SERGEANT BIGGLESWORTH C.I.D.

 

by Captain W. E. Johns

 

VII.                 GLOVES OFF  (Pages 66 - 76)

 

The American is Grindler and Scaroni, having no doubt recognised their aircraft from a description given by Preuss, knows Biggles and Ginger are the enemy.  You can cut the atmosphere with a knife.  A Caproni bomber lands and Scaroni and Grindler board it.  Biggles and Ginger take off and fly to Alexandria where they meet Algy and Bertie.  Biggles knows the Caproni will land there shortly and gets Algy and Bertie to keep an eye on the two villains.  When Grindler and Scaroni land, they book passage on a plane called the 'Calpurnia' to London.  Algy and Bertie try to do the same but find are surprised to find that it is fully booked.  Biggles orders them to follow in their Mosquito.   Strangely, only six people turn up to fly on the 'Calpurnia' including the villains and this aroses Biggles' suspicions.  He speaks to the traffic manager and discovers that the Rajah of Mysalore's jewels are being transported on the 'Calpurnia' to an exhibition.  Biggles realises there is going to be another robbery and flies off in the Spur guessing that they will land somewhere along the North African coast to transfer to the Renkell.  Biggles is correct and finds both planes down on the beach.  He sees the Renkell take off from the beach and plans to shoot it down, however he is attacked by the other Renkell, the Wolf, and his petrol tank is holed.  Biggles is forced to land and does so.  The enemy planes leave and then Algy and Bertie arrive in the Mosquito.