Biggles Series #40 - Biggles Works It Out by W. E. Johns

Author:W. E. Johns [Johns, W. E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-08-15T19:38:55+00:00

The aircraft responded in the manner for which it had been designed. With motors howling, its nose swung up and round in an almost vertical climbing turn. Indeed, it nearly went over on its back. To keep on his feet Algy had to drop his gun and cling to the back of the pilot's seat with both hands; but even so, centrifugal force tore him clear so that he was flung sideways. Canton, who had not troubled to strap himself in, was thrown half into the second pilot's seat and half on the floor; and there for a moment he was held, as was Algy, by the tremendous pressure. Canton, clutching at anything to pull himself up, got hold of the reserve control column, perhaps without realizing what it was; whereupon with its engines roaring protest the machine again nearly stood on its tail.

"You fool!" yelled Algy. "You'll kill us both!"

Canton's only reply was a wild, hysterical laugh.

Algy managed to gain the pilot's seat and grabbed at the stick to centralize controls, for the machine was hanging on the point of a stall. Canton's hand went to his pocket and pulled out a gun. At that moment the machine stalled, and in no half-measure. With its engines screaming it went down like a bomb. Algy slammed back the throttle and threw himself on Canton, trying to pin his arm. Canton twisted and managed to get his arm free. Algy swung a jab to the jaw and knocked the arm sideways just as the revolver went off. He grabbed the arm and struck again. Canton kicked Algy in the stomach. With a grunt Algy caught Canton's wrist and twisted it so that the revolver fell on the floor.

Inherent stability was now bringing the Douglas out of its stall. The pressure was so great that Algy thought they would both go through the bottom of the machine. Movement was only possible at the absurdly slow rate of a slow-motion film. Canton was reaching for the gun as a child reaches for a toy. Algy, expecting the machine to hit the sea at any inoment, got him by the body and hung on. Wrestling in a furious clinch, they got up together, only to fall across the control column. Again the machine, out of control, yawed sickeningly, falling at the same tiine.

With a sudden jerk Canton tore himself clear and scrambled to the radio transmitter.

Algy went after him, ripped the flex from the instrument and knocked Canton into the cabin. His automatic was somewhere on the floor. He looked for it, knowing that if Canton .got it it would be the end. He couldn't see it, so he went on after his man.

The fight was resumed in the cabin, with the machine wallowing like a wounded whale.

It must have been obvious to Canton, as it was to Algy, that another minute of this would see the end of both of them. Apparently Canton didn't care. He appeared to have gone mad. Both showing signs of wear, they broke away and glared at each other.

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