BIGGLES SEES IT THROUGH

by Captain W. E. Johns

XIV. SLOW PROGRESS (Pages 198 – 212)

“In spite of Algy’s efforts more and more water seeped into the boat”. Biggles gets Algy to take a turn at the oars and he, Biggles, bails out. The water gets higher and eventually, with luck, the three airmen are able to reach a small island in the lake before the boat sinks in the freezing water. They haul the boat on land and empty it. They shelter in some stunted pine trees as day breaks. Biggles suggests their safest course is to lie low until it gets dark before they go on. Just before noon they see a Russian bomber flying very low and steering an erratic course. Biggles thinks it is looking for them. Later in the day, they see Russian soldiers moving along the bank and Biggles realises they are between them and home. The soldiers disappear then they hear a different aircraft. Biggles recognises it as a British Short flying-boat. “It’s looking for us. Smyth must be flying it”. Raymond must have radioed for one as the only means of getting them home after the thaw. Biggles says they can’t risk lighting a fire. The plane won’t realise its them and they will give their position away. Ginger bemoans their circumstances. “I agree it is maddening, but “ifs” don’t count in this game,” was Biggles last observation on the matter. Twilight settles over the land but they don’t move until the sun sinks behind the hills and darkness falls. “Biggles picked up the oars. He was beginning to feel weak from want of food, but he said nothing about it, and the boat, now free of water, made good progress”. They reach the bank with water gurgling softly in the bottom of the boat and then have to hide as more Russian soldiers go by. Leaving the boat under bushes, our heroes make progress over the rough land for an hour. They halt frequently to listen and hear on occasion someone chopping wood with an axe and a wolf howl. They are moving in the direction of a light in the window of a substantial house and Biggles decides to avoid that as the house is almost certain to have a dog and he doesn’t want a commotion. Then suddenly, the light in the house goes out. Biggles thinks the occupier has gone to bed. Ginger wants to try and get food as they are all very hungry. Biggles argues against it, but Ginger persuades him by saying that they can’t last another three or four days without it. Ginger asks for permission to search for food in the outbuildings of the house. Biggles agrees, but warns him about dogs. “If a dog starts barking come straight back here and we’ll push on”. Ginger smiled. “I’ll be careful,” he said, and disappeared into the gloom.