BIGGLES IN THE SOUTH SEAS

by Captain W. E. Johns

IV. THE RESCUE PARTY (Pages 63 – 73)

Most of the village assembles on the beach, but Castanelli puts in at another bay on the far side of the island. “He is probably afraid to come in here, in case somebody sticks a spear into him” says Sandy. He adds that he has told them not to; “We don’t want murder done – at least, not while we’re here”. Sandy tells Biggles that the bay is between fifteen and twenty miles away around the coast, but only seven or eight miles across the island, however the going is not easy. The central ridge rises up to over three thousand metres and it’s dangerous as you might fall and there are wild animals – Bulls and dogs. Sandy asks Chief Roaring Wave if the journey can be done and he says it can. He provides six warriors with torches to guide them and Biggles and his party set off to rescue Shell-Breaker. Full Moon grabs Ginger’s hand and insists on coming as well. They set off up a trail. “Wild flowers, including many species of orchids, grew in luxuriant profusion among giant maidenhair ferns, and hung in garlands from tree-ferns. Thousands of guinea-pigs scampered away in front of them”. They make the difficult journey over a “saw-like ridge of what must once have been the crater of a volcano”. At the apex, they rest in what Ginger believes to be the crater of an extinct volcano. Here, they are attacked by a pack of wild dogs. The group fights them off with revolvers and flaming torches. They set off again and Ginger reaches for an exquisite feathery flower. Full Moon stops him touching it and Sandy explains it is puke. “What’s puke, anyway?” inquired Ginger. It stings like fury, touch it and you’ll never forget, Sandy tells him. Another hour of steady walking, the last part accompanied by a heavy shower of rain and they reach a region of coconut palms and put out their torches. The bay lies just the other side. Biggles goes forward to reconnoitre. He reports that the schooner is there and there is a light on. There is a village a little way along and the crew might be there. Sandy suspects Castanelli is on the boat whilst his boys have come ashore to drink native brandy in the village. Biggles says “I’m not standing any nonsense from that swine Castanelli. It’s no use mincing matters with fellows of his kidney. If he wants trouble he can have it”. Taking a canoe from the beach, Biggles, Algy, Ginger and Sandy cross to the schooner. Biggles and Ginger walk into Castanelli’s cabin. “He rose slowly to his feet, staring incredulously at Biggles and Ginger standing in the doorway. Then ripping out an oath, he thrust the table aside”. “What in thunder do you want?” he snarled. Biggles says he has come for the Rutuona boy that he has on board. “Are you going to hand him over or do we take him?” Biggles sends Ginger to find Shell-Breaker and calling out, Ginger finds him in a locked room. Ginger kicks the door open and takes Shell-Breaker back to Biggles, whom he finds now covering Castanelli with his automatic in his hand. “Castanelli was mouthing like an animal, spitting out the most blood-curdling threats”. “If I have any further trouble with you, you blackguard, I’ll close your foul mouth for good and all” said Biggles coldly. Biggles tells Castanelli to stay where he is and that if he shows his head on deck, he’ll knock it off. They take Shell-Breaker back to their canoe and see another canoe being launched by several shadowy figures on the beach; Castanelli’s crew are coming back. Sandy says they will make trouble. A face appears by the side of their canoe saying “No trouble”. It is Full Moon. “What are you doing here, you little monkey? Asks Ginger. Full Moon goes and sinks the approaching canoe; with the crack of breaking wood, the Solomon Island boys end up in the water and have to swim back to the schooner. Sandy asks Shell-Breaker about what he has told Castanelli. Castanelli wanted to know the whereabouts of the island where Shell-Breaker found Sandy. Shell-Breaker had said it was far away, but Castanelli had called him a liar and wanted him to show him. “Castanelli’s voice, still cursing, reached them faintly as they set off up the hill-side”. Dawn had broken by the time they reached the central crater but there is now no sign of the wild dogs. The journey is now much easier in daylight. They return to their village “where Shell-Breaker was received like one returned from the grave”. It is arranged with Roaring Wave for a watch to be kept for Castanelli’s schooner and our heroes then sleep for the rest of the day. The plan is to depart for Sandy’s island at dawn the following day.