LOST
Pushing her bow up sluggish streams--up rivers that flowed under arching
trees, heavy with the gray moss, went the _Magnolia_. The party of moving
picture players had been on the move for three days now, without a stop
for taking of pictures, save those Russ made of the negroes cutting wood
for the boilers. No dramas were to be made until they reached a certain
wild and uninhabited part of Florida, of which Mr. Pertell had heard, and
which he thought would be just right for his purpose.
They had left the vicinity of the alligator hunt, and were pushing on
into the interior. In reality it was not so many miles from Sycamore, but
it seemed a great way, so lonely was it in the palm forests and cypress
swamps.
"Seems to me this is lonely enough to suit anyone," observed Miss
Pennington as she sat on deck with the others, and looked up stream.
"It surely is--I feel like screaming just to know that there is something
alive around here," added Miss Dixon.
"Go ahead!" laughed Russ. "No one will stop you!"
"Really the silence does seem to get on one's nerves," put in Mr. Towne.
"It--er--interferes with--er--thinking, you know."
"Didn't know you ever indulged in that habit!" chaffed Paul.
"Oh, why--er--my deah fellah! Of course I do--at times. I find--I really
find I have to give a great deal of consideration--at times--to the suit
samples my tailor sends me. And really I shall not be sorry to get back
to deah old N'York and renew my wardrobe."
"If he has any more suits he'll have to get a man to look after them,"
remarked Alice.
"Oh, hush!" chided Ruth.
Then silence once more settled down over the company on the upper deck of
the _Magnolia_. An awning protected them from the hot sun, and really it
was very pleasant traveling that way. Of course it was lonesome and the
solitude was depressing. For days they would see nothing save perhaps the
boat of some solitary fisherman, or alligator hunter.
Occasionally they saw some of the big saurians themselves, as they
slipped into the water from some log, or sand bar, on the approach of the
steamer. Now and then some wild water fowl would dart across the bows of
the boat, uttering its harsh cries.
Russ got a number of fine nature films, but the real work of making
dramas would not take place for another day or two. Meals were served
aboard, though once or twice, when a long stop had to be made for the
cutting of fuel, a shore party was made up.
Then they would take their luncheon with them, seek out some little
palm-shaded glade, and there feast and make merry. Ruth and Alice, with
Paul and Russ, always enjoyed these trips.
"I think this will about suit us," said Mr. Pertell, one evening, as the
_Magnolia_ made a turn in the stream, and came to a place where another
sluggish river joined it. "This is the spot spoken of by Jed, and the
surrounding country will give us just the scenery we want, I think. We
will tie up here for the night, and you and I will make an examination
to-morrow, Russ."
"All right, sir. It looks like a good location to me."
It was so warm that supper really was almost a waste of effort on the
part of the cook that evening, for few ate much. Then came a comfortable
time spent on the deck, while the night wind cooled the day-heated air.
"Oh, isn't this positively stifling!" complained Miss Pennington as she
dropped into a chair beside Ruth. "How do you ever stand it? I've bathed
my face in cologne, and done everything I can think of to cool off."
"Perhaps if you didn't do so much you would keep cooler," Ruth suggested
with a smile. "And really that is a very warm gown you have on."
"I know it, but it's so becoming to me--at least, I flatter myself it
is," and she glanced in the direction of Mr. Towne, who as usual was
attired "to the limit," as Russ said.
Ruth and Alice, in cool muslins or lawns, were quite in contrast to the
rather overdressed former vaudeville actresses.
"I can lend you a kimono," offered Alice.
"No, thank you!" replied Miss Pennington. "I believe in a certain
refinement in dress, even if we are in the wilds of Florida."
"I believe in being comfortable," retorted Alice.
Miss Dixon came up on deck, redolent of a highly perfumed talcum powder.
"It seems to keep away the mosquitoes," she murmured in explanation,
though no one had said anything, even if Russ did sniff rather
ostentatiously.
