BIGGLES DELIVERS THE GOODS

by Captain W. E. Johns

X. PREPARATIONS (Pages 82 - 91)

Algy and Bertie come out to meet Biggles. The landing ground has advanced enough for the fighters to land but not enough for the Liberators to land as yet. After a coin toss, Algy is chosen to take the Gosling back to India to get more fuel and arrange for the two Lightning fighters to come straight out. Li Chi is asked to take the "Sumatran" to India, as a master mariner, and it is pointed out that if the British Navy are sent to meet them, Li Chi could be collected by sea plane before going all the way. The sailors bought down from Shansie will be able to crew the ship. In due course the Lightnings arrive flown by Taffy Hughes and Ferocity Ferris. Biggles tells them that starting at the crack of dawn, they will take turns doing patrols at 20,000 feet over the island to deal with any intruders who try to get a squint at what's going on.