After weeks of travelling, our intrepid trio finally arrives at the coast - the west coast, to be specific. (Of Africa, if you haven't been paying attention.) Freetown, Sierra Leone, to be more specific, which as you probably already know was a British Crown Colony during World War II, as well as the largest port on Africa's west coast. At any rate, seems word has spread quickly that Congo Bill and company have reached civilization quickly!
But before he can solve another mystery, Bill has one more task to complete, as he and - GAAAAH, what?!?
Yes, gentle readers, the sad tale that I've been foreshadowing has finally come to pass, in panel THREE of the story for crissakes. With a heartfelt "Well, there they go," Congo Bill says goodbye to his bachelor companion, noted botanist and archaeologist Professor Joe (or maybe James) Kent. Look at how forlorn Joe (or maybe James) looks at Bill's shoulder. Things have been rough between them for several months now, what with the friction between Joe's (or maybe James') academic pursuits, and Bill's thirst for action and fisticuffs - the constant girlish chattering of Sheila probably only made things worse. I'm betting Joe (or maybe James) is hoping Bill will tearfully come after him, beg him to stay in Africa looking for rare plants and/or lost civilizations, and never leave his side. Maybe a little something like this:
But, times and paper rationing being what they were during WWII (The Big One), I'm sure the editors chose to gloss over such sentimentality for the sake of getting on with the he-man adventuring. Though Professor Kent (and, thankfully, Sheila Hanlen) will never be heard from again in the Jungle Annals, you'll discover that Congo Bill will fill the void in his heart with a steady succession of fit young British Airmen, bearded lost scientists, and eventually, a loincloth-clad jungle boy. But more on that later, on with adventure. Seems a steady stream of British planes have been taking off from Freetown headed for Cairo - and disappearing mid-flight! Let's hear from the first of Congo Bill's new friends, Dick (tee hee) McCarthy!
Congo Bill lands when he spots what he believes to be a downed British plane. But what's this - a trick? Nice try, Uncle Adolf....now how about a little five-finger Jungle Justice?
Ka-POWIE!
But then - -
Bill, like the RAF boys before him, is taken as a prisoner of war. Luckily, the Krauts realize what a prize they've taken!
Don't panic, Congoids, we all know that our boy Bill would never sell out to the Huns! But he plays along just long enough for Big Dick McCarthy to come looking for him!
(Why Major Joyce didn't just send a squadron out instead of calling on Congo Bill in the first place may have crossed your mind as it did mine, dear reader, but - - oh, wait, look over there!)
Yes! Bill's longshot scheme of igniting gasoline with a lit cigarette - crazy, RIGHT? - works, against all odds! The captured airmen are saved! But - what about the Nazi horde, surely they won't escape the law of the Jungle, will they? Ha, not if Bill and his tommy gun have anything to say about it. AND THEY DO!
Wow, look at the size of it!
That's all for now, stay tuned for more of Congo Bill's post-Professor Kent overcompensation!
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