Boy Scouts of the Flying Squadron

by John Henry Goldfrap

  CHAPTER X

  UP IN A WAR MONOPLANE

  "We're certainly in great luck!" Hugh said to the other two scouts, asthey 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 hadbeen through frequent campaigns with his leader and could look backto many experiences that come the way of but few Boy Scouts.

  Bud was probably much more excited than either of the others. Thiswas natural, since he had the "flying bee" largely developed and waswild over everything that had to do with aviation.

  To him, this accidental meeting with the bold members of Uncle Sam'sFlying Squadron was the happiest event of his whole life. If he hadbeen 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 openfield. He watched how skilfully the air pilot handled the levers, andhow gracefully the whole affair glided along on the bicycle wheelsattached under its body, when once the ground was touched.

  The scouts were soon being introduced to Lieutenant Green by theofficer whose acquaintance they had already made. The associate ofFosdick proved to be an older man, but the boys believed that afterall their first friend must be the controlling influence of the team.They afterwards learned that Lieutenant Fosdick was really without apeer among army aviators; and that even abroad, where so muchattention 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 modelof a monoplane which Bud had made, he readily consented to fly itand to show just how his stability device worked.

  This he set about doing, while the army men stood close togetherand observed all his movements, now and then exchanging low words.Of course both of them recognized the fact that poor Bud had reallyhit upon the exact idea that was already being used by the Wrightfirm. Bud may never have read any description of this "fool-proof"device emanating from the brains of the Wright brothers; he had onlybeen unfortunate enough to think along the same lines, with theresult 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 aboutconcluded. The young inventor was flushed with success, for his modelhad worked splendidly, now that he had had more experience inhandling it.

  "I feared as much when I heard about it," his colleague admitted."But the boy certainly deserves encouragement. He has done wondersin making that model, and it is built on right lines. Tell him tokeep at it and not get discouraged. If he does, he will surely arrivesome day."

  "I'll do all I can to encourage him," the patrol leader of the Wolvessaid in reply, though at the same time he felt sorry for Bud, whowould take his disappointment very much to heart. He might throw upthe whole business under the impression that there was no use in aboy trying to pit his wits against those of veterans and expecting towin out.

  When Bud heard that he might accompany Lieutenant Fosdick on a shortflight in the upper air, he looked so happy that Hugh concluded topostpone his discouraging disclosure until another time.

  Bud was an animated interrogation point, when once seated in themonoplane, which, having been built for hard service, was easilycapable of carrying even two passengers when necessary.

  He wanted to know all about the various parts, which he examined withtrembling fingers. It seemed almost too good to be true that he wasactually going to be taken up in a Government war plane, and by soskilful an aviator as Lieutenant Fosdick.

  The army officer made sure to secure his young passenger with a safetybelt. He might scorn such devices himself, but there was always moreor less risk to an inexperienced air traveler, and he did not wish totake unnecessary chances. This lad had folks at home to whom his lifemust be very precious. He was only a boy, to be sure, but ere longhe would reach man's estate. And in this country of ours, who cansay what the future holds for any lad? Years ago, who among hisschool companions on Mt. Auburn, in Cincinnati, would have dreamedthat in the course of time clumsy, good-natured Billy Taft would fora 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. Theyfound 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 alongthe ground, wobbling somewhat because of inequalities in the surfaceof the field. After it had gone a certain distance, it was seen toleave the earth gradually, as the pilot changed the conditions inrespect 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 fellowwild to embark in the business."

  "Well, there will be some years pass before anyone of us reaches anage to decide what our future may be," Hugh replied; "and before thattime comes, even Bud, crazy as he seems now to belong to the FlyingSquadron, may change his mind a lot of times. But one thing I doknow, and that is, I'm glad we struck up an acquaintance with theLieutenant; and ditto, that I'm going to have a spin with him inthe air."

  They watched the monoplane mount fairly high and make several largecurves. Apparently the pilot did not think it best to try anydifficult business while he had a novice along with him, becausethere was no telling how Bud might act. After being up some twentyminutes, the monoplane was once more directed toward the field.

