BIGGLES IN THE GOBI

by Captain W. E. Johns

IX. SHOCKS – IN THE PLURAL (Pages 96 – 109)

“In the interval of this unexpected but welcome delay Algy considered the situation from every angle”. Algy realises that one match would be enough to set the dry grass below ablaze. That would set the explosives off and probably be blamed on a carelessly discarded cigarette. Algy crawls down the path. “The going was rough, of course, and the grit took some of the skin off his knees; but this was a minor discomfort compared with what was at stake”. Reaching the stream, he holds his matches in his mouth and sets off in the manner of a crocodile up the stream. Reaching a bend in the brook that best suits his purpose, he twists some dried grass into a rough torch and sets fire to it. He then dashes down the entire length of the grass, putting fire to it at close intervals and runs on into the orchard. A yell goes up; most of the grass is well alight and sparks are flying high and falling around. There is a good deal of smoke. “Everyone appeared to be running without any definite purpose, and certainly without achieving anything”. Efforts to put the fire out are futile and as it reaches the dynamite, the troops retreat to safety. “There was a vivid flash and an ear-splitting crack as what must have been a box of detonators went up. Being in close proximity the dynamite needed no further encouragement. Everything seemed to go up together, including the guest-house, the fuse leading to it having been fired”. Algy covers his head in his hands as debris rain down on him. None of the soldiers appear to be seriously hurt. Their horses have stampeded. “The tethering rope, unable to hold them in their first frantic plunge had broken, and they were now galloping about in all directions. (“They had stampeded … and were now galloping about in all directions” is the illustration between pages 96 and 97). Algy sees that, from their behaviour, the Chinese soldiers believe the explosion is accidental. They spend time catching their horses and then all ride off without a backward glance. Algy returns to the missionaries at the far end of the cliff, where they are waiting to move to the crypt should it have been necessary. Algy explains what has happened and Ming returns with the news that all prisoners have been rescued with the exception of the Abbot, who was released. Ming is told to go and get them. Algy and his party return to the oasis where the fire has now burnt itself out for want of fuel. Ginger appears at the head of his party. “For a little while there was a lot of talking while congratulations were exchanged, introductions effected and explanations offered”. Feng is asked to tend to the horses. Algy is then disturbed by the ringing of a bell. It is a travelling holy man with his begging bowl. The monk stops and says he has a message for an Englishman at Nan-hu. Algy is given a piece of paper and is astonished to see that it is from Biggles! It reads “Am on the ground about fifty miles south of you. Having some trouble, but think we can put it right. Thought we had better let you know. If we don’t show up in ten days from date above, count us out and do the best you can. Sorry. Biggles”. The monk has been five days in bringing the note. Ginger wonders how Biggles could have spoken to the monk. Ritzen asks the monk and then translates the answer. “This man is a Gurkha from Nepal, on the Thibetan frontier. Nepal is closely associated with the life of Buddha, which is why he is here. He has also been to India. He says the Englishman spoke to him in Hindi*.” (A footnote tells us “Readers of Biggles Goes to School will know why Biggles was able to speak Hindi” – Biggles was born and bought up in India and was fluent in Hindi as a child). Algy says they will have to wait and see if Biggles gets there. “Perhaps the ladies will be good enough to produce something to eat”.