THE BLACK PERIL

by W. E. Johns

V. RESCUE (Pages 72 – 82)

Ginger returns to meet Algy a quarter of a mile up the road with their car. Algy is minded to go to the police, but Ginger persuades him not to as Biggles might not be there by the time they get a search warrant. Ginger has a plan to get Biggles out and they make two cudgels. Algy watches the back door whilst Ginger goes to get an axe out of the toolshed for Algy to use in affecting Biggles escape. Ginger has taken a spare can of petrol from the car to create a diversion and pours it over some hay in an old stable. Suddenly, Ginger is confronted by a huge black Alsatian and Ginger has to hit it on the muzzle with his cudgel when it springs at him. Ginger is lucky to find a broom “for a broom with stiff bristles is the best defence if the world against an angry dog”. Seeing the dog off, Ginger sets fire to the hay. A man is out calling the dog “Zulu! Here, Zulu!” and he sees the fire. He calls for assistance and this allows Algy to rush into the house and get Biggles out. Biggles is unable to move fast due to his ankle and one of the villains pulls a gun to shoot at Biggles and Algy as they escape. Ginger uses his cudgel to hit the man’s shins, breaking the wood with the force of the blow. Ginger snatches up the man’s gun and opens fire at the man’s two colleagues, forcing them to flee for cover. Our heroes get to the car and Algy tells Biggles they are about an hour from Newcastle. They decide to go there to get rooms and make plans for tomorrow.