The associate of
Fosdick proved to be an older man, but the boys believed that after
all their first friend must be the controlling influence of the team.
They afterwards learned that Lieutenant Fosdick was really without a
peer among army aviators; and that even abroad, where so much
attention is given to this subject, in France, Germany and England,
he was said to have no superior in his line.
As both officers expressed considerable interest in the clumsy model
of a monoplane which Bud had made, he readily consented to fly it
and to show just how his stability device worked.
This he set about doing, while the army men stood close together
and observed all his movements, now and then exchanging low words.
Of course both of them recognized the fact that poor Bud had really
hit upon the exact idea that was already being used by the Wright
firm. Bud may never have read any description of this "fool-proof"
device emanating from the brains of the Wright brothers; he had only
been unfortunate enough to think along the same lines, with the
result that he had finally reached the same conclusion.
"Break it to Bud by slow degrees that he's arrived much too late,"
said Lieutenant Fosdick to Hugh, after the exhibition had about
concluded.
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