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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Moving Picture Boys on the Coast, by
+Victor Appleton
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: The Moving Picture Boys on the Coast
+
+
+Author: Victor Appleton
+
+
+
+Release Date: December 2, 2007  [eBook #23677]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE
+COAST***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Roger Frank and the Project Gutenberg Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net)
+
+
+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
+      file which includes the original illustration.
+      See 23677-h.htm or 23677-h.zip:
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/3/6/7/23677/23677-h/23677-h.htm)
+      or
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/3/6/7/23677/23677-h.zip)
+
+
+
+
+
+THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE COAST
+
+Or
+Showing Up the Perils of the Deep
+
+by
+
+VICTOR APPLETON
+
+Author of "The Tom Swift Series," "The Moving Picture Boys,"
+"The Moving Picture Boys in the West," Etc.
+
+Illustrated
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Blake & Joe, leaving their automatic camera working,
+aided in the work of rescue.--Page 193.]
+
+
+
+New York
+Grosset & Dunlap Publishers
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+BOOKS BY VICTOR APPLETON
+
+THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS SERIES
+12mo. Illustrated. Price, per volume, 40 cents, postpaid
+
+THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS
+THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE WEST
+THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE COAST
+THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE JUNGLE
+THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN EARTHQUAKE LAND
+
+THE TOM SWIFT SERIES
+12mo. Illustrated. Price, per volume, 40 cents, postpaid
+
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER
+TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE
+TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE
+TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER
+TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP
+PUBLISHERS--NEW YORK
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+Copyright, 1913, by Grosset & Dunlap
+
+THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE COAST
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+CHAPTER                                   PAGE
+
+    I AN UNEXPECTED ATTACK                   1
+   II A DARING RAID                         12
+  III THE PURSUIT                           23
+   IV BACK TO BIG B                         29
+    V A NEW KIND OF DRAMA                   40
+   VI ON THE COAST                          46
+  VII AT THE LIGHTHOUSE                     56
+ VIII BLAKE LEARNS A SECRET                 62
+   IX AT PRACTICE                           71
+    X TO SAN FRANCISCO                      79
+   XI A STRANGE CHARGE                      87
+  XII ON A LONG VOYAGE                      93
+ XIII A MIMIC FIRE                         101
+  XIV ATTACKED BY A SWORDFISH              111
+   XV SUSPICIOUS ACTIONS                   119
+  XVI JOE SUSPECTS SOMETHING               127
+ XVII AFTER THE WRECKERS                   134
+XVIII FAILURE                              144
+  XIX ON THE TRAIL                         151
+   XX THE DISCOVERY                        158
+  XXI THE CAPTURE                         164
+ XXII A LIFE GUARD'S ALARM                171
+XXIII THE DOOMED VESSEL                   181
+ XXIV OUT OF THE WRECK                    187
+  XXV A NEW QUEST                         201
+
+
+
+
+THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE COAST
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+AN UNEXPECTED ATTACK
+
+
+"Well, Blake, it doesn't seem possible that we have succeeded; does it?"
+and the lad who asked the question threw one leg over the saddle of his
+pony, to ride side fashion for a while, as a rest and change.
+
+"No, Joe, it doesn't," answered another youth. "But we sure have got
+some dandy films in those boxes!" and he looked back on some laden
+burros that were following the cow ponies across a stretch of Arizona
+desert.
+
+"Well, all I've got to say," remarked the cowboy, the third member of
+the trio; "is that taking moving pictures is about as strenuous work as
+rounding up or branding cattle."
+
+"I guess you don't quite believe that, Hank; do you?" asked Blake
+Stewart. "You haven't seen us work so very hard; have you?"
+
+"Work hard? I should say I have," answered Hank Selby. "Why, the time
+those Indians charged our cave, and Joe and I, and Munson and his crowd
+were getting ready to fire point-blank at them, there you stood, with
+bullets whizzing near you more than once, grinding away at the handle of
+your moving picture camera as hard as you could. Hard work--huh!"
+
+"But we got the films," declared Blake, not caring to go too deeply into
+an argument. "And I'm anxious to see how they will develop."
+
+"So am I," declared Joe. "I wonder what will be next on the program?"
+
+"Why, you're going to look for your father; aren't you, Joe--your father
+whom you haven't seen since you were a little chap--whom you can't even
+remember?" and Blake looked sharply at his chum and partner, Joe Duncan.
+
+"That's what I am, Blake, just as soon as I can get to the coast. But I
+mean, what will we do after that? Go back to New York?"
+
+"I suppose so, and take up our trade of making moving picture films for
+whoever wants them. It will be a rather tame life after the excitement
+we have had out here."
+
+"That's what. But maybe it will be good for a change."
+
+The two moving picture boys, I might explain briefly, were on their way
+to Flagstaff, Arizona, after having gone out into the wilds, with a
+cowboy guide, Hank Selby, to make moving picture films of some Moqui
+Indians who had broken away from their reservation, to indulge in some
+of their weird dances and ceremonies.
+
+While making these films, the boys and their companion, who were hidden
+in a cave where the Indians could not see them, saw the redmen about to
+torture, as they thought, four white prisoners. Joe and Blake recognized
+these men as their business rivals, who were also trying to get some
+moving picture films of the Indians, to secure a prize of a thousand
+dollars, offered by a New York geographical and ethnological society.
+
+To fire on the Indians, and thus save the white captives, meant that
+Joe, Blake and Hank would disclose their position in the cave, but there
+was nothing else to do, and they did it.
+
+The white captives, unexpectedly freed, came rushing toward the shelter,
+with the savages after them, and it looked as if there would be a fierce
+fight. In spite of this Blake held his ground, taking picture after
+picture.
+
+And, in the nick of time, a troop of United States cavalry came dashing
+up to capture the renegade Indians, who surrendered; Blake also getting
+pictures of the dash of the troopers.
+
+Unexpectedly in the company was a Sergeant Duncan who proved to be a
+half-uncle of Joe Duncan, and the sergeant was able to tell the lad
+where his long-lost father was last heard from, since Joe had only
+lately learned that his parent was living.
+
+And so, after their strenuous time in getting pictures of the Indians,
+the boys were on their way to Big B ranch, where Hank Selby was
+employed, and whence they had started to find the hidden savages.
+
+But Flagstaff was the real temporary headquarters of the lads, since
+there was located a theatrical company, engaged in doing some moving
+picture dramas based on Western life, and Joe and Blake had been hired
+to "film" those plays.
+
+They had been given a little time off to make an attempt to get views of
+the Indians at their ceremonies, and they expected to resume, for a
+time, making films of more peaceful scenes among their theatrical
+friends.
+
+"Yes, we sure did have a strenuous time," remarked Blake, as they rode
+along at an easy pace. "And how those Indians threw down their guns,
+and gave in, when the troopers charged against them!"
+
+"That's right," agreed Joe. "And those bugle notes, when they started to
+gallop, telling us that help was on the way, was the sweetest music I
+ever heard."
+
+"Same here," came from Hank. "But say, if it's all the same to you boys,
+I think we might as well camp here and have grub. This looks like good
+water and there's enough grazing for the critters to-night. Then we can
+push on early in the morning, and in a couple of days more we ought to
+make Big B ranch."
+
+"It seems to take us longer coming back than it did going," remarked
+Blake, as he slid from his pony, and pulled the reins over the animal's
+head as a signal for it not to wander. "I thought we'd sure come in
+sight of the ranch to-day."
+
+"Oh, it's farther than that," said Hank, as he looked about for wood
+with which to make a fire. "I guess you were so anxious to get on the
+trail of the Indians on your way out that you didn't notice how much
+ground you covered. And it was quite a few miles, believe me!"
+
+"I do!" said Joe, with half a groan. "I'm sore and stiff from so much
+saddle riding. I'm not used to it."
+
+"Oh, you'll limber up soon," said Hank, cheerfully. "Now, if you boys
+will get the water, and break out the grub, I'll get supper. It'll soon
+be dark."
+
+The lads busied themselves, and soon a cheerful little blaze was going,
+while the tired horses and burros, relieved of the burden of saddles and
+packs, were rolling luxuriously around at the length of their tether
+ropes.
+
+"I wonder if all the Moquis and Navajos who skipped off their
+reservations have been driven back?" asked Joe, as they were about ready
+to eat.
+
+"What makes you ask that?" inquired Blake quickly, and with a curious
+look at his chum.
+
+"Oh, no special reason. But you know Captain Marsh, of the troop in
+which my uncle, Sergeant Duncan, was enlisted, said he had rounded up
+several bands of 'em, and I was just thinking that----"
+
+"That maybe there were some more running around loose that we could make
+pictures of; is that it, Joe?"
+
+"Well, yes. You know that society offered a prize of a thousand dollars
+for the best reel of ceremonial dances, but there were smaller prizes
+for ordinary pictures of Indians in various activities. I thought maybe
+we could get some of those."
+
+"I'm afraid not--not on this trip, at least," spoke Blake. "I don't
+believe there is ten feet of unexposed film left, and that wouldn't make
+much of a reel. We used up all we brought with us making those cowboy
+pictures, the forest fire and the time the bear chased Hank, besides the
+Indian views. Nothing more doing in the camera line until we get back to
+Flagstaff."
+
+"Oh, well, I was just wondering," spoke Joe, and he gazed off across the
+uneven stretch of country. But there was that in his voice and glance
+which did not bear out his unconcerned words.
+
+However, Blake was too much occupied in getting supper just then to pay
+much attention to his chum, for the lad was hungry--as, indeed, his
+companions also seemed to be, for they attacked the simple provender
+with eagerness when Hank announced that it was ready.
+
+The evening was setting in when they had finished, and, bringing up a
+pail of fresh water, in case they should get thirsty during the hours of
+darkness, and placing the saddles and packs in a compact mass, the three
+proceeded to spend the night in the open.
+
+And yet not exactly without shelter, either, for they had with them
+small dog-tents, as they are called, that afford considerable protection
+against the night winds and dew. And, with a fire glowing at their
+feet, the travelers were far from being uncomfortable.
+
+A pile of wood had been collected near the blaze, and while nothing was
+said about standing watch, it was understood that if any of them roused
+in the night he was to pile fuel on the embers, not only to keep up the
+genial heat, but to drive off any prowling beasts that might try to raid
+their stock of provisions.
+
+"Well, I'm going to turn in," finally announced Blake. "I'm dead tired."
+
+"And I'm with you," added Joe.
+
+Hank said nothing, but the boys watched him as he walked some little
+distance from the camp, to a slight elevation. On this he stood, gazing
+off into the distance.
+
+"I wonder what he's looking for?" queried Joe.
+
+"I--I hardly know," replied Blake.
+
+And yet, in his heart, each lad was aware of something that he hesitated
+to put into words. Presently Hank came back, and as the firelight shone
+on his face his expression betrayed no anxiety--in fact, no emotion of
+any kind.
+
+"Did--did you see anything, Hank?" asked Blake.
+
+"No--nothing. Snooze away. I think--I'll have a pipe before I go to
+bed," and he sat down on a small box and looked into the glowing
+embers.
+
+Soon afterward, Joe, looking from his small shelter tent, saw Hank
+fingering his big revolver, spinning the cylinder, and testing the
+mechanism.
+
+"Something's up!" whispered Joe to himself. "I wonder if it can be that
+he saw----"
+
+He did not finish the sentence, for just then Hank put away the weapon
+and soon the aromatic odor of burning tobacco filled the night air.
+
+"Oh, pshaw!" exclaimed the lad. "I'm foolish to worry about nothing; I'm
+going to sleep!" and he turned over, and closed his eyes. But, somehow,
+sleep would not come at once. Even with his eyes closed he could fancy
+the figure of the cowboy guide sitting by the fire.
+
+Blake seemed to be less uneasy than did his chum. If he saw Hank by the
+fire he made no mention of it, and from his tent came no movement that
+showed he was awake.
+
+Presently Joe began to speculate on the new experience he felt would
+come to him, if he succeeded in locating his father.
+
+"It really doesn't seem possible--that I'm going to have folks at last,"
+murmured Joe. "And maybe not only a father, but brothers and
+sisters--Uncle Bill Duncan said he didn't know. I may have more than
+Blake, if I keep on," and then, with more pleasurable thoughts than
+worrying about an indefinable something, the lad finally lost himself in
+slumber.
+
+The camp was still. Even Hank had crawled into his little tent, after a
+final pipe. He did not get to sleep soon, and had either of the boys
+been awake they would have seen him come out several times before
+midnight, and stalk about, peering off into the darkness.
+
+Then, after looking to the tether ropes of the animals, he would go back
+to the small shelters, throw some embers on the fire, and drop off into
+a doze. For the cowboy was a light sleeper, and the least sound awakened
+him.
+
+"I guess there'll be nothing doing," he whispered to himself after one
+of these little observations. "I thought I saw some signs just about
+dusk, but maybe it was some slinking coyote, or a big jack rabbit.
+Anyhow, if--if anything does happen it won't come during darkness; that
+is, unless it's some of them half-breed or Mexican rustlers, and I don't
+believe they've been around these diggings lately. I'm going to snooze."
+
+Soon his heavy breathing told that he slept, and several hours passed
+before he again awoke. If he had made one other observation, probably he
+would have seen that which would have aroused his suspicions, for, about
+an hour after midnight, there was an uneasy movement among the animals.
+
+And in the starlight, which in a measure made the night less black,
+several shadowy, slinking forms might have been observed creeping toward
+the camp and the pile of provisions and supplies, among the latter of
+which were the boxes containing the valuable films of the moving
+pictures.
+
+It was Hank, as might have been expected, who awakened. One of the
+burros, always an excitable, nervous beast, capered about and uttered a
+shrill whinny as if in fright.
+
+Hank was out of his tent in an instant. Leaping to his feet he blazed
+away with his revolver. Its flash lit up the darkness, and was at once
+answered by half a dozen other flashes.
+
+"Come on, boys!" yelled Hank. "They're after us! I wasn't mistaken,
+after all! I did see some of 'em sneaking around! Lively, now!" and he
+blazed away again.
+
+"What is it?" cried Blake.
+
+"Indians! They're after our horses!" yelled the cowboy, as the two lads
+joined him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+A DARING RAID
+
+
+"Where are they?"
+
+"Which way shall we shoot?"
+
+Joe and Blake questioned thus by turn as they leaped to Hank's side.
+They were in darkness now, for the cowboy had ceased shooting, and those
+who had come to attack had likewise allowed their weapons to become
+silent. As a matter of fact, Hank Selby had only fired in the air, if
+possible to frighten off the Indians, and it seemed that the redmen had
+done the same, since there was no whine of bullets over the head of the
+guide.
+
+"What is it?" asked Blake, fingering the rifle he had caught up as he
+rushed from the tent.
+
+"Indians," replied Hank, in a low voice. "It's probably some band of
+Moquis or Navajos, who escaped being rounded up as the others were.
+Probably they were chased so hard, or were so surprised at one of their
+camps, that they had to leave without their ponies. And they do hate to
+walk. They saw our animals and tried to get 'em, but I was suspicious
+all along."
+
+"But where are they now?" asked Joe, peering out into the darkness. "I
+can't see a thing, and our animals seem to be all there."
+
+"The beggars dropped down, and are hiding," said the cowboy. "They
+didn't like the quick way I fired on 'em, I guess; though, land knows! I
+don't want to hurt any of 'em if I can help it. They don't know just
+what to do, and they're biding their time."
+
+"Did they get any of our horses--or things?" asked Blake, anxiously, his
+thoughts on the valuable films.
+
+"Not as yet," replied Hank. "But this thing isn't over with. They'll
+come back, once they decide it's worth while. We've got to get ready for
+'em."
+
+"How?" asked Blake.
+
+"Well, we've got to pile our stuff up as a sort of shelter, and then
+we've got to bring in the animals. It won't do to have the imps run off
+with 'em, and that's what they're aiming to do."
+
+"But won't it be risky to go out there in the darkness to bring in the
+ponies and burros?" asked Joe. "You say the Indians are concealed out
+there."
+
+"So I believe they are," replied Hank. "But I fancy my shooting drove
+'em back a bit, even though I did fire in the air, or so high over their
+heads that they couldn't be harmed. So I guess we can make a move out
+there without getting hurt. Anyhow, it's got to be done, and, as I know
+more about such business than you boys, having been at it longer, I'll
+just attend to that. You'd better make the best sort of breastworks you
+can. For, though I don't believe these beggars will actually shoot to
+hurt, still it's best to be on the safe side. Be cautious, now."
+
+And, while Hank is thus preparing to secure the pack and saddle animals,
+and the boys to gather the boxes and bales into a compact mass, I will
+take just a few moments to tell you more about the moving picture lads
+than I have yet done.
+
+In the first book of this series, entitled "The Moving Picture Boys; Or,
+The Perils of a Great City Depicted," I introduced to you Joe Duncan and
+Blake Stewart. At that time they lived in the village of Fayetteburg, in
+the central part of New York State. Blake worked on the farm of his
+uncle, Jonathan Haverstraw, while Joe was hired boy for Zachariah
+Bradley. And it happened that they both lost their places at the same
+time.
+
+Blake's uncle decided to retire to a Home for the Aged, and Mr. Bradley
+said he could no longer afford to pay Joe any wages. The boys did not
+know what to do until they made the acquaintance of Mr. Calvert Hadley,
+a moving picture photographer. The latter had come to Fayetteburg with a
+theatrical company to get some views in a country drama that was being
+enacted, some of the scenes being laid in the nearby city of Syracuse.
+
+Blake and Joe watched a mimic rescue scene in the creek, thinking it
+real, and later Mr. Hadley offered them work as his assistants in New
+York. He was employed by the Film Theatrical Company, to make its moving
+pictures.
+
+The boys jumped at the chance. Before the little country drama was over,
+however, an accident occurred, in full view of the moving picture
+camera. Mrs. Betty Randolph, a wealthy Southern lady, was run into,
+while riding in her carriage, by a reckless autoist. Mrs. Randolph
+offered a reward for the arrest of this man, who escaped in the
+confusion, and urged the two boys to try to effect his capture.
+
+They said they would, and how they went to New York, learned the moving
+picture business, and helped Mr. Hadley get films for his "moving
+picture newspaper," is all set down in the first book.
+
+The perils of taking views in a great city, at fires, elevated railroad
+accidents, burning vessels, of divers at work, in making educational
+films--all this is told.
+
+Eventually, while making scenes at a thrilling balloon ascension, Joe
+and Blake discovered the reckless autoist and gave chase in a car. They
+caught him, too, and got the reward, with which they purchased some
+moving picture cameras, and went into business on their own account.
+They made films to order, and were often employed by Mr. Hadley or by
+Mr. Ringold, head of the Film Theatrical Company.
+
+This company consisted of a number of actors and actresses who were
+engaged to enact various sorts of plays and dramas before the camera.
+
+Among them was Henry Robertson, who did "juvenile leads"; Harris
+Levinberg, the "villain"; Miss Nellie Shay, the leading lady, and Miss
+Birdie Lee, who did girls' parts. Last, but not least, was Christopher
+Cutler Piper--known variously as "C. C." or "Gloomy." He preferred to be
+called just C. C., not liking his two first names, but he was so often
+looking on the dark side of life, and predicting direful happenings that
+never came to pass, that he was often dubbed "Gloomy." However, he was
+the comedian of the troupe, and could utter the most unhappy expressions
+while doing the most comical acting.
+
+It was not all easy sailing for the two lads. One man--James Munson, a
+rival moving picture proprietor--often made trouble for them, and once
+put them in no little danger.
+
+After having helped Mr. Hadley make a success of his moving picture
+newspaper, by means of which current happenings, and accidents, were
+nightly thrown on a screen in various theatres, Joe and Blake, as I
+said, went into business for themselves.
+
+In the second volume of the series, entitled "The Moving Picture Boys in
+the West; Or, Taking Scenes Among the Cowboys and Indians," our heroes
+had an entirely different series of adventures.
+
+Mr. Ringold decided to take his theatrical troupe to Arizona, there to
+make films for a number of Western dramas. He asked the boys if they
+would like to join Mr. Hadley in doing this work. At the same time a New
+York scientific society, engaged in preserving records, pictures and
+photographic reproductions of the Indians, made a prize offer for the
+best film showing the redmen in their ceremonial dances. The time was
+particularly ripe for this, as a band of the Moquis, as well as several
+tribes of Navajos, had broken from the government reservations to
+indulge in their strange rites.
+
+As the boys found that they could do the two things--take the views of
+the Indians, and make the theatrical pictures--they accepted the offer.
+
+Just before they left, however, Joe received a strange letter. It was
+from a man signing himself Sam Houston Reed, who stated that he had met
+a man who was looking for a Joe Duncan. Joe, who had known there was
+some mystery about his early life, was overjoyed at the prospect of
+finding some "folks," and wished very much to meet Mr. Reed. But the
+latter had neglected to date, or put any heading on his letter. All
+there was to go by was part of a postmark, which showed it came from
+Arizona, and Mr. Reed also mentioned Big B ranch.
+
+However, the moving picture boys and the theatrical company started
+West. On the way the boys had a glimpse of their rivals, also hastening
+to get the Indian views.
+
+How they got to Flagstaff, made many views there, and then how Joe and
+Blake started to find the place where the runaway Indians were hidden
+away, doing their mysterious dances--all this is told in the second
+volume.
+
+Eventually they reached Big B ranch, only to find that Mr. Reed, like a
+rolling stone, had gone. However, some of the cowboys remembered him,
+and had heard him talk of having met a certain Bill Duncan, whose
+half-brother, Nate, was looking for a lost son. It was supposed that
+this Nate Duncan was Joe's father.
+
+As nothing toward finding Mr. Duncan could then be done, Joe and Blake
+kept on toward the Indian country. A cowboy, Hank Selby, offered to
+accompany them, and they were glad he did.
+
+They had many adventures before getting on the track of the Indians, and
+when they found them in a secret valley, and, concealed in a cave, began
+taking moving pictures, they discovered, as I have said, four white men
+in danger of torture.
+
+How they rescued them, how the troopers came, and how one turned out to
+be Bill Duncan, Joe's half-uncle, I have mentioned in this book as well
+as in the second volume. And, on their way back to Big B ranch and to
+Flagstaff, the night attack had taken place.
+
+"How are you making out, Blake?" asked Joe, as he worked at stacking up
+the boxes and bales into a sort of rude breastwork near the shelter
+tents.
+
+"All right, Joe," was the answer. "I hope Hank makes the animals safe."
+
+"He doesn't seem to be having much trouble. I can't see any of the
+Indians now."
+
+"No, they're probably hiding down in the grass, waiting for a chance to
+make a raid. I wonder how many there are?"
+
+"Quite a bunch, I should say, from the shooting. Here comes Hank now."
+
+As he spoke, the cowboy appeared, leading by their long tether ropes the
+riding ponies and the pack animals. The steeds showed signs of their
+recent excitement. Had it not been for the alarm they gave they might
+have been stolen without our friends being any the wiser.
+
+"See any of 'em, Hank?" questioned Joe.
+
+"No, but they're there, all right. Boys, there may be some hot work
+ahead of us. You want to get ready for it."
+
+"Do--do you think they'll shoot?" asked Blake.
+
+"Well, they'll do their best to get our things away from us," was the
+answer. "They're desperate, I'm afraid."
+
+Hank busied himself tethering the steeds nearer the temporary camp,
+while Joe and Blake finished their labors in building a defense against
+the possible rush of the redmen.
+
+This was hardly finished, and they had scarcely collected a pile of
+brush to make a bright fire, if necessary, when there arose all around
+fierce shouts. At the same time there was a fusillade of shots; but, as
+far as could be seen, all the Indians were firing in the air.
+
+"Look out!" yelled Hank. "They're going to rush us!"
+
+Before he ceased speaking there was the sound of many feet running
+forward. The shooting and shouting redoubled in volume, and the restless
+animals tried to break loose.
+
+"The imps!" cried Hank. "They're trying to stampede our animals, just as
+they did the cattle that time. Look out, boys!"
+
+But nothing could be done against such numbers. The camp was overwhelmed
+in a daring raid, and though the boys and Hank did all they could,
+firing wildly in the air, they could not stand off the attack. Strangely
+enough, no effort was made to mistreat the boys or their companion. The
+Indians simply rushed over them and made for the pile of goods in the
+rear of the tents. They did not even seem to be after the horses.
+
+"Stop 'em!" cried Blake. "They'll take all our things!"
+
+"Our cameras!" yelled Joe. "They may break 'em!"
+
+Hank had all he could do to restrain the wild steeds, which sought to
+break loose.
+
+The rush was over almost as quickly as it had started. Off into the
+darkness disappeared the Indians, their shooting and yelling growing
+fainter and fainter.
+
+"I saved the horses!" cried Hank.
+
+"Yes, but they got a lot of our stuff!" exclaimed Blake. "Joe, throw
+some wood on the fire, so we can see what is missing!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE PURSUIT
+
+
+Blazing up brightly, after Joe had thrown some light sticks on the
+embers, the fire revealed a much disordered camp. The Indians had rushed
+over it as a squad of football players might tear through a rival
+eleven, leaving devastation in their wake. The only consolation was that
+Hank had managed to prevent the animals from stampeding, and the
+possession of their ponies, in a country where foot travel is almost out
+of the question, was a big factor.
+
+"But they got almost everything else," said Blake, as he looked about
+the temporary camp.
+
+"They made for the grub, that's sure," spoke Joe. "I guess they were
+hungry."
+
+"But why they didn't try harder to make off with the horses is what I
+can't understand," spoke Blake, as he continued to make an examination
+of the damage done. "I thought that was what they were after."
+
+"They were," declared Hank; "but I guess they realized that taking
+horses is a pretty serious crime out here. They knew that all sorts of
+efforts would be made to recapture 'em, and by men who would not be as
+gentle with 'em as Uncle Sam's soldiers. So I guess they decided to pass
+up the horses and only take some grub. That isn't so serious, especially
+as the poor beggars are probably well-nigh starving, having been away
+from their regular rations so long. Well, it might be worse, I suppose.
+They will hardly come back to-night, and I guess we can get a little
+rest when I picket these animals out again. We got off pretty lucky, I
+take it, for there was sure a big bunch of them."
+
+"Lucky?" cried Blake. "I should say not. Look here!" and he pointed to
+the upset pile of boxes and bales, only a few of which were now left.
+"We have had the worst kind of bad luck!"
+
+"How's that?" demanded Joe, hurrying to the side of his chum. The fire
+was brighter now. "What did they take?"
+
+"Our reels of exposed film, for one thing!" cried Blake.
+
+"What! Not our prize Indian pictures?" gasped Joe.
+
+"That's what they did, Joe! Every one of those films we worked so hard
+to get is gone!"
+
+"But what could the Indians want with them?" asked Joe. "They don't
+know how to develop 'em, and, even if they did, they would be of no use.
+They can't know what they are, but if the least ray of light gets into
+the boxes it means that the films are ruined!"
+
+"That's right," assented Blake, hopelessly. "What can we do?"
+
+"They probably didn't know they were taking your films, boys," spoke
+Hank, who had finished making fast the horses. "They very likely thought
+the boxes held some new kind of food, and they just grabbed up anything
+they could get their hands on. I reckon the beggars are nearly starving,
+and that's what made 'em so bold. You'll notice they didn't once fire at
+us--only up in the air. They just wanted to scare us."
+
+"And they took our films, thinking they were something good to eat,"
+murmured Blake.
+
+"Yes. I'm not saying, though, that they didn't hope to stampede the
+animals; but they went wrong on that calculation, if they had it in
+mind."
+
+"They have our films," continued Joe, in a sort of daze, so suddenly had
+the events of the last half-hour occurred. "What can we do?"
+
+"Chase after 'em and get our stuff back!" exclaimed Blake, quickly. "I'm
+not going to stand that loss. They can have the grub if they want it,
+but I'm going to get back those films that we went to such trouble, and
+so much danger, to snap."
+
+"But how are you going to do it?" asked Joe.
+
+"Start in pursuit!" cried his chum with energy. "Come on, Hank, you can
+follow an Indian trail; can't you?"
+
+"I sure can, when it's as broad as the one they'll be likely to leave.
+But not now."
+
+"Why not?" asked Blake.
+
+For answer the cowboy guide waved his hand toward the darkness all
+about. There seemed to be a haze over the sky, obscuring the stars.
+
+"It would be worse than useless to start out on the chase now," said
+Hank. "We can't do anything until morning."
+
+"But they'll be too far away then," objected Blake. "And, while it might
+do little harm if they opened those film boxes in the darkness, it sure
+would spoil every picture we took to have them exposed in daylight.
+Let's go now!" and he started toward the animals.
+
+"No," and Hank shook his head. "I don't think you need worry about not
+catching those fellers in daylight," he went on. "They won't go far
+before stopping to eat the stuff they took from us. Then they'll have a
+sleep and start on the trail by daylight. We can do the same, and I
+think we can catch up with them. It would be risky to start out at
+night in a country we know so little about. We'll have to wait."
+
+Blake sighed, but there was no help for it. The upset camp was put in
+some kind of shape, the horses were again looked to, and the fire once
+more replenished. The travelers carried an unusually large supply of
+provisions, and though most of these had been taken, there was still
+enough food left for a day or two. In that time they might be able to
+get more, if they could not recapture their own from the Indians.
+
+"We'll start the first thing in the morning, as soon as it is light
+enough to see," decided Hank. "And now, if it's all the same to you
+boys, I'm going to have a bite to eat. That excitement made me hungry."
+
+"Same here," confessed Joe, and soon they were all satisfying their
+appetites.
+
+"Oh, but I do hope we can catch up with them and take those films away
+from 'em," murmured Blake, as he again sought his tent.
+
+"We will," declared Joe, with conviction. "If we have to, I'll get word
+to my soldier uncle and have the troops chase 'em."
+
+"The only trouble is that it might be too late," spoke Blake. "I'm
+afraid of the films getting light-struck. But I guess all we can do is
+to wait and trust to luck."
+
+There was no further alarm that night, and after a hasty breakfast,
+eaten when it was hardly light enough to see, the remaining supplies and
+provisions were packed and the ponies saddled.
+
+"I guess we can start now," exclaimed Hank, as he leaped to his steed.
+"It will soon be lighter. Forward, march!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+BACK TO "BIG B."
+
+
+"Well, we haven't caught up to 'em yet," remarked Joe Duncan, about noon
+the next day, when they stopped for a little lunch and to allow the
+horses to drink at a water hole and rest.
+
+"No, the beggars keep well ahead of us," agreed Blake, shading his eyes
+with his hand and gazing off across the hot, sunlit stretch that lay
+before them. "Oh, if they have opened those film boxes!" he exclaimed
+hopelessly.
+
+"They have ponies, and that's more than I calculated on," remarked Hank.
+"I thought when they raided our camp that they were after our animals,
+and when they didn't take 'em I thought it was because they were afraid
+of being chased as horse-thieves by a sheriff's posse. Now I see they
+didn't want our mounts, as they had plenty of their own. It was grub
+they were after, and they got it."
+
+"And our picture films," added Blake. "Don't forget that."
+
+"That was only a mistake, I tell you," insisted Hank, "though, for that
+matter, the Indians wouldn't hesitate to take 'em just for fun, if they
+thought they could make trouble that way."
+
+"And they will make a heap of trouble, too, I'm afraid," spoke Blake.
+
+"Here now!" called Joe, in jollier tones. "Don't come any of that C. C.
+Piper business, Blake. Look on the bright side."
+
+"Well, I suppose I ought to, but it's hard work."
+
+They had traveled all that morning, hoping to come up with the roving
+band of Indians. But they had had no success.
+
+Hank did pick up the trail of the raiders soon after starting out. The
+Indians had left their horses tethered some distance from the camp, and
+had crept up afoot, probably having spied Blake, Joe and Hank from afar
+the previous evening. And though the moccasined feet of the savages left
+little trace on the hard and sun-baked earth, there was enough "sign"
+for so experienced a trailer as was Hank to pick up.
+
+Thus he had been led to where the horses had been left, and after that
+it was easy enough to follow the marks of the hoofs.
+
+"There are about twenty-five in this band, as near as I can make out,"
+said Hank, "and every one of 'em has a horse of some sort. Pretty good
+travelers, too, I take it, since our animals were fresh and we haven't
+been able to come up to 'em yet, though we've kept up a pretty fair
+gait. But we'll get 'em yet."
+
+"If only it isn't too late," spoke Blake, whose one fear was that the
+valuable picture films would be spoiled. "Let's hurry on."
+
+"Another little rest will do the horses good," said the cowboy guide.
+"Then we can push on so much the faster. Our horses are our best
+friends, and we've got to treat 'em right if we want the best service
+out of them. Another half-hour and we'll push on."
+
+And, though Blake fretted and fumed at the delay, he knew it would not
+be best to insist on having his way. Soon, however, they were in the
+saddle again and once more in pursuit.
+
+"The trail is getting fresher," declared Hank, about four o'clock that
+afternoon. "Their horses are tiring, I guess, and ours seem to be
+holding out pretty well."
+
+"Which means----" began Joe.
+
+"That we may get up to them before dark," went on the cowboy. "And then
+we'll see what happens."
+
+"Will they run, do you think?" inquired Blake.
+
+"They will as long as their horses hold out, for they must know that
+this ghost-dance business is about over and that most of their friends
+are back on the reservations. But when we come up to them----" and the
+cowboy paused and significantly examined his revolver.
+
+"Does it mean a fight?" went on Blake, and he could not restrain a catch
+in his breath. It was one thing to have an Indian fight with some
+shelter, but different out in the open.
+
+"Well, I hardly think it will be what you might call regular and
+up-to-date fighting," replied Hank. "They may fire their guns and
+revolvers at us to try and frighten us back, but I don't actually
+believe that they'll make trouble. They know the punishment would be too
+serious. And I believe a lot of those Indians have only blank cartridges
+that they had when they were in some Wild West show. I know there was
+mighty little whining of bullets, for all the shooting they did last
+night. But, at the same time," he went on, "it's best to be prepared for
+emergencies."
+
+They continued on, and the boys had now become so used to the signs of
+the Indian trail that they could note the changes almost as well as
+could Hank.
+
+Here they could see where a rest was made, and again where some animal
+went out of the beaten path. Bits of the Indians' finery, too, were
+noted every once in a while--a bit of gaudy bead trimming, a discarded
+moccasin or some dyed feathers.
+
+"I do hope we come up with them before dark," said Joe. "If we have to
+stay out on the trail all night, and part of next day, we may find
+nothing left of our things and the pack burros when we reach camp
+again."
+
+In order to make better time our friends had left behind, at the place
+where the Indians had raided them, the pack animals, their cameras, a
+few films not taken by the Indians, and as much of their provisions as
+they thought would not be needed on the trail.
+
+"I think this evening will end it," declared Hank. "We might push on a
+little faster, as the going is good right here."
+
+The horses were urged to greater speed, and they responded gamely. They
+seemed to realize the necessity for haste, and took advantage of the
+momentary betterment in the surface over which they were traveling.
+
+The sun was sinking lower and lower in the west and the shadows were
+lengthening. Eagerly the boys and the cowboy scout peered ahead,
+straining their eyes for a glimpse of those whom they were pursuing.
+Then there came a bit of rough ground, and the pace was slower. Next
+followed a little rise, and, as this was topped, Blake, who had taken
+the lead for a short distance, uttered a cry and pointed forward with
+eager hand.
+
+"What is it?" cried Joe and Hank together.
+
+"There they are!" yelled Blake. "The Indians! Right below us! Come on!"
+
+Riding to his side, the others saw a sharp descent, then a level plain
+stretching away for many miles. And moving slowly over this plain was a
+band of about twenty-five Indians, mounted on ponies that seemed
+scarcely able to move.
+
+"That's them!" cried Hank, as he dug his heels into the sides of his
+horse. "At 'em, boys! A short, swift gallop will bring us up to 'em now,
+and then--well, we'll see what will happen!"
+
+"Come on!" yelled Blake, and side by side the trio rode down into the
+valley, their animals seeming to take on new strength as they saw their
+quarry before them.
+
+"They've noticed us!" exclaimed Blake.
+
+"That's right!" agreed Hank. "Well, now to see if we can catch 'em!"
+
+A movement amid the stragglers of the band told that they had glimpsed
+the approach of the whites. There was a distant shout, and at once the
+whole party was galloping off.
+
+"They'll distance us!" cried Blake. "They're going to get away!"
+
+"Not very far," was Hank's opinion. "Their horses are about done up.
+This is a last spurt."
+
+His trained eye had shown him that the Indians were using quirts and
+their heels to spur the tired animals to a last burst of speed. True,
+the ponies did leap ahead for a few minutes; but not even the wild
+shouting of the redmen, the frantic beating of their steeds, and the
+firing of their guns could make the wearied muscles of the ponies
+respond for long.
+
+The spurt lasted only a few seconds, and then came a noticeable slowing
+down. On the contrary, the horses of our friends, though they had
+traveled far and hard, were in better condition and much fresher.
+
+"Come on!" cried Hank, rising in his stirrups and swinging his hat
+around his head, while he sent forth yells of defiance. "Come on, boys!
+We have 'em!"
+
+He, too, began to shoot, but in the air as before, and the boys followed
+his example. Their horses were shortening the distance between the two
+parties.
+
+Suddenly one of the Indians was observed to toss something from him. It
+fell to the ground and rolled to one side of the trail.
+
+"What's that?" cried Joe.
+
+"One of the boxes of exposed film!" cried Blake. "They know what we're
+after. Oh, if only it isn't damaged!"
+
+"We can soon tell!" cried Hank, taking the lead. Then he yelled, between
+reports of his revolver:
+
+"Hi there! you red beggars, give up! Drop that stuff you took from our
+camp! You haven't any of the grub left, I suppose, but we want those
+pictures! Drop 'em!"
+
+Whether his talk was understood, or not, was not known; but others of
+the Indians began tossing away either boxes of film or other
+things--aside from food--which they had taken from the camp. They never
+stopped their horses, though, but ever urged on the tired beasts.
+
+"Here's the first reel!" cried Blake, as he came up to where it lay.
+Quickly dismounting, he picked it up.
+
+"Not hurt a bit!" he cried exultantly; "and the seals haven't been
+broken, showing that it hasn't been opened."
+
+"Good!" cried Hank. "You go slow and pick up what you can, and Joe and I
+will chase after the Indians. Evidently they're going to run for it."
+
+And it did seem so. The Indians never paused, but continued to toss
+away article after article. They seemed afraid of the consequences
+should they be caught with anything belonging to the whites in their
+possession. They may have taken Hank and the boys for the advance-guard
+of a sheriff's posse, and, knowing they had been doing wrong, were
+afraid. At any rate they made no stand.
+
+"I've got 'em all!" finally yelled Blake.
+
+"Then there's no use chasing after 'em any farther," said Hank. "Hold
+on, Joe," for the boy was pushing on.
+
+The horses of the pursuers were pulled down to a walk. The Indians
+noticed this at once, and, seeming to realize that the chase was over,
+they halted, and, turning, gazed in a body at the moving picture boys
+and their cowboy guide.
+
+"Had enough, I reckon," murmured Hank. "I guess you can't go on much
+farther. Well, we'll turn back a ways and put some miles between us, so
+you won't try any of your tricks again, and then we'll go into camp
+ourselves. Got everything, Blake?"
+
+"Yes, every reel of film, and not one has been opened, by good luck.
+Maybe they thought it was powerful 'medicine,' and didn't want to run
+any chances."
+
+"We don't care, as long as we have 'em back," remarked Joe, gleefully.
+"And now for a good rest."
+
+They turned back, and as they did so the Indians gave a last shout of
+defiance and began to make camp for themselves. It was as if a lot of
+schoolboys, playing truant, had been rounded up, and as a last
+indication of defiance had given their class yell.
+
+"Good riddance to you," remarked Hank. "I don't want to see you again
+for a good many years."
+
+Collecting the things the Indians had thrown away, our friends rode on
+until dark, and then, out of sight of the roving redmen, they made a
+simple camp. They stood guard by turns, but there was no night alarm.
+The next day they reached the place where they had picketed the pack
+animals. Nothing had been disturbed.
+
+"And now for Big B ranch!" exclaimed Blake, when once more the little
+cavalcade was under way.
+
+"And glad enough I'll be to see it!" said Hank; "though I sure will miss
+you fellows."
+
+"The same here," echoed Joe, and Blake nodded in accord.
+
+They traveled on for another day, finding good water and plenty of
+grazing for the steeds. Their provisions ran a bit low, for the Indians
+had helped themselves liberally, but they managed to shoot some small
+game.
+
+And, on the second day after parting from the Indians, they topped a
+rise, from the height of which Hank cried:
+
+"There she is, boys!"
+
+"What?" asked Blake.
+
+"Big B ranch! We're back in civilization again!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+A NEW KIND OF DRAMA
+
+
+"And so you really got what you went for; eh, boys?" asked Mr. Alden,
+proprietor of Big B ranch, as the trio rode in. "Well, you had luck."
+
+"Both kinds--good and bad," remarked Hank, as he told how, after getting
+the rare films, they had nearly been lost again.
+
+"And you rescued your enemies, too? What became of Munson?"
+
+"Oh, he and his crowd went off by themselves," explained Blake. "They
+felt badly about us beating them."
+
+"I've got a surprise for you, Joe," went on the proprietor.
+
+"What sort?" asked the lad, eagerly; "is my father----?"
+
+"No, not that; but Sam Reed is back here again, and he can tell you what
+you want to know. He came the day after you left."
+
+"But I did better than that!" exclaimed Joe. "I met my uncle, and I'm
+soon going to find my father, I hope," and he related his meeting with
+the trooper.
+
+"Good!" cried Mr. Alden. "Here comes Sam now. I told him you might be
+along soon," and he turned to introduce a rather shiftless-looking
+cowboy who sauntered up.
+
+"Pleased to meet you," said Sam Reed. "I never cal'lated when I writ
+that there letter that I'd ever see you in flesh and blood. I've got
+your pictures, though," and he showed those that had appeared in a
+magazine, giving an account of the work of Joe and Blake.
+
+As might have been expected, Sam knew nothing of Joe's father. The best
+the cowboy had hoped to do was to put the boy on the track of Mr.
+William Duncan, and, considering that Joe's uncle, as I shall call
+him--though he was really only a half-uncle--had enlisted in the army,
+Mr. Reed would probably have had hard work to carry out his plans.
+
+"Well, I'm glad you met your relative, anyhow," said Sam to Joe; "and I
+wish you luck in looking for your father. So he's somewhere on the
+southern California coast?"
+
+"Yes, in one of the lighthouses," explained Joe. "My uncle didn't know
+exactly where, but I can easily find out from the government office when
+I get on the coast."
+
+The boys were made welcome again at Big B ranch, and talked over once
+more the exciting time that had happened to them there when the Indians
+stampeded the cattle.
+
+"Here are the films you left with me," said Mr. Alden, giving the boys
+those they had made of the cattle stampede and of the cowboys doing
+their stunts. "And so you got other good ones?"
+
+"Yes, fine ones," replied Blake. "And we must soon be getting back to
+Flagstaff. We have stayed away longer than we meant to, and Mr. Hadley
+and Mr. Ringold may need our services."
+
+But the boys at the ranch would not hear of their starting for a few
+days, and so Joe and Blake stayed on, being royally entertained. They
+witnessed a round-up and the branding of cattle, but could get no
+pictures, as their films were all used up. However, the subjects had
+often been filmed before, so there was no great regret.
+
+Then came a time when they had to say farewell, and they turned their
+horses' heads toward Flagstaff. The cowboys gave them a parting salute
+of cheers and blank cartridges, riding madly around meanwhile.
+
+"It reminds me of the Indian attack," said Blake.
+
+"Yes," assented Joe. "I wonder if we'll go through another scare like
+that?"
+
+"I hope not," spoke his chum; but, though they did not know it, they
+were destined to face many more perils in the pursuit of their chosen
+calling.
+
+The ride to Flagstaff from Big B ranch was without incident. It was
+through a fairly well settled part of the country, as settlements go in
+Arizona, and they made it in good time. Joe often talked about the
+strange fate that had put him on the track of his father.
+
+"I wonder what kind of a man he'll be?" he often said to his chum.
+
+"The best ever!" Blake would answer; "that is, if he's anything like
+you--and I think he must be."
+
+"That's very nice of you, and I hope he does turn out to be what I wish
+him to be. I can't even picture him in my mind, though."
+
+"Well, I should think he'd be something like your uncle--even if they
+were only half-brothers."
+
+"If he is, I suppose it will be all right, though Uncle Bill is a little
+too wild to suit me. I'd want my father to be more settled in life."
+
+"Well, it won't be a great while before you know," consoled Blake.
+
+The boys received a royal welcome from Mr. Hadley and the members of the
+theatrical troupe.
+
+"Oh, but it's good to see you back!" exclaimed Birdie Lee to Blake, as
+she shook hands with him, and if he held her fingers a little longer
+than was necessary I'm sure it's none of our affair.
+
+"So you didn't get scalped, after all?" remarked C. C., gloomily, as he
+surveyed the boys. "Well, you will next time, or else they will hold you
+as captives."
+
+"Oh, stop it, Gloomy!" called Miss Shay. "What do you want to spoil
+their welcome for, just as we have a little spread arranged for them?"
+for she had gotten one up on the spur of the moment, on sighting the
+boys.
+
+"A spread, eh? Humph, I know I'll get indigestion if I eat any of it.
+Oh, life isn't worth living, anyhow!" and he sighed heavily and
+proceeded to practice making new comical faces at himself in a
+looking-glass.
+
+"Well, I'm glad you boys are back," said Mr. Ringold a little later at
+the impromptu feast, at which C. C. ate as much as anyone and with
+seemingly as good an appetite. "Yes," went on the theatrical manager, "I
+shall need you and Mr. Hadley right along, now. I am going to produce a
+new kind of drama."
+
+"I--er--I'm afraid I can't be with you," said Joe, hesitatingly. "I am
+at last on the track of my father, and I must find him."
+
+"Where is he?" asked Mr. Ringold, when the lad had told his story.
+
+"Somewhere on the Southern California coast. In a lighthouse--just
+where I can't say. But I am going there, and so you will have to get
+some one else, Mr. Ringold, to take my place. Blake can stay here, of
+course, and make moving pictures, but I----"
+
+"I'm going with you," said his chum, simply.
+
+There was a moment's silence, and then the theatrical manager exclaimed:
+
+"Well, say, this just fits in all right. There's no need for any of us
+to be separated, for I intend taking my whole company to the coast to
+get a new series of sea dramas. The Southern California coast will suit
+me as well as any.
+
+"Joe, you can't shake me that way. We'll all go together, and you'll
+have plenty of chance to locate your father!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+ON THE COAST
+
+
+The announcement of Mr. Ringold was followed by a silence, during which
+Joe and Blake looked at each other. It seemed like too much good fortune
+to learn that they would still have the company of their friends in this
+new quest.
+
+"Do you really mean that?" asked Joe. "You're not saying it just to help
+us out; are you, Mr. Ringold?"
+
+"No. What makes you think that?"
+
+"Because it seems too good to be true. I wouldn't like anything better
+than to go with your company and make pictures."
+
+"The same here," added Blake.
+
+"And if, at the same time, I can locate my father," went on Joe, "so
+much the better, though I don't imagine I will have any trouble finding
+him, once I can communicate with the government lighthouse board, and
+learn where he is stationed. They have a list of all employees, I
+imagine."
+
+"Yes, I think so," spoke Mr. Hadley. "As you say, it will be easy to
+locate him. And, boys, I'm very glad you're going to be with us again. I
+wouldn't like to break in two new lads, and we will certainly need three
+photographers to take all the scenes in the sea dramas that are
+planned."
+
+"Will we have to go very far to sea?" asked Macaroni, who was among
+those who had greeted the moving picture boys. The lads' thin assistant
+had been kept busy assisting Mr. Hadley while they were after the
+Indians. "Because if it's very far out on the ocean wave I don't believe
+I want to go; I'm very easily made seasick."
+
+"Oh, we can arrange to keep you near shore," said the theatrical man,
+with a laugh.
+
+"He may be drowned, even near shore," put in C. C., with his most gloomy
+voice; though he was, at the same time, practicing some new facial
+contortions that were sending the women members of the troupe into
+spasms of laughter.
+
+"Oh, there you go, Gloomy!" exclaimed Mr. Hadley. "First we know you'll
+be saying we'll all be smashed in a train wreck going to the coast; or,
+if not, that we'll be carried off by a tidal wave as soon as we get
+there."
+
+"It might happen," spoke the gloomy comedian, as though both accidents
+were possible at the same time.
+
+"And it may rain--but not to-day," put in Miss Shay, with a look at the
+hot, cloudless sky.
+
+"Then it's all settled," went on Mr. Ringold. "It is understood, Joe,
+that you can have considerable time, if you need it, to locate your
+father. The dramas I intend to film will extend over a considerable
+time, and they can be made whenever it is most convenient. After all, I
+think it is a good thing that we are going to the Southern California
+coast. The climate there will be just what we want, and the sunlight
+will be almost constant."
+
+"I'm sure I'm much obliged to you," said Joe. "This trip after the
+Indian films cost us more than we counted on, and we'll be glad of a
+chance to make more money. We're down pretty low; aren't we, Blake?"
+
+"I'm afraid so. But then, we may get that prize money, and that will
+help a lot."
+
+"That's so," put in Mr. Hadley. "You had better have those films
+developed, and send them to the geographical society. I wouldn't ship
+them undeveloped, for they might be light-struck. You were lucky the
+Indians didn't spoil them."
+
+The boys decided to do this, and during the next few days the reels of
+moving pictures were developed, and some positives printed from them.
+While the lads had been after the Indians Mr. Ringold had sent for a
+complete, though small, moving picture outfit, and with this some of the
+pictures were thrown on a screen.
+
+"They're the finest I've ever seen!" declared Mr. Hadley, after
+inspecting them critically. "That charge of the soldiers can't be
+beaten, and as for the Indian dances, they are as plain as if we were
+right on the ground. You'll get the prize, I'm sure; especially since
+you're the only ones who got any views, as I understand it."
+
+Mr. Hadley proved a good prophet, for in due time, after the films
+reached New York, came a letter from the geographical society, enclosing
+a substantial check for the two boys.
+
+The films were excellent, it was stated, and just what were needed. One
+other concern, aside from Mr. Munson's, and the one the latter
+mentioned, which had gone to Indian land, had succeeded in getting a few
+views of the Indians in another part of the State, but they were nowhere
+near as good as those Blake and Joe had secured after such trouble and
+risk. The attempt to get phonographic records had been a failure, the
+officers of the society wrote, though another attempt would be made if
+ever the Indians again broke from their reservations.
+
+"And if they do," spoke Blake, "I'm not going to chase after them."
+
+"Me, either," decided Joe. "I've had enough. Now the sooner we can get
+to the coast the better I'll like it. Just think, my father must be as
+anxious to see me as I am to find him; but as near as I can understand
+it, he doesn't even know that I am alive. Think of that!"
+
+"It is rather hard," said Blake, sympathetically. "But it won't be long
+now. I heard Mr. Ringold say we would start soon."
+
+There were a few scenes in some of the dramas enacted in Arizona that
+yet needed to be filmed, and Joe and Blake helped with this work,
+Macaroni assisting them and Mr. Hadley.
+
+"And after this, nearly all our work will have to do with the sea," said
+the theatrical man. "I want to depict it in all its phases; showing it
+calm, and during a storm, the delights of it, as well as the perils of
+the deep."
+
+Before leaving Flagstaff it was decided to give a few exhibitions of
+some of the moving pictures, so that the residents there, and a number
+of the cowboys and Indians who had taken part in the plays, might see
+how they looked on the screen. A suitable building was obtained, and it
+was crowded at every performance.
+
+The Indians were at first frightened, thinking it was some new and
+powerful kind of "medicine" that might have a bad effect on them. With
+one accord, when the film the boys had taken, showing the charge of the
+soldiers on the Moquis, was put on, the redmen rushed from the building.
+And it was some time before they could be induced to return.
+
+"Say, there's my uncle, as plain as anything!" exclaimed Joe, when the
+excitement had calmed down, and the reel was run over again. "There's
+Sergeant Duncan, close to Captain Marsh!" and he indicated where the
+trooper was riding beside the commander of the cavalry.
+
+"That's right," agreed Blake, as the pictures flickered over the screen,
+the figures being almost life size. "And he looks like you, too."
+
+"I wonder if my father looks like that?" said Joe, softly.
+
+There were busy days ahead of them all now, and there was much work to
+be done in transporting all the "properties" to the coast, and arranging
+to move the picture outfit, the cameras and the entire company. The boys
+had little leisure, but Joe managed to get a letter off to the
+government lighthouse board, asking for news of his father, Nathaniel
+Duncan.
+
+In reply he got a communication stating that a Mr. Duncan was stationed
+as assistant keeper at a light near San Diego, and not far from Point
+Loma.
+
+"That's where we want to head for, then," said Joe, as he talked the
+matter over with his chum. "I wonder if that will suit Mr. Ringold?"
+
+It did, as the theatrical manager stated, when the subject was broached
+to him. Accordingly arrangements were made to ship everything there.
+
+The day came to bid farewell to Flagstaff, which had been the stopping
+place of the theatrical troupe for several months. They had made many
+friends, and the Indians had become so used to taking their parts in the
+dramas, and in getting good pay for it, that they were very sorry to see
+the "palefaces" leave. So, too, were the cowboys, many of whom had
+become very friendly with our heroes and the theatrical people.
+
+"But we've got to go," said Blake, as he shook hands with his
+acquaintances.
+
+"Indeed, if we didn't leave soon," said Joe, "I'd be tempted to start
+off by myself. I've sent a letter to my dad, telling him all about how
+strangely I found him, and I'm just aching to see him. I guess he'll be
+pretty well surprised to get it."
+
+"I should imagine so," agreed Blake.
+
+"One last round-up to say good-bye!" cried one of the cowboys, as the
+party started away from the quarters they had occupied. "Everybody get
+in on this. Whoop her up, boys!"
+
+He leaped to his steed, flourished his hat, and began riding around in a
+circle, firing his big revolver at intervals.
+
+"That's the ticket!" shouted the others, as they followed his example.
+
+Soon two score of the light-hearted chaps were riding around the little
+crowd of the boys and their friends, saluting them, and saying farewell
+in this lively fashion.
+
+"Whoop her up!"
+
+"Never say die!"
+
+"Come again, and we'll exterminate a whole band of redskins for you!"
+
+"And have a cattle stampede made to order any day you want!"
+
+These were only a few of the many expressions from the cowboys.
+
+"Say, if they don't kill themselves, they'll make us deaf, with all that
+noise," predicted C. C.
+
+"This isn't a funeral," declared Mr. Hadley. "It's a jolly occasion,
+Gloomy Gus!"
+
+"Huh! Jolly? First you know some one will be hurt."
+
+But no one was, in spite of the direful predictions, and soon the
+cowboys drew off, with final shots from their revolvers, discharging
+them in the air. The Indians, too, had their share in the farewell,
+though they were not so demonstrative as were their companions.
+
+"And now for the coast!" cried Blake, as they reached the train.
+
+"And my dad," added Joe, and there was a trace of tears in his eyes,
+which he did not attempt to conceal. Blake knew just how his chum felt,
+and he found himself wishing that he, too, was going to find some
+relative. But he knew the only one he had was his aged uncle.
+
+Little of incident occurred on the trip to San Diego, which had been
+decided on as headquarters until a suitable location, away from any
+town, could be selected directly on the ocean beach. I say little of
+moment, but C. C. was continually predicting that something would
+happen, from a real hold-up to a train wreck.
+
+"And if that doesn't happen, a bridge will go go down with us," he said.
+
+But nothing of the kind occurred, and finally the boys and their friends
+reached the coast, going to the boarding place they had engaged.
+
+"And there's the old Pacific!" exclaimed Joe, as he and Blake went down
+to the shore of the bay on which San Diego stands. "It isn't very rough,
+however, and Mr. Ringold said he wanted tumbling waves as a background."
+
+"It gets rough at times, though," remarked a fisherman. "Of course, if
+you want to see big waves you'll have to go beyond this bay. It's pretty
+well land-locked. Oh, yes, the old Pacific isn't always as peaceful as
+her name."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+AT THE LIGHTHOUSE
+
+
+The two boys talked for some time with the old fisherman, and then Blake
+whispered to Joe:
+
+"Why don't you ask him where the lighthouse is where your father is
+supposed to be, and the best way of getting to it?"
+
+"I will," replied his chum.
+
+"The Rockypoint light?" repeated the fisherman, in response to Joe's
+inquiry. "Why yes, I know it well. It's only a few miles from here. You
+can see her flash on a clear night, but you can't make out the house
+itself, even on a clear day, because she's down behind that spur of
+coast. From the ocean, though, she's seen easily enough."
+
+"And how can we get there?" asked Blake.
+
+"Well, you can walk right down the beach, though it's a middlin' long
+tramp; or you can go back to town, and hire a rig."
+
+"We'll walk," decided Joe. "Do you happen to know of a Mr. Duncan
+there?" He waited anxiously for the answer.
+
+"No, lad, I can't rightly say I do," said the fisherman. "I know the
+keeper, Harry Stanton, and, now I come to think of it, I did hear the
+other day that he had a new assistant."
+
+"That's him!" cried Joe, eagerly.
+
+"Who?"
+
+"My father, I hope," was the reply, and in his joy Joe told something of
+his story.
+
+"Well, you sure have spun a queer yarn," said the old fisherman, "and I
+wish you all sorts of luck. You'll soon be at the light if you go right
+down the beach. I'd row you down in my dory, only I've just come in from
+taking up my nets and I'm sort of tired."
+
+"Oh, we wouldn't think of asking you," put in Blake. "We can easily walk
+it."
+
+"Some day I'll take you out fishing," promised the man. "And so you're
+here to get moving pictures; eh? Well, I don't know much about 'em, but
+you couldn't come to a nicer place than this spot on the coast. And you
+only have to go a little way to get right where the real surf comes
+smashing up on the beach. Of course, as I said, we're so land-locked
+just here that we don't see much of it, even in a storm. Moving
+pictures; eh? I'd like to see some."
+
+"I guess you can be in them, if you want to," said Blake. "I heard Mr.
+Ringold say he had one drama that called for a lot of fishermen."
+
+"Me in moving pictures!" cried the old man. "Ho! Ho! I wonder what my
+wife'd say to that. I've been in lots of queer situations. I've been
+knocked overboard by a whale, I've been wrecked, and half drowned, and
+almost starved, but I've never been in a picture, except I once had a
+tintype taken--that was when I was married," and he chuckled at the
+remembrance. "These movin' pictures aren't like tintypes; are they?"
+
+"Not much," laughed Joe, as he and Blake moved off in the direction of
+the lighthouse, calling a good-bye to their new friend. They had told
+Mr. Hadley, in starting out that morning, that they might not be back
+until late, for Joe had a half notion that he would try to find the
+lighthouse that day.
+
+"I wonder what I shall say to him, when I first see him, Blake?" Joe
+asked, as they trudged along.
+
+"Why--er--I hardly know," replied his chum. "I never found a lost
+father, myself."
+
+"And I never did, either. I guess I'll just say: 'Hello, Dad; do you
+know me?'"
+
+"That sounds all right," said Blake. "He sure will be surprised."
+
+The walk was longer than they had thought, and when noon came they
+still had some distance to go. As they were hungry they sought out a
+fisherman's cottage, where, for a small sum, they had a fine meal.
+Starting out again, they turned an intervening point of land about three
+o'clock, and then came in view of a lighthouse, located on a pile of
+rocks, not far from the high-water mark.
+
+"That's the place," said Blake, in a low voice.
+
+"Yes," agreed Joe. "It looks comfortable and homelike, too."
+
+Back of the lighthouse was a small garden, and also a flower bed, and a
+man could be seen working there. His back was toward the boys.
+
+"I--I wonder if that's him--my father?" said Joe, softly. "He seems to
+be very old," for they had a glimpse of a long white beard, and the man
+seemed to be bent with the weight of many years.
+
+"Go up and ask," said Blake. "I'll wait here."
+
+"No, I want you to come with me," insisted his chum. "You were with me
+when I first heard the good news, and now I want you along to hear the
+conclusion of it. Come on, Blake."
+
+"No, I'd rather not," and nothing Joe could say would induce his chum to
+accompany him.
+
+Their talk had been carried on in low voices, and the aged man, working
+in the garden, had apparently not heard them. He continued to hoe away
+among the rows.
+
+"Well, here goes!" exclaimed Joe, with a sigh. Now that he felt he was
+at the end of his quest his sensations were almost as sorrowful as
+joyful. In fact, he did not know exactly how he did feel.
+
+Walking up toward the old man, he paused, and then coughed slightly to
+attract his attention. The lighthouse keeper turned, surveyed the boy
+and in a pleasant voice asked:
+
+"Well?"
+
+"If--if you--are you my father?" asked Joe, in trembling voice, holding
+out his hands.
+
+"Your father!" cried the man in unmistakable surprise. "What is your
+name?"
+
+"Joe Duncan."
+
+"Joe Duncan? Did Duncan have a son?"
+
+"Yes, and I'm the boy!" went on Joe, eagerly, yet a doubt began creeping
+into his heart. "But are you Mr. Nathaniel Duncan?"
+
+The old man paused a moment, and then said gently:
+
+"No, my boy. I'm Harry Stanton, keeper of Rockypoint light."
+
+"But my father!" exclaimed Joe. "I understood he was here! Where is he?"
+
+"He was here," went on Mr. Stanton, as he leaned on his hoe and looked
+compassionately at the lad standing before him; "but he went away more
+than a week ago."
+
+"Gone away!" echoed Joe. "Did he--did he get my letter?"
+
+"I don't know whether it was your letter or not," said the keeper. "One
+came for him the day after he left. It's here yet. It was from
+Flagstaff, Arizona, I believe."
+
+"That's my letter!" exclaimed Joe. "And he never got it! Poor Dad, he
+doesn't yet know that I'm alive!" and he turned away with tears in his
+eyes.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+BLAKE LEARNS A SECRET
+
+
+Blake, looking on from a little distance, saw Joe turn aside from the
+aged man.
+
+"That's rather queer," thought the lad. "If that was his father it isn't
+a very cordial welcome."
+
+As he looked, he saw Joe walking out of the garden.
+
+"Queerer still," Blake mused. "Even if that isn't Mr. Duncan, he must be
+somewhere around, for lighthouse keepers can't be very far away from
+their station, as I understand it."
+
+Joe came walking toward his chum. His face showed his disappointment so
+unmistakably that Blake called out:
+
+"What's the matter, Joe?"
+
+"He's gone--he isn't here! He never got my letter!"
+
+"Where has he gone?" asked Blake, always practical.
+
+"I--I don't know. I didn't ask."
+
+"Look here, Joe!" exclaimed his chum. "I guess you're too excited over
+this. You let me make some inquiries for you. Suppose he has gone? We
+may be able to trace him. Men in the lighthouse service get transferred
+from one place to another just as soldiers do, I imagine. Now you sit
+down here and look at the sad sea waves, as C. C. would say if he were
+here, and I'll go tackle that lighthouse keeper. You were too flustered
+to get any clues, I expect."
+
+"I guess I was," admitted Joe. "When I found he wasn't there I didn't
+know what to do. I didn't feel like asking any questions."
+
+Blake placed his arm around his chum's shoulder, patted him on the back,
+and started toward the aged man, who was still leaning on his hoe,
+looking in mild surprise at the two lads.
+
+"I'll find out all about it," called back Blake.
+
+"Ha! Another boy!" exclaimed Mr. Stanton, as Blake approached. "I didn't
+know this was going to be visiting day, or I might have put on my other
+suit," and he laughed genially. "Are you another son of Mr. Duncan?" he
+asked.
+
+"No," replied Blake. "I'm Joe's chum. We're in the moving picture
+business together. But he says his father has left, and, as he naturally
+feels badly, I thought I'd make some inquiries for him, so we can
+locate him. Do you know where Mr. Duncan went?"
+
+"No--I can't say that I do," was the slow answer. "And so you are chums;
+eh?"
+
+"Yes, and we have been for some years."
+
+"That's nice. You tell each other all your secrets, I suppose?"
+
+"Well, most of 'em."
+
+"Never hold anything back?"
+
+"Why, what do you mean?" asked Blake, for there seemed to be a strange
+meaning in the old man's voice.
+
+"I mean, lad," and the lighthouse keeper's tones sank to a whisper; "I
+mean, if I tell you something, can you keep it from him?"
+
+"Why--yes--I suppose so," spoke Blake, wonderingly. "But what is the
+matter? Isn't his father here?"
+
+"No, he's gone, just as I told him. But look here--he seems a nice sort
+of lad, and I didn't want to hurt his feelings. I'd rather tell you, as
+long as you're his chum, and if you can keep a secret."
+
+He looked to where Joe was sitting on the rocks, watching the waves roll
+lazily up the beach and break. Joe was far enough off so that the
+low-voiced conversation could not reach him.
+
+"I can keep a secret if I have to," replied Blake. "But what is it all
+about? Is Mr. Duncan--is he--dead?"
+
+The old man hesitated, and, for a moment, Blake thought that his guess
+was correct. Then the aged man said slowly:
+
+"No, my boy, he isn't dead; but maybe, for the sake of his son, he had
+better be. At any rate, it's better, all around, that he's away from
+here."
+
+"Why?" asked Blake quickly. "Tell me what you mean!"
+
+"That I will, lad, and maybe you can figure a way out of the puzzle. I'm
+an old man, and not as smart as I was, so my brain doesn't work quickly.
+Maybe you can find a way out. Come inside where we can talk so he won't
+hear us," and he nodded toward the quiet figure of Joe on the beach.
+
+Blake wondered more than ever what the disclosure might be. He followed
+the aged man into the living quarters of the house attached to the light
+tower.
+
+"Sit ye there, lad," went on Mr. Stanton, "and I'll tell you all about
+it. Maybe you can find a way out."
+
+He paused, as if to gather his thoughts, and then resumed:
+
+"You see I'm pretty old, and I have to have an assistant at this light.
+I expect soon I'll have to give up altogether. But I'm going to hang on
+as long as I can. I've had three assistants in the last year, and one of
+'em, as you know now, was Nathaniel Duncan, Joe's father. Before him I
+had a likely young fellow named--ah, well, I've forgotten, and the name
+doesn't matter much anyhow. But when he left the board sent me this
+Duncan, and I must say I liked him right well."
+
+"What sort of a man was he?" asked Blake.
+
+"A nice sort of man. He was about middle aged, tall, well built, and
+strong as a horse. He looked as if he had had trouble, though, and
+gradually he told me his story. His wife had died when his boy and girl
+were young----"
+
+"Girl! Was there a girl?" cried Blake. "Has Joe a sister, too?"
+
+"He had--whether he has yet, I don't know," went on Mr. Stanton. "I'll
+tell you all I know.
+
+"As I said, Nate Duncan seemed to have had lots of sorrow, and he told
+me how, after his wife died, he had placed the boy and girl in charge of
+some people, and gone off to the California mines to make some money.
+When he come back, rich, the children had disappeared, and so had the
+people he left 'em with. He never could locate 'em, though he tried
+hard, and so did his half-brother, Bill. But Bill was different from
+Nate, so I understand. Bill was a reckless sort of chap, while Joe's
+father was quite steady."
+
+"That's right," spoke Blake, and then he related how Joe had come to get
+a trace of his father.
+
+"Well," resumed Mr. Stanton, "as I said, Duncan came here, and he and I
+got along well together. Then there came trouble."
+
+"Trouble? What kind?" asked Joe.
+
+"Trouble with wreckers, lad. The meanest and most wicked kind of trouble
+there can be on a seacoast. A band of bad men got together and by means
+of false lights lured small vessels out of their course so they went on
+the rocks. Then they got what they could when the cargo was washed
+ashore."
+
+"But what has that got to do with Joe's father?" asked Blake.
+
+"Too much, I'm afraid, lad. It was said that the light here was allowed
+to go out some nights, so the false light would be more effective."
+
+"Well?"
+
+"Well, Nate Duncan had charge of the light at night after I went off
+duty. And it was always when I was off duty that the wrecks occurred."
+
+"Do you mean to accuse Joe's father of being in with the wreckers?"
+
+"No, lad. I don't accuse anybody; I'm too old a man to do anything like
+that. But ugly stories began to be circulated. Government inspectors
+began to call more often than they used to, inspecting my light--my
+light, that I've tended nigh onto twenty-five years now. I began to hear
+rumors that my assistant wasn't altogether straight. He was said to be
+seen consorting with the wreckers, though it was hard to get proof that
+the men were wreckers, for they pretended to be fishermen.
+
+"Then come a day when, with my own eyes, I saw Nate Duncan walking along
+the beach with one of the men who was said to be at the head of the
+wrecking gang. I could see that they were quarreling, and then Nate
+knocked the man down. He didn't get up right away, for, as I said, Nate
+was strong. I knew something would come of that, and I wasn't much
+surprised when that day Nate disappeared."
+
+"Disappeared?" cried Blake.
+
+"Went off completely, and left me alone at the light. I tended it all
+night, same as I had done before, many a time, and the next day I
+reported matters, and I had a new assistant--the same one I have now."
+
+"But that doesn't prove anything," said Blake. "Just because Joe's
+father, and a man suspected of being a wrecker, had a quarrel, doesn't
+say that Mr. Duncan was a wrecker, too."
+
+"There's more to it," went on the old man. "The day after Nate Duncan
+disappeared detectives came here looking for him."
+
+Blake started. There was more to the story than he had suspected. He
+looked at Mr. Stanton, and glanced out of the window to where Joe still
+sat.
+
+"So that's why I say maybe it would be better for Joe if his father was
+dead," went on Mr. Stanton. "Disgrace is a terrible thing, and I
+couldn't bear to tell Joe, when he asked me about his father."
+
+"But where did he go?" asked Blake. "Didn't he leave any trace at all?"
+
+"Not a trace, lad--folks most generally doesn't when the detectives are
+after 'em. Hold on, though, I won't say Nate was guilty on my own hook.
+I'm only telling you what happened. I'd hate to believe he was a
+wrecker, misusing this light to draw vessels on the dangerous rocks; but
+it looks black, it looks black."
+
+"Did the detectives actually accuse Mr. Duncan?" asked Blake.
+
+"Well, they as much as did. They said some of the wreckers had been
+arrested, and had incriminated the assistant light-keeper. But Duncan
+was smart enough--provided he was guilty--to skip out. As I told Joe,
+his father left just before the letter from Flagstaff came, so he
+doesn't know his son is alive. Poor man, I'm sorry for him. He told me
+how he had searched all over for his children, and at last, becoming
+tired and discouraged, he took this job just to have something to do,
+for he's well enough off not to have to work."
+
+"And there's no way of telling where he went?" questioned Blake.
+
+"Nary a one that I know of, lad. As I said, maybe he's better off lost."
+
+"Not for Joe."
+
+"Well, maybe not; but for himself. There are heavy penalties for
+wrecking, and it's well he wasn't caught, though, as I say, I don't
+accuse him. Only it looks black, it looks black. If he was innocent why
+didn't he stay and fight it out? Yes, lad, it looks black."
+
+"I'm afraid so," sighed Blake. "How can I ever tell Joe the news?"
+
+"You mustn't!" exclaimed the old man. "That's just it. You must not tell
+him. I'd hate to destroy his faith in his father. It would be cruel.
+That's why I asked if you could keep a secret. You won't tell him; will
+you?"
+
+"No," said Blake, in a low voice; "I won't tell him."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+AT PRACTICE
+
+
+There was silence between man and boy for a space, and then Blake,
+understanding how hard it would be to keep the news from Joe, said:
+
+"I'll have to tell him something, Mr. Stanton. Joe will want to know why
+his father went away, and where. Isn't there any way in which we may get
+a clue to the direction he took?"
+
+"Wait a minute until I think, lad," said the old man. "It may be that we
+can find a clue, after all. Nate Duncan left some papers behind. I
+haven't looked at 'em, not wishing to make trouble, but there may be a
+clue there. I'll get 'em."
+
+"And I'll call Joe in to go over them with me," said Blake. "He'll want
+to see them."
+
+"But, mind you, not a word about what I've told you."
+
+"No, I'll keep quiet," promised Blake. "I'll call him in, while you get
+the papers."
+
+Going to the door of the little cottage, Blake called to his chum.
+
+"What is it?" asked Joe, eagerly. "Was there some mistake? Is my father
+somewhere around here, after all?"
+
+"Well, we hope to find him," said Blake, with an assurance he did not
+feel. "Look here, Joe, your father went away rather suddenly, it seems,
+but you mustn't think anything about that. He's been traveling all over,
+you know, looking for you and your sister----"
+
+"Sister?" cried Joe.
+
+"Yes, you had a sister, though I can't get much information about her.
+Neither could your uncle tell you, as you remember."
+
+"That's right. Oh, if I could only find dad and her!" and Joe sighed.
+"But maybe she isn't alive."
+
+"It's this way," went on Blake, and he told as much of the lighthouse
+keeper's story as was wise, keeping from Joe all information about the
+wreckers. "Now, your father may have heard of some new clue about you,"
+continued Joe's chum, "and he may have gone to hunt that up," which was
+true enough, for with the warning that he was likely to be arrested as a
+criminal, there may have come to Mr. Duncan some information about his
+missing children.
+
+"But in that case," asked Joe, "why didn't he leave some word as to
+where he was going?"
+
+"He may have been in too much of a hurry," suggested Blake, realizing
+that he was going to have considerable difficulty in keeping Joe from
+guessing the truth.
+
+"Well, perhaps that's so," agreed the lad. "But maybe Mr. Stanton has
+some clues."
+
+The lighthouse keeper came downstairs at this moment with a bundle of
+papers in his hand.
+
+"Here is all I found," he said. "It isn't much, but among the things he
+left behind is the letter you wrote," and he extended to Joe the missive
+the lad had penned in such hope at Flagstaff.
+
+"Poor Dad," murmured Joe. "I wonder if he will ever get this?"
+
+Together he and Blake looked over the documents. As the keeper had said,
+there was not much. Some memoranda, evidently made as different clues
+came to him; paid bills, some business letters, a few notes, and that
+was all.
+
+"What's this?" exclaimed Blake, as he read one letter. "It seems to be
+from some shipping agent in San Francisco, saying he can place--why,
+Joe, it's to your father, and it says he can have a place as mate any
+time he wants it. Was he a sailor?" he asked, eagerly, turning to the
+keeper.
+
+"So I understood."
+
+"Then this is the very thing we're looking for!" cried Blake. "Look, it
+is dated only a short time before he left. I see now," and he gave the
+lighthouse keeper a peculiar look, when Joe was not glancing in his
+direction. "Mr. Duncan got word that he could ship as a mate, and he
+left in a hurry."
+
+"Maybe so," assented Mr. Stanton.
+
+"Perhaps he had some new clue about you, Joe, or possibly about your
+sister," suggested Blake, hoping his chum would come to take this view.
+
+"Maybe," assented Joe. "But it's queer he didn't leave some word, or
+tell someone he was going."
+
+"He may not have had time," went on Blake. "Vessels have to sail in a
+hurry, lots of times, and he may have had to act quickly."
+
+"It's possible," admitted the keeper.
+
+"Then I'll tell you what we'll do," continued Blake. "We'll go to San
+Francisco the first chance we get, and see this shipping agent. He may
+be able to put us on the right track."
+
+"I guess it's the only thing to do," agreed Joe, in despondent tones.
+"Poor Dad! I nearly found him, and then I lost him again."
+
+They looked over the other papers. None offered as promising a clue as
+did the agent's letter, and this Joe took with him, also his own to his
+father.
+
+"Maybe I'll get a chance to deliver it to him myself," he said, with a
+smile that had little of hope in it.
+
+There was nothing more to be learned at the lighthouse. The boys left,
+after thanking the keeper, and promising to come and see him again. As
+they went out Mr. Stanton gave Blake a little sign, warning him not to
+disclose the secret.
+
+"Well, failure number one," said Joe, as they took a carriage back to
+San Diego, it being rather late.
+
+"Yes, but we'll win out yet!" declared Blake, with a confidence he did
+not feel. "We'll find your father and your sister, too."
+
+"I'll have more relations than you, Blake, if I keep on, and can find
+them," said Joe, after a bit.
+
+"That's right. Well, I wish you luck," and Blake wondered if Joe would
+be glad he had found his father, after all. "Wrecking is a black
+business," mused the lad. "But, like Mr. Stanton, I'm not going to think
+Joe's father guilty until I have to. I wonder, though, if the story is
+known about San Diego? If it is I'll have trouble keeping it from Joe."
+
+But Joe's chum found he had little to fear on this score, for, on
+getting back to the quarters of the theatrical troupe, the boys were
+told that the next day they would all take up their residence in a small
+seacoast settlement, out on the main ocean beach, away from the
+land-locked bay and where bigger waves could be pictured.
+
+"And there we'll enact the first of the sea dramas," said Mr. Ringold.
+
+"And all get drowned," murmured C. C., in his gloomiest tone.
+
+"I'll wash your face with snow--the first time it snows in this summer
+land--if you don't be more cheerful," threatened Miss Shay.
+
+"Well, something will happen, I'm sure," declared C. C. "When do we
+move?"
+
+"To-morrow," said Mr. Ringold, while Blake and Joe told Mr. Hadley of
+their poor success in finding Mr. Duncan. The photographer, as did the
+other members of the company, sympathized with the lad. Mr. Ringold said
+that as soon as they got settled the boys could go to San Francisco to
+look up the shipping agent.
+
+The transfer to the small seacoast settlement was a matter of some work,
+but in a week all was arranged, and the members of the company were
+settled in a large, comfortable house, close to the beach.
+
+"And now for some rehearsals," said Mr. Ringold, one morning. "One of
+the scenes calls for a shipwrecked man coming ashore in a small boat.
+Now, C. C., I guess you'll have to be the man this time, as I need the
+others for shore parts. Get the cameras ready."
+
+"I--I'm to be shipwrecked; am I?" inquired Mr. Piper. "Do I have to fall
+overboard?"
+
+"Not unless you want to," said Mr. Ringold, consulting the manuscript of
+the play.
+
+"Then I'm not going to, for I'll catch my death of cold if I do."
+
+"Hum! I'm glad he didn't have any other objections," murmured the
+theatrical man. "This is going to be easy."
+
+The preparations were made, it being customary to rehearse the scenes
+and acts before "filming" them to secure good results. A boat was
+launched, after some trouble on account of the surf, and with the aid of
+some fishermen, "C. C. was finally sent to sea," which was a joke, as
+Blake remarked.
+
+"And now come in with the waves," ordered Mr. Ringold, who was directing
+the drama. "Hang over the edge of the boat, C. C., and look as if you
+hadn't had any food or water for a week."
+
+"They say an actor never eats, anyhow," murmured Mr. Hadley, who, with
+the boys, was ready with the cameras; "so I guess C. C. won't have to
+pretend much."
+
+"Come on!" cried Mr. Ringold. "Hang more over the side of the boat."
+
+C. C. Piper obeyed orders--too literally, in fact. He leaned so far over
+that, a moment later, when there came a particularly large wave, the
+craft slewed sideways, got into the trough, and an instant later
+capsized.
+
+"He's overboard!" yelled Miss Lee.
+
+"Save him!" cried Miss Shay.
+
+"Stop the cameras," came from Mr. Ringold. "We don't want that in the
+picture."
+
+"Man overboard!" bawled the fishermen, who were interestedly watching
+the scene. "Launch the motor boat!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+TO SAN FRANCISCO
+
+
+For a moment there was excitement, and then the trained men of the sea
+got into action. Nearby there were several fishing boats, operated by
+gasoline motors. There were planks at hand, and rollers on which the
+craft could be launched in the surf, being eased along the slope by
+releasing a cable rigged to a post some distance away.
+
+It did not take long for the fishermen to launch one of these motor
+boats, and while C. C. Piper was struggling in the surf, endeavoring as
+best he could to climb into his overturned boat, they put out to rescue
+him.
+
+"Do you want that in the picture?" asked Joe, who was at one of the
+cameras.
+
+"No indeed!" cried Mr. Ringold. "It won't fit in at all! He must drift
+ashore. We'll have to do all this over again."
+
+"I can see Gloomy doing it," murmured Blake.
+
+At that moment there came a hail from the comedian.
+
+"Hello!" he cried. "Are you going to--gulp--let me--glub--sink out
+here? Can't some of you----" and the rest was lost amid a series of
+gurgles as the salty water got in C. C.'s mouth.
+
+"Hold on just a little longer," called one of the fishermen, as he
+directed the craft toward the struggling actor. "We'll have you out
+presently."
+
+"You'd--better--hurry--up!" panted the comedian, who might well be
+excused at this moment from taking a gloomy view of life.
+
+He managed to cling to one side of the dory until the rescuing motor
+craft reached him. Then he was soon hauled aboard, dripping wet, all but
+exhausted, and unable to utter a sound save sighs.
+
+"Well, it was too bad," said Mr. Ringold, when C. C. was once more
+ashore. "I guess we'll have to get you a little larger boat."
+
+"Get _me_ one?" asked the actor, with the accent on the personal
+pronoun.
+
+"Certainly. We'll have to do this scene over again. I guess we could use
+one of the fishing boats, though they're a little large. But we can move
+the cameras back. Take one of those, C. C."
+
+"I guess not."
+
+"What's that?"
+
+"I said I guess not. No more for mine!"
+
+"Do you mean to say you won't go on with this act? Are you going to
+balk as you did in the Indian scene?"
+
+"Say," began C. C., earnestly, as, dripping wet as he was, he strode up
+to the theatrical man, "I can't swim, and I don't like the water. I told
+you that the time you took me up in the country, where we found these
+boys," and he motioned to Blake and Joe, who were looking interestedly
+on, ready to work the cameras as soon as required.
+
+"And yet," went on Mr. Piper, "you insisted that I jump overboard then
+and rescue Miss Shay. Now you want me to drift in as a shipwrecked
+sailor. It's too much, I tell you. There is entirely too much water and
+tank drama in this business. I know I'll get my death of cold, if I
+don't drown."
+
+"Oh, can't you look on the bright side?" asked Miss Shay, who was to
+come into the drama later. "Why, it's so warm I should think you'd like
+to get into the surf."
+
+"Not for mine!" exclaimed C. C., firmly, and it took some persuasion on
+the part of the theatrical manager, accompanied by a promise of an
+increase of salary every time he had to go into the water, to induce
+C. C. to try the shipwreck scene over again.
+
+This time a larger boat was used, and, though it came near to capsizing,
+it did not quite go over, though considerable water was shipped. C. C.
+managed to stay aboard, and the cameras, rapidly clicking, registered
+each movement of the actor and those who later took part in the drama.
