BIGGLES
FLIES AGAIN
by W. E. Johns
X. THREE WEEKS (Pages 160 – 175)
Biggles is walking through Karachi
towards the Orient Hotel when he bumps into an old friend, Tim O’Neilson, an Irishman who once flew a S.E.5 with 56
Squadron, R.F.C. (The line “Well! By the sacred turnbuckle of Saint Patrick, if it isn’t
Tim O’Neilson” leads to some confusion for Johns as
within a page he has Biggles referring to “Tim” as “Pat” although he is also
referred to as O’Neilson. In later editions Tim is called Pat O’Neilson to resolve the problem!). They go and have a drink together at Teddy’s
Bar. (The line “What about knocking
one back?” in the original first edition remains in the Boys’ Friend Library
version but becomes “What about a spot of hospitality?” in the Dean & Son
reprints, where “Pat” O’Neilson is a now a Spitfire
pilot). O’Neilson
is in Intelligence. Biggles asks
“Ticklish job out here nowadays I should think, what with Gandhism and all the
rest of it?” “It is, since the British
bulldog lost his teeth or forgot how to bite,” muttered O’Neilson
bitterly. “But it isn’t Gandhi that
worries us, it’s the Great White Bear”.
Russia. A man enters Teddy’s Bar
and O’Neilson discretely points him out to Biggles as
Ivan Nikitoff, “the Big Noise behind the Hammer and
Sickle in this part of the world”.
“We’ve got a big show on at the moment over this Persian business, and
he’s the man who’s going to spike our guns – if he can”. Biggles and O’Neilson
continue their conversation. The next
morning Algy goes to wake Biggles and asks him about an article in the local
paper. “What’s all this damn nonsense?”
demanded Algy. (The line “damn”
remains in the Boys’ Friend Library version but becomes just “What’s all this
nonsense?” in the Thames and Dean & Son reprints). The article is headed WORLD FLYERS IN KARACHI
and reads “Major James Bigglesworth, D.S.O., who had a brilliant record as a
pilot during the War, landed yesterday at Karachi. His flight, which has already embraced more
than half the globe, will be continued to-morrow towards England by a new
route, Istarain, Teheran, and the Black Sea
ports. He is flying a Vickers ‘Vandal’
six-seater aircraft with an assistant pilot and a mechanic. The airmen are staying at the Orient
Hotel”. Algy asks “Did you get tight or
something last night?”. Biggles looked
pained. “Me tight!” he protested. “Don’t be foolish”. Before they can get out of the hotel, they
are sent half a dozen cards from people looking for a lift with them. One gentleman is Sirdar Ali Sha. He asks if they have the authority of the
Persian Government to fly over its territory and says he can help. He is looking for a flight to Teheran and
willing to pay for his passage. They
agree to take him and arrange to meet in an hour at the aerodrome. Soon they are on their way. Biggles “had followed the coastline of Persia
as far as Jask, and then cut across the Strait of
Ormuz, actually passing over that spur of Arabia called Oman on a straight
course for Lingeh.
As they pass over “an insignificant speck on the map which bore the name
Tumb Island”, the plane develops engine trouble and
has to land. “That magneto gone again,
sir, I reckon,” observed Smyth. They
land and fix the problem but by that time darkness is approaching and they all
decide to spend the night on the beach.
Smyth gets out some cases with food in.
The next morning, their passenger awakes to find himself alone on the
beach and the ‘Vandal’ is a tiny moving speck in the distance. A note has been left for him, addressed to
Ivan Nikitoff, telling him that everything he needs
for the next three weeks are in the cases – there is also a book for him to
read. On the plane, Algy asks Biggles
how he knew that their passenger would be called to Teheran. Biggles says he sent the note, in their
secret code via Intelligence. It was all
arranged with Pat (Johns means Tim – see note above) and “It will so
happen that a sloop will be passing the island in about three weeks, which by a
curious coincidence, will be just about the time that Pat’s business is
concluded”. Algy asks what book was left
and Biggles smiles. “Three Weeks,” he said, “I hope he’ll see
the point”.