UP IN A WAR MONOPLANE
"We're certainly in great luck!" Hugh said to the other two scouts, as
they stood and watched the "bug in the sky" growing larger and larger,
the monoplane being now headed for the camp.
"It nearly always happens that way, you remember," said Bud, who had
been through frequent campaigns with his leader and could look back
to many experiences that come the way of but few Boy Scouts.
Bud was probably much more excited than either of the others. This
was natural, since he had the "flying bee" largely developed and was
wild over everything that had to do with aviation.
To him, this accidental meeting with the bold members of Uncle Sam's
Flying Squadron was the happiest event of his whole life. If he had
been granted one wish, it would have covered just this same ground.
Consequently his eyes fairly devoured the approaching war monoplane,
as it swept down from dizzy heights, and prepared to land in the open
field. He watched how skilfully the air pilot handled the levers, and
how gracefully the whole affair glided along on the bicycle wheels
attached under its body, when once the ground was touched.
The scouts were soon being introduced to Lieutenant Green by the
officer whose acquaintance they had already made. The associate of
Fosdick proved to be an older man, but the boys believed that after
all their first friend must be the controlling influence of the team.
They afterwards learned that Lieutenant Fosdick was really without a
peer among army aviators; and that even abroad, where so much
attention is given to this subject, in France, Germany and England,
he was said to have no superior in his line.
As both officers expressed considerable interest in the clumsy model
of a monoplane which Bud had made, he readily consented to fly it
and to show just how his stability device worked.
This he set about doing, while the army men stood close together
and observed all his movements, now and then exchanging low words.
Of course both of them recognized the fact that poor Bud had really
hit upon the exact idea that was already being used by the Wright
firm. Bud may never have read any description of this "fool-proof"
device emanating from the brains of the Wright brothers; he had only
been unfortunate enough to think along the same lines, with the
result that he had finally reached the same conclusion.
"Break it to Bud by slow degrees that he's arrived much too late,"
said Lieutenant Fosdick to Hugh, after the exhibition had about
concluded. The young inventor was flushed with success, for his model
had worked splendidly, now that he had had more experience in
handling it.
"I feared as much when I heard about it," his colleague admitted.
"But the boy certainly deserves encouragement. He has done wonders
in making that model, and it is built on right lines. Tell him to
keep at it and not get discouraged. If he does, he will surely arrive
some day."
"I'll do all I can to encourage him," the patrol leader of the Wolves
said in reply, though at the same time he felt sorry for Bud, who
would take his disappointment very much to heart. He might throw up
the whole business under the impression that there was no use in a
boy trying to pit his wits against those of veterans and expecting to
win out.
When Bud heard that he might accompany Lieutenant Fosdick on a short
flight in the upper air, he looked so happy that Hugh concluded to
postpone his discouraging disclosure until another time.
Bud was an animated interrogation point, when once seated in the
monoplane, which, having been built for hard service, was easily
capable of carrying even two passengers when necessary.
He wanted to know all about the various parts, which he examined with
trembling fingers. It seemed almost too good to be true that he was
actually going to be taken up in a Government war plane, and by so
skilful an aviator as Lieutenant Fosdick.
The army officer made sure to secure his young passenger with a safety
belt. He might scorn such devices himself, but there was always more
or less risk to an inexperienced air traveler, and he did not wish to
take unnecessary chances. This lad had folks at home to whom his life
must be very precious. He was only a boy, to be sure, but ere long
he would reach man's estate. And in this country of ours, who can
say what the future holds for any lad? Years ago, who among his
school companions on Mt. Auburn, in Cincinnati, would have dreamed
that in the course of time clumsy, good-natured Billy Taft would for
a period of four years occupy the Presidential chair at Washington,
and be looked upon as the foremost man in all the wide world?
Hugh and Ralph kept tabs of every little thing that was done. They
found themselves sharing Bud's enthusiasm for the subject of aviation,
and they, too, were promised a ride with the officer after his return.
At a given signal, the start was made. The big monoplane rushed along
the ground, wobbling somewhat because of inequalities in the surface
of the field. After it had gone a certain distance, it was seen to
leave the earth gradually, as the pilot changed the conditions in
respect to planes and rudder.
"Oh! see how she rises, for all the world like a graceful bird!"
exclaimed Ralph. "I've never been so close to an aeroplane before,
and I tell you, Hugh, I can mighty easily see how it makes a fellow
wild to embark in the business."
"Well, there will be some years pass before anyone of us reaches an
age to decide what our future may be," Hugh replied; "and before that
time comes, even Bud, crazy as he seems now to belong to the Flying
Squadron, may change his mind a lot of times. But one thing I do
know, and that is, I'm glad we struck up an acquaintance with the
Lieutenant; and ditto, that I'm going to have a spin with him in
the air."