+
+Then some shore scenes were photographed, the supposed shipwrecked
+persons building a fire, pretending to catch fish from the ocean, and
+cooking them.
+
+All this the moving picture boys, or Mr. Hadley, faithfully registered
+on the films, to be later thrown on the screen for the delight of the
+public.
+
+"I wonder if the folks who look at moving pictures realize how they are
+made?" said Joe, as they stopped work for the day.
+
+"I don't believe so," answered Blake. "There are tricks in all trades,
+it's said; but I guess the moving picture business is as full of them as
+any."
+
+The next two days were busy ones, as a number of elaborate acts had to
+be filmed, and the boys were kept on the jump from morning to night. Mr.
+Hadley, also, had all he could do with the camera. There were fishing
+views to get, scenes on the beach, where a number of children were
+induced to play at games in the sand, building castles and tunnels,
+boating incidents and the like.
+
+C. C. did not fall overboard again, though he often was sent out to do
+some funny stunt that was to be used in the play.
+
+"I wonder when we can go to San Francisco?" queried Joe one afternoon,
+following a particularly hard day. "I want to see that shipping agent,
+and ask him if he can give me any clue to my father."
+
+"Maybe we'd better speak to Mr. Ringold," suggested Blake, and they did,
+with the result that the theatrical man informed them that the end of
+the week would be free, as he had to wait for some costumes to arrive
+before he could produce any more dramas.
+
+"I want to get a good wreck scene," he said, "and that is going to be
+rather hard."
+
+"Will it be a real wreck scene?" asked Joe.
+
+"Yes, as real as we can make it. I'm negotiating now for an old schooner
+that I can scuttle out at sea. All the company will be aboard, and
+they'll drift about for a long time without food and water."
+
+"Am I supposed to be in on that?" asked C. C., suspiciously.
+
+"Of course," was the theatrical man's answer. "This is a circus company
+returning from abroad that is wrecked, and you are the clown. Be as
+funny as you can."
+
+"Wrecked?" queried C. C.
+
+"That's it."
+
+"And I'm to be funny?"
+
+"Certainly."
+
+"Without food and water for days, and I'm expected to be funny!"
+exclaimed the comedian, with a groan. "Oh, why did I ever get into this
+business? I'll not do it!"
+
+"Oh you're only _supposed_ to be starving and thirsty," explained Mr.
+Ringold. "If you want, you can take some sandwiches and cold coffee with
+you, and have lunch--but don't do it when the cameras are working. It
+wouldn't look well in the moving pictures to have a note on the screen
+saying that the shipwrecked persons were starving, and then show you
+chewing away; would it, now?"
+
+"No, I suppose not," admitted C. C., with a sigh. "Oh, but this is a
+miserable business, though! I'm sure I'll be drowned before we get
+through with it!"
+
+"Oh, cheer up!" called Miss Lee, but there seemed to be no need for the
+advice, for a moment later C. C. broke forth into a comic song.
+
+While the preparations for producing the wreck scene were under way,
+there was small need for the services of the boys, and they made ready
+to go to San Francisco.
+
+"Even if he has gone away somewhere," suggested Blake, "he may have left
+some address where you can reach him."
+
+"Do you think he'll be gone?" asked Joe.
+
+"Well, if he left the lighthouse in a hurry, intending to call on a
+shipping agent, naturally he wouldn't stay in port long," said Blake.
+"Besides----" He stopped suddenly, being on the verge of saying
+something that would give Joe a hint of the truth.
+
+"What is it?" asked his chum, quickly. "What were you going to say,
+Blake?"
+
+"Nothing."
+
+"Yes, you were, I'm sure of it. Blake, is there anything you're holding
+back from me?"
+
+Joe looked earnestly at his chum.
+
+"I--er--" began Blake--when there came a knock on the door.
+
+"What is it?" called Blake, glad of the interruption.
+
+"Mr. Ringold wants you to get ready to take some scenes to-night," said
+the voice of Macaroni.
+
+"Scenes at night?" inquired Joe, opening the door, and forgetting the
+question he had put to his chum.
+
+"Yes," went on their young helper. "Flashlight scenes. He wants you at
+once."
+
+The boys reported to their superiors, and learned that a smuggling
+scene, to fit in one of the sea dramas, was to be attempted. By means of
+powerful flash and electric lights, the current coming over cables from
+San Diego, it was planned to make views at night.
+
+As this was an unexpected turn to affairs, they had to postpone their
+trip to San Francisco for a few days. The night pictures came out well,
+however, and the first of the following week saw Joe and Blake start on
+their way to the city of the Golden Gate.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+A STRANGE CHARGE
+
+
+"Are you going to take a camera with you, boys?" asked Mr. Ringold, as
+Joe and Blake were saying good-bye to their friend, preparatory to
+making a brief stay in San Francisco.
+
+"A camera? No. Why?" inquired Blake.
+
+"Well, I happen to need some San Francisco street scenes for one of the
+dramas," went on the theatrical man; "and it occurred to me that you
+could get them when you weren't busy."
+
+"Of course we could," answered Joe. "We can take the automatic, and set
+it up wherever you say, and go looking for that shipping agent. When we
+come back we'll have all the pictures we need."
+
+"Good!" exclaimed Mr. Ringold. "Try that, if you don't mind. Get some
+scenes down in the financial district, and others in the residential
+section. Then, as long as you have to go to the shipping offices, get
+some there."
+
+The boys promised they would, and added the small but compact automatic
+camera to their luggage as they started off.
+
+This camera worked by compressed air. There was a small motor inside,
+operated by a cylinder of air that could be filled by an ordinary
+bicycle pump. Otherwise it was just like the other moving picture
+cameras.
+
+There was the upper box, in which was wound the unexposed reel of film.
+From this it went over a roller, and the cog wheel, which engaged in the
+perforations, thence down by means of the "gate," behind the lens and
+shutter. There two claws reached up and grasped the film as the motor
+operated, pulling down three-quarters of an inch each time, to be
+exposed as the shutter was automatically opened in front of the lens.
+
+Each one of the thousands of moving pictures, as I have explained in
+previous books, is three-quarters of an inch deep, though, of course, on
+the screen it is enormously enlarged.
+
+After the film has been exposed, three-quarters of an inch at a time, it
+goes below into another light-tight box of the camera, whence it is
+removed to be developed and printed. The movement of the film, the
+operation of the claws and the opening and closing of the shutter,
+making it possible to take sixteen pictures a second, was, in this
+camera, all controlled by the air motor.
+
+Joe and Blake found much to amuse them in San Francisco, which they had
+never before visited. They were a bit "green," but after their
+experiences in New York they had no trouble in finding their way around.
+
+"We'd better go to some hotel, or boarding house," suggested Joe, after
+their arrival. "Pick out one where we can leave the camera working while
+we're gone."
+
+They did this, being fortunate enough to secure rooms in a good, though
+not expensive, hotel near the financial district. One of their windows
+looked directly out on a busy scene.
+
+"That'll be just the place, and the sort of scene Mr. Ringold wants,"
+declared Blake. "Let's set the camera there on the sill and see what it
+gets. The light is good to-day."
+
+It was, the sun shining brightly, and being directly back of the camera,
+which would insure the proper illumination.
+
+They adjusted the machine, and set the mechanism to go off about an hour
+after they had left the room. Then they went to find the shipping agent,
+to see if they could get any news of Joe's father.
+
+But, to their disappointment, he was out, and none of the clerks could
+tell them what they wanted to know. They were directed to return the
+next day.
+
+"More disappointment!" exclaimed Joe. "It does seem as if I was up
+against it, Blake."
+
+"Oh, don't worry. To-morrow will do just as well as to-day. And you
+don't want to get in C. C.'s habit, you know."
+
+"No, that's right. Well, what shall we do?"
+
+"Let's look around a bit, and then go see how the camera is working."
+
+They found so much to interest them in the streets of San Francisco that
+they did not go back to the hotel as soon as they had intended. When
+they did reach the street on which it stood they saw a crowd gathered.
+
+"Look at that!" cried Blake.
+
+"Yes! Maybe it's a fire!" exclaimed Joe. "Our camera----"
+
+"There's no fire, or else we'd see some smoke," answered his chum. "But
+we'll see what it is. There's been some sort of an accident, that's
+sure."
+
+They broke into a run, pushing their way through the throng about the
+front doors of the hotel. As they entered the lobby, they were surprised
+to see the clerk point his finger at them, and exclaim:
+
+"There are the two lads now!"
+
+Everyone turned to look at Joe and Blake, and a man, dressed in some
+sort of uniform, approached them.
+
+"Are you the lads that have rooms sixty-six and sixty-seven?" he asked,
+sharply.
+
+"Yes," replied Blake.
+
+"Why, has anything happened there?" asked Joe.
+
+"Well, yes, there has, and we thought perhaps you could explain."
+
+"Have we been robbed?" burst out Blake.
+
+"Robbed? No," answered the clerk. "But----"
+
+"Perhaps I had better explain," put in the uniformed man. "I think I
+shall have to ask you boys to come with me," he went on.
+
+"Come where?" Joe wanted to know.
+
+"To police headquarters."
+
+"What for?" burst out Blake. "We haven't done anything! We only came
+here to----"
+
+"Be careful," warned the man in uniform. "Whatever you say may be used
+against you."
+
+"Why--why?" stammered Joe. "What's it all about?"
+
+"An infernal machine!" exclaimed the hotel clerk. "How dare you poke one
+out of the window, right toward one of our largest banks, and go out,
+leaving the mechanism clicking? How dare you?"
+
+Joe and Blake staggered back, half amused and half alarmed at the
+strange charge.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+ON A LONG VOYAGE
+
+
+"This is a serious charge," went on the man in uniform, who was
+evidently from the police department. "We have had some dynamiting
+outrages here, and we don't want any more."
+
+"Dynamite!" exclaimed the hotel clerk; "do you think it could be that,
+officer?"
+
+"That's what it seems like to me," said the other. "I have investigated
+a number of infernal machines, and they all make the same sort of sound
+before they go off."
+
+"Go off!" cried the clerk, while Joe and Blake were vainly endeavoring
+to get in a word that would explain matters. "If it's dynamite, and goes
+off here, it will blow up the hotel. Get it away! Porter, go up and get
+that infernal machine, and dump it in a pail of water."
+
+"'Scuse me!" exclaimed the colored porter, as he made a break for the
+door. "I--I guess as how it's time fo' me to sweep off de sidewalk. It
+hain't been swept dish yeah day, as yit. I'se gwine outside."
+
+"But we've got to get rid of that infernal machine!" insisted the clerk.
+"It's been clicking away now for some time, and there's no telling when
+it may go off. Get it, somebody--throw it out of the window."
+
+"No! Don't do that!" cried the officer. "That will only make it go off
+the sooner. I'll get some one from the bureau of combustibles and----"
+
+"Say, you're giving yourselves a needless lot of alarm!" interrupted
+Blake. "That's no infernal machine!"
+
+"No more than that ink bottle is!" added Joe, pointing to one on the
+clerk's desk.
+
+"But it clicks," insisted the clerk. "It sounds just like a clock
+ticking inside that box."
+
+"And it's pointing right at the bank," went on the officer. "That bank
+was once partly wrecked because it was built by non-union labor, and we
+don't want it to happen again."
+
+"There's no danger--not the slightest," cried Blake, while the crowd in
+the hotel lobby pressed around him. "That's only an automatic moving
+picture camera, that we set this morning, and pointed out of the window
+to take street scenes. It works by compressed air, and the clicking you
+hear is the motor. Come, I'll show you," and he started toward his
+room, followed by Joe.
+
+"Is--is that right?" asked the hotel clerk, doubtfully.
+
+"Are you sure it isn't dynamite?" inquired the officer.
+
+"Well, if _we're_ not afraid to take a chance in going in the same room
+with what you call an infernal machine, _you_ ought not to be," said
+Joe, with a smile.
+
+This was logic that could not be refuted, and they followed the boys to
+the room. There, just where they had left it, was the camera, the motor
+clicking away industriously. It worked intermittently, running for five
+minutes, and then ceasing for half an hour, so as not to use up the reel
+of film too quickly. Also, it made a diversity of street scenes, an
+automatic arrangement swinging the lens slightly after each series of
+views, so as to get the new ones at a different angle.
+
+"Now we'll show you," said Blake, as, having noted that all the film was
+run out, and was in the light-tight exposed box, he opened the camera
+and showed the harmless mechanism. Several of the hotel employees
+crowded into the room, once they learned there was no danger.
+
+The boys explained the working of the apparatus, and this seemed to
+satisfy the officer.
+
+"But we were surely suspicious of you at first," he said, with a smile.
+
+"Yes," said the clerk. "A chambermaid called my attention to the
+clicking sound when she was making up the room. I investigated, and when
+I heard it, and saw the queer box, and remembered that we had had
+dynamiting here, I sent for the police."
+
+"We're sorry to have given you a scare," said Blake, and then the
+incident was over, and the crowd in the street dispersed on learning
+there was to be no sensation.
+
+"Say, I think there's some sort of hoodoo about us," remarked Joe, as he
+and Blake sat in their room.
+
+"Why, you're not going to come any of that gloomy C. C. business on me;
+are you?" asked Blake.
+
+"Not at all," went on his chum. "But what I mean by a hoodoo is that
+something always seems to happen when we start out anywhere. We've been
+on the jump, you might say, ever since we lost our places on the farms
+and got into this moving picture business."
+
+"That's so. And the latest is being taken for dynamiters."
+
+"Yes. But if things are going to keep on happening to us I wish they'd
+take a turn and help me find my father," went on Joe. "You don't know
+how it feels, Blake, to know you've got a parent somewhere and not be
+able to locate him. It's--why, it's almost as bad as if--as if he were
+dead," and Joe spoke the words with an obvious effort.
+
+"That's right," agreed Blake, and then there came to him the memory of
+what the lighthouse keeper had said about Mr. Duncan being implicated in
+the wrecking. If this was true, it might be better for Joe not to find
+his father.
+
+"But he may not be guilty," thought Blake, and he mused on this
+possibility, while Joe looked curiously at his chum.
+
+"Say, Blake," suddenly asked Joe. "What's the matter?"
+
+"Matter? Why, what do you mean?" asked Blake, with a start.
+
+"Oh, I don't know, but something seems to be the matter with you. You've
+acted strangely of late, ever since--yes, ever since we were at the
+lighthouse. Is anything troubling you?"
+
+"No--no--not at all; that is, not exactly."
+
+"You don't speak as if you meant it."
+
+"But I do, Joe. There's nothing the matter with me--really there isn't."
+
+"Well, I'm glad of it. If there is, and you need help, don't forget to
+come to me. Remember we're pards, and chums, not only in the moving
+picture business, but in everything else, Blake. Anything I've got is
+yours for the asking."
+
+"That's good of you, Joe, and if you can help me I'll let you know. I
+didn't realize that I was acting any way strange. I must brighten up a
+bit. I guess we've both been working too hard. We need some amusement.
+Let's go to a moving picture show to-night, and see how they run things
+here, and what sort of films they have. We may even see one of our own."
+
+"All right. I'll go you. We can't see that shipping agent until
+to-morrow. A moving picture show for ours to-night, then. Though, being
+in the business, as we are, it's rather like a fireman going around to
+the engine-house on his day off, and staying there--a queer sort of a
+day's vacation."
+
+But, nevertheless, they thoroughly enjoyed the moving picture play,
+interspersed, as it was, with vaudeville acts. Among the films were
+several that Mr. Ringold's company had posed for, and several that the
+boys themselves had taken. The reels were good ones, too, the pictures
+standing out clear and bright as evidence of good work on the part of
+the boys and Mr. Hadley.
+
+"Had enough?" asked Joe, after about an hour spent in the theatre.
+
+"Yes, let's go out and take a walk."
+
+"Feel any brighter?" went on Joe.
+
+"Yes, I think I do," and Blake linked his arm in that of Joe, wondering
+the while, as they tramped on, how he should ever break the news to his
+chum, in case Joe himself did not find it out. "The only hope is that he
+isn't guilty," mused Blake, "and yet running away just before the
+accusation was made public looks bad, just as Mr. Stanton said. However,
+I'm not going to think about it." As long as it had gone thus far
+without any outsider giving away the secret to Joe, his chum began to
+feel that there was little danger.
+
+"Well, you haven't any more infernal machines; have you, boys?" the
+hotel clerk asked them when they came in to get their keys. "Because, if
+you have, just keep quiet about 'em. I don't want to be awakened in the
+middle of the night with some one from the bureau of combustibles coming
+down here," and he laughed.
+
+"No, we're all out of dynamite," responded Blake, in the same spirit.
+
+He and Joe were early at the office of the sailing master, who made a
+specialty of fitting out vessels with crews. With a rather trembling
+voice Joe asked for information about Mr. Duncan.
+
+"Duncan--Duncan," mused the agent, as he looked over his books. "Seems
+to me I remember the name. Was he the Duncan from somewhere down the
+coast?"
+
+"The Rockypoint light," supplied Joe.
+
+"Oh, yes, now I know. But why are you asking?" and the agent turned a
+rather suspicious look on Joe. "Is there anything wrong--is Mr. Duncan
+wanted for anything? I always try to protect my clients, you know, and I
+must find out why you are asking. Has he committed any crime, or is he
+wanted by anyone?"
+
+Blake started at the coincidence of the words.
+
+"Yes," answered Joe; "he is wanted by me--I'm his son, and I'd like very
+much to find him. We found some of his letters, and there was one from
+you about a berth you might have vacant."
+
+"That's right, my boy, and I'm glad to learn that is why you want Nate
+Duncan, for he and I are friends in a way."
+
+"But has he shipped?" asked Joe, eagerly.
+
+"He has," answered the agent. "He signed for a trip to China, and it
+will be a good while before he gets back here, I'm afraid. It's a long
+voyage."
+
+"To China!" cried Joe. "Oh, if he had only received my letter he would
+be here now with me. Poor Dad!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+A MIMIC FIRE
+
+
+"Sorry I can't do any more for you," went on the agent, after a pause,
+during which he gazed sympathetically at Joe. "I can give you the name
+of the vessel your father is on, and you can write to Hong Kong, but it
+will be some time before she arrives. She's a sailing ship, you know,
+one of the few left in the trade."
+
+"I didn't know my father was a regular sailor," said Joe.
+
+"You didn't know he was a sailor? Say, don't you know your father's
+business?"
+
+"It's been a good many years since I've seen him," spoke Joe. "In fact,
+I can't remember him," and he told something of how he came to be on the
+strange quest.
+
+"Well, this is certainly odd," remarked the agent. "I've known Nate some
+years, more or less, and I've often heard him speak of a son he had lost
+track of. Of late he had given up hope."
+
+"And just when I was on the verge of finding him," added Joe.
+
+"His daughter, too," continued the agent. "He said he felt sure he'd
+never locate her, though he'd spent lots of money in hunting. And he
+felt pretty bad, too, over the thought that he might never see his
+children again."
+
+"And have I really a sister?" asked Joe, eagerly.
+
+"I can't rightly say," spoke the shipping master. "You had one, but
+whether she's alive now or not no one seems to know. There's one
+satisfaction, though, you can find your father in time, and as soon as
+he hears from you, when his ship reaches Hong Kong, he won't lose any
+time taking the fastest steamer back. I know Nate Duncan well enough for
+that."
+
+"Will he, though?" thought Blake. "Will he come back when he knows of
+the wrecking charge that may be made against him? Even the prospect of
+seeing Joe may not overbalance that. Yet, I suppose he could send for
+Joe. They couldn't make any charge against him over in China. But it's a
+bad business."
+
+Joe talked a little longer with the agent, who gave him the name of the
+ship on which Mr. Duncan had sailed, and also directions how to address
+the letter.
+
+"Well, there's no use staying in 'Frisco much longer," said Joe, as
+they finished their business. "We'll get what other moving pictures of
+street scenes we want, and as I can't find Dad here, we'll leave. We'll
+get back to San Diego, and out to the beach colony to film some more
+dramas."
+
+A return trip to their hotel, a visit to various localities for films,
+then to pack their belongings--and the automatic camera did not take
+them long--and they were soon journeying down the coast again. They were
+welcomed warmly by the members of the theatrical colony.
+
+As I have said, for the purpose of being unhampered in their work of
+taking films, Mr. Ringold had moved his company from San Diego proper to
+a small fishing settlement, directly on the beach. This place was called
+Chester, after the man who owned the fishery there. He had a fleet,
+consisting of several motor boats, in which the fishermen went out twice
+each day to pull up the nets that were fast to long poles, sunk into the
+sand of the ocean bed in water about forty feet deep.
+
+The fish were brought to the main building, and packed in ice for
+transportation. Numbers of local dealers called each day with wagons to
+get a load to peddle about. There were only a few houses in the place,
+and a store or two.
+
+Once some millionaire had built an elaborate cottage on the beach, but
+gave it up for some whim. It was in this cottage, which in size was
+almost a mansion, that the moving picture boys and their friends had
+their abode. A boarding mistress was installed, and thus the actors and
+actresses lived right at the scene of their work, with almost as much
+comfort as they would have had in a hotel. The place was not far from
+San Diego, and it had the advantage of a heavy surf on the beach, the
+big waves making just the background Mr. Ringold wanted. Of course, not
+all the scenes were on the water-front, some taking place in front of,
+or within, some of the cottages, which were hired for the short time
+needed. The fishermen could not seem to understand why a man should pay
+them good money for the use of their humble dwellings for a short time.
+
+"It just seems plumb foolishness," declared one grizzled salt. "I don't
+see why folks want to make so many pictures of men and women walkin' in
+and out of my cottage and sayin' such outlandish things like: 'Gal, you
+shall give me them papers!' or, 'Meet me on yonder cliff at midnight!' I
+give up!"
+
+"It does seem out of reason, Pete," agreed another. "But as long as they
+pay me for it, and don't go to bustin' up things, I'm willin'."
+
+"Oh, so'm I. Keep it up, I says," and Mr. Ringold did, using different
+cottages in turn to get a diversity of views.
+
+Sympathy was expressed for Joe on the failure of his mission to find his
+father.
+
+"But don't you give up!" exclaimed Mr. Hadley. "China is far off, but it
+isn't out of the world. Don't give up, Joe."
+
+"I'll not. I'm going to write to him to-day," and he did, dispatching
+the letter to far-off Hong Kong.
+
+There was plenty of work waiting for the boys, some new manuscripts of
+sea dramas having come in. Mr. Ringold decided to film several of them,
+and rehearsals were already under way.
+
+"I'm going to have a novelty in one of the plays," said the manager.
+"It's going to be a fire scene. We'll buy one of these cottages, or else
+have one built that will do well enough for picture purposes, and set it
+ablaze. Then, when C. C. comes running out, carrying Miss Shay--or maybe
+Miss Lee, for she's lighter--we'll----"
+
+"Hold on there!" called the comedian. "Did I understand you to say I had
+to rush out of a burning building?"
+
+"That's it, C. C."
+
+"But to rush out I've got to go in; haven't I?"
+
+"Why, naturally, C. C."
+
+"Then I serve notice here and now that I resign. I'm tired of being an
+actor. I'm going into the coal business," and he stopped making odd
+faces in the glass, practicing some facial contortions for a new clown
+act, and began to dress as though to go out.
+
+"Hold on, C. C.; what's the matter?" asked Mr. Ringold.
+
+"Plenty! If you think I'm going to run the risk of being burned to death
+you've got another guess coming. I'm through."
+
+"Why, C. C.," spoke the theatrical manager, with a laugh; "there's no
+danger."
+
+"Not in going into a burning building, even if it is only a fisherman's
+shanty! No danger!"
+
+"No. Listen. You go in before the building is afire. The blaze is
+started from the outside by your enemy, and with some red fire, which
+makes a lot of smoke, we can show on the screen some pictures that will
+look like a real fire. Then out you rush, before the flames have had a
+chance to spread, and after you and the lady are safe, the fire gains
+great headway, and the cottage burns to the ground. But the pictures are
+being taken all the while, and it will show up great! There's not a bit
+of danger."
+
+"Not that way," said Miss Lee. "I'm willing to do my part, Mr. Ringold."
+
+"Well, I suppose I'll have to also," spoke C. C., with a sigh. "But I
+know something will happen. Some sparks will fall on me and scorch me,
+anyhow, I'm sure."
+
+"Oh, Gloomy!" reproachfully exclaimed Miss Shay. "Do look on the bright
+side for once."
+
+"There isn't any," asserted the comedian, as he resumed his practice of
+making strange faces.
+
+Mr. Ringold succeeded in purchasing, for a moderate sum, one of the
+older cottages, and it was put in shape for its share in the moving
+picture story, some changes being necessary. The fisherman and his
+family moved out, glad of the chance to better themselves.
+
+"We won't say anything about planning to fire the shack," declared Mr.
+Ringold to the boys and the members of his company. "If we do it will
+attract a crowd, and that's just what we don't want. The fewer the
+better. Now we'll go over to the shack, and have a rehearsal."
+
+"A dress one?" asked Mr. Piper, meaning that everything would be done
+just as if the pictures were being taken. "You're not going to have the
+real fire now; are you?"
+
+"No, indeed," said the manager. "We can only burn the cottage down
+once."
+
+The rehearsal went off well, and Blake and Joe, who were to make the
+films, watched the work with interest. They were anxious for the time
+to come to set the fire.
+
+"Well, I guess that will do," decided Mr. Ringold, after a day or two
+spent in getting the actors and actresses familiar with their parts.
+"We'll do the business to-morrow morning."
+
+Accordingly, they all assembled at the shack, and went through the
+various acts leading up to the fire scene. The boys ground away
+industriously at the handles of the moving picture cameras.
+
+All went well until it came time to set the fire. Then, whether the
+building was older and more tinder-like than was supposed, or whether
+Mr. Levinberg, the "villain" who fired the shack, used too much red fire
+and kerosene, was not explained.
+
+At any rate, the little building was more quickly wrapped in flame and
+smoke than was expected, and Mr. Ringold yelled excitedly:
+
+"Come on out, C. C.! Don't wait any longer. Never mind if it isn't time!
+Rush out with the girl before it's too late!"
+
+"That's what I'll do!" cried the comedian, appearing in the doorway,
+carrying Miss Lee. There was little danger now, as long as he was in the
+open, unless some tongue of fire should catch the girl's dress.
+
+"Hurry!" cried the manager, and C. C. sprinted out of the reach of the
+fire.
+
+And then something entirely unexpected, and not down on the bill,
+happened. A number of fishermen, who had seen the blaze from down the
+beach, came running up, all excited, thinking the fire was an accident.
+
+"Get that old pumping engine!" shouted one grizzled salt. "We'll have
+that blaze out in no time!"
+
+"Form a bucket brigade!" suggested another.
+
+"No! No! Let it burn!" cried Mr. Ringold. "We want it to burn!"
+
+"Want it to burn?" was shouted at him, by the fisherman who had proposed
+the pump. "Be you plumb crazy? Come on, boys, form that bucket brigade.
+Some of you run that hand-pump over here where we can pour water in the
+tank. Stretch the hose!"
+
+"They'll spoil the picture!" cried Mr. Ringold, rushing about, and
+trying to keep the fishermen away.
+
+Joe and Blake, not having orders to the contrary, and not knowing but
+what this was all part of the play, continued to grind away at their
+cameras, two reels of this play being taken, as an additional one was
+needed.
+
+"Here she comes!" cried the fisherman, as some of his companions came
+rushing from a shed with an ancient style of hand fire-engine,
+consisting of a tank, on wheels, with a force-pump arrangement, worked
+by long handles. Water was poured in the tank by means of buckets, and
+forced out on the blaze through a hose.
+
+"Bring her up as clost as ye kin!" directed the self-appointed chief of
+the amateur fire department; "'cause our hose ain't very long. Form
+lines now, and dip water up from the ocean. Salt water is good for
+fires!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+ATTACKED BY A SWORDFISH
+
+
+"Don't do it!" cried Mr. Ringold. "Let that fire burn!"
+
+But there were now so many fishermen rushing about here and there that
+they paid no attention to the excited theatrical man, who issued orders
+right and left.
+
+"What shall we do?" demanded C. C., who had gotten off to one side with
+the girl he was supposed to have "rescued" from the burning cabin.
+
+"I don't know!" cried Mr. Ringold. "The whole play is spoiled by those
+fellows butting in. Hi, there!" he called to Blake and Joe, as he saw
+them operating the cameras. "Stop the reel! We don't want any of this!"
+
+The clicking machines grew silent, and then the boys knew that something
+was wrong.
+
+Meanwhile, the hand engine was placed in position. It was learned,
+later, that the fish concern kept it for use in cases of emergency.
+There had been some small blazes, in which the old engine had proved
+its worth.
+
+The fishermen knew how to operate it to advantage, too, and soon a
+double line of them, extending from the surf to the tank, began passing
+the filled buckets up one side and the empty ones down the other. As the
+tank filled, other men worked the handles and a stream of water was soon
+spurting on the fire.
+
+"Quit it! Oh, quit it!" begged Mr. Ringold. "I want that shack to burn!"
+
+"He's crazy--don't mind him!" shouted the self-appointed chief. "We'll
+soon have it out now."
+
+"I'll see if I can stop them," said C. C., for the water had about
+quenched the blaze, and it was useless to try to go on with the play.
+"They'll listen to me," the comedian declared.
+
+He rushed forward, but at that moment the hose got from the control of
+the two men holding it. The nozzle swung around, and the stream came
+full force over Christopher Cutler Piper, drenching him in an instant.
+
+"I say there--hold on--shut that water off! I--I'm being drowned!" he
+spluttered. And then, as the men again got the nozzle under control, the
+comedian, dripping water at every point, walked away, saying:
+
+"There, I told you something would happen!"
+
+"I should say it has!" declared Mr. Ringold, for once agreeing with the
+gloomy actor.
+
+A few more strokes of the pump handles, a few more gallons of water, and
+the fire, which had quickly attacked all parts of the cottage at once,
+died out.
+
+"There!" cried Abe Haskill, the old fisherman-chief. "We saved your
+building for ye, Mr. Ringold. Ain't no use in buyin' a shack an' then
+havin' it burn down--no matter if it ain't wuth much. We saved her for
+you, though at one time it looked pretty dubious. This is the first fire
+we've had in some time, an' I reckon we got a bit rusty.
+
+"I might add," he went on, "that it's customary, in cases where a
+volunteer department saves a buildin' from destruction--it's customary,
+I say, for the owner to donate a leetle suthin' to the department. In
+this case, seein' as how Jim Belton sold his shack to you--why, you're
+the owner. And, as I say, we saved her for you!" he concluded, proudly.
+
+"Yes, I see you did," remarked Mr. Ringold, dubiously. "Now I've got to
+buy another, and burn that down, for this play is spoiled."
+
+"What! Did you _want_ her to burn?" asked Mr. Haskill, in accents of
+horror. "Did you want the devourin' element to consume that buildin'?"
+
+"I did," replied the theatrical man.
+
+"Well--I vum!" declared the volunteer chief. "Boys, we made a mistake."
+
+"The next time I'll tell the inhabitants here what my plans are," went
+on Mr. Ringold, grimly. "I told you I wanted it to burn."
+
+"I know you did," admitted the chief; "but I thought you was so excited
+you didn't know what you was sayin'."
+
+"So did I," admitted several of the volunteer fire-fighters. "It's too
+bad!"
+
+"Well, you meant all right, anyhow," went on Mr. Ringold, with cheerful
+philosophy; "and I'll make the department a donation. But next time,
+please don't interfere. I'll set another shack on fire as soon as I can
+arrange to buy one," he said to his company. "Meanwhile we'll go on with
+another drama. Save whatever you can of the films," he added to Blake
+and Joe. "Up to the time the firemen broke in they'll be all right. Next
+time I'll be more explicit."
+
+"I knew something would happen," declared C. C., gloomily, as he tried
+to wring some of the water from his clothes. "I didn't burn, but I
+nearly drowned."
+
+There was nothing to do but return to their boarding place and arrange
+for another drama, rehearsals for which would take place in a day or so.
+
+"Meanwhile," said Mr. Ringold to Joe and Blake, "you may have a little
+time off. I tell you what you might do. We could use a fishing scene, I
+believe. Suppose you go out in one of the small boats here and get a
+series of views when they lift their nets."
+
+"The very thing!" cried Blake. "We'll do it; eh, Joe?"
+
+"Sure thing!"
+
+"You might, in fact," went on Mr. Ringold, "show the whole process of
+fishing, from the launching of the boats until they come back filled
+with the day's catch."
+
+This the boys arranged to do, and that noon, when the power boats were
+launched, they were on hand to make moving pictures.
+
+The craft, as I have explained, were "eased down" the sloping beach, by
+means of rollers and planks, until the stern was just at the edge of the
+surf. The motor was then started, the boat being still held fast by a
+rope. This rope was fastened in a peculiar knot, so that one man,
+standing near it, could loosen it with one pull when the word was given
+to "cut loose."
+
+The men watched the rollers with practiced eyes, for if the surf was
+heavy the boat might get into the trough, on being launched, and
+capsize. Often fishermen are drowned in this way, being struck by the
+heavy boat, or getting under it.
+
+With the engine racing, the men got into the boat. One remained on the
+beach, holding the restraining rope. Another took his place at the
+stern, with a long steering oar that was to be used to get her bow on to
+the waves.
+
+A particularly large wave was seen coming in.
+
+"Get ready!" ordered the captain.
+
+The man at the big oar took his place. The boat was almost afloat now.
+
+"Cut loose!" came the order.
+
+The man at the rope yanked the knot loose. The boat slid into the water
+and the next instant was being tossed about in the breakers, the man
+with the oar forcing her head around, aided by the powerful gasoline
+engine that turned the propeller. The craft came near to capsizing, but
+kept upright, and a little later was beyond the surf, into deep water,
+speeding out to the nets two miles away.
+
+Blake and Joe, working by turns, got some fine views of the launching.
+Then, getting into another of the fishing boats with their cameras, and
+with Macaroni to aid them, they prepared to go out to the fishing
+grounds, where the nets were.
+
+"Say, this is rough, all right!" exclaimed Blake, as they found
+themselves in the boiling, frothing surf.
+
+"That's what!" agreed Joe.
+
+"Let me out! I want to walk!" pleaded Macaroni, who was not very fond of
+the water.
+
+"You'll be all right in a minute!" called Abe Haskill, who was captain
+of the boat. "Soon as you git out beyond the breakers you won't mind
+it."
+
+And they found that they did not, though there was some motion, as there
+was quite a swell on. They reached the nets safely, and while the meshes
+were hauled up, bringing a good catch of fish, the moving picture boys
+took many views. It was interesting as well as instructive.
+
+"This would make a good educational reel," suggested Blake, as he spread
+his legs to maintain his balance against the rocking motion of the boat.
+
+"Indeed it would," observed Joe. "Look, there's some one overboard!" and
+he pointed to one of the other boats.
+
+A man had indeed slipped into the sea. The moving picture boys were
+ready, however, and trained one of the cameras on the fisherman, who,
+laughing at his mishap, soon swam to the boat again, and was pulled in.
+
+It took some little time to haul the nets, but at last, with their own
+boat well filled with flapping fish, as were the others, Joe and Blake
+started for shore.
+
+"Well, we made out all right, I think," said Blake, as he looked to see
+if there was any more film left in his machine.
+
+"Sure we did," declared his chum. "If we had to take some other views we
+could."
+
+"We'll want some of the landing of the boats, and the carting of the
+fish up to the sheds," Blake reminded him.
+
+"That's right, we will. I guess I can----"
+
+Joe did not finish his sentence. At that moment there came a jar and
+Blake cried:
+
+"We've hit something!"
+
+"No, something has hit _us_!" corrected one of the fishermen, leaping
+up, and grabbing a long, iron-shod pole.
+
+"What is it?" demanded Joe.
+
+"A pesky swordfish. He's ramming us, and he may poke a hole in us! If I
+can get a chance I'll jab him!" and the man leaned over the side. As he
+did so there came another attack on the craft, so fierce that it heeled
+over, and the man with the pole, giving a cry, was flung overboard.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+SUSPICIOUS ACTIONS
+
+
+"Man overboard!" cried several of the fishermen.
+
+"Yes, and with a pesky swordfish too close for comfort!" added Abe
+Haskill. "Stop that motor, Bunker; we'll have to pick him up."
+
+The fisherman who was called to, pulled out the switch, thus stopping
+the motor, and the boat drifted about on the slowly rising and falling
+billows.
+
+"Can you see him?" asked the captain of the man who acted as mate.
+
+"Yes, he's right astern, but that fish----"
+
+"Is he coming after Jake?"
+
+"Full tilt!"
+
+"Grab that prod, one of you!" yelled the captain. "See if you can
+harpoon him with it. I'll git out the duck gun, though land knows it
+ain't much use against a pesky swordfish!"
+
+One of the fishermen picked up the iron-shod pole the unfortunate man
+had dropped as he went overboard, and stood ready to cast it at the big
+fish, which could be seen swirling along in the water, near the swimmer.
+
+"Say!" cried Blake to Joe. "It may seem a heartless thing to do, but why
+can't we get some moving pictures of this?"
+
+"We can," decided his chum. "We can't help any, and we might as well
+film it."
+
+"Come on, then. You hold the camera steady and I'll turn the handle."
+
+They had a machine all in readiness, its tripod shortened so that the
+lens could be brought close to the water.
+
+"He's dived!" cried one of the men.
+
+"Who--the fish, or Jake?" demanded the captain.
+
+"Jake. He saw the fish coming at him, and he went under. Lucky he did,
+or he might have been cut in two."
+
+"Throw that prod; can't you? I'll have this gun ready in a minute."
+
+The captain had pulled from a locker an old-fashioned, double-barreled
+duck gun.
+
+"It's loaded with slugs," he called to the boys, who were even now
+taking moving pictures of the strange scene. "I carry it for sharks, but
+it'll do as well against a swordfish, though they don't commonly attack
+men."
+
+"Here goes for a cast!" cried the man with the prod, which was a sort
+of boathook without the hook. "I'll see if I can spear him!"
+
+Leaning forward he threw the weapon with all his force. The other
+fishermen, some of whom had grasped the spare oars to swing the boat
+around, looked eagerly to see the result.
+
+"Missed, by ginger!" exclaimed the captain. "Here, let me try. Where's
+Jake?"
+
+"Out there. He's swimming strong," was the answer. "The pesky fish is
+coming back at him again."
+
+"Duck, Jake, duck!" cried the captain, as he got ready with the gun.
+"I'm going to shoot. Get down out of the way, and hold your breath.
+We'll have you in another minute!"
+
+He could see the swordfish plainly now, rushing directly toward the
+swimmer. The man heard and followed directions. Deep down he dived, and
+the fish shot directly over him.
+
+"Say, that's a great picture!" cried Blake.
+
+"That's what!" yelled Joe, and then his voice was drowned in the report
+of the gun, which was doubly charged.
+
+"I got him! By cracky, I got him!" cried the captain. "That's his blood
+showing."
+
+The waves were indeed red with the blood of the big fish, and a moment
+later its body was floating on the swells.
+
+"There's Jake!" cried one of the fishermen.
+
+"All right!" was the response. "Throw him a line. He's in no danger
+now."
+
+A few moments later the man was safe aboard, minus his boots, which he
+had kicked off in the sea, and some of his heavier clothing.
+
+"That's the end of Mr. Swordfish," murmured the captain, in gratified
+tones, as he watched the lifeless body sink. "The sharks will get him.
+Are you all right, Jake?"
+
+"Sure. It was hard work, though; and once I thought he had me. I dived
+just in time."
+
+"That's what you did," said Blake. "It was a great exhibition, and when
+it's thrown on the screen it will make a sensation, I'm sure."
+
+"Say, you don't mean to tell me you snapped what happened?" asked the
+fisherman, in surprise.
+
+"We sure did," declared Joe. "We got every move."
+
+"Plucky lads," murmured the captain; "and right on the job, too. Start
+the motor," he added to the man in charge of it.
+
+"We've sprung a leak, captain!" exclaimed a man up in the bow. "Water's
+coming in."
+
+"It's where that pesky swordfish rammed us, I reckon. But stuff
+something in and it will hold until we get to shore. We haven't far to
+go."
+
+The boat was soon under way again, and offers of aid from sister craft
+that circled around were declined. A bundle of rags served to stop the
+inrush of most of the water, and a little later the craft, with its load
+of fish, was hauled up on the beach by means of a tackle and fall,
+horses being the motive power. Joe and Blake got pictures of the other
+boats making a similar landing, theirs being the first in.
+
+"Well, we got some fine views," said Blake, as he and his chum started
+for their boarding place.
+
+"We sure did, and something unexpected, too. I never counted on a
+swordfish attack."
+
+"No, and I guess the fishermen didn't either. But it will make a
+realistic film, as Mr. Hadley would say."
+
+"It's just our hoodoo luck again," went on Joe. "Something out of the
+ordinary seems to be happening all the while to us."
+
+"Well, it's better than monotony."
+
+"I suppose so. But I wonder what it will be next?"
+
+The boys were congratulated on their success by Mr. Hadley and Mr.
+Ringold, and the films, when developed and printed a little later,
+furnished a series of fine views.
+
+For the next week the boys had little time to themselves. The drama
+with the burning shack was enacted over again, this time with success,
+the volunteer firemen not throwing any water on the blaze. Other sea
+dramas were also made, and then came a period of rest, in which Blake
+and Joe had hardly anything to do.
+
+"Say," exclaimed Blake, one afternoon, "let's go for a walk down the
+beach, by the cliffs. It's a fine day and it will do us good."
+
+"All right," agreed Joe. "I was thinking of paying another visit to the
+lighthouse, and asking if there was any news of my father; but, of
+course, there can't be."
+
+"Hardly," agreed Blake, thinking that the only news his chum would get
+there would be bad.
+
+They strolled along the shore, making excursions here and there as
+something attracted them. Going through a little group of scrub oak,
+somewhat back from the shore, and climbing a slight elevation to get a
+view of the Pacific, the boys were startled, as they were about to
+emerge into a little open glade, to hear voices.
+
+"Some one else besides us out here to-day," spoke Joe, in a low voice.
+
+"That's right," agreed his chum. "Keep still until we see who it is."
+
+Cautiously they advanced until they stood behind a little screen of
+trees, and were gazing into the open place. They saw several men at work
+erecting some sort of tower, or pile of rocks, and on top of it was
+mounted a large lantern.
+
+"There--that ought to show pretty well," remarked one of the men.
+
+"Yes, and be seen a good distance out to sea," put in another. "It's
+just in the right place, too; for the rocks extend a good way out, and
+you can't see 'em even at dead low water."
+
+"And anything drawing more than ten feet will be sure to strike on 'em,"
+suggested a third.
+
+"That's right, Sandy," came the retort. "Have you got the lantern fixed
+so that she'll flash like the other?"
+
+"I sure have. All we've got to do is to pull one wire--this way--and the
+light is shut off. Another pull, and she gives a flash, just like a
+revolving light."
+
+"Good. We'll give it a trial to-night."
+
+"Say, what do you think they are?" whispered Joe.
+
+"I hardly know, and yet----"
+
+"Maybe they're experimenting with a new kind of light?" suggested the
+other lad.
+
+"Experimenting? Yes!" spoke Blake, in a low, tense voice. "And I can
+guess what they're experimenting for."
+
+"What?"
+
+Blake was about to answer, when one of the men, looking in the direction
+where the boys were concealed, uttered an exclamation.
+
+"Hark!" he cried. "I think I heard something."
+
+"It was the wind," declared one.
+
+"A bird in the bushes," said another.
+
+"I'm going to see!" declared the man. And he came straight toward their
+hiding place.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+JOE SUSPECTS SOMETHING
+
+
+"What'll we do, Blake?" was the whispered question.
+
+"Stay here, I guess. If we run they'll see us or hear us. Besides, we
+haven't done anything to run for."
+
+"I know it, but those men look like ugly customers. I wonder what they
+can be up to?"
+
+"They are--" began Blake, and then he pulled Joe down beside him in the
+bushes.
+
+"He's turned off to one side," Blake went on. "He hasn't seen us, and he
+doesn't know just where to look. He may pass us by. Keep still!"
+
+Together they crouched down. The man looked around as though to trace
+the noise which had been made when Joe accidentally stepped on a stick,
+which broke under his weight.
+
+"Don't breathe," whispered Blake, with his lips close to Joe's ear. "I
+think he's going to pass us by."
+
+The man paused, seemed as if about to come directly for them again, and
+then dashed off to one side. He made a leap into the bushes, only to
+discover nothing, as his chagrined exclamation showed.
+
+"I told you so!" growled one of his companions. "It was only the wind."
+
+"The wind doesn't break sticks," was the snappish reply.
+
+"Then it was a bird--maybe a fishhawk."
+
+"Maybe," assented the man who had started to make the search. "But I
+thought some one was spying on us, and if they were----" He did not
+finish, but glared angrily around. He was so close to the boys that they
+could hear his rapid breathing, but the leafy screen effectively hid
+them from view. "If I catch any one," he went on, "he'll wish he never
+ran across Hemp Danforth!" and he shook a big fist.
+
+"Oh, come on!" called some of his companions. "There's lots to be done
+yet before we get this lantern finished. And if we want any rich
+pickings we'll have to hustle for 'em. The weather looks like it was
+going to break, and that will be just what we want. Come on, Hemp."
+
+"All right, I will, only don't talk so bold and free."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Because some one might be spying and listening to us."
+
+"He's got that on his mind yet," laughed one of the men. "There's no one
+around here."
+
+"And if they were, what could they pick up?" demanded another.
+
+"That's all right--it's best to be careful," said the one called Hemp
+Danforth. "I'm taking no chances. Some of us might--well, no telling
+what might happen to us if we was to be found out."
+
+"Don't talk that way," spoke a tall, thin man. "It isn't altogether
+cheerful--especially with what work we have on hand. Come on, now; let's
+make this pillar a little higher, and the light will show better."
+
+"Say, what do you imagine they are doing?" whispered Joe. "It's a queer
+game, Blake."
+
+"It sure is. I've about made up my mind what they are up to, and yet I
+may be wrong. Let's wait here a while longer, and maybe we can pick up
+some information that will give us a better clue."
+
+The men were now engaged in heaping more stones on the pile where the
+lantern had set, and were making so much noise at it that the whispering
+of the boys could not be heard.
+
+"Any special vessels in view?" asked one of the men, after they had
+worked away for some time in silence.
+
+"No, but there'll sure be one along before long. We can count on that.
+Of course, we'll have to keep the light going several nights, maybe, but
+it'll be worth while."
+
+"It ought to fool 'em, all right," went on Hemp Danforth. "If it hadn't
+been that Nate Duncan tripped us up, and didn't come across with that
+information we wanted, we wouldn't have all this trouble."
+
+For a moment Joe seemed to stiffen as he heard the name, and then, in a
+hoarse whisper, he turned to Blake and said:
+
+"Did you hear that? These men know my father. They used his name."
+
+"Yes, but keep quiet!" urged Blake, for Joe had raised his voice. "We
+don't want them to know we're here."
+
+"But they know my father, Blake," went on Joe, using more caution,
+however, in his tones. "I must speak to them. Maybe they were associated
+with him in lighthouse work, and this may be some new patent lantern
+they're trying. Maybe my father hasn't gone to China at all, and these
+men can tell where he is."
+
+Joe made a move as though to leave the screened hiding place and
+approach the men.
+
+"No--don't go!" whispered Blake, hoarsely, holding his chum back. "Stay
+here, Joe. Don't speak to those men!"
+
+"But they have something to do with my father."
+
+"No matter; do as I say, please! Believe me, Joe, I can't explain now,
+for I promised I would not. But you'll understand--later. Don't approach
+those men!"
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Because--well, I can't tell you!"
+
+"Then I'm going!" declared Joe, half fiercely. "Blake, I'm sure you're
+keeping something from me. I've suspected it for some time, for you've
+looked at me in a queer fashion when I spoke of my father. Now what is
+it?"
+
+"Really, Joe, it's nothing--that is----"
+
+"Yes, it is something. If you don't tell me I'll go out there and take
+the consequences!"
+
+Joe broke from Blake's restraining grasp as he whispered this, and was
+about to dash for the bushes, when Hemp Danforth, dashing down a stone
+he was raising, cried out:
+
+"Boys, you can't fool me! There is some one here, and they're spying on
+us. I'll make 'em sorry for it! I hear whispering, and I've felt right
+along as though unseen eyes were looking at me. Now I'm going to find
+out who it is!"
+
+Once more he started for the place where Blake and Joe were concealed.
+This time it could be seen that he would not be swerved from his quest.
+
+"Come on, Joe. We've got to run for it!" exclaimed Blake, and, not
+caring now how much noise they made--being under the necessity of
+betraying their presence--they dashed back in the direction they had
+come.
+
+"Here they are!" yelled Hemp, as he ran after them, tearing through the
+underbrush. "I knew we were being spied on! Come along, men!" he yelled.
+
+Blake and Joe looked back as they got to the path that led along the
+cliff, below which was the rolling ocean. They had a glimpse of the big
+man racing after them, several others in his wake.
+
+"Stop!" commanded Hemp Danforth. "Hold on, you spies!"
+
+"Don't answer," advised Blake. "Save your breath for running, Joe."
+
+"Um!" grunted his chum.
+
+They were fleet of foot, and had a start. They were also lighter in
+weight than was their pursuer. In a short time they were well ahead.
+
+"But he's still coming on!" declared Blake.
+
+"We've got to give him the slip," declared Joe. "Can't you see some side
+path we can take?"
+
+"Yes, here's one," was the panting answer, and at that moment Blake
+parted some low bushes and jumped into a sort of cross path, almost
+concealed from view. "Come on, Joe!"
+
+His chum lost no time in following, and for a few moments, at least,
+they were comparatively safe.
+
+"Now, Blake," said Joe, when they felt that they could slacken their
+pace to get their breath, "I want you to tell me that secret!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+AFTER THE WRECKERS
+
+
+Blake Stewart was at a loss. He did not know what to do, and, though he
+had been expecting to hear this request at almost any time, he was no
+more prepared for it now than he would have been had it been made
+directly after Blake learned of Mr. Duncan's flight.
+
+"Well?" asked Joe, suggestively, when his chum did not answer. "Aren't
+you going to tell me?"
+
+"What makes you think I have a secret, Joe?" Thus Blake tried to
+temporize, so that he might think what was best to do.
+
+"Oh, I'm sure you have," declared Joe, "and you might as well tell me
+now as any time, for I'm bound to find it out. I don't believe there's
+any more danger now," and he paused to look back along the almost hidden
+path they had followed. "I can't see anything of that man," he added.
+"We gave him the slip, all right.
+
+"Now go ahead, Blake, and end my suspense. I've seen for some time that
+you've been keeping something back from me. I don't know what it is, but
+it's something about my father. And I appreciate why you're doing it.
+You want to spare my feelings."
+
+"That's it!" cried Blake, eagerly, glad of any chance to put off what he
+regarded as a most unpleasant duty. "It is for your sake, Joe, that I
+have been keeping silent, and I wish you would go on letting me do so.
+Believe me, if I thought it well for you to know I'd tell you."
+
+"Is it--is it that he isn't my father, after all?" faltered the lad,
+following a silence in which all sound of pursuit had died away. The
+boys felt that they were safe now. "Do you mean to say, Blake, that this
+man whom I've traced after such hard work, isn't any relation to
+me--haven't I any folks, after all?"
+
+"No, Joe, it isn't that at all. He's your father, as far as I know, and
+I will admit there is some secret about him. But I'd rather not tell
+you."
+
+"I want to know it," insisted Joe, firmly.
+
+"If you'll only wait," went on his chum, "it may all be explained
+when--when he comes back. Then there won't be any need of a secret.
+Better wait, Joe."
+
+"No, I've got to hear it right away. If it's any disgrace--and it must
+be, or you'd be willing to tell me--if it's any disgrace, it's my duty
+to stand up for my father when he isn't here. I'm his son, and I have a
+right to know about it, and protect his name as much as I can. Tell me,
+Blake."
+
+The other hesitated a moment. If he told, it would be, he felt, breaking
+his promise made to the lighthouse keeper, but then the promise was not
+so sacred that it could not be broken. It was given under a sort of
+discretion, and Blake knew that he would be allowed to reveal what had
+been said if he felt that it was best to do so. The time now seemed to
+have come to do this. He took a sudden resolve.
+
+"All right, Joe," he said, "I'll tell you. There is a secret about your
+father. I suppose you know what sort of men those were that we just got
+away from?" and he nodded in the direction of the hill down which they
+had raced.
+
+"I've been puzzling my head about them, Blake," came the answer, "and
+all I can say is that they must be either men who are experimenting with
+a new kind of light, or else they are--wreckers!"
+
+"That's it, Joe. They are wreckers, and they're plotting to lure some
+vessel on the rocks by means of false lights."
+
+"The scoundrels!" burst out Joe. "We've got to spoil their wicked
+game."
+
+"That's what we have. We'll tell the police, or some one in authority."
+
+"But before we do," broke in Joe, "tell me about my father, though I
+begin to suspect now," and there was a look of sadness on his face.
+
+"I presume you pretty well know what is coming," said Blake, slowly,
+"now you have heard what those men said. The whole amount of it is, Joe,
+that your father is suspected of having been in league with those
+wreckers--that he helped to lure vessels on these same rocks."
+
+"My father a wrecker!" cried Joe. "It can't be--I won't believe it!"
+
+"I didn't want to either, when I heard it," said Blake, "and maybe, now
+that I've told you, we can work together and find some way of proving
+him innocent."
+
+"That's it!" cried the son. "Oh, if he were only here to help us! I
+wonder why he went away?"
+
+"The lighthouse keeper said," began Blake, "that your father left
+because he feared to be arrested. And the day after he went away an
+officer did come for him," and he proceeded to relate what Mr. Stanton
+had said.
+
+"I don't believe it!" cried Joe, when the account was finished. "Of
+course, I don't remember my father, and, naturally, I don't know what
+sort of a man he was, but I don't believe he was a wrecker!"
+
+"And I don't either!" added Blake. "Here's my hand on it, Joe, and we'll
+do our best to find out the truth of this thing," and the two chums
+clasped hands warmly.
+
+"But it's mighty strange what those men said about him," went on Joe.
+"To think that we would stumble on the wreckers right at work. We can
+lead the police to the very place where they have set up their false
+light."
+
+"Maybe we can do better than that, Joe."
+
+"How?"
+
+"Why, we may be able to help the police catch these same fellows."
+
+"That's so. Have you a plan, Blake?" asked his chum, eagerly, as they
+walked on along the path.
+
+"Not yet, but we'll make one up. But, Joe, did you notice just what it
+was that big wrecker said?"
+
+"Not exactly; I was too excited when I heard them mention my father's
+name."
+
+"Well, they as much as said that your father had refused to give them
+the information they wanted, and this spoiled their scheme. That might
+go to show that they made offers to him to have him help them in their
+wicked plans, and he refused. That made them turn against him, and----"
+
+"I see, Blake! You mean that, maybe, after all, he left because he was
+afraid of the wreckers, and not because he had done anything wrong?"
+
+"That's it, Joe. Of course, it's all guess work on our part, so far, and
+I think the best thing we can do is to go to the lighthouse and tell Mr.
+Stanton all we've seen and heard. He may be able to advise us, even if
+he is an old man. At any rate, he'll know what police or government
+officers to go to, so we can catch these wreckers."
+
+"That's right, Blake. Come on. I guess we can go down on the beach now.
+Those fellows won't venture out into the open after us, I don't
+believe."
+
+"No, they seem to have given up the chase," replied Blake, and the two
+lads were soon down on the shore.
+
+A look around showed no signs of the supposed wreckers, and a little
+later the two lads were in the lighthouse telling their story to the
+wondering and amazed keeper.
+
+"So that's how the scoundrels are planning to work; are they?" cried the
+old man. "Going to duplicate my light, and fool the poor sailors! But
+we'll put a spoke in their wheel, boys. We'll spike their guns for 'em,
+and have 'em behind the bars, if there's any law in this land.
+
+"Putting up a false light right opposite those rocks--the most dangerous
+on the coast! No punishment would be too bad for 'em. Did you happen to
+hear, boys, when they expected to play that wicked game?"
+
+"They didn't mention any special night," replied Blake; "it seemed that
+they counted on getting some information which failed them--Joe's
+father," he added, thinking it well to let Mr. Stanton know that Joe had
+been informed of the secret.
+
+"Joe's father; eh?" said the old man, musingly. "Boy, I'm mighty sorry
+for you," he said, softly; "for I know the disgrace is trying, and if it
+had been possible to keep this from you----"
+
+"I'm glad I know!" burst out Joe. "There isn't going to be any disgrace.
+My father is innocent, I'm sure of it; and I believe we can prove it,
+once we have these wreckers arrested."
+
+"That's the way to talk!" cried the old man. "Boys, I'll help you. We'll
+get right after these miscreants. Maybe I was wrong, after all, in
+thinking Nate Duncan guilty. He was a good man, and it made me feel bad
+even to suspect him."
+
+"What do you think is the best thing to do?" asked Blake. "We ought to
+act quickly, or they may leave this part of the country, to try their
+scheme farther down the coast. It might succeed, then."
+
+"That's right," declared Mr. Stanton. "We must act at once. My assistant
+is here now, and I'll have him go with you. I'm a little too old for
+such work. Besides, one of us will have to stay here to guard the light.
+No telling but what the scoundrels might try to wreck it. But if they
+come, I'll be ready for 'em!" he cried, as he took down an old-fashioned
+musket from the wall. "I'll stand by to repel boarders!" he exclaimed,
+holding the weapon above his head, and then sighting it at an imaginary
+enemy.
+
+"I'll call my assistant," he went on. "Tom Cardiff is as sturdy a lad as
+you'd wish to see. He can get one of the men from the life saving
+station, and with a couple of the government secret service officers you
+ought to be able to get those wreckers, don't you think?"
+
+"Sure!" cried Joe.
+
+"Did you mean for us to help catch 'em?" asked Blake.
+
+"I certainly did," went on the keeper. "That is, unless you're----"
+
+"Afraid? Not a bit of it!" cried Blake, vigorously.
+
+"Besides, you know just where they were located," continued Mr. Stanton.
+
+"Though they may have taken the alarm and left," suggested Joe.
+
+"Then we'll trace 'em!" cried his chum. "Where is your helper, Mr.
+Stanton?"
+
+"I'll call him. I say Tom--Tom Cardiff!" he shouted up the lantern
+tower. "I'll finish cleaning the lens. I've got other work for you. Come
+down!"
+
+"Coming!" was the answer, and a little later a well built young fellow,
+muscular and of fine appearance, greeted the boys. The introduction was
+soon made, and the story of the lads told.
+
+"Wreckers; eh?" exclaimed Tom Cardiff. "I'd just like to get hold of
+some of the wretches," and he stretched out his vigorous arms.
+
+"Well, get after 'em, then!" exclaimed the old man. "You don't want to
+lose any time. Telephone for the officers."
+
+The wire was soon busy, and arrangements made for the secret service men
+to come to the lighthouse. One of the life saving squad, from a station
+a little farther down the coast, was also engaged.
+
+"Now you boys had better go back to your place," said Mr. Stanton; "and
+arrange to come back to-night. That's the only time to get after these
+fellows. They probably have finished their work, from what you told me,
+and they'll lay low until it's dark. Then we'll get after 'em!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+FAILURE
+
+
+"Boys, if you could only get moving pictures of the capture of the
+wreckers!"
+
+Thus exclaimed Mr. Ringold when his two young employees told of the
+plans afoot and asked to be excused from work a little longer.
+
+"It would be great," admitted Joe.
+
+"But we'd need a powerful light," said Blake, "and if we had that it
+would warn the men we're after."
+
+"That's so," spoke the theatrical man. "I guess it's out of the
+question. But you have done such wonderful work so far, that I'd like
+you to keep it up. A film of the capture of wreckers would make an
+audience sit up and take notice."
+
+"I guess I'll have to invent some sort of a light that would make it
+possible," put in Mr. Hadley; "but I'm afraid I can't have it ready
+to-night."
+
+"Then you don't mind if we go?" asked Blake.
+
+"No, indeed!" exclaimed Mr. Ringold, "and I wish you all success."
+
+"It's going to be a dark night," remarked Blake, a little later, as he
+and Joe were on their way to the lighthouse. It was early evening, but
+the sky was clouding over and a wind was coming up that sent the big
+billows bounding up on the sand with a booming noise like the discharge
+of distant cannon.
+
+"Yes, we'll have to sort of feel our way along," said Joe. "But I guess
+we can find the place, all right."
+
+"I hope so. But I wonder if the men will come back after the alarm we
+gave 'em?"
+
+"That's hard to tell, Blake. And yet they might; for, though they saw
+us, they may think we were only a couple of lads out for a stroll, who
+accidentally stumbled on their hiding place. In that case they wouldn't
+think we'd give any alarm, and they'd go on with their plans."
+
+"That's so. Well, we'll see what happens. I hope there aren't too many
+of them, so that our men can handle them."
+
+"That Tom Cardiff can get away with a couple on his own account, and
+with the life saver, and the secret service men, not to mention
+ourselves, Blake, I guess we'll make out all right."
+
+"I reckon you and I together, Joe, can account for at least one," and
+Blake looked quizzically at his chum.
+
+"I feel almost as if I could handle one alone, when I think of how they
+got my father into trouble," replied the other. "I'm going to give a
+good account of myself, if I get the chance."
+
+"Same here. Well, there's the lighthouse just ahead, and two or three
+men waiting for us. I guess they're the ones we are to go with."
+
+This proved to be the case, and a little later the boys were repeating
+to the life saver, and two secret service men, such parts of their story
+as Mr. Stanton and Tom Cardiff had omitted or forgotten.
+
+"Well, if we're all ready, we may as well start," proposed Sam Wilton,
+one of the government agents. The other was Jerry Boundley, while the
+name of the life saver was Frank Hale.
+
+"Yes, it's quite a tramp," said Tom Cardiff, "and the wreckers may be
+there now. Several small trading vessels are expected up the coast this
+week, and some may be due to-night. Though seeing that a storm is coming
+up, they may keep so far out from shore that they won't see the false
+lights, in case the wreckers try to work them.
+
+"This is about as wicked a piece of work as could well be done, trying
+to wreck vessels this way. A sailor has to depend absolutely on the
+lights, under certain conditions, and if they're wrong, it's like
+leading a blind man into danger. So let's get after 'em and stop their
+work!"
+
+The men well knew the way nearly to the place where the boys had
+discovered the wreckers at work, and so they would not have to rely on
+Joe and Blake to guide them until they were almost there.
+
+"When you see that you are close to the place," said Tom Cardiff, "you
+boys go ahead, and we'll trail along after you. And keep mighty quiet,
+too. If we can catch these fellows actually in the act of showing a
+false light, so much better for the chances of convicting them."
+
+They went on in the darkness. Back of them, as they mounted the hill
+which ended in the high cliff, could be seen the flashing light tended
+by aged Mr. Stanton.
+
+"He's right on the job," remarked Tom Cardiff. "Even if he's an old man
+he'll stay up all night to attend to that light, to see that it's
+trimmed properly, that the machinery is working, that there's oil in the
+reservoir, and that the lenses are clean. That light is just like a son
+or daughter to him. He can't bear to have anything happen to it and the
+very idea of any scoundrels trying to wreck vessels by means of a false
+beacon riles him up considerable."
+
+"I should think it would," agreed Mr. Wilton. "Well, if we can catch
+these fellows we'll put 'em where they can't do any more harm. And I
+hope we'll get back in time, so Mr. Stanton won't have to stay up all
+night."
+
+"I hope so, too," put in Tom Cardiff. "He isn't equal to the task."
+
+"We're getting close to the place now," said Blake, in a low voice a
+little later.
+
+"Then you boys come up here," ordered Tom Cardiff, who, in a measure,
+was a sort of leader. "And everybody keep quiet. Don't talk, except in
+whispers, and make as little noise as you can."
+
+Cautiously they advanced, the boys in the lead. The lads recognized,
+even in the darkness, some of the larger landmarks they had passed in
+their flight that afternoon.
+
+"Hold on a minute, and listen," suggested the life saver. "Maybe we can
+hear them talking."
+
+They paused, but the only sound that came was the booming of the surf on
+the rocks below.
+
+"Can you see anything of a light?" asked Mr. Boundley.
+
+"Not a thing," replied Joe, glancing all about him.
+
+"Look up," directed Tom Cardiff. "That's the best way to locate a light
+that you can't see directly. You may catch its reflection on the night
+mist."
+
+But the night was black all around them. Not a gleam could they make
+out. Once more they advanced until Joe and Blake recognized the place
+where they had been hiding, and whence they had looked into the open
+place where the wreckers had been putting up their false light.
+
+"It's here!" whispered Blake.
+
+"Just ahead there," added Joe.
+
+"Get ready, men!" exclaimed Tom Cardiff, in a tense whisper. "We'll rush
+'em before they know it--if they're here."
+
+Stout clubs had been brought along in anticipation of a hand-to-hand
+struggle, it being decided that these weapons were best, safest and most
+effective at close quarters.
+
+"All ready?" asked the leader.
+
+"Yes--yes!" came the answers.
+
+Blake leaned forward, cautiously parted the bushes and looked toward the
+open space. He had heard nothing, and seen nothing, and yet he knew that
+the men might be hidden about, and that the lantern might not yet be
+lighted.
+
+"Come on!" cried Tom Cardiff, and together they leaped from their place
+of concealment.
+
+There was a moment of silence, and then a disappointed exclamation burst
+from the lips of the assistant lighthouse keeper.
+
+"They're not here!" he declared. That was evident, for there had been
+no response as the searchers burst out.
+
+"Are you sure this is the place?" asked Mr. Wilton, turning to the boys.
+
+"Positive," answered Joe.
+
+"Here's the pile of rocks on which the lantern was set," added Blake.
+
+"But there's no lantern here now," said Tom Cardiff.
+
+"Then they've skipped!" declared the life saver. "They got suspicious
+and left, taking the lantern with 'em!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+ON THE TRAIL
+
+
+There was no doubt about it, the wreckers were not there, and the
+indications were that they had betaken themselves to some other
+location.
+
+When the men flashed the pocket electric lamps they had brought with
+them, the little opening at the top of the cliff was well illuminated.
+
+"Nothing doing!" exclaimed Joe, regretfully.
+
+"They must have skipped out right after they chased us," decided Blake.
+
+"And they went in a hurry, too," declared Tom Cardiff.
+
+"What makes you think so?" asked one of the government officers.
+
+"Look at how this stone pile, which they intended to use as a base for
+their lantern, is disturbed, and pulled apart," went on the assistant
+lighthouse keeper, as he flashed his torch on it. "I'll wager, boys,
+that when you saw it, with that contrivance atop by which they hoped to
+fool some vessels, this stone pile was well built up; wasn't it?"
+
+"Yes," said Blake, "it was."
+
+"Because," went on Tom Cardiff, "it would have to be so to make their
+light steady, to give the impression that it was one of the regular
+government lights. They were going to work a shutter, you boys say, to
+give the impression of a revolving light, and that would make it
+necessary to have a firm foundation.
+
+"And yet now the whole top of this stone pile is torn apart, showing
+that they must have ripped out whatever they had here to hold the
+lantern. They got away in a hurry, is my opinion."
+
+"And I guess we'll all have to agree," put in the life saver. "The
+question is--where did they go?"
+
+"And that's a question we've got to answer," added Tom Cardiff. "We've
+got to get on the trail."
+
+"Why so?" asked the life saver. "If you've driven 'em off, so they can't
+try any of their dastardly tricks to lure vessels ashore, isn't that all
+you want? You've spoiled their game."
+
+"Yes!" cried Tom Cardiff, "we've spoiled it for this one place, but
+they'll be at it somewhere else."
+
+"What do you mean?" asked Joe.
+
+"I mean that they've gone somewhere else!" exclaimed the assistant
+keeper. "They've made tracks away from here, but they've gone to some
+other place to set up their light, and try the same thing they were
+going to try here. It's our duty to keep after 'em, and break up the
+gang!"
+
+"That's right!" cried Mr. Wilton. "There's no telling what damage they
+might do, if left alone. Why, they might even get to some place where
+large passenger steamers pass, and wreck one of them, though mostly they
+aim to pick out a spot where small cargo boats would be lured on the
+rocks. We've got to keep after 'em!"
+
+"Then come on!" cried Joe. He was fired with enthusiasm, not only to
+capture the wreckers for the purpose of protecting human life and
+property, but he was also eager to have the scoundrels safe in
+confinement so that he might question them, and learn the source of the
+suspicion against his father.
+
+"On the trail!" cried Blake. "Maybe we can easily find the wreckers."
+
+"No, not to-night," advised Mr. Boundley. "It wouldn't be practical, in
+the first place; and if it was, it wouldn't be safe. We don't know this
+locality very well. There may be hidden dangers and pitfalls that would
+injure some of us. Then, too, we don't want to stumble on a nest of
+wreckers without knowing something of the lay of the ground."
+
+"What's best to be done?" asked Tom Cardiff.
+
+"Do nothing to-night," advised the government man. "To-morrow we can
+take up the trail, and by daylight we may be able to pick up something
+that will give us a clue. I think they won't try any of their tricks
+to-night, so it will be safe for us to go back."
+
+The others agreed with this view, and, after looking about the place a
+little more, and trying, but unsuccessfully, to find clues in the
+darkness, partly illuminated by the electric torches, they gave it up
+and started back to the lighthouse.
+
+"Well, what do you think?" asked Blake of Joe, as the two lads reached
+their boarding house in the little theatrical colony. It was quite late.
+
+"Think of it?" echoed Joe. "I'm terribly disappointed, that's what. I
+hoped I'd be able to get a start on disproving this accusation against
+my father."
+
+"Yes, it was a disappointment," agreed Blake.
+
+"And now there's no telling when I can."
+
+"No, not exactly; but, Joe, I have a plan."
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"What's the matter with getting on the trail after these fellows the
+first thing in the morning. No use waiting any longer, and we can't tell
+how prompt those government men may be. Of course they're interested,
+in a general way, in making the capture; but aside from that, you and I
+have a personal motive; for I'll admit I'm as interested as you are in
+proving that your father is innocent.
+
+"So what's the matter with getting back up on the cliff as soon as we
+can, and seeing if we can trace those fellows. You know we've had some
+experience after taking films of those Indians, and can follow signs
+pretty well."
+
+"I'm with you, Blake!" cried Joe. "We'll do it. I guess Mr. Ringold will
+let us off when he knows how important it is."
+
+They spoke of the matter to the theatrical man early the next morning,
+and he readily agreed to let them continue the work of trying to capture
+the wreckers.
+
+"Go ahead, boys," he said. "Mr. Hadley and your lad, Macaroni, can take
+what films we want to-day. And I would like to see you get those
+wreckers. There's no meaner criminal alive. All we'll do for the next
+couple of days is to get ready for our big drama--I've planned a new
+one--and I sure will want you boys to help film it for me."
+
+"What's it going to be about?" asked Blake.
+
+"It's a sea story, and a wreck figures in it."
+
+"A real wreck?" asked Joe, in some surprise. "That will be hard to do;
+won't it?"
+
+"It sure will, and I don't just know how to manage it. I could buy some
+old tub, and wreck it, I suppose, but I want it to look natural. While I
+don't wish anyone bad luck, I do wish, if a wreck had to happen, that it
+would come about here, so we could get moving pictures of it. But I
+don't suppose I'll have any such good luck.
+
+"However, I'll have to think about this. Now you boys can have a couple
+of days off, if you like, and I hope you'll find those miscreants."
+
+"I wish we could get you some moving pictures of them," spoke Blake;
+"but I'm afraid it's out of the question."
+
+The boys were soon at the scene of the disappointment the night before.
+Daylight revealed more clearly the haste with which the wreckers had
+removed their false lantern. Stones were scattered about, as were bits
+of broken wood, wire, rope and other accessories.
+
+"Now," said Joe, after they had looked about, "the thing to do is to
+trail them."
+
+"And the first thing is to get a clue," added Blake.
+
+They looked about, using the knowledge they had gained from being with
+the cowboy the time they filmed the pictures of the Moqui Indians. For
+some time their efforts were without success. They cast about in all
+directions, looking for some lead that would tell them in which
+direction the wreckers had gone.
+
+"I should think they'd go farther down the coast," suggested Joe. "They
+certainly wouldn't come toward the lighthouse, and they wouldn't go
+inland, for to work their plan they need to be near the shore."
+
+"That's right, to an extent," decided Blake; "but, at the same time,
+they may have wanted to give a false clue. So we mustn't let that fool
+us. Keep on looking."
+
+Narrowly they scanned the ground. It was covered with marks, not only of
+the footsteps of the wreckers, but of the men and boys themselves who
+had made the unsuccessful raid the night before.
+
+"Hello!" cried Blake, suddenly, as he dived into a clump of bushes.
+"Here's something!"
+
+"What is it?" asked Joe.
+
+"A piece of cloth, evidently torn from a man's clothing. And, Joe, now
+that I recall it, it's the same color as the suit worn by Hemp Danforth
+when he chased us. We're on the trail at last, Joe!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+THE DISCOVERY
+
+
+Joe Duncan leaped to his chum's side. Eagerly he looked at the bit of
+cloth which, caught on a thorn bush, had ripped from some man's garment.
+The cloth was not weather-beaten, which, to the boys, showed that it had
+not long been hanging there.
+
+"Blake, I believe you're right," assented his chum. "They went this way,
+and they must have done it for a blind, or else to get to some path that
+goes farther down the beach a different way," for the cloth was caught
+on a bush toward the landward side of the little clearing.
+
+"We'll follow this," said Blake.
+
+"Of course," agreed his chum.
+
+They pushed into the bushes. There was no semblance of a path, but this
+did not discourage the boys. They realized that the wreckers would want
+to cover up their trail, and would take a way that would not seem to
+lead anywhere.
+
+"This will branch off pretty soon," was Blake's opinion. "This is just
+a blind, to make us believe they have given up, and gone inland. Come
+on, Joe, and keep a sharp lookout for any other signs."
+
+They found none for some time, and then they came to a little open place
+where the soft ground held several footprints.
+
+"We're getting warmer!" exclaimed Joe.
+
+"Hush!" cautioned his chum. "They may hear us."
+
+"Why, you don't think they're around here; do you?"
+
+"There's no telling. It's best to be on the safe side. Keep quiet.
+Hello! here's something else!" and Blake, moving cautiously, so as not
+to make any more noise than possible, picked up a bit of metal.
+
+"What is it?" asked Joe.
+
+"Part of their lantern," answered his chum. "It was made of black sheet
+iron, you remember. This piece may have fallen off when they dragged it
+through the bushes. We're on the right trail, all right."
+
+"I believe you. But I wish it would turn on to a better path. It's no
+fun forcing your way through these bushes."
+
+"It'll turn soon now," predicted Blake. "They only took this lead long
+enough to discourage pursuit. They didn't like it any better than we
+do."
+
+His surmise proved correct and about five minutes later, having found
+other evidences of the passage of the wreckers, they came out on an open
+trail.
+
+It was a narrow path, leading along in both directions from where they
+came out on it, and following the coast line, but some distance inland.
+There were evidences that men had passed in both directions, and that at
+no distant time, for footprints turned to both the left and right, as
+the boys emerged from the blind trail in the brush.
+
+"Well, what about this?" questioned Joe, as he looked in silence at the
+tell-tale marks. "Which way shall we go, Blake?"
+
+"To the right!" came the answer, almost immediately.
+
+"What makes you say that?" asked his chum. "I don't see anything to show
+that they went to the right, any more than that they went to the left."
+
+"Don't you?" asked Blake. "Look here, and remember some of the things
+our cowboy guide told us when we were after the Indians. Now you see
+footprints going off to the left and right from this point; don't you?"
+
+"Sure."
+
+"Well, do you happen to notice that on the left there are footprints
+coming back as well as going."
+
+"Yes, I see that. But what does it mean?"
+
+"And on the right side, counting from this dividing point, there are
+only footprints in one direction."
+
+"That's so, Blake. But----"
+
+"Now what's the answer? Why the men got here, and, thinking they might
+be followed, tried a simple trick. They doubled their trail."
+
+"What's that?"
+
+"Why, some of them went off to the left, walked on a little way,
+doubled, or turned, and came back, joining the others, who had turned to
+the right and kept on."
+
+"Why was that?"
+
+"Because they wanted to fool us. Naturally a person, not looking
+carefully, would see both lines of footprints, and would reason that the
+men might have divided, or that there might have been two separate
+parties. He wouldn't know which trail to take. He might pick out the
+right one, and, again, he might select the wrong one."
+
+"And you say the right one is----"
+
+"To the right. We'll follow that. If they think to fool us, or make us
+divide our forces, they're going to be disappointed. Another thing."
+
+"What's that, Blake?" asked Joe, as he noticed his chum leaning over and
+carefully examining the marks in the dirt.
+
+"Why, naturally they wouldn't go to the left, as that eventually leads
+to the lighthouse. They want to keep some distance from that. Of course
+they'd go to the right. And here's where we go after 'em. Come on!"
+
+There was no hesitation now. Joe was as sure as his chum that the
+wreckers had gone farther down the coast, perhaps to some other high
+cliff where they could set up their lantern.
+
+They followed the path. The trail was plain now, showing that a number
+of men had passed along. Footprints were the only clues, however, a
+number overlapping one another.
+
+"What shall we do if we find them?" asked Joe.
+
+"I--I don't know," answered Blake. This was when they had been following
+the new trail for about an hour.
+
+"We can't tackle 'em alone, that's sure," went on Joe.
+
+"No, but we can--Hark! What's that?" whispered Blake, suddenly.
+
+They listened intently. Far off they could hear the roar of the surf on
+the beach; but, closer at hand, was another sound. It was the clink of
+metal. And then came the distant murmur of men's voices.
+
+"Joe, I think we've found them," whispered Blake. "Come on, but don't
+make any noise."
+
+Cautiously they crept forward, the sounds becoming more and more plain.
+
+Suddenly they heard a loud voice exclaim:
+
+"There! I guess that will do the business! And those fellows won't find
+us here!"
+
+"That's them!" whispered Blake in Joe's ear. "I know the voice of Hemp
+Danforth. We've found 'em, Joe!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+THE CAPTURE
+
+
+Impulsively the boys clasped hands as they realized what the discovery
+meant. They had come upon the new hiding place of the wreckers, and the
+chances were good for capture if no alarm was given.
+
+Joe, perhaps, felt more elated than did Blake, though the latter was
+glad that his theory in regard to the direction taken by the men had
+proved correct.
+
+But Joe felt that now he had a better chance to prove his father
+innocent of the charge made against him--that he was involved with the
+wreckers.
+
+"We've got 'em!" he whispered.
+
+"Yes--we've got 'em--to get!" agreed Blake. "No slip-up this time."
+
+In whispers they consulted, and decided to creep forward a short
+distance to make sure of their first surmise that the men, whose voices
+they heard, were really the wreckers.
+
+"We want to be certain about it," warned Blake, in a cautious whisper.
+
+"That's right," agreed his chum. "Go ahead, and I'll come after you."
+
+Cautiously they advanced until they were in a position to look forward
+and make out a number of men working on a sort of mound of rock that
+rose from the surface of the cliff.
+
+"This is a better place, from their standpoint, than the other,"
+whispered Blake. "A light can be seen farther."
+
+"Yes, and they're putting up the same lantern on a rock pile," remarked
+Joe. Both lads recognized the apparatus they had seen before. The men
+were busily engaged in setting it in place, evidently working fast to
+make up for lost time.
+
+"It's the same gang," observed Blake; "and they must know of some vessel
+that is to pass here soon, or they wouldn't be in such a hurry. Probably
+they count on the steersman mistaking this light for the one at
+Rockypoint, and standing in close here. Up at Rockypoint there is deep
+water close in shore, but it shoals very fast both ways, up or down the
+beach. So if a vessel saw a false light, and stood close in to get her
+bearings, she'd be on the rocks in no time."
+
+"That's right," agreed Joe. "She'd be wrecked and these fellows would
+get what they could out of her, caring nothing for the lives lost.
+Blake, we've got to stop 'em!"
+
+"We sure have."
+
+"Not only to clear my father, but to save others," went on Joe. "What's
+best to be done?"
+
+"Well, we can't capture 'em by ourselves; that's sure," went on Blake,
+each lad speaking in a cautious whisper. "The best thing for us to do is
+to go back, I think, and tell Tom Cardiff. He'll know what to do."
+
+"Maybe one of us had better stay here to keep watch. They may skip out."
+
+"No danger. They don't know that we have followed 'em, or that we are
+here."
+
+"Then we'll go back together."
+
+"Sure, and give the alarm. Then to make the capture, if we can."
+
+For a few minutes longer the eager boys looked on, unseen by the men
+whom they had trailed. The wreckers were busy putting up their lantern,
+and were making as much noise, talking and hammering on the apparatus,
+as though they were far removed from possible discovery.
+
+"Well, we'd better be going," suggested Blake, after a bit; and they
+made their departure without causing any suspicious sounds, so that the
+wreckers had no idea, as far as our heroes could ascertain, that they
+were being spied upon.
+
+In order to save time, as soon as they got to the nearest small
+settlement, Joe and Blake hired a carriage, and drove to the lighthouse.
+As may well be imagined their report caused considerable excitement.
+
+"We'll get right after 'em!" cried Tom Cardiff. "I just got a telephone
+message from the secret service men that they are on their way here.
+They'll arrive in about an hour. We were counting on getting on the
+trail ourselves to-day, but you boys got ahead of us. So in about an
+hour we'll start. I guess they'll be there then; won't they, lads."
+
+"I should judge so," was Blake's answer. "They've got quite a good deal
+yet to do to get that fake lantern in shape, and they don't seem
+suspicious."
+
+"We can't have our life saving friend with us now," went on the
+assistant keeper, "as he is on duty, but I guess the five of us will be
+enough."
+
+"Say!" cried Blake, with sudden thought, "if it's going to be an hour
+before we start we've got time to get our automatic moving picture
+camera, Joe."
+
+"What for?"
+
+"To get some views of this capture. It ought to make a dandy film, and
+we can set the machine in place, start the motor and then you and I can
+jump in and help catch these wreckers!"
+
+"The very thing!" cried his chum. "I wonder I didn't think of it myself.
+Come on!"
+
+"Don't be late!" advised Tom Cardiff, as they ran toward the ancient
+carriage they had hired. "We don't want any slip-up this time. I'm glad
+we're going to try for the capture by daylight, though, instead of
+darkness; it gives us a better chance."
+
+Mr. Ringold and Mr. Hadley were surprised and delighted at the news the
+boys brought, but they voted against the automatic camera.
+
+"This is a rare chance to get a film," said Mr. Hadley, "and we don't
+want to miss it. I'll go along with you, taking a regular moving picture
+camera, and while you capture the wreckers I'll make a film of it."
