BIGGLES SEES TOO MUCH

First published July 1970

3. LUCK WORKS TWO WAYS (Pages 28 – 36)

Biggles can’t understand what’s happening. The chauffeur was there to meet his boss, he had said so in the brief conversation they had earlier. What had caused the chauffeur to change his mind? Biggles watches the approaching boat and sees that it is now changing direction to a more westerly course. It was evident that whatever port it was making for, it was not Polcarron. “It looked as if the boat had in some way been warned to keep clear of Polcarron”. There would be no point in trying to call up Algy and Ginger on the radio. By the time they got in the air and reached the coast they wouldn’t be able to tell one boat from another”. “Biggles thought helplessly. He had been outwitted, he told himself bitterly”. Biggles walks back to their hotel, which is called ‘The Fisherman’s Arms’ and orders a beer. As a resident, he is on familiar terms with the barman and they chat. The chauffeur had been in and found their names in the visitor’s book. He had made enquiries about them. Biggles learns the man lit a cigarette with his own lighter, so he had no need to ask Biggles for a light. Biggles wondered if the name “Bigglesworth” meant anything to the chauffeur. If it had, its association with Scotland Yard would account for what had followed. Biggles returns to the quay to await Bertie’s return. It is sooner than expected. Within half an hour, Bertie returns to say he lost the Daimler when a herd of cows were let out in front of him. Biggles tells Bertie what has happened and says the crooks will now give this place a wide berth. Biggles radios Ginger who has something interesting to tell him. Ginger had been twiddling the knobs on his radio and had cut in on another radio conversation. The gent driving the Daimler was called Pug Bates and he was warning someone to keep clear of Polcarron because two Yard men were watching the harbour. “Evidently the Daimler is fitted for two-way radio” says Biggles. They both return to the hotel, where Biggles finds a package waiting for him addressed to “Captain Bigglesworth”. (Biggles was promoted to Major at the end of the First World War and that was his correct military rank). Biggles comments “Seems I’ve been promoted” (so he must be referring to a police rank? But Biggles is an Inspector and the next rank up would be Chief Inspector followed by Superintendent?). Bertie reaches for the parcel and between Biggles and Bertie, they drop it on the floor. Biggles picks it up and says “Must be a clock. I can hear ticking”. “Then he moved. Fast. Dashing to the end of the hall, he flung open the swing doors, and after a swift glance up and down for possible traffic, he hurled the parcel to the far side of the road. It struck the sea wall and bounced back on to the pavement that skirted it. Simultaneously there was a shattering explosion”. (This is the illustration on the cover of the book). Biggles returns to Bertie. “Biggles’ face was pale under its tan. With hands that were not quite steady he lit a cigarette. ‘Had I stopped to open it, Tom would now be picking up pieces of my face off the floor,’ he said grimly”. Biggles asks Tom who delivered the package but he doesn’t know. They go for a meal but Bertie remarks that he has lost his appetite. “Oh come, now,” bantered Biggles. “You’re too experienced a soldier to let a little squid like that upset you”. Then he added seriously. “We’ve had a warning, so from now on we shall have to watch how we go”. (Strangely, this attempted murder is not reported to the police for investigation and it appears that no one else remarks on the explosion!).