BIGGLES IN THE JUNGLE

by Captain W. E. Johns

XIII. STRANGE EVENTS (Pages 139 - 147)

“For some time they kept careful watch, but saw nothing of the Tiger or his associates”. Biggles speculates that he would know they can’t stay there indefinitely without food and water. Biggles tells the others that he didn’t come up the stairway all the way, on seeing the guard he made a detour and came in over the escarpment behind the village. Biggles suspects all routes out will be guarded. Ginger suddenly recalls the pivoting flagstone and tells his comrades about it. Rather than being concerned about whether it may contain the treasure, Biggles thinks it may be another way out. Ginger sneaks out under the cover of darkness to investigate the secret chamber he had previously found. The chamber is empty but there is an alter with a hideous idol. “It appeared to have been carved out of the living rock”. “If the treasure was in here, he thought, then they had been forestalled. It was certainly not there now, although it seemed likely that it had been there as late as 1937, or the explorer Roberts would not have carved his initials on the column”. Ginger returns and informs Biggles and the others. “There’s something funny about this,” declared Biggles quietly. “Unless he was a first-class liar, Carmichael saw the treasure. So apparently did Roberts. Where has it gone?” Eddie says that when Roberts found the treasure, his Indian porters deserted him and tried to poison him. Roberts got back but died and Eddie’s crooked partners bought the map off his widow. There was writing on the map, but Eddie can’t remember the exact instructions on it now. Eddie says that Roberts bought a gold cup back with him, but his widow sold it after he died. Biggles says he would like to have a look at the place and suggests that all four of them move to this secret chamber as it is a better hiding place. The go across to the secret chamber one at a time, Ginger leading the way and Biggles bring up the rear. Biggles collects some dried grass on the way to burn for light. Biggles says they can manage without food for a bit, but not without water and he offers to go and have a scout around. If the escarpment isn’t guarded, they may even be able to get away. When Biggles has been gone for nearly an hour, Ginger and Algy begin to worry about him. Suddenly “the silence was shattered by a deafening explosion. The chamber shuddered to the force of it. A moment later came the crash and spatter of debris raining down on the roof. It sounded like a roll of distance thunder”. Algy goes to try and find out what that was, but the slab is now jammed and they can’t get out. “Not so good” remarks Ginger. “What are you grumbling about? You wanted adventure,” Algy pointed out coldly. “Now you’re getting it. I hope you’re enjoying it – but I’m dashed if I am”.