+
+This suited the boys as well, and a little later, with the chief
+photographer, they started back for the lighthouse. They found the
+secret service men and Tom Cardiff waiting for them, and, well armed, in
+addition to the clubs they carried, and with ropes to bind the wreckers,
+they started off.
+
+"We're almost there now," said Blake, in a whisper, when they neared the
+second hiding place of the desperate men. "Go easy, now."
+
+"Let me get a chance to go ahead and place the camera," suggested Mr.
+Hadley, who had the apparatus fully adjusted.
+
+"That's a great idea," declared one of the government men. "Taking their
+photographs in moving pictures! There'll be no chance for them to deny
+they were present when they were captured," and he chuckled grimly.
+
+Mr. Hadley was given an opportunity to move forward alone. He found an
+advantageous spot and almost at once beckoned to the others to hasten.
+
+"They're getting ready to leave!" he whispered, as they reached his
+side.
+
+"Come on, then!" cried Tom Cardiff. "Jump in on 'em, boys. Lively now!"
+
+As he spoke he leaped forward, followed by the others.
+
+"Surrender! We've got you surrounded!" yelled the assistant keeper.
+"It's all over but the shouting!" and as he made a grab for one of the
+men the moving picture machine began clicking.
+
+"Hands up!" ordered Mr. Wilton.
+
+"At 'em, boys!" called the other government man, as he and Blake and Joe
+leaped to the attack together.
+
+For a moment the wreckers stood as if paralyzed about the stone pedestal
+on which the false lantern was being built. Then, with one accord, the
+desperate men made a dash for the bush.
+
+"Stop 'em!" cried Tom Cardiff. "Don't let 'em get away!"
+
+"Come on!" yelled Blake to his chum. "We've got to get in this fracas!"
+
+And as they dashed after the wreckers the moving picture camera in the
+hands of Mr. Hadley recorded view after view of the exciting scene.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+A LIFE GUARD'S ALARM
+
+
+Fortune played into the hands of our friends in two ways as they sought
+to capture the wreckers. Otherwise the desperate men might have gotten
+away, so quickly did they dash out of the clearing at the first alarm.
+
+But, as he ran along, big Hemp Danforth, the leader of the criminals,
+stumbled and fell. Right behind him was sturdy Tom Cardiff, and the
+assistant lighthouse keeper was quick to take advantage of the chance
+thus put in his way.
+
+"I've got you!" he yelled, as he fairly threw himself on the prostrate
+wrecker. "I've got you! Give up, you varmint!"
+
+There was a struggle, none the less desperate because the wrecker was
+underneath. The two rolled on the ground until Tom got a grip on his
+opponent. Then, by putting forth his enormous strength, Tom quickly
+subdued the man.
+
+"Give up, I tell you!" panted Tom, breathing hard. "I'll teach you to
+wreck ships. Give up!"
+
+"I give up!" was the sullen response.
+
+With a quick turn of the ropes he had brought, Tom had the wrecker
+trussed up.
+
+Meanwhile the others had been busy. The secret service men had each
+tackled a man, and had him secure by now, while Joe and Blake, by mutual
+agreement picking out another member of the party had, after a struggle,
+succeeded in tying him, too.
+
+But the wreckers outnumbered our friends two to one, and some, if not
+all, of the desperate characters might have escaped had not
+reinforcements appeared. These were in the shape of four sturdy
+fishermen from the little colony where the moving picture boys lived.
+
+"Oh, if we could only capture the others!" cried Tom Cardiff, when he
+had finished with his man, and saw some of the wreckers struggling to
+make their way through the thick bush. "Come on, boys!" he yelled to his
+friends. "When you finish with those fellows keep after the rest of the
+gang, though I'm afraid they'll give us the slip."
+
+"No, they won't!" cried a new voice, and then appeared the husky toilers
+of the sea, armed with stout clubs. At the sight of them the wreckers
+not yet captured gave up in despair. Counting those tied up, the forces
+were now equal, and as Mr. Hadley had taken all the moving pictures
+possible, owing to the struggle taking place out of range of his
+camera, he left the apparatus, and joined his friends.
+
+"Well, we got 'em!" cried Tom Cardiff, as he surveyed the line of
+prisoners, fastened together with ropes. "Every one of 'em, I guess.
+You're a nice crowd!" he sneered at big Hemp Danforth. "A nice lot of
+men to be let loose!"
+
+"A little later and you wouldn't have had us!" snarled the leader of the
+wreckers. "You were too many for us."
+
+"That's so," spoke Tom. "How did you happen to come to help us?" he
+asked of Abe Haskill, who was one of the reinforcing fishermen. "Who
+sent you?"
+
+"Old Stanton telephoned over from the lighthouse," was the answer. "He
+said you were on your way here, and that the gang might be too much for
+you. So I got a couple of my friends, and over we came--just in time,
+too, I take it."
+
+"That's right!" exclaimed Blake, trying to staunch the flow of blood
+from a cut on his face, received in the fight he and Joe had with their
+prisoner. Joe himself was somewhat bruised. "A little later and we'd had
+only half of 'em," went on Blake.
+
+"It looks as if the lantern was nearly finished, too," went on Joe.
+
+"Um!" sneered the chief wrecker. "You may think you have us, but it's a
+long way from proving anything against us. What have we done that's
+wrong?" and he looked defiantly at Tom Cardiff.
+
+"Wrong!" cried the lighthouse man. "Don't you call it wrong to set up a
+false light to lure unsuspecting captains on the rocks, so you can get
+your pickings? Wrong!"
+
+"Huh! How do you know but what this light was put here as a range finder
+for us fishermen?" asked the other.
+
+"Fishermen! Why, you men never did an honest day's fishing in your
+lives!" cried Abe Haskill. "Fishing! When you haven't been smuggling
+you've been wrecking, or robbing other honest men's nets. You're a bunch
+of scoundrels, and it's the best day's work we've done in many a year to
+get you!"
+
+"That's all right," retorted Hemp, easily. "Words don't prove anything."
+
+"They don't; eh?" cried Tom Cardiff. "You'll see what they do. We'll
+convict you by your own words!"
+
+"Our own words?" asked Hemp Danforth, uneasily.
+
+"Yes, overheard by these two lads, whom you chased but couldn't catch. I
+guess when Blake Stewart and Joe Duncan go into court, and testify
+about hearing you talk of wrecking vessels by your false lantern, the
+jury'll convict you, all right!"
+
+Hemp seemed less concerned with what Tom said than with the name Joe
+Duncan. As this was uttered the wrecker looked at the two lads.
+
+"Did I understand him to say that one of you is a Duncan?" asked Hemp,
+curiously.
+
+"I am," replied Joe.
+
+"Are you Nate Duncan's son?"
+
+"I hope so--yes, I'm sure I am."
+
+"Ha! Ha!" laughed the wrecker.
+
+"What's the joke?" inquired Tom Cardiff.
+
+"This, and it's a good one, too. You think to convict us on the
+testimony of Nate Duncan's son. Why, Nate is one of us! His son's
+evidence wouldn't be any good. Besides, a son wouldn't help to convict
+his father. That's a good one. Nate Duncan is one of us!"
+
+"That's not so!" burst out Joe, jumping toward the big wrecker, as
+though to strike him. "It isn't true. My father never was a wrecker."
+
+"He wasn't; eh?" sneered Hemp. "Well, I'm not saying we are, either; but
+if your father isn't a wrecker why did he run away before the officers
+came for him? Answer me that--if you can!"
+
+"I--I--" began Joe, when Blake stepped to his chum's side.
+
+"Don't answer him," counseled Blake. "It will only make matters worse.
+It will all come out right."
+
+"I'm sure of it," said Joe. "Poor Dad, I wish he were here to defend
+himself; but, as he isn't, I'll stick up for him."
+
+"Well, if you're through talking I guess we'll move along," suggested
+Tom at this point. "There are a few empty cells in the jail at San
+Diego, I understand, and they'll just about accommodate you chaps."
+
+"Are--are you going to put us in jail?" faltered one of the prisoners, a
+young man.
+
+"That's what we are," answered Tom.
+
+"Oh, don't. I'll tell--I'll----"
+
+"You'll keep still--that's what you'll do!" snapped Hemp. "I'll fix you
+if you don't!" and he glared at the youth in such a way that the latter
+said no more. "I'll manage this thing," went on Hemp. "You keep still
+and they can't do a thing to us. Now go ahead; take us to jail if you
+want to."
+
+"That's what we will," declared Tom, and a little later the prisoners
+were on their way to San Diego, where they were locked up. Some
+suspected wreckers had been taken into custody when Mr. Duncan was
+accused, but nothing had been proved against them.
+
+"Well, that was a good day's work!" declared Mr. Hadley late that
+afternoon, when he and the moving picture boys were back at their
+quarters. "We not only got the wreckers, but a fine film of the capture
+besides."
+
+"And we're in it," said Blake. "Joe, how will it seem to see yourself on
+a screen?"
+
+"Oh, rather odd, I guess," and Joe spoke listlessly.
+
+"Now look here!" exclaimed his chum. "I know what's worrying you. It's
+what Hemp said about your father; isn't it?"
+
+"Yes, Blake, it is."
+
+"Well then, you just stop thinking about it. Before you know it your
+father may arrive in Hong Kong, get your letter, and send back an
+answer. Then everything will be cleared up. Meanwhile, we've got to get
+busy; there are a lot of films to make, I understand."
+
+"Indeed there are," declared Mr. Ringold. "I have my sea drama all ready
+for the films now. I don't know what to do about a wreck, though. I'm
+afraid I can't make it realistic enough. I must make other plans about
+that scene. But get your cameras in good shape, boys, for there is
+plenty of work ahead."
+
+"We can keep right on the job," said Joe, "for I guess we've about
+cleaned up the wreckers."
+
+No members of the gang had escaped, as far as could be learned, and the
+renewed work of getting evidence to be used at the trial was in the
+hands of the government men. The false lantern, which had first given
+the boys the clue, was taken down, and proved to be a most ingenious
+piece of apparatus. Had it been used it would undoubtedly have lured
+some ships on the rocks.
+
+The work of making the preliminary scenes of the sea drama were under
+way. It took the best part of three weeks to get what was needed, for
+Mr. Ringold was very particular, and insisted on many rehearsals, these
+taking longer than the actual making of the films.
+
+Joe and Blake were kept busy, as was also their young assistant,
+Macaroni, and Mr. Hadley.
+
+"Everything is going beautifully," said Mr. Ringold one day. "If we
+could only have a storm and wreck to order, now, I would ask nothing
+better."
+
+"Yes, everything is nice, except that we're being worked to death,"
+spoke C. C. Piper, gloomily. "I've lost ten pounds in the last week."
+
+"It will do you good," said Miss Lee, with a laugh. "You were getting
+too stout, anyhow."
+
+"Oh, what a world!" sighed the comedian, as he began whistling the
+latest comic song.
+
+"It looks like a storm," remarked Blake, as he and Joe came in one
+evening from a stroll on the beach.
+
+"And when it does come," added Joe, "it's going to be a bad one, so old
+Abe, the fisherman, says. They're putting storm signals up all along the
+coast, and all leaves of absence for the life guards have been cancelled
+for the next week. A storm sometimes lasts that long, Abe says."
+
+"A storm; eh?" remarked Mr. Ringold, absentmindedly. "Well, that will
+interfere with our plans for to-morrow. I had intended to have some
+peaceful scenes on the beach; but I'll postpone them. I wish I could
+work out this wreck problem," he added, as he pored over the manuscript
+of the sea drama.
+
+One did not need to go outdoors that morning to appreciate the fury of
+the storm. The gale had come in the night, and the force of the wind had
+steadily increased until its violence was terrific. There was no rain,
+as yet, but the sky was obscured by hurrying black clouds.
+
+"Let's go down to the beach and see the big waves," proposed Blake to
+Joe after breakfast.
+
+"All right," agreed his chum. "There won't be anything doing in the
+moving picture line to-day, I guess."
+
+"Say, that's some surf!" cried Joe in his chum's ear, as they got to the
+sandy stretch. "Look at those waves!"
+
+"I guess they're what you call 'mountain high,'" answered Blake, himself
+yelling, for their ordinary voices could not be heard above the thunder
+of the surf and the roar of the gale.
+
+They stood for a few minutes watching the big rollers pounding on the
+sand, and then, looking down the strand, they saw a figure running
+toward them.
+
+"Here comes a life guard," remarked Joe.
+
+"And he acts as if something was up," added Blake.
+
+Nearer came the man, dressed in yellow oilskins, for the spray from the
+sea flew far inland, almost like rain. Joe and Blake had on rubber
+coats.
+
+"What is it?" cried Blake, as the man came opposite.
+
+He held his hands in funnel shape and yelled:
+
+"A wreck--a big sailing vessel is coming ashore! Her masts are gone, and
+she can't get off! She'll strike soon. I want all the men I can get to
+help us with the breeches buoy. We can't launch our boat--too heavy
+surf!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+THE DOOMED VESSEL
+
+
+"You say there's a wreck?" cried Blake.
+
+"Yes, we just made her out through the glass. She's driving on the rocks
+fast. The current is setting inshore and the wind is helping it."
+
+"Where is she?" asked Joe.
+
+"Right down there," answered the life guard. "But she'll come up farther
+this way," and he pointed down toward the rocks opposite which the boys
+had first surprised the wreckers at work.
+
+"I've got to give the alarm," went on the life saver. "We need all the
+help we can get. We're short-handed, anyhow, and two of our men were
+hurt early this morning trying to launch the surf-boat."
+
+"Can't you get some of the fishermen from around here?" asked Joe.
+
+"That's what I came for."
+
+"And we'll help, too!" cried Blake, bracing himself by leaning against
+the wind, which seemed to grow stronger every minute.
+
+"Sure we will," added Joe. "Can you see the vessel?" he asked, peering
+eagerly into the spume and spray.
+
+"Maybe she's drifted far enough up by now," went on the coast guard, as
+he looked intently in the direction he had pointed. "Yes," he cried a
+moment later, "I can catch glimpses of her at times, when the waves go
+down a bit. See! There she is now!"
+
+Looking in the direction the guard pointed, Blake and Joe caught a
+glimpse of a distant black object rising and falling at the mercy of the
+wind and waves. It was the hull of a vessel, and when Blake used the
+glass the guard handed him a moment later, he could see the jagged
+stumps of broken masts.
+
+"She's in a bad way," remarked the lad, gravely.
+
+"Indeed she is," assented the life saver.
+
+"I wonder if my father is in any such storm as this, on his way to
+China?" mused Joe, as he, too, looked through the binoculars.
+
+"It's a bad storm--and a big one, too," said the guard. "But I must
+hurry on and give the alarm to the fishermen. The ship will strike soon,
+and we want to send a line aboard if we can."
+
+"Wait!" cried Blake, as the man started off. "We'll tell the fishermen.
+You can go back to the station. We'll come to help as soon as we can,
+and bring all the men we can find."
+
+"Good!" shouted the man. "It'll take some time to get the apparatus in
+shape, and we'll have to drag it up the beach from the station, to about
+the place where she'll come on the rocks. Go ahead, give the alarm, and
+I'll go back. Whew! But this is a fierce storm!"
+
+"Come on!" cried Blake to his chum, and they raced toward the little
+fishing hamlet.
+
+"Say!" shouted Joe. "I've got an idea!"
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"The wreck--it'll come close on shore, the guard says; why not make some
+moving pictures of it? They'll be just what Mr. Hadley wants."
+
+"That's it!" yelled Blake. "You've struck it. Go on and tell Mr.
+Ringold, Mr. Hadley and the others, and I'll get the fishermen. Then
+we'll go down the beach until we meet the life savers. It's a great
+chance, Joe!"
+
+The lads separated, one to arouse the fishermen, most of whom were in
+their shacks, for it was out of the question to lift the nets in the
+tremendous seas that were running.
+
+"Come on!" cried Blake, as he saw old Abe Haskill come out to look at
+the weather. "Wreck--ship coming ashore. The coast guards need help!"
+
+"Aye, aye, lad. We're with you!" cried the sturdy old man. "I'll get
+the boys. A wreck; eh? Pity the poor sailors that come ashore in such a
+blow!"
+
+Having given the alarm, Blake turned back to join his chum and the
+others of the theatrical colony.
+
+"We may need all three cameras," he reasoned; "it is such a good chance
+we don't want to risk it on one film."
+
+Blake found Mr. Hadley and his chum, with the theatrical manager and the
+male members of the company, ready to set out. Joe had his own camera,
+while Mr. Hadley was getting the largest one in readiness.
+
+"Let's take the automatic, too," suggested Joe. "We can start it going
+and not have to worry about it."
+
+"All right," agreed Blake.
+
+"Say, this is the very chance we wanted!" cried Mr. Ringold. "Think of
+it! A regular wreck, right at our doors!"
+
+"Oh, but the poor sailors!" exclaimed Miss Shay. "I do hope they may be
+saved!"
+
+"Of course they can!" cried C. C. Piper. "We'll all help. Never fear;
+we'll save them!"
+
+His tone and manner, to say nothing of his words, were in such contrast
+to his usual demeanor that everyone looked at his or her neighbor in
+surprise.
+
+"Don't give up!" went on the comedian, cheerfully. "We'll help the life
+guards--we'll do anything. We'll save those sailors!"
+
+"Well, get on to Gloomy; would you!" exclaimed Joe, in a low voice, to
+his chum. "That is the best ever! It's the first time he hasn't
+predicted a calamity."
+
+"And just when anyone else would," added Blake. "For it sure is going to
+be hard work to save anyone from a vessel that comes ashore in such a
+storm as this," and he looked toward the tumbling billows in view from
+the windows.
+
+Films were threaded into the moving picture cameras, the mechanism was
+tested, and then the whole company, even to the ladies, set forth.
+
+"I hope the wreck gets near enough so we can get some good pictures of
+it," said Mr. Ringold.
+
+"It'll have to come pretty well in shore, or the breeches buoy rope
+won't reach," said Mr. Hadley. "I guess we can get some good pictures."
+
+"It's good it doesn't rain," went on the theatrical man; "though I think
+it's going to, soon. We'll have to get up on some elevation to avoid the
+spray."
+
+Down the beach they made their way, to be joined presently by the band
+of sturdy fishermen.
+
+"There she is!" cried old Abe, as he pointed out to sea. "There she is,
+blowing and drifting in fast. And right toward the Dolphin Rocks,
+too--the worst place on the beach!" They all gazed toward the doomed
+vessel, that was now much nearer shore. Blake even thought he could
+descry figures on deck, clinging to the stumps of masts.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+OUT OF THE WRECK
+
+
+"Here come the life savers!" cried Blake a little later, as through the
+spray that flew over the beach a party of men, in yellow oilskins, could
+be seen dragging something over the sand.
+
+"Yes, and few enough of 'em there are to do the work," said old Abe
+Haskill. "The government ought to put more men at the station."
+
+"Some were hurt, trying to launch the boat this morning," said Joe.
+
+"Very likely," agreed the old fisherman. "The sea can be cruel when it
+wants to."
+
+"And there comes Tom Cardiff!" added Blake, as he pointed to another
+oncoming figure.
+
+"Yes, and Harry Stanton is with him," remarked Abe. "They must have left
+the lighthouse to look after itself, and they're going to help in the
+rescue."
+
+"No danger to the light, now that them pesky wreckers have been caught,"
+remarked one of the fishermen.
+
+"Boom!" came a dull report over the waste of tumultuous waters.
+
+"What's that?" asked Blake.
+
+"The signal gun!" cried Abe. "She must be sinking and they want us to
+hurry help. But she's too far out yet for a line to reach her."
+
+Again the signal gun sounded, and hearing it, the life savers hastened
+their pace, but it was hard work dragging their apparatus through the
+sand.
+
+"Let's help 'em!" cried Joe. "The ship is drifting up this way. If we
+make pictures it will have to be from about here. Let's help drag the
+wagon!"
+
+"That's right!" echoed Blake, and the boys, leaving their cameras in
+charge of Mr. Hadley, hastened to relieve the fagged-out life savers.
+The fishermen and some of the theatrical men joined in also.
+
+"Right about here," directed the captain of the life saving crew, when
+the cart containing the gun, "shears" and other parts of the breeches
+buoy had been dragged farther along. "She'll strike about here, I
+fancy."
+
+The doomed vessel was now much nearer shore, and on her wave-washed
+decks could be seen the sailors, some of them lashed to the stumps of
+masts, others to whatever of the standing rigging offered a hold
+against the grasp of the sea.
+
+"Get ready, men!" the commander went on. "The wind is bringing her in
+fast, and it's going to be against us shooting a line over her, but
+we'll do our best. If she strikes now, so much the better."
+
+"Why?" asked Blake, wonderingly.
+
+"Because then she'll be stationary, and we can keep our main line taut.
+If she keeps drifting inshore while we're hauling the buoy back and
+forth it means that we'll have to keep tightening up all the while."
+
+"There, she's struck!" suddenly called one of the life savers. All gazed
+out to sea, where, amid a smother of foam, the craft could be seen. Her
+change in position was evident. Her decks sloped more, and instead of
+drifting she remained in one position.
+
+"The rocks have gripped her," spoke old Abe, solemnly. "She'll go to
+pieces soon now."
+
+"Then get busy!" cried C. C. Piper, who seemed not to have lost his
+strangely cheerful mood. "Save those men!"
+
+"That's what we're going to do," said the captain. "All ready now, men."
+
+"And that means we'd better get busy, Joe," said Blake. "We can't do
+anything to help just now. Besides, there are a lot of men here. We
+must get our cameras in place."
+
+"That's right, Blake," and the two lads got their apparatus in shape to
+operate, Mr. Hadley doing the same. The machines were set up on some
+sand hills, far enough back to be out of the spray, which was like a fog
+close to the surface of the water.
+
+While some of the life savers and their volunteer assistants were
+burying in the sand the heavy anchor that was to hold one end of the
+rope on which the breeches buoy would travel, others were getting ready
+to fire the gun.
+
+In brief, the breeches buoy is operated as follows: A small mortar, or
+cannon, is used, and an elongated projectile is placed in it. Attached
+to the projectile is a thin and strong line. It is coiled in a box and
+placed on the sand near the mortar. The coils are laid around pegs in a
+peculiar manner to prevent tangling. The pegs are then pulled out, and
+the coils lie one upon the other so that the line may be paid out
+rapidly.
+
+When the projectile is fired toward the ship, the aim is to make it
+shoot over her deck, carrying the cord with it. This is called "getting
+a line aboard." Once this is done the crew on the vessel can, by means
+of the small cord, pull aboard a heavy cable. This is made fast to the
+highest point possible.
+
+There is now a cable extending from the shore to the ship, the shore end
+being made fast to the anchor in the sand. The cable is raised as high
+as possible on a pair of wooden "shears," to keep it above the waves.
+
+Running on pulley wheels, on this stout, tight rope, is the "breeches
+buoy." This is literally a pair of canvas breeches, into which the
+person to be saved places himself, getting into the apparatus from the
+deck of the sinking ship. There is a line fast to the buoy, one end
+being on shore. When the signal is given those on the beach pull, the
+buoy and the person in it are pulled along the tight rope by means of
+the pulleys to the beach and saved, though often they are well drenched
+in the process. Those remaining on the ship now pull the empty buoy
+back, and other persons come ashore until all are saved.
+
+Sometimes, instead of the canvas breeches, a small enclosed car is used
+to slide along the rope. In this car more than one person can get, and
+they are protected from the waves.
+
+"All ready?" asked the captain of the life saving crew, after he had
+inspected what his men and the others helping them had done.
+
+"All ready, sir!" came the response.
+
+"Then fire!"
+
+The mortar boomed, through the wind shot the projectile toward the ship,
+carrying with it the swiftly uncoiling rope. All watched anxiously.
+
+"Too short!" cried the captain a moment later, lowering the glass
+through which he had watched the effect of the shot. "Use a little more
+powder this time."
+
+The projectile was hauled back through the waves, and attached to
+another line, coiled in readiness, while some of the life savers busied
+themselves recoiling the first rope, in case the second shot failed too.
+
+It did, again falling short.
+
+"Try more powder," said the captain, grimly. "We've got to reach her."
+
+"And soon," murmured old Abe. "She's breaking up fast."
+
+Once more the mortar was fired, Blake and Joe, as well as Mr. Hadley,
+getting films of every move.
+
+"There she goes!" cried the captain, in delight, as he watched the third
+shot. "Over her decks as clean as you'd want! Now to get the poor souls
+ashore!"
+
+On board the wrecked ship could be observed a scene of activity. The
+sailors began hauling on the line, and presently the big cable began
+paying out from shore. Soon it reached the side of the ship, to be
+hauled up, and made fast to the stump of one of the masts.
+
+"Lively now, boys!" cried the captain. "Pull taut and then run out the
+buoy. She can't last much longer!"
+
+The men made redoubled efforts, and Blake and Joe, leaving their
+automatic camera working, while Mr. Hadley turned the operation of his
+over to Macaroni, the three moving picture experts aided in the work of
+rescue.
+
+Soon the breeches buoy was hauled out to the ship for its first
+passenger, and presently the sagging of the cable told that some one was
+in it.
+
+"Pull, boys!" cried the captain of the life savers, and through the
+dashing waves, that threw their crests over the shipwrecked person, the
+buoy was hauled ashore.
+
+"Grab him!" cried the captain, as the first one saved was pulled up high
+on the beach.
+
+"It isn't a him, captain!" cried one of the men. "It's a woman!"
+
+"Bless my sea boots!" yelled the captain. "A woman! Are there any more
+of you aboard--or any children?"
+
+"I--I'm the only one," was the panting answer, for she had swallowed
+much water. "I'm the captain's wife. Can you--can you save the others?
+They made me come first."
+
+"That's right! Women and children always first!" shouted the captain.
+
+"Of course we'll save the others," yelled C. C., who was running
+excitedly about, helping all he could. "We'll save every one!" he
+repeated.
+
+"Gloomy in a new rôle--a happy one!" remarked Blake.
+
+The buoy was hauled back, and another was saved--one of the sailors,
+this time. He reported that there were in all twenty-five hands on the
+ship, exclusive of the captain.
+
+"He'll come last, of course," he said, simply.
+
+"Of course," agreed Abe Haskill. "The captain allers does that. Once
+more, boys!"
+
+Again was a rescue effected, the moving picture cameras registering
+faithfully everything that went on. The work had to be done quickly now,
+for the vessel was fast breaking up.
+
+"Two more left!" cried the chief life saver. "Jack up that cable, boys;
+she's sagging. I guess the old ship is working farther in. Jack her up!"
+
+By means of pulleys attached to the main rope it was made tauter. Then
+came a heavy sag on it.
+
+"What's that?" asked one of the life savers.
+
+"It's two of 'em--two of 'em, clinging to the buoy!" cried Blake, who
+was watching through a glass. "I guess the ship must be going to pieces
+too fast to allow for another trip. You've got to save two at once."
+
+"And we can do it!" cried the captain. "All together, now, boys! But
+they're going to get wet!"
+
+By reason of the added weight the rope was sagging badly, and the men
+clinging to the buoy could be seen half in and half out of the water.
+
+"Lively, men, or they'll drown!" yelled the captain.
+
+Hardy and intrepid as were the life-savers and the volunteers who had
+assembled to help them, they paused a moment now. It seemed impossible
+that the two in the buoy could be pulled ashore in time to be saved.
+
+Over them broke great seas, the waves hissing and foaming as though
+angry at being cheated of their prey. The storm-swept waters seemed to
+seize on the rope, as though to pull it beneath the billows. The anchor
+that held the rope which passed over the "shears" seemed to be pulling
+out of the sand packed around it.
+
+"Come on, men!" cried the captain. "Take a brace now, and we'll have 'em
+ashore in a jiffy!"
+
+"But she's slipping!" cried a grizzled seaman. "She can't hold any
+longer. The whole business is going!"
+
+"She can't go until we git 'em ashore!" yelled the captain of the
+life-savers. "I won't let her! Here, Jim Black, you mosey back there and
+pile more sand around that anchor. Now then, men, pull as though you
+meant it. What! You're not going to have it said that you let a little
+cat's paw of wind like this beat you; are you?"
+
+Something of the captain's courage seemed to infuse itself into his men.
+They had been half-hearted before, but they were brave now. Once more
+they ranged themselves on the rope that was used to haul the buoy from
+the ship to shore. It was as though the waves had tried to intimidate
+them, and had been bidden defiance.
+
+The weight of the two persons in the buoy was almost too much. The waves
+had a doubly large surface against which to break, and well the captain
+knew that there was a limit to the strain to which the tackle could be
+subjected. Once the main rope leading from the anchor to the ship, on
+which cable the buoy ran, parted, and nothing could save those last two
+lives. No wonder the captain wanted haste.
+
+"Haul away!" he bellowed through the roar of the wind, using his hands
+as a trumpet. "Haul away, men!"
+
+His companions braced themselves in the shifting sand. They bent their
+backs. Their arms swelled into bunches of muscles that had been trained
+in the hard school of the sea.
+
+"Will the haul-rope stand it?" cried one man.
+
+"She's _got_ to stand it!" cried the captain. "She's just _got_ to!
+Pull, men; you're not half hauling!"
+
+"If that rope gives," faltered an old, gray-haired man, who seemed too
+aged for this life, "if that rope gives way----"
+
+"Don't you talk about it!" snapped the captain. "I'll take all the
+responsibility of that rope. It'll hold all right. I looked at it the
+other day. All you've got to do is pull! Do you hear me? Pull as you
+never pulled before!"
+
+Once more the backs of the men bent to the strain. The moving picture
+boys, watching and waiting; filled with anxiety even as they filmed the
+wreck, saw that the rise and fall of the waves had a good deal to do
+with the rescue.
+
+"They can pull better when the waves don't wash over those two poor
+souls in the buoy," observed Blake.
+
+"Yes, there's less resistance," agreed Joe. "Oh, there comes a big one!"
+and, as he spoke, an immense comber buried from sight the two whom the
+life-savers were endeavoring to pull from the grip of the sea.
+
+"If they can only hold their breaths long enough, they may come through
+it," said Blake. "But it's a tough proposition."
+
+"It sure is," agreed his chum. They had gone back to snap a few
+pictures, and then, finding that the automatic apparatus was working
+well, they again joined the group on the sands.
+
+"Another pull or two and we'll have 'em ashore!" yelled the captain.
+"Lively, men!"
+
+As he spoke a grizzled seaman rushed up to him.
+
+"That anchor's slippin' ag'in!" he bellowed through the noise of the
+storm. "I can't put sand on fast enough to hold it!"
+
+"Then I'll have some one help you!" cried the captain. "Here, Si Watson!
+You git back there and help Jim pile sand on that anchor. It mustn't be
+allowed to pull out--do you understand? It mustn't pull out if--if you
+have to--sit on it!"
+
+"Aye--aye, sir," was the answer, and the two men ran back to where the
+anchor was buried in the beach, to pile the sand on with the shovels
+provided for that purpose.
+
+"Now one more pull, and we'll have 'em safe!" yelled the captain a
+little later, and with a mighty haul his men bent to their task.
+
+"There they come through the last line of surf!" yelled Joe, pointing to
+the buoy containing the two shipwrecked persons.
+
+"If only the rope holds," murmured his chum.
+
+Even as he spoke there came a cry from the two men who had been sent to
+watch that the anchor in the sand did not drag.
+
+"It's coming! It's coming out!" shouted one of them.
+
+"Sit on it! Hold it down!" yelled the captain. "Into the water after
+'em, boys! Come on, ye old seadogs!"
+
+There was a snap--the rope had parted, but so near to the beach were the
+two that the life-savers waded into the foam and spume, and grabbed
+them, holding them safe.
+
+They were hauled to the beach, on which huddled the others who had been
+saved from the wreck.
+
+The lone woman had been taken in charge by the feminine members of the
+theatrical troupe, who led her toward their boarding house. They said
+they would soon have hot coffee ready for all the sailors.
+
+"Get 'em out of the buoy!" cried the captain, as the two last rescued
+were seen to be well-nigh insensible. They were assisted out, and sank
+helpless on the sand.
+
+"Pretty far gone," remarked a life saver. "One must be the captain, I
+reckon."
+
+"And the other," began Harry Stanton, keeper of the Rockypoint light;
+"the other--why, if it isn't Nate Duncan, who used to be my assistant!
+He came out of the wreck--Nate Duncan!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+A NEW QUEST
+
+
+From where he was standing by a group of the rescued sailors, Joe Duncan
+heard what the lighthouse keeper said. The lad rushed forward.
+
+"Nate Duncan!" he repeated, as he gazed at the two men, who were just
+beginning to revive under the application of stimulants. "Which one of
+you is Mr. Duncan?" he asked, eagerly.
+
+"I--I am," faltered the younger of the two men. "Why, who wants me. Oh,
+it's you, Harry Stanton," and he looked at the lighthouse keeper
+standing near him. "I--I can explain everything. I----"
+
+"It wasn't I who asked," spoke the lighthouse keeper. "It was this lad
+here," and he indicated Joe. "Your son."
+
+"My son!" cried the rescued man. "Are you sure--can it be true. Oh, is
+it possible? Don't disappoint me! Are you my son?" and he held out his
+hands to Joe.
+
+"I--I think so, father," spoke the boy, softly. "I--I have been looking
+for you a long time."
+
+"And I have, too, Joe; yes, you are my boy. I can see it now. Oh, the
+dear Lord be praised!" and there was moisture in his eyes that was not
+the salt from the raging sea.
+
+"But--but," went on Joe. "I thought you went to China. I wrote to you at
+Hong Kong."
+
+"I did start for there, Joe; but the vessel on which I sailed was
+wrecked, and this craft, bound back for San Francisco, picked us up. So
+I didn't get very far. Oh, but I have found my boy!"
+
+The others drew a little aside while father and son, so strangely
+restored to each other by the fury of the sea, clasped each other close.
+
+"Now, friends," said Mr. Ringold, bustling up; "those of you who are wet
+through had better let us take care of you. We have room for you all,
+and I'll send word to any of your friends if you'll give me the
+addresses. Your wreck, in a way, has been a great thing for me, for I
+have obtained some wonderful moving pictures of it and this rescue. It
+will make a great drama. So I want to help you all I can."
+
+By this time the captain of the vessel had been revived and with his
+wife and crew was taken to the theatrical boarding place, where the
+women busied themselves getting warm drinks and food, and the men
+changed into dry garments loaned by the fishermen and the others. Soon
+after the last one came ashore the wreck broke up and sank.
+
+"Well, of all the wonderful things I ever experienced, this is the most
+marvelous," declared Mr. Duncan, as he sat with his son's hand in his.
+"I am wrecked twice, and come back to the same place I ran away from, to
+find Joe waiting for me."
+
+"It is wonderful," agreed Joe, wondering how he was going to bring up
+the subject of the wreckers.
+
+"Yes, this is the very place I left in such a hurry, a few months ago,"
+went on Mr. Duncan.
+
+"Would you mind telling me why you left so suddenly?" asked the
+lighthouse keeper, solemnly. "Of course it's none of my affair; but I
+might say it concerns you mightily, Nate Duncan. Can you prove your
+innocence?"
+
+"Prove my innocence! Of what charge?" cried the man.
+
+"Oh, father, of course we don't believe it!" burst out Joe, unable to
+keep silent longer; "but Hemp Danforth says you were implicated with him
+in wrecking boats by means of false lights!"
+
+"Hemp Danforth says that!" cried Joe's father.
+
+"Yes. Tell me--tell all of them--that it isn't so!" pleaded the lad.
+
+"Of course it isn't so, Joe."
+
+"But why did you leave so suddenly, and why did the officer come for you
+the next day?" asked the lighthouse keeper. "It looked bad, Nate."
+
+"I suppose it did," said Mr. Duncan, slowly. "But it can easily be
+explained. I was mixed up with those wreckers----"
+
+"Father!" cried Joe.
+
+"But not the way you think, son," went on the former lighthouse worker
+quickly. "Hemp Danforth and I had a quarrel. It was over some business
+matters that he and I were mixed up in before I learned that he and his
+gang were wreckers.
+
+"We quarreled, because he tried to defraud me of my rights, and I had to
+give him a severe beating. Perhaps I was wrong, but I acted on impulse.
+Then I heard that Hemp, to get even, had accused me of being a wrecker,
+and he had his men ready to swear to false testimony about me; even that
+I let the light go out, which I never did.
+
+"I knew I could not refute it, especially at that time, and as something
+came up that made it necessary for me to leave for China at once, I
+decided to go away. I realize now that it must have looked bad,
+especially after the charge against me. But now I am ready to stay and
+face it. I can prove that I had nothing to do with the wrecking, and
+that as soon as I learned that Hemp and his gang were concerned in it I
+left them. If we can get hold of Hemp I can easily make him acknowledge
+this."
+
+"You can easily get hold of him," said Blake. "He and his crowd are all
+in jail. They were caught in the act of setting a false light."
+
+"And I don't believe you'll even have to prove your innocence," said Mr.
+Ringold. "They'll be convicted, and their evidence will never be
+accepted. You are already cleared, Mr. Duncan."
+
+"My name cleared--and my son with me--what else could I want?" murmured
+the happy man.
+
+"But, Dad," asked Joe, his face showing his delight that he could now
+use that word. "Why did you have to leave so suddenly?"
+
+"To try and find your sister, Joe."
+
+"My sister?"
+
+"Yes, I have a daughter, as well as a son," went on Mr. Duncan. "I have
+found one, and now to find the other."
+
+"Where is she?" cried Joe. "What is she like? Did I ever see her when we
+were both little?"
+
+"Indeed you did, and when your mother died I left you with a family,
+who later disappeared. You must tell me your story, Joe, and how you
+found me. But now as to your sister.
+
+"Most unexpectedly, after years of searching, I got word that she had
+been brought up in a minister's family, and that lately she had gone as
+a missionary's helper to China. I had long planned to take a sea voyage,
+and when I got this news I decided to go at once, and bring her back.
+Then I was to renew my search for you.
+
+"An agent in San Francisco told me of a vessel about to sail for Hong
+Kong, and I deserted my post at the lighthouse and sailed. I admit I did
+wrong in leaving so suddenly, but it seemed to be the best thing to do.
+I did not want to be arrested as a wrecker even though I was innocent."
+
+"I'll forgive you," said Mr. Stanton, with a smile. "I'm so glad to
+learn you're not one of them pesky wreckers."
+
+And then began a long series of explanations, Mr. Duncan listening with
+interest to Joe's story, and, in turn, telling how his vessel was
+wrecked, and how he and the others were picked up, only to be wrecked
+again, nearer home.
+
+Joe's father paused a moment and then said:
+
+"But, son, tell me something of yourself. I've been doing all the
+talking, it seems. Are you really in this queer business of taking
+moving pictures?"
+
+"That's what I am, Dad--Blake and I. We've been in it some time, and
+we're doing well. We hope to be in it some time longer, too. If it
+hadn't been for these pictures I might never have found you."
+
+"That's so, Joe. After this I'll never pass a moving picture theatre
+without thinking what it has done for me. It gave me back my boy!"
+
+"Now I think you have talked enough, Mr. Duncan," said one of the women,
+coming up. "You had a much harder time of it than we did, and you must
+quiet down. You must have swallowed a lot of salt water."
+
+"I guess I did--enough to preserve about a barrel of pickles," he
+admitted, with a smile. "I would be glad of a little rest. But you won't
+leave me; will you, Joe?"
+
+"No indeed, Dad. I've had enough trouble finding you to lose you now.
+But you get a good rest. Blake and I have a lot to do yet. I want to get
+these latest films in shape to send off for development. I hope they
+came out good."
+
+"I don't see how they could--with the weather conditions what they
+were," remarked C. C. Piper, joining the group.
+
+"Now that isn't a nice thing to say," Miss Lee reminded him. "Why can't
+you be cheerful?"
+
+"Why, I'm not at all gloomy. I only said----"
+
+"You tried to throw cold water on what the boys did," she reminded him.
+
+"Water! Say, if anybody says water to me again to-day, I don't know what
+I will do!" exclaimed Blake. "Shame on you, C. C.! You ought to be more
+careful."
+
+"Oh, well, I didn't mean anything. I guess those pictures will be all
+right--if the salt spray doesn't spoil the celluloid," he added, as he
+moved off.
+
+"You're hopeless," declared Miss Lee. "I'll never speak to you again."
+
+The nonsensical talk served to raise the spirits of those who had been
+rather plunged in gloom ever since the wreck. Mr. Duncan was given a
+room to himself where he could be quiet and recover from the shock of
+having been so near death.
+
+The moving picture boys found plenty to do. In addition to getting off
+to the developing studio the films they had taken that day, they had to
+prepare for a hard day's work to follow, for, now that he had the wreck
+scene, Mr. Ringold declared that he needed some others to go with it to
+round out the drama of the sea that he had in mind when coming to the
+coast.
+
+It may seem that it would not pay to go to such big expense to make a
+single films play, or even one or two, but I assure my readers that it
+is not uncommon for a concern to spend ten thousand dollars in making a
+single play, and some elaborate productions, such as Shakespearian
+plays, and historical dramas, will cost over fifty thousand dollars to
+get ready to be filmed.
+
+Months are spent in preparation, rehearsals go on day after day, and
+finally the play itself is given, often not lasting more than an hour or
+half hour on the screen, yet representing many weary weeks of work, and
+the expenditure of large sums of money. Such is the moving picture
+business to-day.
+
+The boys were kept busy nearly all the rest of that week, and then came
+a period of calm. Joe sought out his father, who had steadily gained in
+strength after his sensational rescue, and began to question him as to
+his experiences, for Mr. Duncan had only given a mere outline of his
+experiences up to this time.
+
+"You must have had some strenuous adventures," said Blake, who went with
+his chum.
+
+"I certainly did. But, according to Joe, here, they weren't much more
+than what you boys went through with in New York, and getting those
+Indian films."
+
+"That's right; we did have a time," admitted Blake.
+
+"Well, I'm glad I've got my boy, anyhow," went on the former lighthouse
+worker, with a fond glance at Joe. "Nothing is worse than to have folks,
+and not know where to find 'em. I hungered and longed for Joe for days
+and nights, and now I have him. And I'm not going to lose him again,
+either, if I can help it," and he clasped his son's hand warmly in his
+palm, while tears dimmed his eyes. Joe, too, was much affected.
+
+"If you only had your daughter now, you'd be all right," said Blake,
+anxious to turn the subject.
+
+"Yes, so I would. My poor little girl! We must locate her next, Joe."
+
+"But what about my sister?" asked Joe. "Can we find her?"
+
+"We'll try, Joe, my boy!" exclaimed his father. "You and I together."
+
+"Count me in!" cried Blake.
+
+"I sure will," agreed Joe. "I wonder what will happen to us."
+
+And what did, and how the two lads went on their new quest, will be
+related in the next volume of this series, to be entitled "The Moving
+Picture Boys in the Jungle; Or, Stirring Times Among the Wild Animals."
+In it will be told of their adventures and you may learn whether or not
+they found Joe's sister.
+
+"Well, we got everything we came for," said Mr. Ringold, a few days
+later, when the shipwrecked ones had been sent to their homes with the
+exception of Mr. Duncan, who remained with Joe.
+
+"Yes, all the dramas, and the storm and wreck as well," agreed Mr.
+Hadley.
+
+"But we'll never have such good luck again," predicted C. C. Piper, with
+a return of his gloomy manner. "I know something will happen to us on
+our way back East."
+
+"Oh, cheer up," urged Miss Lee; "the sun is shining."
+
+"But it will rain to-morrow," declared the comedian, as he did some odd
+little dance steps.
+
+Preparations for taking the theatrical company back East were made; but
+Joe, Blake and Mr. Duncan were uncertain about accompanying them. While
+Joe and his father were talking over their plans, Blake went to San
+Francisco on a vacation for a week.
+
+But it was not much of a rest for him. While there he learned of a prize
+offered for the best moving picture of the fire department in action,
+and, though many operators tried, Blake's film was regarded as the
+best. He "scooped" the others easily, and beat some of the most skillful
+men in the business.
+
+But now, for a time, we will take leave of the moving picture boys.
+
+THE END
+
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+
+THE FAMOUS ROVER BOYS SERIES
+By Arthur W. Winfield
+
+American Stories of American Boys and Girls
+ONE MILLION COPIES ALREADY SOLD OF THIS SERIES
+
+12mo. Cloth. Handsomely printed and illustrated.
+Price, 60 Cents per volume, postpaid
+
+THE ROVER BOYS IN THE AIR Or From College Campus to the Clouds
+THE ROVER BOYS DOWN EAST Or The Struggle for the Stanhope Fortune
+THE ROVER BOYS AT COLLEGE Or The Right Road and the Wrong
+THE ROVER BOYS ON TREASURE ISLE Or The Strange Cruise of the Steam Yacht
+THE ROVER BOYS ON THE FARM Or The Last Days at Putnam Hall
+THE ROVER BOYS IN SOUTHERN WATERS Or The Deserted Steam Yacht
+THE ROVER BOYS ON THE PLAINS Or The Mystery of Red Rock Ranch
+THE ROVER BOYS ON THE RIVER Or The Search for the Missing Houseboat
+THE ROVER BOYS IN CAMP Or The Rivals of Pine Island
+THE ROVER BOYS ON LAND AND SEA Or The Crusoes of Seven Islands
+THE ROVER BOYS IN THE MOUNTAINS Or A Hunt for Fame and Fortune
+THE ROVER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES Or The Secret of the Island Cave
+THE ROVER BOYS OUT WEST Or The Search for a Lost Mine
+THE ROVER BOYS IN THE JUNGLE Or Stirring Adventures in Africa
+THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN Or A Chase for a Fortune
+THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL Or The Cadets of Putnam Hall
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP - NEW YORK
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+THE PUTNAM HALL SERIES
+Companion Stories to the Famous Rover Boys Series
+By Arthur M. Winfield
+
+Open-air pastimes have always been popular with boys, and should always
+be encouraged. These books mingle adventure and fact, and will appeal to
+every manly boy.
+
+12mo. Handsomely printed and illustrated.
+Price 60 Cents Per Volume, Postpaid.
+
+THE PUTNAM HALL MYSTERY Or The School Chums' Strange Discovery
+
+The particulars of the mystery and the solution of it are very
+interesting reading.
+
+THE PUTNAM HALL ENCAMPMENT Or The Secret of the Old Mill
+
+A story full of vim and vigor, telling what the cadets did during the
+summer encampment, including a visit to a mysterious old mill, said to
+be haunted. The book has a wealth of fun in it.
+
+THE PUTNAM HALL REBELLION Or The Rival Runaways
+
+The boys had good reasons for running away during Captain Putnam's
+absence. They had plenty of fun, and several queer adventures.
+
+THE PUTNAM HALL CHAMPIONS Or Bound to Win Out
+
+In this volume the Putnam Hall Cadets show what they can do in various
+keen rivalries on the athletic field and elsewhere. There is one victory
+which leads to a most unlooked-for discovery.
+
+THE PUTNAM HALL CADETS Or Good Times in School and Out
+
+The cadets are lively, flesh-and-blood fellows, bound to make friends
+from the start. There are some keen rivalries, in school and out, and
+something is told of a remarkable midnight feast and a hazing that had
+an unlooked-for ending.
+
+THE PUTNAM HALL RIVALS Or Fun and Sport Afloat and Ashore
+
+It is a lively, rattling, breezy story of school life in this country
+written by one who knows all about its pleasures and its perplexities,
+its glorious excitements, and its chilling disappointments.
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP - NEW YORK
+
+
+
+THE RISE IN LIFE SERIES
+By Horatio Alger, Jr.
+
+These are Copyrighted Stories which cannot be obtained elsewhere. They
+are the stories last written by this famous author.
+
+12mo. Illustrated. Bound in cloth, stamped in colored inks.
+Price, 40 Cents per Volume, Postpaid.
+
+THE YOUNG BOOK AGENT, Or Frank Hardy's Road to Success
+
+A plain but uncommonly interesting tale of everyday life, describing the
+ups and downs of a boy book-agent.
+
+FROM FARM TO FORTUNE, Or Nat Nason's Strange Experience
+
+Nat was a poor country lad. Work on the farm was hard, and after a
+quarrel with his uncle, with whom he resided, he struck out for himself.
+
+OUT FOR BUSINESS, Or Robert Frost's Strange Career
+
+Relates the adventures of a country boy who is compelled to leave home
+and seek his fortune in the great world at large.
+
+FALLING IN WITH FORTUNE, Or The Experiences of a Young Secretary
+
+This is a companion tale to "Out for Business," but complete in itself,
+and tells of the further doings of Robert Frost as private secretary.
+
+YOUNG CAPTAIN JACK, Or The Son of a Soldier
+
+The scene is laid in the South during the Civil War, and the hero is a
+waif who was cast up by the sea and adopted by a rich Southern planter.
+
+NELSON THE NEWSBOY, Or Afloat in New York
+
+Mr. Alger is always at his best in the portrayal of life in New York
+City, and this story is among the best he has given our young readers.
+
+LOST AT SEA, Or Robert Roscoe's Strange Cruise
+
+A sea story of uncommon interest. The hero falls in with a strange
+derelict--a ship given over to the wild animals of a menagerie.
+
+JERRY, THE BACKWOODS BOY, Or the Parkhurst Treasure
+
+Depicts life on a farm of New York State. The mystery of the treasure
+will fascinate every boy. Jerry is a character well worth knowing.
+
+RANDY OF THE RIVER, Or the adventures of a Young Deckhand
+
+Life on a river steamboat is not so romantic as some young people may
+imagine, but Randy Thompson wanted work and took what was offered.
+
+JOE, THE HOTEL BOY, Or Winning Out by Pluck.
+
+A graphic account of the adventures of a country boy in the city.
+
+BEN LOGAN'S TRIUMPH, Or The Boys of Boxwood Academy
+
+The trials and triumphs of a city newsboy in the country.
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP - NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+THE FLAG AND FRONTIER SERIES
+By Captain Ralph Bonehill.
+
+These bracing stories of American life, exploration and adventure should
+find a place in every school and home library for the enthusiasm they
+kindle in American heroism and history. The historical background is
+absolutely correct. Every volume complete in itself.
+
+12mo. Bound in cloth. Stamped in colors.
+Price, 60 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.
+
+WITH BOONE ON THE FRONTIER, Or The Pioneer Boys of Old Kentucky.
+
+Relates the true-to-life adventures of two boys who, in company with
+their folks, move westward with Daniel Boone. Contains many thrilling
+scenes among the Indians and encounters with wild animals.
+
+PIONEER BOYS OF THE GREAT NORTHWEST, Or With Lewis and Clark Across the
+Rockies.
+
+A splendid story describing in detail the great expedition formed under
+the leadership of Lewis and Clark, and telling what was done by the
+pioneer boys who were first to penetrate the wilderness of the
+northwest.
+
+PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS, Or The Nugget Hunters of '49.
+
+Giving the particulars of the great rush of the gold seekers to
+California in 1849. In the party making its way across the continent are
+three boys who become chums, and share in no end of adventures.
+
+WITH CUSTER IN THE BLACK HILLS, Or A Young Scout Among the Indians.
+
+Tells of the experiences of a youth who, with his parents, goes to the
+Black Hills in search of gold. Custer's last battle is well described.
+
+BOYS OF THE FORT, Or A Young Captain's Pluck.
+
+This story of stirring doings at one of our well-known forts in the Wild
+West is of more than ordinary interest. Gives a good insight into army
+life of to-day.
+
+THE YOUNG BANDMASTER, Or Concert, Stage and Battlefield.
+
+The hero is a youth who becomes a cornetist in an orchestra, and works
+his way up to the leadership of a brass band. He is carried off to sea
+and is taken to Cuba, and while there joins a military band which
+accompanies our soldiers in the attack on Santiago.
+
+OFF FOR HAWAII, Or The Mystery of a Great Volcano.
+
+Several boys start on a tour of the Hawaiian Islands. They have heard
+that there is a treasure located in the vicinity of Kilauea, the largest
+active volcano in the world, and go in search of it.
+
+A SAILOR BOY WITH DEWEY, Or Afloat in the Philippines.
+
+The story of Dewey's victory in Manila Bay as it appeared to a real,
+live American youth who was in the navy at the time. Many adventures in
+Manila and in the interior follow.
+
+WHEN SANTIAGO FELL, Or The War Adventures of Two Chums.
+
+Two boys leave New York to join their parents in Cuba. The war between
+Spain and the Cubans is on, and the boys are detained at Santiago, but
+escape across the bay at night. Many adventures follow.
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP - NEW YORK
+
+
+
+THE ENTERPRISE BOOKS
+Captivating Stories for Boys by Justly Popular Writers
+
+The episodes are graphic, exciting, realistic--the tendency of the tales
+is to the formation of an honorable and manly character. They are
+unusually interesting, and convey lessons of pluck, perseverance and
+manly independence. 12mo. Illustrated. Attractively bound in cloth.
+
+Price, 40 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.
+
+MOFFAT, WILLIAM D.
+THE CRIMSON BANNER. A Story of College Baseball
+
+A tale that grips one from start to finish. The students are almost
+flesh and blood, and the contests become real as we read about them. The
+best all-around college and baseball tale yet presented.
+
+GRAYDON, WILLIAM MURRAY
+CANOE BOYS AND CAMP FIRES.
+
+In this book we have the doings of several bright and lively boys, who
+go on a canoeing trip and meet with many exciting happenings.
+
+HARKNESS, PETER T.
+ANDY, THE ACROBAT. Or, With the Greatest Show on Earth
+
+Andy is as bright as a silver dollar. In the book we can smell the
+sawdust, hear the flapping of the big white canvas and the roaring of
+the lions, and listen to the merry "hoop la!" of the clown.
+
+FOSTER, W. BERT
+THE QUEST OF THE SILVER SWAN. A Tale of Ocean Adventure
+
+A Youth's story of the deep blue sea--of the search for a derelict
+carrying a fortune. Brandon Tarr is a manly lad, and all lads will be
+eager to learn whether he failed or succeeded in his mission.
+
+WHITE, MATTHEW, JR.
+TWO BOYS AND A FORTUNE. Or, The Tyler Will
+
+If you had been poor and were suddenly left a half-million dollars, what
+would you do with it? That was the problem that confronted the Pell
+family, and especially the twin brothers, Rex and Roy. A strong, helpful
+story, that should be read by every boy in our land.
+
+WINFIELD, ARTHUR M.
+BOB, THE PHOTOGRAPHER. Or, A Hero in Spite of Himself
+
+Relates the experiences of a poor boy who falls in with a "camera
+fiend," and develops a liking for photography. After a number of
+stirring adventures Bob becomes photographer for a railroad; thwarts the
+plan of those who would injure the railroad corporation and incidently
+clears a mystery surrounding his parentage.
+
+BONEHILL, CAPTAIN RALPH
+LOST IN THE LAND OF ICE. Or, Daring Adventures Round the South Pole
+
+An expedition is fitted out by a rich young man and with him goes the
+hero of the tale, a lad who has some knowledge of a treasure ship said
+to be cast away in the land of ice. The heroes land among the wild
+Indians of Patagonia and have many exciting adventures.
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP - NEW YORK
+
+
+
+THE YOUNG REPORTER SERIES
+By Howard R. Garis
+
+The author is a practised journalist, and these stories convey a true
+picture of the workings of a great newspaper. The incidents are taken
+from life.
+
+12mo. Bound in Cloth. Illustrated.
+Price, 40 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.
+
+FROM OFFICE BOY TO REPORTER
+Or The First Step in Journalism.
+
+LARRY DEXTER, THE YOUNG REPORTER
+Or Strange Adventures in a Great City.
+
+LARRY DEXTER'S GREAT SEARCH
+Or The Hunt for a Missing Millionaire.
+
+LARRY DEXTER AND THE BANK MYSTERY
+Or A Young Reporter in Wall Street.
+
+LARRY DEXTER AND THE STOLEN BOY
+Or A Young Reporter on the Lakes.
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+THE SEA TREASURE SERIES
+By Roy Rockwood
+
+No manly boy ever grew tired of sea stories--there is a fascination
+about them, and they are a recreation to the mind. These books are
+especially interesting and are full of adventure, clever dialogue and
+plenty of fun.
+
+12mo. Bound in Cloth. Illustrated.
+Price, 40 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.
+
+ADRIFT ON THE PACIFIC
+Or The Secret of the Island Cave.
+
+THE CRUISE OF THE TREASURE SHIP
+Or The Castaways of Floating Island.
+
+THE RIVAL OCEAN DIVERS
+Or The Search for a Sunken Treasure.
+
+JACK NORTH'S TREASURE HUNT
+Or Daring Adventures in South America.
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP - NEW YORK
+
+
+
+THE DICK HAMILTON SERIES
+By Howard R. Garis
+
+A NEW LINE OF CLEVER TALES FOR BOYS
+
+DICK HAMILTON'S FORTUNE Or The Stirring Doings of a Millionaire's Son
+
+Dick, the son of a millionaire, has a fortune left to him by his mother.
+But before he can touch the bulk of this money it is stipulated in his
+mother's will that he must do certain things, in order to prove that he
+is worthy of possessing such a fortune. The doings of Dick and his chums
+make the liveliest kind of reading.
+
+DICK HAMILTON'S CADET DAYS Or The Handicap of a Millionaire's Son
+
+The hero, a very rich young man, is sent to a military academy to make
+his way without the use of money. A fine picture of life at an
+up-to-date military academy is given, with target shooting, broadsword
+exercise, trick riding, sham battles, and all. Dick proves himself a
+hero in the best sense of the word.
+
+DICK HAMILTON'S STEAM YACHT Or A Young Millionaire and the Kidnappers
+
+A series of adventures while yachting in which our hero's wealth plays a
+part. Dick is marooned on an island, recovers his yacht and foils the
+kidnappers. The wrong young man is spirited away, Dick gives chase and
+there is a surprising rescue at sea.
+
+DICK HAMILTON'S FOOTBALL TEAM Or A Young Millionaire on the Gridiron
+
+A very interesting account of how Dick succeeded in developing a
+champion team and of the lively contests with other teams. There is also
+related a number of thrilling incidents in which Dick is the central
+figure.
+
+Other volumes in preparation.
+
+12mo. Handsomely printed and illustrated, and bound in cloth, stamped in
+colors. Printed wrappers.
+
+Price, 60 Cents per volume, postpaid
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP - NEW YORK
+
+
+
+THE TOM SWIFT SERIES
+By Victor Appleton
+
+12mo, printed from large type on good paper, each volume with half-tone
+frontispiece. Handsomely bound in cloth. Printed wrappers.
+
+Price, 40 Cents per Volume, postpaid
+
+It is the purpose of these spirited tales to convey in a realistic way
+the wonderful advances in land and sea locomotion. Stories like these
+impress themselves on the youthful memory and their reading is
+productive only of good.
+
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE
+Or Fun and Adventure on the Road
+
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT
+Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa
+
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP
+Or The Stirring Cruise of the Red Cloud
+
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT
+Or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure
+
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT
+Or The Speediest Car on the Road
+
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE
+Or Daring Adventures in Elephant Land
+
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER
+Or The Quickest Flight on Record
+
+TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE
+Or The Wreck of the Airship
+
+TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS
+Or The Secret of Phantom Mountain
+
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE
+Or The Castaways of Earthquake Island
+
+TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD
+Or Marvellous Adventures Underground
+
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER
+Or Seeking the Platinum Treasure
+
+TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY
+Or A Daring Escape by Airship
+
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
+Or The Perils of Moving Picture Taking
+
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT
+Or On the Border for Uncle Sam
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE
+COAST***
+
+
+******* This file should be named 23677-8.txt or 23677-8.zip *******
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+<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Moving Picture Boys on the Coast, by Victor Appleton</title>
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+<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Moving Picture Boys on the Coast, by
+Victor Appleton</h1>
+<pre>
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre>
+<p>Title: The Moving Picture Boys on the Coast</p>
+<p>Author: Victor Appleton</p>
+<p>Release Date: December 2, 2007  [eBook #23677]</p>
+<p>Language: English</p>
+<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p>
+<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE COAST***</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h3 class="pg">E-text prepared by Roger Frank<br />
+    and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br />
+    (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="full" />
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<div class='figcenter' style='width:368px'>
+<a name='illus-000' id='illus-000'></a>
+<img src='images/illus-fpc.jpg' alt='BLAKE &amp; JOE, LEAVING THEIR AUTOMATIC CAMERA WORKING, AIDED IN THE WORK OF RESCUE.--Page 193' title='' width='368' /><br />
+<span class='caption'>BLAKE &amp; JOE, LEAVING THEIR AUTOMATIC CAMERA WORKING, AIDED IN THE WORK OF RESCUE.&mdash;Page 193</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr class='dashed' />
+
+<table style='margin: auto; border: black 1px solid; width:25em' summary=''><tr><td>
+<p style=' font-size:2.2em; margin-top:1em;'>THE MOVING PICTURE</p>
+<p style=' font-size:2.2em; margin-bottom:1em;'>BOYS ON THE COAST</p>
+<p style=' font-size:1.0em;'>OR</p>
+<p style=' font-size:1.3em; margin-bottom:5em;'>Showing Up the Perils of the Deep</p>
+<p style=' font-size:1.0em;'>BY</p>
+<p style=' font-size:1.5em;'>VICTOR APPLETON</p>
+<p style=' font-size:0.7em;'>AUTHOR OF &#8220;THE TOM SWIFT SERIES,&#8221; &#8220;THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS,&#8221;</p>
+<p style=' font-size:0.7em; margin-bottom:6em;'>&#8220;THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE WEST,&#8221; ETC.</p>
+<p style=' font-size:1.3em; margin-bottom:3em;'>ILLUSTRATED</p>
+<p style=' font-size:1.2em;'>NEW YORK</p>
+<p style=' font-size:1.3em;'>GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP</p>
+<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-bottom:2em;'>PUBLISHERS</p>
+</td></tr></table>
+
+<hr class='dashed' />
+
+<table summary='' style='font-size: smaller; border: 1px solid black; padding:1em'>
+
+<tr><td style='text-align:center;'>
+    <span style='font-size:1.6em; font-variant:small-caps;'>Books by Victor Appleton</span><br />
+    <hr style='width:10%' />
+    <span style='font-size:1.2em;'>THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS SERIES</span><br />
+    <span style='font-size:1.0em;'><i>12mo. Illustrated. Price, per volume, 40 cents,<br />postpaid</i></span><br />
+    <hr style='width:10%' />
+</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td style='text-align:left;'>
+    <div style='margin-left:5%; margin-right:5%;'>
+    THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS<br />
+    THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE WEST<br />
+    THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE COAST<br />
+    THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE JUNGLE<br />
+    THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN EARTHQUAKE LAND
+    </div>
+</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td  style='text-align:center;'>
+    <hr style='width:10%' />
+    <span style='font-size:1.2em;'>THE TOM SWIFT SERIES</span><br />
+    <span style='font-size:1.0em;'><i>12mo. Illustrated. Price, per volume, 40 cents,<br />postpaid</i></span><br />
+    <hr style='width:10%' />
+</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td style='text-align:left;'>
+    <div style='margin-left:5%; margin-right:5%;'>
+    TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE<br />
+    TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT<br />
+    TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP<br />
+    TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT<br />
+    TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT<br />
+    TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE<br />
+    TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER<br />
+    TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE<br />
+    TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS<br />
+    TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE<br />
+    TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD<br />
+    TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER<br />
+    TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY<br />
+    TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA<br />
+    TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT<br />
+    TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON
+    </div>
+</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td style='text-align:center;'>
+    <hr style='width:10%' />
+    <span style='font-size:1.2em;'>GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP</span><br />
+    PUBLISHERS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;NEW YORK
+</td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<p class='center'><span class='smcap' style='font-size:smaller'>Copyright, 1913, by</span><br />GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP</p>
+<hr style='width: 10%;' />
+<p class='center' style='font-size:smaller'><i>The Moving Picture Boys on the Coast</i></p>
+
+<hr class='dashed' />
+
+<h2 class='toc'><a name='Contents' id='Contents'></a>Contents</h2>
+<table border='0' width='400' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Contents' style='margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto'>
+<col style='width:15%;' />
+<col style='width:5%;'  />
+<col style='width:70%;' />
+<col style='width:10%;' />
+<tr>
+<td align='right'><span style='font-size:x-small'>CHAPTER</span></td>
+<td></td>
+<td></td>
+<td align='right'><span style='font-size:x-small'>PAGE</span></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class='tdright'>I</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td class='tdleft'>An Unexpected Attack</td>
+  <td class='tdright'><a href='#AN_UNEXPECTED_ATTACK_135'>1</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class='tdright'>II</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td class='tdleft'>A Daring Raid</td>
+  <td class='tdright'><a href='#A_DARING_RAID_417'>12</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class='tdright'>III</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td class='tdleft'>The Pursuit</td>
+  <td class='tdright'><a href='#THE_PURSUIT_680'>23</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class='tdright'>IV</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td class='tdleft'>Back to &#8220;Big B.&#8221;</td>
+  <td class='tdright'><a href='#BACK_TO_BIG_B_824'>29</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class='tdright'>V.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td class='tdleft'>A New Kind of Drama</td>
+  <td class='tdright'><a href='#A_NEW_KIND_OF_DRAMA_1104'>40</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class='tdright'>VI</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td class='tdleft'>On the Coast</td>
+  <td class='tdright'><a href='#ON_THE_COAST_1263'>46</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class='tdright'>VII</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td class='tdleft'>At the Lighthouse</td>
+  <td class='tdright'><a href='#AT_THE_LIGHTHOUSE_1511'>56</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class='tdright'>VIII</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td class='tdleft'>Blake Learns a Secret</td>
+  <td class='tdright'><a href='#BLAKE_LEARNS_A_SECRET_1674'>62</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class='tdright'>IX</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td class='tdleft'>At Practice</td>
+  <td class='tdright'><a href='#AT_PRACTICE_1921'>71</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class='tdright'>X</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td class='tdleft'>To San Francisco</td>
+  <td class='tdright'><a href='#TO_SAN_FRANCISCO_2138'>79</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class='tdright'>XI</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td class='tdleft'>A Strange Charge</td>
+  <td class='tdright'><a href='#A_STRANGE_CHARGE_2354'>87</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class='tdright'>XII</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td class='tdleft'>On a Long Voyage</td>
+  <td class='tdright'><a href='#ON_A_LONG_VOYAGE_2505'>93</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class='tdright'>XIII</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td class='tdleft'>A Mimic Fire</td>
+  <td class='tdright'><a href='#A_MIMIC_FIRE_2722'>101</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class='tdright'>XIV</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td class='tdleft'>Attacked By a Swordfish</td>
+  <td class='tdright'><a href='#ATTACKED_BY_A_SWORDFISH_2976'>111</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class='tdright'>XV</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td class='tdleft'>Suspicious Actions</td>
+  <td class='tdright'><a href='#SUSPICIOUS_ACTIONS_3198'>119</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class='tdright'>XVI</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td class='tdleft'>Joe Suspects Something</td>
+  <td class='tdright'><a href='#JOE_SUSPECTS_SOMETHING_3429'>127</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class='tdright'>XVII</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td class='tdleft'>After the Wreckers</td>
+  <td class='tdright'><a href='#AFTER_THE_WRECKERS_3614'>134</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class='tdright'>XVIII</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td class='tdleft'>Failure</td>
+  <td class='tdright'><a href='#FAILURE_3858'>144</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class='tdright'>XIX</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td class='tdleft'>On the Trail</td>
+  <td class='tdright'><a href='#ON_THE_TRAIL_4047'>151</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class='tdright'>XX</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td class='tdleft'>The Discovery</td>
+  <td class='tdright'><a href='#THE_DISCOVERY_4242'>158</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class='tdright'>XXI</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td class='tdleft'>The Capture</td>
+  <td class='tdright'><a href='#THE_CAPTURE_4401'>164</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class='tdright'>XXII</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td class='tdleft'>A Life Guard&#8217;s Alarm</td>
+  <td class='tdright'><a href='#A_LIFE_GUARDS_ALARM_4579'>171</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class='tdright'>XXIII</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td class='tdleft'>The Doomed Vessel</td>
+  <td class='tdright'><a href='#THE_DOOMED_VESSEL_4861'>181</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class='tdright'>XXIV</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td class='tdleft'>Out of the Wreck</td>
+  <td class='tdright'><a href='#OUT_OF_THE_WRECK_5018'>187</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class='tdright'>XXV</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td class='tdleft'>A New Quest</td>
+  <td class='tdright'><a href='#A_NEW_QUEST_5385'>201</a></td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+<hr class='dashed' />
+
+<h2>THE MOVING PICTURE<br />BOYS ON THE COAST</h2>
+
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_1' id='pg_1'>1</a></span>
+<a name='AN_UNEXPECTED_ATTACK_135' id='AN_UNEXPECTED_ATTACK_135'></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER I</h2>
+<h3>AN UNEXPECTED ATTACK</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, Blake, it doesn&#8217;t seem possible that we have succeeded; does it?&#8221;
+and the lad who asked the question threw one leg over the saddle of his
+pony, to ride side fashion for a while, as a rest and change.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, Joe, it doesn&#8217;t,&#8221; answered another youth. &#8220;But we sure have got
+some dandy films in those boxes!&#8221; and he looked back on some laden
+burros that were following the cow ponies across a stretch of Arizona
+desert.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, all I&#8217;ve got to say,&#8221; remarked the cowboy, the third member of
+the trio; &#8220;is that taking moving pictures is about as strenuous work as
+rounding up or branding cattle.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I guess you don&#8217;t quite believe that, Hank; <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_2' id='pg_2'>2</a></span>do you?&#8221; asked Blake
+Stewart. &#8220;You haven&#8217;t seen us work so very hard; have you?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Work hard? I should say I have,&#8221; answered Hank Selby. &#8220;Why, the time
+those Indians charged our cave, and Joe and I, and Munson and his crowd
+were getting ready to fire point-blank at them, there you stood, with
+bullets whizzing near you more than once, grinding away at the handle of
+your moving picture camera as hard as you could. Hard work&mdash;huh!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But we got the films,&#8221; declared Blake, not caring to go too deeply into
+an argument. &#8220;And I&#8217;m anxious to see how they will develop.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;So am I,&#8221; declared Joe. &#8220;I wonder what will be next on the program?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, you&#8217;re going to look for your father; aren&#8217;t you, Joe&mdash;your father
+whom you haven&#8217;t seen since you were a little chap&mdash;whom you can&#8217;t even
+remember?&#8221; and Blake looked sharply at his chum and partner, Joe Duncan.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what I am, Blake, just as soon as I can get to the coast. But I
+mean, what will we do after that? Go back to New York?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I suppose so, and take up our trade of making moving picture films for
+whoever wants them. It will be a rather tame life after the excitement
+we have had out here.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_3' id='pg_3'>3</a></span>&#8220;That&#8217;s what. But maybe it will be good for a change.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The two moving picture boys, I might explain briefly, were on their way
+to Flagstaff, Arizona, after having gone out into the wilds, with a
+cowboy guide, Hank Selby, to make moving picture films of some Moqui
+Indians who had broken away from their reservation, to indulge in some
+of their weird dances and ceremonies.</p>
+
+<p>While making these films, the boys and their companion, who were hidden
+in a cave where the Indians could not see them, saw the redmen about to
+torture, as they thought, four white prisoners. Joe and Blake recognized
+these men as their business rivals, who were also trying to get some
+moving picture films of the Indians, to secure a prize of a thousand
+dollars, offered by a New York geographical and ethnological society.</p>
+
+<p>To fire on the Indians, and thus save the white captives, meant that
+Joe, Blake and Hank would disclose their position in the cave, but there
+was nothing else to do, and they did it.</p>
+
+<p>The white captives, unexpectedly freed, came rushing toward the shelter,
+with the savages after them, and it looked as if there would be a fierce
+fight. In spite of this Blake held his ground, taking picture after
+picture.</p>
+
+<p>And, in the nick of time, a troop of United <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_4' id='pg_4'>4</a></span>States cavalry came dashing
+up to capture the renegade Indians, who surrendered; Blake also getting
+pictures of the dash of the troopers.</p>
+
+<p>Unexpectedly in the company was a Sergeant Duncan who proved to be a
+half-uncle of Joe Duncan, and the sergeant was able to tell the lad
+where his long-lost father was last heard from, since Joe had only
+lately learned that his parent was living.</p>
+
+<p>And so, after their strenuous time in getting pictures of the Indians,
+the boys were on their way to Big B ranch, where Hank Selby was
+employed, and whence they had started to find the hidden savages.</p>
+
+<p>But Flagstaff was the real temporary headquarters of the lads, since
+there was located a theatrical company, engaged in doing some moving
+picture dramas based on Western life, and Joe and Blake had been hired
+to &#8220;film&#8221; those plays.</p>
+
+<p>They had been given a little time off to make an attempt to get views of
+the Indians at their ceremonies, and they expected to resume, for a
+time, making films of more peaceful scenes among their theatrical
+friends.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, we sure did have a strenuous time,&#8221; remarked Blake, as they rode
+along at an easy pace. &#8220;And how those Indians threw down their guns,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_5' id='pg_5'>5</a></span>and gave in, when the troopers charged against them!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right,&#8221; agreed Joe. &#8220;And those bugle notes, when they started to
+gallop, telling us that help was on the way, was the sweetest music I
+ever heard.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Same here,&#8221; came from Hank. &#8220;But say, if it&#8217;s all the same to you boys,
+I think we might as well camp here and have grub. This looks like good
+water and there&#8217;s enough grazing for the critters to-night. Then we can
+push on early in the morning, and in a couple of days more we ought to
+make Big B ranch.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It seems to take us longer coming back than it did going,&#8221; remarked
+Blake, as he slid from his pony, and pulled the reins over the animal&#8217;s
+head as a signal for it not to wander. &#8220;I thought we&#8217;d sure come in
+sight of the ranch to-day.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, it&#8217;s farther than that,&#8221; said Hank, as he looked about for wood
+with which to make a fire. &#8220;I guess you were so anxious to get on the
+trail of the Indians on your way out that you didn&#8217;t notice how much
+ground you covered. And it was quite a few miles, believe me!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I do!&#8221; said Joe, with half a groan. &#8220;I&#8217;m sore and stiff from so much
+saddle riding. I&#8217;m not used to it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, you&#8217;ll limber up soon,&#8221; said Hank, cheerfully. <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_6' id='pg_6'>6</a></span>&#8220;Now, if you boys
+will get the water, and break out the grub, I&#8217;ll get supper. It&#8217;ll soon
+be dark.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The lads busied themselves, and soon a cheerful little blaze was going,
+while the tired horses and burros, relieved of the burden of saddles and
+packs, were rolling luxuriously around at the length of their tether
+ropes.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I wonder if all the Moquis and Navajos who skipped off their
+reservations have been driven back?&#8221; asked Joe, as they were about ready
+to eat.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What makes you ask that?&#8221; inquired Blake quickly, and with a curious
+look at his chum.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, no special reason. But you know Captain Marsh, of the troop in
+which my uncle, Sergeant Duncan, was enlisted, said he had rounded up
+several bands of &#8217;em, and I was just thinking that&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That maybe there were some more running around loose that we could make
+pictures of; is that it, Joe?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, yes. You know that society offered a prize of a thousand dollars
+for the best reel of ceremonial dances, but there were smaller prizes
+for ordinary pictures of Indians in various activities. I thought maybe
+we could get some of those.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m afraid not&mdash;not on this trip, at least,&#8221; <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_7' id='pg_7'>7</a></span>spoke Blake. &#8220;I don&#8217;t
+believe there is ten feet of unexposed film left, and that wouldn&#8217;t make
+much of a reel. We used up all we brought with us making those cowboy
+pictures, the forest fire and the time the bear chased Hank, besides the
+Indian views. Nothing more doing in the camera line until we get back to
+Flagstaff.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, well, I was just wondering,&#8221; spoke Joe, and he gazed off across the
+uneven stretch of country. But there was that in his voice and glance
+which did not bear out his unconcerned words.</p>
+
+<p>However, Blake was too much occupied in getting supper just then to pay
+much attention to his chum, for the lad was hungry&mdash;as, indeed, his
+companions also seemed to be, for they attacked the simple provender
+with eagerness when Hank announced that it was ready.</p>
+
+<p>The evening was setting in when they had finished, and, bringing up a
+pail of fresh water, in case they should get thirsty during the hours of
+darkness, and placing the saddles and packs in a compact mass, the three
+proceeded to spend the night in the open.</p>
+
+<p>And yet not exactly without shelter, either, for they had with them
+small dog-tents, as they are called, that afford considerable protection
+against the night winds and dew. And, with a fire glowing <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_8' id='pg_8'>8</a></span>at their
+feet, the travelers were far from being uncomfortable.</p>
+
+<p>A pile of wood had been collected near the blaze, and while nothing was
+said about standing watch, it was understood that if any of them roused
+in the night he was to pile fuel on the embers, not only to keep up the
+genial heat, but to drive off any prowling beasts that might try to raid
+their stock of provisions.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, I&#8217;m going to turn in,&#8221; finally announced Blake. &#8220;I&#8217;m dead tired.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And I&#8217;m with you,&#8221; added Joe.</p>
+
+<p>Hank said nothing, but the boys watched him as he walked some little
+distance from the camp, to a slight elevation. On this he stood, gazing
+off into the distance.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I wonder what he&#8217;s looking for?&#8221; queried Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&mdash;I hardly know,&#8221; replied Blake.</p>
+
+<p>And yet, in his heart, each lad was aware of something that he hesitated
+to put into words. Presently Hank came back, and as the firelight shone
+on his face his expression betrayed no anxiety&mdash;in fact, no emotion of
+any kind.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Did&mdash;did you see anything, Hank?&#8221; asked Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No&mdash;nothing. Snooze away. I think&mdash;I&#8217;ll have a pipe before I go to
+bed,&#8221; and he sat down <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_9' id='pg_9'>9</a></span>on a small box and looked into the glowing
+embers.</p>
+
+<p>Soon afterward, Joe, looking from his small shelter tent, saw Hank
+fingering his big revolver, spinning the cylinder, and testing the
+mechanism.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Something&#8217;s up!&#8221; whispered Joe to himself. &#8220;I wonder if it can be that
+he saw&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He did not finish the sentence, for just then Hank put away the weapon
+and soon the aromatic odor of burning tobacco filled the night air.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, pshaw!&#8221; exclaimed the lad. &#8220;I&#8217;m foolish to worry about nothing; I&#8217;m
+going to sleep!&#8221; and he turned over, and closed his eyes. But, somehow,
+sleep would not come at once. Even with his eyes closed he could fancy
+the figure of the cowboy guide sitting by the fire.</p>
+
+<p>Blake seemed to be less uneasy than did his chum. If he saw Hank by the
+fire he made no mention of it, and from his tent came no movement that
+showed he was awake.</p>
+
+<p>Presently Joe began to speculate on the new experience he felt would
+come to him, if he succeeded in locating his father.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It really doesn&#8217;t seem possible&mdash;that I&#8217;m going to have folks at last,&#8221;
+murmured Joe. &#8220;And maybe not only a father, but brothers and
+sisters&mdash;Uncle Bill Duncan said he didn&#8217;t know. I may have more than
+Blake, if I keep on,&#8221; and then, <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_10' id='pg_10'>10</a></span>with more pleasurable thoughts than
+worrying about an indefinable something, the lad finally lost himself in
+slumber.</p>
+
+<p>The camp was still. Even Hank had crawled into his little tent, after a
+final pipe. He did not get to sleep soon, and had either of the boys
+been awake they would have seen him come out several times before
+midnight, and stalk about, peering off into the darkness.</p>
+
+<p>Then, after looking to the tether ropes of the animals, he would go back
+to the small shelters, throw some embers on the fire, and drop off into
+a doze. For the cowboy was a light sleeper, and the least sound awakened
+him.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I guess there&#8217;ll be nothing doing,&#8221; he whispered to himself after one
+of these little observations. &#8220;I thought I saw some signs just about
+dusk, but maybe it was some slinking coyote, or a big jack rabbit.
+Anyhow, if&mdash;if anything does happen it won&#8217;t come during darkness; that
+is, unless it&#8217;s some of them half-breed or Mexican rustlers, and I don&#8217;t
+believe they&#8217;ve been around these diggings lately. I&#8217;m going to snooze.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Soon his heavy breathing told that he slept, and several hours passed
+before he again awoke. If he had made one other observation, probably he
+would have seen that which would have aroused his suspicions, for, about
+an hour after <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_11' id='pg_11'>11</a></span>midnight, there was an uneasy movement among the animals.</p>
+
+<p>And in the starlight, which in a measure made the night less black,
+several shadowy, slinking forms might have been observed creeping toward
+the camp and the pile of provisions and supplies, among the latter of
+which were the boxes containing the valuable films of the moving
+pictures.</p>
+
+<p>It was Hank, as might have been expected, who awakened. One of the
+burros, always an excitable, nervous beast, capered about and uttered a
+shrill whinny as if in fright.</p>
+
+<p>Hank was out of his tent in an instant. Leaping to his feet he blazed
+away with his revolver. Its flash lit up the darkness, and was at once
+answered by half a dozen other flashes.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come on, boys!&#8221; yelled Hank. &#8220;They&#8217;re after us! I wasn&#8217;t mistaken,
+after all! I did see some of &#8217;em sneaking around! Lively, now!&#8221; and he
+blazed away again.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; cried Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Indians! They&#8217;re after our horses!&#8221; yelled the cowboy, as the two lads
+joined him.</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_12' id='pg_12'>12</a></span>
+<a name='A_DARING_RAID_417' id='A_DARING_RAID_417'></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER II</h2>
+<h3>A DARING RAID</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;Where are they?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Which way shall we shoot?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Joe and Blake questioned thus by turn as they leaped to Hank&#8217;s side.
+They were in darkness now, for the cowboy had ceased shooting, and those
+who had come to attack had likewise allowed their weapons to become
+silent. As a matter of fact, Hank Selby had only fired in the air, if
+possible to frighten off the Indians, and it seemed that the redmen had
+done the same, since there was no whine of bullets over the head of the
+guide.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; asked Blake, fingering the rifle he had caught up as he
+rushed from the tent.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Indians,&#8221; replied Hank, in a low voice. &#8220;It&#8217;s probably some band of
+Moquis or Navajos, who escaped being rounded up as the others were.
