“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 on a new position that instantly stayed their downward plunge.  This caused the monoplane to sail along gently, parallel with the field, to which it descended immediately afterwards in safety.

Of course the other scouts wondered what all that racket meant, although Ralph had guessed something close to the truth.  They started to ask questions at such a rate that Hugh laughingly cried for quarter.

“Here, hold up a little,” he interrupted, “and I’ll tell you all about it.  You see we happened to discover those two sneaking spies in the bushes, and the Lieutenant said it would be a fine chance to give them such a scare that they’d be only too glad to skip out and let things go for keeps.  He had a lot of small experimental bombs along, and every time one dropped near where they were trying to hide, you’d have nearly taken a fit laughing to see how they skipped out and ran like mad.”

“Guess they thought you’d drop one of the big ones after you got the range,” suggested Ralph.

“That was what was scaring them,” Hugh agreed.  “And after seeing what had happened when one of those exploded, you could hardly blame them for being panic-stricken.  They were a mile away when last seen, and I reckon they’re still on the full run.  Lieutenant Fosdick says he doesn’t think either of them will ever have the nerve to come back again.”