SERGEANT BIGGLESWORTH C.I.D.

by Captain W. E. Johns

X. GINGER TAKES A WALK (Pages 97 - 106)

Ginger, having been left in the Mosquito, is relieved to see Biggles cross the minefield but can't understand why he appears to be talking to himself. His orders were clear, he was to remain in the aircraft until signalled it was safe by Biggles. So he remains, awaiting the signal, until he hears aero engines start up and he realised the Renkells are there, so the crews must be as well. Ginger gets out and regardless of mines, runs and jumps over the rim of a wadi. The Mosquito he was in is destroyed and on fire. Ginger is spotted and throws his jacket onto the open sand and the Wolf in a return run, shoots it to ribbons, the pilot thinking he has killed Ginger. Ginger now has to decide what to do. Algy and Bertie are due to come along in the Spur and he doesn't want them landing in the minefield as the Spur is now their only link with civilisation. It would be futile to try and signal the Spur at the oasis. Ginger has to go into the desert in the direction the aircraft will arrive and make a fire to signal to it. This he does, walking into the desert in excess of 10 miles. His signal is seen and Algy and Bertie land and Ginger explains the situation. Ginger sits down on an undercarriage wheel. "What would Biggles do in a case like this?".