THE RESCUE FLIGHT

by Captain W. E. Johns

XVII. A LIFE FOR A LIFE (Pages 213 – 222)

“The silence persisted for a full half-minute”. Thirty tells Biggles that sitting very close to Forsyth, he could smell that his tunic had been chemically cleaned. There is a small bullet hole in the tunic that has been repaired. Thirty tells Biggles that he saw German soldiers at the landing ground who ignored him. “The Boche troops who were there knew that a … man … in a British officer’s uniform, was waiting there, or due to arrive there, to be picked up”. Confronted with the damning evidence, Forsyth says “Since we have passed the stage where denial might be of service, I may as well admit that - you are quite right”. “You are a spy?” The German moved his shoulders an inch. “And what, sir, are you?” he asked softly. Biggles orders Rip to go and turn out the guard and when Thirty says “Wait!” Biggles raised his eyebrows. “I am in command here,” he said, evenly. “Yes … I’m sorry” replied Thirty. Algy says “The game is up. The Boche has tried to turn the tables on us. The landing-ground – for us – is now a trap”. Thirty says, almost hysterically, “They’ve got Forty. They’ll shoot him”. Biggles says to Forsyth “May I assume it is correct that your people have arrested Captain Smithson for espionage?” “You may assume what you like,” was the calm reply. Thirty wants to exchange the German spy for Forty. “But you can’t do that sort of thing” says Biggles. “I’d do anything to save my brother – anything,” declared Thirty passionately”. In order to save his own life the German says that he was a tutor of English at Heidelberg University and able to fly. Thirty’s brother was captured but escaped and is expected to make for the landing ground, which is why the German soldiers are waiting there. The Germans at the landing ground have never seen “Forsyth” so they mistook Thirty for him. The Germans know all about the landing grounds by placing “a valuable British officer” with Forty in a cell with a microphone hidden in the wall. The German tells Thirty the password – “Vorgehen” (meaning ‘advance’). Thirty says he is going to go back. “Thirty looked Biggles straight in the eyes. “If I manage to get back here with Forty I shall allow Captain Forsyth to take a flight in the machine I come back in – which will be one of the F.E.’s”. “You’ll let him go?” “What else?” Biggles raised his hands, palms outward. “I’ve nothing more to say,” he said in tones of resignation. “I shall be the one who is shot before this affair is finished”. Thirty asks the German how he hoped to return to his own Lines. If he stole a British plane he could be shot down by his own side. “The German took a large yellow handkerchief from his pocket. “I should have tied that on the tail of the machine,” he explained. “The knowledge is of little service to you, otherwise I should not have told you. The colour and position from which it is exposed are changed every week”. Thirty sets off to go, declining to take Rip with him, when Major Raymond arrives. Thirty can think of nothing to explain the situation. “Biggles came to his rescue. “Allow me to introduce a friend of mine,” he said, casually. “Captain Forsyth of the Buffs”.