"I should think it would attract them," chuckled Paul.
"Oh, indeed!" said Miss Dixon, and changed her mind about taking a seat
near him.
Returning from a little exploring party next day Russ and Mr. Pertell
reported the locality to be just what was wanted.
"We start work to-morrow," said the manager. "And I want everyone to do
his or her best, for this will bring our Florida stay to a close."
"And what next?" asked Mr. DeVere.
"I haven't made up my mind yet. But there will be plenty of other
pictures to make."
During the next few days every member of the company, from Mr. DeVere to
Tommy and Nellie, had their share of work. There were romantic plays
filmed, and in these Ruth had good parts. As for Alice she rejoiced when
she had humorous "stunts" to do.
"You are getting to be a regular 'cut-up'," laughed Paul at the close of
one of her performances.
"Yes, and I hope she doesn't get too much that way," said Ruth.
"No danger, sister mine, with you to keep me straight," was the answer,
as Alice put an arm around Ruth.
Some comic films were made, and in a few of these Mr. Sneed and Mr. Towne
had to do "stunts" such as falling in the mud and water, or toppling down
hills head over heels. But Mr. Pertell was careful to warn them not to
run dangerous risks.
Mr. DeVere, as usual, did more dignified work, and Mr. Bunn was delighted
when told that he might do a bit of Shakespeare. And to do him credit, he
acted well, much better than some of his associates had supposed he
could.
"I have a new idea for to-day," said Mr. Pertell one morning, as the
day's work was about to start. "In one drama I wish to show a little
picnic scene, with two girls and their mother. You will be the mother,
Mrs. Maguire, and with Ruth and Alice will go off up a side stream in a
boat. Russ will go along, of course, to manage the camera, and I think
I'll send Paul to help row the boat. Take a gun along, Paul, for you can
pretend to shoot some game for the lunch.
"You will also have a regular picnic lunch along--real food, by the way,
and you will spread it out in some picturesque spot and eat." Mr. Pertell
then went on giving directions for the acting of the drama that was to
center around the little picnic.
In due time the boat was loaded with the camera and provisions, and Paul
helped in Ruth, Alice and Mrs. Maguire. Then he got in with the gun.
"Better take your raincoats along," advised Mr. DeVere to his daughters,
"it looks like a shower and you won't be back before night."
Accordingly the garments were tossed into the boat, and then, leaving the
_Magnolia_ moored to the bank, the small craft started off up a little
side stream that was to be followed for a mile or two.
Russ picked out a likely spot for the picnic scene and after a bit of
rehearsal Ruth, Alice, Mrs. Maguire and Paul went through the little
play.
"This is more fun than acting," remarked Alice, as she reached for
another chicken sandwich.
There was more to do after the meal, and when what food remained had been
packed up for a luncheon later in the afternoon, they entered the boat
again, and started still farther up stream.
The last film had been made and as the shadows were lengthening the start
back was made.
"My, it's getting dark very quickly, and it's only three o'clock," said
Paul, as he looked at his watch.
"Going to rain, I guess," said Russ. And rain it did a little later, the
drops coming down with tropical violence.
"Oughtn't we to be at the steamer by this time?" asked Mrs. Maguire, when
they could hardly see.
"Well, maybe we had," agreed Paul.
The light was set aglow, and then the young men shouted and called:
"_Magnolia_ ahoy!"
Echoes were their only answer, save the bellow or grunt of some distant
alligator, or the screech of some disturbed wild fowl.
"This is queer," observed Russ. "I'm sure we have rowed back far enough
to be at the place where we left the steamer. I wonder--"
But he did not finish.
"What do you wonder?" asked Alice, searchingly.
"Oh--nothing," Russ hesitated.
"Yes, it is something!" she insisted.
"Well, then, I was wondering if we possibly could have come down some
wrong creek. There were a number of turns, you know."
"Do--do you mean, we are--lost?" faltered Ruth.
"Well, I'm afraid I do."