Biggles and the Dark Intruder Read online

  ‘I’ll come with you,’ said the Air Commodore.

  There is not much more to be told. To inquiries at the hospital they were given the usual answer: ‘As well as could be expected.’ Bertie was sleeping comfortably and it would be better not to disturb him.

  They went on to the police station to learn that Lewis was already on his way back to Dartmoor. Thoroughly disgruntled he had refused to say anything. When told that Trethallan had shot himself he had merely said: ‘Serves the fool right. If he hadn’t made a mucker of it I wouldn’t be here.’

  The pilot of the aircraft was equally unco-operative. He sat in his cell in sullen silence. Biggles told him it might be to his advantage to talk; but he refused to open his mouth. He declined to give his name and nationality. He carried no passport or any other means of identification. All he had in his pocket was the remains of a packet of American cigarettes, which can, of course, be bought anywhere.

  ‘He may talk when he’s had more time to think things over, and sees where he’s landed himself,’ said the Air Commodore after they had left the cell.

  Biggles told the full story of his investigations to the Inspector. The Air Commodore, who did not know the details, listened with absorbed attention.

  ‘What about this old mine?’ asked the Inspector. ‘Don’t you want to go down it?’

  ‘No, thank you,’ replied Biggles. ‘I’m nothing for mines, old or new. I’ll leave that to you.’

  It may as well be said here that nothing unexpected was found in the mine. From the remains of some food it had apparently been used simply as a place to wait for the plane. Short-wave radio equipment told its own story. As suspected, the aerial, which was in the old chimney stack, could be raised or lowered as occasion required. The passage used as an escape route was in fact an old ventilation shaft.

  Biggles and his chief went on to the plane, still standing where it had been left in charge of a constable. They learned little from it. In view of what the Air Commodore had suggested about its disposal, they did not spend much time on it. ‘We’ll get a full report on it in due course from the Research people,’ he said. ‘Now I must be getting back to town. The Air Minister will be delighted to know there won’t be any more night intrusions — not with this machine, anyway. Are you coming back with me?’

  ‘If you don’t mind, sir, I’ll hang on here for a few days till Bertie’s on his feet; then we can all come back together.’

  ‘Do that,’ agreed the Air Commodore. ‘Which reminds me. Where are the rest of your party?’

  ‘I told them they needn’t hurry about getting up,’ explained Biggles. ‘We’ve put in quite a lot of overtime since we arrived in Cornwall.’

  Thus ended the affair of the mysterious intruder, the plane that came by night to worry more than one Government department; although, to be sure, its purpose, while serious, proved to be less sinister than had been feared. Its arrest not only ended its criminal career, but, as Biggles had suspected from the outset, solved the mystery of the murdered constable: for the ballistic experts were able to prove that the bullet which had killed the policeman had been fired from the revolver that had at the finish ended the life of its owner. Just how that had come about could only be conjectured, for the man who had fired the fatal shot was beyond the reach of justice.

  THE END

  Table of Contents

  Contents

  Chapter 1: No Ordinary Problem

  Chapter 2: The Conference

  Chapter 3: Bodmin Moor

  Chapter 4: A Matter of Deduction

  Chapter 5: First Inspection

  Chapter 6: Sinister Developments

  Chapter 7: Treed

  Chapter 8: Bertie Brings News

  Chapter 9: A Shock for Biggles

  Chapter 10: A Plan and a Problem

  Chapter 11: More Surprises

  Chapter 12: What Happened to Bertie

  Chapter 13: The Pit

  Chapter 14: Tough Going for Ginger

  Chapter 15: Enter the Intruder

  Chapter 16: Exit the Master-Mind