Part 11 (1/2)

'How long have you been here ?'

'Since yesterday morning.'

'Great Scott! How did you get here ?'

'Through a hole in the rock. But never mind about that. There's a German flying-boat down in the cove. I saw it when I looked over the top this morning.'

Algy laughed. 'That's all right,' he said. It's ours.'

'What!'

'Biggles and I pinched it last night. Of course, you didn't know about Biggles being a prisoner on the Leipzig-von Stalhein got hold of him.' Briefly, he gave the astonished Ginger a resume of events of the past few hours. 'So I went off to lay an egg on the Boche supply depot-which I did; then coming back I ran into this stuff,' he concluded, indicating the snow with a gesture of disgust.

Ginger, in turn, described how he came to be where he was.

'We'd better see about getting down-and the sooner the better,' announced Algy when he had finished. 'We shall have to abandon the machine, for the time being at any rate.

Even if we could get the engine right, the weather makes flying out of the question.'

If you're thinking of trying to fly off the top of this rock, even with the engine right and the weather fine, you'd better forget it. You don't know what it's like. Wait till the snow clears and have a look at it; you may change your mind then.'

'Couldn't it be done ?'

Ginger hesitated. 'I suppose it might, at a pinch,' he conceded, 'but it would be a grim business. I should hate to try it, anyway.'

'Then if we can't fly her off we shall have to dismantle her and take her down in pieces,'

said Algy optimistically. 'We'd better have a look and see if I damaged her when I b.u.mped.'

They both walked round the wing to the nose of the machine and made a careful examination, but as far as they could see the machine had not been damaged-at least, not enough to prevent her from flying if the engine was put right.

'Smyth will have to come up and attend to the engine,' declared Algy. It's our last machine so we can't afford to lose it. Confound this snow! We shall be buried if it goes on. What's the difficulty about getting down ?'

Only a little matter of a twenty-foot drop on to a ledge just about big enough for a seagull to land on. You'd better come and look.' Taking Algy by the arm, Ginger led him to the edge of the cliff. 'That 's the ledge we've got to reach,' he said, pointing. 'Do you feel like tackling it ?'

'Crikey!' e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Algy as he stared down into the void, although the sea was hidden from view by the snow. 'That's not so pretty,' he agreed.

Then, as they both stood staring down, there came a sound from somewhere below them that made them look up and gaze speculatively into each other's eyes. It sounded like a long-drawn-out howl.

'What in the name of goodness was that ?' muttered Algy in a puzzled voice.

Ginger moistened his lips. 'There must be some sort of wild beast in the cave,' he whispered. 'Now we are sunk. Nothing would induce me to go down there.'

He started violently as a hairy object emerged slowly on to the ledge below. It turned, and a face looked up. It was Flight-Sergeant Smyth. His expression made Algy burst into a yell of laughter.

He recovered himself quickly and addressed the amazed N.C.O. 'What do you think you'

re doing, fooling about without any clothes on ?'

'My togs are just inside the cave, sir,' explained the Flight-Sergeant. 'I had to swim the pond.' 'Pond! What pond ?'

Ginger explained about the subterranean lake.

I see,' went on Algy. Then, to the Flight-Sergeant, 'You've arrived just in time. You'd better go and get your clothes. My machine's up here and I want you to have a look at it.'

'But how is he to get up ?' demanded Ginger.

Algy took from the pocket of his flying jacket the line which he had taken to the sandbank, thinking that he and Biggles might have to enter the shed through the skylight.

'This should help,' he said naively.

'By gos.h.!.+ What a bit of luck! That will do the trick,' said Ginger. 'Look here! I tell you what. We'll get the Flight-Sergeant up here to look at the engine. Then let me down, and I'll let Biggles know what has happened. I want a change of clothes anyway, and something to eat.'

'Yes, I think it's time you went down,' said Algy seriously, giving Ginger's weary face a searching look. 'I think that's a good idea. I'll stay here till you get back. You might as well bring Briny with you.'

The Flight-Sergeant, with his clothes in a bundle, reappeared on the ledge. He dried himself as well as he could with his cardigan and then got dressed. 'Briny 's with me, sir,' he announced. 'He 's the other side of the pond.'

Ginger looked at Algy. 'I think we'd better tell him to stay there,' he said. 'I don't see that there's much he can do up here, so he might as well come down with me and give me a hand over the difficult places.'

Algy agreed, and they told the Sergeant to shout to Briny to remain where he was, after which they lowered the rope and hauled Smyth to the top.

Ginger, with the N.C.O.'s torch, was then lowered to the ledge. He shouted to Briny to show a light to guide him, and then made the pa.s.sage across the lake. The sailor helped him up when he reached the far side.

Tor luv a duck, sir, what a time we're 'aving,' Briny greeted him.

'Yes, aren't we ?' agreed Ginger without enthusiasm.

'What 'ave you been doin' up here all this time, sir ?'

'Mushrooming,' returned Ginger briefly. 'Come on, let's get down. I've had about enough of this hole.'

Without further conversation they a.s.sisted each other down the face of the rock where Ginger had lost his torch, and set off down the tunnel, making all the speed they could.

Ginger, who was leading, didn't see Roy until he fell over him. 'Look out!' he cried as he picked himself up. 'Good heavens, it's Roy,' he went on sharply as the light flashed on the pale, bloodstained face.

'Something must 'ave happened, sir,' said Briny in a hushed voice.

I can see that,' answered Ginger, staring at the two code-books, still lying where they had fallen. 'Yes, by thunder, something certainly has happened,' he breathed.

It must be pretty bad to have sent him up here with those books,' whispered Briny. '

What could it 'abin, sir ?'

I can't imagine,' replied Ginger, shaking his head, 'unless, of course, the depot's been attacked. I can't think of any other reason that would send him up here with those two books. He must have been trying to save them when he fell off this rock.'

Briny had taken off his jacket, and after getting Roy into a more comfortable position, pillowed it under his head.