BIGGLES FLIES NORTH

by Captain W. E. Johns

XXII. AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR (Pages 243 – 253)

As Biggles, Algy and Wilks are about to be hanged, the Jupiter aircraft fast approaches and the immediate preparations for the hanging are temporarily abandoned. The aircraft glides down as if to land but on seeing the crowd, the pilot flies straight over them at a height of not more than fifty feet. McBain tries to encourage progress with the hanging, but the noise of the aircraft engines drown him out. Something is thrown from the window of the plane and on landing there is a yellow flash. Delaney investigates and finds it is a bag of gold. He picks up a torn bag marked “Moose Creek Goldfields”. Delaney places two men to guard the dropped gold and they obey without question. Ginger lands and marches towards the crowd – in front of him is the Indian in McBain’s distinctive long skunk-skin coat. Ginger says he has bought back evidence to prove that his friends, who have been arrested for the murder of Mose Jacobs or the theft of the Moose Creek gold, or both, are innocent. Ginger explains the thief had hidden the gold in a cabin that belongs to Brindle McBain. Ginger produces a seal to show how the boxes were resealed. Ginger asks everyone in the Three Stars the night Mose was killed to recall that McBain was wearing his distinctive coat and that McBain left before Mose. Ginger tells McBain to pull out of the sleeve turn-up the object that is there. It is an opal-headed tie-pin. Many people present recognise it as belonging to Mose, the murdered prospector. Ginger asks how did it get there if McBain never saw Mose after he left the Three Stars? “McBain,” said Delaney, “I reckon I know why you were so anxious to lynch three innocent men”. The crowd turn on McBain, angry at the murder and being duped by him and McBain and Ferroni flee for their lives. They make for the Jupiter, still loaded with the gold. On the far side of the aerodrome, riding at a gallop, come five uniformed figures. It is the Mounties that Smyth had gone to fetch (we are not told if he is with them or not). McBain and Ferroni try to shoot their way to the machine but a fusillade of shots ring out and McBain is shot dead. Ferroni throws down his weapon and surrenders. Biggles asks Delaney to cut them free. Biggles asks who the Mounties are and he is told they are Captain Lanton and the troopers from Blackfoot Point.