First Published in August 1948 - 211 pages

Biggles investigates some high quality counterfeit stamps and currency. This leads to an attempt firstly to bribe him and then when he rejects the bribe, to kill him. With the help of Tug Carrington, a former Flying Officer of 666 Squadron, investigations lead to a suspicious airline called Stellar Skyways Incorporated. Stellar has a hunting lodge at a place called Kudinga in Africa and Bertie and Ginger are sent undercover to the lodge. Tug Carrington infiltrates the Airline by getting a job as a pilot with them. Biggles goes to Cairo to make further enquiries. Ginger suspects the printing presses for the counterfeiting operation are at the hunting lodge, but both he and Bertie fall under suspicion. An attempt is made to kill Bertie and Biggles receives information that Bertie is dead. Biggles discovers that the counterfeit items are being smuggled inside the various stuffed animals that the hunters keep as trophies. These trophies are then sent via Stellar Skyways to various countries where the counterfeit items can be removed before onward delivery to the home addresses of the guests from the hunting lodge. Biggles flies down to Kudinga for a showdown with the crooks where thankfully, he finds Bertie alive and well. A shoot out occurs but eventually the Egyptian police arrive to save the day. The Mr. Big behind the operation tries to escape via a snake infested area and gets his comeuppance in dramatic style. It is this event that is pictured on the dust cover of the book.