Read Online 14 Biggles Goes To War by Captain W E Johns - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Captain W E Johns
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proof. We shall have to swear that we know absolutely nothing about it. I hate all this lying, but when one is dealing with liars, one can't afford to tell the truth: it seems, not in war-time, anyway. Thank God, here comes Smyth.' They scrambled back through the hedge to meet Smyth and Carter who now came running up. '
Quick, Smyth,' cried Biggles anxiously. 'Tell me, did you get everything out of the hangar?'
'Everything, sir. It's under tarpaulins, amongst the trees.'
Biggles wiped his forehead with his sleeve. 'Thank heaven for that.'
`How did this happen, sir?' asked Smyth.
'This is how we found the hangar when we got to it,' replied Biggles, truthfully enough. '
We were on our way to see you. Listen, Smyth, there's going to be a first-class row about this, and we've got to clear ourselves from suspicion.'
'Of course, sir.'
'All right; then to prevent any argument I want you to say, if necessary, that we've been over by the machines with you for the last half-hour. We were all there together when we saw the hangar on fire and ran across to it. Is that clear?'
'As clear as a bell, sir.'
'You understand that, Carter?'
'Certainly, sir.'
'Good! Then don't depart from that story as you value your lives. Are the machines all right?'
'Right as rain. There was a hole or two in the fabric but we've patched them.'
'Have you filled the tanks? We want to get off before dawn.'
'Everything's ready, sir.'
'Good work, Smyth. I don't know what I should do without you. Have you both got revolvers?'
'Yes, sir.'
'Then get back to the machines and stand by. Don't allow any one to come near them under any consideration whatever. I'll tell you why as soon as I get a chance. All I can tell you now is that this place is rotten with spies and that they're likely to damage the machines. Look at this hangar if you have any doubt about that. It was the machines they were after. My word! they didn't waste any time. On second thoughts, I think you'd better wait here for a bit, Smyth. Carter, you get back now. Hello, who's this? Whoever it is, there won't be much to see but ashes.'
A car came racing down the road. It pulled up with a screech of brakes. A door slammed and presently a figure came running towards them. In the glow of the fast diminishing fire it was possible to make out the slim figure of Ludwig Stanhauser.
'What's happened?' he cried in a voice of anguish. 'The hangar caught fire,' Biggles told him simply. 'And the machines—?'
Òh, they're safe enough.'
`Do you mean they weren't inside?'
'They were moved this afternoon. I didn't like this hangar: it was too conspicuous.'
'So you burnt it?'
'Good gracious, no! We were down here to make sure that our machines were in readiness for the morning when we saw the flames.'
'It's a relief to know they're all right,' answered Ludwig !thankfully. was at the palace talking to her Highness when we saw the glare from the window. I rushed down at once to see what had happened.'
'Then you can rush back and tell her Highness that all is well. Actually, the hangar is better out of the way. Anyhow, no harm has been done, that's the chief thing.'
'What are you going to do?'
'I'm going home to bed shortly, but I want a few words with you - urgently. Not here, though.'
'About something you've heard recently?' asked Ludwig in a low voice, at the same time throwing Biggles a knowing glance. 'Don't worry; I have heard about your visitor.'
`So she told you, eh?'
'Yes.'
'Good! We begin to understand each other, I think. We've got to work together, Ludwig.
Can you come to my room tonight?'
'At what time?'
'Eleven o'clock.'
will be there.'
'Don't be seen. We must work in the dark - you understand?'
understand.' Ludwig looked around. `By the way, where is Lacey?'
'He's some things to attend to. We didn't like to leave them without a guard,' answered Biggles vaguely, turning to Smyth. 'You get back now and relieve Mr Lacey,' he said.
'Very good, sir.' The NCO saluted and
Quick, Smyth,' cried Biggles anxiously. 'Tell me, did you get everything out of the hangar?'
'Everything, sir. It's under tarpaulins, amongst the trees.'
Biggles wiped his forehead with his sleeve. 'Thank heaven for that.'
`How did this happen, sir?' asked Smyth.
'This is how we found the hangar when we got to it,' replied Biggles, truthfully enough. '
We were on our way to see you. Listen, Smyth, there's going to be a first-class row about this, and we've got to clear ourselves from suspicion.'
'Of course, sir.'
'All right; then to prevent any argument I want you to say, if necessary, that we've been over by the machines with you for the last half-hour. We were all there together when we saw the hangar on fire and ran across to it. Is that clear?'
'As clear as a bell, sir.'
'You understand that, Carter?'
'Certainly, sir.'
'Good! Then don't depart from that story as you value your lives. Are the machines all right?'
'Right as rain. There was a hole or two in the fabric but we've patched them.'
'Have you filled the tanks? We want to get off before dawn.'
'Everything's ready, sir.'
'Good work, Smyth. I don't know what I should do without you. Have you both got revolvers?'
'Yes, sir.'
'Then get back to the machines and stand by. Don't allow any one to come near them under any consideration whatever. I'll tell you why as soon as I get a chance. All I can tell you now is that this place is rotten with spies and that they're likely to damage the machines. Look at this hangar if you have any doubt about that. It was the machines they were after. My word! they didn't waste any time. On second thoughts, I think you'd better wait here for a bit, Smyth. Carter, you get back now. Hello, who's this? Whoever it is, there won't be much to see but ashes.'
A car came racing down the road. It pulled up with a screech of brakes. A door slammed and presently a figure came running towards them. In the glow of the fast diminishing fire it was possible to make out the slim figure of Ludwig Stanhauser.
'What's happened?' he cried in a voice of anguish. 'The hangar caught fire,' Biggles told him simply. 'And the machines—?'
Òh, they're safe enough.'
`Do you mean they weren't inside?'
'They were moved this afternoon. I didn't like this hangar: it was too conspicuous.'
'So you burnt it?'
'Good gracious, no! We were down here to make sure that our machines were in readiness for the morning when we saw the flames.'
'It's a relief to know they're all right,' answered Ludwig !thankfully. was at the palace talking to her Highness when we saw the glare from the window. I rushed down at once to see what had happened.'
'Then you can rush back and tell her Highness that all is well. Actually, the hangar is better out of the way. Anyhow, no harm has been done, that's the chief thing.'
'What are you going to do?'
'I'm going home to bed shortly, but I want a few words with you - urgently. Not here, though.'
'About something you've heard recently?' asked Ludwig in a low voice, at the same time throwing Biggles a knowing glance. 'Don't worry; I have heard about your visitor.'
`So she told you, eh?'
'Yes.'
'Good! We begin to understand each other, I think. We've got to work together, Ludwig.
Can you come to my room tonight?'
'At what time?'
'Eleven o'clock.'
will be there.'
'Don't be seen. We must work in the dark - you understand?'
understand.' Ludwig looked around. `By the way, where is Lacey?'
'He's some things to attend to. We didn't like to leave them without a guard,' answered Biggles vaguely, turning to Smyth. 'You get back now and relieve Mr Lacey,' he said.
'Very good, sir.' The NCO saluted and
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