BIGGLES AND THE BLACK RAIDER
Book First Published on 5th March 1953 - 192 pages
I believe this Biggles book was never serialised elsewhere. If anybody knows differently then please E-MAIL ME
Central Africa is being plagued
by attacks by an African man called Cetezulu and
known as 'The Black Elephant'. Air Commodore Raymond sends Biggles and Co. to
use their aeroplanes in the hunt to find him. Taking three planes with them,
the team lose one when Ginger is caught in a storm, whilst short of fuel, and
has to crash land. However, this leads to the unexpected discovery of Cetezulu's secret method of travelling through Central
Africa unseen. The team utilises the help of a Masai
warrior called Mishu, who was the gun bearer for a
Game Warden murdered by Cetezulu. Mishu
is saved by Biggles from being murdered by local tribesmen who are also
involved in poaching. With the help of Lieutenant Haynes and some soldiers of
the King's African Rifles, Cetezulu and his gang are
eventually traced to a hiding place in long elephant grass. Here they have
hidden almost 500 head of cattle, stolen on various raids. Biggles and Algy use
the two remaining aircraft to frighten and stampede the cattle, allowing the
soldiers to capture the survivors. Cetezulu pays for
his crimes when he meets Mishu, who wants to avenge
the death of his employer. The dust cover of the book shows Ginger taking off
over some lions, (who unexpectedly lie in his path), whilst he tries to escape from
some of Cetezulu's followers.
Click here to see the story illustrations from this book
Biggles and the Black Raider
Subtitle - Another adventure of Air-Detective Bigglesworth and his
Air Police
Publication Details - published by Hodder & Stoughton
Frontispiece
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The “Children’s Book Club” edition reprint – click on the above
picture to find out more details