Part 6 (1/2)

It might have been the fourth time he did this that he thrust his head inside again and called to the others to join him.

”That clatter of machinery is hanging around again, Hugh!” he said, excitedly. ”Perhaps you'll be able to tell me whatever it means, and if we could really hear the working of the mills all these miles away!”

CHAPTER VII

BUD'S METEOR

Both scouts hurried out to join Bud. They found him standing there with his head c.o.c.ked on one side, apparently listening as hard as he could.

Indeed it did not require any especial gift of hearing to catch the strange noises spoken of by the ambitious inventor. They seemed to be close at hand and constantly growing louder all the time. Just as Bud had declared, the racket was undoubtedly caused by some sort of machinery.

Hugh immediately made an important discovery. It rather startled him, too, as well it might, for he had not been dreaming of anything so unusual.

”Why, it's in the air!” he exclaimed involuntarily.

”Sure it is,” agreed the excited Bud; ”in the air and everywhere else.

Seems to me I might be listening to a dozen shuttles working with a rush.”

”But I mean that it comes from _above our heads_!” Hugh quickly added; at which both the others gasped in wonder, though realizing that what the patrol leader had said was actually true.

”Whatever can it mean?” stammered Bud.

”Say, do you know it makes me think of something I heard over at Bellville during county fair week!” burst out Ralph.

”Meaning an aeroplane?” declared Hugh.

”Just what it was, Hugh,” returned Ralph. ”But what would a flier be doing away up here, going around and around in the dark of night?”

”I don't know, and that's all I can say,” replied the other; ”but perhaps we may be able to find out. There it comes again, swinging around in a circle. If we all look sharp, we may be able to glimpse something up against the sky.”

”My stars! An _aeroplane_!” Bud was muttering to himself, as he hastened to follow his companions away from the door in order to have a better range of observation. ”Of all the things that we could meet up here, an aeroplane! And me just pining away with yearning to see one in action! Oh! don't I hope it turns out that way, though? Do you see it yet, boys? When you do, please put me wise, won't you?”

All of them were straining their eyes to make a discovery, and as it was possible to follow the course of the swiftly circling though as yet unseen object by listening to the rattle of its engine or propeller, they kept their attention directed to one particular quarter.

”Oh! I think I can see it now!” cried Bud excitedly.

”Yes, we all do,” added Ralph.

They continued to stare up at the moving object, which, as seen in that uncertain light, looked not unlike a monstrous bat with extended wings. The sound of the busily working machinery grew louder constantly. No wonder Bud had been so perplexed when he heard all this, though more faintly, on the previous night and asked whether it could be possible to catch the sound of the mills many miles away.

As the three scouts continued to stand there gaping at the dimly seen flier, a sudden terrific crash and vivid flash almost stunned them.

Indeed, Bud crumpled up and might have fallen to the ground, only that he came in contact with Hugh and received the support of his firm footing.

The very ground s.h.i.+vered under them. It seemed as though some subterranean mine must have been exploded, causing the rockribbed earth to quiver in a sickening fas.h.i.+on.

When they dared look up again, the queer bat-like object had vanished entirely from sight. Voices were heard, however, close at hand.

They told of more or less excitement; and coming with them was the sound of one or more persons pus.h.i.+ng recklessly through the thickets that grew in many places as a second growth.