“My gosh! Did you see that old Hun two-seater scuttle when he saw us?” [Algy chuckled.]
--Biggles and the Rescue Flight
Compare the above to Thirty’s reaction to
the same event:
“’Yes,’ answered Thirty lamely, wondering how Algy could laugh. He himself felt oddly weak. His mouth was dry, and the skin seemed to be tightly drawn over his face. Stiffly, he climbed out on to the wing and jumped to the ground.”
--Biggles and the Rescue Flight
And keep in mind that it was Thirty’s
brother that they had just successfully rescued when this conversation took
place. You’d think he’d be happier….
I suppose you can be happy and scared at the same time!
ReplyDeleteOne of my favourite bits in The Rescue Flight is when Algy tells Thirty and Rip they are going over the lines where big bad Huns are waiting to gobble little boys up. Thirty asks if Algy is one of the little boys, then Algy says "Not me ... I used to be, but I'm a tough mouthful, now.'
As you can tell from your quote!
Since when did he ever "used to be"? First trip over and he shot down his first Hun. Not much window for him to be a little boy there!
ReplyDeleteWell... Biggles did say at the time that they hadn't seen Algy...
ReplyDeleteI seem to remember they were from some crack Hun circus.
I also think I recall that the first Hun Biggles (or more correctly Mark Way) shot down, Biggles never even saw...
Thus those that are lucky have the opportunity to go onwards and upwards :-)
Are you telling me that five Huns from some crack Hun circus didn't see a newbie Camel? Biggles was just being rude...and jealous. :)
ReplyDeleteBiggles was quite nervous on his first flight out, compared to Algy. It was a good thing Mark was around...
As a matter of detail, as WEJ would say, I think they were on their way home and Algy came unexpectedly out of a cloud...
ReplyDeleteYes, Biggles was nervous, you are right. He was probably right to be nervous, too... All credit to him that he conquered his nerves don't you think?
As a matter of detail, as WEJ would say, I think they were on their way home and Algy came unexpectedly out of a cloud
ReplyDeleteThey should have kept their eyes open! Are they a crack Hun circus or not?
Yes, Biggles was nervous, you are right. He was probably right to be nervous, too... All credit to him that he conquered his nerves don't you think?
True. Also, Johns wanted Biggles to be everypilot so I suppose that was why he put in the nervous bit.