BIGGLES IN THE BLUE

by Captain W. E. Johns

V. STUMPED! (Pages 73 – 88)

The following morning, Biggles, Ginger, Algy and Bertie fly north-west to Inagua, the second largest island of the great Bahama archipelago and the nearest one to Jamaica. (According to the map Inague lies north-east of Jamaica!). “There were, it was ascertained, two Inaguas; Great Inagua and Little Inagua, the last named being a small piece of land lying off the most northerly point of the larger island”. They travel over the famous Windward Passage between the islands of Cuba and Haiti. “Andros, the other known habitat of the flamingos, lay many hundreds of miles away to the north, and could, Biggles decided, be ruled out, since it was considered unlikely that Hagen would deviate so far from his course on his escape route from Europe to Jamaica”. The sea is bestrewn with islands of all shapes and sizes and it is evident that without something definite, the task of finding Hagen’s cache would be hopeless. There are a few craft dotted about. “Southward, a rakish craft was almost stationary; but it must have been moving faster than was apparent, for the next time Ginger looked it was no longer there”. (This apparently throwaway line is in fact an example of Johns already plotting the end of the story). Before starting out, Biggles had rung the hospital to get the latest news on Evans. He was now thought to be out of danger, although still a sick man. This trip was a reconnaissance to survey the area and to see if they could establish the particular island on which the flamingos had started a second colony. There was always the possibility there were more colonies, unknown to Hagen as well. They fly over Great Inagua. Ginger would have agreed with the man who once described an island as “a body of land surrounded by mystery and romance”. His first view damped his enthusiasm as the whole place looks as flat as a slate and the colour of one, with beaches and miles of sand and a large lagoon in the middle. Ginger sees a curious pink fringe. “Flamingos,” said Biggles. “Flamingos they were, and in numbers beyond Ginger’s expectation. Apparently they did not like the aircraft, for as it roared towards them they rose in a mass to provide one of the most unforgettable natural spectacles that he had ever seen”. (“The most unforgettable natural spectacle that he had ever seen” is the illustration between pages 82 and 83). Ginger calls out to Bertie and Algy to make sure they do not miss this incredible sight. Biggles climbs to avoid the birds. They see Little Inagua and many other islands in the distance. “Ginger said little but for the first time the full magnitude of the task they had set themselves was brought home to him. To search all those scraps of land was out of the question. None of them, as far as he could see, bore the slightest resemblance to the sketch which he had memorised. Nor was there a lake, a lagoon, a wood, or anything else of the right shape. Not normally pessimistic, he became convinced that short of further evidence they were doomed to failure”. They return to Jamaica and have lunch back at the little hotel where they had found accommodation. Biggles asks for ideas. Ginger suggests going to Kingston to try and locate the photographer who developed Hagen’s photos. Biggles suggests Ginger drops in to see Evans first, in case he can assist with that. Biggles says he will refuel and then look over Hagen’s yacht and he will want Algy with him for that. Bertie says he will go with Ginger in the car. Ginger and Bertie find Evans sitting up in bed, but still pale and shaken. Evans remembers dropping the egg and Ginger says they will get him another one. Ginger asks if Evans knows who did Hagen’s photographic work. Evans says he recommended a man called Johnston, a chemist in Aclim Street. Ginger and Bertie take their leave and go to the shop. Ginger asks Mr. Johnston if he has done any work for Hagen, but Johnston hasn’t seen him for some time. Ginger asks he if he ever developed any films showing flamingos on their nests for Hagen, but again the answer is in the negative. As they go to leave, Mr. Johnston says “If it’s photos of nesting flamingos you want, I can tell you who has some”. A gentleman came in with a spool for printing in the last couple of days. The order book is checked and they are told it was a Mr. Stalling, staying at the Maison Respiro. They return to their hotel to find Biggles and Algy already there. Biggles says the yacht Vega has been taken. Ginger tells Biggles that von Stalhein has got hold of the flamingo photos and there are no spare copies. Biggles says it must be von Stalhein who has taken the yacht. Discreet enquiries have already revealed that a Mr. Ernest Stalling and a man registered as Boris Zorotov, no doubt the von Stalhein stooge, have checked out. “Well! Blow me down,” murmured Bertie, polishing his eyeglass. “Stumped, by Jove!”