The Curse of the Pharoahs is Issue 23 in the Adventures of Biggles comic series published by Action Comics of Sydney, Australia. Issue 23 was probably published in Jun 1955 with drawings by Arthur de Vine. Besides the main story, the comic issue also includes two picture pages:
- Inside front cover: American jets - McDonnell F3H Demon, Douglas F3D-2 Skynight, Convair YF-102
- Inside back cover: Trainers - Caproni F5, Saab 91B Safir, Beechcraft T-34A Mentor, Temco Plebe
Synopsis[]
Biggles is asked to investigate strange goings-on at the excavation site of the tomb of an Egyptian pharoah.
Plot[]
(Click on expand to read)
Professor Murray meets Biggles at Scotland Yard and tells him about problems which are holding up the excavation of the tomb of Pharoah Cheops at Sakkara, near Cairo. There's an ancient hieroglyph which threatens curses on those who disturb the tombs. Workmen have refused to work and many people at the site have come down with a mysterious illness.
Biggles arrives at the archaeological dig. At night, he descends alone into the workface where excavations are going on to reach the entrance of the tomb. Something doesn't feel right and he quickly gets out. Some kind of gas? He goes back again, this time with a gas mask and how he feels fine. So it's confirmed to be gas, but he can't find the source.
Back in the camp, Murray introduces Biggles to his assistant Mahomet who notices that Biggles has a gas mask in his pocket. Mahomet appears disturbed by it, Mahomet excuses himself and drives off into the desert in a jeep. Biggles follows. Soon, in the middle of nowhere he hears a plane landing. Mahomet says something to the pilot who then takes off. Biggles now follows Mahomet back to camp but he is ambushed by Mahomet and some men. Biggles is captured and taken under guard to an area where large boulders are carefully hinged and open to reveal a large cavern. This cavern actually connects to a secret entrance to the tomb which Murray doesn't know about. Biggles sees workmen moving artefacts out of the tomb. So they are tomb robbers!
Biggles pretends to sleep and when the guards are inattentive, he overpowers them and escapes. Mahomet's men give chase but Biggles evades them by hiding in a gold coffin. Later, some men take the coffin and drive it out in a truck and then loaded into a plane. The plane which delivers it to a cave out in the desert where other stolen artefacts are hidden.
Biggles emerges from the coffin and manages to steal the plane and escape. However the guards open fire and hit the fuel tank, causing Biggles to crash the plane short of his destination, Cairo. Nonetheless, he manages to reach police headquarters. The Egyptian police agree to assist with his plan to capture the gang.
Some Egyptian police go to the excavation site and report that Biggles has crashed his plane and died. Hearing this, Mahomet drives off to Cairo in a jeep. Biggles is waiting for him, disguised as an Arab and he shadows Mahomet to a big house. Biggles calls the police and they wait till Mahomet departs and then storm the house and capture the members of gang who are inside. Now for Mahomet himself.
Late in the night, Mahomet goes with some men to their secret cavern. They have to clear out the rest of the treasures from the tomb before Professor Murray reaches the tomb entrance from his excavation. But Biggles and the police are waiting for them and they are captured.
Biggles explains to Murray. Mahomet had only shown part of the hieroglyph to Murray. One part told of the curse. Mahomet held back the other part which spoke of a second entrance to the tomb, which Mahomet used as his hideout. From inside this, poisonous gas was run from cylinders through tiny tubes to the work face to delay Murray's excavation. The police collect the stolen artefacts from the cave and Murray's excavations can now continue unhindered.
Characters[]
The Special Air Police[]
- Biggles
Others[]
- Professor Murray
- Ali Mahomet
Aircraft[]
Places[]
Visited[]
- Egypt
Mentioned[]
Research notes[]
Illustrations[]