“He’s a little obstinate,” the Lieutenant went on explaining. “But if the tetrahedral works out as well as I think she will, he can’t help seeing her advantages. And so he’ll have to make a favorable report to the Board.”
The boys drew lots to see which should have the flight in the tetrahedral, and which should ride horseback up to Monterey. Poodle won the aeroplane trip. He led Hike aside, and murmured, “Say, old Hike, let’s draw three times. The only fair way.”
“Don’t you want to try the tetrahedral?” asked Hike.
“’S matter of fact, I don’t,” confessed Poodle.
Hike was a good deal amazed to find Poodle apparently afraid of the trial. He was so anxious to go himself that he gladly accepted the offer to change places.
Quick at acting and good at thinking though Hike was, there were many times when he did not think so quickly as jolly Mr. Poodle. It wasn’t till long afterward that it occurred to him that Poodle had never seemed really afraid of anything; and that the chances were that he had given up the flight to please his beloved chum.
While they were talking, Lieutenant Adeler had been saying to Martin Priest, “What have you named the tetrahedral?”
“I hadn’t planned anything, yet. I suppose the general sort of aeroplane will be called the ‘Priest Model.’ I think we ought to name this particular one after young Griffin there. If it hadn’t been for him, I’d never have had even a chance at a chance.... What was that you called him—nickname—‘Hike’ was it? Why not call it ‘Hike the First’?”
“Too likely to get his name and the tetrahedral’s mixed up, I should say,” considered Lieutenant Adeler.
“Well, ‘Hustle’ is pretty much like ‘Hike.’ How about ‘Hustle the First’?”