Captain W E Johns [Biggles 23 Biggles Sees It Through (epub)

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.Near at hand, where the ice-surfaced lake met the land, the ground rose steeply to a ridge.He did not know what lay beyond it, and the thought occurred to him to find out.Possibly there was another lake, in which case there was just a chance that it might turn out to be the one they were looking for; and it was really in the hope of finding a speedy solution to their problem that he made his way to the top of the ridge.Before him stretched a panorama so awe-inspiring in its utter desolation that for a minute or two he stared at it aghast.Seen thus it looked much worse than it had done from the air.Snow covered everything, even the drooping firs that here and there clung to the stark hillsides.He was about to turn away when a movement caught his eye, and looking round again quickly he saw that it was a flicker of light.At first he supposed it to be the aurora borealis, but soon dismissed this thought, for he perceived that it was much too low down, and of a warm yellow tint.It appeared to come from behind the next ridge, about a mile away, and as he stood staring he thought he heard a faint sound.Seized by curiosity, he at once determined to investigate.He glanced at the machine, but appar-ently the others were still sleeping, so without further delay he set off across the snow in the direction of the light.Before he reached the ridge he had a pretty shrewd idea of what he would see on the other side, for the flicker of yellow light was now much brighter, and it could only mean one thing.Beyond the ridge a fire was burning, and a fire indicated the presence of human beings.Even so he was hardly prepared for the sight that inet his startled gaze when, on hands and knees, he topped the rise and looked over.I le found himself staring down into a wide, flat depression, w hich he knew from experience, was another of the numerous lakes with which the district abounded.On the near side of it was a camp of six tents, arranged in a circle round a brightly burning fire, near which also a number of men were congregated.They were only about a hundred yards from where he lay.Faint snatches of conversation reached his ears, and although he could not speak Russian, he recognized the sounds of that language.Ginger noted a line of sledges, six in all, close by the tents.Six tents suggested that there were not less than thirty or forty men in the party, and it shocked him to think that they had been so close to danger without being aware of it.Clearly, Biggles would have to know about this at once.He was about to turn away when a sound reached his ears that for a moment threw his brain into a whirl.It was the soft hum of wind over the fabric of a gliding aeroplane.The Russians evidently heard it too, for there was a sharp cry and more fuel was thrown on the fire, causing the flames to leap high; all of which suggested at once that the men were desirous of attracting the attention of the 'plane.In fact, it implied that the 'plane was expected.Ginger lay still, resolved now to learn as much as he could before returning to the others.He had not long to wait.The 'plane passed low overhead and made a smooth landing on the lake, finishing its run not far from the camp Men ran from the fire and dragged the machine still nearer.Two men got out and walked into the camp, where another man, evidently the leader of the ground party, was standing a little apart from the others.The first words spoken by the newcomers struck Ginger like an electric shock, for they were in German, in which language the leader of the ground party replied.Stiff with amazement and dismay, Ginger heard one of the newcomers speak again, and at the sound of the voice the muscles in his throat seemed to restrict.The voice was unmistakable.It could belong to only one man.He had heard it too often to have any doubt about it.It was the one man whom they had most cause to fear — their old enemy, Hauptmann Erich von Stalhein, head of the Special Branch of the German Secret Service.What on earth could have brought von Stalhein to a place like this was the thought that flashed into Ginger's head.The answer to the question was almost automatic.Obviously he had come to recover the missing portfolio.For a few minutes longer Ginger watched; then the leaders went into the tent, and as soon as he realized that he was unlikely to gather any further information, he slid back off the rise and raced to the machine.The others were still asleep, but he awakened them with scant ceremony.`Biggles!' he cried tersely, shaking Biggles's shoulder.'Hi! Wake up.Things are happening — get a move on.'The others scrambled hastily to their feet, for there was a vibrant ring in Ginger's voice that bespoke real urgency.'What is it?' asked Biggles sharply.'There's a party of Russians on the other side of the hill.What's more, von Stalhein is with them.''What?'It's a fact.' Ginger described swiftly and briefly what he had seen.For a moment even Biggles was speechless in the face of this astounding — not to say alarming — piece of information.'My sainted aunt!' he muttered, 'this is developing into a more desperate business than I bargained for.How far away are they?''Only about a mile If they happen to march this way they'd be right on us before we could do a thing.''All right — all right.Don't get excited.We shall have to do something about this.Let me think.'For a few minutes there was silence while Biggles stared intently at the floor, deep in thought.At last he looked up.'Von Stalhein is on the same job as we are, that's certain,'he said.'If we take off he'll hear us.Further, he'd hear us every time we tried to get down anywhere near here.In short, once we're in the air we're stumped.'Ìf we stay here and they happen to find us, we shall be knocked for six,' put in Algy grimly.'You needn't tell me that,' returned Biggles crisply.'As I see it, our only chance is to get this party on the run before they know we're about [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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