+Probably they were chased so hard, or were so surprised at one of their
+camps, that they had <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_13' id='pg_13'>13</a></span>to leave without their ponies. And they do hate to
+walk. They saw our animals and tried to get &#8217;em, but I was suspicious
+all along.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But where are they now?&#8221; asked Joe, peering out into the darkness. &#8220;I
+can&#8217;t see a thing, and our animals seem to be all there.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The beggars dropped down, and are hiding,&#8221; said the cowboy. &#8220;They
+didn&#8217;t like the quick way I fired on &#8217;em, I guess; though, land knows! I
+don&#8217;t want to hurt any of &#8217;em if I can help it. They don&#8217;t know just
+what to do, and they&#8217;re biding their time.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Did they get any of our horses&mdash;or things?&#8221; asked Blake, anxiously, his
+thoughts on the valuable films.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not as yet,&#8221; replied Hank. &#8220;But this thing isn&#8217;t over with. They&#8217;ll
+come back, once they decide it&#8217;s worth while. We&#8217;ve got to get ready for
+&#8217;em.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;How?&#8221; asked Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, we&#8217;ve got to pile our stuff up as a sort of shelter, and then
+we&#8217;ve got to bring in the animals. It won&#8217;t do to have the imps run off
+with &#8217;em, and that&#8217;s what they&#8217;re aiming to do.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But won&#8217;t it be risky to go out there in the darkness to bring in the
+ponies and burros?&#8221; asked Joe. &#8220;You say the Indians are concealed out
+there.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_14' id='pg_14'>14</a></span>&#8220;So I believe they are,&#8221; replied Hank. &#8220;But I fancy my shooting drove
+&#8217;em back a bit, even though I did fire in the air, or so high over their
+heads that they couldn&#8217;t be harmed. So I guess we can make a move out
+there without getting hurt. Anyhow, it&#8217;s got to be done, and, as I know
+more about such business than you boys, having been at it longer, I&#8217;ll
+just attend to that. You&#8217;d better make the best sort of breastworks you
+can. For, though I don&#8217;t believe these beggars will actually shoot to
+hurt, still it&#8217;s best to be on the safe side. Be cautious, now.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>And, while Hank is thus preparing to secure the pack and saddle animals,
+and the boys to gather the boxes and bales into a compact mass, I will
+take just a few moments to tell you more about the moving picture lads
+than I have yet done.</p>
+
+<p>In the first book of this series, entitled &#8220;The Moving Picture Boys; Or,
+The Perils of a Great City Depicted,&#8221; I introduced to you Joe Duncan and
+Blake Stewart. At that time they lived in the village of Fayetteburg, in
+the central part of New York State. Blake worked on the farm of his
+uncle, Jonathan Haverstraw, while Joe was hired boy for Zachariah
+Bradley. And it happened that they both lost their places at the same
+time.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_15' id='pg_15'>15</a></span>Blake&#8217;s uncle decided to retire to a Home for the Aged, and Mr. Bradley
+said he could no longer afford to pay Joe any wages. The boys did not
+know what to do until they made the acquaintance of Mr. Calvert Hadley,
+a moving picture photographer. The latter had come to Fayetteburg with a
+theatrical company to get some views in a country drama that was being
+enacted, some of the scenes being laid in the nearby city of Syracuse.</p>
+
+<p>Blake and Joe watched a mimic rescue scene in the creek, thinking it
+real, and later Mr. Hadley offered them work as his assistants in New
+York. He was employed by the Film Theatrical Company, to make its moving
+pictures.</p>
+
+<p>The boys jumped at the chance. Before the little country drama was over,
+however, an accident occurred, in full view of the moving picture
+camera. Mrs. Betty Randolph, a wealthy Southern lady, was run into,
+while riding in her carriage, by a reckless autoist. Mrs. Randolph
+offered a reward for the arrest of this man, who escaped in the
+confusion, and urged the two boys to try to effect his capture.</p>
+
+<p>They said they would, and how they went to New York, learned the moving
+picture business, and helped Mr. Hadley get films for his &#8220;moving
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_16' id='pg_16'>16</a></span>picture newspaper,&#8221; is all set down in the first book.</p>
+
+<p>The perils of taking views in a great city, at fires, elevated railroad
+accidents, burning vessels, of divers at work, in making educational
+films&mdash;all this is told.</p>
+
+<p>Eventually, while making scenes at a thrilling balloon ascension, Joe
+and Blake discovered the reckless autoist and gave chase in a car. They
+caught him, too, and got the reward, with which they purchased some
+moving picture cameras, and went into business on their own account.
+They made films to order, and were often employed by Mr. Hadley or by
+Mr. Ringold, head of the Film Theatrical Company.</p>
+
+<p>This company consisted of a number of actors and actresses who were
+engaged to enact various sorts of plays and dramas before the camera.</p>
+
+<p>Among them was Henry Robertson, who did &#8220;juvenile leads&#8221;; Harris
+Levinberg, the &#8220;villain&#8221;; Miss Nellie Shay, the leading lady, and Miss
+Birdie Lee, who did girls&#8217; parts. Last, but not least, was Christopher
+Cutler Piper&mdash;known variously as &#8220;C. C.&#8221; or &#8220;Gloomy.&#8221; He preferred to be
+called just C. C., not liking his two first names, but he was so often
+looking on the dark side of life, and predicting direful happenings that
+never came to pass, that he was often dubbed &#8220;Gloomy.&#8221; <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_17' id='pg_17'>17</a></span>However, he was
+the comedian of the troupe, and could utter the most unhappy expressions
+while doing the most comical acting.</p>
+
+<p>It was not all easy sailing for the two lads. One man&mdash;James Munson, a
+rival moving picture proprietor&mdash;often made trouble for them, and once
+put them in no little danger.</p>
+
+<p>After having helped Mr. Hadley make a success of his moving picture
+newspaper, by means of which current happenings, and accidents, were
+nightly thrown on a screen in various theatres, Joe and Blake, as I
+said, went into business for themselves.</p>
+
+<p>In the second volume of the series, entitled &#8220;The Moving Picture Boys in
+the West; Or, Taking Scenes Among the Cowboys and Indians,&#8221; our heroes
+had an entirely different series of adventures.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Ringold decided to take his theatrical troupe to Arizona, there to
+make films for a number of Western dramas. He asked the boys if they
+would like to join Mr. Hadley in doing this work. At the same time a New
+York scientific society, engaged in preserving records, pictures and
+photographic reproductions of the Indians, made a prize offer for the
+best film showing the redmen in their ceremonial dances. The time was
+particularly ripe for this, as a band of the Moquis, <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_18' id='pg_18'>18</a></span>as well as several
+tribes of Navajos, had broken from the government reservations to
+indulge in their strange rites.</p>
+
+<p>As the boys found that they could do the two things&mdash;take the views of
+the Indians, and make the theatrical pictures&mdash;they accepted the offer.</p>
+
+<p>Just before they left, however, Joe received a strange letter. It was
+from a man signing himself Sam Houston Reed, who stated that he had met
+a man who was looking for a Joe Duncan. Joe, who had known there was
+some mystery about his early life, was overjoyed at the prospect of
+finding some &#8220;folks,&#8221; and wished very much to meet Mr. Reed. But the
+latter had neglected to date, or put any heading on his letter. All
+there was to go by was part of a postmark, which showed it came from
+Arizona, and Mr. Reed also mentioned Big B ranch.</p>
+
+<p>However, the moving picture boys and the theatrical company started
+West. On the way the boys had a glimpse of their rivals, also hastening
+to get the Indian views.</p>
+
+<p>How they got to Flagstaff, made many views there, and then how Joe and
+Blake started to find the place where the runaway Indians were hidden
+away, doing their mysterious dances&mdash;all this is told in the second
+volume.</p>
+
+<p>Eventually they reached Big B ranch, only to <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_19' id='pg_19'>19</a></span>find that Mr. Reed, like a
+rolling stone, had gone. However, some of the cowboys remembered him,
+and had heard him talk of having met a certain Bill Duncan, whose
+half-brother, Nate, was looking for a lost son. It was supposed that
+this Nate Duncan was Joe&#8217;s father.</p>
+
+<p>As nothing toward finding Mr. Duncan could then be done, Joe and Blake
+kept on toward the Indian country. A cowboy, Hank Selby, offered to
+accompany them, and they were glad he did.</p>
+
+<p>They had many adventures before getting on the track of the Indians, and
+when they found them in a secret valley, and, concealed in a cave, began
+taking moving pictures, they discovered, as I have said, four white men
+in danger of torture.</p>
+
+<p>How they rescued them, how the troopers came, and how one turned out to
+be Bill Duncan, Joe&#8217;s half-uncle, I have mentioned in this book as well
+as in the second volume. And, on their way back to Big B ranch and to
+Flagstaff, the night attack had taken place.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;How are you making out, Blake?&#8221; asked Joe, as he worked at stacking up
+the boxes and bales into a sort of rude breastwork near the shelter
+tents.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;All right, Joe,&#8221; was the answer. &#8220;I hope Hank makes the animals safe.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_20' id='pg_20'>20</a></span>&#8220;He doesn&#8217;t seem to be having much trouble. I can&#8217;t see any of the
+Indians now.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, they&#8217;re probably hiding down in the grass, waiting for a chance to
+make a raid. I wonder how many there are?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Quite a bunch, I should say, from the shooting. Here comes Hank now.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>As he spoke, the cowboy appeared, leading by their long tether ropes the
+riding ponies and the pack animals. The steeds showed signs of their
+recent excitement. Had it not been for the alarm they gave they might
+have been stolen without our friends being any the wiser.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;See any of &#8217;em, Hank?&#8221; questioned Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, but they&#8217;re there, all right. Boys, there may be some hot work
+ahead of us. You want to get ready for it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Do&mdash;do you think they&#8217;ll shoot?&#8221; asked Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, they&#8217;ll do their best to get our things away from us,&#8221; was the
+answer. &#8220;They&#8217;re desperate, I&#8217;m afraid.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Hank busied himself tethering the steeds nearer the temporary camp,
+while Joe and Blake finished their labors in building a defense against
+the possible rush of the redmen.</p>
+
+<p>This was hardly finished, and they had scarcely collected a pile of
+brush to make a bright fire, if necessary, when there arose all around
+fierce <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_21' id='pg_21'>21</a></span>shouts. At the same time there was a fusillade of shots; but, as
+far as could be seen, all the Indians were firing in the air.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Look out!&#8221; yelled Hank. &#8220;They&#8217;re going to rush us!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Before he ceased speaking there was the sound of many feet running
+forward. The shooting and shouting redoubled in volume, and the restless
+animals tried to break loose.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The imps!&#8221; cried Hank. &#8220;They&#8217;re trying to stampede our animals, just as
+they did the cattle that time. Look out, boys!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But nothing could be done against such numbers. The camp was overwhelmed
+in a daring raid, and though the boys and Hank did all they could,
+firing wildly in the air, they could not stand off the attack. Strangely
+enough, no effort was made to mistreat the boys or their companion. The
+Indians simply rushed over them and made for the pile of goods in the
+rear of the tents. They did not even seem to be after the horses.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Stop &#8217;em!&#8221; cried Blake. &#8220;They&#8217;ll take all our things!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Our cameras!&#8221; yelled Joe. &#8220;They may break &#8217;em!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Hank had all he could do to restrain the wild steeds, which sought to
+break loose.</p>
+
+<p>The rush was over almost as quickly as it had <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_22' id='pg_22'>22</a></span>started. Off into the
+darkness disappeared the Indians, their shooting and yelling growing
+fainter and fainter.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I saved the horses!&#8221; cried Hank.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, but they got a lot of our stuff!&#8221; exclaimed Blake. &#8220;Joe, throw
+some wood on the fire, so we can see what is missing!&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_23' id='pg_23'>23</a></span>
+<a name='THE_PURSUIT_680' id='THE_PURSUIT_680'></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER III</h2>
+<h3>THE PURSUIT</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Blazing up brightly, after Joe had thrown some light sticks on the
+embers, the fire revealed a much disordered camp. The Indians had rushed
+over it as a squad of football players might tear through a rival
+eleven, leaving devastation in their wake. The only consolation was that
+Hank had managed to prevent the animals from stampeding, and the
+possession of their ponies, in a country where foot travel is almost out
+of the question, was a big factor.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But they got almost everything else,&#8221; said Blake, as he looked about
+the temporary camp.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They made for the grub, that&#8217;s sure,&#8221; spoke Joe. &#8220;I guess they were
+hungry.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But why they didn&#8217;t try harder to make off with the horses is what I
+can&#8217;t understand,&#8221; spoke Blake, as he continued to make an examination
+of the damage done. &#8220;I thought that was what they were after.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_24' id='pg_24'>24</a></span>&#8220;They were,&#8221; declared Hank; &#8220;but I guess they realized that taking
+horses is a pretty serious crime out here. They knew that all sorts of
+efforts would be made to recapture &#8217;em, and by men who would not be as
+gentle with &#8217;em as Uncle Sam&#8217;s soldiers. So I guess they decided to pass
+up the horses and only take some grub. That isn&#8217;t so serious, especially
+as the poor beggars are probably well-nigh starving, having been away
+from their regular rations so long. Well, it might be worse, I suppose.
+They will hardly come back to-night, and I guess we can get a little
+rest when I picket these animals out again. We got off pretty lucky, I
+take it, for there was sure a big bunch of them.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Lucky?&#8221; cried Blake. &#8220;I should say not. Look here!&#8221; and he pointed to
+the upset pile of boxes and bales, only a few of which were now left.
+&#8220;We have had the worst kind of bad luck!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;How&#8217;s that?&#8221; demanded Joe, hurrying to the side of his chum. The fire
+was brighter now. &#8220;What did they take?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Our reels of exposed film, for one thing!&#8221; cried Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What! Not our prize Indian pictures?&#8221; gasped Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what they did, Joe! Every one of those films we worked so hard
+to get is gone!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_25' id='pg_25'>25</a></span>&#8220;But what could the Indians want with them?&#8221; asked Joe. &#8220;They don&#8217;t
+know how to develop &#8217;em, and, even if they did, they would be of no use.
+They can&#8217;t know what they are, but if the least ray of light gets into
+the boxes it means that the films are ruined!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right,&#8221; assented Blake, hopelessly. &#8220;What can we do?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They probably didn&#8217;t know they were taking your films, boys,&#8221; spoke
+Hank, who had finished making fast the horses. &#8220;They very likely thought
+the boxes held some new kind of food, and they just grabbed up anything
+they could get their hands on. I reckon the beggars are nearly starving,
+and that&#8217;s what made &#8217;em so bold. You&#8217;ll notice they didn&#8217;t once fire at
+us&mdash;only up in the air. They just wanted to scare us.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And they took our films, thinking they were something good to eat,&#8221;
+murmured Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes. I&#8217;m not saying, though, that they didn&#8217;t hope to stampede the
+animals; but they went wrong on that calculation, if they had it in
+mind.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They have our films,&#8221; continued Joe, in a sort of daze, so suddenly had
+the events of the last half-hour occurred. &#8220;What can we do?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Chase after &#8217;em and get our stuff back!&#8221; exclaimed Blake, quickly. &#8220;I&#8217;m
+not going to stand that loss. They can have the grub if they want <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_26' id='pg_26'>26</a></span>it,
+but I&#8217;m going to get back those films that we went to such trouble, and
+so much danger, to snap.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But how are you going to do it?&#8221; asked Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Start in pursuit!&#8221; cried his chum with energy. &#8220;Come on, Hank, you can
+follow an Indian trail; can&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I sure can, when it&#8217;s as broad as the one they&#8217;ll be likely to leave.
+But not now.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why not?&#8221; asked Blake.</p>
+
+<p>For answer the cowboy guide waved his hand toward the darkness all
+about. There seemed to be a haze over the sky, obscuring the stars.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It would be worse than useless to start out on the chase now,&#8221; said
+Hank. &#8220;We can&#8217;t do anything until morning.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But they&#8217;ll be too far away then,&#8221; objected Blake. &#8220;And, while it might
+do little harm if they opened those film boxes in the darkness, it sure
+would spoil every picture we took to have them exposed in daylight.
+Let&#8217;s go now!&#8221; and he started toward the animals.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; and Hank shook his head. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think you need worry about not
+catching those fellers in daylight,&#8221; he went on. &#8220;They won&#8217;t go far
+before stopping to eat the stuff they took from us. Then they&#8217;ll have a
+sleep and start on the trail by daylight. We can do the same, and I
+think <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_27' id='pg_27'>27</a></span>we can catch up with them. It would be risky to start out at
+night in a country we know so little about. We&#8217;ll have to wait.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Blake sighed, but there was no help for it. The upset camp was put in
+some kind of shape, the horses were again looked to, and the fire once
+more replenished. The travelers carried an unusually large supply of
+provisions, and though most of these had been taken, there was still
+enough food left for a day or two. In that time they might be able to
+get more, if they could not recapture their own from the Indians.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll start the first thing in the morning, as soon as it is light
+enough to see,&#8221; decided Hank. &#8220;And now, if it&#8217;s all the same to you
+boys, I&#8217;m going to have a bite to eat. That excitement made me hungry.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Same here,&#8221; confessed Joe, and soon they were all satisfying their
+appetites.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, but I do hope we can catch up with them and take those films away
+from &#8217;em,&#8221; murmured Blake, as he again sought his tent.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We will,&#8221; declared Joe, with conviction. &#8220;If we have to, I&#8217;ll get word
+to my soldier uncle and have the troops chase &#8217;em.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The only trouble is that it might be too late,&#8221; spoke Blake. &#8220;I&#8217;m
+afraid of the films getting <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_28' id='pg_28'>28</a></span>light-struck. But I guess all we can do is
+to wait and trust to luck.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>There was no further alarm that night, and after a hasty breakfast,
+eaten when it was hardly light enough to see, the remaining supplies and
+provisions were packed and the ponies saddled.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I guess we can start now,&#8221; exclaimed Hank, as he leaped to his steed.
+&#8220;It will soon be lighter. Forward, march!&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_29' id='pg_29'>29</a></span>
+<a name='BACK_TO_BIG_B_824' id='BACK_TO_BIG_B_824'></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2>
+<h3>BACK TO &#8220;BIG B.&#8221;</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, we haven&#8217;t caught up to &#8217;em yet,&#8221; remarked Joe Duncan, about noon
+the next day, when they stopped for a little lunch and to allow the
+horses to drink at a water hole and rest.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, the beggars keep well ahead of us,&#8221; agreed Blake, shading his eyes
+with his hand and gazing off across the hot, sunlit stretch that lay
+before them. &#8220;Oh, if they have opened those film boxes!&#8221; he exclaimed
+hopelessly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They have ponies, and that&#8217;s more than I calculated on,&#8221; remarked Hank.
+&#8220;I thought when they raided our camp that they were after our animals,
+and when they didn&#8217;t take &#8217;em I thought it was because they were afraid
+of being chased as horse-thieves by a sheriff&#8217;s posse. Now I see they
+didn&#8217;t want our mounts, as they had plenty of their own. It was grub
+they were after, and they got it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And our picture films,&#8221; added Blake. &#8220;Don&#8217;t forget that.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_30' id='pg_30'>30</a></span>&#8220;That was only a mistake, I tell you,&#8221; insisted Hank, &#8220;though, for that
+matter, the Indians wouldn&#8217;t hesitate to take &#8217;em just for fun, if they
+thought they could make trouble that way.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And they will make a heap of trouble, too, I&#8217;m afraid,&#8221; spoke Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Here now!&#8221; called Joe, in jollier tones. &#8220;Don&#8217;t come any of that C. C.
+Piper business, Blake. Look on the bright side.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, I suppose I ought to, but it&#8217;s hard work.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>They had traveled all that morning, hoping to come up with the roving
+band of Indians. But they had had no success.</p>
+
+<p>Hank did pick up the trail of the raiders soon after starting out. The
+Indians had left their horses tethered some distance from the camp, and
+had crept up afoot, probably having spied Blake, Joe and Hank from afar
+the previous evening. And though the moccasined feet of the savages left
+little trace on the hard and sun-baked earth, there was enough &#8220;sign&#8221;
+for so experienced a trailer as was Hank to pick up.</p>
+
+<p>Thus he had been led to where the horses had been left, and after that
+it was easy enough to follow the marks of the hoofs.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There are about twenty-five in this band, as near as I can make out,&#8221;
+said Hank, &#8220;and every <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_31' id='pg_31'>31</a></span>one of &#8217;em has a horse of some sort. Pretty good
+travelers, too, I take it, since our animals were fresh and we haven&#8217;t
+been able to come up to &#8217;em yet, though we&#8217;ve kept up a pretty fair
+gait. But we&#8217;ll get &#8217;em yet.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;If only it isn&#8217;t too late,&#8221; spoke Blake, whose one fear was that the
+valuable picture films would be spoiled. &#8220;Let&#8217;s hurry on.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Another little rest will do the horses good,&#8221; said the cowboy guide.
+&#8220;Then we can push on so much the faster. Our horses are our best
+friends, and we&#8217;ve got to treat &#8217;em right if we want the best service
+out of them. Another half-hour and we&#8217;ll push on.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>And, though Blake fretted and fumed at the delay, he knew it would not
+be best to insist on having his way. Soon, however, they were in the
+saddle again and once more in pursuit.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The trail is getting fresher,&#8221; declared Hank, about four o&#8217;clock that
+afternoon. &#8220;Their horses are tiring, I guess, and ours seem to be
+holding out pretty well.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Which means&mdash;&mdash;&#8221; began Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That we may get up to them before dark,&#8221; went on the cowboy. &#8220;And then
+we&#8217;ll see what happens.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Will they run, do you think?&#8221; inquired Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They will as long as their horses hold out, for <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_32' id='pg_32'>32</a></span>they must know that
+this ghost-dance business is about over and that most of their friends
+are back on the reservations. But when we come up to them&mdash;&mdash;&#8221; and the
+cowboy paused and significantly examined his revolver.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Does it mean a fight?&#8221; went on Blake, and he could not restrain a catch
+in his breath. It was one thing to have an Indian fight with some
+shelter, but different out in the open.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, I hardly think it will be what you might call regular and
+up-to-date fighting,&#8221; replied Hank. &#8220;They may fire their guns and
+revolvers at us to try and frighten us back, but I don&#8217;t actually
+believe that they&#8217;ll make trouble. They know the punishment would be too
+serious. And I believe a lot of those Indians have only blank cartridges
+that they had when they were in some Wild West show. I know there was
+mighty little whining of bullets, for all the shooting they did last
+night. But, at the same time,&#8221; he went on, &#8220;it&#8217;s best to be prepared for
+emergencies.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>They continued on, and the boys had now become so used to the signs of
+the Indian trail that they could note the changes almost as well as
+could Hank.</p>
+
+<p>Here they could see where a rest was made, and again where some animal
+went out of the beaten path. Bits of the Indians&#8217; finery, too, <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_33' id='pg_33'>33</a></span>were
+noted every once in a while&mdash;a bit of gaudy bead trimming, a discarded
+moccasin or some dyed feathers.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I do hope we come up with them before dark,&#8221; said Joe. &#8220;If we have to
+stay out on the trail all night, and part of next day, we may find
+nothing left of our things and the pack burros when we reach camp
+again.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>In order to make better time our friends had left behind, at the place
+where the Indians had raided them, the pack animals, their cameras, a
+few films not taken by the Indians, and as much of their provisions as
+they thought would not be needed on the trail.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I think this evening will end it,&#8221; declared Hank. &#8220;We might push on a
+little faster, as the going is good right here.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The horses were urged to greater speed, and they responded gamely. They
+seemed to realize the necessity for haste, and took advantage of the
+momentary betterment in the surface over which they were traveling.</p>
+
+<p>The sun was sinking lower and lower in the west and the shadows were
+lengthening. Eagerly the boys and the cowboy scout peered ahead,
+straining their eyes for a glimpse of those whom they were pursuing.
+Then there came a bit of rough ground, and the pace was slower. Next
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_34' id='pg_34'>34</a></span>followed a little rise, and, as this was topped, Blake, who had taken
+the lead for a short distance, uttered a cry and pointed forward with
+eager hand.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; cried Joe and Hank together.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There they are!&#8221; yelled Blake. &#8220;The Indians! Right below us! Come on!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Riding to his side, the others saw a sharp descent, then a level plain
+stretching away for many miles. And moving slowly over this plain was a
+band of about twenty-five Indians, mounted on ponies that seemed
+scarcely able to move.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s them!&#8221; cried Hank, as he dug his heels into the sides of his
+horse. &#8220;At &#8217;em, boys! A short, swift gallop will bring us up to &#8217;em now,
+and then&mdash;well, we&#8217;ll see what will happen!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come on!&#8221; yelled Blake, and side by side the trio rode down into the
+valley, their animals seeming to take on new strength as they saw their
+quarry before them.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They&#8217;ve noticed us!&#8221; exclaimed Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right!&#8221; agreed Hank. &#8220;Well, now to see if we can catch &#8217;em!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>A movement amid the stragglers of the band told that they had glimpsed
+the approach of the whites. There was a distant shout, and at once the
+whole party was galloping off.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_35' id='pg_35'>35</a></span>&#8220;They&#8217;ll distance us!&#8221; cried Blake. &#8220;They&#8217;re going to get away!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not very far,&#8221; was Hank&#8217;s opinion. &#8220;Their horses are about done up.
+This is a last spurt.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>His trained eye had shown him that the Indians were using quirts and
+their heels to spur the tired animals to a last burst of speed. True,
+the ponies did leap ahead for a few minutes; but not even the wild
+shouting of the redmen, the frantic beating of their steeds, and the
+firing of their guns could make the wearied muscles of the ponies
+respond for long.</p>
+
+<p>The spurt lasted only a few seconds, and then came a noticeable slowing
+down. On the contrary, the horses of our friends, though they had
+traveled far and hard, were in better condition and much fresher.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come on!&#8221; cried Hank, rising in his stirrups and swinging his hat
+around his head, while he sent forth yells of defiance. &#8220;Come on, boys!
+We have &#8217;em!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He, too, began to shoot, but in the air as before, and the boys followed
+his example. Their horses were shortening the distance between the two
+parties.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly one of the Indians was observed to toss something from him. It
+fell to the ground and rolled to one side of the trail.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_36' id='pg_36'>36</a></span>&#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221; cried Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;One of the boxes of exposed film!&#8221; cried Blake. &#8220;They know what we&#8217;re
+after. Oh, if only it isn&#8217;t damaged!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We can soon tell!&#8221; cried Hank, taking the lead. Then he yelled, between
+reports of his revolver:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hi there! you red beggars, give up! Drop that stuff you took from our
+camp! You haven&#8217;t any of the grub left, I suppose, but we want those
+pictures! Drop &#8217;em!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Whether his talk was understood, or not, was not known; but others of
+the Indians began tossing away either boxes of film or other
+things&mdash;aside from food&mdash;which they had taken from the camp. They never
+stopped their horses, though, but ever urged on the tired beasts.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Here&#8217;s the first reel!&#8221; cried Blake, as he came up to where it lay.
+Quickly dismounting, he picked it up.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not hurt a bit!&#8221; he cried exultantly; &#8220;and the seals haven&#8217;t been
+broken, showing that it hasn&#8217;t been opened.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Good!&#8221; cried Hank. &#8220;You go slow and pick up what you can, and Joe and I
+will chase after the Indians. Evidently they&#8217;re going to run for it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>And it did seem so. The Indians never paused, <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_37' id='pg_37'>37</a></span>but continued to toss
+away article after article. They seemed afraid of the consequences
+should they be caught with anything belonging to the whites in their
+possession. They may have taken Hank and the boys for the advance-guard
+of a sheriff&#8217;s posse, and, knowing they had been doing wrong, were
+afraid. At any rate they made no stand.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve got &#8217;em all!&#8221; finally yelled Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then there&#8217;s no use chasing after &#8217;em any farther,&#8221; said Hank. &#8220;Hold
+on, Joe,&#8221; for the boy was pushing on.</p>
+
+<p>The horses of the pursuers were pulled down to a walk. The Indians
+noticed this at once, and, seeming to realize that the chase was over,
+they halted, and, turning, gazed in a body at the moving picture boys
+and their cowboy guide.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Had enough, I reckon,&#8221; murmured Hank. &#8220;I guess you can&#8217;t go on much
+farther. Well, we&#8217;ll turn back a ways and put some miles between us, so
+you won&#8217;t try any of your tricks again, and then we&#8217;ll go into camp
+ourselves. Got everything, Blake?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, every reel of film, and not one has been opened, by good luck.
+Maybe they thought it was powerful &#8216;medicine,&#8217; and didn&#8217;t want to run
+any chances.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We don&#8217;t care, as long as we have &#8217;em back,&#8221; <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_38' id='pg_38'>38</a></span>remarked Joe, gleefully.
+&#8220;And now for a good rest.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>They turned back, and as they did so the Indians gave a last shout of
+defiance and began to make camp for themselves. It was as if a lot of
+schoolboys, playing truant, had been rounded up, and as a last
+indication of defiance had given their class yell.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Good riddance to you,&#8221; remarked Hank. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to see you again
+for a good many years.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Collecting the things the Indians had thrown away, our friends rode on
+until dark, and then, out of sight of the roving redmen, they made a
+simple camp. They stood guard by turns, but there was no night alarm.
+The next day they reached the place where they had picketed the pack
+animals. Nothing had been disturbed.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And now for Big B ranch!&#8221; exclaimed Blake, when once more the little
+cavalcade was under way.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And glad enough I&#8217;ll be to see it!&#8221; said Hank; &#8220;though I sure will miss
+you fellows.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The same here,&#8221; echoed Joe, and Blake nodded in accord.</p>
+
+<p>They traveled on for another day, finding good water and plenty of
+grazing for the steeds. Their provisions ran a bit low, for the Indians
+had <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_39' id='pg_39'>39</a></span>helped themselves liberally, but they managed to shoot some small
+game.</p>
+
+<p>And, on the second day after parting from the Indians, they topped a
+rise, from the height of which Hank cried:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There she is, boys!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What?&#8221; asked Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Big B ranch! We&#8217;re back in civilization again!&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_40' id='pg_40'>40</a></span>
+<a name='A_NEW_KIND_OF_DRAMA_1104' id='A_NEW_KIND_OF_DRAMA_1104'></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2>
+<h3>A NEW KIND OF DRAMA</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;And so you really got what you went for; eh, boys?&#8221; asked Mr. Alden,
+proprietor of Big B ranch, as the trio rode in. &#8220;Well, you had luck.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Both kinds&mdash;good and bad,&#8221; remarked Hank, as he told how, after getting
+the rare films, they had nearly been lost again.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And you rescued your enemies, too? What became of Munson?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, he and his crowd went off by themselves,&#8221; explained Blake. &#8220;They
+felt badly about us beating them.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve got a surprise for you, Joe,&#8221; went on the proprietor.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What sort?&#8221; asked the lad, eagerly; &#8220;is my father&mdash;&mdash;?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, not that; but Sam Reed is back here again, and he can tell you what
+you want to know. He came the day after you left.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But I did better than that!&#8221; exclaimed Joe. &#8220;I met my uncle, and I&#8217;m
+soon going to find my <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_41' id='pg_41'>41</a></span>father, I hope,&#8221; and he related his meeting with
+the trooper.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Good!&#8221; cried Mr. Alden. &#8220;Here comes Sam now. I told him you might be
+along soon,&#8221; and he turned to introduce a rather shiftless-looking
+cowboy who sauntered up.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Pleased to meet you,&#8221; said Sam Reed. &#8220;I never cal&#8217;lated when I writ
+that there letter that I&#8217;d ever see you in flesh and blood. I&#8217;ve got
+your pictures, though,&#8221; and he showed those that had appeared in a
+magazine, giving an account of the work of Joe and Blake.</p>
+
+<p>As might have been expected, Sam knew nothing of Joe&#8217;s father. The best
+the cowboy had hoped to do was to put the boy on the track of Mr.
+William Duncan, and, considering that Joe&#8217;s uncle, as I shall call
+him&mdash;though he was really only a half-uncle&mdash;had enlisted in the army,
+Mr. Reed would probably have had hard work to carry out his plans.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, I&#8217;m glad you met your relative, anyhow,&#8221; said Sam to Joe; &#8220;and I
+wish you luck in looking for your father. So he&#8217;s somewhere on the
+southern California coast?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, in one of the lighthouses,&#8221; explained Joe. &#8220;My uncle didn&#8217;t know
+exactly where, but I can easily find out from the government office when
+I get on the coast.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_42' id='pg_42'>42</a></span>The boys were made welcome again at Big B ranch, and talked over once
+more the exciting time that had happened to them there when the Indians
+stampeded the cattle.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Here are the films you left with me,&#8221; said Mr. Alden, giving the boys
+those they had made of the cattle stampede and of the cowboys doing
+their stunts. &#8220;And so you got other good ones?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, fine ones,&#8221; replied Blake. &#8220;And we must soon be getting back to
+Flagstaff. We have stayed away longer than we meant to, and Mr. Hadley
+and Mr. Ringold may need our services.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But the boys at the ranch would not hear of their starting for a few
+days, and so Joe and Blake stayed on, being royally entertained. They
+witnessed a round-up and the branding of cattle, but could get no
+pictures, as their films were all used up. However, the subjects had
+often been filmed before, so there was no great regret.</p>
+
+<p>Then came a time when they had to say farewell, and they turned their
+horses&#8217; heads toward Flagstaff. The cowboys gave them a parting salute
+of cheers and blank cartridges, riding madly around meanwhile.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It reminds me of the Indian attack,&#8221; said Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; assented Joe. &#8220;I wonder if we&#8217;ll go through another scare like
+that?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_43' id='pg_43'>43</a></span>&#8220;I hope not,&#8221; spoke his chum; but, though they did not know it, they
+were destined to face many more perils in the pursuit of their chosen
+calling.</p>
+
+<p>The ride to Flagstaff from Big B ranch was without incident. It was
+through a fairly well settled part of the country, as settlements go in
+Arizona, and they made it in good time. Joe often talked about the
+strange fate that had put him on the track of his father.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I wonder what kind of a man he&#8217;ll be?&#8221; he often said to his chum.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The best ever!&#8221; Blake would answer; &#8220;that is, if he&#8217;s anything like
+you&mdash;and I think he must be.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s very nice of you, and I hope he does turn out to be what I wish
+him to be. I can&#8217;t even picture him in my mind, though.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, I should think he&#8217;d be something like your uncle&mdash;even if they
+were only half-brothers.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;If he is, I suppose it will be all right, though Uncle Bill is a little
+too wild to suit me. I&#8217;d want my father to be more settled in life.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, it won&#8217;t be a great while before you know,&#8221; consoled Blake.</p>
+
+<p>The boys received a royal welcome from Mr. Hadley and the members of the
+theatrical troupe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, but it&#8217;s good to see you back!&#8221; exclaimed Birdie Lee to Blake, as
+she shook hands with <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_44' id='pg_44'>44</a></span>him, and if he held her fingers a little longer
+than was necessary I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s none of our affair.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;So you didn&#8217;t get scalped, after all?&#8221; remarked C. C., gloomily, as he
+surveyed the boys. &#8220;Well, you will next time, or else they will hold you
+as captives.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, stop it, Gloomy!&#8221; called Miss Shay. &#8220;What do you want to spoil
+their welcome for, just as we have a little spread arranged for them?&#8221;
+for she had gotten one up on the spur of the moment, on sighting the
+boys.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;A spread, eh? Humph, I know I&#8217;ll get indigestion if I eat any of it.
+Oh, life isn&#8217;t worth living, anyhow!&#8221; and he sighed heavily and
+proceeded to practice making new comical faces at himself in a
+looking-glass.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, I&#8217;m glad you boys are back,&#8221; said Mr. Ringold a little later at
+the impromptu feast, at which C. C. ate as much as anyone and with
+seemingly as good an appetite. &#8220;Yes,&#8221; went on the theatrical manager, &#8220;I
+shall need you and Mr. Hadley right along, now. I am going to produce a
+new kind of drama.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&mdash;er&mdash;I&#8217;m afraid I can&#8217;t be with you,&#8221; said Joe, hesitatingly. &#8220;I am
+at last on the track of my father, and I must find him.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Where is he?&#8221; asked Mr. Ringold, when the lad had told his story.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_45' id='pg_45'>45</a></span>&#8220;Somewhere on the Southern California coast. In a lighthouse&mdash;just
+where I can&#8217;t say. But I am going there, and so you will have to get
+some one else, Mr. Ringold, to take my place. Blake can stay here, of
+course, and make moving pictures, but I&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going with you,&#8221; said his chum, simply.</p>
+
+<p>There was a moment&#8217;s silence, and then the theatrical manager exclaimed:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, say, this just fits in all right. There&#8217;s no need for any of us
+to be separated, for I intend taking my whole company to the coast to
+get a new series of sea dramas. The Southern California coast will suit
+me as well as any.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Joe, you can&#8217;t shake me that way. We&#8217;ll all go together, and you&#8217;ll
+have plenty of chance to locate your father!&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_46' id='pg_46'>46</a></span>
+<a name='ON_THE_COAST_1263' id='ON_THE_COAST_1263'></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2>
+<h3>ON THE COAST</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The announcement of Mr. Ringold was followed by a silence, during which
+Joe and Blake looked at each other. It seemed like too much good fortune
+to learn that they would still have the company of their friends in this
+new quest.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Do you really mean that?&#8221; asked Joe. &#8220;You&#8217;re not saying it just to help
+us out; are you, Mr. Ringold?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No. What makes you think that?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Because it seems too good to be true. I wouldn&#8217;t like anything better
+than to go with your company and make pictures.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The same here,&#8221; added Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And if, at the same time, I can locate my father,&#8221; went on Joe, &#8220;so
+much the better, though I don&#8217;t imagine I will have any trouble finding
+him, once I can communicate with the government lighthouse board, and
+learn where he is stationed. They have a list of all employees, I
+imagine.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_47' id='pg_47'>47</a></span>&#8220;Yes, I think so,&#8221; spoke Mr. Hadley. &#8220;As you say, it will be easy to
+locate him. And, boys, I&#8217;m very glad you&#8217;re going to be with us again. I
+wouldn&#8217;t like to break in two new lads, and we will certainly need three
+photographers to take all the scenes in the sea dramas that are
+planned.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Will we have to go very far to sea?&#8221; asked Macaroni, who was among
+those who had greeted the moving picture boys. The lads&#8217; thin assistant
+had been kept busy assisting Mr. Hadley while they were after the
+Indians. &#8220;Because if it&#8217;s very far out on the ocean wave I don&#8217;t believe
+I want to go; I&#8217;m very easily made seasick.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, we can arrange to keep you near shore,&#8221; said the theatrical man,
+with a laugh.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He may be drowned, even near shore,&#8221; put in C. C., with his most gloomy
+voice; though he was, at the same time, practicing some new facial
+contortions that were sending the women members of the troupe into
+spasms of laughter.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, there you go, Gloomy!&#8221; exclaimed Mr. Hadley. &#8220;First we know you&#8217;ll
+be saying we&#8217;ll all be smashed in a train wreck going to the coast; or,
+if not, that we&#8217;ll be carried off by a tidal wave as soon as we get
+there.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It might happen,&#8221; spoke the gloomy comedian, as though both accidents
+were possible at the same time.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_48' id='pg_48'>48</a></span>&#8220;And it may rain&mdash;but not to-day,&#8221; put in Miss Shay, with a look at the
+hot, cloudless sky.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then it&#8217;s all settled,&#8221; went on Mr. Ringold. &#8220;It is understood, Joe,
+that you can have considerable time, if you need it, to locate your
+father. The dramas I intend to film will extend over a considerable
+time, and they can be made whenever it is most convenient. After all, I
+think it is a good thing that we are going to the Southern California
+coast. The climate there will be just what we want, and the sunlight
+will be almost constant.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure I&#8217;m much obliged to you,&#8221; said Joe. &#8220;This trip after the
+Indian films cost us more than we counted on, and we&#8217;ll be glad of a
+chance to make more money. We&#8217;re down pretty low; aren&#8217;t we, Blake?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m afraid so. But then, we may get that prize money, and that will
+help a lot.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s so,&#8221; put in Mr. Hadley. &#8220;You had better have those films
+developed, and send them to the geographical society. I wouldn&#8217;t ship
+them undeveloped, for they might be light-struck. You were lucky the
+Indians didn&#8217;t spoil them.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The boys decided to do this, and during the next few days the reels of
+moving pictures were developed, and some positives printed from them.
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_49' id='pg_49'>49</a></span>While the lads had been after the Indians Mr. Ringold had sent for a
+complete, though small, moving picture outfit, and with this some of the
+pictures were thrown on a screen.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re the finest I&#8217;ve ever seen!&#8221; declared Mr. Hadley, after
+inspecting them critically. &#8220;That charge of the soldiers can&#8217;t be
+beaten, and as for the Indian dances, they are as plain as if we were
+right on the ground. You&#8217;ll get the prize, I&#8217;m sure; especially since
+you&#8217;re the only ones who got any views, as I understand it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Hadley proved a good prophet, for in due time, after the films
+reached New York, came a letter from the geographical society, enclosing
+a substantial check for the two boys.</p>
+
+<p>The films were excellent, it was stated, and just what were needed. One
+other concern, aside from Mr. Munson&#8217;s, and the one the latter
+mentioned, which had gone to Indian land, had succeeded in getting a few
+views of the Indians in another part of the State, but they were nowhere
+near as good as those Blake and Joe had secured after such trouble and
+risk. The attempt to get phonographic records had been a failure, the
+officers of the society wrote, though another attempt would be made if
+ever the Indians again broke from their reservations.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_50' id='pg_50'>50</a></span>&#8220;And if they do,&#8221; spoke Blake, &#8220;I&#8217;m not going to chase after them.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Me, either,&#8221; decided Joe. &#8220;I&#8217;ve had enough. Now the sooner we can get
+to the coast the better I&#8217;ll like it. Just think, my father must be as
+anxious to see me as I am to find him; but as near as I can understand
+it, he doesn&#8217;t even know that I am alive. Think of that!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It is rather hard,&#8221; said Blake, sympathetically. &#8220;But it won&#8217;t be long
+now. I heard Mr. Ringold say we would start soon.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>There were a few scenes in some of the dramas enacted in Arizona that
+yet needed to be filmed, and Joe and Blake helped with this work,
+Macaroni assisting them and Mr. Hadley.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And after this, nearly all our work will have to do with the sea,&#8221; said
+the theatrical man. &#8220;I want to depict it in all its phases; showing it
+calm, and during a storm, the delights of it, as well as the perils of
+the deep.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Before leaving Flagstaff it was decided to give a few exhibitions of
+some of the moving pictures, so that the residents there, and a number
+of the cowboys and Indians who had taken part in the plays, might see
+how they looked on the screen. A suitable building was obtained, and it
+was crowded at every performance.</p>
+
+<p>The Indians were at first frightened, thinking <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_51' id='pg_51'>51</a></span>it was some new and
+powerful kind of &#8220;medicine&#8221; that might have a bad effect on them. With
+one accord, when the film the boys had taken, showing the charge of the
+soldiers on the Moquis, was put on, the redmen rushed from the building.
+And it was some time before they could be induced to return.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Say, there&#8217;s my uncle, as plain as anything!&#8221; exclaimed Joe, when the
+excitement had calmed down, and the reel was run over again. &#8220;There&#8217;s
+Sergeant Duncan, close to Captain Marsh!&#8221; and he indicated where the
+trooper was riding beside the commander of the cavalry.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right,&#8221; agreed Blake, as the pictures flickered over the screen,
+the figures being almost life size. &#8220;And he looks like you, too.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I wonder if my father looks like that?&#8221; said Joe, softly.</p>
+
+<p>There were busy days ahead of them all now, and there was much work to
+be done in transporting all the &#8220;properties&#8221; to the coast, and arranging
+to move the picture outfit, the cameras and the entire company. The boys
+had little leisure, but Joe managed to get a letter off to the
+government lighthouse board, asking for news of his father, Nathaniel
+Duncan.</p>
+
+<p>In reply he got a communication stating that a Mr. Duncan was stationed
+as assistant keeper <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_52' id='pg_52'>52</a></span>at a light near San Diego, and not far from Point
+Loma.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s where we want to head for, then,&#8221; said Joe, as he talked the
+matter over with his chum. &#8220;I wonder if that will suit Mr. Ringold?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>It did, as the theatrical manager stated, when the subject was broached
+to him. Accordingly arrangements were made to ship everything there.</p>
+
+<p>The day came to bid farewell to Flagstaff, which had been the stopping
+place of the theatrical troupe for several months. They had made many
+friends, and the Indians had become so used to taking their parts in the
+dramas, and in getting good pay for it, that they were very sorry to see
+the &#8220;palefaces&#8221; leave. So, too, were the cowboys, many of whom had
+become very friendly with our heroes and the theatrical people.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But we&#8217;ve got to go,&#8221; said Blake, as he shook hands with his
+acquaintances.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Indeed, if we didn&#8217;t leave soon,&#8221; said Joe, &#8220;I&#8217;d be tempted to start
+off by myself. I&#8217;ve sent a letter to my dad, telling him all about how
+strangely I found him, and I&#8217;m just aching to see him. I guess he&#8217;ll be
+pretty well surprised to get it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I should imagine so,&#8221; agreed Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;One last round-up to say good-bye!&#8221; cried one of the cowboys, as the
+party started away <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_53' id='pg_53'>53</a></span>from the quarters they had occupied. &#8220;Everybody get
+in on this. Whoop her up, boys!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He leaped to his steed, flourished his hat, and began riding around in a
+circle, firing his big revolver at intervals.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s the ticket!&#8221; shouted the others, as they followed his example.</p>
+
+<p>Soon two score of the light-hearted chaps were riding around the little
+crowd of the boys and their friends, saluting them, and saying farewell
+in this lively fashion.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Whoop her up!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Never say die!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come again, and we&#8217;ll exterminate a whole band of redskins for you!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And have a cattle stampede made to order any day you want!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>These were only a few of the many expressions from the cowboys.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Say, if they don&#8217;t kill themselves, they&#8217;ll make us deaf, with all that
+noise,&#8221; predicted C. C.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;This isn&#8217;t a funeral,&#8221; declared Mr. Hadley. &#8220;It&#8217;s a jolly occasion,
+Gloomy Gus!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Huh! Jolly? First you know some one will be hurt.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But no one was, in spite of the direful predictions, and soon the
+cowboys drew off, with final shots from their revolvers, discharging
+them in <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_54' id='pg_54'>54</a></span>the air. The Indians, too, had their share in the farewell,
+though they were not so demonstrative as were their companions.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And now for the coast!&#8221; cried Blake, as they reached the train.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And my dad,&#8221; added Joe, and there was a trace of tears in his eyes,
+which he did not attempt to conceal. Blake knew just how his chum felt,
+and he found himself wishing that he, too, was going to find some
+relative. But he knew the only one he had was his aged uncle.</p>
+
+<p>Little of incident occurred on the trip to San Diego, which had been
+decided on as headquarters until a suitable location, away from any
+town, could be selected directly on the ocean beach. I say little of
+moment, but C. C. was continually predicting that something would
+happen, from a real hold-up to a train wreck.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And if that doesn&#8217;t happen, a bridge will go go down with us,&#8221; he said.</p>
+
+<p>But nothing of the kind occurred, and finally the boys and their friends
+reached the coast, going to the boarding place they had engaged.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And there&#8217;s the old Pacific!&#8221; exclaimed Joe, as he and Blake went down
+to the shore of the bay on which San Diego stands. &#8220;It isn&#8217;t very rough,
+however, and Mr. Ringold said he wanted tumbling waves as a background.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_55' id='pg_55'>55</a></span>&#8220;It gets rough at times, though,&#8221; remarked a fisherman. &#8220;Of course, if
+you want to see big waves you&#8217;ll have to go beyond this bay. It&#8217;s pretty
+well land-locked. Oh, yes, the old Pacific isn&#8217;t always as peaceful as
+her name.&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_56' id='pg_56'>56</a></span>
+<a name='AT_THE_LIGHTHOUSE_1511' id='AT_THE_LIGHTHOUSE_1511'></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2>
+<h3>AT THE LIGHTHOUSE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The two boys talked for some time with the old fisherman, and then Blake
+whispered to Joe:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you ask him where the lighthouse is where your father is
+supposed to be, and the best way of getting to it?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I will,&#8221; replied his chum.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The Rockypoint light?&#8221; repeated the fisherman, in response to Joe&#8217;s
+inquiry. &#8220;Why yes, I know it well. It&#8217;s only a few miles from here. You
+can see her flash on a clear night, but you can&#8217;t make out the house
+itself, even on a clear day, because she&#8217;s down behind that spur of
+coast. From the ocean, though, she&#8217;s seen easily enough.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And how can we get there?&#8221; asked Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, you can walk right down the beach, though it&#8217;s a middlin&#8217; long
+tramp; or you can go back to town, and hire a rig.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll walk,&#8221; decided Joe. &#8220;Do you happen to <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_57' id='pg_57'>57</a></span>know of a Mr. Duncan
+there?&#8221; He waited anxiously for the answer.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, lad, I can&#8217;t rightly say I do,&#8221; said the fisherman. &#8220;I know the
+keeper, Harry Stanton, and, now I come to think of it, I did hear the
+other day that he had a new assistant.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s him!&#8221; cried Joe, eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Who?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;My father, I hope,&#8221; was the reply, and in his joy Joe told something of
+his story.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, you sure have spun a queer yarn,&#8221; said the old fisherman, &#8220;and I
+wish you all sorts of luck. You&#8217;ll soon be at the light if you go right
+down the beach. I&#8217;d row you down in my dory, only I&#8217;ve just come in from
+taking up my nets and I&#8217;m sort of tired.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, we wouldn&#8217;t think of asking you,&#8221; put in Blake. &#8220;We can easily walk
+it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Some day I&#8217;ll take you out fishing,&#8221; promised the man. &#8220;And so you&#8217;re
+here to get moving pictures; eh? Well, I don&#8217;t know much about &#8217;em, but
+you couldn&#8217;t come to a nicer place than this spot on the coast. And you
+only have to go a little way to get right where the real surf comes
+smashing up on the beach. Of course, as I said, we&#8217;re so land-locked
+just here that we don&#8217;t see much of it, even in a storm. Moving
+pictures; eh? I&#8217;d like to see some.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_58' id='pg_58'>58</a></span>&#8220;I guess you can be in them, if you want to,&#8221; said Blake. &#8220;I heard Mr.
+Ringold say he had one drama that called for a lot of fishermen.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Me in moving pictures!&#8221; cried the old man. &#8220;Ho! Ho! I wonder what my
+wife&#8217;d say to that. I&#8217;ve been in lots of queer situations. I&#8217;ve been
+knocked overboard by a whale, I&#8217;ve been wrecked, and half drowned, and
+almost starved, but I&#8217;ve never been in a picture, except I once had a
+tintype taken&mdash;-that was when I was married,&#8221; and he chuckled at the
+remembrance. &#8220;These movin&#8217; pictures aren&#8217;t like tintypes; are they?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not much,&#8221; laughed Joe, as he and Blake moved off in the direction of
+the lighthouse, calling a good-bye to their new friend. They had told
+Mr. Hadley, in starting out that morning, that they might not be back
+until late, for Joe had a half notion that he would try to find the
+lighthouse that day.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I wonder what I shall say to him, when I first see him, Blake?&#8221; Joe
+asked, as they trudged along.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why&mdash;er&mdash;I hardly know,&#8221; replied his chum. &#8220;I never found a lost
+father, myself.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And I never did, either. I guess I&#8217;ll just say: &#8216;Hello, Dad; do you
+know me?&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That sounds all right,&#8221; said Blake. &#8220;He sure will be surprised.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_59' id='pg_59'>59</a></span>The walk was longer than they had thought, and when noon came they
+still had some distance to go. As they were hungry they sought out a
+fisherman&#8217;s cottage, where, for a small sum, they had a fine meal.
+Starting out again, they turned an intervening point of land about three
+o&#8217;clock, and then came in view of a lighthouse, located on a pile of
+rocks, not far from the high-water mark.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s the place,&#8221; said Blake, in a low voice.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; agreed Joe. &#8220;It looks comfortable and homelike, too.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Back of the lighthouse was a small garden, and also a flower bed, and a
+man could be seen working there. His back was toward the boys.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&mdash;I wonder if that&#8217;s him&mdash;my father?&#8221; said Joe, softly. &#8220;He seems to
+be very old,&#8221; for they had a glimpse of a long white beard, and the man
+seemed to be bent with the weight of many years.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Go up and ask,&#8221; said Blake. &#8220;I&#8217;ll wait here.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, I want you to come with me,&#8221; insisted his chum. &#8220;You were with me
+when I first heard the good news, and now I want you along to hear the
+conclusion of it. Come on, Blake.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, I&#8217;d rather not,&#8221; and nothing Joe could say would induce his chum to
+accompany him.</p>
+
+<p>Their talk had been carried on in low voices, and the aged man, working
+in the garden, had <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_60' id='pg_60'>60</a></span>apparently not heard them. He continued to hoe away
+among the rows.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, here goes!&#8221; exclaimed Joe, with a sigh. Now that he felt he was
+at the end of his quest his sensations were almost as sorrowful as
+joyful. In fact, he did not know exactly how he did feel.</p>
+
+<p>Walking up toward the old man, he paused, and then coughed slightly to
+attract his attention. The lighthouse keeper turned, surveyed the boy
+and in a pleasant voice asked:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;If&mdash;if you&mdash;are you my father?&#8221; asked Joe, in trembling voice, holding
+out his hands.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Your father!&#8221; cried the man in unmistakable surprise. &#8220;What is your
+name?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Joe Duncan.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Joe Duncan? Did Duncan have a son?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, and I&#8217;m the boy!&#8221; went on Joe, eagerly, yet a doubt began creeping
+into his heart. &#8220;But are you Mr. Nathaniel Duncan?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The old man paused a moment, and then said gently:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, my boy. I&#8217;m Harry Stanton, keeper of Rockypoint light.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But my father!&#8221; exclaimed Joe. &#8220;I understood he was here! Where is he?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He was here,&#8221; went on Mr. Stanton, as he leaned on his hoe and looked
+compassionately at <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_61' id='pg_61'>61</a></span>the lad standing before him; &#8220;but he went away more
+than a week ago.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Gone away!&#8221; echoed Joe. &#8220;Did he&mdash;did he get my letter?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know whether it was your letter or not,&#8221; said the keeper. &#8220;One
+came for him the day after he left. It&#8217;s here yet. It was from
+Flagstaff, Arizona, I believe.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s my letter!&#8221; exclaimed Joe. &#8220;And he never got it! Poor Dad, he
+doesn&#8217;t yet know that I&#8217;m alive!&#8221; and he turned away with tears in his
+eyes.</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_62' id='pg_62'>62</a></span>
+<a name='BLAKE_LEARNS_A_SECRET_1674' id='BLAKE_LEARNS_A_SECRET_1674'></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2>
+<h3>BLAKE LEARNS A SECRET</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Blake, looking on from a little distance, saw Joe turn aside from the
+aged man.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s rather queer,&#8221; thought the lad. &#8220;If that was his father it isn&#8217;t
+a very cordial welcome.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>As he looked, he saw Joe walking out of the garden.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Queerer still,&#8221; Blake mused. &#8220;Even if that isn&#8217;t Mr. Duncan, he must be
+somewhere around, for lighthouse keepers can&#8217;t be very far away from
+their station, as I understand it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Joe came walking toward his chum. His face showed his disappointment so
+unmistakably that Blake called out:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter, Joe?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s gone&mdash;he isn&#8217;t here! He never got my letter!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Where has he gone?&#8221; asked Blake, always practical.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_63' id='pg_63'>63</a></span>&#8220;I&mdash;I don&#8217;t know. I didn&#8217;t ask.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Look here, Joe!&#8221; exclaimed his chum. &#8220;I guess you&#8217;re too excited over
+this. You let me make some inquiries for you. Suppose he has gone? We
+may be able to trace him. Men in the lighthouse service get transferred
+from one place to another just as soldiers do, I imagine. Now you sit
+down here and look at the sad sea waves, as C. C. would say if he were
+here, and I&#8217;ll go tackle that lighthouse keeper. You were too flustered
+to get any clues, I expect.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I guess I was,&#8221; admitted Joe. &#8220;When I found he wasn&#8217;t there I didn&#8217;t
+know what to do. I didn&#8217;t feel like asking any questions.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Blake placed his arm around his chum&#8217;s shoulder, patted him on the back,
+and started toward the aged man, who was still leaning on his hoe,
+looking in mild surprise at the two lads.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll find out all about it,&#8221; called back Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Ha! Another boy!&#8221; exclaimed Mr. Stanton, as Blake approached. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t
+know this was going to be visiting day, or I might have put on my other
+suit,&#8221; and he laughed genially. &#8220;Are you another son of Mr. Duncan?&#8221; he
+asked.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; replied Blake. &#8220;I&#8217;m Joe&#8217;s chum. We&#8217;re in the moving picture
+business together. But he says his father has left, and, as he naturally
+feels badly, I thought I&#8217;d make some inquiries for <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_64' id='pg_64'>64</a></span>him, so we can
+locate him. Do you know where Mr. Duncan went?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No&mdash;I can&#8217;t say that I do,&#8221; was the slow answer. &#8220;And so you are chums;
+eh?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, and we have been for some years.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s nice. You tell each other all your secrets, I suppose?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, most of &#8217;em.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Never hold anything back?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, what do you mean?&#8221; asked Blake, for there seemed to be a strange
+meaning in the old man&#8217;s voice.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I mean, lad,&#8221; and the lighthouse keeper&#8217;s tones sank to a whisper; &#8220;I
+mean, if I tell you something, can you keep it from him?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why&mdash;yes&mdash;I suppose so,&#8221; spoke Blake, wonderingly. &#8220;But what is the
+matter? Isn&#8217;t his father here?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, he&#8217;s gone, just as I told him. But look here&mdash;he seems a nice sort
+of lad, and I didn&#8217;t want to hurt his feelings. I&#8217;d rather tell you, as
+long as you&#8217;re his chum, and if you can keep a secret.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He looked to where Joe was sitting on the rocks, watching the waves roll
+lazily up the beach and break. Joe was far enough off so that the
+low-voiced conversation could not reach him.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I can keep a secret if I have to,&#8221; replied Blake. <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_65' id='pg_65'>65</a></span>&#8220;But what is it all
+about? Is Mr. Duncan&mdash;is he&mdash;dead?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The old man hesitated, and, for a moment, Blake thought that his guess
+was correct. Then the aged man said slowly:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, my boy, he isn&#8217;t dead; but maybe, for the sake of his son, he had
+better be. At any rate, it&#8217;s better, all around, that he&#8217;s away from
+here.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221; asked Blake quickly. &#8220;Tell me what you mean!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That I will, lad, and maybe you can figure a way out of the puzzle. I&#8217;m
+an old man, and not as smart as I was, so my brain doesn&#8217;t work quickly.
+Maybe you can find a way out. Come inside where we can talk so he won&#8217;t
+hear us,&#8221; and he nodded toward the quiet figure of Joe on the beach.</p>
+
+<p>Blake wondered more than ever what the disclosure might be. He followed
+the aged man into the living quarters of the house attached to the light
+tower.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Sit ye there, lad,&#8221; went on Mr. Stanton, &#8220;and I&#8217;ll tell you all about
+it. Maybe you can find a way out.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He paused, as if to gather his thoughts, and then resumed:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You see I&#8217;m pretty old, and I have to have an assistant at this light.
+I expect soon I&#8217;ll have <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_66' id='pg_66'>66</a></span>to give up altogether. But I&#8217;m going to hang on
+as long as I can. I&#8217;ve had three assistants in the last year, and one of
+&#8217;em, as you know now, was Nathaniel Duncan, Joe&#8217;s father. Before him I
+had a likely young fellow named&mdash;ah, well, I&#8217;ve forgotten, and the name
+doesn&#8217;t matter much anyhow. But when he left the board sent me this
+Duncan, and I must say I liked him right well.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What sort of a man was he?&#8221; asked Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;A nice sort of man. He was about middle aged, tall, well built, and
+strong as a horse. He looked as if he had had trouble, though, and
+gradually he told me his story. His wife had died when his boy and girl
+were young&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Girl! Was there a girl?&#8221; cried Blake. &#8220;Has Joe a sister, too?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He had&mdash;whether he has yet, I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; went on Mr. Stanton. &#8220;I&#8217;ll
+tell you all I know.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;As I said, Nate Duncan seemed to have had lots of sorrow, and he told
+me how, after his wife died, he had placed the boy and girl in charge of
+some people, and gone off to the California mines to make some money.
+When he come back, rich, the children had disappeared, and so had the
+people he left &#8217;em with. He never could locate &#8217;em, though he tried
+hard, and so did his half-brother, Bill. But Bill was different from
+Nate, <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_67' id='pg_67'>67</a></span>so I understand. Bill was a reckless sort of chap, while Joe&#8217;s
+father was quite steady.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right,&#8221; spoke Blake, and then he related how Joe had come to get
+a trace of his father.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; resumed Mr. Stanton, &#8220;as I said, Duncan came here, and he and I
+got along well together. Then there came trouble.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Trouble? What kind?&#8221; asked Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Trouble with wreckers, lad. The meanest and most wicked kind of trouble
+there can be on a seacoast. A band of bad men got together and by means
+of false lights lured small vessels out of their course so they went on
+the rocks. Then they got what they could when the cargo was washed
+ashore.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But what has that got to do with Joe&#8217;s father?&#8221; asked Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Too much, I&#8217;m afraid, lad. It was said that the light here was allowed
+to go out some nights, so the false light would be more effective.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, Nate Duncan had charge of the light at night after I went off
+duty. And it was always when I was off duty that the wrecks occurred.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Do you mean to accuse Joe&#8217;s father of being in with the wreckers?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, lad. I don&#8217;t accuse anybody; I&#8217;m too old a man to do anything like
+that. But ugly stories <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_68' id='pg_68'>68</a></span>began to be circulated. Government inspectors
+began to call more often than they used to, inspecting my light&mdash;my
+light, that I&#8217;ve tended nigh onto twenty-five years now. I began to hear
+rumors that my assistant wasn&#8217;t altogether straight. He was said to be
+seen consorting with the wreckers, though it was hard to get proof that
+the men were wreckers, for they pretended to be fishermen.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then come a day when, with my own eyes, I saw Nate Duncan walking along
+the beach with one of the men who was said to be at the head of the
+wrecking gang. I could see that they were quarreling, and then Nate
+knocked the man down. He didn&#8217;t get up right away, for, as I said, Nate
+was strong. I knew something would come of that, and I wasn&#8217;t much
+surprised when that day Nate disappeared.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Disappeared?&#8221; cried Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Went off completely, and left me alone at the light. I tended it all
+night, same as I had done before, many a time, and the next day I
+reported matters, and I had a new assistant&mdash;the same one I have now.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But that doesn&#8217;t prove anything,&#8221; said Blake. &#8220;Just because Joe&#8217;s
+father, and a man suspected of being a wrecker, had a quarrel, doesn&#8217;t
+say that Mr. Duncan was a wrecker, too.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_69' id='pg_69'>69</a></span>&#8220;There&#8217;s more to it,&#8221; went on the old man. &#8220;The day after Nate Duncan
+disappeared detectives came here looking for him.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Blake started. There was more to the story than he had suspected. He
+looked at Mr. Stanton, and glanced out of the window to where Joe still
+sat.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;So that&#8217;s why I say maybe it would be better for Joe if his father was
+dead,&#8221; went on Mr. Stanton. &#8220;Disgrace is a terrible thing, and I
+couldn&#8217;t bear to tell Joe, when he asked me about his father.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But where did he go?&#8221; asked Blake. &#8220;Didn&#8217;t he leave any trace at all?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not a trace, lad&mdash;folks most generally doesn&#8217;t when the detectives are
+after &#8217;em. Hold on, though, I won&#8217;t say Nate was guilty on my own hook.
+I&#8217;m only telling you what happened. I&#8217;d hate to believe he was a
+wrecker, misusing this light to draw vessels on the dangerous rocks; but
+it looks black, it looks black.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Did the detectives actually accuse Mr. Duncan?&#8221; asked Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, they as much as did. They said some of the wreckers had been
+arrested, and had incriminated the assistant light-keeper. But Duncan
+was smart enough&mdash;provided he was guilty&mdash;to skip out. As I told Joe,
+his father left just <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_70' id='pg_70'>70</a></span>before the letter from Flagstaff came, so he
+doesn&#8217;t know his son is alive. Poor man, I&#8217;m sorry for him. He told me
+how he had searched all over for his children, and at last, becoming
+tired and discouraged, he took this job just to have something to do,
+for he&#8217;s well enough off not to have to work.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And there&#8217;s no way of telling where he went?&#8221; questioned Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nary a one that I know of, lad. As I said, maybe he&#8217;s better off lost.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not for Joe.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, maybe not; but for himself. There are heavy penalties for
+wrecking, and it&#8217;s well he wasn&#8217;t caught, though, as I say, I don&#8217;t
+accuse him. Only it looks black, it looks black. If he was innocent why
+didn&#8217;t he stay and fight it out? Yes, lad, it looks black.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m afraid so,&#8221; sighed Blake. &#8220;How can I ever tell Joe the news?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You mustn&#8217;t!&#8221; exclaimed the old man. &#8220;That&#8217;s just it. You must not tell
+him. I&#8217;d hate to destroy his faith in his father. It would be cruel.
+That&#8217;s why I asked if you could keep a secret. You won&#8217;t tell him; will
+you?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; said Blake, in a low voice; &#8220;I won&#8217;t tell him.&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_71' id='pg_71'>71</a></span>
+<a name='AT_PRACTICE_1921' id='AT_PRACTICE_1921'></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2>
+<h3>AT PRACTICE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>There was silence between man and boy for a space, and then Blake,
+understanding how hard it would be to keep the news from Joe, said:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll have to tell him something, Mr. Stanton. Joe will want to know why
+his father went away, and where. Isn&#8217;t there any way in which we may get
+a clue to the direction he took?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Wait a minute until I think, lad,&#8221; said the old man. &#8220;It may be that we
+can find a clue, after all. Nate Duncan left some papers behind. I
+haven&#8217;t looked at &#8217;em, not wishing to make trouble, but there may be a
+clue there. I&#8217;ll get &#8217;em.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And I&#8217;ll call Joe in to go over them with me,&#8221; said Blake. &#8220;He&#8217;ll want
+to see them.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But, mind you, not a word about what I&#8217;ve told you.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, I&#8217;ll keep quiet,&#8221; promised Blake. &#8220;I&#8217;ll call him in, while you get
+the papers.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_72' id='pg_72'>72</a></span>Going to the door of the little cottage, Blake called to his chum.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; asked Joe, eagerly. &#8220;Was there some mistake? Is my father
+somewhere around here, after all?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, we hope to find him,&#8221; said Blake, with an assurance he did not
+feel. &#8220;Look here, Joe, your father went away rather suddenly, it seems,
+but you mustn&#8217;t think anything about that. He&#8217;s been traveling all over,
+you know, looking for you and your sister&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Sister?&#8221; cried Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, you had a sister, though I can&#8217;t get much information about her.
+Neither could your uncle tell you, as you remember.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right. Oh, if I could only find dad and her!&#8221; and Joe sighed.
+&#8220;But maybe she isn&#8217;t alive.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s this way,&#8221; went on Blake, and he told as much of the lighthouse
+keeper&#8217;s story as was wise, keeping from Joe all information about the
+wreckers. &#8220;Now, your father may have heard of some new clue about you,&#8221;
+continued Joe&#8217;s chum, &#8220;and he may have gone to hunt that up,&#8221; which was
+true enough, for with the warning that he was likely to be arrested as a
+criminal, there may have come to Mr. Duncan some information about his
+missing children.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_73' id='pg_73'>73</a></span>&#8220;But in that case,&#8221; asked Joe, &#8220;why didn&#8217;t he leave some word as to
+where he was going?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He may have been in too much of a hurry,&#8221; suggested Blake, realizing
+that he was going to have considerable difficulty in keeping Joe from
+guessing the truth.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, perhaps that&#8217;s so,&#8221; agreed the lad. &#8220;But maybe Mr. Stanton has
+some clues.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The lighthouse keeper came downstairs at this moment with a bundle of
+papers in his hand.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Here is all I found,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It isn&#8217;t much, but among the things he
+left behind is the letter you wrote,&#8221; and he extended to Joe the missive
+the lad had penned in such hope at Flagstaff.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Poor Dad,&#8221; murmured Joe. &#8220;I wonder if he will ever get this?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Together he and Blake looked over the documents. As the keeper had said,
+there was not much. Some memoranda, evidently made as different clues
+came to him; paid bills, some business letters, a few notes, and that
+was all.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s this?&#8221; exclaimed Blake, as he read one letter. &#8220;It seems to be
+from some shipping agent in San Francisco, saying he can place&mdash;why,
+Joe, it&#8217;s to your father, and it says he can have a place as mate any
+time he wants it. Was he a sailor?&#8221; he asked, eagerly, turning to the
+keeper.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;So I understood.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_74' id='pg_74'>74</a></span>&#8220;Then this is the very thing we&#8217;re looking for!&#8221; cried Blake. &#8220;Look, it
+is dated only a short time before he left. I see now,&#8221; and he gave the
+lighthouse keeper a peculiar look, when Joe was not glancing in his
+direction. &#8220;Mr. Duncan got word that he could ship as a mate, and he
+left in a hurry.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Maybe so,&#8221; assented Mr. Stanton.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Perhaps he had some new clue about you, Joe, or possibly about your
+sister,&#8221; suggested Blake, hoping his chum would come to take this view.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Maybe,&#8221; assented Joe. &#8220;But it&#8217;s queer he didn&#8217;t leave some word, or
+tell someone he was going.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He may not have had time,&#8221; went on Blake. &#8220;Vessels have to sail in a
+hurry, lots of times, and he may have had to act quickly.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s possible,&#8221; admitted the keeper.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then I&#8217;ll tell you what we&#8217;ll do,&#8221; continued Blake. &#8220;We&#8217;ll go to San
+Francisco the first chance we get, and see this shipping agent. He may
+be able to put us on the right track.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I guess it&#8217;s the only thing to do,&#8221; agreed Joe, in despondent tones.
+&#8220;Poor Dad! I nearly found him, and then I lost him again.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>They looked over the other papers. None offered as promising a clue as
+did the agent&#8217;s <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_75' id='pg_75'>75</a></span>letter, and this Joe took with him, also his own to his
+father.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Maybe I&#8217;ll get a chance to deliver it to him myself,&#8221; he said, with a
+smile that had little of hope in it.</p>
+
+<p>There was nothing more to be learned at the lighthouse. The boys left,
+after thanking the keeper, and promising to come and see him again. As
+they went out Mr. Stanton gave Blake a little sign, warning him not to
+disclose the secret.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, failure number one,&#8221; said Joe, as they took a carriage back to
+San Diego, it being rather late.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, but we&#8217;ll win out yet!&#8221; declared Blake, with a confidence he did
+not feel. &#8220;We&#8217;ll find your father and your sister, too.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll have more relations than you, Blake, if I keep on, and can find
+them,&#8221; said Joe, after a bit.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right. Well, I wish you luck,&#8221; and Blake wondered if Joe would
+be glad he had found his father, after all. &#8220;Wrecking is a black
+business,&#8221; mused the lad. &#8220;But, like Mr. Stanton, I&#8217;m not going to think
+Joe&#8217;s father guilty until I have to. I wonder, though, if the story is
+known about San Diego? If it is I&#8217;ll have trouble keeping it from Joe.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But Joe&#8217;s chum found he had little to fear on this score, for, on
+getting back to the quarters of <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_76' id='pg_76'>76</a></span>the theatrical troupe, the boys were
+told that the next day they would all take up their residence in a small
+seacoast settlement, out on the main ocean beach, away from the
+land-locked bay and where bigger waves could be pictured.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And there we&#8217;ll enact the first of the sea dramas,&#8221; said Mr. Ringold.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And all get drowned,&#8221; murmured C. C., in his gloomiest tone.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll wash your face with snow&mdash;the first time it snows in this summer
+land&mdash;if you don&#8217;t be more cheerful,&#8221; threatened Miss Shay.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, something will happen, I&#8217;m sure,&#8221; declared C. C. &#8220;When do we
+move?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;To-morrow,&#8221; said Mr. Ringold, while Blake and Joe told Mr. Hadley of
+their poor success in finding Mr. Duncan. The photographer, as did the
+other members of the company, sympathized with the lad. Mr. Ringold said
+that as soon as they got settled the boys could go to San Francisco to
+look up the shipping agent.</p>
+
+<p>The transfer to the small seacoast settlement was a matter of some work,
+but in a week all was arranged, and the members of the company were
+settled in a large, comfortable house, close to the beach.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And now for some rehearsals,&#8221; said Mr. Ringold, one morning. &#8220;One of
+the scenes calls <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_77' id='pg_77'>77</a></span>for a shipwrecked man coming ashore in a small boat.
+Now, C. C., I guess you&#8217;ll have to be the man this time, as I need the
+others for shore parts. Get the cameras ready.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&mdash;I&#8217;m to be shipwrecked; am I?&#8221; inquired Mr. Piper. &#8220;Do I have to fall
+overboard?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not unless you want to,&#8221; said Mr. Ringold, consulting the manuscript of
+the play.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then I&#8217;m not going to, for I&#8217;ll catch my death of cold if I do.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hum! I&#8217;m glad he didn&#8217;t have any other objections,&#8221; murmured the
+theatrical man. &#8220;This is going to be easy.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The preparations were made, it being customary to rehearse the scenes
+and acts before &#8220;filming&#8221; them to secure good results. A boat was
+launched, after some trouble on account of the surf, and with the aid of
+some fishermen, &#8220;C. C. was finally sent to sea,&#8221; which was a joke, as
+Blake remarked.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And now come in with the waves,&#8221; ordered Mr. Ringold, who was directing
+the drama. &#8220;Hang over the edge of the boat, C. C., and look as if you
+hadn&#8217;t had any food or water for a week.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They say an actor never eats, anyhow,&#8221; murmured Mr. Hadley, who, with
+the boys, was <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_78' id='pg_78'>78</a></span>ready with the cameras; &#8220;so I guess C. C. won&#8217;t have to
+pretend much.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come on!&#8221; cried Mr. Ringold. &#8220;Hang more over the side of the boat.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>C. C. Piper obeyed orders&mdash;too literally, in fact. He leaned so far over
+that, a moment later, when there came a particularly large wave, the
+craft slewed sideways, got into the trough, and an instant later
+capsized.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s overboard!&#8221; yelled Miss Lee.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Save him!&#8221; cried Miss Shay.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Stop the cameras,&#8221; came from Mr. Ringold. &#8220;We don&#8217;t want that in the
+picture.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Man overboard!&#8221; bawled the fishermen, who were interestedly watching
+the scene. &#8220;Launch the motor boat!&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_79' id='pg_79'>79</a></span>
+<a name='TO_SAN_FRANCISCO_2138' id='TO_SAN_FRANCISCO_2138'></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER X</h2>
+<h3>TO SAN FRANCISCO</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>For a moment there was excitement, and then the trained men of the sea
+got into action. Nearby there were several fishing boats, operated by
+gasoline motors. There were planks at hand, and rollers on which the
+craft could be launched in the surf, being eased along the slope by
+releasing a cable rigged to a post some distance away.</p>
+
+<p>It did not take long for the fishermen to launch one of these motor
+boats, and while C. C. Piper was struggling in the surf, endeavoring as
+best he could to climb into his overturned boat, they put out to rescue
+him.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Do you want that in the picture?&#8221; asked Joe, who was at one of the
+cameras.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No indeed!&#8221; cried Mr. Ringold. &#8220;It won&#8217;t fit in at all! He must drift
+ashore. We&#8217;ll have to do all this over again.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I can see Gloomy doing it,&#8221; murmured Blake.</p>
+
+<p>At that moment there came a hail from the comedian.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_80' id='pg_80'>80</a></span>&#8220;Hello!&#8221; he cried. &#8220;Are you going to&mdash;gulp&mdash;let me&mdash;glub&mdash;sink out
+here? Can&#8217;t some of you&mdash;&mdash;&#8221; and the rest was lost amid a series of
+gurgles as the salty water got in C. C.&#8217;s mouth.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hold on just a little longer,&#8221; called one of the fishermen, as he
+directed the craft toward the struggling actor. &#8220;We&#8217;ll have you out
+presently.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;d&mdash;better&mdash;hurry&mdash;up!&#8221; panted the comedian, who might well be
+excused at this moment from taking a gloomy view of life.</p>
+
+<p>He managed to cling to one side of the dory until the rescuing motor
+craft reached him. Then he was soon hauled aboard, dripping wet, all but
+exhausted, and unable to utter a sound save sighs.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, it was too bad,&#8221; said Mr. Ringold, when C. C. was once more
+ashore. &#8220;I guess we&#8217;ll have to get you a little larger boat.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Get <i>me</i> one?&#8221; asked the actor, with the accent on the personal
+pronoun.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Certainly. We&#8217;ll have to do this scene over again. I guess we could use
+one of the fishing boats, though they&#8217;re a little large. But we can move
+the cameras back. Take one of those, C. C.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I guess not.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I said I guess not. No more for mine!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Do you mean to say you won&#8217;t go on with <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_81' id='pg_81'>81</a></span>this act? Are you going to
+balk as you did in the Indian scene?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Say,&#8221; began C. C., earnestly, as, dripping wet as he was, he strode up
+to the theatrical man, &#8220;I can&#8217;t swim, and I don&#8217;t like the water. I told
+you that the time you took me up in the country, where we found these
+boys,&#8221; and he motioned to Blake and Joe, who were looking interestedly
+on, ready to work the cameras as soon as required.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And yet,&#8221; went on Mr. Piper, &#8220;you insisted that I jump overboard then
+and rescue Miss Shay. Now you want me to drift in as a shipwrecked
+sailor. It&#8217;s too much, I tell you. There is entirely too much water and
+tank drama in this business. I know I&#8217;ll get my death of cold, if I
+don&#8217;t drown.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, can&#8217;t you look on the bright side?&#8221; asked Miss Shay, who was to
+come into the drama later. &#8220;Why, it&#8217;s so warm I should think you&#8217;d like
+to get into the surf.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not for mine!&#8221; exclaimed C. C., firmly, and it took some persuasion on
+the part of the theatrical manager, accompanied by a promise of an
+increase of salary every time he had to go into the water, to induce C.
+C. to try the shipwreck scene over again.</p>
+
+<p>This time a larger boat was used, and, though it came near to capsizing,
+it did not quite go over, <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_82' id='pg_82'>82</a></span>though considerable water was shipped. C. C.
+managed to stay aboard, and the cameras, rapidly clicking, registered
+each movement of the actor and those who later took part in the drama.</p>
+
+<p>Then some shore scenes were photographed, the supposed shipwrecked
+persons building a fire, pretending to catch fish from the ocean, and
+cooking them.</p>
+
+<p>All this the moving picture boys, or Mr. Hadley, faithfully registered
+on the films, to be later thrown on the screen for the delight of the
+public.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I wonder if the folks who look at moving pictures realize how they are
+made?&#8221; said Joe, as they stopped work for the day.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t believe so,&#8221; answered Blake. &#8220;There are tricks in all trades,
+it&#8217;s said; but I guess the moving picture business is as full of them as
+any.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The next two days were busy ones, as a number of elaborate acts had to
+be filmed, and the boys were kept on the jump from morning to night. Mr.
+Hadley, also, had all he could do with the camera. There were fishing
+views to get, scenes on the beach, where a number of children were
+induced to play at games in the sand, building castles and tunnels,
+boating incidents and the like.</p>
+
+<p>C. C. did not fall overboard again, though he often was sent out to do
+some funny stunt that was to be used in the play.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_83' id='pg_83'>83</a></span>&#8220;I wonder when we can go to San Francisco?&#8221; queried Joe one afternoon,
+following a particularly hard day. &#8220;I want to see that shipping agent,
+and ask him if he can give me any clue to my father.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Maybe we&#8217;d better speak to Mr. Ringold,&#8221; suggested Blake, and they did,
+with the result that the theatrical man informed them that the end of
+the week would be free, as he had to wait for some costumes to arrive
+before he could produce any more dramas.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I want to get a good wreck scene,&#8221; he said, &#8220;and that is going to be
+rather hard.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Will it be a real wreck scene?&#8221; asked Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, as real as we can make it. I&#8217;m negotiating now for an old schooner
+that I can scuttle out at sea. All the company will be aboard, and
+they&#8217;ll drift about for a long time without food and water.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Am I supposed to be in on that?&#8221; asked C. C., suspiciously.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Of course,&#8221; was the theatrical man&#8217;s answer. &#8220;This is a circus company
+returning from abroad that is wrecked, and you are the clown. Be as
+funny as you can.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Wrecked?&#8221; queried C. C.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And I&#8217;m to be funny?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_84' id='pg_84'>84</a></span>&#8220;Certainly.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Without food and water for days, and I&#8217;m expected to be funny!&#8221;
+exclaimed the comedian, with a groan. &#8220;Oh, why did I ever get into this
+business? I&#8217;ll not do it!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh you&#8217;re only <i>supposed</i> to be starving and thirsty,&#8221; explained Mr.
+Ringold. &#8220;If you want, you can take some sandwiches and cold coffee with
+you, and have lunch&mdash;but don&#8217;t do it when the cameras are working. It
+wouldn&#8217;t look well in the moving pictures to have a note on the screen
+saying that the shipwrecked persons were starving, and then show you
+chewing away; would it, now?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, I suppose not,&#8221; admitted C. C., with a sigh. &#8220;Oh, but this is a
+miserable business, though! I&#8217;m sure I&#8217;ll be drowned before we get
+through with it!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, cheer up!&#8221; called Miss Lee, but there seemed to be no need for the
+advice, for a moment later C. C. broke forth into a comic song.</p>
+
+<p>While the preparations for producing the wreck scene were under way,
+there was small need for the services of the boys, and they made ready
+to go to San Francisco.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Even if he has gone away somewhere,&#8221; suggested Blake, &#8220;he may have left
+some address where you can reach him.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_85' id='pg_85'>85</a></span>&#8220;Do you think he&#8217;ll be gone?&#8221; asked Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, if he left the lighthouse in a hurry, intending to call on a
+shipping agent, naturally he wouldn&#8217;t stay in port long,&#8221; said Blake.
