r in khaki belonging to Uncle Sam's
Flying Corps, and were soon passing along the homeward road.

No doubt that farmer pricked up his ears and did considerable eager
listening, when he began to hear what his three passengers were
talking about. Never having seen an aeroplane in all his life,
and having only a faint conception of the wonderful uses to which
the fliers could be put, the tiller of the soil gasped many times
when he heard these mere lads tell of their feelings when half a
mile up in the air.

And when later on he chanced to discover from words let fall by
Bud, that the several packages in the back of the wagon contained
a miniature aeroplane, the old man cast more respectful glances
back at them. He also changed his manner toward the scouts, and
even addressed Hugh once as "Mister Hardin."

In good time, long before the sun gave token of setting, they
arrived in town; and Bud was made happy in seeing his precious
miniature flier safely deposited at his own door. He still had the
look of one whose mind was soaring away up in the clouds and Hugh
did not have the heart to disillusion him just then. There would
be no harm done in letting poor Bud dream a little longer before
giving him that rude if necessary jolt.

Hugh was more than satisfied with the result of their latest expedition.
Neither he nor Bud, at the time they started out, could possibly have
dreamed of the remarkable experiences that were fated to come their
way. It had only been to enjoy one more little outing before winter
came along in earnest and to learn what the scout inventor had
accomplished, that had induced Hugh to go forth immediately after
eating his turkey at the Thanksgiving feast.

And there was Ralph, who also had obeyed an inward mentor urging him
to spend a day or so with his gun in the region where he had in
times past trapped many a little fur-bearing animal, whose glossy
coat he covet coveted as a means of eventually paying for his tuition
in the School of Mines. He had only expected to wander in some of
his familiar nooks, and perhaps to knock over a few quail to tempt
his sick mother's fickle appetite; but see what had come out of such
humble beginnings!

When the scouts had their next weekly meeting, Hugh thought it worth
while to give the troop some description of the events that had come
the way of himself and his two chums. He purposely avoided more
than casual mention of Bud's invention, because he had fo