BIGGLES IN AUSTRALIA

by Captain W. E. Johns

VII. OUTLOOK VAGUE (Pages 75 – 82)

“On arrival at Broome it was soon ascertained that no aircraft had refuelled there that day; but there was a message waiting for them. It was from Algy, to say he had arrived at Darwin, and had urgent news which, had he not turned up, West would have forwarded”. Biggles drops off Bill and then flies the six hundred miles to Darwin. Biggles and Ginger meet with Algy and Bertie. Biggles says “Let’s go over to the canteen. I’ve been on the go since daylight and I could drink a bucket of tea”. The news from Algy is that West had seen Alston and had a chance to speak with him. Alston had seen a man named Smith on the airfield at Cloncurry some days earlier, in the process of buying a second-hand aircraft. Biggles asks if it was an Auster and it was, an Auster Autocrat. The registration number of the Auster was VH-NZZ and a pilot called Cozens had flown the plane away with Smith. Algy asks “Who’s this fellow Smith, anyway?”. Biggles answered: “Smith is the name – or more probably the assumed name – of the chap who chartered the aircraft that collected von Stalhein and his pals from here when they disappeared”. Biggles narrates all that has happened to himself and Ginger since their arrival. Biggles says they have two objectives. Firstly, to find the headquarters of this man Smith and secondly, to get a complete list of the names that were in the secret file, one page of which they found on the island. They will then report back to Air Commodore Raymond and Biggles will then suggest they hand the thing over to the Australian Security people. Biggles says they need to check up on the lugger, ‘Matilda’ and he says he will stroll along the water front later to see what information he can pick up. A message arrives for “Mr. Bigglesworth” from Bill Gilson. The Auster VH-NZZ refuelled at Wyndham at 11.35 am. Pilot and two passengers. Came in from south-west and left heading north-east. Ginger says that means it is coming their way. “I wonder if we could find it,” murmured Biggles reflectively. He got up. “Let’s stretch our legs and see if we can find a beef-steak. That’ll do to go on with”.