BIGGLES FLIES NORTH

by Captain W. E. Johns

XIX. A LIFE OR DEATH STRUGGLE (Pages 207 – 217)

“When Ginger had fallen outside the remote cabin he had not been killed. He had not even been hit by the shot which had been fired at him”. He had felt the bullet whistle past his cheek and dived headlong to the ground. Now he was feigning death or “playing ‘possum” as it was known. When the Indian’s hand closes over the back of Ginger’s head, he springs to his feet and draws his automatic. The Indian knocks the gun out of Ginger’s hand and Ginger grabs the Indian’s knife hand and bites him with all his strength. The Indian cries out and drops the knife and both men fight. Ginger fights with the fury of despair knowing what his fate will be if he loses. As they separate Ginger finds a stone and throws it at the Indian, hitting him full in the mouth. Ginger runs for his automatic and the Indian runs for his rifle. They both get to their weapons at the same time but Ginger shoots first. The Indian appears to throw his weapon up in the air and fall backwards. Ginger advances and the Indian gets up and runs away. Ginger fires three shots at the Indian but he dodges and gets away. Picking up the rifle, Ginger sees that his first bullet had hit the trigger guard on it. Ginger stands the rifle by the door and goes to search the cabin, but returning at regular intervals to make sure there is no sign of the Indian. Ginger is certain the gold is in the cabin and the Indian must have been left to guard it – but Ginger can’t find any gold anywhere. Ginger decides he needs to find the Indian and force him to say where the gold is. He goes to get the rifle by the door – but it has gone!