BIGGLES SEES TOO MUCH

by Captain W. E. Johns

2. A WAITING GAME (Pages 20 – 27)

“A week after the conversation in the Air Commodore’s office, Biggles was again lounging on the seafront beach in the little harbour of Polcarron. Keeping him company was police pilot Bertie Lissie. They had in fact been sitting there on and off for three days”. Biggles has made inquiries about a prospective shark-fishing trip, but there were more small boat owners engaged in the sport that he had imagined. He and Bertie had come down in Biggles’ own car, an old Ford Pilot (On 5^th March 1951, Johns bought a 1949 Ford Pilot car with the registration number ENJ 525. He traded in his previous vehicle, a 1936 Ford V8 Saloon. The Ford Pilot cost £975 in 1951, which is worth £38,300 in 2024, and he got £225 for his old car). Algy and Ginger are standing by with the Auster of the Air Police Flight at the Morven Flying Club, a few miles inland. Biggles has with him a portable short wave radio in a leather case, which would probably be taken for a camera or binoculars by anyone passing by. A large black car arrives and Biggles nudges Bertie, who identifies it as a (Daimler) Princess. Biggles can’t be sure if it’s the same car he saw before, but he thinks it is. A man in a peaked cap sits in the car. To their surprise, the man gets out of the car and wanders over to them to ask for a light for his cigarette. They engage in conversation and the man asks if Biggles is staying at the local pub. Biggles confirms they are. The man politely leaves them and walks off in the direction of their little hotel. Bertie wonders if part of his job is to make sure the coast is clear. Bertie gazes out to sea and says he can see a boat coming. “Looks like a fast motor-boat from the wake it’s churning up. Seems to be heading in this direction”. They then see the chauffeur hurrying back to the car. To their surprise he drives off. Bertie goes to their car to follow him.