like their passing.

Dodging this way and that as though almost panic-stricken, the
spies finally betook themselves into the sheltering forest. Before
they could hide under the branches of the oaks, the tall man was
seen to stumble at the top of a rather steep declivity and roll all
the way to the bottom, as though he might be a barrel that some
mischievous lad had started downhill for the fun of seeing it jump.

Some seven of the little bombs had been used by the time both men
vanished into the shelter of the woods a mile or so away from camp.
The Lieutenant was laughing heartily as though he had enjoyed the
diversion greatly.

"I imagine that will settle them, all right, Hugh," he remarked, as
he once more turned the aeroplane back toward home.

At the same time he mounted higher for the final volplane downward.
Since the other boys had enjoyed this novel sensation, it would be
too bad if the patrol leader did not have the same chance to
experience it.

"Do you think after that bombardment that they'll be apt to clear out
and give over trying to learn what Uncle Sam is up to?" Hugh asked.

"That is my impression," replied the other. "All they can have
learned is that we have a new explosive that excels all known
destructive forces as five to one; and that our latest model of
a war aeroplane bids fair to eclipse anything known in foreign
parts. After all is said and done, son, you can trust the inventive
ability of the Yankee to see anything done by others and go them
one better. That is because we are the melting pot for all nations,
and rewards for genius are so much greater here than abroad, that
it spurs us all on to achieve wonderful things. It's a great
privilege, Hugh, just to know that you are a nativeborn American.
Never forget to be thankful for it."

Apparently this daring aeronaut was intensely patriotic. Hugh felt
drawn toward him more than ever on this account, because he had his
own ideas on this subject, and they coincided with those of
Lieutenant Fosdick.

That volplane, started from a much higher altitude than either Bud or
Ralph had reached, would never be forgotten by the patrol leader.
His breath seemed actually to be taken away as he felt himself
shooting toward the earth, which, in fact, appeared to be rising
swiftly to meet him. That is the sensation that a novice always
feels under the circumstances. But at the proper second, the pilot
shifted his rudder and the planes took o