BIGGLES SWEEPS THE DESERT

by Captain W. E. Johns

VIII. A DESPERATE VENTURE (Pages 94 - 108)

Our heroes hear the purr of an internal combustion engine and realise the car is on its way to pick up survivors: It turns out to be an armoured car. The crew are captured and they consist of a driver, a mechanic, a medical orderly and the Italian officer Pallini, acting as guide. Ferocity is sent off in the Spitfire to report to Algy. Ginger, Bertie and Taffy go in the armoured car to try and rescue Biggles and Tex and Tug are left in charge of the prisoners. Driving as close to the enemy camp as they dare without risking being heard, they park up. Leaving Taffy in charge of the armoured car, Bertie and Ginger continue on foot. When they reach the camp, Ginger goes in alone to scout around. For this purpose, he steals an Arab robe or gumbaz, as it is called. Ginger overhears two German sentries talking (in German) about the mystery of von Zoyton. He plane has been shot down and he was seen to bail out, but no trace of him came be found. Biggles has obviously not been captured. Suddenly, Ginger trips over something and finds himself in a fight. It is Biggles who at first thinks Ginger is an Arab. This happens at the back of the building where the prisoners are held and Biggles knocks out a guard and goes in to rescue the French General. There are 14 prisoners there but they can't take them all so only the General comes with them. Biggles says he will come back for the rest as soon as possible. They return to the armoured car but the missing guard is discovered and aircraft engines start up.