THE CAMELS ARE COMING (original) (raw)

THE CAMELS ARE COMING

by W. E. Johns

XI.������������������ THEBOOB� (Pages 155 � 167)

Biggles tells Mahoney that he has received a letter from �an elderly female relative of mine�.� Her son, Biggles� cousin, is in the Royal Flying Corps and she has pulled strings to get him sent to 266 Squadron.� �It�s years since I saw him; and if he�s anything like the little horror he was then, God help us � and him.� His christian names are Algernon Montgomery��� Shortly after, Algy arrives, �his face, which wore a permanent expression of amused surprise, was a mass of freckles�.� (This is the very first introduction of Algy Lacey, who goes on to become one of Biggles regular companions for the rest of the series of novels). ��You�re Biggles � aren�t you?� I know you from the photo at home�.� �My name�s Captain Bigglesworth,� said the Flight-Commander coldly.� Algy has had fourteen hours experience on Avro�s and ten on Camels.� Biggles tells him the main things he needs to know if he is to survive.� �I don�t want to discourage you, but most people that come out here live on an average twenty-four hours�.� Biggles takes Algy up to show him the landmarks and on seeing enemy planes,� Biggles signals to Algy and hides in cloud cover.� Algy foolishly chases after the five enemy planes and is soon too far away for Biggles to help him.� Biggles returns to write a letter of condolence to his mother, expecting him to be killed for certain, but Algy returns to the aerodrome claiming to have shot one of the enemy planes down.� Biggles doesn�t believe him and says �If you ever leave me again I�ll put you under close arrest as soon as your feet are on the ground�.� The next morning, Biggles takes Algy and the other member of his flight, Healy, on the dawn patrol.� He sees a charred wreck at the corner of Mossyface Wood, �the kid was right.� Well I�m damned!� _(As usual with all swearing, this becomes �Well, I�m dashed!� when reprinted in �Biggles Pioneer Air Fighter�) ._� The three British pilots are attacked by six Fokkers and Healy is killed in a head on collision with a Fokker.� Biggles gives the arm signal for Algy to return to base, noticing that he hasn�t fired his guns.� Algy leaves and then returns, flying into the enemy planes and forcing them to take evasive action before they can shoot down Biggles.� Back at the aerodrome, Algy explains that he hadn�t fired as his gun had jammed.� �Do you mean to say you came back into that hell of a dog-fight with a jammed gun?� asks Biggles.� �Yes.�You said stick with you�.� Biggles held out his hand.� �You�ll do kid,� he said; �and you can call me Biggles�.