to find
himself an object of interest in the eyes of so famous an aviator
as Lieutenant Fosdick, of whom he remembered reading quite
frequently as the most fearless air pilot in the Flying Squadron of
Uncle Sam.

Encouraged by the winning smile on the bronzed face of the army
officer, Bud only too gladly started to explain what his hopes were.

"I'd like to see this wonderful little model of yours in action,
son," the experienced air pilot remarked afterwards. "Suppose all
of you come over to our headquarters, which happen to be not more
than half a mile away from here. We have a fine open spot where we
can ascend and alight with ease, day or night. You will be welcome,
I assure you. We have a dozen men there besides those connected
with the war aviation corps, simply to guard against any spies giving
us trouble. If you can go now, I'd be pleased to wait for you, so
as to pass you through the lines."

"How long will it take you to get your little machine dismantled,
so we can handle it, Bud?" asked Hugh.

"Oh! I can do it in a jiffy, because, you see, it's fixed for taking
apart," the inventor of the party hastened to declare.

So Lieutenant Fosdick accompanied them to the shack. While Bud
busied himself with his model, Ralph and Hugh chatted with the army
officer. He asked more questions concerning Bud and the idea he had
been trying out.

"It would seem as though your friend might have a touch of genius
about him somewhere," the aviator said with a smile, "though I'm
afraid that he's too late with that wonderful stability device,
because it is very similar to one the Wright Brothers got out some
time ago. That's the way it often happens, and many a man has
studied some clever thing out only to find that he has been
anticipated by some earlier inventor. But say nothing about this
for the present. Your friend surely deserves to have a little
glory out of the game before the blow falls. And I shall be curious
to see how he manages with this model of his, for it looks good to me."

Evidently Bud had found favor with the army man. Even though doomed
to disappointment with regard to his wonderful invention, the boy
might derive satisfaction in knowing that his work had not been
entirely in vain.

When half an hour had passed, Bud declared everything in readiness
for the change of base; and soon the boys were accompanying the
skilled aviator through the woods headed for the camp of the Flying
Squadro