Colonel Raymond waved aside Biggles's apologies for losing the base and his machines.
'My dear fellow, that code-book was worth a hundred machines to us, apart from which you certainly made things hum for a little while. The work you have done more than repays us for what we spent on the base—in fact, you managed to do a lot more than we expected.' He smiled. 'Did any of you get any sleep at all ?'
`Not much,' admitted Biggles. 'But I don't see that we did an awful lot
`Rubbish. What did you expect to do—destroy the entire German Navy and Air Force ?
If any one unit achieves greater success than yours I shall be very much surprised. Directly or indirectly, you were responsible for the destruction of an ammunition dump and a marine store depot; you interrupted lines of communication which has held up the movement of German forces from Poland to the Western Front; you have sunk a submarine, a drifter, and a liner that was to have been used for troop transport in the Baltic. Two destroyers have been sunk, and you have captured one of the enemy's latest marine aircraft. On top of that you get hold of the latest naval code—all without a single casualty and for the loss of only four aeroplanes which can easily be replaced. You certainly didn't waste any time.'
`But we've lost the secret base.'
Colonel Raymond smiled knowingly. 'A secret base—yes ; but not the only one we possess. We've been busy in the Baltic for some time past. Bergen Ait isn't the only island that threatens Germany. But that's for your private ear—perhaps I shouldn't have told you. We sent you to Bergen Ait—I'll be quite frank with you—because it was nearest to the German coast, and consequently the most dangerous—for the enemy as well as you. D'you know how long the Higher Command estimated the base would last after you took it over, before it was located by the enemy ?'
`Six months ?'
`Twenty-four hours at most.'
`You didn't tell me that,' murmured Biggles reproachfully.
`Naturally—we didn't want to discourage you,' Colonel Raymond informed him coolly. '
But work it out yourself. You were in enemy waters, with hostile craft all round you, both on the sea and in the air. . . . No, Bigglesworth, it couldn't last more than a few days at the very outside. When you went out of this door I never expected to see you again.'
`We're difficult people to kill,' murmured Biggles, winking at Ginger.
Èvidently. Well, that's all. Believe me, we're grateful for what you've done, and no doubt your work will be mentioned in dispatches when it becomes safe to do so. At the moment we prefer to keep quiet about it. Now take yourselves off and let me have a full report in writing on what happened at Bergen Ait ; after that you can take a few days'
leave—but don't go too far away.'
`Why not ?'
'Because—well, you see, we may need you again.'
Biggles nodded.
had an idea you might,' he
said slowly as he walked towards the door. 'Goodbye, sir.'
The Colonel smiled. 'Perhaps it would be better to say au revoir,' he suggested softly.
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