BIGGLES IN THE JUNGLE

 

by Captain W. E. Johns

 

 

XV.                 DESPERATE DIVERSIONS  (Pages 160 - 169)

 

“If Biggles supposed that Algy, Ginger and Eddie were sitting quietly in the underground chamber waiting for him to come back – and there was no reason why he should think otherwise – he would have been wrong.  Very wrong”.  After the explosion, they waited a long time, but Biggles doesn’t return.  It begins to look to them as if something has gone wrong.  They strike a match and examine the slab.  In the dim light, Eddie realises the idol has gone.  They move down into the chamber to investigate and Ginger tears strips off his shirt to burn to provide light.  “At first they could not understand what had become of the idol, but as they drew near they saw that the shock of concussion had caused it to tilt forward, revealing a square aperture behind it, a hole into which the base of the idol has previously fitted”.  Algy climbs on the back of the idol and it swings lower:  It is in fact a door, hinged at the bottom by a balancing device similar to the one that worked the slab above.  They walk down some steps and when Ginger treads on the bottom step it seems to give under his weight and the idol swings back into place locking them in. Algy wonders why the air in this room is fresh.  Ginger sits in a chair which disintegrates and he then investigates the debris on the floor and finds gold.  “The objects were not coins, but an extraordinary collection of small carved objects, trinkets, flowers, ears of corn, and the like”.  Lighting more of Ginger’s torn shirt, they investigate how to get out and Eddie examines the floor closely.  Suddenly his voice breaks off abruptly and there is a soft thud.  Eddie has disappeared.  By investigating the marks made in the dust on the floor by Eddie, they find a slab where the cracks around it are wider than the others.  Algy says “The dust on this slab has disappeared.  It probably fell into the hole, or whatever there is underneath, when Eddie went through.  We’re getting warm.  I expect it’s a case of applying weight to one particular spot”.  The stone tilts and Algy starts to slide, but Ginger drags him back.  Ginger then uses a wand or sceptre from the treasure to jam the stone open.  They drop a lighted match down and see a six-foot drop with Eddie apparently unconscious, lying crumpled at the bottom.  Algy drops down and notices a definite draught of air, refreshingly cool.  He examines Eddie who has a nasty bruise on his head.  “The blow knocked him out, but I don’t think it’s serious” says Algy.  Ginger joins Algy and they see they are now in cave.  Ginger says that if Biggles comes back, he will wonder what on earth has become of them.  “I’m afraid he’ll have to wonder” mutters Algy wearily.