fashion to indicate any
pressing necessity for their presence at the shack, but just to tell
them he was getting lonely and that they had better come home.

They found that Bud had started supper, being in a joyous frame of
mind because of the glittering prospects for success in connection
with his new invention. Bud was a novice in the business. He would
doubtless learn in due time how many bitter disappointments attend
the fortunes of all those who spend their waking hours in trying to
conjure up startling innovations.

After the evening meal had been enjoyed to its limit and everything
cooked by Bud had vanished, the three chums again sat around and
talked on all sorts of interesting subjects.

Bud, however, seemed to be uneasy. Perhaps it was on account of his
anxiety to have the morrow come, when he could improve on the trial
of his model aeroplane. Then again it might have been that the
attempted larceny of his precious plan wore upon his mind.

Be that as it may, every little while he would go to the door and
step outside.

It might have been the fourth time he did this that he thrust his
head inside again and called to the others to join him.

"That clatter of machinery is hanging around again, Hugh!" he said,
excitedly. "Perhaps you'll be able to tell me whatever it means,
and if we could really hear the working of the mills all these miles
away!"

CHAPTER VII

BUD'S METEOR

Both scouts hurried out to join Bud. They found him standing there
with his head cocked on one side, apparently listening as hard as
he could.

Indeed it did not require any especial gift of hearing to catch the
strange noises spoken of by the ambitious inventor. They seemed to
be close at hand and constantly growing louder all the time. Just
as Bud had declared, the racket was undoubtedly caused by some sort
of machinery.

Hugh immediately made an important discovery. It rather startled him,
too, as well it might, for he had not been dreaming of anything so
unusual.

"Why, it's in the air!" he exclaimed involuntarily.

"Sure it is," agreed the excited Bud; "in the air and everywhere else.
Seems to me I might be listening to a dozen shuttles working with a
rush."

"But I mean that it comes from _above our heads_!" Hugh quickly added;
at which both the others gasped in wonder, though realizing that what
the patrol leader had said was actually true.

"Whatever can it mean?" stammered Bud.

"Say, do yo