AVIATORS 185 



and drop upon the back of the eagle, clinging to 

 him like a leech until he flees in sheer desperation. 

 Even then the doughty warrior will ride his enemy 

 a long distance from the battle-field to insure his 

 defeat before returning to his fellows. 



From birds we have learned much that we know 

 to-day about navigation of the air, and it is prob- 

 able that from them we will continue to progress. 

 But it is reasonably certain that we will never be- 

 come so proficient that we can ever look with con- 

 tempt upon their knowledge and their feats as 

 simple or unintelligent. Theirs is the skill that con- 

 stant practice brings, theirs is the knowledge that 

 Nature gives, and only Nature can give. Man in 

 all his wonderful works and inventions can never 

 hope to equal what has been done by a higher hand 

 than his; he can imitate, but never can he create, 

 or surpass. 



