without being interrupted," observed Hugh, "but seems as
though we've dropped on the queerest sort of a mystery the very
first thing. And as scouts always stand to investigate what they
don't understand, I reckon we'll have our hands full prying into
this thing."

"But don't let it make my affairs take second place, Hugh," pleaded
Bud. "What if some fellow does happen to be using up explosives by
the cartload, that oughtn't to interfere with the trying out of the
little invention which the brain of a Morgan has conjured up, and
which, if successful, will be a blessing to science, as well as to
aviators in particular."

Ralph pricked up his ears at hearing these last few words. No doubt
they set him to wondering what Bud had invented now; but the latter
did not take the time or trouble to let him into the secret, so
Ralph just had to possess his soul in patience.

"You needn't think that I'll let anything drag me away from the first
object of our trip up here, Bud," soothed the patrol leader, who knew
how deeply in earnest his chum was. "But it may be that we'll find
the time to look into this other business, too. If more shocks come
that are as bad as that one was, we're not apt to get much sleep
to-night, boys."

"Then here's hoping they'll stay away," wished Bud. "Why, a few
more shocks like that would start all my joints loose, I do believe!
Could that have been a meteor bursting, do you think, Hugh?"

"Well, that's a new idea," admitted the other, "and one that didn't
come to me, I'll own up. A meteor can fall at any old time, day
or night, though we only see them shooting after dark sets in.
When one of these fragments of fused metal and slag does rush
toward the earth and bury itself in the ground, it makes just
such a brilliant flash. Some say there is a fearful crash when
it strikes. Stranger things have happened, I take it, Bud, than
to believe that was a falling meteor of a pretty good size."

"But don't shooting stars generally fall in the summer time, Hugh?"
questioned Bud.

It had become a habit with most of the scouts to ask the Wolf
leader any and all sorts of questions, as though he might be looked
upon as a walking encyclopedia or dictionary; and it kept Hugh
pretty busy accumulating information in order to be well posted for
these constant demands on his time and patience.

"Yes, I believe the earth does pass through the greatest showers
of meteors in August, but then there are lot