BIGGLES HITS THE TRAIL

A new adventure of the celebrated War-pilot, Captain J. Bigglesworth, D.S.O., M.C., with Algy Lacey, his flying partner, and their protégé ‘Ginger’

by Captain W. E. Johns

First published August 1935

CONTENTS – Page 5

List of illustrations – Page 6 (Frontispiece by Howard Leigh and six illustrations by Alfred Sindall on pages 21, 81, 125, 173, 205 and 235)

I. THE S.O.S. (Pages 7 – 28)

“Major James Bigglesworth, better known to his friends a Biggles, pushed his coffee cup aside”. (The subtitle above is clearly wrong then as Biggles is a Major not a Captain). Biggles is hosting a celebratory meal with Algy for Ginger and he stands to make a speech. “As you are aware, we sent our guest of honour – who, as we are all friends, I will call by his apt if undignified pseudonym, Ginger – to Brooklands Aerodrome for a course of instruction in the art of flying, and its allied subject, ground engineering. Last week he was tested for his Pilot’s ‘A’ Licence, and yesterday notification of its award was made by the Royal Aero Club”. Finishing his speech with the old R.F.C. toast “Soft landings!” to which Algy adds “And no dud engines” they toast Ginger. Algy turns on the radio as he wishes to listen to Menovitch playing the Grieg Concerto at nine o’clock and instead they hear an S.O.S. being broadcast on the radio. “Will Major James Bigglesworth – B-I-double G-L-E-S-W-O-R-T-H, Major James Bigglesworth, last heard of at Brooklands Aerodrome, go at once to Brendenhall Manor, Buckinghamshire, where his uncle, Professor Richard Bigglesworth, is dangerously ill”. Biggles rings the B.B.C. and discovers that the message has been sent in by a Lord Maltenham and he is also told there is a message for him at Brendenhall Station. Biggles, Algy and Ginger all set off to answer the call. After a fifty-five minute journey, Biggles’s Bentley pulls up outside the station and Biggles collects an envelope. The message reads “Dear Bigglesworth, Get up to the Hall as quickly as you can, but watch your step; there are some funny people about in the park. If you are driving, go slow and keep your eyes open. If you see a blue light, go for dear life. Your uncle has been hurt, so I must get back to him. He’s alone and I’m afraid. I’ll tell you the rest when I see you. For God’s sake be careful. Yours, Maltenham”. Biggles drives to his uncle’s house where a tree falls just in front of Biggles’s car, smashing his windscreen. A cool blue radiance appears, “like a beam of phosphorescent mist creeping slowly through the night air in their direction”. Biggles has his Webley service revolver with him and fires three shots at the light. His arm is caught in the beam and he drops his gun. (The light jerked suddenly and came to rest on his upraised arm - is the illustration on page 21). “Run”, he cried in a curious high-pitched voice. “Run for your lives, and don’t stop”. Biggles, Algy and Ginger run to the front door of the Manor but can’t get in. Biggles climbs through a pantry window and is able to open the door to let the other two in. In the hall, various guns are scattered about and also a number of spears and cutlasses that would normally decorate the walls. A man is heard running towards the house: On looking out, he is running from a blue mist. The man falls. Biggles fires at the uncertain blue light and the man is dragged inside. Biggles says “I believe this is Maltenham, and he looks in a bad way”. A white robed figure descends down the stairs with an automatic unsteady in his right hand. Biggles sees it is his uncle and he calls out “Dickpa! Be careful with the gun – it’s me, Biggles”.