Part 10 (1/2)

'But certainly.'

Ginger turned an amazed face to Bertie. 'Now, what do you make of that?'

'Looks as though fresh writing has been put on the wal since we were there.' Bertie turned to Jeanette.

'This girl in the blue shawl-have you seen her before?'

'I am so far away I do not know, but I think no.'

'Was there a mark after the writing-a triangle?'

'I see no triangles.'

'And the man who ran up the steps-what did he look like?'

'Ah, I see him closer.' Jeanette gave a brief description.

'Algy, by thunder!' cried Ginger. 'He must have been on the spot, probably waiting for us, and actual y saw the girl writing. I wonder where he went?'

Jeanette smiled. 'He has gone, monsieur, monsieur, to Castil on.' to Castil on.'

'You spoke to him?'

' Non Non-I do not speak with strange men.'

'Then how do you know where he went?'

'I told you he speaks to Monsieur Budette, he who watches always the little boat that belongs once to his English milord. I, too, speak with Monsieur Budette. He has a joke the most comical. A man, he says, has asked him the way to Castil on.'

'That's the name you said was written on the wal .'

'Of course.'

'What is this word, Castil on?'

'Castil on is a vil age, monsieur. monsieur. That is what is so drol .' Jeanette smiled again. That is what is so drol .' Jeanette smiled again.

'What's funny about it?'

'No one is there, except cats, and, it is said, the ghosts.'

'Jeanette, please be serious,' pleaded Ginger.

'This is very important.'

'Pardon, monsieur monsieur, but I speak the truth.'

'Tel me about Castil on.'

'It is a vil age deserted, monsieur monsieur, in the mountains behind Mentone, fifteen kilometres, perhaps, from Monaco. I walk there once, with my brother Henri, for a pique-nique pique-nique*3. It sits in a col col- how you say? A gorge of the most steep, like a cut in the mountains. It is, to look at, like a heap of grey bones. You see, monsieur monsieur, one day long ago, when my father is a young man, there is an earthquake, and many of the houses fal down. The people are so afraid they run, they run al the time; they do not stop running until they come to Mentone. They do not go back-never. So the vil age it remains as it was left.

Only the cats stay, many cats, which makes it the more desolate. That is why Monsieur Budette thinks it is a great joke for a man to go there.'

'Thank you, Jeanette.' Ginger looked at Bertie.

'Now we're getting somewhere. If the message is to be believed, someone is in need of help at this quaint vil age. It might be Biggles.'

'But who is this girl in the blue shawl?'

'How do I know? We'l find out. Let's get along.

Algy is already on the way.'

'But you're in no case to go climbing about mountains.'

'There must be a path. Is there a path, Jeanette?'

'Yes, monsieur monsieur.'

Bertie broke in. 'But you're not fit enough-'

'I'm feeling fine,' declared Ginger. 'A bit weak, that's al . I can't lie here with al this going on.'

'What about Henri?'

'We shal have to do something about that, too.'

'Your soup wil be cold, messieurs messieurs,' reminded Jeanette.

'Al right. We'l eat it and talk things over. You'd better go back to your mother, Jeanette.'

'If you say, monsieur. monsieur. ' Jeanette went out. ' Jeanette went out.

'Now let's try to fix a definite plan,' went on Ginger.

'What do you suggest?'

'We've got two angles to cover. First, someone ought to fol ow Algy to Castil on, to make contact with him and let him know what has happened here, and to find out what he knows. Two, someone wil have to go to Peil e to rescue Henri.'

'That sounds a tal order.'

'We can't just abandon him.'

'No, by Jove, that's right enough,' agreed Bertie.

'I'l tel you what,' suggested Ginger. 'You push off right away to Castil on and try to get hold of Algy- a.s.suming he's there. Tel him about Henri, and say I've gone to Peil e in the hope of getting him out.

When I've got him I'l join you at Castil on. If for any reason you have to leave the place, come back to the Quai de Plaisance. We'd better keep that the permanent rendezvous.'

'That's al right, but do you think you can manage to get to Peil e?'