The monoplane had abruptly ceased to shoot toward the earth as though falling.  It made a sudden turn and proceeded almost on the level; after which the pilot brought it so softly to the ground that Bud could barely feel it strike, such an expert was the lieutenant in manipulating the various levers.

Bud was almost speechless with delight.  His eyes fairly danced as he drew a long breath and shook the hand of the army officer.

“Ralph, you come next,” said the lieutenant; and somehow Hugh got the idea into his head that he had been reserved for the last because the officer wished to take him for a longer spin than either of his mates, for some reason or other.

And so Ralph allowed himself to be fastened in his seat alongside the pilot, and gravely listened to the same instructions that had been given to Bud, since much depended on his actions while navigating the upper air currents.

He waved his hand to his chums as the monoplane started to race along the level field, accumulating speed as it progressed, until presently at a given point it pointed upwards and started on its air voyage.

Ralph was given about the same experience as Bud.  Another little volplane act was carried out for his especial benefit, so that he might be able to boast of having experienced such a “stunt,” a favorite one among all aviators and not one-tenth as risky as it may seem to the uninformed.

And now came Hugh’s turn.

He fastened himself in, having taken pattern by what he had seen the pilot do on the previous occasions; for a scout is expected to have his eyes about him and to observe all that is going on, so that he knows for himself and does not have to be shown.

Even this little act convinced the observant lieutenant that his first conception of Hugh’s character had been a true one.  He realized just why that boy had been chosen to serve as leader of his patrol, and in the absence of both scout master and assistant, had more than once been given full charge of the entire troop.

It was certainly a most exhilarating sensation to Hugh when he felt the big war aeroplane start away from solid ground and begin to climb upward.  Looking down, he could see how fast they were really going.  Why, it seemed as though the earth could no longer be counted his abiding place, but that he must be headed for the planet Mars, or perhaps the moon.

The higher up they went, the more delightful the sensation became.  Hugh soon became used to the novel feeling, so that he could enjoy looking down upon the country over which they were passing.

It was an experience that far excelled anything he had ever gone through before.  He told the pilot that he did not wonder men found it hard to leave such a fascinating if dangerous business, when once they had started to follow it.