Ralph, of course, did not exactly understand what this meant, but Hugh knew.  He was in the confidence of the young inventor far enough to appreciate his eagerness to be at work.  He knew what had brought Bud all the way up to this lonely spot, in order that none of the town boys might spy upon him while trying out his latest wonderful invention.

Truth to tell, Bud had taken a most intense interest in aviation of late.  Everything that bore upon the subject fascinated the boy, and he dreamed of making the name of Morgan famous through some remarkable invention connected with the work of the daring airmen.

He had confessed to Hugh in strict confidence that he had managed to fashion a little model aeroplane that he believed to be uncapsizable.  Many more mature minds than that of Bud Morgan had been wrestling with this important question for years, because it was pretty generally understood that when this condition had been really attained, the sport of aviation would advance with great bounds.  Make navigating the upper air currents practically safe, and thousands would take up flying just as they had the driving of automobiles when the road racers had been perfected as they are to-day.

The huge packages which the two scouts had staggered under during their weary hike from the road where the accommodating farmer had dropped them, really contained the said model.  It was not of very large size, and the little engine which was to drive it really weighed as much as the rest of the thing; but Bud declared that it would answer all his purposes, and prove whether he had been wasting his time and spending money uselessly of late or not.

Once the breakfast had been disposed of, Bud was trembling with eagerness to get started.  He could not understand why the others should delay so, when time was slipping away.

Presently they left the cabin, closing the door behind them.  All of the blankets, as well as their food supplies, had been left inside, and they did not want any wandering wild animal like a ’coon or a fox to make way with the latter during their absence at the proving grounds.  It was this same caution that urged Hugh to cover up the aperture through which they had obtained fresh air during the night just past, and which went by the name of a window.

The open field which Bud had once before mentioned as the very place for the trial spins with his aeroplane model was not very far distant.  The man who had originally started to make a farm away up here had diligently cut down trees for a space of several acres.  He had also grubbed the ground so thoroughly that it had remained clear all these years, save for an annual crop of grass, now withered and dead.

“If we can help any, Bud, just tell us what to do,” Hugh said to the inventor, after the three boys had come to a halt on the border of this open space.