06 Biggles Hits The Trail by Captain W E Johns

Author:Captain W E Johns
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2011-01-23T00:00:00+00:00

`Whatever it is, it won't be pleasant, you may be sure of that,' Biggles told him tersely.

But we shall have something to say about it first, I hope.'

The grinding of the drill suddenly became a whirring scream, and then, almost before they were ready for it, a glowing metallic point, followed by a metal shaft of about the circumference of a half-crown, burst through the rock. For a few seconds it twisted and turned, apparently in order to make the hole larger, and then it was withdrawn.

As it disappeared from sight Biggles pushed the muzzle of the machine-gun through the hole and pulled the trigger. Taka-taka-taka-taka-taka chattered the gun, the reports booming like a cannon inside the cave. There was a grim smile on Biggles's face as he twisted the barrel from left to right in the same way as the drill had been turned a moment before. Fifty rounds or so he pumped into the cavern, and then withdrawing the barrel with a quick movement, stooped to listen. But no sound came through the hole.

They're not saying much, but I don't think they could have liked it,' he said quietly, straightening his back, but keeping the gun at the ready. Stand clear of that hole everybody. You never know: anything might come out of it, from centipedes to blue sparks.

For twenty minutes or so they stood quite still, waiting for they knew not what, but not a sound of any sort came through the small aperture. 'We seem to have discouraged them, at any rate,' resumed Biggles. 'All the same, we shall have to keep watch over this hole, which is a nuisance. I hate this cat-and-mouse game. I like to get a thing over and settled one way or the other. Who'll take first watch? I want to go and have a word with the old man.'

Ginger volunteered, so leaving him on guard, the others returned to the machine. They found Dickpa and Malty a

trifle agitated about the shooting, so they had to explain what had happened.

Ìt's war to the knife now, then,' murmured the Professor.

Ìt always was, wasn't it?' replied Biggles harshly. 'They started the rough stuff. All we wanted was to be friends and go home with a parcel of radium, which they could quite well have spared, anyway. Dash it, they've got a whole mountain of the stuff. It's time we did a bit of attacking for a change; we've been on the defensive all the time so far, which isn't right to my way of thinking.' He went inside the cabin. `Hello, Mac, still alive, I see,' he grinned.

Ày, I never felt better.'

A hail came from outside.

`That sounds like Ginger,' muttered Biggles. 'Now what's the trouble, I wonder ?' He hurried to the door. 'Yes, what is it ?' he called.

`There's a noise coming through the hole; I think it's someone talking,' yelled Ginger.

Àll right! Stand by; I'm coming,' shouted Biggles. He turned to McAllister. 'Are you well 'enough to walk, Mac?' he asked.

'Ay.'

`You

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