+&#8220;Besides&mdash;&mdash;&#8221; He stopped suddenly, being on the verge of saying
+something that would give Joe a hint of the truth.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; asked his chum, quickly. &#8220;What were you going to say,
+Blake?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nothing.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, you were, I&#8217;m sure of it. Blake, is there anything you&#8217;re holding
+back from me?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Joe looked earnestly at his chum.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&mdash;er&mdash;&#8221; began Blake&mdash;when there came a knock on the door.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; called Blake, glad of the interruption.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Mr. Ringold wants you to get ready to take some scenes to-night,&#8221; said
+the voice of Macaroni.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Scenes at night?&#8221; inquired Joe, opening the door, and forgetting the
+question he had put to his chum.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; went on their young helper. &#8220;Flashlight scenes. He wants you at
+once.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The boys reported to their superiors, and learned that a smuggling
+scene, to fit in one of the sea dramas, was to be attempted. By means of
+powerful flash and electric lights, the current <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_86' id='pg_86'>86</a></span>coming over cables from
+San Diego, it was planned to make views at night.</p>
+
+<p>As this was an unexpected turn to affairs, they had to postpone their
+trip to San Francisco for a few days. The night pictures came out well,
+however, and the first of the following week saw Joe and Blake start on
+their way to the city of the Golden Gate.</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_87' id='pg_87'>87</a></span>
+<a name='A_STRANGE_CHARGE_2354' id='A_STRANGE_CHARGE_2354'></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2>
+<h3>A STRANGE CHARGE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;Are you going to take a camera with you, boys?&#8221; asked Mr. Ringold, as
+Joe and Blake were saying good-bye to their friend, preparatory to
+making a brief stay in San Francisco.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;A camera? No. Why?&#8221; inquired Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, I happen to need some San Francisco street scenes for one of the
+dramas,&#8221; went on the theatrical man; &#8220;and it occurred to me that you
+could get them when you weren&#8217;t busy.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Of course we could,&#8221; answered Joe. &#8220;We can take the automatic, and set
+it up wherever you say, and go looking for that shipping agent. When we
+come back we&#8217;ll have all the pictures we need.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Good!&#8221; exclaimed Mr. Ringold. &#8220;Try that, if you don&#8217;t mind. Get some
+scenes down in the financial district, and others in the residential
+section. Then, as long as you have to go to the shipping offices, get
+some there.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_88' id='pg_88'>88</a></span>The boys promised they would, and added the small but compact automatic
+camera to their luggage as they started off.</p>
+
+<p>This camera worked by compressed air. There was a small motor inside,
+operated by a cylinder of air that could be filled by an ordinary
+bicycle pump. Otherwise it was just like the other moving picture
+cameras.</p>
+
+<p>There was the upper box, in which was wound the unexposed reel of film.
+From this it went over a roller, and the cog wheel, which engaged in the
+perforations, thence down by means of the &#8220;gate,&#8221; behind the lens and
+shutter. There two claws reached up and grasped the film as the motor
+operated, pulling down three-quarters of an inch each time, to be
+exposed as the shutter was automatically opened in front of the lens.</p>
+
+<p>Each one of the thousands of moving pictures, as I have explained in
+previous books, is three-quarters of an inch deep, though, of course, on
+the screen it is enormously enlarged.</p>
+
+<p>After the film has been exposed, three-quarters of an inch at a time, it
+goes below into another light-tight box of the camera, whence it is
+removed to be developed and printed. The movement of the film, the
+operation of the claws and the opening and closing of the shutter,
+making it <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_89' id='pg_89'>89</a></span>possible to take sixteen pictures a second, was, in this
+camera, all controlled by the air motor.</p>
+
+<p>Joe and Blake found much to amuse them in San Francisco, which they had
+never before visited. They were a bit &#8220;green,&#8221; but after their
+experiences in New York they had no trouble in finding their way around.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;d better go to some hotel, or boarding house,&#8221; suggested Joe, after
+their arrival. &#8220;Pick out one where we can leave the camera working while
+we&#8217;re gone.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>They did this, being fortunate enough to secure rooms in a good, though
+not expensive, hotel near the financial district. One of their windows
+looked directly out on a busy scene.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;ll be just the place, and the sort of scene Mr. Ringold wants,&#8221;
+declared Blake. &#8220;Let&#8217;s set the camera there on the sill and see what it
+gets. The light is good to-day.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>It was, the sun shining brightly, and being directly back of the camera,
+which would insure the proper illumination.</p>
+
+<p>They adjusted the machine, and set the mechanism to go off about an hour
+after they had left the room. Then they went to find the shipping agent,
+to see if they could get any news of Joe&#8217;s father.</p>
+
+<p>But, to their disappointment, he was out, and <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_90' id='pg_90'>90</a></span>none of the clerks could
+tell them what they wanted to know. They were directed to return the
+next day.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;More disappointment!&#8221; exclaimed Joe. &#8220;It does seem as if I was up
+against it, Blake.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, don&#8217;t worry. To-morrow will do just as well as to-day. And you
+don&#8217;t want to get in C. C.&#8217;s habit, you know.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, that&#8217;s right. Well, what shall we do?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s look around a bit, and then go see how the camera is working.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>They found so much to interest them in the streets of San Francisco that
+they did not go back to the hotel as soon as they had intended. When
+they did reach the street on which it stood they saw a crowd gathered.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Look at that!&#8221; cried Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes! Maybe it&#8217;s a fire!&#8221; exclaimed Joe. &#8220;Our camera&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s no fire, or else we&#8217;d see some smoke,&#8221; answered his chum. &#8220;But
+we&#8217;ll see what it is. There&#8217;s been some sort of an accident, that&#8217;s
+sure.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>They broke into a run, pushing their way through the throng about the
+front doors of the hotel. As they entered the lobby, they were surprised
+to see the clerk point his finger at them, and exclaim:</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_91' id='pg_91'>91</a></span>&#8220;There are the two lads now!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Everyone turned to look at Joe and Blake, and a man, dressed in some
+sort of uniform, approached them.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Are you the lads that have rooms sixty-six and sixty-seven?&#8221; he asked,
+sharply.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; replied Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, has anything happened there?&#8221; asked Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, yes, there has, and we thought perhaps you could explain.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Have we been robbed?&#8221; burst out Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Robbed? No,&#8221; answered the clerk. &#8220;But&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Perhaps I had better explain,&#8221; put in the uniformed man. &#8220;I think I
+shall have to ask you boys to come with me,&#8221; he went on.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come where?&#8221; Joe wanted to know.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;To police headquarters.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What for?&#8221; burst out Blake. &#8220;We haven&#8217;t done anything! We only came
+here to&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Be careful,&#8221; warned the man in uniform. &#8220;Whatever you say may be used
+against you.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why&mdash;why?&#8221; stammered Joe. &#8220;What&#8217;s it all about?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;An infernal machine!&#8221; exclaimed the hotel clerk. &#8220;How dare you poke one
+out of the window, right toward one of our largest banks, and <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_92' id='pg_92'>92</a></span>go out,
+leaving the mechanism clicking? How dare you?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Joe and Blake staggered back, half amused and half alarmed at the
+strange charge.</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_93' id='pg_93'>93</a></span>
+<a name='ON_A_LONG_VOYAGE_2505' id='ON_A_LONG_VOYAGE_2505'></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2>
+<h3>ON A LONG VOYAGE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;This is a serious charge,&#8221; went on the man in uniform, who was
+evidently from the police department. &#8220;We have had some dynamiting
+outrages here, and we don&#8217;t want any more.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Dynamite!&#8221; exclaimed the hotel clerk; &#8220;do you think it could be that,
+officer?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what it seems like to me,&#8221; said the other. &#8220;I have investigated
+a number of infernal machines, and they all make the same sort of sound
+before they go off.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Go off!&#8221; cried the clerk, while Joe and Blake were vainly endeavoring
+to get in a word that would explain matters. &#8220;If it&#8217;s dynamite, and goes
+off here, it will blow up the hotel. Get it away! Porter, go up and get
+that infernal machine, and dump it in a pail of water.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;&#8217;Scuse me!&#8221; exclaimed the colored porter, as he made a break for the
+door. &#8220;I&mdash;I guess as <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_94' id='pg_94'>94</a></span>how it&#8217;s time fo&#8217; me to sweep off de sidewalk. It
+hain&#8217;t been swept dish yeah day, as yit. I&#8217;se gwine outside.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But we&#8217;ve got to get rid of that infernal machine!&#8221; insisted the clerk.
+&#8220;It&#8217;s been clicking away now for some time, and there&#8217;s no telling when
+it may go off. Get it, somebody&mdash;throw it out of the window.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No! Don&#8217;t do that!&#8221; cried the officer. &#8220;That will only make it go off
+the sooner. I&#8217;ll get some one from the bureau of combustibles and&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Say, you&#8217;re giving yourselves a needless lot of alarm!&#8221; interrupted
+Blake. &#8220;That&#8217;s no infernal machine!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No more than that ink bottle is!&#8221; added Joe, pointing to one on the
+clerk&#8217;s desk.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But it clicks,&#8221; insisted the clerk. &#8220;It sounds just like a clock
+ticking inside that box.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And it&#8217;s pointing right at the bank,&#8221; went on the officer. &#8220;That bank
+was once partly wrecked because it was built by non-union labor, and we
+don&#8217;t want it to happen again.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s no danger&mdash;not the slightest,&#8221; cried Blake, while the crowd in
+the hotel lobby pressed around him. &#8220;That&#8217;s only an automatic moving
+picture camera, that we set this morning, and pointed out of the window
+to take street scenes. It works by compressed air, and the clicking you
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_95' id='pg_95'>95</a></span>hear is the motor. Come, I&#8217;ll show you,&#8221; and he started toward his
+room, followed by Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Is&mdash;is that right?&#8221; asked the hotel clerk, doubtfully.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Are you sure it isn&#8217;t dynamite?&#8221; inquired the officer.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, if <i>we&#8217;re</i> not afraid to take a chance in going in the same room
+with what you call an infernal machine, <i>you</i> ought not to be,&#8221; said
+Joe, with a smile.</p>
+
+<p>This was logic that could not be refuted, and they followed the boys to
+the room. There, just where they had left it, was the camera, the motor
+clicking away industriously. It worked intermittently, running for five
+minutes, and then ceasing for half an hour, so as not to use up the reel
+of film too quickly. Also, it made a diversity of street scenes, an
+automatic arrangement swinging the lens slightly after each series of
+views, so as to get the new ones at a different angle.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now we&#8217;ll show you,&#8221; said Blake, as, having noted that all the film was
+run out, and was in the light-tight exposed box, he opened the camera
+and showed the harmless mechanism. Several of the hotel employees
+crowded into the room, once they learned there was no danger.</p>
+
+<p>The boys explained the working of the apparatus, and this seemed to
+satisfy the officer.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_96' id='pg_96'>96</a></span>&#8220;But we were surely suspicious of you at first,&#8221; he said, with a smile.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; said the clerk. &#8220;A chambermaid called my attention to the
+clicking sound when she was making up the room. I investigated, and when
+I heard it, and saw the queer box, and remembered that we had had
+dynamiting here, I sent for the police.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re sorry to have given you a scare,&#8221; said Blake, and then the
+incident was over, and the crowd in the street dispersed on learning
+there was to be no sensation.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Say, I think there&#8217;s some sort of hoodoo about us,&#8221; remarked Joe, as he
+and Blake sat in their room.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, you&#8217;re not going to come any of that gloomy C. C. business on me;
+are you?&#8221; asked Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not at all,&#8221; went on his chum. &#8220;But what I mean by a hoodoo is that
+something always seems to happen when we start out anywhere. We&#8217;ve been
+on the jump, you might say, ever since we lost our places on the farms
+and got into this moving picture business.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s so. And the latest is being taken for dynamiters.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes. But if things are going to keep on happening to us I wish they&#8217;d
+take a turn and help <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_97' id='pg_97'>97</a></span>me find my father,&#8221; went on Joe. &#8220;You don&#8217;t know
+how it feels, Blake, to know you&#8217;ve got a parent somewhere and not be
+able to locate him. It&#8217;s&mdash;why, it&#8217;s almost as bad as if&mdash;as if he were
+dead,&#8221; and Joe spoke the words with an obvious effort.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right,&#8221; agreed Blake, and then there came to him the memory of
+what the lighthouse keeper had said about Mr. Duncan being implicated in
+the wrecking. If this was true, it might be better for Joe not to find
+his father.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But he may not be guilty,&#8221; thought Blake, and he mused on this
+possibility, while Joe looked curiously at his chum.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Say, Blake,&#8221; suddenly asked Joe. &#8220;What&#8217;s the matter?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Matter? Why, what do you mean?&#8221; asked Blake, with a start.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I don&#8217;t know, but something seems to be the matter with you. You&#8217;ve
+acted strangely of late, ever since&mdash;yes, ever since we were at the
+lighthouse. Is anything troubling you?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No&mdash;no&mdash;not at all; that is, not exactly.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t speak as if you meant it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But I do, Joe. There&#8217;s nothing the matter with me&mdash;really there isn&#8217;t.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, I&#8217;m glad of it. If there is, and you need help, don&#8217;t forget to
+come to me. Remember <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_98' id='pg_98'>98</a></span>we&#8217;re pards, and chums, not only in the moving
+picture business, but in everything else, Blake. Anything I&#8217;ve got is
+yours for the asking.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s good of you, Joe, and if you can help me I&#8217;ll let you know. I
+didn&#8217;t realize that I was acting any way strange. I must brighten up a
+bit. I guess we&#8217;ve both been working too hard. We need some amusement.
+Let&#8217;s go to a moving picture show to-night, and see how they run things
+here, and what sort of films they have. We may even see one of our own.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;All right. I&#8217;ll go you. We can&#8217;t see that shipping agent until
+to-morrow. A moving picture show for ours to-night, then. Though, being
+in the business, as we are, it&#8217;s rather like a fireman going around to
+the engine-house on his day off, and staying there&mdash;a queer sort of a
+day&#8217;s vacation.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But, nevertheless, they thoroughly enjoyed the moving picture play,
+interspersed, as it was, with vaudeville acts. Among the films were
+several that Mr. Ringold&#8217;s company had posed for, and several that the
+boys themselves had taken. The reels were good ones, too, the pictures
+standing out clear and bright as evidence of good work on the part of
+the boys and Mr. Hadley.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Had enough?&#8221; asked Joe, after about an hour spent in the theatre.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_99' id='pg_99'>99</a></span>&#8220;Yes, let&#8217;s go out and take a walk.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Feel any brighter?&#8221; went on Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I think I do,&#8221; and Blake linked his arm in that of Joe, wondering
+the while, as they tramped on, how he should ever break the news to his
+chum, in case Joe himself did not find it out. &#8220;The only hope is that he
+isn&#8217;t guilty,&#8221; mused Blake, &#8220;and yet running away just before the
+accusation was made public looks bad, just as Mr. Stanton said. However,
+I&#8217;m not going to think about it.&#8221; As long as it had gone thus far
+without any outsider giving away the secret to Joe, his chum began to
+feel that there was little danger.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, you haven&#8217;t any more infernal machines; have you, boys?&#8221; the
+hotel clerk asked them when they came in to get their keys. &#8220;Because, if
+you have, just keep quiet about &#8217;em. I don&#8217;t want to be awakened in the
+middle of the night with some one from the bureau of combustibles coming
+down here,&#8221; and he laughed.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, we&#8217;re all out of dynamite,&#8221; responded Blake, in the same spirit.</p>
+
+<p>He and Joe were early at the office of the sailing master, who made a
+specialty of fitting out vessels with crews. With a rather trembling
+voice Joe asked for information about Mr. Duncan.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_100' id='pg_100'>100</a></span>&#8220;Duncan&mdash;Duncan,&#8221; mused the agent, as he looked over his books. &#8220;Seems
+to me I remember the name. Was he the Duncan from somewhere down the
+coast?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The Rockypoint light,&#8221; supplied Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, yes, now I know. But why are you asking?&#8221; and the agent turned a
+rather suspicious look on Joe. &#8220;Is there anything wrong&mdash;is Mr. Duncan
+wanted for anything? I always try to protect my clients, you know, and I
+must find out why you are asking. Has he committed any crime, or is he
+wanted by anyone?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Blake started at the coincidence of the words.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; answered Joe; &#8220;he is wanted by me&mdash;I&#8217;m his son, and I&#8217;d like very
+much to find him. We found some of his letters, and there was one from
+you about a berth you might have vacant.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right, my boy, and I&#8217;m glad to learn that is why you want Nate
+Duncan, for he and I are friends in a way.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But has he shipped?&#8221; asked Joe, eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He has,&#8221; answered the agent. &#8220;He signed for a trip to China, and it
+will be a good while before he gets back here, I&#8217;m afraid. It&#8217;s a long
+voyage.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;To China!&#8221; cried Joe. &#8220;Oh, if he had only received my letter he would
+be here now with me. Poor Dad!&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_101' id='pg_101'>101</a></span>
+<a name='A_MIMIC_FIRE_2722' id='A_MIMIC_FIRE_2722'></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2>
+<h3>A MIMIC FIRE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;Sorry I can&#8217;t do any more for you,&#8221; went on the agent, after a pause,
+during which he gazed sympathetically at Joe. &#8220;I can give you the name
+of the vessel your father is on, and you can write to Hong Kong, but it
+will be some time before she arrives. She&#8217;s a sailing ship, you know,
+one of the few left in the trade.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t know my father was a regular sailor,&#8221; said Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You didn&#8217;t know he was a sailor? Say, don&#8217;t you know your father&#8217;s
+business?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s been a good many years since I&#8217;ve seen him,&#8221; spoke Joe. &#8220;In fact,
+I can&#8217;t remember him,&#8221; and he told something of how he came to be on the
+strange quest.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, this is certainly odd,&#8221; remarked the agent. &#8220;I&#8217;ve known Nate some
+years, more or less, and I&#8217;ve often heard him speak of a son he had lost
+track of. Of late he had given up hope.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_102' id='pg_102'>102</a></span>&#8220;And just when I was on the verge of finding him,&#8221; added Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;His daughter, too,&#8221; continued the agent. &#8220;He said he felt sure he&#8217;d
+never locate her, though he&#8217;d spent lots of money in hunting. And he
+felt pretty bad, too, over the thought that he might never see his
+children again.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And have I really a sister?&#8221; asked Joe, eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t rightly say,&#8221; spoke the shipping master. &#8220;You had one, but
+whether she&#8217;s alive now or not no one seems to know. There&#8217;s one
+satisfaction, though, you can find your father in time, and as soon as
+he hears from you, when his ship reaches Hong Kong, he won&#8217;t lose any
+time taking the fastest steamer back. I know Nate Duncan well enough for
+that.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Will he, though?&#8221; thought Blake. &#8220;Will he come back when he knows of
+the wrecking charge that may be made against him? Even the prospect of
+seeing Joe may not overbalance that. Yet, I suppose he could send for
+Joe. They couldn&#8217;t make any charge against him over in China. But it&#8217;s a
+bad business.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Joe talked a little longer with the agent, who gave him the name of the
+ship on which Mr. Duncan had sailed, and also directions how to address
+the letter.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, there&#8217;s no use staying in &#8217;Frisco much <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_103' id='pg_103'>103</a></span>longer,&#8221; said Joe, as
+they finished their business. &#8220;We&#8217;ll get what other moving pictures of
+street scenes we want, and as I can&#8217;t find Dad here, we&#8217;ll leave. We&#8217;ll
+get back to San Diego, and out to the beach colony to film some more
+dramas.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>A return trip to their hotel, a visit to various localities for films,
+then to pack their belongings&mdash;and the automatic camera did not take
+them long&mdash;and they were soon journeying down the coast again. They were
+welcomed warmly by the members of the theatrical colony.</p>
+
+<p>As I have said, for the purpose of being unhampered in their work of
+taking films, Mr. Ringold had moved his company from San Diego proper to
+a small fishing settlement, directly on the beach. This place was called
+Chester, after the man who owned the fishery there. He had a fleet,
+consisting of several motor boats, in which the fishermen went out twice
+each day to pull up the nets that were fast to long poles, sunk into the
+sand of the ocean bed in water about forty feet deep.</p>
+
+<p>The fish were brought to the main building, and packed in ice for
+transportation. Numbers of local dealers called each day with wagons to
+get a load to peddle about. There were only a few houses in the place,
+and a store or two.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_104' id='pg_104'>104</a></span>Once some millionaire had built an elaborate cottage on the beach, but
+gave it up for some whim. It was in this cottage, which in size was
+almost a mansion, that the moving picture boys and their friends had
+their abode. A boarding mistress was installed, and thus the actors and
+actresses lived right at the scene of their work, with almost as much
+comfort as they would have had in a hotel. The place was not far from
+San Diego, and it had the advantage of a heavy surf on the beach, the
+big waves making just the background Mr. Ringold wanted. Of course, not
+all the scenes were on the water-front, some taking place in front of,
+or within, some of the cottages, which were hired for the short time
+needed. The fishermen could not seem to understand why a man should pay
+them good money for the use of their humble dwellings for a short time.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It just seems plumb foolishness,&#8221; declared one grizzled salt. &#8220;I don&#8217;t
+see why folks want to make so many pictures of men and women walkin&#8217; in
+and out of my cottage and sayin&#8217; such outlandish things like: &#8216;Gal, you
+shall give me them papers!&#8217; or, &#8216;Meet me on yonder cliff at midnight!&#8217; I
+give up!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It does seem out of reason, Pete,&#8221; agreed another. &#8220;But as long as they
+pay me for it, and don&#8217;t go to bustin&#8217; up things, I&#8217;m willin&#8217;.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_105' id='pg_105'>105</a></span>&#8220;Oh, so&#8217;m I. Keep it up, I says,&#8221; and Mr. Ringold did, using different
+cottages in turn to get a diversity of views.</p>
+
+<p>Sympathy was expressed for Joe on the failure of his mission to find his
+father.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But don&#8217;t you give up!&#8221; exclaimed Mr. Hadley. &#8220;China is far off, but it
+isn&#8217;t out of the world. Don&#8217;t give up, Joe.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll not. I&#8217;m going to write to him to-day,&#8221; and he did, dispatching
+the letter to far-off Hong Kong.</p>
+
+<p>There was plenty of work waiting for the boys, some new manuscripts of
+sea dramas having come in. Mr. Ringold decided to film several of them,
+and rehearsals were already under way.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to have a novelty in one of the plays,&#8221; said the manager.
+&#8220;It&#8217;s going to be a fire scene. We&#8217;ll buy one of these cottages, or else
+have one built that will do well enough for picture purposes, and set it
+ablaze. Then, when C. C. comes running out, carrying Miss Shay&mdash;or maybe
+Miss Lee, for she&#8217;s lighter&mdash;we&#8217;ll&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hold on there!&#8221; called the comedian. &#8220;Did I understand you to say I had
+to rush out of a burning building?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s it, C. C.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But to rush out I&#8217;ve got to go in; haven&#8217;t I?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, naturally, C. C.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_106' id='pg_106'>106</a></span>&#8220;Then I serve notice here and now that I resign. I&#8217;m tired of being an
+actor. I&#8217;m going into the coal business,&#8221; and he stopped making odd
+faces in the glass, practicing some facial contortions for a new clown
+act, and began to dress as though to go out.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hold on, C. C.; what&#8217;s the matter?&#8221; asked Mr. Ringold.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Plenty! If you think I&#8217;m going to run the risk of being burned to death
+you&#8217;ve got another guess coming. I&#8217;m through.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, C. C.,&#8221; spoke the theatrical manager, with a laugh; &#8220;there&#8217;s no
+danger.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not in going into a burning building, even if it is only a fisherman&#8217;s
+shanty! No danger!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No. Listen. You go in before the building is afire. The blaze is
+started from the outside by your enemy, and with some red fire, which
+makes a lot of smoke, we can show on the screen some pictures that will
+look like a real fire. Then out you rush, before the flames have had a
+chance to spread, and after you and the lady are safe, the fire gains
+great headway, and the cottage burns to the ground. But the pictures are
+being taken all the while, and it will show up great! There&#8217;s not a bit
+of danger.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not that way,&#8221; said Miss Lee. &#8220;I&#8217;m willing to do my part, Mr. Ringold.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_107' id='pg_107'>107</a></span>&#8220;Well, I suppose I&#8217;ll have to also,&#8221; spoke C. C., with a sigh. &#8220;But I
+know something will happen. Some sparks will fall on me and scorch me,
+anyhow, I&#8217;m sure.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Gloomy!&#8221; reproachfully exclaimed Miss Shay. &#8220;Do look on the bright
+side for once.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There isn&#8217;t any,&#8221; asserted the comedian, as he resumed his practice of
+making strange faces.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Ringold succeeded in purchasing, for a moderate sum, one of the
+older cottages, and it was put in shape for its share in the moving
+picture story, some changes being necessary. The fisherman and his
+family moved out, glad of the chance to better themselves.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We won&#8217;t say anything about planning to fire the shack,&#8221; declared Mr.
+Ringold to the boys and the members of his company. &#8220;If we do it will
+attract a crowd, and that&#8217;s just what we don&#8217;t want. The fewer the
+better. Now we&#8217;ll go over to the shack, and have a rehearsal.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;A dress one?&#8221; asked Mr. Piper, meaning that everything would be done
+just as if the pictures were being taken. &#8220;You&#8217;re not going to have the
+real fire now; are you?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, indeed,&#8221; said the manager. &#8220;We can only burn the cottage down
+once.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The rehearsal went off well, and Blake and Joe, who were to make the
+films, watched the work <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_108' id='pg_108'>108</a></span>with interest. They were anxious for the time
+to come to set the fire.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, I guess that will do,&#8221; decided Mr. Ringold, after a day or two
+spent in getting the actors and actresses familiar with their parts.
+&#8220;We&#8217;ll do the business to-morrow morning.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly, they all assembled at the shack, and went through the
+various acts leading up to the fire scene. The boys ground away
+industriously at the handles of the moving picture cameras.</p>
+
+<p>All went well until it came time to set the fire. Then, whether the
+building was older and more tinder-like than was supposed, or whether
+Mr. Levinberg, the &#8220;villain&#8221; who fired the shack, used too much red fire
+and kerosene, was not explained.</p>
+
+<p>At any rate, the little building was more quickly wrapped in flame and
+smoke than was expected, and Mr. Ringold yelled excitedly:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come on out, C. C.! Don&#8217;t wait any longer. Never mind if it isn&#8217;t time!
+Rush out with the girl before it&#8217;s too late!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what I&#8217;ll do!&#8221; cried the comedian, appearing in the doorway,
+carrying Miss Lee. There was little danger now, as long as he was in the
+open, unless some tongue of fire should catch the girl&#8217;s dress.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_109' id='pg_109'>109</a></span>&#8220;Hurry!&#8221; cried the manager, and C. C. sprinted out of the reach of the
+fire.</p>
+
+<p>And then something entirely unexpected, and not down on the bill,
+happened. A number of fishermen, who had seen the blaze from down the
+beach, came running up, all excited, thinking the fire was an accident.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Get that old pumping engine!&#8221; shouted one grizzled salt. &#8220;We&#8217;ll have
+that blaze out in no time!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Form a bucket brigade!&#8221; suggested another.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No! No! Let it burn!&#8221; cried Mr. Ringold. &#8220;We want it to burn!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Want it to burn?&#8221; was shouted at him, by the fisherman who had proposed
+the pump. &#8220;Be you plumb crazy? Come on, boys, form that bucket brigade.
+Some of you run that hand-pump over here where we can pour water in the
+tank. Stretch the hose!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They&#8217;ll spoil the picture!&#8221; cried Mr. Ringold, rushing about, and
+trying to keep the fishermen away.</p>
+
+<p>Joe and Blake, not having orders to the contrary, and not knowing but
+what this was all part of the play, continued to grind away at their
+cameras, two reels of this play being taken, as an additional one was
+needed.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Here she comes!&#8221; cried the fisherman, as some <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_110' id='pg_110'>110</a></span>of his companions came
+rushing from a shed with an ancient style of hand fire-engine,
+consisting of a tank, on wheels, with a force-pump arrangement, worked
+by long handles. Water was poured in the tank by means of buckets, and
+forced out on the blaze through a hose.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Bring her up as clost as ye kin!&#8221; directed the self-appointed chief of
+the amateur fire department; &#8220;&#8217;cause our hose ain&#8217;t very long. Form
+lines now, and dip water up from the ocean. Salt water is good for
+fires!&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_111' id='pg_111'>111</a></span>
+<a name='ATTACKED_BY_A_SWORDFISH_2976' id='ATTACKED_BY_A_SWORDFISH_2976'></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2>
+<h3>ATTACKED BY A SWORDFISH</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t do it!&#8221; cried Mr. Ringold. &#8220;Let that fire burn!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>But there were now so many fishermen rushing about here and there that
+they paid no attention to the excited theatrical man, who issued orders
+right and left.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What shall we do?&#8221; demanded C. C., who had gotten off to one side with
+the girl he was supposed to have &#8220;rescued&#8221; from the burning cabin.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know!&#8221; cried Mr. Ringold. &#8220;The whole play is spoiled by those
+fellows butting in. Hi, there!&#8221; he called to Blake and Joe, as he saw
+them operating the cameras. &#8220;Stop the reel! We don&#8217;t want any of this!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The clicking machines grew silent, and then the boys knew that something
+was wrong.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, the hand engine was placed in position. It was learned,
+later, that the fish concern kept it for use in cases of emergency.
+There <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_112' id='pg_112'>112</a></span>had been some small blazes, in which the old engine had proved
+its worth.</p>
+
+<p>The fishermen knew how to operate it to advantage, too, and soon a
+double line of them, extending from the surf to the tank, began passing
+the filled buckets up one side and the empty ones down the other. As the
+tank filled, other men worked the handles and a stream of water was soon
+spurting on the fire.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Quit it! Oh, quit it!&#8221; begged Mr. Ringold. &#8220;I want that shack to burn!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s crazy&mdash;don&#8217;t mind him!&#8221; shouted the self-appointed chief. &#8220;We&#8217;ll
+soon have it out now.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll see if I can stop them,&#8221; said C. C., for the water had about
+quenched the blaze, and it was useless to try to go on with the play.
+&#8220;They&#8217;ll listen to me,&#8221; the comedian declared.</p>
+
+<p>He rushed forward, but at that moment the hose got from the control of
+the two men holding it. The nozzle swung around, and the stream came
+full force over Christopher Cutler Piper, drenching him in an instant.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I say there&mdash;hold on&mdash;shut that water off! I&mdash;I&#8217;m being drowned!&#8221; he
+spluttered. And then, as the men again got the nozzle under control, the
+comedian, dripping water at every point, walked away, saying:</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_113' id='pg_113'>113</a></span>&#8220;There, I told you something would happen!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I should say it has!&#8221; declared Mr. Ringold, for once agreeing with the
+gloomy actor.</p>
+
+<p>A few more strokes of the pump handles, a few more gallons of water, and
+the fire, which had quickly attacked all parts of the cottage at once,
+died out.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There!&#8221; cried Abe Haskill, the old fisherman-chief. &#8220;We saved your
+building for ye, Mr. Ringold. Ain&#8217;t no use in buyin&#8217; a shack an&#8217; then
+havin&#8217; it burn down&mdash;no matter if it ain&#8217;t wuth much. We saved her for
+you, though at one time it looked pretty dubious. This is the first fire
+we&#8217;ve had in some time, an&#8217; I reckon we got a bit rusty.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I might add,&#8221; he went on, &#8220;that it&#8217;s customary, in cases where a
+volunteer department saves a buildin&#8217; from destruction&mdash;it&#8217;s customary,
+I say, for the owner to donate a leetle suthin&#8217; to the department. In
+this case, seein&#8217; as how Jim Belton sold his shack to you&mdash;why, you&#8217;re
+the owner. And, as I say, we saved her for you!&#8221; he concluded, proudly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I see you did,&#8221; remarked Mr. Ringold, dubiously. &#8220;Now I&#8217;ve got to
+buy another, and burn that down, for this play is spoiled.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What! Did you <i>want</i> her to burn?&#8221; asked <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_114' id='pg_114'>114</a></span>Mr. Haskill, in accents of
+horror. &#8220;Did you want the devourin&#8217; element to consume that buildin&#8217;?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I did,&#8221; replied the theatrical man.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well&mdash;I vum!&#8221; declared the volunteer chief. &#8220;Boys, we made a mistake.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The next time I&#8217;ll tell the inhabitants here what my plans are,&#8221; went
+on Mr. Ringold, grimly. &#8220;I told you I wanted it to burn.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I know you did,&#8221; admitted the chief; &#8220;but I thought you was so excited
+you didn&#8217;t know what you was sayin&#8217;.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;So did I,&#8221; admitted several of the volunteer fire-fighters. &#8220;It&#8217;s too
+bad!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, you meant all right, anyhow,&#8221; went on Mr. Ringold, with cheerful
+philosophy; &#8220;and I&#8217;ll make the department a donation. But next time,
+please don&#8217;t interfere. I&#8217;ll set another shack on fire as soon as I can
+arrange to buy one,&#8221; he said to his company. &#8220;Meanwhile we&#8217;ll go on with
+another drama. Save whatever you can of the films,&#8221; he added to Blake
+and Joe. &#8220;Up to the time the firemen broke in they&#8217;ll be all right. Next
+time I&#8217;ll be more explicit.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I knew something would happen,&#8221; declared C. C., gloomily, as he tried
+to wring some of the water from his clothes. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t burn, but I
+nearly drowned.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>There was nothing to do but return to their <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_115' id='pg_115'>115</a></span>boarding place and arrange
+for another drama, rehearsals for which would take place in a day or so.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Meanwhile,&#8221; said Mr. Ringold to Joe and Blake, &#8220;you may have a little
+time off. I tell you what you might do. We could use a fishing scene, I
+believe. Suppose you go out in one of the small boats here and get a
+series of views when they lift their nets.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The very thing!&#8221; cried Blake. &#8220;We&#8217;ll do it; eh, Joe?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Sure thing!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You might, in fact,&#8221; went on Mr. Ringold, &#8220;show the whole process of
+fishing, from the launching of the boats until they come back filled
+with the day&#8217;s catch.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>This the boys arranged to do, and that noon, when the power boats were
+launched, they were on hand to make moving pictures.</p>
+
+<p>The craft, as I have explained, were &#8220;eased down&#8221; the sloping beach, by
+means of rollers and planks, until the stern was just at the edge of the
+surf. The motor was then started, the boat being still held fast by a
+rope. This rope was fastened in a peculiar knot, so that one man,
+standing near it, could loosen it with one pull when the word was given
+to &#8220;cut loose.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The men watched the rollers with practiced <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_116' id='pg_116'>116</a></span>eyes, for if the surf was
+heavy the boat might get into the trough, on being launched, and
+capsize. Often fishermen are drowned in this way, being struck by the
+heavy boat, or getting under it.</p>
+
+<p>With the engine racing, the men got into the boat. One remained on the
+beach, holding the restraining rope. Another took his place at the
+stern, with a long steering oar that was to be used to get her bow on to
+the waves.</p>
+
+<p>A particularly large wave was seen coming in.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Get ready!&#8221; ordered the captain.</p>
+
+<p>The man at the big oar took his place. The boat was almost afloat now.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Cut loose!&#8221; came the order.</p>
+
+<p>The man at the rope yanked the knot loose. The boat slid into the water
+and the next instant was being tossed about in the breakers, the man
+with the oar forcing her head around, aided by the powerful gasoline
+engine that turned the propeller. The craft came near to capsizing, but
+kept upright, and a little later was beyond the surf, into deep water,
+speeding out to the nets two miles away.</p>
+
+<p>Blake and Joe, working by turns, got some fine views of the launching.
+Then, getting into another of the fishing boats with their cameras, and
+with Macaroni to aid them, they prepared to go out to the fishing
+grounds, where the nets were.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_117' id='pg_117'>117</a></span>&#8220;Say, this is rough, all right!&#8221; exclaimed Blake, as they found
+themselves in the boiling, frothing surf.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what!&#8221; agreed Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Let me out! I want to walk!&#8221; pleaded Macaroni, who was not very fond of
+the water.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll be all right in a minute!&#8221; called Abe Haskill, who was captain
+of the boat. &#8220;Soon as you git out beyond the breakers you won&#8217;t mind
+it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>And they found that they did not, though there was some motion, as there
+was quite a swell on. They reached the nets safely, and while the meshes
+were hauled up, bringing a good catch of fish, the moving picture boys
+took many views. It was interesting as well as instructive.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;This would make a good educational reel,&#8221; suggested Blake, as he spread
+his legs to maintain his balance against the rocking motion of the boat.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Indeed it would,&#8221; observed Joe. &#8220;Look, there&#8217;s some one overboard!&#8221; and
+he pointed to one of the other boats.</p>
+
+<p>A man had indeed slipped into the sea. The moving picture boys were
+ready, however, and trained one of the cameras on the fisherman, who,
+laughing at his mishap, soon swam to the boat again, and was pulled in.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_118' id='pg_118'>118</a></span>It took some little time to haul the nets, but at last, with their own
+boat well filled with flapping fish, as were the others, Joe and Blake
+started for shore.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, we made out all right, I think,&#8221; said Blake, as he looked to see
+if there was any more film left in his machine.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Sure we did,&#8221; declared his chum. &#8220;If we had to take some other views we
+could.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll want some of the landing of the boats, and the carting of the
+fish up to the sheds,&#8221; Blake reminded him.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right, we will. I guess I can&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Joe did not finish his sentence. At that moment there came a jar and
+Blake cried:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve hit something!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, something has hit <i>us</i>!&#8221; corrected one of the fishermen, leaping
+up, and grabbing a long, iron-shod pole.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; demanded Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;A pesky swordfish. He&#8217;s ramming us, and he may poke a hole in us! If I
+can get a chance I&#8217;ll jab him!&#8221; and the man leaned over the side. As he
+did so there came another attack on the craft, so fierce that it heeled
+over, and the man with the pole, giving a cry, was flung overboard.</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_119' id='pg_119'>119</a></span>
+<a name='SUSPICIOUS_ACTIONS_3198' id='SUSPICIOUS_ACTIONS_3198'></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2>
+<h3>SUSPICIOUS ACTIONS</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;Man overboard!&#8221; cried several of the fishermen.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, and with a pesky swordfish too close for comfort!&#8221; added Abe
+Haskill. &#8220;Stop that motor, Bunker; we&#8217;ll have to pick him up.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The fisherman who was called to, pulled out the switch, thus stopping
+the motor, and the boat drifted about on the slowly rising and falling
+billows.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Can you see him?&#8221; asked the captain of the man who acted as mate.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, he&#8217;s right astern, but that fish&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Is he coming after Jake?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Full tilt!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Grab that prod, one of you!&#8221; yelled the captain. &#8220;See if you can
+harpoon him with it. I&#8217;ll git out the duck gun, though land knows it
+ain&#8217;t much use against a pesky swordfish!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>One of the fishermen picked up the iron-shod pole the unfortunate man
+had dropped as he went <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_120' id='pg_120'>120</a></span>overboard, and stood ready to cast it at the big
+fish, which could be seen swirling along in the water, near the swimmer.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Say!&#8221; cried Blake to Joe. &#8220;It may seem a heartless thing to do, but why
+can&#8217;t we get some moving pictures of this?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We can,&#8221; decided his chum. &#8220;We can&#8217;t help any, and we might as well
+film it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come on, then. You hold the camera steady and I&#8217;ll turn the handle.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>They had a machine all in readiness, its tripod shortened so that the
+lens could be brought close to the water.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s dived!&#8221; cried one of the men.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Who&mdash;the fish, or Jake?&#8221; demanded the captain.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Jake. He saw the fish coming at him, and he went under. Lucky he did,
+or he might have been cut in two.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Throw that prod; can&#8217;t you? I&#8217;ll have this gun ready in a minute.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The captain had pulled from a locker an old-fashioned, double-barreled
+duck gun.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s loaded with slugs,&#8221; he called to the boys, who were even now
+taking moving pictures of the strange scene. &#8220;I carry it for sharks, but
+it&#8217;ll do as well against a swordfish, though they don&#8217;t commonly attack
+men.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_121' id='pg_121'>121</a></span>&#8220;Here goes for a cast!&#8221; cried the man with the prod, which was a sort
+of boathook without the hook. &#8220;I&#8217;ll see if I can spear him!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Leaning forward he threw the weapon with all his force. The other
+fishermen, some of whom had grasped the spare oars to swing the boat
+around, looked eagerly to see the result.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Missed, by ginger!&#8221; exclaimed the captain. &#8220;Here, let me try. Where&#8217;s
+Jake?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Out there. He&#8217;s swimming strong,&#8221; was the answer. &#8220;The pesky fish is
+coming back at him again.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Duck, Jake, duck!&#8221; cried the captain, as he got ready with the gun.
+&#8220;I&#8217;m going to shoot. Get down out of the way, and hold your breath.
+We&#8217;ll have you in another minute!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>He could see the swordfish plainly now, rushing directly toward the
+swimmer. The man heard and followed directions. Deep down he dived, and
+the fish shot directly over him.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Say, that&#8217;s a great picture!&#8221; cried Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what!&#8221; yelled Joe, and then his voice was drowned in the report
+of the gun, which was doubly charged.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I got him! By cracky, I got him!&#8221; cried the captain. &#8220;That&#8217;s his blood
+showing.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The waves were indeed red with the blood of <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_122' id='pg_122'>122</a></span>the big fish, and a moment
+later its body was floating on the swells.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s Jake!&#8221; cried one of the fishermen.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;All right!&#8221; was the response. &#8220;Throw him a line. He&#8217;s in no danger
+now.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>A few moments later the man was safe aboard, minus his boots, which he
+had kicked off in the sea, and some of his heavier clothing.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s the end of Mr. Swordfish,&#8221; murmured the captain, in gratified
+tones, as he watched the lifeless body sink. &#8220;The sharks will get him.
+Are you all right, Jake?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Sure. It was hard work, though; and once I thought he had me. I dived
+just in time.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what you did,&#8221; said Blake. &#8220;It was a great exhibition, and when
+it&#8217;s thrown on the screen it will make a sensation, I&#8217;m sure.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Say, you don&#8217;t mean to tell me you snapped what happened?&#8221; asked the
+fisherman, in surprise.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We sure did,&#8221; declared Joe. &#8220;We got every move.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Plucky lads,&#8221; murmured the captain; &#8220;and right on the job, too. Start
+the motor,&#8221; he added to the man in charge of it.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve sprung a leak, captain!&#8221; exclaimed a man up in the bow. &#8220;Water&#8217;s
+coming in.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s where that pesky swordfish rammed us, <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_123' id='pg_123'>123</a></span>I reckon. But stuff
+something in and it will hold until we get to shore. We haven&#8217;t far to
+go.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The boat was soon under way again, and offers of aid from sister craft
+that circled around were declined. A bundle of rags served to stop the
+inrush of most of the water, and a little later the craft, with its load
+of fish, was hauled up on the beach by means of a tackle and fall,
+horses being the motive power. Joe and Blake got pictures of the other
+boats making a similar landing, theirs being the first in.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, we got some fine views,&#8221; said Blake, as he and his chum started
+for their boarding place.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We sure did, and something unexpected, too. I never counted on a
+swordfish attack.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, and I guess the fishermen didn&#8217;t either. But it will make a
+realistic film, as Mr. Hadley would say.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s just our hoodoo luck again,&#8221; went on Joe. &#8220;Something out of the
+ordinary seems to be happening all the while to us.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, it&#8217;s better than monotony.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I suppose so. But I wonder what it will be next?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The boys were congratulated on their success by Mr. Hadley and Mr.
+Ringold, and the films, when developed and printed a little later,
+furnished a series of fine views.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_124' id='pg_124'>124</a></span>For the next week the boys had little time to themselves. The drama
+with the burning shack was enacted over again, this time with success,
+the volunteer firemen not throwing any water on the blaze. Other sea
+dramas were also made, and then came a period of rest, in which Blake
+and Joe had hardly anything to do.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Say,&#8221; exclaimed Blake, one afternoon, &#8220;let&#8217;s go for a walk down the
+beach, by the cliffs. It&#8217;s a fine day and it will do us good.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; agreed Joe. &#8220;I was thinking of paying another visit to the
+lighthouse, and asking if there was any news of my father; but, of
+course, there can&#8217;t be.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hardly,&#8221; agreed Blake, thinking that the only news his chum would get
+there would be bad.</p>
+
+<p>They strolled along the shore, making excursions here and there as
+something attracted them. Going through a little group of scrub oak,
+somewhat back from the shore, and climbing a slight elevation to get a
+view of the Pacific, the boys were startled, as they were about to
+emerge into a little open glade, to hear voices.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Some one else besides us out here to-day,&#8221; spoke Joe, in a low voice.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right,&#8221; agreed his chum. &#8220;Keep still until we see who it is.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Cautiously they advanced until they stood behind <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_125' id='pg_125'>125</a></span>a little screen of
+trees, and were gazing into the open place. They saw several men at work
+erecting some sort of tower, or pile of rocks, and on top of it was
+mounted a large lantern.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There&mdash;that ought to show pretty well,&#8221; remarked one of the men.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, and be seen a good distance out to sea,&#8221; put in another. &#8220;It&#8217;s
+just in the right place, too; for the rocks extend a good way out, and
+you can&#8217;t see &#8217;em even at dead low water.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And anything drawing more than ten feet will be sure to strike on &#8217;em,&#8221;
+suggested a third.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right, Sandy,&#8221; came the retort. &#8220;Have you got the lantern fixed
+so that she&#8217;ll flash like the other?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I sure have. All we&#8217;ve got to do is to pull one wire&mdash;this way&mdash;and the
+light is shut off. Another pull, and she gives a flash, just like a
+revolving light.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Good. We&#8217;ll give it a trial to-night.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Say, what do you think they are?&#8221; whispered Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I hardly know, and yet&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Maybe they&#8217;re experimenting with a new kind of light?&#8221; suggested the
+other lad.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Experimenting? Yes!&#8221; spoke Blake, in a low, tense voice. &#8220;And I can
+guess what they&#8217;re experimenting for.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_126' id='pg_126'>126</a></span>&#8220;What?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Blake was about to answer, when one of the men, looking in the direction
+where the boys were concealed, uttered an exclamation.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hark!&#8221; he cried. &#8220;I think I heard something.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It was the wind,&#8221; declared one.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;A bird in the bushes,&#8221; said another.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to see!&#8221; declared the man. And he came straight toward their
+hiding place.</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_127' id='pg_127'>127</a></span>
+<a name='JOE_SUSPECTS_SOMETHING_3429' id='JOE_SUSPECTS_SOMETHING_3429'></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2>
+<h3>JOE SUSPECTS SOMETHING</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;ll we do, Blake?&#8221; was the whispered question.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Stay here, I guess. If we run they&#8217;ll see us or hear us. Besides, we
+haven&#8217;t done anything to run for.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I know it, but those men look like ugly customers. I wonder what they
+can be up to?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They are&mdash;&#8221; began Blake, and then he pulled Joe down beside him in the
+bushes.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s turned off to one side,&#8221; Blake went on. &#8220;He hasn&#8217;t seen us, and he
+doesn&#8217;t know just where to look. He may pass us by. Keep still!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Together they crouched down. The man looked around as though to trace
+the noise which had been made when Joe accidentally stepped on a stick,
+which broke under his weight.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t breathe,&#8221; whispered Blake, with his lips close to Joe&#8217;s ear. &#8220;I
+think he&#8217;s going to pass us by.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_128' id='pg_128'>128</a></span>The man paused, seemed as if about to come directly for them again, and
+then dashed off to one side. He made a leap into the bushes, only to
+discover nothing, as his chagrined exclamation showed.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I told you so!&#8221; growled one of his companions. &#8220;It was only the wind.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The wind doesn&#8217;t break sticks,&#8221; was the snappish reply.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then it was a bird&mdash;maybe a fishhawk.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Maybe,&#8221; assented the man who had started to make the search. &#8220;But I
+thought some one was spying on us, and if they were&mdash;&mdash;&#8221; He did not
+finish, but glared angrily around. He was so close to the boys that they
+could hear his rapid breathing, but the leafy screen effectively hid
+them from view. &#8220;If I catch any one,&#8221; he went on, &#8220;he&#8217;ll wish he never
+ran across Hemp Danforth!&#8221; and he shook a big fist.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, come on!&#8221; called some of his companions. &#8220;There&#8217;s lots to be done
+yet before we get this lantern finished. And if we want any rich
+pickings we&#8217;ll have to hustle for &#8217;em. The weather looks like it was
+going to break, and that will be just what we want. Come on, Hemp.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;All right, I will, only don&#8217;t talk so bold and free.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why not?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_129' id='pg_129'>129</a></span>&#8220;Because some one might be spying and listening to us.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s got that on his mind yet,&#8221; laughed one of the men. &#8220;There&#8217;s no one
+around here.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And if they were, what could they pick up?&#8221; demanded another.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s all right&mdash;it&#8217;s best to be careful,&#8221; said the one called Hemp
+Danforth. &#8220;I&#8217;m taking no chances. Some of us might&mdash;well, no telling
+what might happen to us if we was to be found out.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t talk that way,&#8221; spoke a tall, thin man. &#8220;It isn&#8217;t altogether
+cheerful&mdash;especially with what work we have on hand. Come on, now; let&#8217;s
+make this pillar a little higher, and the light will show better.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Say, what do you imagine they are doing?&#8221; whispered Joe. &#8220;It&#8217;s a queer
+game, Blake.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It sure is. I&#8217;ve about made up my mind what they are up to, and yet I
+may be wrong. Let&#8217;s wait here a while longer, and maybe we can pick up
+some information that will give us a better clue.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The men were now engaged in heaping more stones on the pile where the
+lantern had set, and were making so much noise at it that the whispering
+of the boys could not be heard.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Any special vessels in view?&#8221; asked one of <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_130' id='pg_130'>130</a></span>the men, after they had
+worked away for some time in silence.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, but there&#8217;ll sure be one along before long. We can count on that.
+Of course, we&#8217;ll have to keep the light going several nights, maybe, but
+it&#8217;ll be worth while.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It ought to fool &#8217;em, all right,&#8221; went on Hemp Danforth. &#8220;If it hadn&#8217;t
+been that Nate Duncan tripped us up, and didn&#8217;t come across with that
+information we wanted, we wouldn&#8217;t have all this trouble.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>For a moment Joe seemed to stiffen as he heard the name, and then, in a
+hoarse whisper, he turned to Blake and said:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Did you hear that? These men know my father. They used his name.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, but keep quiet!&#8221; urged Blake, for Joe had raised his voice. &#8220;We
+don&#8217;t want them to know we&#8217;re here.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But they know my father, Blake,&#8221; went on Joe, using more caution,
+however, in his tones. &#8220;I must speak to them. Maybe they were associated
+with him in lighthouse work, and this may be some new patent lantern
+they&#8217;re trying. Maybe my father hasn&#8217;t gone to China at all, and these
+men can tell where he is.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Joe made a move as though to leave the screened hiding place and
+approach the men.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_131' id='pg_131'>131</a></span>&#8220;No&mdash;don&#8217;t go!&#8221; whispered Blake, hoarsely, holding his chum back. &#8220;Stay
+here, Joe. Don&#8217;t speak to those men!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But they have something to do with my father.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No matter; do as I say, please! Believe me, Joe, I can&#8217;t explain now,
+for I promised I would not. But you&#8217;ll understand&mdash;later. Don&#8217;t approach
+those men!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why not?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Because&mdash;well, I can&#8217;t tell you!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then I&#8217;m going!&#8221; declared Joe, half fiercely. &#8220;Blake, I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;re
+keeping something from me. I&#8217;ve suspected it for some time, for you&#8217;ve
+looked at me in a queer fashion when I spoke of my father. Now what is
+it?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Really, Joe, it&#8217;s nothing&mdash;that is&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, it is something. If you don&#8217;t tell me I&#8217;ll go out there and take
+the consequences!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Joe broke from Blake&#8217;s restraining grasp as he whispered this, and was
+about to dash for the bushes, when Hemp Danforth, dashing down a stone
+he was raising, cried out:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Boys, you can&#8217;t fool me! There is some one here, and they&#8217;re spying on
+us. I&#8217;ll make &#8217;em sorry for it! I hear whispering, and I&#8217;ve felt right
+along as though unseen eyes were looking at me. Now I&#8217;m going to find
+out who it is!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_132' id='pg_132'>132</a></span>Once more he started for the place where Blake and Joe were concealed.
+This time it could be seen that he would not be swerved from his quest.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come on, Joe. We&#8217;ve got to run for it!&#8221; exclaimed Blake, and, not
+caring now how much noise they made&mdash;being under the necessity of
+betraying their presence&mdash;they dashed back in the direction they had
+come.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Here they are!&#8221; yelled Hemp, as he ran after them, tearing through the
+underbrush. &#8220;I knew we were being spied on! Come along, men!&#8221; he yelled.</p>
+
+<p>Blake and Joe looked back as they got to the path that led along the
+cliff, below which was the rolling ocean. They had a glimpse of the big
+man racing after them, several others in his wake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Stop!&#8221; commanded Hemp Danforth. &#8220;Hold on, you spies!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t answer,&#8221; advised Blake. &#8220;Save your breath for running, Joe.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Um!&#8221; grunted his chum.</p>
+
+<p>They were fleet of foot, and had a start. They were also lighter in
+weight than was their pursuer. In a short time they were well ahead.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But he&#8217;s still coming on!&#8221; declared Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve got to give him the slip,&#8221; declared Joe. &#8220;Can&#8217;t you see some side
+path we can take?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_133' id='pg_133'>133</a></span>&#8220;Yes, here&#8217;s one,&#8221; was the panting answer, and at that moment Blake
+parted some low bushes and jumped into a sort of cross path, almost
+concealed from view. &#8220;Come on, Joe!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>His chum lost no time in following, and for a few moments, at least,
+they were comparatively safe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now, Blake,&#8221; said Joe, when they felt that they could slacken their
+pace to get their breath, &#8220;I want you to tell me that secret!&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_134' id='pg_134'>134</a></span>
+<a name='AFTER_THE_WRECKERS_3614' id='AFTER_THE_WRECKERS_3614'></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2>
+<h3>AFTER THE WRECKERS</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Blake Stewart was at a loss. He did not know what to do, and, though he
+had been expecting to hear this request at almost any time, he was no
+more prepared for it now than he would have been had it been made
+directly after Blake learned of Mr. Duncan&#8217;s flight.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well?&#8221; asked Joe, suggestively, when his chum did not answer. &#8220;Aren&#8217;t
+you going to tell me?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What makes you think I have a secret, Joe?&#8221; Thus Blake tried to
+temporize, so that he might think what was best to do.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m sure you have,&#8221; declared Joe, &#8220;and you might as well tell me
+now as any time, for I&#8217;m bound to find it out. I don&#8217;t believe there&#8217;s
+any more danger now,&#8221; and he paused to look back along the almost hidden
+path they had followed. &#8220;I can&#8217;t see anything of that man,&#8221; he added.
+&#8220;We gave him the slip, all right.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_135' id='pg_135'>135</a></span>&#8220;Now go ahead, Blake, and end my suspense. I&#8217;ve seen for some time that
+you&#8217;ve been keeping something back from me. I don&#8217;t know what it is, but
+it&#8217;s something about my father. And I appreciate why you&#8217;re doing it.
+You want to spare my feelings.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s it!&#8221; cried Blake, eagerly, glad of any chance to put off what he
+regarded as a most unpleasant duty. &#8220;It is for your sake, Joe, that I
+have been keeping silent, and I wish you would go on letting me do so.
+Believe me, if I thought it well for you to know I&#8217;d tell you.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Is it&mdash;is it that he isn&#8217;t my father, after all?&#8221; faltered the lad,
+following a silence in which all sound of pursuit had died away. The
+boys felt that they were safe now. &#8220;Do you mean to say, Blake, that this
+man whom I&#8217;ve traced after such hard work, isn&#8217;t any relation to
+me&mdash;haven&#8217;t I any folks, after all?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, Joe, it isn&#8217;t that at all. He&#8217;s your father, as far as I know, and
+I will admit there is some secret about him. But I&#8217;d rather not tell
+you.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I want to know it,&#8221; insisted Joe, firmly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;If you&#8217;ll only wait,&#8221; went on his chum, &#8220;it may all be explained
+when&mdash;when he comes back. Then there won&#8217;t be any need of a secret.
+Better wait, Joe.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, I&#8217;ve got to hear it right away. If it&#8217;s any <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_136' id='pg_136'>136</a></span>disgrace&mdash;and it must
+be, or you&#8217;d be willing to tell me&mdash;if it&#8217;s any disgrace, it&#8217;s my duty
+to stand up for my father when he isn&#8217;t here. I&#8217;m his son, and I have a
+right to know about it, and protect his name as much as I can. Tell me,
+Blake.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The other hesitated a moment. If he told, it would be, he felt, breaking
+his promise made to the lighthouse keeper, but then the promise was not
+so sacred that it could not be broken. It was given under a sort of
+discretion, and Blake knew that he would be allowed to reveal what had
+been said if he felt that it was best to do so. The time now seemed to
+have come to do this. He took a sudden resolve.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;All right, Joe,&#8221; he said, &#8220;I&#8217;ll tell you. There is a secret about your
+father. I suppose you know what sort of men those were that we just got
+away from?&#8221; and he nodded in the direction of the hill down which they
+had raced.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been puzzling my head about them, Blake,&#8221; came the answer, &#8220;and
+all I can say is that they must be either men who are experimenting with
+a new kind of light, or else they are&mdash;wreckers!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s it, Joe. They are wreckers, and they&#8217;re plotting to lure some
+vessel on the rocks by means of false lights.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_137' id='pg_137'>137</a></span>&#8220;The scoundrels!&#8221; burst out Joe. &#8220;We&#8217;ve got to spoil their wicked
+game.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what we have. We&#8217;ll tell the police, or some one in authority.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But before we do,&#8221; broke in Joe, &#8220;tell me about my father, though I
+begin to suspect now,&#8221; and there was a look of sadness on his face.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I presume you pretty well know what is coming,&#8221; said Blake, slowly,
+&#8220;now you have heard what those men said. The whole amount of it is, Joe,
+that your father is suspected of having been in league with those
+wreckers&mdash;that he helped to lure vessels on these same rocks.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;My father a wrecker!&#8221; cried Joe. &#8220;It can&#8217;t be&mdash;I won&#8217;t believe it!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t want to either, when I heard it,&#8221; said Blake, &#8220;and maybe, now
+that I&#8217;ve told you, we can work together and find some way of proving
+him innocent.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s it!&#8221; cried the son. &#8220;Oh, if he were only here to help us! I
+wonder why he went away?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The lighthouse keeper said,&#8221; began Blake, &#8220;that your father left
+because he feared to be arrested. And the day after he went away an
+officer did come for him,&#8221; and he proceeded to relate what Mr. Stanton
+had said.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t believe it!&#8221; cried Joe, when the account <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_138' id='pg_138'>138</a></span>was finished. &#8220;Of
+course, I don&#8217;t remember my father, and, naturally, I don&#8217;t know what
+sort of a man he was, but I don&#8217;t believe he was a wrecker!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And I don&#8217;t either!&#8221; added Blake. &#8220;Here&#8217;s my hand on it, Joe, and we&#8217;ll
+do our best to find out the truth of this thing,&#8221; and the two chums
+clasped hands warmly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But it&#8217;s mighty strange what those men said about him,&#8221; went on Joe.
+&#8220;To think that we would stumble on the wreckers right at work. We can
+lead the police to the very place where they have set up their false
+light.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Maybe we can do better than that, Joe.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;How?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, we may be able to help the police catch these same fellows.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s so. Have you a plan, Blake?&#8221; asked his chum, eagerly, as they
+walked on along the path.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not yet, but we&#8217;ll make one up. But, Joe, did you notice just what it
+was that big wrecker said?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not exactly; I was too excited when I heard them mention my father&#8217;s
+name.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, they as much as said that your father had refused to give them
+the information they wanted, and this spoiled their scheme. That <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_139' id='pg_139'>139</a></span>might
+go to show that they made offers to him to have him help them in their
+wicked plans, and he refused. That made them turn against him, and&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I see, Blake! You mean that, maybe, after all, he left because he was
+afraid of the wreckers, and not because he had done anything wrong?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s it, Joe. Of course, it&#8217;s all guess work on our part, so far, and
+I think the best thing we can do is to go to the lighthouse and tell Mr.
+Stanton all we&#8217;ve seen and heard. He may be able to advise us, even if
+he is an old man. At any rate, he&#8217;ll know what police or government
+officers to go to, so we can catch these wreckers.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right, Blake. Come on. I guess we can go down on the beach now.
+Those fellows won&#8217;t venture out into the open after us, I don&#8217;t
+believe.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, they seem to have given up the chase,&#8221; replied Blake, and the two
+lads were soon down on the shore.</p>
+
+<p>A look around showed no signs of the supposed wreckers, and a little
+later the two lads were in the lighthouse telling their story to the
+wondering and amazed keeper.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;So that&#8217;s how the scoundrels are planning to work; are they?&#8221; cried the
+old man. &#8220;Going to duplicate my light, and fool the poor sailors! <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_140' id='pg_140'>140</a></span>But
+we&#8217;ll put a spoke in their wheel, boys. We&#8217;ll spike their guns for &#8217;em,
+and have &#8217;em behind the bars, if there&#8217;s any law in this land.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Putting up a false light right opposite those rocks&mdash;the most dangerous
+on the coast! No punishment would be too bad for &#8217;em. Did you happen to
+hear, boys, when they expected to play that wicked game?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They didn&#8217;t mention any special night,&#8221; replied Blake; &#8220;it seemed that
+they counted on getting some information which failed them&mdash;Joe&#8217;s
+father,&#8221; he added, thinking it well to let Mr. Stanton know that Joe had
+been informed of the secret.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Joe&#8217;s father; eh?&#8221; said the old man, musingly. &#8220;Boy, I&#8217;m mighty sorry
+for you,&#8221; he said, softly; &#8220;for I know the disgrace is trying, and if it
+had been possible to keep this from you&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad I know!&#8221; burst out Joe. &#8220;There isn&#8217;t going to be any disgrace.
+My father is innocent, I&#8217;m sure of it; and I believe we can prove it,
+once we have these wreckers arrested.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s the way to talk!&#8221; cried the old man. &#8220;Boys, I&#8217;ll help you. We&#8217;ll
+get right after these miscreants. Maybe I was wrong, after all, in
+thinking Nate Duncan guilty. He was a good man, and it made me feel bad
+even to suspect him.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_141' id='pg_141'>141</a></span>&#8220;What do you think is the best thing to do?&#8221; asked Blake. &#8220;We ought to
+act quickly, or they may leave this part of the country, to try their
+scheme farther down the coast. It might succeed, then.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right,&#8221; declared Mr. Stanton. &#8220;We must act at once. My assistant
+is here now, and I&#8217;ll have him go with you. I&#8217;m a little too old for
+such work. Besides, one of us will have to stay here to guard the light.
+No telling but what the scoundrels might try to wreck it. But if they
+come, I&#8217;ll be ready for &#8217;em!&#8221; he cried, as he took down an old-fashioned
+musket from the wall. &#8220;I&#8217;ll stand by to repel boarders!&#8221; he exclaimed,
+holding the weapon above his head, and then sighting it at an imaginary
+enemy.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll call my assistant,&#8221; he went on. &#8220;Tom Cardiff is as sturdy a lad as
+you&#8217;d wish to see. He can get one of the men from the life saving
+station, and with a couple of the government secret service officers you
+ought to be able to get those wreckers, don&#8217;t you think?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Sure!&#8221; cried Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Did you mean for us to help catch &#8217;em?&#8221; asked Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I certainly did,&#8221; went on the keeper. &#8220;That is, unless you&#8217;re&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_142' id='pg_142'>142</a></span>&#8220;Afraid? Not a bit of it!&#8221; cried Blake, vigorously.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Besides, you know just where they were located,&#8221; continued Mr. Stanton.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Though they may have taken the alarm and left,&#8221; suggested Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then we&#8217;ll trace &#8217;em!&#8221; cried his chum. &#8220;Where is your helper, Mr.
+Stanton?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll call him. I say Tom&mdash;Tom Cardiff!&#8221; he shouted up the lantern
+tower. &#8220;I&#8217;ll finish cleaning the lens. I&#8217;ve got other work for you. Come
+down!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Coming!&#8221; was the answer, and a little later a well built young fellow,
+muscular and of fine appearance, greeted the boys. The introduction was
+soon made, and the story of the lads told.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Wreckers; eh?&#8221; exclaimed Tom Cardiff. &#8220;I&#8217;d just like to get hold of
+some of the wretches,&#8221; and he stretched out his vigorous arms.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, get after &#8217;em, then!&#8221; exclaimed the old man. &#8220;You don&#8217;t want to
+lose any time. Telephone for the officers.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The wire was soon busy, and arrangements made for the secret service men
+to come to the lighthouse. One of the life saving squad, from a station
+a little farther down the coast, was also engaged.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now you boys had better go back to your <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_143' id='pg_143'>143</a></span>place,&#8221; said Mr. Stanton; &#8220;and
+arrange to come back to-night. That&#8217;s the only time to get after these
+fellows. They probably have finished their work, from what you told me,
+and they&#8217;ll lay low until it&#8217;s dark. Then we&#8217;ll get after &#8217;em!&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_144' id='pg_144'>144</a></span>
+<a name='FAILURE_3858' id='FAILURE_3858'></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2>
+<h3>FAILURE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;Boys, if you could only get moving pictures of the capture of the
+wreckers!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Thus exclaimed Mr. Ringold when his two young employees told of the
+plans afoot and asked to be excused from work a little longer.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It would be great,&#8221; admitted Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But we&#8217;d need a powerful light,&#8221; said Blake, &#8220;and if we had that it
+would warn the men we&#8217;re after.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s so,&#8221; spoke the theatrical man. &#8220;I guess it&#8217;s out of the
+question. But you have done such wonderful work so far, that I&#8217;d like
+you to keep it up. A film of the capture of wreckers would make an
+audience sit up and take notice.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I guess I&#8217;ll have to invent some sort of a light that would make it
+possible,&#8221; put in Mr. Hadley; &#8220;but I&#8217;m afraid I can&#8217;t have it ready
+to-night.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then you don&#8217;t mind if we go?&#8221; asked Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, indeed!&#8221; exclaimed Mr. Ringold, &#8220;and I wish you all success.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_145' id='pg_145'>145</a></span>&#8220;It&#8217;s going to be a dark night,&#8221; remarked Blake, a little later, as he
+and Joe were on their way to the lighthouse. It was early evening, but
+the sky was clouding over and a wind was coming up that sent the big
+billows bounding up on the sand with a booming noise like the discharge
+of distant cannon.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, we&#8217;ll have to sort of feel our way along,&#8221; said Joe. &#8220;But I guess
+we can find the place, all right.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I hope so. But I wonder if the men will come back after the alarm we
+gave &#8217;em?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s hard to tell, Blake. And yet they might; for, though they saw
+us, they may think we were only a couple of lads out for a stroll, who
+accidentally stumbled on their hiding place. In that case they wouldn&#8217;t
+think we&#8217;d give any alarm, and they&#8217;d go on with their plans.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s so. Well, we&#8217;ll see what happens. I hope there aren&#8217;t too many
+of them, so that our men can handle them.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That Tom Cardiff can get away with a couple on his own account, and
+with the life saver, and the secret service men, not to mention
+ourselves, Blake, I guess we&#8217;ll make out all right.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I reckon you and I together, Joe, can account for at least one,&#8221; and
+Blake looked quizzically at his chum.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_146' id='pg_146'>146</a></span>&#8220;I feel almost as if I could handle one alone, when I think of how they
+got my father into trouble,&#8221; replied the other. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to give a
+good account of myself, if I get the chance.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Same here. Well, there&#8217;s the lighthouse just ahead, and two or three
+men waiting for us. I guess they&#8217;re the ones we are to go with.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>This proved to be the case, and a little later the boys were repeating
+to the life saver, and two secret service men, such parts of their story
+as Mr. Stanton and Tom Cardiff had omitted or forgotten.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, if we&#8217;re all ready, we may as well start,&#8221; proposed Sam Wilton,
+one of the government agents. The other was Jerry Boundley, while the
+name of the life saver was Frank Hale.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, it&#8217;s quite a tramp,&#8221; said Tom Cardiff, &#8220;and the wreckers may be
+there now. Several small trading vessels are expected up the coast this
+week, and some may be due to-night. Though seeing that a storm is coming
+up, they may keep so far out from shore that they won&#8217;t see the false
+lights, in case the wreckers try to work them.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;This is about as wicked a piece of work as could well be done, trying
+to wreck vessels this way. A sailor has to depend absolutely on the
+lights, under certain conditions, and if they&#8217;re <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_147' id='pg_147'>147</a></span>wrong, it&#8217;s like
+leading a blind man into danger. So let&#8217;s get after &#8217;em and stop their
+work!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The men well knew the way nearly to the place where the boys had
+discovered the wreckers at work, and so they would not have to rely on
+Joe and Blake to guide them until they were almost there.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;When you see that you are close to the place,&#8221; said Tom Cardiff, &#8220;you
+boys go ahead, and we&#8217;ll trail along after you. And keep mighty quiet,
+too. If we can catch these fellows actually in the act of showing a
+false light, so much better for the chances of convicting them.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>They went on in the darkness. Back of them, as they mounted the hill
+which ended in the high cliff, could be seen the flashing light tended
+by aged Mr. Stanton.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s right on the job,&#8221; remarked Tom Cardiff. &#8220;Even if he&#8217;s an old man
+he&#8217;ll stay up all night to attend to that light, to see that it&#8217;s
+trimmed properly, that the machinery is working, that there&#8217;s oil in the
+reservoir, and that the lenses are clean. That light is just like a son
+or daughter to him. He can&#8217;t bear to have anything happen to it and the
+very idea of any scoundrels trying to wreck vessels by means of a false
+beacon riles him up considerable.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I should think it would,&#8221; agreed Mr. Wilton. <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_148' id='pg_148'>148</a></span>&#8220;Well, if we can catch
+these fellows we&#8217;ll put &#8217;em where they can&#8217;t do any more harm. And I
+hope we&#8217;ll get back in time, so Mr. Stanton won&#8217;t have to stay up all
+night.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I hope so, too,&#8221; put in Tom Cardiff. &#8220;He isn&#8217;t equal to the task.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re getting close to the place now,&#8221; said Blake, in a low voice a
+little later.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then you boys come up here,&#8221; ordered Tom Cardiff, who, in a measure,
+was a sort of leader. &#8220;And everybody keep quiet. Don&#8217;t talk, except in
+whispers, and make as little noise as you can.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Cautiously they advanced, the boys in the lead. The lads recognized,
+even in the darkness, some of the larger landmarks they had passed in
+their flight that afternoon.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hold on a minute, and listen,&#8221; suggested the life saver. &#8220;Maybe we can
+hear them talking.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>They paused, but the only sound that came was the booming of the surf on
+the rocks below.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Can you see anything of a light?&#8221; asked Mr. Boundley.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not a thing,&#8221; replied Joe, glancing all about him.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Look up,&#8221; directed Tom Cardiff. &#8220;That&#8217;s the best way to locate a light
+that you can&#8217;t see directly. You may catch its reflection on the night
+mist.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_149' id='pg_149'>149</a></span>But the night was black all around them. Not a gleam could they make
+out. Once more they advanced until Joe and Blake recognized the place
+where they had been hiding, and whence they had looked into the open
+place where the wreckers had been putting up their false light.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s here!&#8221; whispered Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Just ahead there,&#8221; added Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Get ready, men!&#8221; exclaimed Tom Cardiff, in a tense whisper. &#8220;We&#8217;ll rush
+&#8217;em before they know it&mdash;if they&#8217;re here.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Stout clubs had been brought along in anticipation of a hand-to-hand
+struggle, it being decided that these weapons were best, safest and most
+effective at close quarters.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;All ready?&#8221; asked the leader.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes&mdash;yes!&#8221; came the answers.</p>
+
+<p>Blake leaned forward, cautiously parted the bushes and looked toward the
+open space. He had heard nothing, and seen nothing, and yet he knew that
+the men might be hidden about, and that the lantern might not yet be
+lighted.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come on!&#8221; cried Tom Cardiff, and together they leaped from their place
+of concealment.</p>
+
+<p>There was a moment of silence, and then a disappointed exclamation burst
+from the lips of the assistant lighthouse keeper.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re not here!&#8221; he declared. That was <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_150' id='pg_150'>150</a></span>evident, for there had been
+no response as the searchers burst out.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Are you sure this is the place?&#8221; asked Mr. Wilton, turning to the boys.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Positive,&#8221; answered Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Here&#8217;s the pile of rocks on which the lantern was set,&#8221; added Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But there&#8217;s no lantern here now,&#8221; said Tom Cardiff.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then they&#8217;ve skipped!&#8221; declared the life saver. &#8220;They got suspicious
+and left, taking the lantern with &#8217;em!&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_151' id='pg_151'>151</a></span>
+<a name='ON_THE_TRAIL_4047' id='ON_THE_TRAIL_4047'></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2>
+<h3>ON THE TRAIL</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>There was no doubt about it, the wreckers were not there, and the
+indications were that they had betaken themselves to some other
+location.</p>
+
+<p>When the men flashed the pocket electric lamps they had brought with
+them, the little opening at the top of the cliff was well illuminated.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nothing doing!&#8221; exclaimed Joe, regretfully.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They must have skipped out right after they chased us,&#8221; decided Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And they went in a hurry, too,&#8221; declared Tom Cardiff.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What makes you think so?&#8221; asked one of the government officers.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Look at how this stone pile, which they intended to use as a base for
+their lantern, is disturbed, and pulled apart,&#8221; went on the assistant
+lighthouse keeper, as he flashed his torch on it. &#8220;I&#8217;ll wager, boys,
+that when you saw it, with that contrivance atop by which they hoped to
+fool <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_152' id='pg_152'>152</a></span>some vessels, this stone pile was well built up; wasn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; said Blake, &#8220;it was.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Because,&#8221; went on Tom Cardiff, &#8220;it would have to be so to make their
+light steady, to give the impression that it was one of the regular
+government lights. They were going to work a shutter, you boys say, to
+give the impression of a revolving light, and that would make it
+necessary to have a firm foundation.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And yet now the whole top of this stone pile is torn apart, showing
+that they must have ripped out whatever they had here to hold the
+lantern. They got away in a hurry, is my opinion.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And I guess we&#8217;ll all have to agree,&#8221; put in the life saver. &#8220;The
+question is&mdash;where did they go?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And that&#8217;s a question we&#8217;ve got to answer,&#8221; added Tom Cardiff. &#8220;We&#8217;ve
+got to get on the trail.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why so?&#8221; asked the life saver. &#8220;If you&#8217;ve driven &#8217;em off, so they can&#8217;t
+try any of their dastardly tricks to lure vessels ashore, isn&#8217;t that all
+you want? You&#8217;ve spoiled their game.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes!&#8221; cried Tom Cardiff, &#8220;we&#8217;ve spoiled it for this one place, but
+they&#8217;ll be at it somewhere else.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; asked Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I mean that they&#8217;ve gone somewhere else!&#8221; <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_153' id='pg_153'>153</a></span>exclaimed the assistant
+keeper. &#8220;They&#8217;ve made tracks away from here, but they&#8217;ve gone to some
+other place to set up their light, and try the same thing they were
+going to try here. It&#8217;s our duty to keep after &#8217;em, and break up the
+gang!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right!&#8221; cried Mr. Wilton. &#8220;There&#8217;s no telling what damage they
+might do, if left alone. Why, they might even get to some place where
+large passenger steamers pass, and wreck one of them, though mostly they
+aim to pick out a spot where small cargo boats would be lured on the
+rocks. We&#8217;ve got to keep after &#8217;em!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then come on!&#8221; cried Joe. He was fired with enthusiasm, not only to
+capture the wreckers for the purpose of protecting human life and
+property, but he was also eager to have the scoundrels safe in
+confinement so that he might question them, and learn the source of the
+suspicion against his father.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;On the trail!&#8221; cried Blake. &#8220;Maybe we can easily find the wreckers.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, not to-night,&#8221; advised Mr. Boundley. &#8220;It wouldn&#8217;t be practical, in
+the first place; and if it was, it wouldn&#8217;t be safe. We don&#8217;t know this
+locality very well. There may be hidden dangers and pitfalls that would
+injure some of us. Then, too, we don&#8217;t want to stumble on a nest of
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_154' id='pg_154'>154</a></span>wreckers without knowing something of the lay of the ground.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s best to be done?&#8221; asked Tom Cardiff.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Do nothing to-night,&#8221; advised the government man. &#8220;To-morrow we can
+take up the trail, and by daylight we may be able to pick up something
+that will give us a clue. I think they won&#8217;t try any of their tricks
+to-night, so it will be safe for us to go back.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The others agreed with this view, and, after looking about the place a
+little more, and trying, but unsuccessfully, to find clues in the
+darkness, partly illuminated by the electric torches, they gave it up
+and started back to the lighthouse.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, what do you think?&#8221; asked Blake of Joe, as the two lads reached
+their boarding house in the little theatrical colony. It was quite late.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Think of it?&#8221; echoed Joe. &#8220;I&#8217;m terribly disappointed, that&#8217;s what. I
+hoped I&#8217;d be able to get a start on disproving this accusation against
+my father.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, it was a disappointment,&#8221; agreed Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And now there&#8217;s no telling when I can.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, not exactly; but, Joe, I have a plan.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter with getting on the trail after these fellows the
+first thing in the morning. No use waiting any longer, and we can&#8217;t tell
+how <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_155' id='pg_155'>155</a></span>prompt those government men may be. Of course they&#8217;re interested,
+in a general way, in making the capture; but aside from that, you and I
+have a personal motive; for I&#8217;ll admit I&#8217;m as interested as you are in
+proving that your father is innocent.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;So what&#8217;s the matter with getting back up on the cliff as soon as we
+can, and seeing if we can trace those fellows. You know we&#8217;ve had some
+experience after taking films of those Indians, and can follow signs
+pretty well.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m with you, Blake!&#8221; cried Joe. &#8220;We&#8217;ll do it. I guess Mr. Ringold will
+let us off when he knows how important it is.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>They spoke of the matter to the theatrical man early the next morning,
+and he readily agreed to let them continue the work of trying to capture
+the wreckers.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Go ahead, boys,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Mr. Hadley and your lad, Macaroni, can take
+what films we want to-day. And I would like to see you get those
+wreckers. There&#8217;s no meaner criminal alive. All we&#8217;ll do for the next
+couple of days is to get ready for our big drama&mdash;I&#8217;ve planned a new
+one&mdash;and I sure will want you boys to help film it for me.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s it going to be about?&#8221; asked Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a sea story, and a wreck figures in it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;A real wreck?&#8221; asked Joe, in some surprise. &#8220;That will be hard to do;
+won&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_156' id='pg_156'>156</a></span>&#8220;It sure will, and I don&#8217;t just know how to manage it. I could buy some
+old tub, and wreck it, I suppose, but I want it to look natural. While I
+don&#8217;t wish anyone bad luck, I do wish, if a wreck had to happen, that it
+would come about here, so we could get moving pictures of it. But I
+don&#8217;t suppose I&#8217;ll have any such good luck.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;However, I&#8217;ll have to think about this. Now you boys can have a couple
+of days off, if you like, and I hope you&#8217;ll find those miscreants.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I wish we could get you some moving pictures of them,&#8221; spoke Blake;
+&#8220;but I&#8217;m afraid it&#8217;s out of the question.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The boys were soon at the scene of the disappointment the night before.
+Daylight revealed more clearly the haste with which the wreckers had
+removed their false lantern. Stones were scattered about, as were bits
+of broken wood, wire, rope and other accessories.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now,&#8221; said Joe, after they had looked about, &#8220;the thing to do is to
+trail them.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And the first thing is to get a clue,&#8221; added Blake.</p>
+
+<p>They looked about, using the knowledge they had gained from being with
+the cowboy the time they filmed the pictures of the Moqui Indians. For
+some time their efforts were without success. They cast about in all
+directions, looking for some <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_157' id='pg_157'>157</a></span>lead that would tell them in which
+direction the wreckers had gone.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I should think they&#8217;d go farther down the coast,&#8221; suggested Joe. &#8220;They
+certainly wouldn&#8217;t come toward the lighthouse, and they wouldn&#8217;t go
+inland, for to work their plan they need to be near the shore.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right, to an extent,&#8221; decided Blake; &#8220;but, at the same time,
+they may have wanted to give a false clue. So we mustn&#8217;t let that fool
+us. Keep on looking.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Narrowly they scanned the ground. It was covered with marks, not only of
+the footsteps of the wreckers, but of the men and boys themselves who
+had made the unsuccessful raid the night before.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hello!&#8221; cried Blake, suddenly, as he dived into a clump of bushes.
+&#8220;Here&#8217;s something!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; asked Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;A piece of cloth, evidently torn from a man&#8217;s clothing. And, Joe, now
+that I recall it, it&#8217;s the same color as the suit worn by Hemp Danforth
+when he chased us. We&#8217;re on the trail at last, Joe!&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_158' id='pg_158'>158</a></span>
+<a name='THE_DISCOVERY_4242' id='THE_DISCOVERY_4242'></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2>
+<h3>THE DISCOVERY</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Joe Duncan leaped to his chum&#8217;s side. Eagerly he looked at the bit of
+cloth which, caught on a thorn bush, had ripped from some man&#8217;s garment.
+The cloth was not weather-beaten, which, to the boys, showed that it had
+not long been hanging there.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Blake, I believe you&#8217;re right,&#8221; assented his chum. &#8220;They went this way,
+and they must have done it for a blind, or else to get to some path that
+goes farther down the beach a different way,&#8221; for the cloth was caught
+on a bush toward the landward side of the little clearing.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll follow this,&#8221; said Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Of course,&#8221; agreed his chum.</p>
+
+<p>They pushed into the bushes. There was no semblance of a path, but this
+did not discourage the boys. They realized that the wreckers would want
+to cover up their trail, and would take a way that would not seem to
+lead anywhere.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_159' id='pg_159'>159</a></span>&#8220;This will branch off pretty soon,&#8221; was Blake&#8217;s opinion. &#8220;This is just
+a blind, to make us believe they have given up, and gone inland. Come
+on, Joe, and keep a sharp lookout for any other signs.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>They found none for some time, and then they came to a little open place
+where the soft ground held several footprints.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re getting warmer!&#8221; exclaimed Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hush!&#8221; cautioned his chum. &#8220;They may hear us.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, you don&#8217;t think they&#8217;re around here; do you?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s no telling. It&#8217;s best to be on the safe side. Keep quiet.
+Hello! here&#8217;s something else!&#8221; and Blake, moving cautiously, so as not
+to make any more noise than possible, picked up a bit of metal.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; asked Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Part of their lantern,&#8221; answered his chum. &#8220;It was made of black sheet
+iron, you remember. This piece may have fallen off when they dragged it
+through the bushes. We&#8217;re on the right trail, all right.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I believe you. But I wish it would turn on to a better path. It&#8217;s no
+fun forcing your way through these bushes.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;ll turn soon now,&#8221; predicted Blake. &#8220;They <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_160' id='pg_160'>160</a></span>only took this lead long
+enough to discourage pursuit. They didn&#8217;t like it any better than we
+do.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>His surmise proved correct and about five minutes later, having found
+other evidences of the passage of the wreckers, they came out on an open
+trail.</p>
+
+<p>It was a narrow path, leading along in both directions from where they
+came out on it, and following the coast line, but some distance inland.
