by W E Johns
‘Suits me, laddie,’ said Bertie.
‘And me,’ agreed Ginger.
CHAPTER 14
THE CASE IS CLOSED
There were no repercussions from the case which Biggles entered in his records as Wolff alias Hagen, deceased, v. the Crown.
The situation that led to the loss of Wolff’s papers was explained in Biggles’s report, and while, naturally, there was disappointment in certain technical departments, Biggles’s action in disposing of them rather than risk their falling into the hands of a potential enemy was held to be justified.
Unofficially, the Air Commodore agreed with those who thought that the documents were better out of the way altogether. How much money remained in the box, if any, was a matter for surmise. Hagen had spent a lot during his residence in the West Indies so there may not have been a great deal. Among other things he had bought Rumkeg Haven, which was subsequently confiscated by the Crown. But money was of small importance compared with the scientific data.
The first result of Biggles’s report was the despatch of an Admiralty frigate to the area in which the foreign submarine was operating; but nothing more was seen of it. This surprised nobody.
The frigate found the Vega, a total wreck, cast away on Inagua, where apparently it had been abandoned. It was assumed to have been lost through faulty navigation, but in his own mind Biggles thought it was far more likely that those who had taken the yacht from its mooring in Jamaica had been picked up by the submarine when it was realized that it could serve no further purpose by remaining in West Indian waters.
Biggles also voiced an opinion that, as those for whom von Stalhein was working did not easily forgive failure, he was likely to get a rap on the knuckles when he returned to his masters empty-handed. Certainly neither he nor Zorotov were on Inagua. At all events, a shore party from the frigate could find no sign of them. Nor could the body of the trouble-making negro be found, although a search was made for it. Biggles had reported the man’s death, as he was bound to. Nobody bothered much about this. As someone observed, it was time this swaggering Napoleon met his Waterloo.
Ginger did not forget Evans who, when the Otter left Jamaica, was well on his way to recovery. The presentation of the specimen egg would, he said, complete the cure.
Nor did Biggles overlook his promise to Susannah Shaw, the lonely female who, although she never knew it, had played such a vital part in their affairs. In due course, a request was sent to the Governor of the Bahamas to see that the flamingo colony was properly protected, and at Biggles’s suggestion, Susannah, as wife of the previous guardian, was appointed to the post.
Algy, much to his disgust, had to spend a fortnight in hospital. He was never in serious danger from his wound, but for the rest of his days he will carry a souvenir, in the form of a scar, to remind him of his visit to the Isles of Reef and Palm.
THE END
