BIGGLES WORKS IT OUT

by Captain W. E. Johns

XII. BIGGLES TAKES A TURN (Pages 141 – 148)

“Ginger, checking lists of Douglas D.C.3 registration marks in the Operations Room at Gatwick, was browned off, and made no secret of it. “It isn’t like you to sit here and let other people do the work,” he told Biggles reproachfully. “Isn’t it about time I did something, anyway?” Marcel telephones and reports the current position to Biggles. Biggles then passes the information onto Ginger, who is surprised to hear that von Stalhein is involved. They have been told that the big boss at the Villa Hironelle is a German named Count von Horndorf. Marcel has arranged with his chief, Captain Joudrier of the Paris Surete to raid von Stalhein’s aerodrome first, then go on to the villa at Eze. Ginger tells Smyth to get out their Mosquito as they are going to fly down to Marseilles. When Biggles and Ginger arrive at Marignane, the airport for Marseilles, they meet with Marcel and Joudrier. Travelling in fast cars with the two Frenchmen, plus eight other gendarmes, they drive to the Plaine de la Crau. Here they find Algy’s car and the gendarmes surround the aerodrome buildings. Six men are caught but von Stalhein is not found with them, despite a search being made. (Between pages 132 and 133 is a colour plate, of the gendames searching a field. On the rear of the plate is the caption “A quick search was made (see page 146))”. One of the prisoners says that von Stalhein had gone to El Asile. Four gendarmes are delegated to take the prisoners to Marseilles. Two more are left at the aerodrome to arrest anyone who lands. Biggles says there is no need for himself and Ginger to go on the raid on the Villa Hirondelle. Biggles and Ginger will return to Marseilles and then fly to Insalah in the hope of meeting up with Algy and Bertie. Joudrier plans to go on to Eze by road and will need a large number of men to surround the Villa.