+There were evidences that men had passed in both directions, and that at
+no distant time, for footprints turned to both the left and right, as
+the boys emerged from the blind trail in the brush.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, what about this?&#8221; questioned Joe, as he looked in silence at the
+tell-tale marks. &#8220;Which way shall we go, Blake?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;To the right!&#8221; came the answer, almost immediately.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What makes you say that?&#8221; asked his chum. &#8220;I don&#8217;t see anything to show
+that they went to the right, any more than that they went to the left.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you?&#8221; asked Blake. &#8220;Look here, and remember some of the things
+our cowboy guide told us when we were after the Indians. Now you see
+footprints going off to the left and right from this point; don&#8217;t you?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_161' id='pg_161'>161</a></span>&#8220;Sure.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, do you happen to notice that on the left there are footprints
+coming back as well as going.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I see that. But what does it mean?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And on the right side, counting from this dividing point, there are
+only footprints in one direction.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s so, Blake. But&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now what&#8217;s the answer? Why the men got here, and, thinking they might
+be followed, tried a simple trick. They doubled their trail.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, some of them went off to the left, walked on a little way,
+doubled, or turned, and came back, joining the others, who had turned to
+the right and kept on.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why was that?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Because they wanted to fool us. Naturally a person, not looking
+carefully, would see both lines of footprints, and would reason that the
+men might have divided, or that there might have been two separate
+parties. He wouldn&#8217;t know which trail to take. He might pick out the
+right one, and, again, he might select the wrong one.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And you say the right one is&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;To the right. We&#8217;ll follow that. If they think to fool us, or make us
+divide our forces, <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_162' id='pg_162'>162</a></span>they&#8217;re going to be disappointed. Another thing.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s that, Blake?&#8221; asked Joe, as he noticed his chum leaning over and
+carefully examining the marks in the dirt.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, naturally they wouldn&#8217;t go to the left, as that eventually leads
+to the lighthouse. They want to keep some distance from that. Of course
+they&#8217;d go to the right. And here&#8217;s where we go after &#8217;em. Come on!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>There was no hesitation now. Joe was as sure as his chum that the
+wreckers had gone farther down the coast, perhaps to some other high
+cliff where they could set up their lantern.</p>
+
+<p>They followed the path. The trail was plain now, showing that a number
+of men had passed along. Footprints were the only clues, however, a
+number overlapping one another.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What shall we do if we find them?&#8221; asked Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&mdash;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; answered Blake. This was when they had been following
+the new trail for about an hour.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We can&#8217;t tackle &#8217;em alone, that&#8217;s sure,&#8221; went on Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, but we can&mdash;Hark! What&#8217;s that?&#8221; whispered Blake, suddenly.</p>
+
+<p>They listened intently. Far off they could hear the roar of the surf on
+the beach; but, closer at <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_163' id='pg_163'>163</a></span>hand, was another sound. It was the clink of
+metal. And then came the distant murmur of men&#8217;s voices.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Joe, I think we&#8217;ve found them,&#8221; whispered Blake. &#8220;Come on, but don&#8217;t
+make any noise.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Cautiously they crept forward, the sounds becoming more and more plain.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly they heard a loud voice exclaim:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There! I guess that will do the business! And those fellows won&#8217;t find
+us here!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s them!&#8221; whispered Blake in Joe&#8217;s ear. &#8220;I know the voice of Hemp
+Danforth. We&#8217;ve found &#8217;em, Joe!&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_164' id='pg_164'>164</a></span>
+<a name='THE_CAPTURE_4401' id='THE_CAPTURE_4401'></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2>
+<h3>THE CAPTURE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Impulsively the boys clasped hands as they realized what the discovery
+meant. They had come upon the new hiding place of the wreckers, and the
+chances were good for capture if no alarm was given.</p>
+
+<p>Joe, perhaps, felt more elated than did Blake, though the latter was
+glad that his theory in regard to the direction taken by the men had
+proved correct.</p>
+
+<p>But Joe felt that now he had a better chance to prove his father
+innocent of the charge made against him&mdash;that he was involved with the
+wreckers.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve got &#8217;em!&#8221; he whispered.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes&mdash;we&#8217;ve got &#8217;em&mdash;to get!&#8221; agreed Blake. &#8220;No slip-up this time.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>In whispers they consulted, and decided to creep forward a short
+distance to make sure of their first surmise that the men, whose voices
+they heard, were really the wreckers.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_165' id='pg_165'>165</a></span>&#8220;We want to be certain about it,&#8221; warned Blake, in a cautious whisper.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right,&#8221; agreed his chum. &#8220;Go ahead, and I&#8217;ll come after you.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Cautiously they advanced until they were in a position to look forward
+and make out a number of men working on a sort of mound of rock that
+rose from the surface of the cliff.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;This is a better place, from their standpoint, than the other,&#8221;
+whispered Blake. &#8220;A light can be seen farther.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, and they&#8217;re putting up the same lantern on a rock pile,&#8221; remarked
+Joe. Both lads recognized the apparatus they had seen before. The men
+were busily engaged in setting it in place, evidently working fast to
+make up for lost time.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s the same gang,&#8221; observed Blake; &#8220;and they must know of some vessel
+that is to pass here soon, or they wouldn&#8217;t be in such a hurry. Probably
+they count on the steersman mistaking this light for the one at
+Rockypoint, and standing in close here. Up at Rockypoint there is deep
+water close in shore, but it shoals very fast both ways, up or down the
+beach. So if a vessel saw a false light, and stood close in to get her
+bearings, she&#8217;d be on the rocks in no time.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right,&#8221; agreed Joe. &#8220;She&#8217;d be wrecked and these fellows would
+get what they could out <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_166' id='pg_166'>166</a></span>of her, caring nothing for the lives lost.
+Blake, we&#8217;ve got to stop &#8217;em!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We sure have.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Not only to clear my father, but to save others,&#8221; went on Joe. &#8220;What&#8217;s
+best to be done?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, we can&#8217;t capture &#8217;em by ourselves; that&#8217;s sure,&#8221; went on Blake,
+each lad speaking in a cautious whisper. &#8220;The best thing for us to do is
+to go back, I think, and tell Tom Cardiff. He&#8217;ll know what to do.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Maybe one of us had better stay here to keep watch. They may skip out.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No danger. They don&#8217;t know that we have followed &#8217;em, or that we are
+here.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then we&#8217;ll go back together.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Sure, and give the alarm. Then to make the capture, if we can.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>For a few minutes longer the eager boys looked on, unseen by the men
+whom they had trailed. The wreckers were busy putting up their lantern,
+and were making as much noise, talking and hammering on the apparatus,
+as though they were far removed from possible discovery.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, we&#8217;d better be going,&#8221; suggested Blake, after a bit; and they
+made their departure without causing any suspicious sounds, so that the
+wreckers had no idea, as far as our heroes could ascertain, that they
+were being spied upon.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_167' id='pg_167'>167</a></span>In order to save time, as soon as they got to the nearest small
+settlement, Joe and Blake hired a carriage, and drove to the lighthouse.
+As may well be imagined their report caused considerable excitement.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll get right after &#8217;em!&#8221; cried Tom Cardiff. &#8220;I just got a telephone
+message from the secret service men that they are on their way here.
+They&#8217;ll arrive in about an hour. We were counting on getting on the
+trail ourselves to-day, but you boys got ahead of us. So in about an
+hour we&#8217;ll start. I guess they&#8217;ll be there then; won&#8217;t they, lads.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I should judge so,&#8221; was Blake&#8217;s answer. &#8220;They&#8217;ve got quite a good deal
+yet to do to get that fake lantern in shape, and they don&#8217;t seem
+suspicious.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We can&#8217;t have our life saving friend with us now,&#8221; went on the
+assistant keeper, &#8220;as he is on duty, but I guess the five of us will be
+enough.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Say!&#8221; cried Blake, with sudden thought, &#8220;if it&#8217;s going to be an hour
+before we start we&#8217;ve got time to get our automatic moving picture
+camera, Joe.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What for?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;To get some views of this capture. It ought to make a dandy film, and
+we can set the machine <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_168' id='pg_168'>168</a></span>in place, start the motor and then you and I can
+jump in and help catch these wreckers!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The very thing!&#8221; cried his chum. &#8220;I wonder I didn&#8217;t think of it myself.
+Come on!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be late!&#8221; advised Tom Cardiff, as they ran toward the ancient
+carriage they had hired. &#8220;We don&#8217;t want any slip-up this time. I&#8217;m glad
+we&#8217;re going to try for the capture by daylight, though, instead of
+darkness; it gives us a better chance.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Ringold and Mr. Hadley were surprised and delighted at the news the
+boys brought, but they voted against the automatic camera.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;This is a rare chance to get a film,&#8221; said Mr. Hadley, &#8220;and we don&#8217;t
+want to miss it. I&#8217;ll go along with you, taking a regular moving picture
+camera, and while you capture the wreckers I&#8217;ll make a film of it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>This suited the boys as well, and a little later, with the chief
+photographer, they started back for the lighthouse. They found the
+secret service men and Tom Cardiff waiting for them, and, well armed, in
+addition to the clubs they carried, and with ropes to bind the wreckers,
+they started off.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re almost there now,&#8221; said Blake, in a whisper, when they neared the
+second hiding place of the desperate men. &#8220;Go easy, now.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Let me get a chance to go ahead and place <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_169' id='pg_169'>169</a></span>the camera,&#8221; suggested Mr.
+Hadley, who had the apparatus fully adjusted.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s a great idea,&#8221; declared one of the government men. &#8220;Taking their
+photographs in moving pictures! There&#8217;ll be no chance for them to deny
+they were present when they were captured,&#8221; and he chuckled grimly.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Hadley was given an opportunity to move forward alone. He found an
+advantageous spot and almost at once beckoned to the others to hasten.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re getting ready to leave!&#8221; he whispered, as they reached his
+side.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come on, then!&#8221; cried Tom Cardiff. &#8220;Jump in on &#8217;em, boys. Lively now!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>As he spoke he leaped forward, followed by the others.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Surrender! We&#8217;ve got you surrounded!&#8221; yelled the assistant keeper.
+&#8220;It&#8217;s all over but the shouting!&#8221; and as he made a grab for one of the
+men the moving picture machine began clicking.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hands up!&#8221; ordered Mr. Wilton.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;At &#8217;em, boys!&#8221; called the other government man, as he and Blake and Joe
+leaped to the attack together.</p>
+
+<p>For a moment the wreckers stood as if paralyzed about the stone pedestal
+on which the false <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_170' id='pg_170'>170</a></span>lantern was being built. Then, with one accord, the
+desperate men made a dash for the bush.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Stop &#8217;em!&#8221; cried Tom Cardiff. &#8220;Don&#8217;t let &#8217;em get away!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come on!&#8221; yelled Blake to his chum. &#8220;We&#8217;ve got to get in this fracas!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>And as they dashed after the wreckers the moving picture camera in the
+hands of Mr. Hadley recorded view after view of the exciting scene.</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_171' id='pg_171'>171</a></span>
+<a name='A_LIFE_GUARDS_ALARM_4579' id='A_LIFE_GUARDS_ALARM_4579'></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2>
+<h3>A LIFE GUARD&#8217;S ALARM</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Fortune played into the hands of our friends in two ways as they sought
+to capture the wreckers. Otherwise the desperate men might have gotten
+away, so quickly did they dash out of the clearing at the first alarm.</p>
+
+<p>But, as he ran along, big Hemp Danforth, the leader of the criminals,
+stumbled and fell. Right behind him was sturdy Tom Cardiff, and the
+assistant lighthouse keeper was quick to take advantage of the chance
+thus put in his way.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve got you!&#8221; he yelled, as he fairly threw himself on the prostrate
+wrecker. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got you! Give up, you varmint!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>There was a struggle, none the less desperate because the wrecker was
+underneath. The two rolled on the ground until Tom got a grip on his
+opponent. Then, by putting forth his enormous strength, Tom quickly
+subdued the man.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Give up, I tell you!&#8221; panted Tom, breathing hard. &#8220;I&#8217;ll teach you to
+wreck ships. Give up!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_172' id='pg_172'>172</a></span>&#8220;I give up!&#8221; was the sullen response.</p>
+
+<p>With a quick turn of the ropes he had brought, Tom had the wrecker
+trussed up.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the others had been busy. The secret service men had each
+tackled a man, and had him secure by now, while Joe and Blake, by mutual
+agreement picking out another member of the party had, after a struggle,
+succeeded in tying him, too.</p>
+
+<p>But the wreckers outnumbered our friends two to one, and some, if not
+all, of the desperate characters might have escaped had not
+reinforcements appeared. These were in the shape of four sturdy
+fishermen from the little colony where the moving picture boys lived.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, if we could only capture the others!&#8221; cried Tom Cardiff, when he
+had finished with his man, and saw some of the wreckers struggling to
+make their way through the thick bush. &#8220;Come on, boys!&#8221; he yelled to his
+friends. &#8220;When you finish with those fellows keep after the rest of the
+gang, though I&#8217;m afraid they&#8217;ll give us the slip.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No, they won&#8217;t!&#8221; cried a new voice, and then appeared the husky toilers
+of the sea, armed with stout clubs. At the sight of them the wreckers
+not yet captured gave up in despair. Counting those tied up, the forces
+were now equal, and as Mr. Hadley had taken all the moving pictures
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_173' id='pg_173'>173</a></span>possible, owing to the struggle taking place out of range of his
+camera, he left the apparatus, and joined his friends.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, we got &#8217;em!&#8221; cried Tom Cardiff, as he surveyed the line of
+prisoners, fastened together with ropes. &#8220;Every one of &#8217;em, I guess.
+You&#8217;re a nice crowd!&#8221; he sneered at big Hemp Danforth. &#8220;A nice lot of
+men to be let loose!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;A little later and you wouldn&#8217;t have had us!&#8221; snarled the leader of the
+wreckers. &#8220;You were too many for us.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s so,&#8221; spoke Tom. &#8220;How did you happen to come to help us?&#8221; he
+asked of Abe Haskill, who was one of the reinforcing fishermen. &#8220;Who
+sent you?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Old Stanton telephoned over from the lighthouse,&#8221; was the answer. &#8220;He
+said you were on your way here, and that the gang might be too much for
+you. So I got a couple of my friends, and over we came&mdash;just in time,
+too, I take it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right!&#8221; exclaimed Blake, trying to staunch the flow of blood
+from a cut on his face, received in the fight he and Joe had with their
+prisoner. Joe himself was somewhat bruised. &#8220;A little later and we&#8217;d had
+only half of &#8217;em,&#8221; went on Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It looks as if the lantern was nearly finished, too,&#8221; went on Joe.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_174' id='pg_174'>174</a></span>&#8220;Um!&#8221; sneered the chief wrecker. &#8220;You may think you have us, but it&#8217;s a
+long way from proving anything against us. What have we done that&#8217;s
+wrong?&#8221; and he looked defiantly at Tom Cardiff.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Wrong!&#8221; cried the lighthouse man. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you call it wrong to set up a
+false light to lure unsuspecting captains on the rocks, so you can get
+your pickings? Wrong!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Huh! How do you know but what this light was put here as a range finder
+for us fishermen?&#8221; asked the other.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Fishermen! Why, you men never did an honest day&#8217;s fishing in your
+lives!&#8221; cried Abe Haskill. &#8220;Fishing! When you haven&#8217;t been smuggling
+you&#8217;ve been wrecking, or robbing other honest men&#8217;s nets. You&#8217;re a bunch
+of scoundrels, and it&#8217;s the best day&#8217;s work we&#8217;ve done in many a year to
+get you!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s all right,&#8221; retorted Hemp, easily. &#8220;Words don&#8217;t prove anything.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They don&#8217;t; eh?&#8221; cried Tom Cardiff. &#8220;You&#8217;ll see what they do. We&#8217;ll
+convict you by your own words!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Our own words?&#8221; asked Hemp Danforth, uneasily.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, overheard by these two lads, whom you chased but couldn&#8217;t catch. I
+guess when Blake <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_175' id='pg_175'>175</a></span>Stewart and Joe Duncan go into court, and testify
+about hearing you talk of wrecking vessels by your false lantern, the
+jury&#8217;ll convict you, all right!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Hemp seemed less concerned with what Tom said than with the name Joe
+Duncan. As this was uttered the wrecker looked at the two lads.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Did I understand him to say that one of you is a Duncan?&#8221; asked Hemp,
+curiously.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I am,&#8221; replied Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Are you Nate Duncan&#8217;s son?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I hope so&mdash;yes, I&#8217;m sure I am.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Ha! Ha!&#8221; laughed the wrecker.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the joke?&#8221; inquired Tom Cardiff.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;This, and it&#8217;s a good one, too. You think to convict us on the
+testimony of Nate Duncan&#8217;s son. Why, Nate is one of us! His son&#8217;s
+evidence wouldn&#8217;t be any good. Besides, a son wouldn&#8217;t help to convict
+his father. That&#8217;s a good one. Nate Duncan is one of us!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s not so!&#8221; burst out Joe, jumping toward the big wrecker, as
+though to strike him. &#8220;It isn&#8217;t true. My father never was a wrecker.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He wasn&#8217;t; eh?&#8221; sneered Hemp. &#8220;Well, I&#8217;m not saying we are, either; but
+if your father isn&#8217;t a wrecker why did he run away before the officers
+came for him? Answer me that&mdash;if you can!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_176' id='pg_176'>176</a></span>&#8220;I&mdash;I&mdash;&#8221; began Joe, when Blake stepped to his chum&#8217;s side.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t answer him,&#8221; counseled Blake. &#8220;It will only make matters worse.
+It will all come out right.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure of it,&#8221; said Joe. &#8220;Poor Dad, I wish he were here to defend
+himself; but, as he isn&#8217;t, I&#8217;ll stick up for him.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, if you&#8217;re through talking I guess we&#8217;ll move along,&#8221; suggested
+Tom at this point. &#8220;There are a few empty cells in the jail at San
+Diego, I understand, and they&#8217;ll just about accommodate you chaps.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Are&mdash;are you going to put us in jail?&#8221; faltered one of the prisoners, a
+young man.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what we are,&#8221; answered Tom.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, don&#8217;t. I&#8217;ll tell&mdash;I&#8217;ll&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;ll keep still&mdash;that&#8217;s what you&#8217;ll do!&#8221; snapped Hemp. &#8220;I&#8217;ll fix you
+if you don&#8217;t!&#8221; and he glared at the youth in such a way that the latter
+said no more. &#8220;I&#8217;ll manage this thing,&#8221; went on Hemp. &#8220;You keep still
+and they can&#8217;t do a thing to us. Now go ahead; take us to jail if you
+want to.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what we will,&#8221; declared Tom, and a little later the prisoners
+were on their way to San Diego, where they were locked up. Some
+suspected wreckers had been taken into custody when <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_177' id='pg_177'>177</a></span>Mr. Duncan was
+accused, but nothing had been proved against them.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, that was a good day&#8217;s work!&#8221; declared Mr. Hadley late that
+afternoon, when he and the moving picture boys were back at their
+quarters. &#8220;We not only got the wreckers, but a fine film of the capture
+besides.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And we&#8217;re in it,&#8221; said Blake. &#8220;Joe, how will it seem to see yourself on
+a screen?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, rather odd, I guess,&#8221; and Joe spoke listlessly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now look here!&#8221; exclaimed his chum. &#8220;I know what&#8217;s worrying you. It&#8217;s
+what Hemp said about your father; isn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, Blake, it is.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well then, you just stop thinking about it. Before you know it your
+father may arrive in Hong Kong, get your letter, and send back an
+answer. Then everything will be cleared up. Meanwhile, we&#8217;ve got to get
+busy; there are a lot of films to make, I understand.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Indeed there are,&#8221; declared Mr. Ringold. &#8220;I have my sea drama all ready
+for the films now. I don&#8217;t know what to do about a wreck, though. I&#8217;m
+afraid I can&#8217;t make it realistic enough. I must make other plans about
+that scene. But get your cameras in good shape, boys, for there is
+plenty of work ahead.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_178' id='pg_178'>178</a></span>&#8220;We can keep right on the job,&#8221; said Joe, &#8220;for I guess we&#8217;ve about
+cleaned up the wreckers.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>No members of the gang had escaped, as far as could be learned, and the
+renewed work of getting evidence to be used at the trial was in the
+hands of the government men. The false lantern, which had first given
+the boys the clue, was taken down, and proved to be a most ingenious
+piece of apparatus. Had it been used it would undoubtedly have lured
+some ships on the rocks.</p>
+
+<p>The work of making the preliminary scenes of the sea drama were under
+way. It took the best part of three weeks to get what was needed, for
+Mr. Ringold was very particular, and insisted on many rehearsals, these
+taking longer than the actual making of the films.</p>
+
+<p>Joe and Blake were kept busy, as was also their young assistant,
+Macaroni, and Mr. Hadley.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Everything is going beautifully,&#8221; said Mr. Ringold one day. &#8220;If we
+could only have a storm and wreck to order, now, I would ask nothing
+better.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, everything is nice, except that we&#8217;re being worked to death,&#8221;
+spoke C. C. Piper, gloomily. &#8220;I&#8217;ve lost ten pounds in the last week.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It will do you good,&#8221; said Miss Lee, with a laugh. &#8220;You were getting
+too stout, anyhow.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_179' id='pg_179'>179</a></span>&#8220;Oh, what a world!&#8221; sighed the comedian, as he began whistling the
+latest comic song.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It looks like a storm,&#8221; remarked Blake, as he and Joe came in one
+evening from a stroll on the beach.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And when it does come,&#8221; added Joe, &#8220;it&#8217;s going to be a bad one, so old
+Abe, the fisherman, says. They&#8217;re putting storm signals up all along the
+coast, and all leaves of absence for the life guards have been cancelled
+for the next week. A storm sometimes lasts that long, Abe says.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;A storm; eh?&#8221; remarked Mr. Ringold, absentmindedly. &#8220;Well, that will
+interfere with our plans for to-morrow. I had intended to have some
+peaceful scenes on the beach; but I&#8217;ll postpone them. I wish I could
+work out this wreck problem,&#8221; he added, as he pored over the manuscript
+of the sea drama.</p>
+
+<p>One did not need to go outdoors that morning to appreciate the fury of
+the storm. The gale had come in the night, and the force of the wind had
+steadily increased until its violence was terrific. There was no rain,
+as yet, but the sky was obscured by hurrying black clouds.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s go down to the beach and see the big waves,&#8221; proposed Blake to
+Joe after breakfast.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; agreed his chum. &#8220;There won&#8217;t <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_180' id='pg_180'>180</a></span>be anything doing in the
+moving picture line to-day, I guess.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Say, that&#8217;s some surf!&#8221; cried Joe in his chum&#8217;s ear, as they got to the
+sandy stretch. &#8220;Look at those waves!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I guess they&#8217;re what you call &#8216;mountain high,&#8217;&#8221; answered Blake, himself
+yelling, for their ordinary voices could not be heard above the thunder
+of the surf and the roar of the gale.</p>
+
+<p>They stood for a few minutes watching the big rollers pounding on the
+sand, and then, looking down the strand, they saw a figure running
+toward them.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Here comes a life guard,&#8221; remarked Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And he acts as if something was up,&#8221; added Blake.</p>
+
+<p>Nearer came the man, dressed in yellow oilskins, for the spray from the
+sea flew far inland, almost like rain. Joe and Blake had on rubber
+coats.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221; cried Blake, as the man came opposite.</p>
+
+<p>He held his hands in funnel shape and yelled:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;A wreck&mdash;a big sailing vessel is coming ashore! Her masts are gone, and
+she can&#8217;t get off! She&#8217;ll strike soon. I want all the men I can get to
+help us with the breeches buoy. We can&#8217;t launch our boat&mdash;too heavy
+surf!&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_181' id='pg_181'>181</a></span>
+<a name='THE_DOOMED_VESSEL_4861' id='THE_DOOMED_VESSEL_4861'></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2>
+<h3>THE DOOMED VESSEL</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;You say there&#8217;s a wreck?&#8221; cried Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, we just made her out through the glass. She&#8217;s driving on the rocks
+fast. The current is setting inshore and the wind is helping it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Where is she?&#8221; asked Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Right down there,&#8221; answered the life guard. &#8220;But she&#8217;ll come up farther
+this way,&#8221; and he pointed down toward the rocks opposite which the boys
+had first surprised the wreckers at work.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve got to give the alarm,&#8221; went on the life saver. &#8220;We need all the
+help we can get. We&#8217;re short-handed, anyhow, and two of our men were
+hurt early this morning trying to launch the surf-boat.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Can&#8217;t you get some of the fishermen from around here?&#8221; asked Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what I came for.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And we&#8217;ll help, too!&#8221; cried Blake, bracing himself by leaning against
+the wind, which seemed to grow stronger every minute.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_182' id='pg_182'>182</a></span>&#8220;Sure we will,&#8221; added Joe. &#8220;Can you see the vessel?&#8221; he asked, peering
+eagerly into the spume and spray.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Maybe she&#8217;s drifted far enough up by now,&#8221; went on the coast guard, as
+he looked intently in the direction he had pointed. &#8220;Yes,&#8221; he cried a
+moment later, &#8220;I can catch glimpses of her at times, when the waves go
+down a bit. See! There she is now!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Looking in the direction the guard pointed, Blake and Joe caught a
+glimpse of a distant black object rising and falling at the mercy of the
+wind and waves. It was the hull of a vessel, and when Blake used the
+glass the guard handed him a moment later, he could see the jagged
+stumps of broken masts.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s in a bad way,&#8221; remarked the lad, gravely.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Indeed she is,&#8221; assented the life saver.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I wonder if my father is in any such storm as this, on his way to
+China?&#8221; mused Joe, as he, too, looked through the binoculars.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a bad storm&mdash;and a big one, too,&#8221; said the guard. &#8220;But I must
+hurry on and give the alarm to the fishermen. The ship will strike soon,
+and we want to send a line aboard if we can.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Wait!&#8221; cried Blake, as the man started off. &#8220;We&#8217;ll tell the fishermen.
+You can go back to <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_183' id='pg_183'>183</a></span>the station. We&#8217;ll come to help as soon as we can,
+and bring all the men we can find.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Good!&#8221; shouted the man. &#8220;It&#8217;ll take some time to get the apparatus in
+shape, and we&#8217;ll have to drag it up the beach from the station, to about
+the place where she&#8217;ll come on the rocks. Go ahead, give the alarm, and
+I&#8217;ll go back. Whew! But this is a fierce storm!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come on!&#8221; cried Blake to his chum, and they raced toward the little
+fishing hamlet.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Say!&#8221; shouted Joe. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got an idea!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What is it?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The wreck&mdash;it&#8217;ll come close on shore, the guard says; why not make some
+moving pictures of it? They&#8217;ll be just what Mr. Hadley wants.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s it!&#8221; yelled Blake. &#8220;You&#8217;ve struck it. Go on and tell Mr.
+Ringold, Mr. Hadley and the others, and I&#8217;ll get the fishermen. Then
+we&#8217;ll go down the beach until we meet the life savers. It&#8217;s a great
+chance, Joe!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The lads separated, one to arouse the fishermen, most of whom were in
+their shacks, for it was out of the question to lift the nets in the
+tremendous seas that were running.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come on!&#8221; cried Blake, as he saw old Abe Haskill come out to look at
+the weather. &#8220;Wreck&mdash;ship coming ashore. The coast guards need help!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_184' id='pg_184'>184</a></span>&#8220;Aye, aye, lad. We&#8217;re with you!&#8221; cried the sturdy old man. &#8220;I&#8217;ll get
+the boys. A wreck; eh? Pity the poor sailors that come ashore in such a
+blow!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Having given the alarm, Blake turned back to join his chum and the
+others of the theatrical colony.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We may need all three cameras,&#8221; he reasoned; &#8220;it is such a good chance
+we don&#8217;t want to risk it on one film.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Blake found Mr. Hadley and his chum, with the theatrical manager and the
+male members of the company, ready to set out. Joe had his own camera,
+while Mr. Hadley was getting the largest one in readiness.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s take the automatic, too,&#8221; suggested Joe. &#8220;We can start it going
+and not have to worry about it.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; agreed Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Say, this is the very chance we wanted!&#8221; cried Mr. Ringold. &#8220;Think of
+it! A regular wreck, right at our doors!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, but the poor sailors!&#8221; exclaimed Miss Shay. &#8220;I do hope they may be
+saved!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Of course they can!&#8221; cried C. C. Piper. &#8220;We&#8217;ll all help. Never fear;
+we&#8217;ll save them!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>His tone and manner, to say nothing of his words, were in such contrast
+to his usual demeanor <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_185' id='pg_185'>185</a></span>that everyone looked at his or her neighbor in
+surprise.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t give up!&#8221; went on the comedian, cheerfully. &#8220;We&#8217;ll help the life
+guards&mdash;we&#8217;ll do anything. We&#8217;ll save those sailors!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, get on to Gloomy; would you!&#8221; exclaimed Joe, in a low voice, to
+his chum. &#8220;That is the best ever! It&#8217;s the first time he hasn&#8217;t
+predicted a calamity.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And just when anyone else would,&#8221; added Blake. &#8220;For it sure is going to
+be hard work to save anyone from a vessel that comes ashore in such a
+storm as this,&#8221; and he looked toward the tumbling billows in view from
+the windows.</p>
+
+<p>Films were threaded into the moving picture cameras, the mechanism was
+tested, and then the whole company, even to the ladies, set forth.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I hope the wreck gets near enough so we can get some good pictures of
+it,&#8221; said Mr. Ringold.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;ll have to come pretty well in shore, or the breeches buoy rope
+won&#8217;t reach,&#8221; said Mr. Hadley. &#8220;I guess we can get some good pictures.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s good it doesn&#8217;t rain,&#8221; went on the theatrical man; &#8220;though I think
+it&#8217;s going to, soon. We&#8217;ll have to get up on some elevation to avoid the
+spray.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Down the beach they made their way, to be joined presently by the band
+of sturdy fishermen.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_186' id='pg_186'>186</a></span>&#8220;There she is!&#8221; cried old Abe, as he pointed out to sea. &#8220;There she is,
+blowing and drifting in fast. And right toward the Dolphin Rocks,
+too&mdash;the worst place on the beach!&#8221; They all gazed toward the doomed
+vessel, that was now much nearer shore. Blake even thought he could
+descry figures on deck, clinging to the stumps of masts.</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_187' id='pg_187'>187</a></span>
+<a name='OUT_OF_THE_WRECK_5018' id='OUT_OF_THE_WRECK_5018'></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2>
+<h3>OUT OF THE WRECK</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;Here come the life savers!&#8221; cried Blake a little later, as through the
+spray that flew over the beach a party of men, in yellow oilskins, could
+be seen dragging something over the sand.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, and few enough of &#8217;em there are to do the work,&#8221; said old Abe
+Haskill. &#8220;The government ought to put more men at the station.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Some were hurt, trying to launch the boat this morning,&#8221; said Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Very likely,&#8221; agreed the old fisherman. &#8220;The sea can be cruel when it
+wants to.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And there comes Tom Cardiff!&#8221; added Blake, as he pointed to another
+oncoming figure.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, and Harry Stanton is with him,&#8221; remarked Abe. &#8220;They must have left
+the lighthouse to look after itself, and they&#8217;re going to help in the
+rescue.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No danger to the light, now that them pesky wreckers have been caught,&#8221;
+remarked one of the fishermen.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_188' id='pg_188'>188</a></span>&#8220;Boom!&#8221; came a dull report over the waste of tumultuous waters.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221; asked Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The signal gun!&#8221; cried Abe. &#8220;She must be sinking and they want us to
+hurry help. But she&#8217;s too far out yet for a line to reach her.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Again the signal gun sounded, and hearing it, the life savers hastened
+their pace, but it was hard work dragging their apparatus through the
+sand.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s help &#8217;em!&#8221; cried Joe. &#8220;The ship is drifting up this way. If we
+make pictures it will have to be from about here. Let&#8217;s help drag the
+wagon!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right!&#8221; echoed Blake, and the boys, leaving their cameras in
+charge of Mr. Hadley, hastened to relieve the fagged-out life savers.
+The fishermen and some of the theatrical men joined in also.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Right about here,&#8221; directed the captain of the life saving crew, when
+the cart containing the gun, &#8220;shears&#8221; and other parts of the breeches
+buoy had been dragged farther along. &#8220;She&#8217;ll strike about here, I
+fancy.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The doomed vessel was now much nearer shore, and on her wave-washed
+decks could be seen the sailors, some of them lashed to the stumps of
+masts, others to whatever of the standing <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_189' id='pg_189'>189</a></span>rigging offered a hold
+against the grasp of the sea.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Get ready, men!&#8221; the commander went on. &#8220;The wind is bringing her in
+fast, and it&#8217;s going to be against us shooting a line over her, but
+we&#8217;ll do our best. If she strikes now, so much the better.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221; asked Blake, wonderingly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Because then she&#8217;ll be stationary, and we can keep our main line taut.
+If she keeps drifting inshore while we&#8217;re hauling the buoy back and
+forth it means that we&#8217;ll have to keep tightening up all the while.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There, she&#8217;s struck!&#8221; suddenly called one of the life savers. All gazed
+out to sea, where, amid a smother of foam, the craft could be seen. Her
+change in position was evident. Her decks sloped more, and instead of
+drifting she remained in one position.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;The rocks have gripped her,&#8221; spoke old Abe, solemnly. &#8220;She&#8217;ll go to
+pieces soon now.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then get busy!&#8221; cried C. C. Piper, who seemed not to have lost his
+strangely cheerful mood. &#8220;Save those men!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what we&#8217;re going to do,&#8221; said the captain. &#8220;All ready now, men.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And that means we&#8217;d better get busy, Joe,&#8221; said Blake. &#8220;We can&#8217;t do
+anything to help just <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_190' id='pg_190'>190</a></span>now. Besides, there are a lot of men here. We
+must get our cameras in place.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right, Blake,&#8221; and the two lads got their apparatus in shape to
+operate, Mr. Hadley doing the same. The machines were set up on some
+sand hills, far enough back to be out of the spray, which was like a fog
+close to the surface of the water.</p>
+
+<p>While some of the life savers and their volunteer assistants were
+burying in the sand the heavy anchor that was to hold one end of the
+rope on which the breeches buoy would travel, others were getting ready
+to fire the gun.</p>
+
+<p>In brief, the breeches buoy is operated as follows: A small mortar, or
+cannon, is used, and an elongated projectile is placed in it. Attached
+to the projectile is a thin and strong line. It is coiled in a box and
+placed on the sand near the mortar. The coils are laid around pegs in a
+peculiar manner to prevent tangling. The pegs are then pulled out, and
+the coils lie one upon the other so that the line may be paid out
+rapidly.</p>
+
+<p>When the projectile is fired toward the ship, the aim is to make it
+shoot over her deck, carrying the cord with it. This is called &#8220;getting
+a line aboard.&#8221; Once this is done the crew on the vessel can, by means
+of the small cord, pull <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_191' id='pg_191'>191</a></span>aboard a heavy cable. This is made fast to the
+highest point possible.</p>
+
+<p>There is now a cable extending from the shore to the ship, the shore end
+being made fast to the anchor in the sand. The cable is raised as high
+as possible on a pair of wooden &#8220;shears,&#8221; to keep it above the waves.</p>
+
+<p>Running on pulley wheels, on this stout, tight rope, is the &#8220;breeches
+buoy.&#8221; This is literally a pair of canvas breeches, into which the
+person to be saved places himself, getting into the apparatus from the
+deck of the sinking ship. There is a line fast to the buoy, one end
+being on shore. When the signal is given those on the beach pull, the
+buoy and the person in it are pulled along the tight rope by means of
+the pulleys to the beach and saved, though often they are well drenched
+in the process. Those remaining on the ship now pull the empty buoy
+back, and other persons come ashore until all are saved.</p>
+
+<p>Sometimes, instead of the canvas breeches, a small enclosed car is used
+to slide along the rope. In this car more than one person can get, and
+they are protected from the waves.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;All ready?&#8221; asked the captain of the life saving crew, after he had
+inspected what his men and the others helping them had done.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;All ready, sir!&#8221; came the response.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_192' id='pg_192'>192</a></span>&#8220;Then fire!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The mortar boomed, through the wind shot the projectile toward the ship,
+carrying with it the swiftly uncoiling rope. All watched anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Too short!&#8221; cried the captain a moment later, lowering the glass
+through which he had watched the effect of the shot. &#8220;Use a little more
+powder this time.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The projectile was hauled back through the waves, and attached to
+another line, coiled in readiness, while some of the life savers busied
+themselves recoiling the first rope, in case the second shot failed too.</p>
+
+<p>It did, again falling short.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Try more powder,&#8221; said the captain, grimly. &#8220;We&#8217;ve got to reach her.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And soon,&#8221; murmured old Abe. &#8220;She&#8217;s breaking up fast.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Once more the mortar was fired, Blake and Joe, as well as Mr. Hadley,
+getting films of every move.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There she goes!&#8221; cried the captain, in delight, as he watched the third
+shot. &#8220;Over her decks as clean as you&#8217;d want! Now to get the poor souls
+ashore!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>On board the wrecked ship could be observed a scene of activity. The
+sailors began hauling on the line, and presently the big cable began
+paying <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_193' id='pg_193'>193</a></span>out from shore. Soon it reached the side of the ship, to be
+hauled up, and made fast to the stump of one of the masts.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Lively now, boys!&#8221; cried the captain. &#8220;Pull taut and then run out the
+buoy. She can&#8217;t last much longer!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The men made redoubled efforts, and Blake and Joe, leaving their
+automatic camera working, while Mr. Hadley turned the operation of his
+over to Macaroni, the three moving picture experts aided in the work of
+rescue.</p>
+
+<p>Soon the breeches buoy was hauled out to the ship for its first
+passenger, and presently the sagging of the cable told that some one was
+in it.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Pull, boys!&#8221; cried the captain of the life savers, and through the
+dashing waves, that threw their crests over the shipwrecked person, the
+buoy was hauled ashore.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Grab him!&#8221; cried the captain, as the first one saved was pulled up high
+on the beach.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It isn&#8217;t a him, captain!&#8221; cried one of the men. &#8220;It&#8217;s a woman!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Bless my sea boots!&#8221; yelled the captain. &#8220;A woman! Are there any more
+of you aboard&mdash;or any children?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&mdash;I&#8217;m the only one,&#8221; was the panting answer, for she had swallowed
+much water. &#8220;I&#8217;m <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_194' id='pg_194'>194</a></span>the captain&#8217;s wife. Can you&mdash;can you save the others?
+They made me come first.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right! Women and children always first!&#8221; shouted the captain.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Of course we&#8217;ll save the others,&#8221; yelled C. C., who was running
+excitedly about, helping all he could. &#8220;We&#8217;ll save every one!&#8221; he
+repeated.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Gloomy in a new r&ocirc;le&mdash;a happy one!&#8221; remarked Blake.</p>
+
+<p>The buoy was hauled back, and another was saved&mdash;one of the sailors,
+this time. He reported that there were in all twenty-five hands on the
+ship, exclusive of the captain.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;He&#8217;ll come last, of course,&#8221; he said, simply.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Of course,&#8221; agreed Abe Haskill. &#8220;The captain allers does that. Once
+more, boys!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Again was a rescue effected, the moving picture cameras registering
+faithfully everything that went on. The work had to be done quickly now,
+for the vessel was fast breaking up.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Two more left!&#8221; cried the chief life saver. &#8220;Jack up that cable, boys;
+she&#8217;s sagging. I guess the old ship is working farther in. Jack her up!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>By means of pulleys attached to the main rope it was made tauter. Then
+came a heavy sag on it.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s that?&#8221; asked one of the life savers.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s two of &#8217;em&mdash;two of &#8217;em, clinging to the buoy!&#8221; cried Blake, who
+was watching through a <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_195' id='pg_195'>195</a></span>glass. &#8220;I guess the ship must be going to pieces
+too fast to allow for another trip. You&#8217;ve got to save two at once.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And we can do it!&#8221; cried the captain. &#8220;All together, now, boys! But
+they&#8217;re going to get wet!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>By reason of the added weight the rope was sagging badly, and the men
+clinging to the buoy could be seen half in and half out of the water.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Lively, men, or they&#8217;ll drown!&#8221; yelled the captain.</p>
+
+<p>Hardy and intrepid as were the life-savers and the volunteers who had
+assembled to help them, they paused a moment now. It seemed impossible
+that the two in the buoy could be pulled ashore in time to be saved.</p>
+
+<p>Over them broke great seas, the waves hissing and foaming as though
+angry at being cheated of their prey. The storm-swept waters seemed to
+seize on the rope, as though to pull it beneath the billows. The anchor
+that held the rope which passed over the &#8220;shears&#8221; seemed to be pulling
+out of the sand packed around it.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Come on, men!&#8221; cried the captain. &#8220;Take a brace now, and we&#8217;ll have &#8217;em
+ashore in a jiffy!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But she&#8217;s slipping!&#8221; cried a grizzled seaman. &#8220;She can&#8217;t hold any
+longer. The whole business is going!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_196' id='pg_196'>196</a></span>&#8220;She can&#8217;t go until we git &#8217;em ashore!&#8221; yelled the captain of the
+life-savers. &#8220;I won&#8217;t let her! Here, Jim Black, you mosey back there and
+pile more sand around that anchor. Now then, men, pull as though you
+meant it. What! You&#8217;re not going to have it said that you let a little
+cat&#8217;s paw of wind like this beat you; are you?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Something of the captain&#8217;s courage seemed to infuse itself into his men.
+They had been half-hearted before, but they were brave now. Once more
+they ranged themselves on the rope that was used to haul the buoy from
+the ship to shore. It was as though the waves had tried to intimidate
+them, and had been bidden defiance.</p>
+
+<p>The weight of the two persons in the buoy was almost too much. The waves
+had a doubly large surface against which to break, and well the captain
+knew that there was a limit to the strain to which the tackle could be
+subjected. Once the main rope leading from the anchor to the ship, on
+which cable the buoy ran, parted, and nothing could save those last two
+lives. No wonder the captain wanted haste.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Haul away!&#8221; he bellowed through the roar of the wind, using his hands
+as a trumpet. &#8220;Haul away, men!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>His companions braced themselves in the shifting sand. They bent their
+backs. Their arms <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_197' id='pg_197'>197</a></span>swelled into bunches of muscles that had been trained
+in the hard school of the sea.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Will the haul-rope stand it?&#8221; cried one man.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s <i>got</i> to stand it!&#8221; cried the captain. &#8220;She&#8217;s just <i>got</i> to!
+Pull, men; you&#8217;re not half hauling!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;If that rope gives,&#8221; faltered an old, gray-haired man, who seemed too
+aged for this life, &#8220;if that rope gives way&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you talk about it!&#8221; snapped the captain. &#8220;I&#8217;ll take all the
+responsibility of that rope. It&#8217;ll hold all right. I looked at it the
+other day. All you&#8217;ve got to do is pull! Do you hear me? Pull as you
+never pulled before!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>Once more the backs of the men bent to the strain. The moving picture
+boys, watching and waiting; filled with anxiety even as they filmed the
+wreck, saw that the rise and fall of the waves had a good deal to do
+with the rescue.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;They can pull better when the waves don&#8217;t wash over those two poor
+souls in the buoy,&#8221; observed Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, there&#8217;s less resistance,&#8221; agreed Joe. &#8220;Oh, there comes a big one!&#8221;
+and, as he spoke, an immense comber buried from sight the two whom the
+life-savers were endeavoring to pull from the grip of the sea.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;If they can only hold their breaths long <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_198' id='pg_198'>198</a></span>enough, they may come through
+it,&#8221; said Blake. &#8220;But it&#8217;s a tough proposition.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It sure is,&#8221; agreed his chum. They had gone back to snap a few
+pictures, and then, finding that the automatic apparatus was working
+well, they again joined the group on the sands.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Another pull or two and we&#8217;ll have &#8217;em ashore!&#8221; yelled the captain.
+&#8220;Lively, men!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>As he spoke a grizzled seaman rushed up to him.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That anchor&#8217;s slippin&#8217; ag&#8217;in!&#8221; he bellowed through the noise of the
+storm. &#8220;I can&#8217;t put sand on fast enough to hold it!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Then I&#8217;ll have some one help you!&#8221; cried the captain. &#8220;Here, Si Watson!
+You git back there and help Jim pile sand on that anchor. It mustn&#8217;t be
+allowed to pull out&mdash;do you understand? It mustn&#8217;t pull out if&mdash;if you
+have to&mdash;sit on it!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Aye&mdash;aye, sir,&#8221; was the answer, and the two men ran back to where the
+anchor was buried in the beach, to pile the sand on with the shovels
+provided for that purpose.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now one more pull, and we&#8217;ll have &#8217;em safe!&#8221; yelled the captain a
+little later, and with a mighty haul his men bent to their task.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;There they come through the last line of surf!&#8221; yelled Joe, pointing to
+the buoy containing the two shipwrecked persons.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_199' id='pg_199'>199</a></span>&#8220;If only the rope holds,&#8221; murmured his chum.</p>
+
+<p>Even as he spoke there came a cry from the two men who had been sent to
+watch that the anchor in the sand did not drag.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s coming! It&#8217;s coming out!&#8221; shouted one of them.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Sit on it! Hold it down!&#8221; yelled the captain. &#8220;Into the water after
+&#8217;em, boys! Come on, ye old seadogs!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>There was a snap&mdash;the rope had parted, but so near to the beach were the
+two that the life-savers waded into the foam and spume, and grabbed
+them, holding them safe.</p>
+
+<p>They were hauled to the beach, on which huddled the others who had been
+saved from the wreck.</p>
+
+<p>The lone woman had been taken in charge by the feminine members of the
+theatrical troupe, who led her toward their boarding house. They said
+they would soon have hot coffee ready for all the sailors.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Get &#8217;em out of the buoy!&#8221; cried the captain, as the two last rescued
+were seen to be well-nigh insensible. They were assisted out, and sank
+helpless on the sand.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Pretty far gone,&#8221; remarked a life saver. &#8220;One must be the captain, I
+reckon.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And the other,&#8221; began Harry Stanton, keeper <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_200' id='pg_200'>200</a></span>of the Rockypoint light;
+&#8220;the other&mdash;why, if it isn&#8217;t Nate Duncan, who used to be my assistant!
+He came out of the wreck&mdash;Nate Duncan!&#8221;</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_201' id='pg_201'>201</a></span>
+<a name='A_NEW_QUEST_5385' id='A_NEW_QUEST_5385'></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXV</h2>
+<h3>A NEW QUEST</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>From where he was standing by a group of the rescued sailors, Joe Duncan
+heard what the lighthouse keeper said. The lad rushed forward.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Nate Duncan!&#8221; he repeated, as he gazed at the two men, who were just
+beginning to revive under the application of stimulants. &#8220;Which one of
+you is Mr. Duncan?&#8221; he asked, eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&mdash;I am,&#8221; faltered the younger of the two men. &#8220;Why, who wants me. Oh,
+it&#8217;s you, Harry Stanton,&#8221; and he looked at the lighthouse keeper
+standing near him. &#8220;I&mdash;I can explain everything. I&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It wasn&#8217;t I who asked,&#8221; spoke the lighthouse keeper. &#8220;It was this lad
+here,&#8221; and he indicated Joe. &#8220;Your son.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;My son!&#8221; cried the rescued man. &#8220;Are you sure&mdash;can it be true. Oh, is
+it possible? Don&#8217;t disappoint me! Are you my son?&#8221; and he held out his
+hands to Joe.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_202' id='pg_202'>202</a></span>&#8220;I&mdash;I think so, father,&#8221; spoke the boy, softly. &#8220;I&mdash;I have been looking
+for you a long time.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And I have, too, Joe; yes, you are my boy. I can see it now. Oh, the
+dear Lord be praised!&#8221; and there was moisture in his eyes that was not
+the salt from the raging sea.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But&mdash;but,&#8221; went on Joe. &#8220;I thought you went to China. I wrote to you at
+Hong Kong.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I did start for there, Joe; but the vessel on which I sailed was
+wrecked, and this craft, bound back for San Francisco, picked us up. So
+I didn&#8217;t get very far. Oh, but I have found my boy!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The others drew a little aside while father and son, so strangely
+restored to each other by the fury of the sea, clasped each other close.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now, friends,&#8221; said Mr. Ringold, bustling up; &#8220;those of you who are wet
+through had better let us take care of you. We have room for you all,
+and I&#8217;ll send word to any of your friends if you&#8217;ll give me the
+addresses. Your wreck, in a way, has been a great thing for me, for I
+have obtained some wonderful moving pictures of it and this rescue. It
+will make a great drama. So I want to help you all I can.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>By this time the captain of the vessel had been revived and with his
+wife and crew was taken to the theatrical boarding place, where the
+women busied themselves getting warm drinks and food, <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_203' id='pg_203'>203</a></span>and the men
+changed into dry garments loaned by the fishermen and the others. Soon
+after the last one came ashore the wreck broke up and sank.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, of all the wonderful things I ever experienced, this is the most
+marvelous,&#8221; declared Mr. Duncan, as he sat with his son&#8217;s hand in his.
+&#8220;I am wrecked twice, and come back to the same place I ran away from, to
+find Joe waiting for me.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;It is wonderful,&#8221; agreed Joe, wondering how he was going to bring up
+the subject of the wreckers.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, this is the very place I left in such a hurry, a few months ago,&#8221;
+went on Mr. Duncan.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Would you mind telling me why you left so suddenly?&#8221; asked the
+lighthouse keeper, solemnly. &#8220;Of course it&#8217;s none of my affair; but I
+might say it concerns you mightily, Nate Duncan. Can you prove your
+innocence?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Prove my innocence! Of what charge?&#8221; cried the man.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, father, of course we don&#8217;t believe it!&#8221; burst out Joe, unable to
+keep silent longer; &#8220;but Hemp Danforth says you were implicated with him
+in wrecking boats by means of false lights!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Hemp Danforth says that!&#8221; cried Joe&#8217;s father.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_204' id='pg_204'>204</a></span>&#8220;Yes. Tell me&mdash;tell all of them&mdash;that it isn&#8217;t so!&#8221; pleaded the lad.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Of course it isn&#8217;t so, Joe.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But why did you leave so suddenly, and why did the officer come for you
+the next day?&#8221; asked the lighthouse keeper. &#8220;It looked bad, Nate.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I suppose it did,&#8221; said Mr. Duncan, slowly. &#8220;But it can easily be
+explained. I was mixed up with those wreckers&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Father!&#8221; cried Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But not the way you think, son,&#8221; went on the former lighthouse worker
+quickly. &#8220;Hemp Danforth and I had a quarrel. It was over some business
+matters that he and I were mixed up in before I learned that he and his
+gang were wreckers.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We quarreled, because he tried to defraud me of my rights, and I had to
+give him a severe beating. Perhaps I was wrong, but I acted on impulse.
+Then I heard that Hemp, to get even, had accused me of being a wrecker,
+and he had his men ready to swear to false testimony about me; even that
+I let the light go out, which I never did.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I knew I could not refute it, especially at that time, and as something
+came up that made it necessary for me to leave for China at once, I
+decided to go away. I realize now that it must <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_205' id='pg_205'>205</a></span>have looked bad,
+especially after the charge against me. But now I am ready to stay and
+face it. I can prove that I had nothing to do with the wrecking, and
+that as soon as I learned that Hemp and his gang were concerned in it I
+left them. If we can get hold of Hemp I can easily make him acknowledge
+this.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You can easily get hold of him,&#8221; said Blake. &#8220;He and his crowd are all
+in jail. They were caught in the act of setting a false light.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;And I don&#8217;t believe you&#8217;ll even have to prove your innocence,&#8221; said Mr.
+Ringold. &#8220;They&#8217;ll be convicted, and their evidence will never be
+accepted. You are already cleared, Mr. Duncan.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;My name cleared&mdash;and my son with me&mdash;what else could I want?&#8221; murmured
+the happy man.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But, Dad,&#8221; asked Joe, his face showing his delight that he could now
+use that word. &#8220;Why did you have to leave so suddenly?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;To try and find your sister, Joe.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;My sister?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I have a daughter, as well as a son,&#8221; went on Mr. Duncan. &#8220;I have
+found one, and now to find the other.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Where is she?&#8221; cried Joe. &#8220;What is she like? Did I ever see her when we
+were both little?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Indeed you did, and when your mother died <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_206' id='pg_206'>206</a></span>I left you with a family,
+who later disappeared. You must tell me your story, Joe, and how you
+found me. But now as to your sister.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Most unexpectedly, after years of searching, I got word that she had
+been brought up in a minister&#8217;s family, and that lately she had gone as
+a missionary&#8217;s helper to China. I had long planned to take a sea voyage,
+and when I got this news I decided to go at once, and bring her back.
+Then I was to renew my search for you.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;An agent in San Francisco told me of a vessel about to sail for Hong
+Kong, and I deserted my post at the lighthouse and sailed. I admit I did
+wrong in leaving so suddenly, but it seemed to be the best thing to do.
+I did not want to be arrested as a wrecker even though I was innocent.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll forgive you,&#8221; said Mr. Stanton, with a smile. &#8220;I&#8217;m so glad to
+learn you&#8217;re not one of them pesky wreckers.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>And then began a long series of explanations, Mr. Duncan listening with
+interest to Joe&#8217;s story, and, in turn, telling how his vessel was
+wrecked, and how he and the others were picked up, only to be wrecked
+again, nearer home.</p>
+
+<p>Joe&#8217;s father paused a moment and then said:</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But, son, tell me something of yourself. I&#8217;ve been doing all the
+talking, it seems. Are you <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_207' id='pg_207'>207</a></span>really in this queer business of taking
+moving pictures?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what I am, Dad&mdash;Blake and I. We&#8217;ve been in it some time, and
+we&#8217;re doing well. We hope to be in it some time longer, too. If it
+hadn&#8217;t been for these pictures I might never have found you.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s so, Joe. After this I&#8217;ll never pass a moving picture theatre
+without thinking what it has done for me. It gave me back my boy!&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Now I think you have talked enough, Mr. Duncan,&#8221; said one of the women,
+coming up. &#8220;You had a much harder time of it than we did, and you must
+quiet down. You must have swallowed a lot of salt water.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I guess I did&mdash;enough to preserve about a barrel of pickles,&#8221; he
+admitted, with a smile. &#8220;I would be glad of a little rest. But you won&#8217;t
+leave me; will you, Joe?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;No indeed, Dad. I&#8217;ve had enough trouble finding you to lose you now.
+But you get a good rest. Blake and I have a lot to do yet. I want to get
+these latest films in shape to send off for development. I hope they
+came out good.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t see how they could&mdash;with the weather conditions what they
+were,&#8221; remarked C. C. Piper, joining the group.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_208' id='pg_208'>208</a></span>&#8220;Now that isn&#8217;t a nice thing to say,&#8221; Miss Lee reminded him. &#8220;Why can&#8217;t
+you be cheerful?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Why, I&#8217;m not at all gloomy. I only said&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You tried to throw cold water on what the boys did,&#8221; she reminded him.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Water! Say, if anybody says water to me again to-day, I don&#8217;t know what
+I will do!&#8221; exclaimed Blake. &#8220;Shame on you, C. C.! You ought to be more
+careful.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, well, I didn&#8217;t mean anything. I guess those pictures will be all
+right&mdash;if the salt spray doesn&#8217;t spoil the celluloid,&#8221; he added, as he
+moved off.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re hopeless,&#8221; declared Miss Lee. &#8220;I&#8217;ll never speak to you again.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>The nonsensical talk served to raise the spirits of those who had been
+rather plunged in gloom ever since the wreck. Mr. Duncan was given a
+room to himself where he could be quiet and recover from the shock of
+having been so near death.</p>
+
+<p>The moving picture boys found plenty to do. In addition to getting off
+to the developing studio the films they had taken that day, they had to
+prepare for a hard day&#8217;s work to follow, for, now that he had the wreck
+scene, Mr. Ringold declared that he needed some others to go with it to
+round <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_209' id='pg_209'>209</a></span>out the drama of the sea that he had in mind when coming to the
+coast.</p>
+
+<p>It may seem that it would not pay to go to such big expense to make a
+single films play, or even one or two, but I assure my readers that it
+is not uncommon for a concern to spend ten thousand dollars in making a
+single play, and some elaborate productions, such as Shakespearian
+plays, and historical dramas, will cost over fifty thousand dollars to
+get ready to be filmed.</p>
+
+<p>Months are spent in preparation, rehearsals go on day after day, and
+finally the play itself is given, often not lasting more than an hour or
+half hour on the screen, yet representing many weary weeks of work, and
+the expenditure of large sums of money. Such is the moving picture
+business to-day.</p>
+
+<p>The boys were kept busy nearly all the rest of that week, and then came
+a period of calm. Joe sought out his father, who had steadily gained in
+strength after his sensational rescue, and began to question him as to
+his experiences, for Mr. Duncan had only given a mere outline of his
+experiences up to this time.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;You must have had some strenuous adventures,&#8221; said Blake, who went with
+his chum.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I certainly did. But, according to Joe, here, they weren&#8217;t much more
+than what you boys <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_210' id='pg_210'>210</a></span>went through with in New York, and getting those
+Indian films.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right; we did have a time,&#8221; admitted Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, I&#8217;m glad I&#8217;ve got my boy, anyhow,&#8221; went on the former lighthouse
+worker, with a fond glance at Joe. &#8220;Nothing is worse than to have folks,
+and not know where to find &#8217;em. I hungered and longed for Joe for days
+and nights, and now I have him. And I&#8217;m not going to lose him again,
+either, if I can help it,&#8221; and he clasped his son&#8217;s hand warmly in his
+palm, while tears dimmed his eyes. Joe, too, was much affected.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;If you only had your daughter now, you&#8217;d be all right,&#8221; said Blake,
+anxious to turn the subject.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, so I would. My poor little girl! We must locate her next, Joe.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But what about my sister?&#8221; asked Joe. &#8220;Can we find her?&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll try, Joe, my boy!&#8221; exclaimed his father. &#8220;You and I together.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Count me in!&#8221; cried Blake.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;I sure will,&#8221; agreed Joe. &#8220;I wonder what will happen to us.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>And what did, and how the two lads went on their new quest, will be
+related in the next volume of this series, to be entitled &#8220;The Moving
+Picture <span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_211' id='pg_211'>211</a></span>Boys in the Jungle; Or, Stirring Times Among the Wild Animals.&#8221;
+In it will be told of their adventures and you may learn whether or not
+they found Joe&#8217;s sister.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Well, we got everything we came for,&#8221; said Mr. Ringold, a few days
+later, when the shipwrecked ones had been sent to their homes with the
+exception of Mr. Duncan, who remained with Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Yes, all the dramas, and the storm and wreck as well,&#8221; agreed Mr.
+Hadley.</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But we&#8217;ll never have such good luck again,&#8221; predicted C. C. Piper, with
+a return of his gloomy manner. &#8220;I know something will happen to us on
+our way back East.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;Oh, cheer up,&#8221; urged Miss Lee; &#8220;the sun is shining.&#8221;</p>
+
+<p>&#8220;But it will rain to-morrow,&#8221; declared the comedian, as he did some odd
+little dance steps.</p>
+
+<p>Preparations for taking the theatrical company back East were made; but
+Joe, Blake and Mr. Duncan were uncertain about accompanying them. While
+Joe and his father were talking over their plans, Blake went to San
+Francisco on a vacation for a week.</p>
+
+<p>But it was not much of a rest for him. While there he learned of a prize
+offered for the best moving picture of the fire department in action,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name='pg_212' id='pg_212'>212</a></span>and, though many operators tried, Blake&#8217;s film was regarded as the
+best. He &#8220;scooped&#8221; the others easily, and beat some of the most skillful
+men in the business.</p>
+
+<p>But now, for a time, we will take leave of the moving picture boys.</p>
+
+<p style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:3em; text-align:center;'>THE END</p>
+
+<hr class='dashed' />
+
+<p class='xlc b'>The Famous Rover Boys Series</p>
+<p class='lc'>By ARTHUR W. WINFIELD</p>
+<p class='c m0'>American Stories of American Boys and Girls<br />
+ONE MILLION COPIES ALREADY SOLD OF THIS SERIES<br />
+12mo. Cloth. Handsomely printed and illustrated.</p>
+<p class='c b m0'>Price, 60 Cents per volume, postpaid</p>
+
+<p class='ad'>THE ROVER BOYS IN THE AIR<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; From College Campus to the Clouds</p>
+<p class='ad'>THE ROVER BOYS DOWN EAST<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Struggle for the Stanhope Fortune</p>
+<p class='ad'>THE ROVER BOYS AT COLLEGE<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Right Road and the Wrong</p>
+<p class='ad'>THE ROVER BOYS ON TREASURE ISLE<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Strange Cruise of the Steam Yacht</p>
+<p class='ad'>THE ROVER BOYS ON THE FARM<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Last Days at Putnam Hall</p>
+<p class='ad'>THE ROVER BOYS IN SOUTHERN WATERS<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Deserted Steam Yacht</p>
+<p class='ad'>THE ROVER BOYS ON THE PLAINS<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Mystery of Red Rock Ranch</p>
+<p class='ad'>THE ROVER BOYS ON THE RIVER<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Search for the Missing Houseboat</p>
+<p class='ad'>THE ROVER BOYS IN CAMP<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Rivals of Pine Island</p>
+<p class='ad'>THE ROVER BOYS ON LAND AND SEA<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Crusoes of Seven Islands</p>
+<p class='ad'>THE ROVER BOYS IN THE MOUNTAINS<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A Hunt for Fame and Fortune</p>
+<p class='ad'>THE ROVER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Secret of the Island Cave</p>
+<p class='ad'>THE ROVER BOYS OUT WEST<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Search for a Lost Mine</p>
+<p class='ad'>THE ROVER BOYS IN THE JUNGLE<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Stirring Adventures in Africa</p>
+<p class='ad'>THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A Chase for a Fortune</p>
+<p class='ad'>THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Cadets of Putnam Hall</p>
+
+<hr style='border:1px solid #eee;' />
+
+<table summary='' width='100%'>
+    <col style='width:45%;' />
+    <col style='width:10%;'  />
+    <col style='width:45%;' />
+    <tr><td align='left'>GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP</td><td align='center'>&mdash;</td><td align='right'>NEW YORK</td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<hr style='border:1px solid #eee; margin-bottom: 4em;' />
+
+<p class='xlc b'>The Putnam Hall Series</p>
+
+<p class='c'>Companion Stories to the Famous Rover Boys Series</p>
+
+<p class='lc'>By ARTHUR M. WINFIELD</p>
+
+<p>Open-air pastimes have always been popular with boys, and should always
+be encouraged. These books mingle adventure and fact, and will appeal to
+every manly boy.</p>
+
+<p class='c'>12mo. Handsomely printed and illustrated.</p>
+
+<p class='c b'>Price 60 Cents Per Volume, Postpaid.</p>
+
+<p>THE PUTNAM HALL MYSTERY<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The School Chums&#8217; Strange Discovery</p>
+
+<p>The particulars of the mystery and the solution of it are very
+interesting reading.</p>
+
+<p>THE PUTNAM HALL ENCAMPMENT<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Secret of the Old Mill</p>
+
+<p>A story full of vim and vigor, telling what the cadets did during the
+summer encampment, including a visit to a mysterious old mill, said to
+be haunted. The book has a wealth of fun in it.</p>
+
+<p>THE PUTNAM HALL REBELLION<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Rival Runaways</p>
+
+<p>The boys had good reasons for running away during Captain Putnam&#8217;s
+absence. They had plenty of fun, and several queer adventures.</p>
+
+<p>THE PUTNAM HALL CHAMPIONS<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Bound to Win Out</p>
+
+<p>In this volume the Putnam Hall Cadets show what they can do in various
+keen rivalries on the athletic field and elsewhere. There is one victory
+which leads to a most unlooked-for discovery.</p>
+
+<p>THE PUTNAM HALL CADETS<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Good Times in School and Out</p>
+
+<p>The cadets are lively, flesh-and-blood fellows, bound to make friends
+from the start. There are some keen rivalries, in school and out, and
+something is told of a remarkable midnight feast and a hazing that had
+an unlooked-for ending.</p>
+
+<p>THE PUTNAM HALL RIVALS<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fun and Sport Afloat and Ashore</p>
+
+<p>It is a lively, rattling, breezy story of school life in this country
+written by one who knows all about its pleasures and its perplexities,
+its glorious excitements, and its chilling disappointments.</p>
+
+<hr style='border:1px solid #eee;' />
+<table summary='' width='100%'>
+    <col style='width:45%;' />
+    <col style='width:10%;'  />
+    <col style='width:45%;' />
+    <tr><td align='left'>GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP</td><td align='center'>&mdash;</td><td align='right'>NEW YORK</td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<hr style='border:1px solid #eee; margin-bottom: 4em;' />
+
+<p class='xlc b' style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Rise in Life Series</p>
+
+<p class='c b'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</p>
+
+<p>These are Copyrighted Stories which cannot be obtained elsewhere. They
+are the stories last written by this famous author.</p>
+
+<p>12mo. Illustrated. Bound in cloth, stamped in colored inks.</p>
+
+<p class='c b'>Price, 40 Cents per Volume, Postpaid.</p>
+
+<p>THE YOUNG BOOK AGENT, Or Frank Hardy&#8217;s Road to Success</p>
+
+<p>A plain but uncommonly interesting tale of everyday life, describing the
+ups and downs of a boy book-agent.</p>
+
+<p>FROM FARM TO FORTUNE, Or Nat Nason&#8217;s Strange Experience</p>
+
+<p>Nat was a poor country lad. Work on the farm was hard, and after a
+quarrel with his uncle, with whom he resided, he struck out for himself.</p>
+
+<p>OUT FOR BUSINESS, Or Robert Frost&#8217;s Strange Career</p>
+
+<p>Relates the adventures of a country boy who is compelled to leave home
+and seek his fortune in the great world at large.</p>
+
+<p>FALLING IN WITH FORTUNE, Or The Experiences of a Young Secretary</p>
+
+<p>This is a companion tale to &#8220;Out for Business,&#8221; but complete in itself,
+and tells of the further doings of Robert Frost as private secretary.</p>
+
+<p>YOUNG CAPTAIN JACK, Or The Son of a Soldier</p>
+
+<p>The scene is laid in the South during the Civil War, and the hero is a
+waif who was cast up by the sea and adopted by a rich Southern planter.</p>
+
+<p>NELSON THE NEWSBOY, Or Afloat in New York</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Alger is always at his best in the portrayal of life in New York
+City, and this story is among the best he has given our young readers.</p>
+
+<p>LOST AT SEA, Or Robert Roscoe&#8217;s Strange Cruise</p>
+
+<p>A sea story of uncommon interest. The hero falls in with a strange
+derelict&mdash;a ship given over to the wild animals of a menagerie.</p>
+
+<p>JERRY, THE BACKWOODS BOY, Or the Parkhurst Treasure</p>
+
+<p>Depicts life on a farm of New York State. The mystery of the treasure
+will fascinate every boy. Jerry is a character well worth knowing.</p>
+
+<p>RANDY OF THE RIVER, Or the adventures of a Young Deckhand</p>
+
+<p>Life on a river steamboat is not so romantic as some young people may
+imagine, but Randy Thompson wanted work and took what was offered.</p>
+
+<p>JOE, THE HOTEL BOY, Or Winning Out by Pluck.</p>
+
+<p>A graphic account of the adventures of a country boy in the city.</p>
+
+<p>BEN LOGAN&#8217;S TRIUMPH, Or The Boys of Boxwood Academy</p>
+
+<p>The trials and triumphs of a city newsboy in the country.</p>
+
+<hr style='border:1px solid #eee;' />
+<table summary='' width='100%'>
+    <col style='width:45%;' />
+    <col style='width:10%;'  />
+    <col style='width:45%;' />
+    <tr><td align='left'>GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP</td><td align='center'>&mdash;</td><td align='right'>NEW YORK</td></tr>
+</table>
+<hr style='border:1px solid #eee; margin-bottom: 4em;' />
+
+<p class='xlc b'>The Flag and Frontier Series</p>
+
+<p class='lc'>By CAPTAIN RALPH BONEHILL.</p>
+
+<p>These bracing stories of American life, exploration and adventure should
+find a place in every school and home library for the enthusiasm they
+kindle in American heroism and history. The historical background is
+absolutely correct. Every volume complete in itself.</p>
+
+<p>12mo. Bound in cloth. Stamped in colors.</p>
+
+<p class='c b'>Price, 60 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.</p>
+
+<p>WITH BOONE ON THE FRONTIER, Or The Pioneer Boys of Old Kentucky.</p>
+
+<p>Relates the true-to-life adventures of two boys who, in company with
+their folks, move westward with Daniel Boone. Contains many thrilling
+scenes among the Indians and encounters with wild animals.</p>
+
+<p>PIONEER BOYS OF THE GREAT NORTHWEST, Or With Lewis and Clark Across the
+Rockies.</p>
+
+<p>A splendid story describing in detail the great expedition formed under
+the leadership of Lewis and Clark, and telling what was done by the
+pioneer boys who were first to penetrate the wilderness of the
+northwest.</p>
+
+<p>PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS, Or The Nugget Hunters of &#8217;49.</p>
+
+<p>Giving the particulars of the great rush of the gold seekers to
+California in 1849. In the party making its way across the continent are
+three boys who become chums, and share in no end of adventures.</p>
+
+<p>WITH CUSTER IN THE BLACK HILLS, Or A Young Scout Among the Indians.</p>
+
+<p>Tells of the experiences of a youth who, with his parents, goes to the
+Black Hills in search of gold. Custer&#8217;s last battle is well described.</p>
+
+<p>BOYS OF THE FORT, Or A Young Captain&#8217;s Pluck.</p>
+
+<p>This story of stirring doings at one of our well-known forts in the Wild
+West is of more than ordinary interest. Gives a good insight into army
+life of to-day.</p>
+
+<p>THE YOUNG BANDMASTER, Or Concert, Stage and Battlefield.</p>
+
+<p>The hero is a youth who becomes a cornetist in an orchestra, and works
+his way up to the leadership of a brass band. He is carried off to sea
+and is taken to Cuba, and while there joins a military band which
+accompanies our soldiers in the attack on Santiago.</p>
+
+<p>OFF FOR HAWAII, Or The Mystery of a Great Volcano.</p>
+
+<p>Several boys start on a tour of the Hawaiian Islands. They have heard
+that there is a treasure located in the vicinity of Kilauea, the largest
+active volcano in the world, and go in search of it.</p>
+
+<p>A SAILOR BOY WITH DEWEY, Or Afloat in the Philippines.</p>
+
+<p>The story of Dewey&#8217;s victory in Manila Bay as it appeared to a real,
+live American youth who was in the navy at the time. Many adventures in
+Manila and in the interior follow.</p>
+
+<p>WHEN SANTIAGO FELL, Or The War Adventures of Two Chums.</p>
+
+<p>Two boys leave New York to join their parents in Cuba. The war between
+Spain and the Cubans is on, and the boys are detained at Santiago, but
+escape across the bay at night. Many adventures follow.</p>
+
+<hr style='border:1px solid #eee;' />
+<table summary='' width='100%'>
+    <col style='width:45%;' />
+    <col style='width:10%;'  />
+    <col style='width:45%;' />
+    <tr><td align='left'>GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP</td><td align='center'>&mdash;</td><td align='right'>NEW YORK</td></tr>
+</table>
+<hr style='border:1px solid #eee; margin-bottom: 4em;' />
+
+<p class='xlc b'>The Enterprise Books</p>
+
+<p class='lc'>Captivating Stories for Boys by Justly Popular Writers</p>
+
+<p>The episodes are graphic, exciting, realistic&mdash;the tendency of the tales
+is to the formation of an honorable and manly character. They are
+unusually interesting, and convey lessons of pluck, perseverance and
+manly independence. 12mo. Illustrated. Attractively bound in cloth.</p>
+
+<p class='c b'>Price, 40 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.</p>
+
+<p>MOFFAT, WILLIAM D.<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;THE CRIMSON BANNER. A Story of College Baseball</p>
+
+<p>A tale that grips one from start to finish. The students are almost
+flesh and blood, and the contests become real as we read about them. The
+best all-around college and baseball tale yet presented.</p>
+
+<p>GRAYDON, WILLIAM MURRAY<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;CANOE BOYS AND CAMP FIRES.</p>
+
+<p>In this book we have the doings of several bright and lively boys, who
+go on a canoeing trip and meet with many exciting happenings.</p>
+
+<p>HARKNESS, PETER T.<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ANDY, THE ACROBAT. Or, With the Greatest Show on Earth</p>
+
+<p>Andy is as bright as a silver dollar. In the book we can smell the
+sawdust, hear the flapping of the big white canvas and the roaring of
+the lions, and listen to the merry &#8220;hoop la!&#8221; of the clown.</p>
+
+<p>FOSTER, W. BERT<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;THE QUEST OF THE SILVER SWAN. A Tale of Ocean Adventure</p>
+
+<p>A Youth&#8217;s story of the deep blue sea&mdash;of the search for a derelict
+carrying a fortune. Brandon Tarr is a manly lad, and all lads will be
+eager to learn whether he failed or succeeded in his mission.</p>
+
+<p>WHITE, MATTHEW, <span class='smcap'>Jr</span>.<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;TWO BOYS AND A FORTUNE. Or, The Tyler Will</p>
+
+<p>If you had been poor and were suddenly left a half-million dollars, what
+would you do with it? That was the problem that confronted the Pell
+family, and especially the twin brothers, Rex and Roy. A strong, helpful
+story, that should be read by every boy in our land.</p>
+
+<p>WINFIELD, ARTHUR M.<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;BOB, THE PHOTOGRAPHER. Or, A Hero in Spite of Himself</p>
+
+<p>Relates the experiences of a poor boy who falls in with a &#8220;camera
+fiend,&#8221; and develops a liking for photography. After a number of
+stirring adventures Bob becomes photographer for a railroad; thwarts the
+plan of those who would injure the railroad corporation and incidently
+clears a mystery surrounding his parentage.</p>
+
+<p>BONEHILL, CAPTAIN RALPH<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;LOST IN THE LAND OF ICE. Or, Daring Adventures Round the South Pole</p>
+
+<p>An expedition is fitted out by a rich young man and with him goes the
+hero of the tale, a lad who has some knowledge of a treasure ship said
+to be cast away in the land of ice. The heroes land among the wild
+Indians of Patagonia and have many exciting adventures.</p>
+
+<hr style='border:1px solid #eee;' />
+<table summary='' width='100%'>
+    <col style='width:45%;' />
+    <col style='width:10%;'  />
+    <col style='width:45%;' />
+    <tr><td align='left'>GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP</td><td align='center'>&mdash;</td><td align='right'>NEW YORK</td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<hr style='border:1px solid #eee; margin-bottom: 4em;' />
+
+<p class='xlc'>THE YOUNG REPORTER SERIES</p>
+
+<p class='lc'>BY HOWARD R. GARIS</p>
+
+<p>The author is a practised journalist, and these stories convey a true
+picture of the workings of a great newspaper. The incidents are taken
+from life.</p>
+
+<p class='center'>12mo. Bound in Cloth. Illustrated.</p>
+
+<p class='center'><b>Price, 40 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.</b></p>
+
+<p>FROM OFFICE BOY TO REPORTER<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
+Or The First Step in Journalism.</p>
+
+<p>LARRY DEXTER, THE YOUNG REPORTER<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
+Or Strange Adventures in a Great City.</p>
+
+<p>LARRY DEXTER&#8217;S GREAT SEARCH<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
+Or The Hunt for a Missing Millionaire.</p>
+
+<p>LARRY DEXTER AND THE BANK MYSTERY<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
+Or A Young Reporter in Wall Street.</p>
+
+<p>LARRY DEXTER AND THE STOLEN BOY<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
+Or A Young Reporter on the Lakes.</p>
+
+<hr style='border:1px solid #eee;' />
+
+<p class='xlc'>THE SEA TREASURE SERIES</p>
+
+<p class='lc'>BY ROY ROCKWOOD</p>
+
+<p>No manly boy ever grew tired of sea stories&mdash;there is a fascination
+about them, and they are a recreation to the mind. These books are
+especially interesting and are full of adventure, clever dialogue and
+plenty of fun.</p>
+
+<p class='c'>12mo. Bound in Cloth. Illustrated.</p>
+
+<p class='c b'>Price, 40 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.</p>
+
+<p>ADRIFT ON THE PACIFIC<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
+Or The Secret of the Island Cave.</p>
+
+<p>THE CRUISE OF THE TREASURE SHIP<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
+Or The Castaways of Floating Island.</p>
+
+<p>THE RIVAL OCEAN DIVERS<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
+Or The Search for a Sunken Treasure.</p>
+
+<p>JACK NORTH&#8217;S TREASURE HUNT<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
+Or Daring Adventures in South America.</p>
+
+<hr style='border:1px solid #eee;' />
+<table summary='' width='100%'>
+    <col style='width:45%;' />
+    <col style='width:10%;'  />
+    <col style='width:45%;' />
+    <tr><td align='left'>GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP</td><td align='center'>&mdash;</td><td align='right'>NEW YORK</td></tr>
+</table>
+<hr style='border:1px solid #eee; margin-bottom: 4em;' />
+
+<p class='xlc b'>THE DICK HAMILTON SERIES</p>
+
+<p class='lc'>BY HOWARD R. GARIS</p>
+
+<p class='c'>A NEW LINE OF CLEVER TALES FOR BOYS</p>
+
+<hr style='border:1px solid #eee;' />
+
+<p>DICK HAMILTON&#8217;S FORTUNE<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Or The Stirring Doings of a Millionaire&#8217;s Son</p>
+
+<p>Dick, the son of a millionaire, has a fortune left to him by his mother.
+But before he can touch the bulk of this money it is stipulated in his
+mother&#8217;s will that he must do certain things, in order to prove that he
+is worthy of possessing such a fortune. The doings of Dick and his chums
+make the liveliest kind of reading.</p>
+
+<p>DICK HAMILTON&#8217;S CADET DAYS<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Or The Handicap of a Millionaire&#8217;s Son</p>
+
+<p>The hero, a very rich young man, is sent to a military academy to make
+his way without the use of money. A fine picture of life at an
+up-to-date military academy is given, with target shooting, broadsword
+exercise, trick riding, sham battles, and all. Dick proves himself a
+hero in the best sense of the word.</p>
+
+<p>DICK HAMILTON&#8217;S STEAM YACHT<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Or A Young Millionaire and the Kidnappers</p>
+
+<p>A series of adventures while yachting in which our hero&#8217;s wealth plays a
+part. Dick is marooned on an island, recovers his yacht and foils the
+kidnappers. The wrong young man is spirited away, Dick gives chase and
+there is a surprising rescue at sea.</p>
+
+<p>DICK HAMILTON&#8217;S FOOTBALL TEAM<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Or A Young Millionaire on the Gridiron</p>
+
+<p>A very interesting account of how Dick succeeded in developing a
+champion team and of the lively contests with other teams. There is also
+related a number of thrilling incidents in which Dick is the central
+figure.</p>
+
+<p class='c'>Other volumes in preparation.</p>
+
+<p>12mo. Handsomely printed and illustrated, and bound in cloth, stamped in
+colors. Printed wrappers.</p>
+
+<p class='c b'>Price, 60 Cents per volume, postpaid</p>
+
+<hr style='border:1px solid #eee;' />
+<table summary='' width='100%'>
+    <col style='width:45%;' />
+    <col style='width:10%;'  />
+    <col style='width:45%;' />
+    <tr><td align='left'>GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP</td><td align='center'>&mdash;</td><td align='right'>NEW YORK</td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<hr style='border:1px solid #eee; margin-bottom: 4em;' />
+
+<p class='xlc b'>THE TOM SWIFT SERIES</p>
+
+<p class='lc'>By VICTOR APPLETON</p>
+
+<p>12mo, printed from large type on good paper, each volume with half-tone
+frontispiece. Handsomely bound in cloth. Printed wrappers.</p>
+
+<p class='c b'>Price, 40 Cents per Volume, postpaid</p>
+
+<p>It is the purpose of these spirited tales to convey in a realistic way
+the wonderful advances in land and sea locomotion. Stories like these
+impress themselves on the youthful memory and their reading is
+productive only of good.</p>
+
+<p class='ad'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Or Fun and Adventure on the Road</p>
+<p class='ad'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa</p>
+<p class='ad'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Or The Stirring Cruise of the Red Cloud</p>
+<p class='ad'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure</p>
+<p class='ad'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Or The Speediest Car on the Road</p>
+<p class='ad'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Or Daring Adventures in Elephant Land</p>
+<p class='ad'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Or The Quickest Flight on Record</p>
+<p class='ad'>TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Or The Wreck of the Airship</p>
+<p class='ad'>TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Or The Secret of Phantom Mountain</p>
+<p class='ad'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Or The Castaways of Earthquake Island</p>
+<p class='ad'>TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Or Marvellous Adventures Underground</p>
+<p class='ad'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Or Seeking the Platinum Treasure</p>
+<p class='ad'>TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Or A Daring Escape by Airship</p>
+<p class='ad'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Or The Perils of Moving Picture Taking</p>
+<p class='ad'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Or On the Border for Uncle Sam</p>
+
+<hr style='border:1px solid #eee;' />
+<p class='c'>Grosset &amp; Dunlap, Publishers, New York.</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="full" />
+<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE COAST***</p>
+<p>******* This file should be named 23677-h.txt or 23677-h.zip *******</p>
+<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br />
+<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/3/6/7/23677">http://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/6/7/23677</a></p>
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+</html>
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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Moving Picture Boys on the Coast, by
+Victor Appleton
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: The Moving Picture Boys on the Coast
+
+
+Author: Victor Appleton
+
+
+
+Release Date: December 2, 2007  [eBook #23677]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE
+COAST***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Roger Frank and the Project Gutenberg Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net)
+
+
+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
+      file which includes the original illustration.
+      See 23677-h.htm or 23677-h.zip:
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/3/6/7/23677/23677-h/23677-h.htm)
+      or
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/3/6/7/23677/23677-h.zip)
+
+
+
+
+
+THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE COAST
+
+Or
+Showing Up the Perils of the Deep
+
+by
+
+VICTOR APPLETON
+
+Author of "The Tom Swift Series," "The Moving Picture Boys,"
+"The Moving Picture Boys in the West," Etc.
+
+Illustrated
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Blake & Joe, leaving their automatic camera working,
+aided in the work of rescue.--Page 193.]
