BIGGLES GOES TO WAR

by Captain W. E. Johns

XVIII. A STARTLING DISCOVERY (Pages 219 – 229)

Ludwig is detained some time at the palace but both Ludwig and Ginger make the journey to Bethstein’s hunting-box. Ginger has no real plan other than to force the General, by violence if necessary, to tell him where Biggles and Algy are being detained. Near the estate, Ginger has Ludwig pull the car up amongst the trees and wait with it whilst he, Ginger, explores. Ginger avoids the guards and sees a man standing in an open meadow near a small dark object on the grass. Nearing the house, Ginger sees two men come out. One is General Bethstein and the other is referred to as ‘Klein’. They both look up at the night sky and return indoors. Ginger hears the drone of an aero engine and three lights glow in different corners of the park. The mystery man must have been waiting to signal the aircraft. This is the source of the leaked information. Planes must be going to and from the General’s country retreat and Lovitzna. An aeroplane arrives and Zarovitch is in it. Ginger tries to see through the window and just has time to see a sheaf of documents being produced by Zarovitch from a portfolio before the curtains are closed. Ginger returns to Ludwig to tell him what he has seen. If Ludwig can go and fetch some loyal troops from Janovica, he can arrest them all red-handed. Ludwig says his regiment would follow him anywhere and he drives off to Janovica to arrange the troops. Ginger says he will make sure that Zarovitch doesn’t leave.