BIGGLES SEES TOO MUCH

by Captain W. E. Johns

12. BACK TO POLCARRON (Pages 105 – 112)

Biggles drives back to Polcarron, with Bertie manning the radio. It’s not long before the aircraft is reporting that they have found the boat. Ginger later reports that unless the boat changes course at the last minute, it is heading for Polcarron. Algy and Ginger are told to fly to London. Parking at the quay, Biggles stays in the car, whilst Bertie gets out to watch the boat arrive. Biggles sees Bertie meet up with old Sam on his usual seat and they both go to the boat. Shortly after Bertie disappears from sight. Bertie then returns to say that the two men on the boat had gone to “The Fishermen’s Arms”, one was Bates the chauffeur and the other unknown to Bertie, but he thinks it was Julius Brunner. There was a shark on the boat but Sam was of the opinion that it had been dead for a week. Biggles tells Bertie they are going to “The Fishermen’s Arms” to eat. Bertie thinks the men would have raised suspicions as four men went out, but only two came back. Biggles tells Bertie he is forgetting the boat set off from Portwin Cove and came back to Polcarron, therefore it was most unlikely that anyone who saw it depart would see it return. Bertie frowned. “How is it you always manage to come back with the bally answer?” Biggles smiled. “It’s just a matter of using the grey stuff you have between the ears. I had to develop the habit when I was young”. At the pub, Biggles orders two half pints of beer. The barman says he has orders from the boss not to serve them. Biggles tells him “You can either produce the beers I ordered or go tell him I’m sending for the police; and I don’t think he’d like that. We’re not drunk, so you’ve no excuse for not serving us. These are licensed premises and this is a public bar. Now jump to it”. The beers are served and banged on the bar so some beer is spilt. Biggles insists the beers are topped up and wiped clean. “I want to put the beer down my throat, not over my collar”. Biggles speaks with Stephen Brunner, who says he has a message from the police that the inquest has been postponed. Biggles insists on having lunch and goes into the dining room where he finds Julius Brunner and Bates the chauffeur. Stephen Brunner brings a meal for Biggles and Bertie and then threatens them. “You think you’re smart, but I’ll get even with you one of these days”. Biggles tells Bertie “There’s nothing like getting the enemy rattled; it interferes with his judgment”. Biggles says they should go to the airfield “to see if the boys are there with orders from headquarters”. “We shall be back” Biggles calls across to Stephen Brunner as they went out. “You’re asking for trouble,” remarked Bertie, when they were outside. “It’s sometimes the quickest way to bring matters to a head,” Biggles answered soberly.