+
+
+
+New York
+Grosset & Dunlap Publishers
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+BOOKS BY VICTOR APPLETON
+
+THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS SERIES
+12mo. Illustrated. Price, per volume, 40 cents, postpaid
+
+THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS
+THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE WEST
+THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE COAST
+THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE JUNGLE
+THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN EARTHQUAKE LAND
+
+THE TOM SWIFT SERIES
+12mo. Illustrated. Price, per volume, 40 cents, postpaid
+
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER
+TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE
+TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE
+TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER
+TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP
+PUBLISHERS--NEW YORK
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+Copyright, 1913, by Grosset & Dunlap
+
+THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE COAST
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+CHAPTER                                   PAGE
+
+    I AN UNEXPECTED ATTACK                   1
+   II A DARING RAID                         12
+  III THE PURSUIT                           23
+   IV BACK TO BIG B                         29
+    V A NEW KIND OF DRAMA                   40
+   VI ON THE COAST                          46
+  VII AT THE LIGHTHOUSE                     56
+ VIII BLAKE LEARNS A SECRET                 62
+   IX AT PRACTICE                           71
+    X TO SAN FRANCISCO                      79
+   XI A STRANGE CHARGE                      87
+  XII ON A LONG VOYAGE                      93
+ XIII A MIMIC FIRE                         101
+  XIV ATTACKED BY A SWORDFISH              111
+   XV SUSPICIOUS ACTIONS                   119
+  XVI JOE SUSPECTS SOMETHING               127
+ XVII AFTER THE WRECKERS                   134
+XVIII FAILURE                              144
+  XIX ON THE TRAIL                         151
+   XX THE DISCOVERY                        158
+  XXI THE CAPTURE                         164
+ XXII A LIFE GUARD'S ALARM                171
+XXIII THE DOOMED VESSEL                   181
+ XXIV OUT OF THE WRECK                    187
+  XXV A NEW QUEST                         201
+
+
+
+
+THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE COAST
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+AN UNEXPECTED ATTACK
+
+
+"Well, Blake, it doesn't seem possible that we have succeeded; does it?"
+and the lad who asked the question threw one leg over the saddle of his
+pony, to ride side fashion for a while, as a rest and change.
+
+"No, Joe, it doesn't," answered another youth. "But we sure have got
+some dandy films in those boxes!" and he looked back on some laden
+burros that were following the cow ponies across a stretch of Arizona
+desert.
+
+"Well, all I've got to say," remarked the cowboy, the third member of
+the trio; "is that taking moving pictures is about as strenuous work as
+rounding up or branding cattle."
+
+"I guess you don't quite believe that, Hank; do you?" asked Blake
+Stewart. "You haven't seen us work so very hard; have you?"
+
+"Work hard? I should say I have," answered Hank Selby. "Why, the time
+those Indians charged our cave, and Joe and I, and Munson and his crowd
+were getting ready to fire point-blank at them, there you stood, with
+bullets whizzing near you more than once, grinding away at the handle of
+your moving picture camera as hard as you could. Hard work--huh!"
+
+"But we got the films," declared Blake, not caring to go too deeply into
+an argument. "And I'm anxious to see how they will develop."
+
+"So am I," declared Joe. "I wonder what will be next on the program?"
+
+"Why, you're going to look for your father; aren't you, Joe--your father
+whom you haven't seen since you were a little chap--whom you can't even
+remember?" and Blake looked sharply at his chum and partner, Joe Duncan.
+
+"That's what I am, Blake, just as soon as I can get to the coast. But I
+mean, what will we do after that? Go back to New York?"
+
+"I suppose so, and take up our trade of making moving picture films for
+whoever wants them. It will be a rather tame life after the excitement
+we have had out here."
+
+"That's what. But maybe it will be good for a change."
+
+The two moving picture boys, I might explain briefly, were on their way
+to Flagstaff, Arizona, after having gone out into the wilds, with a
+cowboy guide, Hank Selby, to make moving picture films of some Moqui
+Indians who had broken away from their reservation, to indulge in some
+of their weird dances and ceremonies.
+
+While making these films, the boys and their companion, who were hidden
+in a cave where the Indians could not see them, saw the redmen about to
+torture, as they thought, four white prisoners. Joe and Blake recognized
+these men as their business rivals, who were also trying to get some
+moving picture films of the Indians, to secure a prize of a thousand
+dollars, offered by a New York geographical and ethnological society.
+
+To fire on the Indians, and thus save the white captives, meant that
+Joe, Blake and Hank would disclose their position in the cave, but there
+was nothing else to do, and they did it.
+
+The white captives, unexpectedly freed, came rushing toward the shelter,
+with the savages after them, and it looked as if there would be a fierce
+fight. In spite of this Blake held his ground, taking picture after
+picture.
+
+And, in the nick of time, a troop of United States cavalry came dashing
+up to capture the renegade Indians, who surrendered; Blake also getting
+pictures of the dash of the troopers.
+
+Unexpectedly in the company was a Sergeant Duncan who proved to be a
+half-uncle of Joe Duncan, and the sergeant was able to tell the lad
+where his long-lost father was last heard from, since Joe had only
+lately learned that his parent was living.
+
+And so, after their strenuous time in getting pictures of the Indians,
+the boys were on their way to Big B ranch, where Hank Selby was
+employed, and whence they had started to find the hidden savages.
+
+But Flagstaff was the real temporary headquarters of the lads, since
+there was located a theatrical company, engaged in doing some moving
+picture dramas based on Western life, and Joe and Blake had been hired
+to "film" those plays.
+
+They had been given a little time off to make an attempt to get views of
+the Indians at their ceremonies, and they expected to resume, for a
+time, making films of more peaceful scenes among their theatrical
+friends.
+
+"Yes, we sure did have a strenuous time," remarked Blake, as they rode
+along at an easy pace. "And how those Indians threw down their guns,
+and gave in, when the troopers charged against them!"
+
+"That's right," agreed Joe. "And those bugle notes, when they started to
+gallop, telling us that help was on the way, was the sweetest music I
+ever heard."
+
+"Same here," came from Hank. "But say, if it's all the same to you boys,
+I think we might as well camp here and have grub. This looks like good
+water and there's enough grazing for the critters to-night. Then we can
+push on early in the morning, and in a couple of days more we ought to
+make Big B ranch."
+
+"It seems to take us longer coming back than it did going," remarked
+Blake, as he slid from his pony, and pulled the reins over the animal's
+head as a signal for it not to wander. "I thought we'd sure come in
+sight of the ranch to-day."
+
+"Oh, it's farther than that," said Hank, as he looked about for wood
+with which to make a fire. "I guess you were so anxious to get on the
+trail of the Indians on your way out that you didn't notice how much
+ground you covered. And it was quite a few miles, believe me!"
+
+"I do!" said Joe, with half a groan. "I'm sore and stiff from so much
+saddle riding. I'm not used to it."
+
+"Oh, you'll limber up soon," said Hank, cheerfully. "Now, if you boys
+will get the water, and break out the grub, I'll get supper. It'll soon
+be dark."
+
+The lads busied themselves, and soon a cheerful little blaze was going,
+while the tired horses and burros, relieved of the burden of saddles and
+packs, were rolling luxuriously around at the length of their tether
+ropes.
+
+"I wonder if all the Moquis and Navajos who skipped off their
+reservations have been driven back?" asked Joe, as they were about ready
+to eat.
+
+"What makes you ask that?" inquired Blake quickly, and with a curious
+look at his chum.
+
+"Oh, no special reason. But you know Captain Marsh, of the troop in
+which my uncle, Sergeant Duncan, was enlisted, said he had rounded up
+several bands of 'em, and I was just thinking that----"
+
+"That maybe there were some more running around loose that we could make
+pictures of; is that it, Joe?"
+
+"Well, yes. You know that society offered a prize of a thousand dollars
+for the best reel of ceremonial dances, but there were smaller prizes
+for ordinary pictures of Indians in various activities. I thought maybe
+we could get some of those."
+
+"I'm afraid not--not on this trip, at least," spoke Blake. "I don't
+believe there is ten feet of unexposed film left, and that wouldn't make
+much of a reel. We used up all we brought with us making those cowboy
+pictures, the forest fire and the time the bear chased Hank, besides the
+Indian views. Nothing more doing in the camera line until we get back to
+Flagstaff."
+
+"Oh, well, I was just wondering," spoke Joe, and he gazed off across the
+uneven stretch of country. But there was that in his voice and glance
+which did not bear out his unconcerned words.
+
+However, Blake was too much occupied in getting supper just then to pay
+much attention to his chum, for the lad was hungry--as, indeed, his
+companions also seemed to be, for they attacked the simple provender
+with eagerness when Hank announced that it was ready.
+
+The evening was setting in when they had finished, and, bringing up a
+pail of fresh water, in case they should get thirsty during the hours of
+darkness, and placing the saddles and packs in a compact mass, the three
+proceeded to spend the night in the open.
+
+And yet not exactly without shelter, either, for they had with them
+small dog-tents, as they are called, that afford considerable protection
+against the night winds and dew. And, with a fire glowing at their
+feet, the travelers were far from being uncomfortable.
+
+A pile of wood had been collected near the blaze, and while nothing was
+said about standing watch, it was understood that if any of them roused
+in the night he was to pile fuel on the embers, not only to keep up the
+genial heat, but to drive off any prowling beasts that might try to raid
+their stock of provisions.
+
+"Well, I'm going to turn in," finally announced Blake. "I'm dead tired."
+
+"And I'm with you," added Joe.
+
+Hank said nothing, but the boys watched him as he walked some little
+distance from the camp, to a slight elevation. On this he stood, gazing
+off into the distance.
+
+"I wonder what he's looking for?" queried Joe.
+
+"I--I hardly know," replied Blake.
+
+And yet, in his heart, each lad was aware of something that he hesitated
+to put into words. Presently Hank came back, and as the firelight shone
+on his face his expression betrayed no anxiety--in fact, no emotion of
+any kind.
+
+"Did--did you see anything, Hank?" asked Blake.
+
+"No--nothing. Snooze away. I think--I'll have a pipe before I go to
+bed," and he sat down on a small box and looked into the glowing
+embers.
+
+Soon afterward, Joe, looking from his small shelter tent, saw Hank
+fingering his big revolver, spinning the cylinder, and testing the
+mechanism.
+
+"Something's up!" whispered Joe to himself. "I wonder if it can be that
+he saw----"
+
+He did not finish the sentence, for just then Hank put away the weapon
+and soon the aromatic odor of burning tobacco filled the night air.
+
+"Oh, pshaw!" exclaimed the lad. "I'm foolish to worry about nothing; I'm
+going to sleep!" and he turned over, and closed his eyes. But, somehow,
+sleep would not come at once. Even with his eyes closed he could fancy
+the figure of the cowboy guide sitting by the fire.
+
+Blake seemed to be less uneasy than did his chum. If he saw Hank by the
+fire he made no mention of it, and from his tent came no movement that
+showed he was awake.
+
+Presently Joe began to speculate on the new experience he felt would
+come to him, if he succeeded in locating his father.
+
+"It really doesn't seem possible--that I'm going to have folks at last,"
+murmured Joe. "And maybe not only a father, but brothers and
+sisters--Uncle Bill Duncan said he didn't know. I may have more than
+Blake, if I keep on," and then, with more pleasurable thoughts than
+worrying about an indefinable something, the lad finally lost himself in
+slumber.
+
+The camp was still. Even Hank had crawled into his little tent, after a
+final pipe. He did not get to sleep soon, and had either of the boys
+been awake they would have seen him come out several times before
+midnight, and stalk about, peering off into the darkness.
+
+Then, after looking to the tether ropes of the animals, he would go back
+to the small shelters, throw some embers on the fire, and drop off into
+a doze. For the cowboy was a light sleeper, and the least sound awakened
+him.
+
+"I guess there'll be nothing doing," he whispered to himself after one
+of these little observations. "I thought I saw some signs just about
+dusk, but maybe it was some slinking coyote, or a big jack rabbit.
+Anyhow, if--if anything does happen it won't come during darkness; that
+is, unless it's some of them half-breed or Mexican rustlers, and I don't
+believe they've been around these diggings lately. I'm going to snooze."
+
+Soon his heavy breathing told that he slept, and several hours passed
+before he again awoke. If he had made one other observation, probably he
+would have seen that which would have aroused his suspicions, for, about
+an hour after midnight, there was an uneasy movement among the animals.
+
+And in the starlight, which in a measure made the night less black,
+several shadowy, slinking forms might have been observed creeping toward
+the camp and the pile of provisions and supplies, among the latter of
+which were the boxes containing the valuable films of the moving
+pictures.
+
+It was Hank, as might have been expected, who awakened. One of the
+burros, always an excitable, nervous beast, capered about and uttered a
+shrill whinny as if in fright.
+
+Hank was out of his tent in an instant. Leaping to his feet he blazed
+away with his revolver. Its flash lit up the darkness, and was at once
+answered by half a dozen other flashes.
+
+"Come on, boys!" yelled Hank. "They're after us! I wasn't mistaken,
+after all! I did see some of 'em sneaking around! Lively, now!" and he
+blazed away again.
+
+"What is it?" cried Blake.
+
+"Indians! They're after our horses!" yelled the cowboy, as the two lads
+joined him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+A DARING RAID
+
+
+"Where are they?"
+
+"Which way shall we shoot?"
+
+Joe and Blake questioned thus by turn as they leaped to Hank's side.
+They were in darkness now, for the cowboy had ceased shooting, and those
+who had come to attack had likewise allowed their weapons to become
+silent. As a matter of fact, Hank Selby had only fired in the air, if
+possible to frighten off the Indians, and it seemed that the redmen had
+done the same, since there was no whine of bullets over the head of the
+guide.
+
+"What is it?" asked Blake, fingering the rifle he had caught up as he
+rushed from the tent.
+
+"Indians," replied Hank, in a low voice. "It's probably some band of
+Moquis or Navajos, who escaped being rounded up as the others were.
+Probably they were chased so hard, or were so surprised at one of their
+camps, that they had to leave without their ponies. And they do hate to
+walk. They saw our animals and tried to get 'em, but I was suspicious
+all along."
+
+"But where are they now?" asked Joe, peering out into the darkness. "I
+can't see a thing, and our animals seem to be all there."
+
+"The beggars dropped down, and are hiding," said the cowboy. "They
+didn't like the quick way I fired on 'em, I guess; though, land knows! I
+don't want to hurt any of 'em if I can help it. They don't know just
+what to do, and they're biding their time."
+
+"Did they get any of our horses--or things?" asked Blake, anxiously, his
+thoughts on the valuable films.
+
+"Not as yet," replied Hank. "But this thing isn't over with. They'll
+come back, once they decide it's worth while. We've got to get ready for
+'em."
+
+"How?" asked Blake.
+
+"Well, we've got to pile our stuff up as a sort of shelter, and then
+we've got to bring in the animals. It won't do to have the imps run off
+with 'em, and that's what they're aiming to do."
+
+"But won't it be risky to go out there in the darkness to bring in the
+ponies and burros?" asked Joe. "You say the Indians are concealed out
+there."
+
+"So I believe they are," replied Hank. "But I fancy my shooting drove
+'em back a bit, even though I did fire in the air, or so high over their
+heads that they couldn't be harmed. So I guess we can make a move out
+there without getting hurt. Anyhow, it's got to be done, and, as I know
+more about such business than you boys, having been at it longer, I'll
+just attend to that. You'd better make the best sort of breastworks you
+can. For, though I don't believe these beggars will actually shoot to
+hurt, still it's best to be on the safe side. Be cautious, now."
+
+And, while Hank is thus preparing to secure the pack and saddle animals,
+and the boys to gather the boxes and bales into a compact mass, I will
+take just a few moments to tell you more about the moving picture lads
+than I have yet done.
+
+In the first book of this series, entitled "The Moving Picture Boys; Or,
+The Perils of a Great City Depicted," I introduced to you Joe Duncan and
+Blake Stewart. At that time they lived in the village of Fayetteburg, in
+the central part of New York State. Blake worked on the farm of his
+uncle, Jonathan Haverstraw, while Joe was hired boy for Zachariah
+Bradley. And it happened that they both lost their places at the same
+time.
+
+Blake's uncle decided to retire to a Home for the Aged, and Mr. Bradley
+said he could no longer afford to pay Joe any wages. The boys did not
+know what to do until they made the acquaintance of Mr. Calvert Hadley,
+a moving picture photographer. The latter had come to Fayetteburg with a
+theatrical company to get some views in a country drama that was being
+enacted, some of the scenes being laid in the nearby city of Syracuse.
+
+Blake and Joe watched a mimic rescue scene in the creek, thinking it
+real, and later Mr. Hadley offered them work as his assistants in New
+York. He was employed by the Film Theatrical Company, to make its moving
+pictures.
+
+The boys jumped at the chance. Before the little country drama was over,
+however, an accident occurred, in full view of the moving picture
+camera. Mrs. Betty Randolph, a wealthy Southern lady, was run into,
+while riding in her carriage, by a reckless autoist. Mrs. Randolph
+offered a reward for the arrest of this man, who escaped in the
+confusion, and urged the two boys to try to effect his capture.
+
+They said they would, and how they went to New York, learned the moving
+picture business, and helped Mr. Hadley get films for his "moving
+picture newspaper," is all set down in the first book.
+
+The perils of taking views in a great city, at fires, elevated railroad
+accidents, burning vessels, of divers at work, in making educational
+films--all this is told.
+
+Eventually, while making scenes at a thrilling balloon ascension, Joe
+and Blake discovered the reckless autoist and gave chase in a car. They
+caught him, too, and got the reward, with which they purchased some
+moving picture cameras, and went into business on their own account.
+They made films to order, and were often employed by Mr. Hadley or by
+Mr. Ringold, head of the Film Theatrical Company.
+
+This company consisted of a number of actors and actresses who were
+engaged to enact various sorts of plays and dramas before the camera.
+
+Among them was Henry Robertson, who did "juvenile leads"; Harris
+Levinberg, the "villain"; Miss Nellie Shay, the leading lady, and Miss
+Birdie Lee, who did girls' parts. Last, but not least, was Christopher
+Cutler Piper--known variously as "C. C." or "Gloomy." He preferred to be
+called just C. C., not liking his two first names, but he was so often
+looking on the dark side of life, and predicting direful happenings that
+never came to pass, that he was often dubbed "Gloomy." However, he was
+the comedian of the troupe, and could utter the most unhappy expressions
+while doing the most comical acting.
+
+It was not all easy sailing for the two lads. One man--James Munson, a
+rival moving picture proprietor--often made trouble for them, and once
+put them in no little danger.
+
+After having helped Mr. Hadley make a success of his moving picture
+newspaper, by means of which current happenings, and accidents, were
+nightly thrown on a screen in various theatres, Joe and Blake, as I
+said, went into business for themselves.
+
+In the second volume of the series, entitled "The Moving Picture Boys in
+the West; Or, Taking Scenes Among the Cowboys and Indians," our heroes
+had an entirely different series of adventures.
+
+Mr. Ringold decided to take his theatrical troupe to Arizona, there to
+make films for a number of Western dramas. He asked the boys if they
+would like to join Mr. Hadley in doing this work. At the same time a New
+York scientific society, engaged in preserving records, pictures and
+photographic reproductions of the Indians, made a prize offer for the
+best film showing the redmen in their ceremonial dances. The time was
+particularly ripe for this, as a band of the Moquis, as well as several
+tribes of Navajos, had broken from the government reservations to
+indulge in their strange rites.
+
+As the boys found that they could do the two things--take the views of
+the Indians, and make the theatrical pictures--they accepted the offer.
+
+Just before they left, however, Joe received a strange letter. It was
+from a man signing himself Sam Houston Reed, who stated that he had met
+a man who was looking for a Joe Duncan. Joe, who had known there was
+some mystery about his early life, was overjoyed at the prospect of
+finding some "folks," and wished very much to meet Mr. Reed. But the
+latter had neglected to date, or put any heading on his letter. All
+there was to go by was part of a postmark, which showed it came from
+Arizona, and Mr. Reed also mentioned Big B ranch.
+
+However, the moving picture boys and the theatrical company started
+West. On the way the boys had a glimpse of their rivals, also hastening
+to get the Indian views.
+
+How they got to Flagstaff, made many views there, and then how Joe and
+Blake started to find the place where the runaway Indians were hidden
+away, doing their mysterious dances--all this is told in the second
+volume.
+
+Eventually they reached Big B ranch, only to find that Mr. Reed, like a
+rolling stone, had gone. However, some of the cowboys remembered him,
+and had heard him talk of having met a certain Bill Duncan, whose
+half-brother, Nate, was looking for a lost son. It was supposed that
+this Nate Duncan was Joe's father.
+
+As nothing toward finding Mr. Duncan could then be done, Joe and Blake
+kept on toward the Indian country. A cowboy, Hank Selby, offered to
+accompany them, and they were glad he did.
+
+They had many adventures before getting on the track of the Indians, and
+when they found them in a secret valley, and, concealed in a cave, began
+taking moving pictures, they discovered, as I have said, four white men
+in danger of torture.
+
+How they rescued them, how the troopers came, and how one turned out to
+be Bill Duncan, Joe's half-uncle, I have mentioned in this book as well
+as in the second volume. And, on their way back to Big B ranch and to
+Flagstaff, the night attack had taken place.
+
+"How are you making out, Blake?" asked Joe, as he worked at stacking up
+the boxes and bales into a sort of rude breastwork near the shelter
+tents.
+
+"All right, Joe," was the answer. "I hope Hank makes the animals safe."
+
+"He doesn't seem to be having much trouble. I can't see any of the
+Indians now."
+
+"No, they're probably hiding down in the grass, waiting for a chance to
+make a raid. I wonder how many there are?"
+
+"Quite a bunch, I should say, from the shooting. Here comes Hank now."
+
+As he spoke, the cowboy appeared, leading by their long tether ropes the
+riding ponies and the pack animals. The steeds showed signs of their
+recent excitement. Had it not been for the alarm they gave they might
+have been stolen without our friends being any the wiser.
+
+"See any of 'em, Hank?" questioned Joe.
+
+"No, but they're there, all right. Boys, there may be some hot work
+ahead of us. You want to get ready for it."
+
+"Do--do you think they'll shoot?" asked Blake.
+
+"Well, they'll do their best to get our things away from us," was the
+answer. "They're desperate, I'm afraid."
+
+Hank busied himself tethering the steeds nearer the temporary camp,
+while Joe and Blake finished their labors in building a defense against
+the possible rush of the redmen.
+
+This was hardly finished, and they had scarcely collected a pile of
+brush to make a bright fire, if necessary, when there arose all around
+fierce shouts. At the same time there was a fusillade of shots; but, as
+far as could be seen, all the Indians were firing in the air.
+
+"Look out!" yelled Hank. "They're going to rush us!"
+
+Before he ceased speaking there was the sound of many feet running
+forward. The shooting and shouting redoubled in volume, and the restless
+animals tried to break loose.
+
+"The imps!" cried Hank. "They're trying to stampede our animals, just as
+they did the cattle that time. Look out, boys!"
+
+But nothing could be done against such numbers. The camp was overwhelmed
+in a daring raid, and though the boys and Hank did all they could,
+firing wildly in the air, they could not stand off the attack. Strangely
+enough, no effort was made to mistreat the boys or their companion. The
+Indians simply rushed over them and made for the pile of goods in the
+rear of the tents. They did not even seem to be after the horses.
+
+"Stop 'em!" cried Blake. "They'll take all our things!"
+
+"Our cameras!" yelled Joe. "They may break 'em!"
+
+Hank had all he could do to restrain the wild steeds, which sought to
+break loose.
+
+The rush was over almost as quickly as it had started. Off into the
+darkness disappeared the Indians, their shooting and yelling growing
+fainter and fainter.
+
+"I saved the horses!" cried Hank.
+
+"Yes, but they got a lot of our stuff!" exclaimed Blake. "Joe, throw
+some wood on the fire, so we can see what is missing!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE PURSUIT
+
+
+Blazing up brightly, after Joe had thrown some light sticks on the
+embers, the fire revealed a much disordered camp. The Indians had rushed
+over it as a squad of football players might tear through a rival
+eleven, leaving devastation in their wake. The only consolation was that
+Hank had managed to prevent the animals from stampeding, and the
+possession of their ponies, in a country where foot travel is almost out
+of the question, was a big factor.
+
+"But they got almost everything else," said Blake, as he looked about
+the temporary camp.
+
+"They made for the grub, that's sure," spoke Joe. "I guess they were
+hungry."
+
+"But why they didn't try harder to make off with the horses is what I
+can't understand," spoke Blake, as he continued to make an examination
+of the damage done. "I thought that was what they were after."
+
+"They were," declared Hank; "but I guess they realized that taking
+horses is a pretty serious crime out here. They knew that all sorts of
+efforts would be made to recapture 'em, and by men who would not be as
+gentle with 'em as Uncle Sam's soldiers. So I guess they decided to pass
+up the horses and only take some grub. That isn't so serious, especially
+as the poor beggars are probably well-nigh starving, having been away
+from their regular rations so long. Well, it might be worse, I suppose.
+They will hardly come back to-night, and I guess we can get a little
+rest when I picket these animals out again. We got off pretty lucky, I
+take it, for there was sure a big bunch of them."
+
+"Lucky?" cried Blake. "I should say not. Look here!" and he pointed to
+the upset pile of boxes and bales, only a few of which were now left.
+"We have had the worst kind of bad luck!"
+
+"How's that?" demanded Joe, hurrying to the side of his chum. The fire
+was brighter now. "What did they take?"
+
+"Our reels of exposed film, for one thing!" cried Blake.
+
+"What! Not our prize Indian pictures?" gasped Joe.
+
+"That's what they did, Joe! Every one of those films we worked so hard
+to get is gone!"
+
+"But what could the Indians want with them?" asked Joe. "They don't
+know how to develop 'em, and, even if they did, they would be of no use.
+They can't know what they are, but if the least ray of light gets into
+the boxes it means that the films are ruined!"
+
+"That's right," assented Blake, hopelessly. "What can we do?"
+
+"They probably didn't know they were taking your films, boys," spoke
+Hank, who had finished making fast the horses. "They very likely thought
+the boxes held some new kind of food, and they just grabbed up anything
+they could get their hands on. I reckon the beggars are nearly starving,
+and that's what made 'em so bold. You'll notice they didn't once fire at
+us--only up in the air. They just wanted to scare us."
+
+"And they took our films, thinking they were something good to eat,"
+murmured Blake.
+
+"Yes. I'm not saying, though, that they didn't hope to stampede the
+animals; but they went wrong on that calculation, if they had it in
+mind."
+
+"They have our films," continued Joe, in a sort of daze, so suddenly had
+the events of the last half-hour occurred. "What can we do?"
+
+"Chase after 'em and get our stuff back!" exclaimed Blake, quickly. "I'm
+not going to stand that loss. They can have the grub if they want it,
+but I'm going to get back those films that we went to such trouble, and
+so much danger, to snap."
+
+"But how are you going to do it?" asked Joe.
+
+"Start in pursuit!" cried his chum with energy. "Come on, Hank, you can
+follow an Indian trail; can't you?"
+
+"I sure can, when it's as broad as the one they'll be likely to leave.
+But not now."
+
+"Why not?" asked Blake.
+
+For answer the cowboy guide waved his hand toward the darkness all
+about. There seemed to be a haze over the sky, obscuring the stars.
+
+"It would be worse than useless to start out on the chase now," said
+Hank. "We can't do anything until morning."
+
+"But they'll be too far away then," objected Blake. "And, while it might
+do little harm if they opened those film boxes in the darkness, it sure
+would spoil every picture we took to have them exposed in daylight.
+Let's go now!" and he started toward the animals.
+
+"No," and Hank shook his head. "I don't think you need worry about not
+catching those fellers in daylight," he went on. "They won't go far
+before stopping to eat the stuff they took from us. Then they'll have a
+sleep and start on the trail by daylight. We can do the same, and I
+think we can catch up with them. It would be risky to start out at
+night in a country we know so little about. We'll have to wait."
+
+Blake sighed, but there was no help for it. The upset camp was put in
+some kind of shape, the horses were again looked to, and the fire once
+more replenished. The travelers carried an unusually large supply of
+provisions, and though most of these had been taken, there was still
+enough food left for a day or two. In that time they might be able to
+get more, if they could not recapture their own from the Indians.
+
+"We'll start the first thing in the morning, as soon as it is light
+enough to see," decided Hank. "And now, if it's all the same to you
+boys, I'm going to have a bite to eat. That excitement made me hungry."
+
+"Same here," confessed Joe, and soon they were all satisfying their
+appetites.
+
+"Oh, but I do hope we can catch up with them and take those films away
+from 'em," murmured Blake, as he again sought his tent.
+
+"We will," declared Joe, with conviction. "If we have to, I'll get word
+to my soldier uncle and have the troops chase 'em."
+
+"The only trouble is that it might be too late," spoke Blake. "I'm
+afraid of the films getting light-struck. But I guess all we can do is
+to wait and trust to luck."
+
+There was no further alarm that night, and after a hasty breakfast,
+eaten when it was hardly light enough to see, the remaining supplies and
+provisions were packed and the ponies saddled.
+
+"I guess we can start now," exclaimed Hank, as he leaped to his steed.
+"It will soon be lighter. Forward, march!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+BACK TO "BIG B."
+
+
+"Well, we haven't caught up to 'em yet," remarked Joe Duncan, about noon
+the next day, when they stopped for a little lunch and to allow the
+horses to drink at a water hole and rest.
+
+"No, the beggars keep well ahead of us," agreed Blake, shading his eyes
+with his hand and gazing off across the hot, sunlit stretch that lay
+before them. "Oh, if they have opened those film boxes!" he exclaimed
+hopelessly.
+
+"They have ponies, and that's more than I calculated on," remarked Hank.
+"I thought when they raided our camp that they were after our animals,
+and when they didn't take 'em I thought it was because they were afraid
+of being chased as horse-thieves by a sheriff's posse. Now I see they
+didn't want our mounts, as they had plenty of their own. It was grub
+they were after, and they got it."
+
+"And our picture films," added Blake. "Don't forget that."
+
+"That was only a mistake, I tell you," insisted Hank, "though, for that
+matter, the Indians wouldn't hesitate to take 'em just for fun, if they
+thought they could make trouble that way."
+
+"And they will make a heap of trouble, too, I'm afraid," spoke Blake.
+
+"Here now!" called Joe, in jollier tones. "Don't come any of that C. C.
+Piper business, Blake. Look on the bright side."
+
+"Well, I suppose I ought to, but it's hard work."
+
+They had traveled all that morning, hoping to come up with the roving
+band of Indians. But they had had no success.
+
+Hank did pick up the trail of the raiders soon after starting out. The
+Indians had left their horses tethered some distance from the camp, and
+had crept up afoot, probably having spied Blake, Joe and Hank from afar
+the previous evening. And though the moccasined feet of the savages left
+little trace on the hard and sun-baked earth, there was enough "sign"
+for so experienced a trailer as was Hank to pick up.
+
+Thus he had been led to where the horses had been left, and after that
+it was easy enough to follow the marks of the hoofs.
+
+"There are about twenty-five in this band, as near as I can make out,"
+said Hank, "and every one of 'em has a horse of some sort. Pretty good
+travelers, too, I take it, since our animals were fresh and we haven't
+been able to come up to 'em yet, though we've kept up a pretty fair
+gait. But we'll get 'em yet."
+
+"If only it isn't too late," spoke Blake, whose one fear was that the
+valuable picture films would be spoiled. "Let's hurry on."
+
+"Another little rest will do the horses good," said the cowboy guide.
+"Then we can push on so much the faster. Our horses are our best
+friends, and we've got to treat 'em right if we want the best service
+out of them. Another half-hour and we'll push on."
+
+And, though Blake fretted and fumed at the delay, he knew it would not
+be best to insist on having his way. Soon, however, they were in the
+saddle again and once more in pursuit.
+
+"The trail is getting fresher," declared Hank, about four o'clock that
+afternoon. "Their horses are tiring, I guess, and ours seem to be
+holding out pretty well."
+
+"Which means----" began Joe.
+
+"That we may get up to them before dark," went on the cowboy. "And then
+we'll see what happens."
+
+"Will they run, do you think?" inquired Blake.
+
+"They will as long as their horses hold out, for they must know that
+this ghost-dance business is about over and that most of their friends
+are back on the reservations. But when we come up to them----" and the
+cowboy paused and significantly examined his revolver.
+
+"Does it mean a fight?" went on Blake, and he could not restrain a catch
+in his breath. It was one thing to have an Indian fight with some
+shelter, but different out in the open.
+
+"Well, I hardly think it will be what you might call regular and
+up-to-date fighting," replied Hank. "They may fire their guns and
+revolvers at us to try and frighten us back, but I don't actually
+believe that they'll make trouble. They know the punishment would be too
+serious. And I believe a lot of those Indians have only blank cartridges
+that they had when they were in some Wild West show. I know there was
+mighty little whining of bullets, for all the shooting they did last
+night. But, at the same time," he went on, "it's best to be prepared for
+emergencies."
+
+They continued on, and the boys had now become so used to the signs of
+the Indian trail that they could note the changes almost as well as
+could Hank.
+
+Here they could see where a rest was made, and again where some animal
+went out of the beaten path. Bits of the Indians' finery, too, were
+noted every once in a while--a bit of gaudy bead trimming, a discarded
+moccasin or some dyed feathers.
+
+"I do hope we come up with them before dark," said Joe. "If we have to
+stay out on the trail all night, and part of next day, we may find
+nothing left of our things and the pack burros when we reach camp
+again."
+
+In order to make better time our friends had left behind, at the place
+where the Indians had raided them, the pack animals, their cameras, a
+few films not taken by the Indians, and as much of their provisions as
+they thought would not be needed on the trail.
+
+"I think this evening will end it," declared Hank. "We might push on a
+little faster, as the going is good right here."
+
+The horses were urged to greater speed, and they responded gamely. They
+seemed to realize the necessity for haste, and took advantage of the
+momentary betterment in the surface over which they were traveling.
+
+The sun was sinking lower and lower in the west and the shadows were
+lengthening. Eagerly the boys and the cowboy scout peered ahead,
+straining their eyes for a glimpse of those whom they were pursuing.
+Then there came a bit of rough ground, and the pace was slower. Next
+followed a little rise, and, as this was topped, Blake, who had taken
+the lead for a short distance, uttered a cry and pointed forward with
+eager hand.
+
+"What is it?" cried Joe and Hank together.
+
+"There they are!" yelled Blake. "The Indians! Right below us! Come on!"
+
+Riding to his side, the others saw a sharp descent, then a level plain
+stretching away for many miles. And moving slowly over this plain was a
+band of about twenty-five Indians, mounted on ponies that seemed
+scarcely able to move.
+
+"That's them!" cried Hank, as he dug his heels into the sides of his
+horse. "At 'em, boys! A short, swift gallop will bring us up to 'em now,
+and then--well, we'll see what will happen!"
+
+"Come on!" yelled Blake, and side by side the trio rode down into the
+valley, their animals seeming to take on new strength as they saw their
+quarry before them.
+
+"They've noticed us!" exclaimed Blake.
+
+"That's right!" agreed Hank. "Well, now to see if we can catch 'em!"
+
+A movement amid the stragglers of the band told that they had glimpsed
+the approach of the whites. There was a distant shout, and at once the
+whole party was galloping off.
+
+"They'll distance us!" cried Blake. "They're going to get away!"
+
+"Not very far," was Hank's opinion. "Their horses are about done up.
+This is a last spurt."
+
+His trained eye had shown him that the Indians were using quirts and
+their heels to spur the tired animals to a last burst of speed. True,
+the ponies did leap ahead for a few minutes; but not even the wild
+shouting of the redmen, the frantic beating of their steeds, and the
+firing of their guns could make the wearied muscles of the ponies
+respond for long.
+
+The spurt lasted only a few seconds, and then came a noticeable slowing
+down. On the contrary, the horses of our friends, though they had
+traveled far and hard, were in better condition and much fresher.
+
+"Come on!" cried Hank, rising in his stirrups and swinging his hat
+around his head, while he sent forth yells of defiance. "Come on, boys!
+We have 'em!"
+
+He, too, began to shoot, but in the air as before, and the boys followed
+his example. Their horses were shortening the distance between the two
+parties.
+
+Suddenly one of the Indians was observed to toss something from him. It
+fell to the ground and rolled to one side of the trail.
+
+"What's that?" cried Joe.
+
+"One of the boxes of exposed film!" cried Blake. "They know what we're
+after. Oh, if only it isn't damaged!"
+
+"We can soon tell!" cried Hank, taking the lead. Then he yelled, between
+reports of his revolver:
+
+"Hi there! you red beggars, give up! Drop that stuff you took from our
+camp! You haven't any of the grub left, I suppose, but we want those
+pictures! Drop 'em!"
+
+Whether his talk was understood, or not, was not known; but others of
+the Indians began tossing away either boxes of film or other
+things--aside from food--which they had taken from the camp. They never
+stopped their horses, though, but ever urged on the tired beasts.
+
+"Here's the first reel!" cried Blake, as he came up to where it lay.
+Quickly dismounting, he picked it up.
+
+"Not hurt a bit!" he cried exultantly; "and the seals haven't been
+broken, showing that it hasn't been opened."
+
+"Good!" cried Hank. "You go slow and pick up what you can, and Joe and I
+will chase after the Indians. Evidently they're going to run for it."
+
+And it did seem so. The Indians never paused, but continued to toss
+away article after article. They seemed afraid of the consequences
+should they be caught with anything belonging to the whites in their
+possession. They may have taken Hank and the boys for the advance-guard
+of a sheriff's posse, and, knowing they had been doing wrong, were
+afraid. At any rate they made no stand.
+
+"I've got 'em all!" finally yelled Blake.
+
+"Then there's no use chasing after 'em any farther," said Hank. "Hold
+on, Joe," for the boy was pushing on.
+
+The horses of the pursuers were pulled down to a walk. The Indians
+noticed this at once, and, seeming to realize that the chase was over,
+they halted, and, turning, gazed in a body at the moving picture boys
+and their cowboy guide.
+
+"Had enough, I reckon," murmured Hank. "I guess you can't go on much
+farther. Well, we'll turn back a ways and put some miles between us, so
+you won't try any of your tricks again, and then we'll go into camp
+ourselves. Got everything, Blake?"
+
+"Yes, every reel of film, and not one has been opened, by good luck.
+Maybe they thought it was powerful 'medicine,' and didn't want to run
+any chances."
+
+"We don't care, as long as we have 'em back," remarked Joe, gleefully.
+"And now for a good rest."
+
+They turned back, and as they did so the Indians gave a last shout of
+defiance and began to make camp for themselves. It was as if a lot of
+schoolboys, playing truant, had been rounded up, and as a last
+indication of defiance had given their class yell.
+
+"Good riddance to you," remarked Hank. "I don't want to see you again
+for a good many years."
+
+Collecting the things the Indians had thrown away, our friends rode on
+until dark, and then, out of sight of the roving redmen, they made a
+simple camp. They stood guard by turns, but there was no night alarm.
+The next day they reached the place where they had picketed the pack
+animals. Nothing had been disturbed.
+
+"And now for Big B ranch!" exclaimed Blake, when once more the little
+cavalcade was under way.
+
+"And glad enough I'll be to see it!" said Hank; "though I sure will miss
+you fellows."
+
+"The same here," echoed Joe, and Blake nodded in accord.
+
+They traveled on for another day, finding good water and plenty of
+grazing for the steeds. Their provisions ran a bit low, for the Indians
+had helped themselves liberally, but they managed to shoot some small
+game.
+
+And, on the second day after parting from the Indians, they topped a
+rise, from the height of which Hank cried:
+
+"There she is, boys!"
+
+"What?" asked Blake.
+
+"Big B ranch! We're back in civilization again!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+A NEW KIND OF DRAMA
+
+
+"And so you really got what you went for; eh, boys?" asked Mr. Alden,
+proprietor of Big B ranch, as the trio rode in. "Well, you had luck."
+
+"Both kinds--good and bad," remarked Hank, as he told how, after getting
+the rare films, they had nearly been lost again.
+
+"And you rescued your enemies, too? What became of Munson?"
+
+"Oh, he and his crowd went off by themselves," explained Blake. "They
+felt badly about us beating them."
+
+"I've got a surprise for you, Joe," went on the proprietor.
+
+"What sort?" asked the lad, eagerly; "is my father----?"
+
+"No, not that; but Sam Reed is back here again, and he can tell you what
+you want to know. He came the day after you left."
+
+"But I did better than that!" exclaimed Joe. "I met my uncle, and I'm
+soon going to find my father, I hope," and he related his meeting with
+the trooper.
+
+"Good!" cried Mr. Alden. "Here comes Sam now. I told him you might be
+along soon," and he turned to introduce a rather shiftless-looking
+cowboy who sauntered up.
+
+"Pleased to meet you," said Sam Reed. "I never cal'lated when I writ
+that there letter that I'd ever see you in flesh and blood. I've got
+your pictures, though," and he showed those that had appeared in a
+magazine, giving an account of the work of Joe and Blake.
+
+As might have been expected, Sam knew nothing of Joe's father. The best
+the cowboy had hoped to do was to put the boy on the track of Mr.
+William Duncan, and, considering that Joe's uncle, as I shall call
+him--though he was really only a half-uncle--had enlisted in the army,
+Mr. Reed would probably have had hard work to carry out his plans.
+
+"Well, I'm glad you met your relative, anyhow," said Sam to Joe; "and I
+wish you luck in looking for your father. So he's somewhere on the
+southern California coast?"
+
+"Yes, in one of the lighthouses," explained Joe. "My uncle didn't know
+exactly where, but I can easily find out from the government office when
+I get on the coast."
+
+The boys were made welcome again at Big B ranch, and talked over once
+more the exciting time that had happened to them there when the Indians
+stampeded the cattle.
+
+"Here are the films you left with me," said Mr. Alden, giving the boys
+those they had made of the cattle stampede and of the cowboys doing
+their stunts. "And so you got other good ones?"
+
+"Yes, fine ones," replied Blake. "And we must soon be getting back to
+Flagstaff. We have stayed away longer than we meant to, and Mr. Hadley
+and Mr. Ringold may need our services."
+
+But the boys at the ranch would not hear of their starting for a few
+days, and so Joe and Blake stayed on, being royally entertained. They
+witnessed a round-up and the branding of cattle, but could get no
+pictures, as their films were all used up. However, the subjects had
+often been filmed before, so there was no great regret.
+
+Then came a time when they had to say farewell, and they turned their
+horses' heads toward Flagstaff. The cowboys gave them a parting salute
+of cheers and blank cartridges, riding madly around meanwhile.
+
+"It reminds me of the Indian attack," said Blake.
+
+"Yes," assented Joe. "I wonder if we'll go through another scare like
+that?"
+
+"I hope not," spoke his chum; but, though they did not know it, they
+were destined to face many more perils in the pursuit of their chosen
+calling.
+
+The ride to Flagstaff from Big B ranch was without incident. It was
+through a fairly well settled part of the country, as settlements go in
+Arizona, and they made it in good time. Joe often talked about the
+strange fate that had put him on the track of his father.
+
+"I wonder what kind of a man he'll be?" he often said to his chum.
+
+"The best ever!" Blake would answer; "that is, if he's anything like
+you--and I think he must be."
+
+"That's very nice of you, and I hope he does turn out to be what I wish
+him to be. I can't even picture him in my mind, though."
+
+"Well, I should think he'd be something like your uncle--even if they
+were only half-brothers."
+
+"If he is, I suppose it will be all right, though Uncle Bill is a little
+too wild to suit me. I'd want my father to be more settled in life."
+
+"Well, it won't be a great while before you know," consoled Blake.
+
+The boys received a royal welcome from Mr. Hadley and the members of the
+theatrical troupe.
+
+"Oh, but it's good to see you back!" exclaimed Birdie Lee to Blake, as
+she shook hands with him, and if he held her fingers a little longer
+than was necessary I'm sure it's none of our affair.
+
+"So you didn't get scalped, after all?" remarked C. C., gloomily, as he
+surveyed the boys. "Well, you will next time, or else they will hold you
+as captives."
+
+"Oh, stop it, Gloomy!" called Miss Shay. "What do you want to spoil
+their welcome for, just as we have a little spread arranged for them?"
+for she had gotten one up on the spur of the moment, on sighting the
+boys.
+
+"A spread, eh? Humph, I know I'll get indigestion if I eat any of it.
+Oh, life isn't worth living, anyhow!" and he sighed heavily and
+proceeded to practice making new comical faces at himself in a
+looking-glass.
+
+"Well, I'm glad you boys are back," said Mr. Ringold a little later at
+the impromptu feast, at which C. C. ate as much as anyone and with
+seemingly as good an appetite. "Yes," went on the theatrical manager, "I
+shall need you and Mr. Hadley right along, now. I am going to produce a
+new kind of drama."
+
+"I--er--I'm afraid I can't be with you," said Joe, hesitatingly. "I am
+at last on the track of my father, and I must find him."
+
+"Where is he?" asked Mr. Ringold, when the lad had told his story.
+
+"Somewhere on the Southern California coast. In a lighthouse--just
+where I can't say. But I am going there, and so you will have to get
+some one else, Mr. Ringold, to take my place. Blake can stay here, of
+course, and make moving pictures, but I----"
+
+"I'm going with you," said his chum, simply.
+
+There was a moment's silence, and then the theatrical manager exclaimed:
+
+"Well, say, this just fits in all right. There's no need for any of us
+to be separated, for I intend taking my whole company to the coast to
+get a new series of sea dramas. The Southern California coast will suit
+me as well as any.
+
+"Joe, you can't shake me that way. We'll all go together, and you'll
+have plenty of chance to locate your father!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+ON THE COAST
+
+
+The announcement of Mr. Ringold was followed by a silence, during which
+Joe and Blake looked at each other. It seemed like too much good fortune
+to learn that they would still have the company of their friends in this
+new quest.
+
+"Do you really mean that?" asked Joe. "You're not saying it just to help
+us out; are you, Mr. Ringold?"
+
+"No. What makes you think that?"
+
+"Because it seems too good to be true. I wouldn't like anything better
+than to go with your company and make pictures."
+
+"The same here," added Blake.
+
+"And if, at the same time, I can locate my father," went on Joe, "so
+much the better, though I don't imagine I will have any trouble finding
+him, once I can communicate with the government lighthouse board, and
+learn where he is stationed. They have a list of all employees, I
+imagine."
+
+"Yes, I think so," spoke Mr. Hadley. "As you say, it will be easy to
+locate him. And, boys, I'm very glad you're going to be with us again. I
+wouldn't like to break in two new lads, and we will certainly need three
+photographers to take all the scenes in the sea dramas that are
+planned."
+
+"Will we have to go very far to sea?" asked Macaroni, who was among
+those who had greeted the moving picture boys. The lads' thin assistant
+had been kept busy assisting Mr. Hadley while they were after the
+Indians. "Because if it's very far out on the ocean wave I don't believe
+I want to go; I'm very easily made seasick."
+
+"Oh, we can arrange to keep you near shore," said the theatrical man,
+with a laugh.
+
+"He may be drowned, even near shore," put in C. C., with his most gloomy
+voice; though he was, at the same time, practicing some new facial
+contortions that were sending the women members of the troupe into
+spasms of laughter.
+
+"Oh, there you go, Gloomy!" exclaimed Mr. Hadley. "First we know you'll
+be saying we'll all be smashed in a train wreck going to the coast; or,
+if not, that we'll be carried off by a tidal wave as soon as we get
+there."
+
+"It might happen," spoke the gloomy comedian, as though both accidents
+were possible at the same time.
+
+"And it may rain--but not to-day," put in Miss Shay, with a look at the
+hot, cloudless sky.
+
+"Then it's all settled," went on Mr. Ringold. "It is understood, Joe,
+that you can have considerable time, if you need it, to locate your
+father. The dramas I intend to film will extend over a considerable
+time, and they can be made whenever it is most convenient. After all, I
+think it is a good thing that we are going to the Southern California
+coast. The climate there will be just what we want, and the sunlight
+will be almost constant."
+
+"I'm sure I'm much obliged to you," said Joe. "This trip after the
+Indian films cost us more than we counted on, and we'll be glad of a
+chance to make more money. We're down pretty low; aren't we, Blake?"
+
+"I'm afraid so. But then, we may get that prize money, and that will
+help a lot."
+
+"That's so," put in Mr. Hadley. "You had better have those films
+developed, and send them to the geographical society. I wouldn't ship
+them undeveloped, for they might be light-struck. You were lucky the
+Indians didn't spoil them."
+
+The boys decided to do this, and during the next few days the reels of
+moving pictures were developed, and some positives printed from them.
+While the lads had been after the Indians Mr. Ringold had sent for a
+complete, though small, moving picture outfit, and with this some of the
+pictures were thrown on a screen.
+
+"They're the finest I've ever seen!" declared Mr. Hadley, after
+inspecting them critically. "That charge of the soldiers can't be
+beaten, and as for the Indian dances, they are as plain as if we were
+right on the ground. You'll get the prize, I'm sure; especially since
+you're the only ones who got any views, as I understand it."
+
+Mr. Hadley proved a good prophet, for in due time, after the films
+reached New York, came a letter from the geographical society, enclosing
+a substantial check for the two boys.
+
+The films were excellent, it was stated, and just what were needed. One
+other concern, aside from Mr. Munson's, and the one the latter
+mentioned, which had gone to Indian land, had succeeded in getting a few
+views of the Indians in another part of the State, but they were nowhere
+near as good as those Blake and Joe had secured after such trouble and
+risk. The attempt to get phonographic records had been a failure, the
+officers of the society wrote, though another attempt would be made if
+ever the Indians again broke from their reservations.
+
+"And if they do," spoke Blake, "I'm not going to chase after them."
+
+"Me, either," decided Joe. "I've had enough. Now the sooner we can get
+to the coast the better I'll like it. Just think, my father must be as
+anxious to see me as I am to find him; but as near as I can understand
+it, he doesn't even know that I am alive. Think of that!"
+
+"It is rather hard," said Blake, sympathetically. "But it won't be long
+now. I heard Mr. Ringold say we would start soon."
+
+There were a few scenes in some of the dramas enacted in Arizona that
+yet needed to be filmed, and Joe and Blake helped with this work,
+Macaroni assisting them and Mr. Hadley.
+
+"And after this, nearly all our work will have to do with the sea," said
+the theatrical man. "I want to depict it in all its phases; showing it
+calm, and during a storm, the delights of it, as well as the perils of
+the deep."
+
+Before leaving Flagstaff it was decided to give a few exhibitions of
+some of the moving pictures, so that the residents there, and a number
+of the cowboys and Indians who had taken part in the plays, might see
+how they looked on the screen. A suitable building was obtained, and it
+was crowded at every performance.
+
+The Indians were at first frightened, thinking it was some new and
+powerful kind of "medicine" that might have a bad effect on them. With
+one accord, when the film the boys had taken, showing the charge of the
+soldiers on the Moquis, was put on, the redmen rushed from the building.
+And it was some time before they could be induced to return.
+
+"Say, there's my uncle, as plain as anything!" exclaimed Joe, when the
+excitement had calmed down, and the reel was run over again. "There's
+Sergeant Duncan, close to Captain Marsh!" and he indicated where the
+trooper was riding beside the commander of the cavalry.
+
+"That's right," agreed Blake, as the pictures flickered over the screen,
+the figures being almost life size. "And he looks like you, too."
+
+"I wonder if my father looks like that?" said Joe, softly.
+
+There were busy days ahead of them all now, and there was much work to
+be done in transporting all the "properties" to the coast, and arranging
+to move the picture outfit, the cameras and the entire company. The boys
+had little leisure, but Joe managed to get a letter off to the
+government lighthouse board, asking for news of his father, Nathaniel
+Duncan.
+
+In reply he got a communication stating that a Mr. Duncan was stationed
+as assistant keeper at a light near San Diego, and not far from Point
+Loma.
+
+"That's where we want to head for, then," said Joe, as he talked the
+matter over with his chum. "I wonder if that will suit Mr. Ringold?"
+
+It did, as the theatrical manager stated, when the subject was broached
+to him. Accordingly arrangements were made to ship everything there.
+
+The day came to bid farewell to Flagstaff, which had been the stopping
+place of the theatrical troupe for several months. They had made many
+friends, and the Indians had become so used to taking their parts in the
+dramas, and in getting good pay for it, that they were very sorry to see
+the "palefaces" leave. So, too, were the cowboys, many of whom had
+become very friendly with our heroes and the theatrical people.
+
+"But we've got to go," said Blake, as he shook hands with his
+acquaintances.
+
+"Indeed, if we didn't leave soon," said Joe, "I'd be tempted to start
+off by myself. I've sent a letter to my dad, telling him all about how
+strangely I found him, and I'm just aching to see him. I guess he'll be
+pretty well surprised to get it."
+
+"I should imagine so," agreed Blake.
+
+"One last round-up to say good-bye!" cried one of the cowboys, as the
+party started away from the quarters they had occupied. "Everybody get
+in on this. Whoop her up, boys!"
+
+He leaped to his steed, flourished his hat, and began riding around in a
+circle, firing his big revolver at intervals.
+
+"That's the ticket!" shouted the others, as they followed his example.
+
+Soon two score of the light-hearted chaps were riding around the little
+crowd of the boys and their friends, saluting them, and saying farewell
+in this lively fashion.
+
+"Whoop her up!"
+
+"Never say die!"
+
+"Come again, and we'll exterminate a whole band of redskins for you!"
+
+"And have a cattle stampede made to order any day you want!"
+
+These were only a few of the many expressions from the cowboys.
+
+"Say, if they don't kill themselves, they'll make us deaf, with all that
+noise," predicted C. C.
+
+"This isn't a funeral," declared Mr. Hadley. "It's a jolly occasion,
+Gloomy Gus!"
+
+"Huh! Jolly? First you know some one will be hurt."
+
+But no one was, in spite of the direful predictions, and soon the
+cowboys drew off, with final shots from their revolvers, discharging
+them in the air. The Indians, too, had their share in the farewell,
+though they were not so demonstrative as were their companions.
+
+"And now for the coast!" cried Blake, as they reached the train.
+
+"And my dad," added Joe, and there was a trace of tears in his eyes,
+which he did not attempt to conceal. Blake knew just how his chum felt,
+and he found himself wishing that he, too, was going to find some
+relative. But he knew the only one he had was his aged uncle.
+
+Little of incident occurred on the trip to San Diego, which had been
+decided on as headquarters until a suitable location, away from any
+town, could be selected directly on the ocean beach. I say little of
+moment, but C. C. was continually predicting that something would
+happen, from a real hold-up to a train wreck.
+
+"And if that doesn't happen, a bridge will go go down with us," he said.
+
+But nothing of the kind occurred, and finally the boys and their friends
+reached the coast, going to the boarding place they had engaged.
+
+"And there's the old Pacific!" exclaimed Joe, as he and Blake went down
+to the shore of the bay on which San Diego stands. "It isn't very rough,
+however, and Mr. Ringold said he wanted tumbling waves as a background."
+
+"It gets rough at times, though," remarked a fisherman. "Of course, if
+you want to see big waves you'll have to go beyond this bay. It's pretty
+well land-locked. Oh, yes, the old Pacific isn't always as peaceful as
+her name."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+AT THE LIGHTHOUSE
+
+
+The two boys talked for some time with the old fisherman, and then Blake
+whispered to Joe:
+
+"Why don't you ask him where the lighthouse is where your father is
+supposed to be, and the best way of getting to it?"
+
+"I will," replied his chum.
+
+"The Rockypoint light?" repeated the fisherman, in response to Joe's
+inquiry. "Why yes, I know it well. It's only a few miles from here. You
+can see her flash on a clear night, but you can't make out the house
+itself, even on a clear day, because she's down behind that spur of
+coast. From the ocean, though, she's seen easily enough."
+
+"And how can we get there?" asked Blake.
+
+"Well, you can walk right down the beach, though it's a middlin' long
+tramp; or you can go back to town, and hire a rig."
+
+"We'll walk," decided Joe. "Do you happen to know of a Mr. Duncan
+there?" He waited anxiously for the answer.
+
+"No, lad, I can't rightly say I do," said the fisherman. "I know the
+keeper, Harry Stanton, and, now I come to think of it, I did hear the
+other day that he had a new assistant."
+
+"That's him!" cried Joe, eagerly.
+
+"Who?"
+
+"My father, I hope," was the reply, and in his joy Joe told something of
+his story.
+
+"Well, you sure have spun a queer yarn," said the old fisherman, "and I
+wish you all sorts of luck. You'll soon be at the light if you go right
+down the beach. I'd row you down in my dory, only I've just come in from
+taking up my nets and I'm sort of tired."
+
+"Oh, we wouldn't think of asking you," put in Blake. "We can easily walk
+it."
+
+"Some day I'll take you out fishing," promised the man. "And so you're
+here to get moving pictures; eh? Well, I don't know much about 'em, but
+you couldn't come to a nicer place than this spot on the coast. And you
+only have to go a little way to get right where the real surf comes
+smashing up on the beach. Of course, as I said, we're so land-locked
+just here that we don't see much of it, even in a storm. Moving
+pictures; eh? I'd like to see some."
+
+"I guess you can be in them, if you want to," said Blake. "I heard Mr.
+Ringold say he had one drama that called for a lot of fishermen."
+
+"Me in moving pictures!" cried the old man. "Ho! Ho! I wonder what my
+wife'd say to that. I've been in lots of queer situations. I've been
+knocked overboard by a whale, I've been wrecked, and half drowned, and
+almost starved, but I've never been in a picture, except I once had a
+tintype taken--that was when I was married," and he chuckled at the
+remembrance. "These movin' pictures aren't like tintypes; are they?"
+
+"Not much," laughed Joe, as he and Blake moved off in the direction of
+the lighthouse, calling a good-bye to their new friend. They had told
+Mr. Hadley, in starting out that morning, that they might not be back
+until late, for Joe had a half notion that he would try to find the
+lighthouse that day.
+
+"I wonder what I shall say to him, when I first see him, Blake?" Joe
+asked, as they trudged along.
+
+"Why--er--I hardly know," replied his chum. "I never found a lost
+father, myself."
+
+"And I never did, either. I guess I'll just say: 'Hello, Dad; do you
+know me?'"
+
+"That sounds all right," said Blake. "He sure will be surprised."
+
+The walk was longer than they had thought, and when noon came they
+still had some distance to go. As they were hungry they sought out a
+fisherman's cottage, where, for a small sum, they had a fine meal.
+Starting out again, they turned an intervening point of land about three
+o'clock, and then came in view of a lighthouse, located on a pile of
+rocks, not far from the high-water mark.
+
+"That's the place," said Blake, in a low voice.
+
+"Yes," agreed Joe. "It looks comfortable and homelike, too."
+
+Back of the lighthouse was a small garden, and also a flower bed, and a
+man could be seen working there. His back was toward the boys.
+
+"I--I wonder if that's him--my father?" said Joe, softly. "He seems to
+be very old," for they had a glimpse of a long white beard, and the man
+seemed to be bent with the weight of many years.
+
+"Go up and ask," said Blake. "I'll wait here."
+
+"No, I want you to come with me," insisted his chum. "You were with me
+when I first heard the good news, and now I want you along to hear the
+conclusion of it. Come on, Blake."
+
+"No, I'd rather not," and nothing Joe could say would induce his chum to
+accompany him.
+
+Their talk had been carried on in low voices, and the aged man, working
+in the garden, had apparently not heard them. He continued to hoe away
+among the rows.
+
+"Well, here goes!" exclaimed Joe, with a sigh. Now that he felt he was
+at the end of his quest his sensations were almost as sorrowful as
+joyful. In fact, he did not know exactly how he did feel.
+
+Walking up toward the old man, he paused, and then coughed slightly to
+attract his attention. The lighthouse keeper turned, surveyed the boy
+and in a pleasant voice asked:
+
+"Well?"
+
+"If--if you--are you my father?" asked Joe, in trembling voice, holding
+out his hands.
+
+"Your father!" cried the man in unmistakable surprise. "What is your
+name?"
+
+"Joe Duncan."
+
+"Joe Duncan? Did Duncan have a son?"
+
+"Yes, and I'm the boy!" went on Joe, eagerly, yet a doubt began creeping
+into his heart. "But are you Mr. Nathaniel Duncan?"
+
+The old man paused a moment, and then said gently:
+
+"No, my boy. I'm Harry Stanton, keeper of Rockypoint light."
+
+"But my father!" exclaimed Joe. "I understood he was here! Where is he?"
+
+"He was here," went on Mr. Stanton, as he leaned on his hoe and looked
+compassionately at the lad standing before him; "but he went away more
+than a week ago."
+
+"Gone away!" echoed Joe. "Did he--did he get my letter?"
+
+"I don't know whether it was your letter or not," said the keeper. "One
+came for him the day after he left. It's here yet. It was from
+Flagstaff, Arizona, I believe."
+
+"That's my letter!" exclaimed Joe. "And he never got it! Poor Dad, he
+doesn't yet know that I'm alive!" and he turned away with tears in his
+eyes.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+BLAKE LEARNS A SECRET
+
+
+Blake, looking on from a little distance, saw Joe turn aside from the
+aged man.
+
+"That's rather queer," thought the lad. "If that was his father it isn't
+a very cordial welcome."
+
+As he looked, he saw Joe walking out of the garden.
+
+"Queerer still," Blake mused. "Even if that isn't Mr. Duncan, he must be
+somewhere around, for lighthouse keepers can't be very far away from
+their station, as I understand it."
+
+Joe came walking toward his chum. His face showed his disappointment so
+unmistakably that Blake called out:
+
+"What's the matter, Joe?"
+
+"He's gone--he isn't here! He never got my letter!"
+
+"Where has he gone?" asked Blake, always practical.
+
+"I--I don't know. I didn't ask."
+
+"Look here, Joe!" exclaimed his chum. "I guess you're too excited over
+this. You let me make some inquiries for you. Suppose he has gone? We
+may be able to trace him. Men in the lighthouse service get transferred
+from one place to another just as soldiers do, I imagine. Now you sit
+down here and look at the sad sea waves, as C. C. would say if he were
+here, and I'll go tackle that lighthouse keeper. You were too flustered
+to get any clues, I expect."
+
+"I guess I was," admitted Joe. "When I found he wasn't there I didn't
+know what to do. I didn't feel like asking any questions."
+
+Blake placed his arm around his chum's shoulder, patted him on the back,
+and started toward the aged man, who was still leaning on his hoe,
+looking in mild surprise at the two lads.
+
+"I'll find out all about it," called back Blake.
+
+"Ha! Another boy!" exclaimed Mr. Stanton, as Blake approached. "I didn't
+know this was going to be visiting day, or I might have put on my other
+suit," and he laughed genially. "Are you another son of Mr. Duncan?" he
+asked.
+
+"No," replied Blake. "I'm Joe's chum. We're in the moving picture
+business together. But he says his father has left, and, as he naturally
+feels badly, I thought I'd make some inquiries for him, so we can
+locate him. Do you know where Mr. Duncan went?"
+
+"No--I can't say that I do," was the slow answer. "And so you are chums;
+eh?"
+
+"Yes, and we have been for some years."
+
+"That's nice. You tell each other all your secrets, I suppose?"
+
+"Well, most of 'em."
+
+"Never hold anything back?"
+
+"Why, what do you mean?" asked Blake, for there seemed to be a strange
+meaning in the old man's voice.
+
+"I mean, lad," and the lighthouse keeper's tones sank to a whisper; "I
+mean, if I tell you something, can you keep it from him?"
+
+"Why--yes--I suppose so," spoke Blake, wonderingly. "But what is the
+matter? Isn't his father here?"
+
+"No, he's gone, just as I told him. But look here--he seems a nice sort
+of lad, and I didn't want to hurt his feelings. I'd rather tell you, as
+long as you're his chum, and if you can keep a secret."
+
+He looked to where Joe was sitting on the rocks, watching the waves roll
+lazily up the beach and break. Joe was far enough off so that the
+low-voiced conversation could not reach him.
+
+"I can keep a secret if I have to," replied Blake. "But what is it all
+about? Is Mr. Duncan--is he--dead?"
+
+The old man hesitated, and, for a moment, Blake thought that his guess
+was correct. Then the aged man said slowly:
+
+"No, my boy, he isn't dead; but maybe, for the sake of his son, he had
+better be. At any rate, it's better, all around, that he's away from
+here."
+
+"Why?" asked Blake quickly. "Tell me what you mean!"
+
+"That I will, lad, and maybe you can figure a way out of the puzzle. I'm
+an old man, and not as smart as I was, so my brain doesn't work quickly.
+Maybe you can find a way out. Come inside where we can talk so he won't
+hear us," and he nodded toward the quiet figure of Joe on the beach.
+
+Blake wondered more than ever what the disclosure might be. He followed
+the aged man into the living quarters of the house attached to the light
+tower.
+
+"Sit ye there, lad," went on Mr. Stanton, "and I'll tell you all about
+it. Maybe you can find a way out."
+
+He paused, as if to gather his thoughts, and then resumed:
+
+"You see I'm pretty old, and I have to have an assistant at this light.
+I expect soon I'll have to give up altogether. But I'm going to hang on
+as long as I can. I've had three assistants in the last year, and one of
+'em, as you know now, was Nathaniel Duncan, Joe's father. Before him I
+had a likely young fellow named--ah, well, I've forgotten, and the name
+doesn't matter much anyhow. But when he left the board sent me this
+Duncan, and I must say I liked him right well."
+
+"What sort of a man was he?" asked Blake.
+
+"A nice sort of man. He was about middle aged, tall, well built, and
+strong as a horse. He looked as if he had had trouble, though, and
+gradually he told me his story. His wife had died when his boy and girl
+were young----"
+
+"Girl! Was there a girl?" cried Blake. "Has Joe a sister, too?"
+
+"He had--whether he has yet, I don't know," went on Mr. Stanton. "I'll
+tell you all I know.
+
+"As I said, Nate Duncan seemed to have had lots of sorrow, and he told
+me how, after his wife died, he had placed the boy and girl in charge of
+some people, and gone off to the California mines to make some money.
+When he come back, rich, the children had disappeared, and so had the
+people he left 'em with. He never could locate 'em, though he tried
+hard, and so did his half-brother, Bill. But Bill was different from
+Nate, so I understand. Bill was a reckless sort of chap, while Joe's
+father was quite steady."
+
+"That's right," spoke Blake, and then he related how Joe had come to get
+a trace of his father.
+
+"Well," resumed Mr. Stanton, "as I said, Duncan came here, and he and I
+got along well together. Then there came trouble."
+
+"Trouble? What kind?" asked Joe.
+
+"Trouble with wreckers, lad. The meanest and most wicked kind of trouble
+there can be on a seacoast. A band of bad men got together and by means
+of false lights lured small vessels out of their course so they went on
+the rocks. Then they got what they could when the cargo was washed
+ashore."
+
+"But what has that got to do with Joe's father?" asked Blake.
+
+"Too much, I'm afraid, lad. It was said that the light here was allowed
+to go out some nights, so the false light would be more effective."
+
+"Well?"
+
+"Well, Nate Duncan had charge of the light at night after I went off
+duty. And it was always when I was off duty that the wrecks occurred."
+
+"Do you mean to accuse Joe's father of being in with the wreckers?"
+
+"No, lad. I don't accuse anybody; I'm too old a man to do anything like
+that. But ugly stories began to be circulated. Government inspectors
+began to call more often than they used to, inspecting my light--my
+light, that I've tended nigh onto twenty-five years now. I began to hear
+rumors that my assistant wasn't altogether straight. He was said to be
+seen consorting with the wreckers, though it was hard to get proof that
+the men were wreckers, for they pretended to be fishermen.
+
+"Then come a day when, with my own eyes, I saw Nate Duncan walking along
+the beach with one of the men who was said to be at the head of the
+wrecking gang. I could see that they were quarreling, and then Nate
+knocked the man down. He didn't get up right away, for, as I said, Nate
+was strong. I knew something would come of that, and I wasn't much
+surprised when that day Nate disappeared."
+
+"Disappeared?" cried Blake.
+
+"Went off completely, and left me alone at the light. I tended it all
+night, same as I had done before, many a time, and the next day I
+reported matters, and I had a new assistant--the same one I have now."
+
+"But that doesn't prove anything," said Blake. "Just because Joe's
+father, and a man suspected of being a wrecker, had a quarrel, doesn't
+say that Mr. Duncan was a wrecker, too."
+
+"There's more to it," went on the old man. "The day after Nate Duncan
+disappeared detectives came here looking for him."
+
+Blake started. There was more to the story than he had suspected. He
+looked at Mr. Stanton, and glanced out of the window to where Joe still
+sat.
+
+"So that's why I say maybe it would be better for Joe if his father was
+dead," went on Mr. Stanton. "Disgrace is a terrible thing, and I
+couldn't bear to tell Joe, when he asked me about his father."
+
+"But where did he go?" asked Blake. "Didn't he leave any trace at all?"
+
+"Not a trace, lad--folks most generally doesn't when the detectives are
+after 'em. Hold on, though, I won't say Nate was guilty on my own hook.
+I'm only telling you what happened. I'd hate to believe he was a
+wrecker, misusing this light to draw vessels on the dangerous rocks; but
+it looks black, it looks black."
+
+"Did the detectives actually accuse Mr. Duncan?" asked Blake.
+
+"Well, they as much as did. They said some of the wreckers had been
+arrested, and had incriminated the assistant light-keeper. But Duncan
+was smart enough--provided he was guilty--to skip out. As I told Joe,
+his father left just before the letter from Flagstaff came, so he
+doesn't know his son is alive. Poor man, I'm sorry for him. He told me
+how he had searched all over for his children, and at last, becoming
+tired and discouraged, he took this job just to have something to do,
+for he's well enough off not to have to work."
+
+"And there's no way of telling where he went?" questioned Blake.
+
+"Nary a one that I know of, lad. As I said, maybe he's better off lost."
+
+"Not for Joe."
+
+"Well, maybe not; but for himself. There are heavy penalties for
+wrecking, and it's well he wasn't caught, though, as I say, I don't
+accuse him. Only it looks black, it looks black. If he was innocent why
+didn't he stay and fight it out? Yes, lad, it looks black."
+
+"I'm afraid so," sighed Blake. "How can I ever tell Joe the news?"
+
+"You mustn't!" exclaimed the old man. "That's just it. You must not tell
+him. I'd hate to destroy his faith in his father. It would be cruel.
+That's why I asked if you could keep a secret. You won't tell him; will
+you?"
+
+"No," said Blake, in a low voice; "I won't tell him."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+AT PRACTICE
+
+
+There was silence between man and boy for a space, and then Blake,
+understanding how hard it would be to keep the news from Joe, said:
+
+"I'll have to tell him something, Mr. Stanton. Joe will want to know why
+his father went away, and where. Isn't there any way in which we may get
+a clue to the direction he took?"
+
+"Wait a minute until I think, lad," said the old man. "It may be that we
+can find a clue, after all. Nate Duncan left some papers behind. I
+haven't looked at 'em, not wishing to make trouble, but there may be a
+clue there. I'll get 'em."
+
+"And I'll call Joe in to go over them with me," said Blake. "He'll want
+to see them."
+
+"But, mind you, not a word about what I've told you."
+
+"No, I'll keep quiet," promised Blake. "I'll call him in, while you get
+the papers."
+
+Going to the door of the little cottage, Blake called to his chum.
+
+"What is it?" asked Joe, eagerly. "Was there some mistake? Is my father
+somewhere around here, after all?"
+
+"Well, we hope to find him," said Blake, with an assurance he did not
+feel. "Look here, Joe, your father went away rather suddenly, it seems,
+but you mustn't think anything about that. He's been traveling all over,
+you know, looking for you and your sister----"
+
+"Sister?" cried Joe.
+
+"Yes, you had a sister, though I can't get much information about her.
+Neither could your uncle tell you, as you remember."
+
+"That's right. Oh, if I could only find dad and her!" and Joe sighed.
+"But maybe she isn't alive."
+
+"It's this way," went on Blake, and he told as much of the lighthouse
+keeper's story as was wise, keeping from Joe all information about the
+wreckers. "Now, your father may have heard of some new clue about you,"
+continued Joe's chum, "and he may have gone to hunt that up," which was
+true enough, for with the warning that he was likely to be arrested as a
+criminal, there may have come to Mr. Duncan some information about his
+missing children.
+
+"But in that case," asked Joe, "why didn't he leave some word as to
+where he was going?"
+
+"He may have been in too much of a hurry," suggested Blake, realizing
+that he was going to have considerable difficulty in keeping Joe from
+guessing the truth.
+
+"Well, perhaps that's so," agreed the lad. "But maybe Mr. Stanton has
+some clues."
+
+The lighthouse keeper came downstairs at this moment with a bundle of
+papers in his hand.
+
+"Here is all I found," he said. "It isn't much, but among the things he
+left behind is the letter you wrote," and he extended to Joe the missive
+the lad had penned in such hope at Flagstaff.
+
+"Poor Dad," murmured Joe. "I wonder if he will ever get this?"
+
+Together he and Blake looked over the documents. As the keeper had said,
+there was not much. Some memoranda, evidently made as different clues
+came to him; paid bills, some business letters, a few notes, and that
+was all.
+
+"What's this?" exclaimed Blake, as he read one letter. "It seems to be
+from some shipping agent in San Francisco, saying he can place--why,
+Joe, it's to your father, and it says he can have a place as mate any
+time he wants it. Was he a sailor?" he asked, eagerly, turning to the
+keeper.
+
+"So I understood."
+
+"Then this is the very thing we're looking for!" cried Blake. "Look, it
+is dated only a short time before he left. I see now," and he gave the
+lighthouse keeper a peculiar look, when Joe was not glancing in his
+direction. "Mr. Duncan got word that he could ship as a mate, and he
+left in a hurry."
+
+"Maybe so," assented Mr. Stanton.
+
+"Perhaps he had some new clue about you, Joe, or possibly about your
+sister," suggested Blake, hoping his chum would come to take this view.
+
+"Maybe," assented Joe. "But it's queer he didn't leave some word, or
+tell someone he was going."
+
+"He may not have had time," went on Blake. "Vessels have to sail in a
+hurry, lots of times, and he may have had to act quickly."
+
+"It's possible," admitted the keeper.
+
+"Then I'll tell you what we'll do," continued Blake. "We'll go to San
+Francisco the first chance we get, and see this shipping agent. He may
+be able to put us on the right track."
+
+"I guess it's the only thing to do," agreed Joe, in despondent tones.
+"Poor Dad! I nearly found him, and then I lost him again."
+
+They looked over the other papers. None offered as promising a clue as
+did the agent's letter, and this Joe took with him, also his own to his
+father.
+
+"Maybe I'll get a chance to deliver it to him myself," he said, with a
+smile that had little of hope in it.
+
+There was nothing more to be learned at the lighthouse. The boys left,
+after thanking the keeper, and promising to come and see him again. As
+they went out Mr. Stanton gave Blake a little sign, warning him not to
+disclose the secret.
+
+"Well, failure number one," said Joe, as they took a carriage back to
+San Diego, it being rather late.
+
+"Yes, but we'll win out yet!" declared Blake, with a confidence he did
+not feel. "We'll find your father and your sister, too."
+
+"I'll have more relations than you, Blake, if I keep on, and can find
+them," said Joe, after a bit.
+
+"That's right. Well, I wish you luck," and Blake wondered if Joe would
+be glad he had found his father, after all. "Wrecking is a black
+business," mused the lad. "But, like Mr. Stanton, I'm not going to think
+Joe's father guilty until I have to. I wonder, though, if the story is
+known about San Diego? If it is I'll have trouble keeping it from Joe."
+
+But Joe's chum found he had little to fear on this score, for, on
+getting back to the quarters of the theatrical troupe, the boys were
+told that the next day they would all take up their residence in a small
+seacoast settlement, out on the main ocean beach, away from the
+land-locked bay and where bigger waves could be pictured.
+
+"And there we'll enact the first of the sea dramas," said Mr. Ringold.
+
+"And all get drowned," murmured C. C., in his gloomiest tone.
+
+"I'll wash your face with snow--the first time it snows in this summer
+land--if you don't be more cheerful," threatened Miss Shay.
+
+"Well, something will happen, I'm sure," declared C. C. "When do we
+move?"
+
+"To-morrow," said Mr. Ringold, while Blake and Joe told Mr. Hadley of
+their poor success in finding Mr. Duncan. The photographer, as did the
+other members of the company, sympathized with the lad. Mr. Ringold said
+that as soon as they got settled the boys could go to San Francisco to
+look up the shipping agent.
+
+The transfer to the small seacoast settlement was a matter of some work,
+but in a week all was arranged, and the members of the company were
+settled in a large, comfortable house, close to the beach.
+
+"And now for some rehearsals," said Mr. Ringold, one morning. "One of
+the scenes calls for a shipwrecked man coming ashore in a small boat.
+Now, C. C., I guess you'll have to be the man this time, as I need the
+others for shore parts. Get the cameras ready."
+
+"I--I'm to be shipwrecked; am I?" inquired Mr. Piper. "Do I have to fall
+overboard?"
+
+"Not unless you want to," said Mr. Ringold, consulting the manuscript of
+the play.
+
+"Then I'm not going to, for I'll catch my death of cold if I do."
+
+"Hum! I'm glad he didn't have any other objections," murmured the
+theatrical man. "This is going to be easy."
+
+The preparations were made, it being customary to rehearse the scenes
+and acts before "filming" them to secure good results. A boat was
+launched, after some trouble on account of the surf, and with the aid of
+some fishermen, "C. C. was finally sent to sea," which was a joke, as
+Blake remarked.
+
+"And now come in with the waves," ordered Mr. Ringold, who was directing
+the drama. "Hang over the edge of the boat, C. C., and look as if you
+hadn't had any food or water for a week."
+
+"They say an actor never eats, anyhow," murmured Mr. Hadley, who, with
+the boys, was ready with the cameras; "so I guess C. C. won't have to
+pretend much."
+
+"Come on!" cried Mr. Ringold. "Hang more over the side of the boat."
+
+C. C. Piper obeyed orders--too literally, in fact. He leaned so far over
+that, a moment later, when there came a particularly large wave, the
+craft slewed sideways, got into the trough, and an instant later
+capsized.
+
+"He's overboard!" yelled Miss Lee.
+
+"Save him!" cried Miss Shay.
+
+"Stop the cameras," came from Mr. Ringold. "We don't want that in the
+picture."
+
+"Man overboard!" bawled the fishermen, who were interestedly watching
+the scene. "Launch the motor boat!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+TO SAN FRANCISCO
+
+
+For a moment there was excitement, and then the trained men of the sea
+got into action. Nearby there were several fishing boats, operated by
+gasoline motors. There were planks at hand, and rollers on which the
+craft could be launched in the surf, being eased along the slope by
+releasing a cable rigged to a post some distance away.
+
+It did not take long for the fishermen to launch one of these motor
+boats, and while C. C. Piper was struggling in the surf, endeavoring as
+best he could to climb into his overturned boat, they put out to rescue
+him.
+
+"Do you want that in the picture?" asked Joe, who was at one of the
+cameras.
+
+"No indeed!" cried Mr. Ringold. "It won't fit in at all! He must drift
+ashore. We'll have to do all this over again."
+
+"I can see Gloomy doing it," murmured Blake.
+
+At that moment there came a hail from the comedian.
+
+"Hello!" he cried. "Are you going to--gulp--let me--glub--sink out
+here? Can't some of you----" and the rest was lost amid a series of
+gurgles as the salty water got in C. C.'s mouth.
+
+"Hold on just a little longer," called one of the fishermen, as he
+directed the craft toward the struggling actor. "We'll have you out
+presently."
+
+"You'd--better--hurry--up!" panted the comedian, who might well be
+excused at this moment from taking a gloomy view of life.
+
+He managed to cling to one side of the dory until the rescuing motor
+craft reached him. Then he was soon hauled aboard, dripping wet, all but
+exhausted, and unable to utter a sound save sighs.
+
+"Well, it was too bad," said Mr. Ringold, when C. C. was once more
+ashore. "I guess we'll have to get you a little larger boat."
+
+"Get _me_ one?" asked the actor, with the accent on the personal
+pronoun.
+
+"Certainly. We'll have to do this scene over again. I guess we could use
+one of the fishing boats, though they're a little large. But we can move
+the cameras back. Take one of those, C. C."
+
+"I guess not."
+
+"What's that?"
+
+"I said I guess not. No more for mine!"
+
+"Do you mean to say you won't go on with this act? Are you going to
+balk as you did in the Indian scene?"
+
+"Say," began C. C., earnestly, as, dripping wet as he was, he strode up
+to the theatrical man, "I can't swim, and I don't like the water. I told
+you that the time you took me up in the country, where we found these
+boys," and he motioned to Blake and Joe, who were looking interestedly
+on, ready to work the cameras as soon as required.
+
+"And yet," went on Mr. Piper, "you insisted that I jump overboard then
+and rescue Miss Shay. Now you want me to drift in as a shipwrecked
+sailor. It's too much, I tell you. There is entirely too much water and
+tank drama in this business. I know I'll get my death of cold, if I
+don't drown."
+
+"Oh, can't you look on the bright side?" asked Miss Shay, who was to
+come into the drama later. "Why, it's so warm I should think you'd like
+to get into the surf."
+
+"Not for mine!" exclaimed C. C., firmly, and it took some persuasion on
+the part of the theatrical manager, accompanied by a promise of an
+increase of salary every time he had to go into the water, to induce
+C. C. to try the shipwreck scene over again.
+
+This time a larger boat was used, and, though it came near to capsizing,
+it did not quite go over, though considerable water was shipped. C. C.
+managed to stay aboard, and the cameras, rapidly clicking, registered
+each movement of the actor and those who later took part in the drama.
+
+Then some shore scenes were photographed, the supposed shipwrecked
+persons building a fire, pretending to catch fish from the ocean, and
+cooking them.
+
+All this the moving picture boys, or Mr. Hadley, faithfully registered
+on the films, to be later thrown on the screen for the delight of the
+public.
+
+"I wonder if the folks who look at moving pictures realize how they are
+made?" said Joe, as they stopped work for the day.
+
+"I don't believe so," answered Blake. "There are tricks in all trades,
+it's said; but I guess the moving picture business is as full of them as
+any."
+
+The next two days were busy ones, as a number of elaborate acts had to
+be filmed, and the boys were kept on the jump from morning to night. Mr.
+Hadley, also, had all he could do with the camera. There were fishing
+views to get, scenes on the beach, where a number of children were
+induced to play at games in the sand, building castles and tunnels,
+boating incidents and the like.
+
+C. C. did not fall overboard again, though he often was sent out to do
+some funny stunt that was to be used in the play.
+
+"I wonder when we can go to San Francisco?" queried Joe one afternoon,
+following a particularly hard day. "I want to see that shipping agent,
+and ask him if he can give me any clue to my father."
