BIGGLES SEES IT THROUGH

 

by Captain W. E. Johns

 

 

VIII.                        A BITTER BLOW  (Pages 116 – 127)

 

“Algy breathed a sigh of relief when they roared across the frontier” but when they are within a hundred miles of home they are attacked by a Gladiator aircraft with Finnish markings.  Algy sees the number 13 painted on the nose of the attacking plane and recognises it as Eddie Hardwell, an American volunteer from their own airdrome “and perhaps one of the most deadly fighter pilots on the front.  He had already shot down five Russian bombers”.  Ginger climbs out on a wing, scrambles onto the back of the great fuselage and raises his hands in the air in an attitude of surrender.  The fighter pilot indicates they are to land and Algy does so, landing on a frozen lake.  They all get out, except Biggles, and put their hands up.  The Gladiator lands and Eddie gets out and recognises them.  Algy explains how they crashed and then borrowed this “kite”.  Eddie says he was looking for them as a guy has come out from England called Raymond.  Algy asks Eddie to return to get Raymond because they have got what they went for, and to send someone out in a Blenheim to fetch them home.  Eddie takes off to do just that.  Some peasants come to them, seeing their Finnish uniforms and a doctor is called for Biggles.  The doctor says Biggles is only suffering from shock.  The blow on the head had been severe “and had it not been for the fact that Biggles’s skull was exceptionally hard, it would certainly have been fractured”.  Over a couple of hours, Biggles’ condition improves and except for a splitting headache, he says he is all right.  Eddie returns in his Gladiator, followed by a Blenheim, which contains Colonel Raymond.  Biggles tells Raymond von Stalhein is there, but they have the papers.  Biggles asks for his jacket, but nobody has it.  It is soon realised that Biggles was carrying it when the avalanche hit.  The jacket must still be buried under the snow.  Biggles laughs, seeing the funny side after all their efforts.  Biggles says he will go back alone in Eddie’s Gladiator to get the papers.  Biggles tells his friends to return to Oskar.  If Biggles fails, then they can toss up for who goes next and try one at a time to recover the papers.  Raymond says “The only thing that worries me, Bigglesworth, is this; are you fit to fly with your head in that state?”  “While I’m conscious I can fly,” declared Biggles grimly.  Eddie offers to go, but Biggles tells him “this is our pigeon”.  Biggles says he will take his gun, a couple of biscuits and a spade borrowed from one of the peasants.  The others watch Biggles take off and fly away in the Gladiator.  Raymond says he expects the Finns will take care of the Russian machine and suggests they all return to Oskar in his Blenheim.