Sir Biggles, Order of the Camel: Chapter 20.

By Sopwith

Disclaimer: I do not own, or claim to own, any of the Biggles series characters used in this work. This fan fiction was written for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered part of the official storyline.

Even before the enemy plane’s bullets had left its guns, Algy came down on it like a ton of bricks. Biggles doubted that the pilot even saw what it was that sent his plane up in a burst of flame.

The other plane, the one that had been in front of the Penguin, evidently decided that it was no match for Algy, for it straightened out and fled just as Algy turned to begin the attack.

“Running away like a scared rabbit,” said Ginger, with only a hint of sneer in his voice.

“Try Algy on the radio again,” suggested Biggles, as, with the coast clear, he finally managed to lift the Penguin off the water.

Ginger obliged, but came back in under a minute to report, “Still nothing.”

“His radio must be broken. Well, there he goes, back to the mainland at top speed. I hope to goodness his plane holds together until he manages to land it. Keep an eye on him if you can, in case he runs into difficulties.”

&&&

After that, there is really little more to tell. The two planes flew back to the aero club without mishap, to be greeted by an astonished Rick and some of the local policemen.

Bertie and Wilks were rushed to the hospital. Algy, despite his protests, was made to go with them. Wilks had all but recovered from his injuries, and the only thing really wrong with him was a slight touch of fever, which the doctor assured him should pass in a day or two. Bertie’s arm was not badly injured either. The bullet, thankfully, had merely grazed it, and not caused any lasting damage.

Except for a few minor burns and bruises, Algy escaped relatively unscathed from his adventures, although the doctor insisted on keeping him in the hospital for two days to ensure that the bullet wound in his side would have a chance to heal.

Acting on Algy and Bertie’s information, the police went to the house where Bertie had been imprisoned and arrested three members of the diamond smuggling gang, one of whom Biggles later found out happened to be Thompson. During the raid on the house, the police also found some diamonds, and these were subsequently turned over to the Brazilian government.

The police spent some time searching for the last plane that had left before Algy had been able to shoot it down, but no trace was found of either the plane or its pilot.

Of the diamonds that Biggles had pocketed during his stay on the island, only three were considered to be really valuable, and the most valuable one was given to Lord Ackbury, who of course was the reason Wilks had gone to South American in the first place. Of the two that were left, one was given to Wilks as a reward for his part in the affair, and the third diamond was eventually handed over to Biggles.

“Pity we didn’t get more when we had the chance,” lamented Ginger.

“We were lucky to get out alive at all,” Biggles reminded him. “Besides, greed is what drives men to crooked ways, my lad, and you’d do well to remember it.”

THE END

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Maira Gall