THE BLACK PERIL

by W. E. Johns

X. SMYTH EXPLAINS (Pages 137 – 148)

“Captain Bigglesworth”. It is Smyth calling from up a tree. (A clear continuity error here as Biggles is MAJOR Bigglesworth and has been since his promotion in the last days of the war back at 266 Squadron where Smyth served with him). Smyth climbs down and everyone hides in some holly bushes. Smyth explains that their plane had been spotted by enemy aircraft. “Mr. Lacey got into a rare state after they had gone”. “What about Captain Bigglesworth and Ginger?” (again, Johns has Smyth make the same mistake). Algy and Smyth decide that Algy should take their aircraft to safety at the small lake they saw on the way in and Smyth should wait for Biggles and Ginger. Smyth says that later twenty men in uniform turned up so it was a good thing he went. The plan is for “Mr. Lacey” to pick them up at daylight at the northern extremity of their lake. They hear rifle fire and the sounds of searching in the distance and Biggles decides they should all move on. They have a difficult trek to the pre-arranged landing place as the forest seems to be full of people. They cross an open lane by distracting guards when Ginger throws his gun behind them. At one point Ginger is alarmed by an animal and clutches Biggles’ arm in his alarm. “Getting nervous?” asked Biggles, nudging Smyth. “Nervous! No, I’m not nervous. I’m so frightened that if we don’t soon get to this place we’re going to, my hair with (typo in book) be white, and you’ll have to find another name for me”. They eventually reach an ideal spot at the north end of the lake and wait for dawn. The sun rises. There is no sign of Algy. “Something’s gone wrong,” says Biggles. “If he was coming he would be here by now”.