As it happened there was no need for them to go to the road for the vehicle turned out to be an American jeep fil ed with troops.
Biggles stopped, smiling. ‘Looks like the Yanks are coming,’ he observed. ‘They’ve spotted us.’
The jeep stopped with a jerk. The troops jumped out, and with rifles and Tommy guns *2 advanced suspiciously, a sergeant ahead of the rest.
‘Okay, boys,’ cal ed Biggles, ‘we’re friends.’
‘What goes on here?’ growled the sergeant, after a glance at the Italian aircraft. ‘Who are you?’
‘I’m Squadron Leader Bigglesworth, of the British Royal Air Force,’ Biggles told him.
The sergeant looked puzzled. ‘What are you doing with that ship?’
‘We borrowed it from the Italians to get across the ditch,’ returned Biggles. ‘We’ve come from France.
I’ve got a sick man here, and there are ladies in the party, so I’d be obliged if you’d give us a lift to your headquarters. I’ve got to get in touch with a senior air officer as quickly as possible.’
‘Okay British, get aboard,’ invited the sergeant.
‘We haven’t far to go.’
That, real y, is the end of the story, for the rest was mere routine. Having explained the position to the officer in charge of the American landing party, after Henri had received medical attention and the others some light refreshments, the refugees were taken by road to British headquarters, in Algiers, where they were made comfortable. The A.O.C. sent a signal to the Air Ministry reporting their arrival. Henri was taken to hospital.
After that they spent a week in Algiers waiting for transport home—a period that was al too short for Ginger, who spent most of his time walking and swimming with Jeanette. At the end of the week they were flown to England in a homeward-bound troop-carrier. After seeing their overseas visitors comfortably settled the officers reported to Air Commodore Raymond of the Air Ministry, who congratulated them on the successful outcome of their mission.
‘Wel , that’s that,’ remarked Biggles, after they had completed their reports and went out into Kingsway.
‘I suppose we might as wel get back to the squadron.’
‘I’ve got a spot of leave to finish, if you don’t mind, sir,’ said Ginger meekly.
Biggles raised his eyebrows. ‘What do you want leave for?’
‘Wel , I’ve got to see my tailors about a new uniform—and one or two other things,’ explained Ginger, in an offhand way.
Biggles smiled. Algy shook his head sadly. Bertie winked.
‘Give her my love, and al that sort of rot—if you see what I mean?’
‘You run away and polish your eyeglass, troubadour,’ sneered Ginger, and hailed a passing taxi.
Footnotes
Chapter 1. Where is Biggles?
*1 Benito Mussolini—Fascist dictator of Italy. Joined with Germany in the war against Britain and her al ies in 1940.
*2 A native of Monaco.
*3 After France was occupied by the Germans, those members of the French forces who managed to escape set up a new headquarters in Britain led by General de Gaul e. They continued fighting from there and were known as the Fighting French or Free French.
Chapter 2. The Reasonable Plan
*1 Soldiers, who were captured by the enemy, were entitled to be humanely treated and held prisoner, but spies on both sides were shot, if captured. If a soldier wore disguise or discarded his uniform he was considered a spy and liable to be shot.
*2 French: look.
*3 Slang: parachute.
*4 French: acquainted.
Chapter 3. The Road to Monte Carlo
*1 French equivalent of an English county
*2 French: There!
*3 French: See you again
*4 French: Short stick carried by the police similar to a truncheon
*5 French: policeman
*6 French: My God!
*7 French: that’s it, OK
*8 Spanish exclamation similar to Blimey! or My God!
*9 A secret criminal society, similar to the mafia Chapter 4. The Writing on the Wall
*1 French: on the way
*2 French: of the highest standard
Chapter 5. Bertie Meets a Friend
*1 French: Good day
*2 French: Good day, my Lord. This is good. I am pleased . . .
*3 French: my old friend
*4 French: the police station
*5 French: exactly
*6 A member of the Camorra
*7 A narrow, razor-sharp knife
Chapter 6. Strange Encounters
*1 French: Wait!
*2 French: How?
*3 French: My friend
*4 French: Goodbye
Chapter 7. Good Samaritans
* French: My father
Chapter 9. The Girl in the Blue Shawl
*1 French: police station
*2 French: Good evening
*3 French: Castil on. Where the cooking is good.
Chapter 10. Shattering News
*1 French: immediately
*2 French: That’s al
*3 French: picnic
*4 The armies of Germany and Italy.
Chapter 12. Bertie Picks a Lemon
*1 French: van
*2 French: van driver
*3 Italian: Good evening
Chapter 13. Pilgrimage to Peille
*1 Group of high mountains
*2 French: So simple!
*3 French: Such courage! Magnificent!
*4 French: Understood
Chapter 14. Au Bon Cuisine
* Frenchman fighting under General de Gaul e against the Germans.
Chapter 17. Plan for Escape
* Commanding Officer
Chapter 18. How the Rendezvous Was Kept
*1 A distance of approximately 180 metres.
*2 Phosphorus-loaded bul ets whose course through the air could be seen by day or by night.
Chapter 19. Farewell to France
*1 French: Goodbye, My Lord, and have a good journey.
*2 A sub-machine gun, the original designed by Thompson, used by the American troops.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
29 Biggles Fails to Return Page 19
