Part 14 (1/2)

It won't worry us,' answered the naval officer. It's ' He jabbed his thumb downwards.

'That must have been the bang we heard,' said Ginger. 'It wasn't Algy's tank; it was a mouldy hitting the destroyer.'

'Come down-I've got to get back. I daren't hang about here!' shouted the submarine commander. 'Where are the people off that other destroyer ?'

'They must have seen you and pushed off in their lifeboats. They had a motor-boat with them.' I see. Come on down.'

'Stand fast. We're not sure that we can get down.'

Biggles made his way quickly to the cave, but it did not take him long to ascertain that any idea of getting down that way was out of the question. How far the blockage extended it was impossible to say. At some risk he dragged a few small pieces of rock aside, only to reveal more rock, apart from which he nearly brought the roof down on his head. 'It would take weeks to clear a way through here,' he told Ginger, who had followed him.

'But that means that we can't get down at all.'

It begins to look like that,' admitted Biggles. 'Maddening, isn't it, with the submarine so close.'

'Perhaps they can get a line up to us 2' suggested Ginger.

'We'll ask them.'

They hurried back to the opening and informed the naval officer of the position. 'Can you get a line up to us ?' concluded Biggles.

The submarine commander conferred with his officers. 'No!' he shouted up. 'We haven't a line long enough. Even if we had we couldn't get it up to you.'

'That means we're stuck here,' declared Biggles, looking round the horizon which, now that the snow had cleared, could be seen. His eyes fell on a line of lifeboats heading southward, and the mystery of the abandoned s.h.i.+ps was explained. He realized that von Stalhein must have seen the destroyer torpedoed, and had promptly fled in the motorboat. Biggles's roving eyes picked out something else, a smudge of smoke far beyond the boats. 'What's this coming!' he shouted, pointing towards it.

The submarine commander studied the distant hull with his binoculars. 'It's a German cruiser,' he announced. 'If you're coming with me you'll have to buck up. I daren't risk my s.h.i.+p by staying here.'

Biggles thought desperately, but he could find no way out of their quandary. 'All right skipper,' he shouted at last, 'you get off and take the code-books. We shall have to take our luck.'

'Sorry-but you can see how it is.'

Biggles waved good-bye.

Suddenly Algy cried, 'Can you get back to the top ?'

'Yes,' Biggles told him, whereupon Algy spoke rapidly to the naval officer, at the same time pointing towards the German flying-boat, which was still drifting about half a mile away. Then he looked up.

'Get back to the top of the rock,' he bellowed. 'You'll have to buck up.'

I don't know what he's thinking of doing, but we'd better do as he says,' declared Biggles. 'It's no use staying here, anyway.'

A parting wave and they were on their way back to the summit of the island. Panting with exertion, they made their way across the empty reservoir to the ledge, and then, by means of the rope, to the top.

I've got it,' said Ginger, as they ran across to a position from which they could look down on the submarine. 'He 's going to fetch the flying-boat.'

'But he can't land a boat up here,' protested Biggles, as they reached their immediate objective and scanned the sea for the submarine. But it had gone. The German cruiser was still coming at full speed, and was now not more than five or six miles away. The Platypus was a smouldering wreck, burnt to water-level. The big flying-boat was racing over the sea towards the island.

'He must have set fire to the Platypus to prevent it from falling into the enemy's hands, so he must be pretty confident of getting away,' declared Biggles.

A moment later the aircraft left the water and roared up towards the top of the rock. Five pairs of eyes watched it anxiously as it climbed rather higher than the island, and then swept round with the obvious intention of flying straight over them. As it pa.s.sed over the level area a bulky object fell from it and plunged downward. Another followed, and another. There was no time for more, for by this time the machine had overshot the island; but it banked steeply and retraced its course. Two more objects detached themselves to bounce on the rock.

I've got it!' yelled Biggles. 'They're brollies.'

Ginger stared aghast. 'Does he think we're going to jump off the top of this place ?' he gasped.

'That's it. There's no other way.' Biggles ran forward to retrieve the parachutes, the others following him.

By the time they had each picked one up the flying-boat had cut its engines and was gliding down. It landed, and taxied nearly-but not quite-under the overhanging ledge, which, fortunately, happened to be on the side farthest from the cruiser.

Algy's voice floated up. 'Come on!' he shouted. I'll pick you up. Get a move on. It's that or nothing.'

'Where's the submarine ?' called Biggles. 'Gone.'

'Has it got the code-books?'

'Yes.'

Biggles gave a sigh of relief and started getting into his harness. Ginger and the Flight-Sergeant were doing the same thing. Afterwards they helped Briny and Roy, neither of whom had ever made a parachute jump.

Biggles looked down, and judged the distance to be a little over four hundred feet. 'We shall have to pull the ring as we jump,' he announced. 'Jump out as far as possible to get clear of the rocks.'

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'Don't forget to pull the ring!' he screamed as Briny tottered into s.p.a.ce Briny's face was ashen. 'You don't mean to say, sir, that I've got to go over there ?' he whispered plaintively.

'That's just what I do mean,' answered Biggles firmly.

I daren't do it, sir, s'welp me, I daren't.'

'Be a man, Briny. Think what a tale you'll have to tell when you get home. Think of how you'll be able to start your stories : ”I remember the day I jumped off the top of Bergen Ait ” '

Briny's eyes opened wide. 'Why, yes, that's right, sir,' he gulped.

And I'll tell you something else,' declared Biggles. 'When we get back I'll let you tell a yarn right through without interrupting you '

'You will, sir ?'

'Honest. Only buck up about it. If you hang about much longer you'll find yourself landing down the funnel of that peris.h.i.+ng cruiser.'

Briny advanced to the edge of the cliff. He looked down and shuddered. It's no use, sir,'

he moaned. 'I daren't Over you go or I'll throw you over,' snarled Biggles, pretending to fly into a fury. 'Don't forget to pull the ring!' he screamed as Briny tottered into s.p.a.ce.

Ginger put his hands over his eyes. He couldn't bear to watch. He held his breath, waiting for the splash.