  "Oh! see what he is doing now!" exclaimed Ralph, clutching the sleeveof his companion's coat in his excitement. "He's headed the nose ofthe air craft downward, and seems to be just whooping it up for solidground! I hope nothing has happened, or that they'll strike hard, forpoor Bud will be smashed, that's what!"

  Hugh laughed, for he was much better informed on all aviation topicsthan the other scout.

  "Oh! that's what they call volplaning," he hastened to say, while hewatched the coming of the air craft with eagerness. "The motor is shutoff, and deflecting the rudder to a certain angle, a glide is madetoward the earth. When they get to a certain distance, you'll see asudden change take place. There, what did I tell you, Ralph?"

  The monoplane had abruptly ceased to shoot toward the earth as thoughfalling. It made a sudden turn and proceeded almost on the level;after which the pilot brought it so softly to the ground that Budcould barely feel it strike, such an expert was the lieutenant inmanipulating the various levers.

  Bud was almost speechless with delight. His eyes fairly danced as hedrew a long breath and shook the hand of the army officer.

  "Ralph, you come next," said the lieutenant; and somehow Hugh got theidea into his head that he had been reserved for the last becausethe officer wished to take him for a longer spin than either of hismates, for some reason or other.

  And so Ralph allowed himself to be fastened in his seat alongside thepilot, and gravely listened to the same instructions that had beengiven to Bud, since much depended on his actions while navigatingthe upper air currents.

  He waved his hand to his chums as the monoplane started to race alongthe level field, accumulating speed as it progressed, until presentlyat a given point it pointed upwards and started on its air voyage.

  Ralph was given about the same experience as Bud. Another littlevolplane act was carried out for his especial benefit, so that hemight be able to boast of having experienced such a "stunt," afavorite one among all aviators and not one-tenth as risky as it mayseem to the uninformed.

  And now came Hugh's turn.

  He fastened himself in, having taken pattern by what he had seen thepilot do on the previous occasions; for a scout is expected to havehis eyes about him and to ob
serve all that is going on, so that heknows for himself and does not have to be shown.

  Even this little act convinced the observant lieutenant that his firstconception of Hugh's character had been a true one. He realized justwhy that boy had been chosen to serve as leader of his patrol, and inthe absence of both scout master and assistant, had more than oncebeen given full charge of the entire troop.

  It was certainly a most exhilarating sensation to Hugh when he feltthe big war aeroplane start away from solid ground and begin to climbupward. Looking down, he could see how fast they were really going.Why, it seemed as though the earth could no longer be counted hisabiding place, but that he must be headed for the planet Mars, orperhaps the moon.

  The higher up they went, the more delightful the sensation became. Hughsoon became used to the novel feeling, so that he could enjoy lookingdown upon the country over which they were passing.

  It was an experience that far excelled anything he had ever gonethrough before. He told the pilot that he did not wonder men found ithard to leave such a fascinating if dangerous business, when once theyhad 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 saidabout aviators, because, while none of them ever give it up for good,the fatalities have been very numerous. But when that stabilitydevice which your friend believes he has invented, but which he mayhave read about somewhere and unconsciously copied, comes intogeneral use, we hope the deaths will become much less frequent. I amusing a stability device right now on this monoplane. It wasinstalled by the firm that patented it. You can see how it actsautomatically 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 thatwas within seeing distance from their seat told the boy, who hadlearned how to read its figures.

  Half an hour later they came back toward the field again, and descendedto lower currents. The picture Hugh gazed upon as he looked down wouldnever be forgotten. He could see for miles and miles in everydirection; and how different the country looked from anything he hadever imagined!

  All at once Hugh made a discovery.

  "I am almost certain I saw two men hide themselves in that patch ofbushes ahead there," he hastily told the pilot; "and it seemed to methat they must be the pair of spies who have been giving you so muchtrouble. They were creeping toward the camp as if they meant to tryand steal in the back way."

  The lieutenant laughed as though pleased.

  "Good for you, Hugh," he remarked. "Those sharp eyes of yours letnothing escape. Now we'll just circle around a bit and give thoseprecious foreigners the scare of their lives. I happen to have asupply of small experimental bombs along, which are heavy enough tofrighten them into believing one of the new explosives may follow,after we have the range. Watch out for some fun, my son!"