They watched the monoplane mount fairly high and make several large
curves. Apparently the pilot did not think it best to try any
difficult business while he had a novice along with him, because
there was no telling how Bud might act. After being up some twenty
minutes, the monoplane was once more directed toward the field.
"Oh! see what he is doing now!" exclaimed Ralph, clutching the sleeve
of his companion's coat in his excitement. "He's headed the nose of
the air craft downward, and seems to be just whooping it up for solid
ground! I hope nothing has happened, or that they'll strike hard, for
poor Bud will be smashed, that's what!"
Hugh laughed, for he was much better informed on all aviation topics
than the other scout.
"Oh! that's what they call volplaning," he hastened to say, while he
watched the coming of the air craft with eagerness. "The motor is shut
off, and deflecting the rudder to a certain angle, a glide is made
toward the earth. When they get to a certain distance, you'll see a
sudden change take place. There, what did I tell you, Ralph?"
The monoplane had abruptly ceased to shoot toward the earth as though
falling. It made a sudden turn and proceeded almost on the level;
after which the pilot brought it so softly to the ground that Bud
could barely feel it strike, such an expert was the lieutenant in
manipulating the various levers.
Bud was almost speechless with delight. His eyes fairly danced as he
drew a long breath and shook the hand of the army officer.
"Ralph, you come next," said the lieutenant; and somehow Hugh got the
idea into his head that he had been reserved for the last because
the officer wished to take him for a longer spin than either of his
mates, for some reason or other.
And so Ralph allowed himself to be fastened in his seat alongside the
pilot, and gravely listened to the same instructions that had been
given to Bud, since much depended on his actions while navigating
the upper air currents.
He waved his hand to his chums as the monoplane started to race along
the level field, accumulating speed as it progressed, until presently
at a given point it pointed upwards and started on its air voyage.
Ralph was given about the same experience as Bud. Another little
volplane act was carried out for his especial benefit, so that he
might be able to boast of having experienced such a "stunt," a
favorite one among all aviators and not one-tenth as risky as it may
seem to the uninformed.
And now came Hugh's turn.
He fastened himself in, having taken pattern by what he had seen the
pilot do on the previous occasions; for a scout is expected to have
his eyes about him and to observe all that is going on, so that he
knows for himself and does not have to be shown.
Even this little act convinced the observant lieutenant that his first
conception of Hugh's character had been a true one. He realized just
why that boy had been chosen to serve as leader of his patrol, and in
the absence of both scout master and assistant, had more than once
been given full charge of the entire troop.
It was certainly a most exhilarating sensation to Hugh when he felt
the big war aeroplane start away from solid ground and begin to climb
upward. Looking down, he could see how fast they were really going.
Why, it seemed as though the earth could no longer be counted his
abiding place, but that he must be headed for the planet Mars, or
perhaps the moon.
The higher up they went, the more delightful the sensation became. Hugh
soon became used to the novel feeling, so that he could enjoy looking
down upon the country over which they were passing.
It was an experience that far excelled anything he had ever gone
through before. He told the pilot that he did not wonder men found it
hard to leave such a fascinating if dangerous business, when once they
had started to follow it.
"There is an old saying about politicians," remarked the lieutenant,
"to the effect that few die and none resign. That can never be said
about aviators, because, while none of them ever give it up for good,
the fatalities have been very numerous. But when that stability
device which your friend believes he has invented, but which he may
have read about somewhere and unconsciously copied, comes into
general use, we hope the deaths will become much less frequent. I am
using a stability device right now on this monoplane. It was
installed by the firm that patented it. You can see how it acts
automatically to steady the machine, no matter how we move about.
And I am almost as safe up in a squally wind as on a calm day."
He took Hugh much higher than he had the others, as the barograph that
was within seeing distance from their seat told the boy, who had
learned how to read its figures.
Half an hour later they came back toward the field again, and descended
to lower currents. The picture Hugh gazed upon as he looked down would
never be forgotten. He could see for miles and miles in every
direction; and how different the country looked from anything he had
ever imagined!
All at once Hugh made a discovery.
"I am almost certain I saw two men hide themselves in that patch of
bushes ahead there," he hastily told the pilot; "and it seemed to me
that they must be the pair of spies who have been giving you so much
trouble. They were creeping toward the camp as if they meant to try
and steal in the back way."
The lieutenant laughed as though pleased.
"Good for you, Hugh," he remarked. "Those sharp eyes of yours let
nothing escape. Now we'll just circle around a bit and give those
precious foreigners the scare of their lives. I happen to have a
supply of small experimental bombs along, which are heavy enough to
frighten them into believing one of the new explosives may follow,
after we have the range. Watch out for some fun, my son!"