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
The first edition dust jacket showing the original price of 7
shillings and 6 pence
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
Proof Copy