THE BLACK PERIL

by W. E. Johns

IV. IN THE ENEMY CAMP (Pages 61 – 71)

Biggles was dozing whilst trying to keep warm around a small fire in the disused railway hut when a low growl from a dog woke him up. A man arrives, one that had been with Blackbeard and he has a gun. Biggles is captured. The man calls to a colleague named Serge to get the car, even with a flat tyre. Biggles asked the man if he is an Englishman. “I was – till I did ten years at Dartmoor” is the reply. Biggles is put in the car and taken to a fairly large house. Taken up two flights of stairs he is locked in a room with a barred window. Here he is joined by three men, one of whom was his captor. He is asked by an elderly man with piecing eyes, if he is “the Major Bigglesworth who acquired a reputation during the War?” “I served during the War, if that is what you mean, and, I hope, not entirely without success”. “And now you are in the British Intelligence Service?” This Biggles denies. The man offers Biggles employment, then asks if he will give his word of honour not to mention the flying boat if released. Biggles won’t. He is told that he will return as a passenger in the machine the next time it visits and the men leave. Biggles then hears the Vandal flying around and he guesses that Ginger must have fetched Algy. Later as it turns dark and Biggles is watching out of the window, he sees Ginger and Ginger sees him. “Well, at least they know where I am,” he thought jubilantly.