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.He was anxious for them to go.Apart from being anxious to know what had happened to Ginger, he wanted to finish the work of clearing the landing-strip, which for one reason or another had been held up longer than he liked.When the troops had recovered sufficiently from their shock to move, their behaviour indicated, as Algy hoped might happen, that they took it for granted the calamity was accidental.At least, they did not make a search; nor did they trouble to examine the ground where the explosion had occurred.Not that they would have found anything if they had.Instead, faced with the disagreeable prospect of having to walk back to their barracks, they employed themselves in catching their mounts.This took some time, although not as long as Algy feared it might.When the animals had all been rounded up the troops simply rode off without a backward glance.This of course suited Algy, who lay watching them until he was sure that there was no likelihood of their return.Getting up at last he continued on his way, keeping well back from the edge of the cliff until he reached the far end, where he found the whole party waiting, prepared to move to the crypt should it have been necessary.Ginger was not there, but in view of what had happened Algy didn't expect to see him.On the other hand, Algy's appearance was greeted with exclamations of relief, for neither Ritzen nor the others knew really what had happened on the oasis.Hearing the explosion, they said, they were afraid that the central part of the cliff had been blown up while he was still there.Wherefore his arrival was greeted with satisfaction.The news that the troops had gone produced smiles."Have the caves been damaged?" asked Ritzen.Algy said that as he hadn't been there he didn't know."What was that tremendous explosion?""That was the dynamite going off," answered Algy, grinning."As a matter of fact it went off a little before they were ready for it."Ritzen looked at him suspiciously."Did you have a hand in this?""I helped," admitted Algy."Where are the soldiers now?""When I last saw them they were heading for the horizon." Algy became serious."What about Ginger? Have you heard anything about the others?""Not a word.""Ming hasn't come back?""Then I think he must have found them," opined Algy."Otherwise they would have been back by now."Hardly had he finished speaking when Ming appeared.He looked hot and dusty but he was smiling, which Algy took to be a good sign.And so it turned out, as a quick conversation with Ritzen confirmed.Said the Swedish missionary, look at Algy: "They're all here.""All?""Yes, I mean all the prisoners except the Abbot, who has been let out of jail but is staying at Tunhwang.""That's marvellous!" cried Algy."Where are they?""Waiting in a valley near at hand.""Then tell Ming to go and bring them in.He can say they can go straight to the oasis.It's all clear."This message was conveyed to Ming, who departed at high speed."We might as well get back to our original quarters if they haven't been damaged," said Algy."On second thoughts, I think we'll go down to the oasis first.I need a wash and a drink.We can move these stores back the caves afterwards."They all trooped down to the clearing close to where the guest-house had been.The fire had burnt itself out for want of fuel, but the ground in and around the crater was still smoking.IRitzen looked upset when he saw that the guest-house had disappeared."The Abbot will be heart-broken about that," he said gravely."It took him years to build it, stone by stone, with pennies donated by pilgrims.He'll think it a poor return for having sheltered us.""I'm sorry about it, too," replied Algy."But I wasn't responsible for that.It would have gone anyway.It's better that it should go than that we should all lose our lives.After all, it is always possible to build another house.I'll make a note to see that as soon as it's possible the Abbot gets enough money to build an even better guest-house."Ginger, smiling wearily, now appeared at the head of his party.For a little while there was a lot of talking while congratulations were exchanged, introductions effected and explanations offered.Ginger naturally wanted to know what had caused the explosion.Algy told him."That was great work," said Ginger enthusiastically.Algy wanted to know what had become of the Kirghiz.This time it was Ginger who supplied the information."You must be pretty well all in," asserted Algy.He turned to Ritzen."You might ask Feng to look after the horses.These people need rest and something to eat.So do we all, for that matter.There'll be plenty of time for talking later.I think our troubles are over now.I—" He broke off suddenly in a listening position."What on earth's that?" he demanded, a hint of alarm in his voice.Everyone stopped talking.From the far end of the oasis came a sound so curious and out of place that Algy stared at Ritzen in questioning astonishment.It was the ringing of a bell."Now what's coming?" muttered Ginger.The Swede smiled."It's all right.It's only a holy man, probably a mendicant monk going his rounds, begging.I don't think we have anything to fear from him.They're good men, always seeking what they call Tao, which means The Light.They travel vast distances."The clanging bell drew nearer.A figure came into view.He wore a grey cloak.A bundle was strapped on his back.In one hand he carried a long staff and in the other a polished wooden bowl."Yes, he's a travelling monk, with his begging bowl," said Ritzen."There are a lot of them about."The traveller gave no sign that he had seen the little group of people watching him, but strode on, ringing his bell at intervals, until he was quite close.Then he stopped and said something in a high-pitched voice."He says he has a message," translated Ritzen."A message!" echoed Algy."For whom?"Ritzen addressed the monk.The monk replied.The Swede looked at Algy."For you, I think.""For me?""He says it's for an Englishman at Nan-hu."Lines of incredulity creased Algy's forehead."But that's impossible."Ritzen shrugged.By this time the monk was feeling in a little beaded bag that he had taken from his pack.From an assortment of strange odds and ends he picked a slip of folded paper.This, with a bow, he handed to Ritzen.Ritzen passed it on to Algy.With an extraordinary expression on his face Algy took it.In dead silence he unfolded it.He stared at it.He looked up again, the colour fading from his face.His lips moved, but no sound came.Slowly, as if with difficulty, he turned to Ginger."Well!" demanded Ginger impatiently.Algy moistened his lips."It's from Biggles," he said in a dazed voice."From Biggles?""Yes.""Don't be silly." Frank disbelief cracked Ginger's voice."It's from Biggles," repeated Algy."What does he say? What's it about? Read it!"Algy looked again at the paper."It's dated five days ago.""The day we were dropped in.""Yes.He says 'Am on the ground about fifty miles south of you.Having some trouble, but think we can put it right.Thought we had better let you know.If we don't show up in ten days from date above, count us out and do the best you can.Sorry.Biggles.'"There was dead silence.Ginger took the slip."It's from Biggles all right.This is a leaf from his notebook.""Yes.I saw that."Ginger went on: " He must have gone down soon after he left us.I mean, it happened on the way home.""Of course.He wouldn't have been coming back yet.""And he's been there all this time!""Obviously."Ginger looked at the monk reproachfully."This chap has been five days getting here," he said bitterly.Dr.McDougall interposed."Ten miles a day is not bad going in this country.The man had no reason to hurry.Time means nothing to him.We're lucky he managed to get here at all, and find us.""I suppose you're right," acquiesced Algy in a tired voice."This knocks me flat, and I don't mind admitting it
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