BIGGLES IN AUSTRALIA

by Captain W. E. Johns

X. CLAWS OUT AT TARRACOOMA (Pages 108 – 124)

“They got back to Broome to find the Otter there, just in. Algy said they had spotted the Matilda about seventy miles out, on a course for the mouth of the Daly”. Biggles introduces Algy and Bertie to Bill and tells them of the result of their morning’s work. “I’m pretty certain now that whatever else von Stalhein’s associates are doing in Australia part of their job is to unsettle the aborigines”. “How many full-blooded blacks have you got in Australia, Bill?” “As near as can be judged, about fifty thousand. In addition, there are a lot of mixed breeds.” Bill grimaced. “Enough to do a lot of mischief”. “Those we saw this morning were Peedongs; they wander about the open country,” explained Bill. “They’re different from the jungle types you find in the Territory, called Myalls. They’re all pretty wild, but the Arnhem Landers are the worst. Until recently it was almost certain death to go near them”. Biggles says that lone prospectors and homesteads right off the map ought to be warned. “There’s no time to lose. This ugly weed had got to be nipped in the bud”. Biggles says he is inclined to take the bull by the horns and “tackle this fellow Roth at Tarracooma”. (One of the names on the list they found). That might stop the rot in this area”. Biggles suspects they will be able to land as he thinks Roth’s boss is Mr. Smith, who has an aeroplane. All five men get in the Halifax, Biggles, Ginger, Algy, Bertie and Bill. They see various smoke fires on their journey. “Bush telegraph, Blackfella talk. Natives signalling” says Bill, adding “Of course, if they know a white man has been killed that could be enough to send them into hiding. They know jolly well that someone will have to pay for it”. “The aircraft droned on. The only sign of life in the wilderness was a small mob of kangaroos”. (Mob is the collective noun for kangaroos). They land at Tarracooma and Biggles tells Bill he will have to give a reason for calling. Bill says “I’ll ask him if he’s had any trouble with his black boys”. Algy and Bertie stay with the machine. Bill, Biggles and Ginger go to the front door of a building and a man opens it. “The colour of his skin was enough to reveal at a glance that he was a mixed breed”. The man confirms he is Roth. Everyone is taken aback. “Naturally, it had been assumed that Roth was a white man. That this was clearly not so put an unexpected factor into the proceedings”. Roth reluctantly lets them in and the number of dirty plates and glasses out seem to indicate the presence of others. “What do you want?” he asked, in a guttural voice that suggested, as did his name, German parentage on the white side of his pedigree. Bill says he is calling on some people in the outback to see if everything’s all right. The conversation soon turns ugly as Bill tries to find out who is there. “What are you trying to get at, anyhow?” asks Roth. Bill’s voice took on a more brittle quality. “What I’m trying to get at is the man who murdered Joe Hopkins, the digger”. Bill picks up a rifle leaning against the wall and identifies it as Joe’s rifle. Roth says he took it off “one of my boys”. Bill wants to know the man’s name. Roth says it is Charlie and he sacked him a week ago. He doesn’t know Charlie’s other name. “How would I know? I can’t remember the name of every binghi (an offensive Australian word for an Aboriginal person in all versions of the book) who works for me”. An inner door opens and four men enter. “One, the leader, was white”. “Two were mixed breeds of questionable ancestry although one of them had more than a suspicion of Asiatic in his make-up. The other was a full-blooded aborigine, dressed like the rest”. The leader says he is called Adamsen, but when asked, the rest won’t give their names. Bill enters the room the men were in and sees a wireless transmitter. Bill tells Roth he is taking him in to make a statement about how the property of a dead man came into his possession as he is not satisfied with the explanation given. Roth says he is not going and whistles from the front door. “Instantly, for where they had been waiting, a score of blacks came running towards the house”. Roth’s hand goes to his side pocket and Biggles pulls his gun. “Don’t move, anybody,” said Biggles, with ice in his voice. “Ginger, give Bill your gun, then take the valves out of that radio equipment”. Bill says to Roth, “For the last time, are you coming quietly?” “I’ll see you in hell first,” snarled Roth, and struck Bill’s arm aside. Bill punches Roth twice and handcuffs him. “I’ll teach you to have a little more respect for the law,” he said trenchantly. “Come on”. Roth is taken away. “In a voice thin with panic he shouted: “Gimme a hand some of you. What are you gaping at, you blasted cowards. Charlie -----” He broke off abruptly, as if realizing that in his temper he had let something slip. “So, you’re Charlie?” says Bill to the aborigine in the room. “Yes, he’s Charlie,” spat Roth vindictively. “I’m not swinging for any black scum”. Charlie pulls a knife and Biggles shoots him in the arm. Charlies is searched and a bulging bag of kangaroo hide is found. “That’s it,” cried Bill. “That’s Joe’s poke. Bring him along”. “Roth was cursing Charlie luridly for keeping Hopkin’s gold, about which he had evidently not been told. Altogether, it was an ugly example of crooks ratting on each other”. A temporary bandage is applied to Charlie. Roth and Charlie are taken to the Halifax. The aborigine’s called to assist do nothing. “They stood their ground, wide-eyed and open-mouthed as their primitive brains strove to keep pace with these unusual events”. The Halifax takes off.