THE BOY BIGGLES

by Captain W. E. Johns

NB - IN THIS BOOK BIGGLES IS REFERRED TO AS “JAMES” BUT FOR THE SAKE OF THE STORY SUMMARIES; I HAVE REFERRED TO HIM AS BIGGLES.

III MORE TROUBLE (Pages 34 - 42)

Advancing down a jungle-lined track to the village, the two boys hear the trumpeting of an elephant. A man comes rushing down the track and rushes past them. The only word they catch is “elephant”. Another man comes racing down the track and Biggles asks him in Hindi “What is it?” The man explains Mr. Lane has seen the leopard and decided not to wait for the extra cartridges. He has gone on the elephant, with its regular mahout (elephant keeper and driver) and shot and wounded the leopard whereupon the leopard jumped on the elephant’s trunk causing it to go made with fear and pain. “The elephant, in a frenzy, was running wild, beserk”. “I think we will go back,” Habu said sensibly. “Go back if you wish. I shall go on,” replied James in a matter-of-fact voice; which did not mean he under-estimated the risks”. “Mr. Lane could not be ignored. He might be dead. On the other hand he might still be alive and helpless. Things couldn’t be left like that”. Biggles and Habu advance to the danger area but Biggles tells Habu to wait, “One is enough”. Biggles finds the leopard and it is dead. Biggles then finds Mr. Lane’s rifle and shortly after Mr. Lane himself. Lane is injured with a suspected broken leg and shoulder injury. Biggles goes for help and finds the mahout pretending to be dead to avoid the leopard. They both go to the village where the mad elephant has demolished a hut. The mahout approaches the elephant calling “Fatima, Fatima” and manages to calm it down. Biggles advises the mahout to wash the blood off the injured trunk and get some disinfectant. Two villagers are sent off to get a doctor for Mr. Lane. Biggles organises the making of a stretcher to get Mr. Lane into the headman’s house. With nothing more for Biggles to do, Biggles and Habu set off back on their journey home with a guide who knows a way to cross the river without using the bridge. “The crossing proved to be a final test of nerve. It involved the descent of an almost sheer cliff to the water. The only way of getting to the other side of the raging water was by stepping, and sometimes jumping, from rock to rock. Being wet with spray they were slippery, and a fall could have been fatal”. Hurrying home they met a party led by Lalu Din, Habu’s father, that has been out looking for them as night was falling fast. Biggles’ father tells him that he, Biggles, will soon be on his way to England and he had better get to bed “or we’ll be having you down with another relapse of fever”. “Yes, sir,” replied James obediently”.