THE BLACK PERIL

by W. E. Johns

XII. TRAILED (Pages 158 – 172)

“The previous day, twenty miles away, Biggles, Smyth and Ginger had spent an anxious day in their hiding place while the forest was being combed for them by an army of men”. They realise that only dire catastrophe could have prevented Algy’s return. Biggles resolves to wait until dawn the following day and if he has not arrived, to make for the other lake, then if Algy is not there, to reach a railway and get to Danzig where they could report to the British Consul. They spend the night hidden, with all three taking turns to keep watch. Ginger’s watch is the last one and he decides to slip away to get everyone some food. Biggles awakes later to find an illiterate note “Dere Biggles, I’ve gon for some grubb. If I am not back by one houre after daylite go without me. Ginger”. Biggles tells Smyth “It’s the sort of mad thing that if it comes off makes the fellow a hero and gets him a decoration. If he fails he gets court-martialled and reprimanded for acting without orders. You can’t help admiring the kid’s pluck; it’s the last thing I should have thought of doing, I must admit”. Biggles hears a howling in the distance and realises that they’ve put hounds on their trail. Biggles and Smyth wade into the water to try and put the dogs off the scent. They see in the pale grey of dawn an object floating towards them. It is Blackbeard’s plane! Ginger is on the port float rowing with a piece of plank. Ginger is very close when they hear the hounds almost on them. “This is going to be touch and go, Smyth” said Biggles quietly, cool and alert now that the prospect of action was close”. Under rifle fire, then get in the plane. Smyth is grazed by a bullet. Biggles flies to the small lake where he hopes Algy is. On the way he eats bread and an onion offered by Ginger. They circle and find the Vandal under its protective covering of weeds and land and greet Algy who is amazed to see them. Algy explains the Vandal is bogged. “It took them an hour, working like Trojans, to get the Vandal clear of her slimy bed”. They transfer petrol from Blackbeard’s plane. Biggles checks that Ginger still has the papers taken from the case he had. Ginger says the papers are in his pocket, he having thrown away the case. They take off to fly to Sweden.