedro da Alligante had been putting down the rebels by shooting them but he hasn’t yet found the rebel leader, Jose Oliviera. Suddenly, they are interrupted by the arrival of a girl “her breast rising and falling spasmodically from exertion or agitation, her southern beauty in no way marred by the tears that hung on the lashes of her dark appealing eyes”. Algy speaks to the girl in his best Spanish and she tells how she is due to be married tomorrow to Don Pedro da Alligante and she has to get away otherwise she will die by her own hand. Algy offers to take her with them, as they are due to stop over at Cristobal, where the girl has friends, although Biggles is not so sure that getting involved is a good idea. The girl’s name is Juanita and they agree that she can hide herself in their cabin, “and then we shall know nothing about it” says Biggles. The following morning, they meet Smyth early who confirms that the girl is on board. They warm their engines and leave just in time as a troop of cavalry led by an officer gallop towards them. Landing at Cristobal, the lady leaves the plane whilst taxying in, without a word of thanks. Algy is bitter. “Never mind,” laughed Biggles, “come and have a drink – something less intoxicating than Spanish senoritas. An hour later, a Pan-American Ford Trimotor lands and out gets – Juanita! She is met by a man and they embrace passionately. Biggles enquires as to who they are and is told “That’s the famous senora Juanita Oliviera and young Don Jose, her husband, though how he got up here I don’t know. He was mixed up in that last revolution in Colombia and they’re searching for him high and low down there. Smart dame, isn’t she?” “Yes – she is,” replied Biggles absently, with a curious smile. (When these stories were serialised in “Modern Boy” this one was missed out – presumably for being too romantic. However, it goes to explain why Biggles and Algy are in Panama for the next story).