Part 12 (1/2)

”But it will be only for a few minutes,” Paul said, ”and the tide isn't rising so fast that it will sweep you away in that time.”

”I know--but--don't go!” begged Alice, her voice trembling.

Paul looked at Ruth.

”Perhaps you _had_ better stay,” suggested the older girl. ”They are sure to come back soon, and--well, we don't want to be left here.”

”All right,” agreed Paul. ”But I think I could get back with a boat in time.”

However, there was no need for him to go. A moment later the moving picture company, headed by Russ and the two other camera men, came around the turn of some sand dunes.

”There they are!” cried Ruth.

”Oh, come and get us!” fairly screamed Alice.

Paul put his fingers to his mouth and sent out a shrill whistle.

It needed only a glance on the part of Mr. Pertell and the others to show the plight of the three marooned ones.

”I forgot all about them!” the manager exclaimed. ”Russ--Mr.

Bunn--Switzer--a boat--where's that fisherman--where's the life-saving station? This is----”

”Avast there! Belay!” came the deep tones of Jack Jepson, who had come out to do certain parts in the sh.o.r.e scenes. ”I'll take that boat out and get 'em. Don't worry!”

”Oh, but my daughters!” exclaimed Mr. DeVere, hoa.r.s.ely.

”And Alice with a sprained ankle!” gasped Mrs. Maguire.

”Don't worry! I'll get 'em!” declared the old salt. ”Come on,” he called to Mr. Bunn. ”You look like you could handle an oar,” and he started toward a dory that was drawn up on the beach.

”I--I can't row!” exclaimed the old actor. ”Besides, I might----”

”Yes, he might spoil his dignity,” said Russ fiercely in an undertone.

”I'll go with you,” he said to the sailor. ”I can manage a boat!”

”Good! That's the way to talk. Come on!”

A few minutes later Russ and Jack had shoved out the fisherman's craft, and were quickly rowing toward the rocks. The tide was now so high that Paul and the two girls stood ankle-deep in the water that completely covered the rocks.

”Ahoy there! Ahoy!” sang out Jack, as he and Russ sent the boat over the waves to the rescue. ”Ahoy! We'll have you safe in a minute!”

”Quick! Get that picture! Film it!” cried Mr. Pertell to one of the other camera men. ”I can work that scene in--somehow.”

There was very little that was not ”grist” which came to the ”mill” of Mr. Pertell's cameras. The film began to unreel and before they knew it Paul, Ruth and Alice were being depicted in the rescue scene, which, when it was projected on the screen, made a series of effective pictures.

There was little real harm done save for wet feet and startled nerves.

Sufficient harm, one might think, but Ruth and Alice were beginning to forget they had nerves, so many were the strange acts they were called upon to perform in their moving picture work.