If it does half way decently in this
clumsy model, it'll pay to install it on a real aeroplane and
either go up myself or else have an air pilot do it for me. But
say, let me tell you right now that I'm shivering all over as if I
had the ague! 'Cause why? In half an hour or so I'm going to know
whether I'm IT, or else a lunkhead that ought to be smothered before
his fool notions get him into a peck of trouble."
"Oh! I wouldn't put it that way, Bud," advised Hugh. "You mustn't
call yourself hard names, even if this invention fails to work. They
say Edison has lots of rank failures that the public never hears
about; only his brilliant successes become known. Suppose this
scheme doesn't do all that you expect it to, why, perhaps you'll see
where it falls short and be able to remedy the fault. If you have
faith in yourself, it's going to turn out all right every time. Try
seventy times seven, and never give up as long as life lasts."
"_Nil desperandum_!" quoted Ralph; "or, as we Americans have it, 'if at
first you don't succeed, try, try again!'"
"You just bet I will, fellows," said Bud firmly; "and now let's make
the first trial spin."
He had elevated the model so that it would start in the air without
the necessity of leaving the ground.
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