+
+"Maybe we'd better speak to Mr. Ringold," suggested Blake, and they did,
+with the result that the theatrical man informed them that the end of
+the week would be free, as he had to wait for some costumes to arrive
+before he could produce any more dramas.
+
+"I want to get a good wreck scene," he said, "and that is going to be
+rather hard."
+
+"Will it be a real wreck scene?" asked Joe.
+
+"Yes, as real as we can make it. I'm negotiating now for an old schooner
+that I can scuttle out at sea. All the company will be aboard, and
+they'll drift about for a long time without food and water."
+
+"Am I supposed to be in on that?" asked C. C., suspiciously.
+
+"Of course," was the theatrical man's answer. "This is a circus company
+returning from abroad that is wrecked, and you are the clown. Be as
+funny as you can."
+
+"Wrecked?" queried C. C.
+
+"That's it."
+
+"And I'm to be funny?"
+
+"Certainly."
+
+"Without food and water for days, and I'm expected to be funny!"
+exclaimed the comedian, with a groan. "Oh, why did I ever get into this
+business? I'll not do it!"
+
+"Oh you're only _supposed_ to be starving and thirsty," explained Mr.
+Ringold. "If you want, you can take some sandwiches and cold coffee with
+you, and have lunch--but don't do it when the cameras are working. It
+wouldn't look well in the moving pictures to have a note on the screen
+saying that the shipwrecked persons were starving, and then show you
+chewing away; would it, now?"
+
+"No, I suppose not," admitted C. C., with a sigh. "Oh, but this is a
+miserable business, though! I'm sure I'll be drowned before we get
+through with it!"
+
+"Oh, cheer up!" called Miss Lee, but there seemed to be no need for the
+advice, for a moment later C. C. broke forth into a comic song.
+
+While the preparations for producing the wreck scene were under way,
+there was small need for the services of the boys, and they made ready
+to go to San Francisco.
+
+"Even if he has gone away somewhere," suggested Blake, "he may have left
+some address where you can reach him."
+
+"Do you think he'll be gone?" asked Joe.
+
+"Well, if he left the lighthouse in a hurry, intending to call on a
+shipping agent, naturally he wouldn't stay in port long," said Blake.
+"Besides----" He stopped suddenly, being on the verge of saying
+something that would give Joe a hint of the truth.
+
+"What is it?" asked his chum, quickly. "What were you going to say,
+Blake?"
+
+"Nothing."
+
+"Yes, you were, I'm sure of it. Blake, is there anything you're holding
+back from me?"
+
+Joe looked earnestly at his chum.
+
+"I--er--" began Blake--when there came a knock on the door.
+
+"What is it?" called Blake, glad of the interruption.
+
+"Mr. Ringold wants you to get ready to take some scenes to-night," said
+the voice of Macaroni.
+
+"Scenes at night?" inquired Joe, opening the door, and forgetting the
+question he had put to his chum.
+
+"Yes," went on their young helper. "Flashlight scenes. He wants you at
+once."
+
+The boys reported to their superiors, and learned that a smuggling
+scene, to fit in one of the sea dramas, was to be attempted. By means of
+powerful flash and electric lights, the current coming over cables from
+San Diego, it was planned to make views at night.
+
+As this was an unexpected turn to affairs, they had to postpone their
+trip to San Francisco for a few days. The night pictures came out well,
+however, and the first of the following week saw Joe and Blake start on
+their way to the city of the Golden Gate.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+A STRANGE CHARGE
+
+
+"Are you going to take a camera with you, boys?" asked Mr. Ringold, as
+Joe and Blake were saying good-bye to their friend, preparatory to
+making a brief stay in San Francisco.
+
+"A camera? No. Why?" inquired Blake.
+
+"Well, I happen to need some San Francisco street scenes for one of the
+dramas," went on the theatrical man; "and it occurred to me that you
+could get them when you weren't busy."
+
+"Of course we could," answered Joe. "We can take the automatic, and set
+it up wherever you say, and go looking for that shipping agent. When we
+come back we'll have all the pictures we need."
+
+"Good!" exclaimed Mr. Ringold. "Try that, if you don't mind. Get some
+scenes down in the financial district, and others in the residential
+section. Then, as long as you have to go to the shipping offices, get
+some there."
+
+The boys promised they would, and added the small but compact automatic
+camera to their luggage as they started off.
+
+This camera worked by compressed air. There was a small motor inside,
+operated by a cylinder of air that could be filled by an ordinary
+bicycle pump. Otherwise it was just like the other moving picture
+cameras.
+
+There was the upper box, in which was wound the unexposed reel of film.
+From this it went over a roller, and the cog wheel, which engaged in the
+perforations, thence down by means of the "gate," behind the lens and
+shutter. There two claws reached up and grasped the film as the motor
+operated, pulling down three-quarters of an inch each time, to be
+exposed as the shutter was automatically opened in front of the lens.
+
+Each one of the thousands of moving pictures, as I have explained in
+previous books, is three-quarters of an inch deep, though, of course, on
+the screen it is enormously enlarged.
+
+After the film has been exposed, three-quarters of an inch at a time, it
+goes below into another light-tight box of the camera, whence it is
+removed to be developed and printed. The movement of the film, the
+operation of the claws and the opening and closing of the shutter,
+making it possible to take sixteen pictures a second, was, in this
+camera, all controlled by the air motor.
+
+Joe and Blake found much to amuse them in San Francisco, which they had
+never before visited. They were a bit "green," but after their
+experiences in New York they had no trouble in finding their way around.
+
+"We'd better go to some hotel, or boarding house," suggested Joe, after
+their arrival. "Pick out one where we can leave the camera working while
+we're gone."
+
+They did this, being fortunate enough to secure rooms in a good, though
+not expensive, hotel near the financial district. One of their windows
+looked directly out on a busy scene.
+
+"That'll be just the place, and the sort of scene Mr. Ringold wants,"
+declared Blake. "Let's set the camera there on the sill and see what it
+gets. The light is good to-day."
+
+It was, the sun shining brightly, and being directly back of the camera,
+which would insure the proper illumination.
+
+They adjusted the machine, and set the mechanism to go off about an hour
+after they had left the room. Then they went to find the shipping agent,
+to see if they could get any news of Joe's father.
+
+But, to their disappointment, he was out, and none of the clerks could
+tell them what they wanted to know. They were directed to return the
+next day.
+
+"More disappointment!" exclaimed Joe. "It does seem as if I was up
+against it, Blake."
+
+"Oh, don't worry. To-morrow will do just as well as to-day. And you
+don't want to get in C. C.'s habit, you know."
+
+"No, that's right. Well, what shall we do?"
+
+"Let's look around a bit, and then go see how the camera is working."
+
+They found so much to interest them in the streets of San Francisco that
+they did not go back to the hotel as soon as they had intended. When
+they did reach the street on which it stood they saw a crowd gathered.
+
+"Look at that!" cried Blake.
+
+"Yes! Maybe it's a fire!" exclaimed Joe. "Our camera----"
+
+"There's no fire, or else we'd see some smoke," answered his chum. "But
+we'll see what it is. There's been some sort of an accident, that's
+sure."
+
+They broke into a run, pushing their way through the throng about the
+front doors of the hotel. As they entered the lobby, they were surprised
+to see the clerk point his finger at them, and exclaim:
+
+"There are the two lads now!"
+
+Everyone turned to look at Joe and Blake, and a man, dressed in some
+sort of uniform, approached them.
+
+"Are you the lads that have rooms sixty-six and sixty-seven?" he asked,
+sharply.
+
+"Yes," replied Blake.
+
+"Why, has anything happened there?" asked Joe.
+
+"Well, yes, there has, and we thought perhaps you could explain."
+
+"Have we been robbed?" burst out Blake.
+
+"Robbed? No," answered the clerk. "But----"
+
+"Perhaps I had better explain," put in the uniformed man. "I think I
+shall have to ask you boys to come with me," he went on.
+
+"Come where?" Joe wanted to know.
+
+"To police headquarters."
+
+"What for?" burst out Blake. "We haven't done anything! We only came
+here to----"
+
+"Be careful," warned the man in uniform. "Whatever you say may be used
+against you."
+
+"Why--why?" stammered Joe. "What's it all about?"
+
+"An infernal machine!" exclaimed the hotel clerk. "How dare you poke one
+out of the window, right toward one of our largest banks, and go out,
+leaving the mechanism clicking? How dare you?"
+
+Joe and Blake staggered back, half amused and half alarmed at the
+strange charge.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+ON A LONG VOYAGE
+
+
+"This is a serious charge," went on the man in uniform, who was
+evidently from the police department. "We have had some dynamiting
+outrages here, and we don't want any more."
+
+"Dynamite!" exclaimed the hotel clerk; "do you think it could be that,
+officer?"
+
+"That's what it seems like to me," said the other. "I have investigated
+a number of infernal machines, and they all make the same sort of sound
+before they go off."
+
+"Go off!" cried the clerk, while Joe and Blake were vainly endeavoring
+to get in a word that would explain matters. "If it's dynamite, and goes
+off here, it will blow up the hotel. Get it away! Porter, go up and get
+that infernal machine, and dump it in a pail of water."
+
+"'Scuse me!" exclaimed the colored porter, as he made a break for the
+door. "I--I guess as how it's time fo' me to sweep off de sidewalk. It
+hain't been swept dish yeah day, as yit. I'se gwine outside."
+
+"But we've got to get rid of that infernal machine!" insisted the clerk.
+"It's been clicking away now for some time, and there's no telling when
+it may go off. Get it, somebody--throw it out of the window."
+
+"No! Don't do that!" cried the officer. "That will only make it go off
+the sooner. I'll get some one from the bureau of combustibles and----"
+
+"Say, you're giving yourselves a needless lot of alarm!" interrupted
+Blake. "That's no infernal machine!"
+
+"No more than that ink bottle is!" added Joe, pointing to one on the
+clerk's desk.
+
+"But it clicks," insisted the clerk. "It sounds just like a clock
+ticking inside that box."
+
+"And it's pointing right at the bank," went on the officer. "That bank
+was once partly wrecked because it was built by non-union labor, and we
+don't want it to happen again."
+
+"There's no danger--not the slightest," cried Blake, while the crowd in
+the hotel lobby pressed around him. "That's only an automatic moving
+picture camera, that we set this morning, and pointed out of the window
+to take street scenes. It works by compressed air, and the clicking you
+hear is the motor. Come, I'll show you," and he started toward his
+room, followed by Joe.
+
+"Is--is that right?" asked the hotel clerk, doubtfully.
+
+"Are you sure it isn't dynamite?" inquired the officer.
+
+"Well, if _we're_ not afraid to take a chance in going in the same room
+with what you call an infernal machine, _you_ ought not to be," said
+Joe, with a smile.
+
+This was logic that could not be refuted, and they followed the boys to
+the room. There, just where they had left it, was the camera, the motor
+clicking away industriously. It worked intermittently, running for five
+minutes, and then ceasing for half an hour, so as not to use up the reel
+of film too quickly. Also, it made a diversity of street scenes, an
+automatic arrangement swinging the lens slightly after each series of
+views, so as to get the new ones at a different angle.
+
+"Now we'll show you," said Blake, as, having noted that all the film was
+run out, and was in the light-tight exposed box, he opened the camera
+and showed the harmless mechanism. Several of the hotel employees
+crowded into the room, once they learned there was no danger.
+
+The boys explained the working of the apparatus, and this seemed to
+satisfy the officer.
+
+"But we were surely suspicious of you at first," he said, with a smile.
+
+"Yes," said the clerk. "A chambermaid called my attention to the
+clicking sound when she was making up the room. I investigated, and when
+I heard it, and saw the queer box, and remembered that we had had
+dynamiting here, I sent for the police."
+
+"We're sorry to have given you a scare," said Blake, and then the
+incident was over, and the crowd in the street dispersed on learning
+there was to be no sensation.
+
+"Say, I think there's some sort of hoodoo about us," remarked Joe, as he
+and Blake sat in their room.
+
+"Why, you're not going to come any of that gloomy C. C. business on me;
+are you?" asked Blake.
+
+"Not at all," went on his chum. "But what I mean by a hoodoo is that
+something always seems to happen when we start out anywhere. We've been
+on the jump, you might say, ever since we lost our places on the farms
+and got into this moving picture business."
+
+"That's so. And the latest is being taken for dynamiters."
+
+"Yes. But if things are going to keep on happening to us I wish they'd
+take a turn and help me find my father," went on Joe. "You don't know
+how it feels, Blake, to know you've got a parent somewhere and not be
+able to locate him. It's--why, it's almost as bad as if--as if he were
+dead," and Joe spoke the words with an obvious effort.
+
+"That's right," agreed Blake, and then there came to him the memory of
+what the lighthouse keeper had said about Mr. Duncan being implicated in
+the wrecking. If this was true, it might be better for Joe not to find
+his father.
+
+"But he may not be guilty," thought Blake, and he mused on this
+possibility, while Joe looked curiously at his chum.
+
+"Say, Blake," suddenly asked Joe. "What's the matter?"
+
+"Matter? Why, what do you mean?" asked Blake, with a start.
+
+"Oh, I don't know, but something seems to be the matter with you. You've
+acted strangely of late, ever since--yes, ever since we were at the
+lighthouse. Is anything troubling you?"
+
+"No--no--not at all; that is, not exactly."
+
+"You don't speak as if you meant it."
+
+"But I do, Joe. There's nothing the matter with me--really there isn't."
+
+"Well, I'm glad of it. If there is, and you need help, don't forget to
+come to me. Remember we're pards, and chums, not only in the moving
+picture business, but in everything else, Blake. Anything I've got is
+yours for the asking."
+
+"That's good of you, Joe, and if you can help me I'll let you know. I
+didn't realize that I was acting any way strange. I must brighten up a
+bit. I guess we've both been working too hard. We need some amusement.
+Let's go to a moving picture show to-night, and see how they run things
+here, and what sort of films they have. We may even see one of our own."
+
+"All right. I'll go you. We can't see that shipping agent until
+to-morrow. A moving picture show for ours to-night, then. Though, being
+in the business, as we are, it's rather like a fireman going around to
+the engine-house on his day off, and staying there--a queer sort of a
+day's vacation."
+
+But, nevertheless, they thoroughly enjoyed the moving picture play,
+interspersed, as it was, with vaudeville acts. Among the films were
+several that Mr. Ringold's company had posed for, and several that the
+boys themselves had taken. The reels were good ones, too, the pictures
+standing out clear and bright as evidence of good work on the part of
+the boys and Mr. Hadley.
+
+"Had enough?" asked Joe, after about an hour spent in the theatre.
+
+"Yes, let's go out and take a walk."
+
+"Feel any brighter?" went on Joe.
+
+"Yes, I think I do," and Blake linked his arm in that of Joe, wondering
+the while, as they tramped on, how he should ever break the news to his
+chum, in case Joe himself did not find it out. "The only hope is that he
+isn't guilty," mused Blake, "and yet running away just before the
+accusation was made public looks bad, just as Mr. Stanton said. However,
+I'm not going to think about it." As long as it had gone thus far
+without any outsider giving away the secret to Joe, his chum began to
+feel that there was little danger.
+
+"Well, you haven't any more infernal machines; have you, boys?" the
+hotel clerk asked them when they came in to get their keys. "Because, if
+you have, just keep quiet about 'em. I don't want to be awakened in the
+middle of the night with some one from the bureau of combustibles coming
+down here," and he laughed.
+
+"No, we're all out of dynamite," responded Blake, in the same spirit.
+
+He and Joe were early at the office of the sailing master, who made a
+specialty of fitting out vessels with crews. With a rather trembling
+voice Joe asked for information about Mr. Duncan.
+
+"Duncan--Duncan," mused the agent, as he looked over his books. "Seems
+to me I remember the name. Was he the Duncan from somewhere down the
+coast?"
+
+"The Rockypoint light," supplied Joe.
+
+"Oh, yes, now I know. But why are you asking?" and the agent turned a
+rather suspicious look on Joe. "Is there anything wrong--is Mr. Duncan
+wanted for anything? I always try to protect my clients, you know, and I
+must find out why you are asking. Has he committed any crime, or is he
+wanted by anyone?"
+
+Blake started at the coincidence of the words.
+
+"Yes," answered Joe; "he is wanted by me--I'm his son, and I'd like very
+much to find him. We found some of his letters, and there was one from
+you about a berth you might have vacant."
+
+"That's right, my boy, and I'm glad to learn that is why you want Nate
+Duncan, for he and I are friends in a way."
+
+"But has he shipped?" asked Joe, eagerly.
+
+"He has," answered the agent. "He signed for a trip to China, and it
+will be a good while before he gets back here, I'm afraid. It's a long
+voyage."
+
+"To China!" cried Joe. "Oh, if he had only received my letter he would
+be here now with me. Poor Dad!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+A MIMIC FIRE
+
+
+"Sorry I can't do any more for you," went on the agent, after a pause,
+during which he gazed sympathetically at Joe. "I can give you the name
+of the vessel your father is on, and you can write to Hong Kong, but it
+will be some time before she arrives. She's a sailing ship, you know,
+one of the few left in the trade."
+
+"I didn't know my father was a regular sailor," said Joe.
+
+"You didn't know he was a sailor? Say, don't you know your father's
+business?"
+
+"It's been a good many years since I've seen him," spoke Joe. "In fact,
+I can't remember him," and he told something of how he came to be on the
+strange quest.
+
+"Well, this is certainly odd," remarked the agent. "I've known Nate some
+years, more or less, and I've often heard him speak of a son he had lost
+track of. Of late he had given up hope."
+
+"And just when I was on the verge of finding him," added Joe.
+
+"His daughter, too," continued the agent. "He said he felt sure he'd
+never locate her, though he'd spent lots of money in hunting. And he
+felt pretty bad, too, over the thought that he might never see his
+children again."
+
+"And have I really a sister?" asked Joe, eagerly.
+
+"I can't rightly say," spoke the shipping master. "You had one, but
+whether she's alive now or not no one seems to know. There's one
+satisfaction, though, you can find your father in time, and as soon as
+he hears from you, when his ship reaches Hong Kong, he won't lose any
+time taking the fastest steamer back. I know Nate Duncan well enough for
+that."
+
+"Will he, though?" thought Blake. "Will he come back when he knows of
+the wrecking charge that may be made against him? Even the prospect of
+seeing Joe may not overbalance that. Yet, I suppose he could send for
+Joe. They couldn't make any charge against him over in China. But it's a
+bad business."
+
+Joe talked a little longer with the agent, who gave him the name of the
+ship on which Mr. Duncan had sailed, and also directions how to address
+the letter.
+
+"Well, there's no use staying in 'Frisco much longer," said Joe, as
+they finished their business. "We'll get what other moving pictures of
+street scenes we want, and as I can't find Dad here, we'll leave. We'll
+get back to San Diego, and out to the beach colony to film some more
+dramas."
+
+A return trip to their hotel, a visit to various localities for films,
+then to pack their belongings--and the automatic camera did not take
+them long--and they were soon journeying down the coast again. They were
+welcomed warmly by the members of the theatrical colony.
+
+As I have said, for the purpose of being unhampered in their work of
+taking films, Mr. Ringold had moved his company from San Diego proper to
+a small fishing settlement, directly on the beach. This place was called
+Chester, after the man who owned the fishery there. He had a fleet,
+consisting of several motor boats, in which the fishermen went out twice
+each day to pull up the nets that were fast to long poles, sunk into the
+sand of the ocean bed in water about forty feet deep.
+
+The fish were brought to the main building, and packed in ice for
+transportation. Numbers of local dealers called each day with wagons to
+get a load to peddle about. There were only a few houses in the place,
+and a store or two.
+
+Once some millionaire had built an elaborate cottage on the beach, but
+gave it up for some whim. It was in this cottage, which in size was
+almost a mansion, that the moving picture boys and their friends had
+their abode. A boarding mistress was installed, and thus the actors and
+actresses lived right at the scene of their work, with almost as much
+comfort as they would have had in a hotel. The place was not far from
+San Diego, and it had the advantage of a heavy surf on the beach, the
+big waves making just the background Mr. Ringold wanted. Of course, not
+all the scenes were on the water-front, some taking place in front of,
+or within, some of the cottages, which were hired for the short time
+needed. The fishermen could not seem to understand why a man should pay
+them good money for the use of their humble dwellings for a short time.
+
+"It just seems plumb foolishness," declared one grizzled salt. "I don't
+see why folks want to make so many pictures of men and women walkin' in
+and out of my cottage and sayin' such outlandish things like: 'Gal, you
+shall give me them papers!' or, 'Meet me on yonder cliff at midnight!' I
+give up!"
+
+"It does seem out of reason, Pete," agreed another. "But as long as they
+pay me for it, and don't go to bustin' up things, I'm willin'."
+
+"Oh, so'm I. Keep it up, I says," and Mr. Ringold did, using different
+cottages in turn to get a diversity of views.
+
+Sympathy was expressed for Joe on the failure of his mission to find his
+father.
+
+"But don't you give up!" exclaimed Mr. Hadley. "China is far off, but it
+isn't out of the world. Don't give up, Joe."
+
+"I'll not. I'm going to write to him to-day," and he did, dispatching
+the letter to far-off Hong Kong.
+
+There was plenty of work waiting for the boys, some new manuscripts of
+sea dramas having come in. Mr. Ringold decided to film several of them,
+and rehearsals were already under way.
+
+"I'm going to have a novelty in one of the plays," said the manager.
+"It's going to be a fire scene. We'll buy one of these cottages, or else
+have one built that will do well enough for picture purposes, and set it
+ablaze. Then, when C. C. comes running out, carrying Miss Shay--or maybe
+Miss Lee, for she's lighter--we'll----"
+
+"Hold on there!" called the comedian. "Did I understand you to say I had
+to rush out of a burning building?"
+
+"That's it, C. C."
+
+"But to rush out I've got to go in; haven't I?"
+
+"Why, naturally, C. C."
+
+"Then I serve notice here and now that I resign. I'm tired of being an
+actor. I'm going into the coal business," and he stopped making odd
+faces in the glass, practicing some facial contortions for a new clown
+act, and began to dress as though to go out.
+
+"Hold on, C. C.; what's the matter?" asked Mr. Ringold.
+
+"Plenty! If you think I'm going to run the risk of being burned to death
+you've got another guess coming. I'm through."
+
+"Why, C. C.," spoke the theatrical manager, with a laugh; "there's no
+danger."
+
+"Not in going into a burning building, even if it is only a fisherman's
+shanty! No danger!"
+
+"No. Listen. You go in before the building is afire. The blaze is
+started from the outside by your enemy, and with some red fire, which
+makes a lot of smoke, we can show on the screen some pictures that will
+look like a real fire. Then out you rush, before the flames have had a
+chance to spread, and after you and the lady are safe, the fire gains
+great headway, and the cottage burns to the ground. But the pictures are
+being taken all the while, and it will show up great! There's not a bit
+of danger."
+
+"Not that way," said Miss Lee. "I'm willing to do my part, Mr. Ringold."
+
+"Well, I suppose I'll have to also," spoke C. C., with a sigh. "But I
+know something will happen. Some sparks will fall on me and scorch me,
+anyhow, I'm sure."
+
+"Oh, Gloomy!" reproachfully exclaimed Miss Shay. "Do look on the bright
+side for once."
+
+"There isn't any," asserted the comedian, as he resumed his practice of
+making strange faces.
+
+Mr. Ringold succeeded in purchasing, for a moderate sum, one of the
+older cottages, and it was put in shape for its share in the moving
+picture story, some changes being necessary. The fisherman and his
+family moved out, glad of the chance to better themselves.
+
+"We won't say anything about planning to fire the shack," declared Mr.
+Ringold to the boys and the members of his company. "If we do it will
+attract a crowd, and that's just what we don't want. The fewer the
+better. Now we'll go over to the shack, and have a rehearsal."
+
+"A dress one?" asked Mr. Piper, meaning that everything would be done
+just as if the pictures were being taken. "You're not going to have the
+real fire now; are you?"
+
+"No, indeed," said the manager. "We can only burn the cottage down
+once."
+
+The rehearsal went off well, and Blake and Joe, who were to make the
+films, watched the work with interest. They were anxious for the time
+to come to set the fire.
+
+"Well, I guess that will do," decided Mr. Ringold, after a day or two
+spent in getting the actors and actresses familiar with their parts.
+"We'll do the business to-morrow morning."
+
+Accordingly, they all assembled at the shack, and went through the
+various acts leading up to the fire scene. The boys ground away
+industriously at the handles of the moving picture cameras.
+
+All went well until it came time to set the fire. Then, whether the
+building was older and more tinder-like than was supposed, or whether
+Mr. Levinberg, the "villain" who fired the shack, used too much red fire
+and kerosene, was not explained.
+
+At any rate, the little building was more quickly wrapped in flame and
+smoke than was expected, and Mr. Ringold yelled excitedly:
+
+"Come on out, C. C.! Don't wait any longer. Never mind if it isn't time!
+Rush out with the girl before it's too late!"
+
+"That's what I'll do!" cried the comedian, appearing in the doorway,
+carrying Miss Lee. There was little danger now, as long as he was in the
+open, unless some tongue of fire should catch the girl's dress.
+
+"Hurry!" cried the manager, and C. C. sprinted out of the reach of the
+fire.
+
+And then something entirely unexpected, and not down on the bill,
+happened. A number of fishermen, who had seen the blaze from down the
+beach, came running up, all excited, thinking the fire was an accident.
+
+"Get that old pumping engine!" shouted one grizzled salt. "We'll have
+that blaze out in no time!"
+
+"Form a bucket brigade!" suggested another.
+
+"No! No! Let it burn!" cried Mr. Ringold. "We want it to burn!"
+
+"Want it to burn?" was shouted at him, by the fisherman who had proposed
+the pump. "Be you plumb crazy? Come on, boys, form that bucket brigade.
+Some of you run that hand-pump over here where we can pour water in the
+tank. Stretch the hose!"
+
+"They'll spoil the picture!" cried Mr. Ringold, rushing about, and
+trying to keep the fishermen away.
+
+Joe and Blake, not having orders to the contrary, and not knowing but
+what this was all part of the play, continued to grind away at their
+cameras, two reels of this play being taken, as an additional one was
+needed.
+
+"Here she comes!" cried the fisherman, as some of his companions came
+rushing from a shed with an ancient style of hand fire-engine,
+consisting of a tank, on wheels, with a force-pump arrangement, worked
+by long handles. Water was poured in the tank by means of buckets, and
+forced out on the blaze through a hose.
+
+"Bring her up as clost as ye kin!" directed the self-appointed chief of
+the amateur fire department; "'cause our hose ain't very long. Form
+lines now, and dip water up from the ocean. Salt water is good for
+fires!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+ATTACKED BY A SWORDFISH
+
+
+"Don't do it!" cried Mr. Ringold. "Let that fire burn!"
+
+But there were now so many fishermen rushing about here and there that
+they paid no attention to the excited theatrical man, who issued orders
+right and left.
+
+"What shall we do?" demanded C. C., who had gotten off to one side with
+the girl he was supposed to have "rescued" from the burning cabin.
+
+"I don't know!" cried Mr. Ringold. "The whole play is spoiled by those
+fellows butting in. Hi, there!" he called to Blake and Joe, as he saw
+them operating the cameras. "Stop the reel! We don't want any of this!"
+
+The clicking machines grew silent, and then the boys knew that something
+was wrong.
+
+Meanwhile, the hand engine was placed in position. It was learned,
+later, that the fish concern kept it for use in cases of emergency.
+There had been some small blazes, in which the old engine had proved
+its worth.
+
+The fishermen knew how to operate it to advantage, too, and soon a
+double line of them, extending from the surf to the tank, began passing
+the filled buckets up one side and the empty ones down the other. As the
+tank filled, other men worked the handles and a stream of water was soon
+spurting on the fire.
+
+"Quit it! Oh, quit it!" begged Mr. Ringold. "I want that shack to burn!"
+
+"He's crazy--don't mind him!" shouted the self-appointed chief. "We'll
+soon have it out now."
+
+"I'll see if I can stop them," said C. C., for the water had about
+quenched the blaze, and it was useless to try to go on with the play.
+"They'll listen to me," the comedian declared.
+
+He rushed forward, but at that moment the hose got from the control of
+the two men holding it. The nozzle swung around, and the stream came
+full force over Christopher Cutler Piper, drenching him in an instant.
+
+"I say there--hold on--shut that water off! I--I'm being drowned!" he
+spluttered. And then, as the men again got the nozzle under control, the
+comedian, dripping water at every point, walked away, saying:
+
+"There, I told you something would happen!"
+
+"I should say it has!" declared Mr. Ringold, for once agreeing with the
+gloomy actor.
+
+A few more strokes of the pump handles, a few more gallons of water, and
+the fire, which had quickly attacked all parts of the cottage at once,
+died out.
+
+"There!" cried Abe Haskill, the old fisherman-chief. "We saved your
+building for ye, Mr. Ringold. Ain't no use in buyin' a shack an' then
+havin' it burn down--no matter if it ain't wuth much. We saved her for
+you, though at one time it looked pretty dubious. This is the first fire
+we've had in some time, an' I reckon we got a bit rusty.
+
+"I might add," he went on, "that it's customary, in cases where a
+volunteer department saves a buildin' from destruction--it's customary,
+I say, for the owner to donate a leetle suthin' to the department. In
+this case, seein' as how Jim Belton sold his shack to you--why, you're
+the owner. And, as I say, we saved her for you!" he concluded, proudly.
+
+"Yes, I see you did," remarked Mr. Ringold, dubiously. "Now I've got to
+buy another, and burn that down, for this play is spoiled."
+
+"What! Did you _want_ her to burn?" asked Mr. Haskill, in accents of
+horror. "Did you want the devourin' element to consume that buildin'?"
+
+"I did," replied the theatrical man.
+
+"Well--I vum!" declared the volunteer chief. "Boys, we made a mistake."
+
+"The next time I'll tell the inhabitants here what my plans are," went
+on Mr. Ringold, grimly. "I told you I wanted it to burn."
+
+"I know you did," admitted the chief; "but I thought you was so excited
+you didn't know what you was sayin'."
+
+"So did I," admitted several of the volunteer fire-fighters. "It's too
+bad!"
+
+"Well, you meant all right, anyhow," went on Mr. Ringold, with cheerful
+philosophy; "and I'll make the department a donation. But next time,
+please don't interfere. I'll set another shack on fire as soon as I can
+arrange to buy one," he said to his company. "Meanwhile we'll go on with
+another drama. Save whatever you can of the films," he added to Blake
+and Joe. "Up to the time the firemen broke in they'll be all right. Next
+time I'll be more explicit."
+
+"I knew something would happen," declared C. C., gloomily, as he tried
+to wring some of the water from his clothes. "I didn't burn, but I
+nearly drowned."
+
+There was nothing to do but return to their boarding place and arrange
+for another drama, rehearsals for which would take place in a day or so.
+
+"Meanwhile," said Mr. Ringold to Joe and Blake, "you may have a little
+time off. I tell you what you might do. We could use a fishing scene, I
+believe. Suppose you go out in one of the small boats here and get a
+series of views when they lift their nets."
+
+"The very thing!" cried Blake. "We'll do it; eh, Joe?"
+
+"Sure thing!"
+
+"You might, in fact," went on Mr. Ringold, "show the whole process of
+fishing, from the launching of the boats until they come back filled
+with the day's catch."
+
+This the boys arranged to do, and that noon, when the power boats were
+launched, they were on hand to make moving pictures.
+
+The craft, as I have explained, were "eased down" the sloping beach, by
+means of rollers and planks, until the stern was just at the edge of the
+surf. The motor was then started, the boat being still held fast by a
+rope. This rope was fastened in a peculiar knot, so that one man,
+standing near it, could loosen it with one pull when the word was given
+to "cut loose."
+
+The men watched the rollers with practiced eyes, for if the surf was
+heavy the boat might get into the trough, on being launched, and
+capsize. Often fishermen are drowned in this way, being struck by the
+heavy boat, or getting under it.
+
+With the engine racing, the men got into the boat. One remained on the
+beach, holding the restraining rope. Another took his place at the
+stern, with a long steering oar that was to be used to get her bow on to
+the waves.
+
+A particularly large wave was seen coming in.
+
+"Get ready!" ordered the captain.
+
+The man at the big oar took his place. The boat was almost afloat now.
+
+"Cut loose!" came the order.
+
+The man at the rope yanked the knot loose. The boat slid into the water
+and the next instant was being tossed about in the breakers, the man
+with the oar forcing her head around, aided by the powerful gasoline
+engine that turned the propeller. The craft came near to capsizing, but
+kept upright, and a little later was beyond the surf, into deep water,
+speeding out to the nets two miles away.
+
+Blake and Joe, working by turns, got some fine views of the launching.
+Then, getting into another of the fishing boats with their cameras, and
+with Macaroni to aid them, they prepared to go out to the fishing
+grounds, where the nets were.
+
+"Say, this is rough, all right!" exclaimed Blake, as they found
+themselves in the boiling, frothing surf.
+
+"That's what!" agreed Joe.
+
+"Let me out! I want to walk!" pleaded Macaroni, who was not very fond of
+the water.
+
+"You'll be all right in a minute!" called Abe Haskill, who was captain
+of the boat. "Soon as you git out beyond the breakers you won't mind
+it."
+
+And they found that they did not, though there was some motion, as there
+was quite a swell on. They reached the nets safely, and while the meshes
+were hauled up, bringing a good catch of fish, the moving picture boys
+took many views. It was interesting as well as instructive.
+
+"This would make a good educational reel," suggested Blake, as he spread
+his legs to maintain his balance against the rocking motion of the boat.
+
+"Indeed it would," observed Joe. "Look, there's some one overboard!" and
+he pointed to one of the other boats.
+
+A man had indeed slipped into the sea. The moving picture boys were
+ready, however, and trained one of the cameras on the fisherman, who,
+laughing at his mishap, soon swam to the boat again, and was pulled in.
+
+It took some little time to haul the nets, but at last, with their own
+boat well filled with flapping fish, as were the others, Joe and Blake
+started for shore.
+
+"Well, we made out all right, I think," said Blake, as he looked to see
+if there was any more film left in his machine.
+
+"Sure we did," declared his chum. "If we had to take some other views we
+could."
+
+"We'll want some of the landing of the boats, and the carting of the
+fish up to the sheds," Blake reminded him.
+
+"That's right, we will. I guess I can----"
+
+Joe did not finish his sentence. At that moment there came a jar and
+Blake cried:
+
+"We've hit something!"
+
+"No, something has hit _us_!" corrected one of the fishermen, leaping
+up, and grabbing a long, iron-shod pole.
+
+"What is it?" demanded Joe.
+
+"A pesky swordfish. He's ramming us, and he may poke a hole in us! If I
+can get a chance I'll jab him!" and the man leaned over the side. As he
+did so there came another attack on the craft, so fierce that it heeled
+over, and the man with the pole, giving a cry, was flung overboard.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+SUSPICIOUS ACTIONS
+
+
+"Man overboard!" cried several of the fishermen.
+
+"Yes, and with a pesky swordfish too close for comfort!" added Abe
+Haskill. "Stop that motor, Bunker; we'll have to pick him up."
+
+The fisherman who was called to, pulled out the switch, thus stopping
+the motor, and the boat drifted about on the slowly rising and falling
+billows.
+
+"Can you see him?" asked the captain of the man who acted as mate.
+
+"Yes, he's right astern, but that fish----"
+
+"Is he coming after Jake?"
+
+"Full tilt!"
+
+"Grab that prod, one of you!" yelled the captain. "See if you can
+harpoon him with it. I'll git out the duck gun, though land knows it
+ain't much use against a pesky swordfish!"
+
+One of the fishermen picked up the iron-shod pole the unfortunate man
+had dropped as he went overboard, and stood ready to cast it at the big
+fish, which could be seen swirling along in the water, near the swimmer.
+
+"Say!" cried Blake to Joe. "It may seem a heartless thing to do, but why
+can't we get some moving pictures of this?"
+
+"We can," decided his chum. "We can't help any, and we might as well
+film it."
+
+"Come on, then. You hold the camera steady and I'll turn the handle."
+
+They had a machine all in readiness, its tripod shortened so that the
+lens could be brought close to the water.
+
+"He's dived!" cried one of the men.
+
+"Who--the fish, or Jake?" demanded the captain.
+
+"Jake. He saw the fish coming at him, and he went under. Lucky he did,
+or he might have been cut in two."
+
+"Throw that prod; can't you? I'll have this gun ready in a minute."
+
+The captain had pulled from a locker an old-fashioned, double-barreled
+duck gun.
+
+"It's loaded with slugs," he called to the boys, who were even now
+taking moving pictures of the strange scene. "I carry it for sharks, but
+it'll do as well against a swordfish, though they don't commonly attack
+men."
+
+"Here goes for a cast!" cried the man with the prod, which was a sort
+of boathook without the hook. "I'll see if I can spear him!"
+
+Leaning forward he threw the weapon with all his force. The other
+fishermen, some of whom had grasped the spare oars to swing the boat
+around, looked eagerly to see the result.
+
+"Missed, by ginger!" exclaimed the captain. "Here, let me try. Where's
+Jake?"
+
+"Out there. He's swimming strong," was the answer. "The pesky fish is
+coming back at him again."
+
+"Duck, Jake, duck!" cried the captain, as he got ready with the gun.
+"I'm going to shoot. Get down out of the way, and hold your breath.
+We'll have you in another minute!"
+
+He could see the swordfish plainly now, rushing directly toward the
+swimmer. The man heard and followed directions. Deep down he dived, and
+the fish shot directly over him.
+
+"Say, that's a great picture!" cried Blake.
+
+"That's what!" yelled Joe, and then his voice was drowned in the report
+of the gun, which was doubly charged.
+
+"I got him! By cracky, I got him!" cried the captain. "That's his blood
+showing."
+
+The waves were indeed red with the blood of the big fish, and a moment
+later its body was floating on the swells.
+
+"There's Jake!" cried one of the fishermen.
+
+"All right!" was the response. "Throw him a line. He's in no danger
+now."
+
+A few moments later the man was safe aboard, minus his boots, which he
+had kicked off in the sea, and some of his heavier clothing.
+
+"That's the end of Mr. Swordfish," murmured the captain, in gratified
+tones, as he watched the lifeless body sink. "The sharks will get him.
+Are you all right, Jake?"
+
+"Sure. It was hard work, though; and once I thought he had me. I dived
+just in time."
+
+"That's what you did," said Blake. "It was a great exhibition, and when
+it's thrown on the screen it will make a sensation, I'm sure."
+
+"Say, you don't mean to tell me you snapped what happened?" asked the
+fisherman, in surprise.
+
+"We sure did," declared Joe. "We got every move."
+
+"Plucky lads," murmured the captain; "and right on the job, too. Start
+the motor," he added to the man in charge of it.
+
+"We've sprung a leak, captain!" exclaimed a man up in the bow. "Water's
+coming in."
+
+"It's where that pesky swordfish rammed us, I reckon. But stuff
+something in and it will hold until we get to shore. We haven't far to
+go."
+
+The boat was soon under way again, and offers of aid from sister craft
+that circled around were declined. A bundle of rags served to stop the
+inrush of most of the water, and a little later the craft, with its load
+of fish, was hauled up on the beach by means of a tackle and fall,
+horses being the motive power. Joe and Blake got pictures of the other
+boats making a similar landing, theirs being the first in.
+
+"Well, we got some fine views," said Blake, as he and his chum started
+for their boarding place.
+
+"We sure did, and something unexpected, too. I never counted on a
+swordfish attack."
+
+"No, and I guess the fishermen didn't either. But it will make a
+realistic film, as Mr. Hadley would say."
+
+"It's just our hoodoo luck again," went on Joe. "Something out of the
+ordinary seems to be happening all the while to us."
+
+"Well, it's better than monotony."
+
+"I suppose so. But I wonder what it will be next?"
+
+The boys were congratulated on their success by Mr. Hadley and Mr.
+Ringold, and the films, when developed and printed a little later,
+furnished a series of fine views.
+
+For the next week the boys had little time to themselves. The drama
+with the burning shack was enacted over again, this time with success,
+the volunteer firemen not throwing any water on the blaze. Other sea
+dramas were also made, and then came a period of rest, in which Blake
+and Joe had hardly anything to do.
+
+"Say," exclaimed Blake, one afternoon, "let's go for a walk down the
+beach, by the cliffs. It's a fine day and it will do us good."
+
+"All right," agreed Joe. "I was thinking of paying another visit to the
+lighthouse, and asking if there was any news of my father; but, of
+course, there can't be."
+
+"Hardly," agreed Blake, thinking that the only news his chum would get
+there would be bad.
+
+They strolled along the shore, making excursions here and there as
+something attracted them. Going through a little group of scrub oak,
+somewhat back from the shore, and climbing a slight elevation to get a
+view of the Pacific, the boys were startled, as they were about to
+emerge into a little open glade, to hear voices.
+
+"Some one else besides us out here to-day," spoke Joe, in a low voice.
+
+"That's right," agreed his chum. "Keep still until we see who it is."
+
+Cautiously they advanced until they stood behind a little screen of
+trees, and were gazing into the open place. They saw several men at work
+erecting some sort of tower, or pile of rocks, and on top of it was
+mounted a large lantern.
+
+"There--that ought to show pretty well," remarked one of the men.
+
+"Yes, and be seen a good distance out to sea," put in another. "It's
+just in the right place, too; for the rocks extend a good way out, and
+you can't see 'em even at dead low water."
+
+"And anything drawing more than ten feet will be sure to strike on 'em,"
+suggested a third.
+
+"That's right, Sandy," came the retort. "Have you got the lantern fixed
+so that she'll flash like the other?"
+
+"I sure have. All we've got to do is to pull one wire--this way--and the
+light is shut off. Another pull, and she gives a flash, just like a
+revolving light."
+
+"Good. We'll give it a trial to-night."
+
+"Say, what do you think they are?" whispered Joe.
+
+"I hardly know, and yet----"
+
+"Maybe they're experimenting with a new kind of light?" suggested the
+other lad.
+
+"Experimenting? Yes!" spoke Blake, in a low, tense voice. "And I can
+guess what they're experimenting for."
+
+"What?"
+
+Blake was about to answer, when one of the men, looking in the direction
+where the boys were concealed, uttered an exclamation.
+
+"Hark!" he cried. "I think I heard something."
+
+"It was the wind," declared one.
+
+"A bird in the bushes," said another.
+
+"I'm going to see!" declared the man. And he came straight toward their
+hiding place.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+JOE SUSPECTS SOMETHING
+
+
+"What'll we do, Blake?" was the whispered question.
+
+"Stay here, I guess. If we run they'll see us or hear us. Besides, we
+haven't done anything to run for."
+
+"I know it, but those men look like ugly customers. I wonder what they
+can be up to?"
+
+"They are--" began Blake, and then he pulled Joe down beside him in the
+bushes.
+
+"He's turned off to one side," Blake went on. "He hasn't seen us, and he
+doesn't know just where to look. He may pass us by. Keep still!"
+
+Together they crouched down. The man looked around as though to trace
+the noise which had been made when Joe accidentally stepped on a stick,
+which broke under his weight.
+
+"Don't breathe," whispered Blake, with his lips close to Joe's ear. "I
+think he's going to pass us by."
+
+The man paused, seemed as if about to come directly for them again, and
+then dashed off to one side. He made a leap into the bushes, only to
+discover nothing, as his chagrined exclamation showed.
+
+"I told you so!" growled one of his companions. "It was only the wind."
+
+"The wind doesn't break sticks," was the snappish reply.
+
+"Then it was a bird--maybe a fishhawk."
+
+"Maybe," assented the man who had started to make the search. "But I
+thought some one was spying on us, and if they were----" He did not
+finish, but glared angrily around. He was so close to the boys that they
+could hear his rapid breathing, but the leafy screen effectively hid
+them from view. "If I catch any one," he went on, "he'll wish he never
+ran across Hemp Danforth!" and he shook a big fist.
+
+"Oh, come on!" called some of his companions. "There's lots to be done
+yet before we get this lantern finished. And if we want any rich
+pickings we'll have to hustle for 'em. The weather looks like it was
+going to break, and that will be just what we want. Come on, Hemp."
+
+"All right, I will, only don't talk so bold and free."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Because some one might be spying and listening to us."
+
+"He's got that on his mind yet," laughed one of the men. "There's no one
+around here."
+
+"And if they were, what could they pick up?" demanded another.
+
+"That's all right--it's best to be careful," said the one called Hemp
+Danforth. "I'm taking no chances. Some of us might--well, no telling
+what might happen to us if we was to be found out."
+
+"Don't talk that way," spoke a tall, thin man. "It isn't altogether
+cheerful--especially with what work we have on hand. Come on, now; let's
+make this pillar a little higher, and the light will show better."
+
+"Say, what do you imagine they are doing?" whispered Joe. "It's a queer
+game, Blake."
+
+"It sure is. I've about made up my mind what they are up to, and yet I
+may be wrong. Let's wait here a while longer, and maybe we can pick up
+some information that will give us a better clue."
+
+The men were now engaged in heaping more stones on the pile where the
+lantern had set, and were making so much noise at it that the whispering
+of the boys could not be heard.
+
+"Any special vessels in view?" asked one of the men, after they had
+worked away for some time in silence.
+
+"No, but there'll sure be one along before long. We can count on that.
+Of course, we'll have to keep the light going several nights, maybe, but
+it'll be worth while."
+
+"It ought to fool 'em, all right," went on Hemp Danforth. "If it hadn't
+been that Nate Duncan tripped us up, and didn't come across with that
+information we wanted, we wouldn't have all this trouble."
+
+For a moment Joe seemed to stiffen as he heard the name, and then, in a
+hoarse whisper, he turned to Blake and said:
+
+"Did you hear that? These men know my father. They used his name."
+
+"Yes, but keep quiet!" urged Blake, for Joe had raised his voice. "We
+don't want them to know we're here."
+
+"But they know my father, Blake," went on Joe, using more caution,
+however, in his tones. "I must speak to them. Maybe they were associated
+with him in lighthouse work, and this may be some new patent lantern
+they're trying. Maybe my father hasn't gone to China at all, and these
+men can tell where he is."
+
+Joe made a move as though to leave the screened hiding place and
+approach the men.
+
+"No--don't go!" whispered Blake, hoarsely, holding his chum back. "Stay
+here, Joe. Don't speak to those men!"
+
+"But they have something to do with my father."
+
+"No matter; do as I say, please! Believe me, Joe, I can't explain now,
+for I promised I would not. But you'll understand--later. Don't approach
+those men!"
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Because--well, I can't tell you!"
+
+"Then I'm going!" declared Joe, half fiercely. "Blake, I'm sure you're
+keeping something from me. I've suspected it for some time, for you've
+looked at me in a queer fashion when I spoke of my father. Now what is
+it?"
+
+"Really, Joe, it's nothing--that is----"
+
+"Yes, it is something. If you don't tell me I'll go out there and take
+the consequences!"
+
+Joe broke from Blake's restraining grasp as he whispered this, and was
+about to dash for the bushes, when Hemp Danforth, dashing down a stone
+he was raising, cried out:
+
+"Boys, you can't fool me! There is some one here, and they're spying on
+us. I'll make 'em sorry for it! I hear whispering, and I've felt right
+along as though unseen eyes were looking at me. Now I'm going to find
+out who it is!"
+
+Once more he started for the place where Blake and Joe were concealed.
+This time it could be seen that he would not be swerved from his quest.
+
+"Come on, Joe. We've got to run for it!" exclaimed Blake, and, not
+caring now how much noise they made--being under the necessity of
+betraying their presence--they dashed back in the direction they had
+come.
+
+"Here they are!" yelled Hemp, as he ran after them, tearing through the
+underbrush. "I knew we were being spied on! Come along, men!" he yelled.
+
+Blake and Joe looked back as they got to the path that led along the
+cliff, below which was the rolling ocean. They had a glimpse of the big
+man racing after them, several others in his wake.
+
+"Stop!" commanded Hemp Danforth. "Hold on, you spies!"
+
+"Don't answer," advised Blake. "Save your breath for running, Joe."
+
+"Um!" grunted his chum.
+
+They were fleet of foot, and had a start. They were also lighter in
+weight than was their pursuer. In a short time they were well ahead.
+
+"But he's still coming on!" declared Blake.
+
+"We've got to give him the slip," declared Joe. "Can't you see some side
+path we can take?"
+
+"Yes, here's one," was the panting answer, and at that moment Blake
+parted some low bushes and jumped into a sort of cross path, almost
+concealed from view. "Come on, Joe!"
+
+His chum lost no time in following, and for a few moments, at least,
+they were comparatively safe.
+
+"Now, Blake," said Joe, when they felt that they could slacken their
+pace to get their breath, "I want you to tell me that secret!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+AFTER THE WRECKERS
+
+
+Blake Stewart was at a loss. He did not know what to do, and, though he
+had been expecting to hear this request at almost any time, he was no
+more prepared for it now than he would have been had it been made
+directly after Blake learned of Mr. Duncan's flight.
+
+"Well?" asked Joe, suggestively, when his chum did not answer. "Aren't
+you going to tell me?"
+
+"What makes you think I have a secret, Joe?" Thus Blake tried to
+temporize, so that he might think what was best to do.
+
+"Oh, I'm sure you have," declared Joe, "and you might as well tell me
+now as any time, for I'm bound to find it out. I don't believe there's
+any more danger now," and he paused to look back along the almost hidden
+path they had followed. "I can't see anything of that man," he added.
+"We gave him the slip, all right.
+
+"Now go ahead, Blake, and end my suspense. I've seen for some time that
+you've been keeping something back from me. I don't know what it is, but
+it's something about my father. And I appreciate why you're doing it.
+You want to spare my feelings."
+
+"That's it!" cried Blake, eagerly, glad of any chance to put off what he
+regarded as a most unpleasant duty. "It is for your sake, Joe, that I
+have been keeping silent, and I wish you would go on letting me do so.
+Believe me, if I thought it well for you to know I'd tell you."
+
+"Is it--is it that he isn't my father, after all?" faltered the lad,
+following a silence in which all sound of pursuit had died away. The
+boys felt that they were safe now. "Do you mean to say, Blake, that this
+man whom I've traced after such hard work, isn't any relation to
+me--haven't I any folks, after all?"
+
+"No, Joe, it isn't that at all. He's your father, as far as I know, and
+I will admit there is some secret about him. But I'd rather not tell
+you."
+
+"I want to know it," insisted Joe, firmly.
+
+"If you'll only wait," went on his chum, "it may all be explained
+when--when he comes back. Then there won't be any need of a secret.
+Better wait, Joe."
+
+"No, I've got to hear it right away. If it's any disgrace--and it must
+be, or you'd be willing to tell me--if it's any disgrace, it's my duty
+to stand up for my father when he isn't here. I'm his son, and I have a
+right to know about it, and protect his name as much as I can. Tell me,
+Blake."
+
+The other hesitated a moment. If he told, it would be, he felt, breaking
+his promise made to the lighthouse keeper, but then the promise was not
+so sacred that it could not be broken. It was given under a sort of
+discretion, and Blake knew that he would be allowed to reveal what had
+been said if he felt that it was best to do so. The time now seemed to
+have come to do this. He took a sudden resolve.
+
+"All right, Joe," he said, "I'll tell you. There is a secret about your
+father. I suppose you know what sort of men those were that we just got
+away from?" and he nodded in the direction of the hill down which they
+had raced.
+
+"I've been puzzling my head about them, Blake," came the answer, "and
+all I can say is that they must be either men who are experimenting with
+a new kind of light, or else they are--wreckers!"
+
+"That's it, Joe. They are wreckers, and they're plotting to lure some
+vessel on the rocks by means of false lights."
+
+"The scoundrels!" burst out Joe. "We've got to spoil their wicked
+game."
+
+"That's what we have. We'll tell the police, or some one in authority."
+
+"But before we do," broke in Joe, "tell me about my father, though I
+begin to suspect now," and there was a look of sadness on his face.
+
+"I presume you pretty well know what is coming," said Blake, slowly,
+"now you have heard what those men said. The whole amount of it is, Joe,
+that your father is suspected of having been in league with those
+wreckers--that he helped to lure vessels on these same rocks."
+
+"My father a wrecker!" cried Joe. "It can't be--I won't believe it!"
+
+"I didn't want to either, when I heard it," said Blake, "and maybe, now
+that I've told you, we can work together and find some way of proving
+him innocent."
+
+"That's it!" cried the son. "Oh, if he were only here to help us! I
+wonder why he went away?"
+
+"The lighthouse keeper said," began Blake, "that your father left
+because he feared to be arrested. And the day after he went away an
+officer did come for him," and he proceeded to relate what Mr. Stanton
+had said.
+
+"I don't believe it!" cried Joe, when the account was finished. "Of
+course, I don't remember my father, and, naturally, I don't know what
+sort of a man he was, but I don't believe he was a wrecker!"
+
+"And I don't either!" added Blake. "Here's my hand on it, Joe, and we'll
+do our best to find out the truth of this thing," and the two chums
+clasped hands warmly.
+
+"But it's mighty strange what those men said about him," went on Joe.
+"To think that we would stumble on the wreckers right at work. We can
+lead the police to the very place where they have set up their false
+light."
+
+"Maybe we can do better than that, Joe."
+
+"How?"
+
+"Why, we may be able to help the police catch these same fellows."
+
+"That's so. Have you a plan, Blake?" asked his chum, eagerly, as they
+walked on along the path.
+
+"Not yet, but we'll make one up. But, Joe, did you notice just what it
+was that big wrecker said?"
+
+"Not exactly; I was too excited when I heard them mention my father's
+name."
+
+"Well, they as much as said that your father had refused to give them
+the information they wanted, and this spoiled their scheme. That might
+go to show that they made offers to him to have him help them in their
+wicked plans, and he refused. That made them turn against him, and----"
+
+"I see, Blake! You mean that, maybe, after all, he left because he was
+afraid of the wreckers, and not because he had done anything wrong?"
+
+"That's it, Joe. Of course, it's all guess work on our part, so far, and
+I think the best thing we can do is to go to the lighthouse and tell Mr.
+Stanton all we've seen and heard. He may be able to advise us, even if
+he is an old man. At any rate, he'll know what police or government
+officers to go to, so we can catch these wreckers."
+
+"That's right, Blake. Come on. I guess we can go down on the beach now.
+Those fellows won't venture out into the open after us, I don't
+believe."
+
+"No, they seem to have given up the chase," replied Blake, and the two
+lads were soon down on the shore.
+
+A look around showed no signs of the supposed wreckers, and a little
+later the two lads were in the lighthouse telling their story to the
+wondering and amazed keeper.
+
+"So that's how the scoundrels are planning to work; are they?" cried the
+old man. "Going to duplicate my light, and fool the poor sailors! But
+we'll put a spoke in their wheel, boys. We'll spike their guns for 'em,
+and have 'em behind the bars, if there's any law in this land.
+
+"Putting up a false light right opposite those rocks--the most dangerous
+on the coast! No punishment would be too bad for 'em. Did you happen to
+hear, boys, when they expected to play that wicked game?"
+
+"They didn't mention any special night," replied Blake; "it seemed that
+they counted on getting some information which failed them--Joe's
+father," he added, thinking it well to let Mr. Stanton know that Joe had
+been informed of the secret.
+
+"Joe's father; eh?" said the old man, musingly. "Boy, I'm mighty sorry
+for you," he said, softly; "for I know the disgrace is trying, and if it
+had been possible to keep this from you----"
+
+"I'm glad I know!" burst out Joe. "There isn't going to be any disgrace.
+My father is innocent, I'm sure of it; and I believe we can prove it,
+once we have these wreckers arrested."
+
+"That's the way to talk!" cried the old man. "Boys, I'll help you. We'll
+get right after these miscreants. Maybe I was wrong, after all, in
+thinking Nate Duncan guilty. He was a good man, and it made me feel bad
+even to suspect him."
+
+"What do you think is the best thing to do?" asked Blake. "We ought to
+act quickly, or they may leave this part of the country, to try their
+scheme farther down the coast. It might succeed, then."
+
+"That's right," declared Mr. Stanton. "We must act at once. My assistant
+is here now, and I'll have him go with you. I'm a little too old for
+such work. Besides, one of us will have to stay here to guard the light.
+No telling but what the scoundrels might try to wreck it. But if they
+come, I'll be ready for 'em!" he cried, as he took down an old-fashioned
+musket from the wall. "I'll stand by to repel boarders!" he exclaimed,
+holding the weapon above his head, and then sighting it at an imaginary
+enemy.
+
+"I'll call my assistant," he went on. "Tom Cardiff is as sturdy a lad as
+you'd wish to see. He can get one of the men from the life saving
+station, and with a couple of the government secret service officers you
+ought to be able to get those wreckers, don't you think?"
+
+"Sure!" cried Joe.
+
+"Did you mean for us to help catch 'em?" asked Blake.
+
+"I certainly did," went on the keeper. "That is, unless you're----"
+
+"Afraid? Not a bit of it!" cried Blake, vigorously.
+
+"Besides, you know just where they were located," continued Mr. Stanton.
+
+"Though they may have taken the alarm and left," suggested Joe.
+
+"Then we'll trace 'em!" cried his chum. "Where is your helper, Mr.
+Stanton?"
+
+"I'll call him. I say Tom--Tom Cardiff!" he shouted up the lantern
+tower. "I'll finish cleaning the lens. I've got other work for you. Come
+down!"
+
+"Coming!" was the answer, and a little later a well built young fellow,
+muscular and of fine appearance, greeted the boys. The introduction was
+soon made, and the story of the lads told.
+
+"Wreckers; eh?" exclaimed Tom Cardiff. "I'd just like to get hold of
+some of the wretches," and he stretched out his vigorous arms.
+
+"Well, get after 'em, then!" exclaimed the old man. "You don't want to
+lose any time. Telephone for the officers."
+
+The wire was soon busy, and arrangements made for the secret service men
+to come to the lighthouse. One of the life saving squad, from a station
+a little farther down the coast, was also engaged.
+
+"Now you boys had better go back to your place," said Mr. Stanton; "and
+arrange to come back to-night. That's the only time to get after these
+fellows. They probably have finished their work, from what you told me,
+and they'll lay low until it's dark. Then we'll get after 'em!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+FAILURE
+
+
+"Boys, if you could only get moving pictures of the capture of the
+wreckers!"
+
+Thus exclaimed Mr. Ringold when his two young employees told of the
+plans afoot and asked to be excused from work a little longer.
+
+"It would be great," admitted Joe.
+
+"But we'd need a powerful light," said Blake, "and if we had that it
+would warn the men we're after."
+
+"That's so," spoke the theatrical man. "I guess it's out of the
+question. But you have done such wonderful work so far, that I'd like
+you to keep it up. A film of the capture of wreckers would make an
+audience sit up and take notice."
+
+"I guess I'll have to invent some sort of a light that would make it
+possible," put in Mr. Hadley; "but I'm afraid I can't have it ready
+to-night."
+
+"Then you don't mind if we go?" asked Blake.
+
+"No, indeed!" exclaimed Mr. Ringold, "and I wish you all success."
+
+"It's going to be a dark night," remarked Blake, a little later, as he
+and Joe were on their way to the lighthouse. It was early evening, but
+the sky was clouding over and a wind was coming up that sent the big
+billows bounding up on the sand with a booming noise like the discharge
+of distant cannon.
+
+"Yes, we'll have to sort of feel our way along," said Joe. "But I guess
+we can find the place, all right."
+
+"I hope so. But I wonder if the men will come back after the alarm we
+gave 'em?"
+
+"That's hard to tell, Blake. And yet they might; for, though they saw
+us, they may think we were only a couple of lads out for a stroll, who
+accidentally stumbled on their hiding place. In that case they wouldn't
+think we'd give any alarm, and they'd go on with their plans."
+
+"That's so. Well, we'll see what happens. I hope there aren't too many
+of them, so that our men can handle them."
+
+"That Tom Cardiff can get away with a couple on his own account, and
+with the life saver, and the secret service men, not to mention
+ourselves, Blake, I guess we'll make out all right."
+
+"I reckon you and I together, Joe, can account for at least one," and
+Blake looked quizzically at his chum.
+
+"I feel almost as if I could handle one alone, when I think of how they
+got my father into trouble," replied the other. "I'm going to give a
+good account of myself, if I get the chance."
+
+"Same here. Well, there's the lighthouse just ahead, and two or three
+men waiting for us. I guess they're the ones we are to go with."
+
+This proved to be the case, and a little later the boys were repeating
+to the life saver, and two secret service men, such parts of their story
+as Mr. Stanton and Tom Cardiff had omitted or forgotten.
+
+"Well, if we're all ready, we may as well start," proposed Sam Wilton,
+one of the government agents. The other was Jerry Boundley, while the
+name of the life saver was Frank Hale.
+
+"Yes, it's quite a tramp," said Tom Cardiff, "and the wreckers may be
+there now. Several small trading vessels are expected up the coast this
+week, and some may be due to-night. Though seeing that a storm is coming
+up, they may keep so far out from shore that they won't see the false
+lights, in case the wreckers try to work them.
+
+"This is about as wicked a piece of work as could well be done, trying
+to wreck vessels this way. A sailor has to depend absolutely on the
+lights, under certain conditions, and if they're wrong, it's like
+leading a blind man into danger. So let's get after 'em and stop their
+work!"
+
+The men well knew the way nearly to the place where the boys had
+discovered the wreckers at work, and so they would not have to rely on
+Joe and Blake to guide them until they were almost there.
+
+"When you see that you are close to the place," said Tom Cardiff, "you
+boys go ahead, and we'll trail along after you. And keep mighty quiet,
+too. If we can catch these fellows actually in the act of showing a
+false light, so much better for the chances of convicting them."
+
+They went on in the darkness. Back of them, as they mounted the hill
+which ended in the high cliff, could be seen the flashing light tended
+by aged Mr. Stanton.
+
+"He's right on the job," remarked Tom Cardiff. "Even if he's an old man
+he'll stay up all night to attend to that light, to see that it's
+trimmed properly, that the machinery is working, that there's oil in the
+reservoir, and that the lenses are clean. That light is just like a son
+or daughter to him. He can't bear to have anything happen to it and the
+very idea of any scoundrels trying to wreck vessels by means of a false
+beacon riles him up considerable."
+
+"I should think it would," agreed Mr. Wilton. "Well, if we can catch
+these fellows we'll put 'em where they can't do any more harm. And I
+hope we'll get back in time, so Mr. Stanton won't have to stay up all
+night."
+
+"I hope so, too," put in Tom Cardiff. "He isn't equal to the task."
+
+"We're getting close to the place now," said Blake, in a low voice a
+little later.
+
+"Then you boys come up here," ordered Tom Cardiff, who, in a measure,
+was a sort of leader. "And everybody keep quiet. Don't talk, except in
+whispers, and make as little noise as you can."
+
+Cautiously they advanced, the boys in the lead. The lads recognized,
+even in the darkness, some of the larger landmarks they had passed in
+their flight that afternoon.
+
+"Hold on a minute, and listen," suggested the life saver. "Maybe we can
+hear them talking."
+
+They paused, but the only sound that came was the booming of the surf on
+the rocks below.
+
+"Can you see anything of a light?" asked Mr. Boundley.
+
+"Not a thing," replied Joe, glancing all about him.
+
+"Look up," directed Tom Cardiff. "That's the best way to locate a light
+that you can't see directly. You may catch its reflection on the night
+mist."
+
+But the night was black all around them. Not a gleam could they make
+out. Once more they advanced until Joe and Blake recognized the place
+where they had been hiding, and whence they had looked into the open
+place where the wreckers had been putting up their false light.
+
+"It's here!" whispered Blake.
+
+"Just ahead there," added Joe.
+
+"Get ready, men!" exclaimed Tom Cardiff, in a tense whisper. "We'll rush
+'em before they know it--if they're here."
+
+Stout clubs had been brought along in anticipation of a hand-to-hand
+struggle, it being decided that these weapons were best, safest and most
+effective at close quarters.
+
+"All ready?" asked the leader.
+
+"Yes--yes!" came the answers.
+
+Blake leaned forward, cautiously parted the bushes and looked toward the
+open space. He had heard nothing, and seen nothing, and yet he knew that
+the men might be hidden about, and that the lantern might not yet be
+lighted.
+
+"Come on!" cried Tom Cardiff, and together they leaped from their place
+of concealment.
+
+There was a moment of silence, and then a disappointed exclamation burst
+from the lips of the assistant lighthouse keeper.
+
+"They're not here!" he declared. That was evident, for there had been
+no response as the searchers burst out.
+
+"Are you sure this is the place?" asked Mr. Wilton, turning to the boys.
+
+"Positive," answered Joe.
+
+"Here's the pile of rocks on which the lantern was set," added Blake.
+
+"But there's no lantern here now," said Tom Cardiff.
+
+"Then they've skipped!" declared the life saver. "They got suspicious
+and left, taking the lantern with 'em!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+ON THE TRAIL
+
+
+There was no doubt about it, the wreckers were not there, and the
+indications were that they had betaken themselves to some other
+location.
+
+When the men flashed the pocket electric lamps they had brought with
+them, the little opening at the top of the cliff was well illuminated.
+
+"Nothing doing!" exclaimed Joe, regretfully.
+
+"They must have skipped out right after they chased us," decided Blake.
+
+"And they went in a hurry, too," declared Tom Cardiff.
+
+"What makes you think so?" asked one of the government officers.
+
+"Look at how this stone pile, which they intended to use as a base for
+their lantern, is disturbed, and pulled apart," went on the assistant
+lighthouse keeper, as he flashed his torch on it. "I'll wager, boys,
+that when you saw it, with that contrivance atop by which they hoped to
+fool some vessels, this stone pile was well built up; wasn't it?"
+
+"Yes," said Blake, "it was."
+
+"Because," went on Tom Cardiff, "it would have to be so to make their
+light steady, to give the impression that it was one of the regular
+government lights. They were going to work a shutter, you boys say, to
+give the impression of a revolving light, and that would make it
+necessary to have a firm foundation.
+
+"And yet now the whole top of this stone pile is torn apart, showing
+that they must have ripped out whatever they had here to hold the
+lantern. They got away in a hurry, is my opinion."
+
+"And I guess we'll all have to agree," put in the life saver. "The
+question is--where did they go?"
+
+"And that's a question we've got to answer," added Tom Cardiff. "We've
+got to get on the trail."
+
+"Why so?" asked the life saver. "If you've driven 'em off, so they can't
+try any of their dastardly tricks to lure vessels ashore, isn't that all
+you want? You've spoiled their game."
+
+"Yes!" cried Tom Cardiff, "we've spoiled it for this one place, but
+they'll be at it somewhere else."
+
+"What do you mean?" asked Joe.
+
+"I mean that they've gone somewhere else!" exclaimed the assistant
+keeper. "They've made tracks away from here, but they've gone to some
+other place to set up their light, and try the same thing they were
+going to try here. It's our duty to keep after 'em, and break up the
+gang!"
+
+"That's right!" cried Mr. Wilton. "There's no telling what damage they
+might do, if left alone. Why, they might even get to some place where
+large passenger steamers pass, and wreck one of them, though mostly they
+aim to pick out a spot where small cargo boats would be lured on the
+rocks. We've got to keep after 'em!"
+
+"Then come on!" cried Joe. He was fired with enthusiasm, not only to
+capture the wreckers for the purpose of protecting human life and
+property, but he was also eager to have the scoundrels safe in
+confinement so that he might question them, and learn the source of the
+suspicion against his father.
+
+"On the trail!" cried Blake. "Maybe we can easily find the wreckers."
+
+"No, not to-night," advised Mr. Boundley. "It wouldn't be practical, in
+the first place; and if it was, it wouldn't be safe. We don't know this
+locality very well. There may be hidden dangers and pitfalls that would
+injure some of us. Then, too, we don't want to stumble on a nest of
+wreckers without knowing something of the lay of the ground."
+
+"What's best to be done?" asked Tom Cardiff.
+
+"Do nothing to-night," advised the government man. "To-morrow we can
+take up the trail, and by daylight we may be able to pick up something
+that will give us a clue. I think they won't try any of their tricks
+to-night, so it will be safe for us to go back."
+
+The others agreed with this view, and, after looking about the place a
+little more, and trying, but unsuccessfully, to find clues in the
+darkness, partly illuminated by the electric torches, they gave it up
+and started back to the lighthouse.
+
+"Well, what do you think?" asked Blake of Joe, as the two lads reached
+their boarding house in the little theatrical colony. It was quite late.
+
+"Think of it?" echoed Joe. "I'm terribly disappointed, that's what. I
+hoped I'd be able to get a start on disproving this accusation against
+my father."
+
+"Yes, it was a disappointment," agreed Blake.
+
+"And now there's no telling when I can."
+
+"No, not exactly; but, Joe, I have a plan."
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"What's the matter with getting on the trail after these fellows the
+first thing in the morning. No use waiting any longer, and we can't tell
+how prompt those government men may be. Of course they're interested,
+in a general way, in making the capture; but aside from that, you and I
+have a personal motive; for I'll admit I'm as interested as you are in
+proving that your father is innocent.
+
+"So what's the matter with getting back up on the cliff as soon as we
+can, and seeing if we can trace those fellows. You know we've had some
+experience after taking films of those Indians, and can follow signs
+pretty well."
+
+"I'm with you, Blake!" cried Joe. "We'll do it. I guess Mr. Ringold will
+let us off when he knows how important it is."
+
+They spoke of the matter to the theatrical man early the next morning,
+and he readily agreed to let them continue the work of trying to capture
+the wreckers.
+
+"Go ahead, boys," he said. "Mr. Hadley and your lad, Macaroni, can take
+what films we want to-day. And I would like to see you get those
+wreckers. There's no meaner criminal alive. All we'll do for the next
+couple of days is to get ready for our big drama--I've planned a new
+one--and I sure will want you boys to help film it for me."
+
+"What's it going to be about?" asked Blake.
+
+"It's a sea story, and a wreck figures in it."
+
+"A real wreck?" asked Joe, in some surprise. "That will be hard to do;
+won't it?"
+
+"It sure will, and I don't just know how to manage it. I could buy some
+old tub, and wreck it, I suppose, but I want it to look natural. While I
+don't wish anyone bad luck, I do wish, if a wreck had to happen, that it
+would come about here, so we could get moving pictures of it. But I
+don't suppose I'll have any such good luck.
+
+"However, I'll have to think about this. Now you boys can have a couple
+of days off, if you like, and I hope you'll find those miscreants."
+
+"I wish we could get you some moving pictures of them," spoke Blake;
+"but I'm afraid it's out of the question."
+
+The boys were soon at the scene of the disappointment the night before.
+Daylight revealed more clearly the haste with which the wreckers had
+removed their false lantern. Stones were scattered about, as were bits
+of broken wood, wire, rope and other accessories.
+
+"Now," said Joe, after they had looked about, "the thing to do is to
+trail them."
+
+"And the first thing is to get a clue," added Blake.
+
+They looked about, using the knowledge they had gained from being with
+the cowboy the time they filmed the pictures of the Moqui Indians. For
+some time their efforts were without success. They cast about in all
+directions, looking for some lead that would tell them in which
+direction the wreckers had gone.
+
+"I should think they'd go farther down the coast," suggested Joe. "They
+certainly wouldn't come toward the lighthouse, and they wouldn't go
+inland, for to work their plan they need to be near the shore."
+
+"That's right, to an extent," decided Blake; "but, at the same time,
+they may have wanted to give a false clue. So we mustn't let that fool
+us. Keep on looking."
+
+Narrowly they scanned the ground. It was covered with marks, not only of
+the footsteps of the wreckers, but of the men and boys themselves who
+had made the unsuccessful raid the night before.
+
+"Hello!" cried Blake, suddenly, as he dived into a clump of bushes.
+"Here's something!"
+
+"What is it?" asked Joe.
+
+"A piece of cloth, evidently torn from a man's clothing. And, Joe, now
+that I recall it, it's the same color as the suit worn by Hemp Danforth
+when he chased us. We're on the trail at last, Joe!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+THE DISCOVERY
+
+
+Joe Duncan leaped to his chum's side. Eagerly he looked at the bit of
+cloth which, caught on a thorn bush, had ripped from some man's garment.
+The cloth was not weather-beaten, which, to the boys, showed that it had
+not long been hanging there.
+
+"Blake, I believe you're right," assented his chum. "They went this way,
+and they must have done it for a blind, or else to get to some path that
+goes farther down the beach a different way," for the cloth was caught
+on a bush toward the landward side of the little clearing.
+
+"We'll follow this," said Blake.
+
+"Of course," agreed his chum.
+
+They pushed into the bushes. There was no semblance of a path, but this
+did not discourage the boys. They realized that the wreckers would want
+to cover up their trail, and would take a way that would not seem to
+lead anywhere.
+
+"This will branch off pretty soon," was Blake's opinion. "This is just
+a blind, to make us believe they have given up, and gone inland. Come
+on, Joe, and keep a sharp lookout for any other signs."
+
+They found none for some time, and then they came to a little open place
+where the soft ground held several footprints.
+
+"We're getting warmer!" exclaimed Joe.
+
+"Hush!" cautioned his chum. "They may hear us."
+
+"Why, you don't think they're around here; do you?"
+
+"There's no telling. It's best to be on the safe side. Keep quiet.
+Hello! here's something else!" and Blake, moving cautiously, so as not
+to make any more noise than possible, picked up a bit of metal.
+
+"What is it?" asked Joe.
+
+"Part of their lantern," answered his chum. "It was made of black sheet
+iron, you remember. This piece may have fallen off when they dragged it
+through the bushes. We're on the right trail, all right."
+
+"I believe you. But I wish it would turn on to a better path. It's no
+fun forcing your way through these bushes."
+
+"It'll turn soon now," predicted Blake. "They only took this lead long
+enough to discourage pursuit. They didn't like it any better than we
+do."
+
+His surmise proved correct and about five minutes later, having found
+other evidences of the passage of the wreckers, they came out on an open
+trail.
+
+It was a narrow path, leading along in both directions from where they
+came out on it, and following the coast line, but some distance inland.
+There were evidences that men had passed in both directions, and that at
+no distant time, for footprints turned to both the left and right, as
+the boys emerged from the blind trail in the brush.
+
+"Well, what about this?" questioned Joe, as he looked in silence at the
+tell-tale marks. "Which way shall we go, Blake?"
+
+"To the right!" came the answer, almost immediately.
+
+"What makes you say that?" asked his chum. "I don't see anything to show
+that they went to the right, any more than that they went to the left."
+
+"Don't you?" asked Blake. "Look here, and remember some of the things
+our cowboy guide told us when we were after the Indians. Now you see
+footprints going off to the left and right from this point; don't you?"
+
+"Sure."
+
+"Well, do you happen to notice that on the left there are footprints
+coming back as well as going."
+
+"Yes, I see that. But what does it mean?"
+
+"And on the right side, counting from this dividing point, there are
+only footprints in one direction."
+
+"That's so, Blake. But----"
+
+"Now what's the answer? Why the men got here, and, thinking they might
+be followed, tried a simple trick. They doubled their trail."
+
+"What's that?"
+
+"Why, some of them went off to the left, walked on a little way,
+doubled, or turned, and came back, joining the others, who had turned to
+the right and kept on."
+
+"Why was that?"
+
+"Because they wanted to fool us. Naturally a person, not looking
+carefully, would see both lines of footprints, and would reason that the
+men might have divided, or that there might have been two separate
+parties. He wouldn't know which trail to take. He might pick out the
+right one, and, again, he might select the wrong one."
+
+"And you say the right one is----"
+
+"To the right. We'll follow that. If they think to fool us, or make us
+divide our forces, they're going to be disappointed. Another thing."
+
+"What's that, Blake?" asked Joe, as he noticed his chum leaning over and
+carefully examining the marks in the dirt.
+
+"Why, naturally they wouldn't go to the left, as that eventually leads
+to the lighthouse. They want to keep some distance from that. Of course
+they'd go to the right. And here's where we go after 'em. Come on!"
+
+There was no hesitation now. Joe was as sure as his chum that the
+wreckers had gone farther down the coast, perhaps to some other high
+cliff where they could set up their lantern.
+
+They followed the path. The trail was plain now, showing that a number
+of men had passed along. Footprints were the only clues, however, a
+number overlapping one another.
+
+"What shall we do if we find them?" asked Joe.
+
+"I--I don't know," answered Blake. This was when they had been following
+the new trail for about an hour.
+
+"We can't tackle 'em alone, that's sure," went on Joe.
+
+"No, but we can--Hark! What's that?" whispered Blake, suddenly.
+
+They listened intently. Far off they could hear the roar of the surf on
+the beach; but, closer at hand, was another sound. It was the clink of
+metal. And then came the distant murmur of men's voices.
+
+"Joe, I think we've found them," whispered Blake. "Come on, but don't
+make any noise."
+
+Cautiously they crept forward, the sounds becoming more and more plain.
+
+Suddenly they heard a loud voice exclaim:
+
+"There! I guess that will do the business! And those fellows won't find
+us here!"
+
+"That's them!" whispered Blake in Joe's ear. "I know the voice of Hemp
+Danforth. We've found 'em, Joe!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+THE CAPTURE
+
+
+Impulsively the boys clasped hands as they realized what the discovery
+meant. They had come upon the new hiding place of the wreckers, and the
+chances were good for capture if no alarm was given.
+
+Joe, perhaps, felt more elated than did Blake, though the latter was
+glad that his theory in regard to the direction taken by the men had
+proved correct.
+
+But Joe felt that now he had a better chance to prove his father
+innocent of the charge made against him--that he was involved with the
+wreckers.
+
+"We've got 'em!" he whispered.
+
+"Yes--we've got 'em--to get!" agreed Blake. "No slip-up this time."
+
+In whispers they consulted, and decided to creep forward a short
+distance to make sure of their first surmise that the men, whose voices
+they heard, were really the wreckers.
+
+"We want to be certain about it," warned Blake, in a cautious whisper.
+
+"That's right," agreed his chum. "Go ahead, and I'll come after you."
+
+Cautiously they advanced until they were in a position to look forward
+and make out a number of men working on a sort of mound of rock that
+rose from the surface of the cliff.
+
+"This is a better place, from their standpoint, than the other,"
+whispered Blake. "A light can be seen farther."
+
+"Yes, and they're putting up the same lantern on a rock pile," remarked
+Joe. Both lads recognized the apparatus they had seen before. The men
+were busily engaged in setting it in place, evidently working fast to
+make up for lost time.
+
+"It's the same gang," observed Blake; "and they must know of some vessel
+that is to pass here soon, or they wouldn't be in such a hurry. Probably
+they count on the steersman mistaking this light for the one at
+Rockypoint, and standing in close here. Up at Rockypoint there is deep
+water close in shore, but it shoals very fast both ways, up or down the
+beach. So if a vessel saw a false light, and stood close in to get her
+bearings, she'd be on the rocks in no time."
+
+"That's right," agreed Joe. "She'd be wrecked and these fellows would
+get what they could out of her, caring nothing for the lives lost.
+Blake, we've got to stop 'em!"
+
+"We sure have."
+
+"Not only to clear my father, but to save others," went on Joe. "What's
+best to be done?"
+
+"Well, we can't capture 'em by ourselves; that's sure," went on Blake,
+each lad speaking in a cautious whisper. "The best thing for us to do is
+to go back, I think, and tell Tom Cardiff. He'll know what to do."
+
+"Maybe one of us had better stay here to keep watch. They may skip out."
+
+"No danger. They don't know that we have followed 'em, or that we are
+here."
+
+"Then we'll go back together."
+
+"Sure, and give the alarm. Then to make the capture, if we can."
+
+For a few minutes longer the eager boys looked on, unseen by the men
+whom they had trailed. The wreckers were busy putting up their lantern,
+and were making as much noise, talking and hammering on the apparatus,
+as though they were far removed from possible discovery.
+
+"Well, we'd better be going," suggested Blake, after a bit; and they
+made their departure without causing any suspicious sounds, so that the
+wreckers had no idea, as far as our heroes could ascertain, that they
+were being spied upon.
+
+In order to save time, as soon as they got to the nearest small
+settlement, Joe and Blake hired a carriage, and drove to the lighthouse.
+As may well be imagined their report caused considerable excitement.
+
+"We'll get right after 'em!" cried Tom Cardiff. "I just got a telephone
+message from the secret service men that they are on their way here.
+They'll arrive in about an hour. We were counting on getting on the
+trail ourselves to-day, but you boys got ahead of us. So in about an
+hour we'll start. I guess they'll be there then; won't they, lads."
+
+"I should judge so," was Blake's answer. "They've got quite a good deal
+yet to do to get that fake lantern in shape, and they don't seem
+suspicious."
+
+"We can't have our life saving friend with us now," went on the
+assistant keeper, "as he is on duty, but I guess the five of us will be
+enough."
+
+"Say!" cried Blake, with sudden thought, "if it's going to be an hour
+before we start we've got time to get our automatic moving picture
+camera, Joe."
+
+"What for?"
+
+"To get some views of this capture. It ought to make a dandy film, and
+we can set the machine in place, start the motor and then you and I can
+jump in and help catch these wreckers!"
+
+"The very thing!" cried his chum. "I wonder I didn't think of it myself.
+Come on!"
+
+"Don't be late!" advised Tom Cardiff, as they ran toward the ancient
+carriage they had hired. "We don't want any slip-up this time. I'm glad
+we're going to try for the capture by daylight, though, instead of
+darkness; it gives us a better chance."
+
+Mr. Ringold and Mr. Hadley were surprised and delighted at the news the
+boys brought, but they voted against the automatic camera.
+
+"This is a rare chance to get a film," said Mr. Hadley, "and we don't
+want to miss it. I'll go along with you, taking a regular moving picture
+camera, and while you capture the wreckers I'll make a film of it."
+
+This suited the boys as well, and a little later, with the chief
+photographer, they started back for the lighthouse. They found the
+secret service men and Tom Cardiff waiting for them, and, well armed, in
+addition to the clubs they carried, and with ropes to bind the wreckers,
+they started off.
+
+"We're almost there now," said Blake, in a whisper, when they neared the
+second hiding place of the desperate men. "Go easy, now."
+
+"Let me get a chance to go ahead and place the camera," suggested Mr.
+Hadley, who had the apparatus fully adjusted.
+
+"That's a great idea," declared one of the government men. "Taking their
+photographs in moving pictures! There'll be no chance for them to deny
+they were present when they were captured," and he chuckled grimly.
+
+Mr. Hadley was given an opportunity to move forward alone. He found an
+advantageous spot and almost at once beckoned to the others to hasten.
+
+"They're getting ready to leave!" he whispered, as they reached his
+side.
+
+"Come on, then!" cried Tom Cardiff. "Jump in on 'em, boys. Lively now!"
+
+As he spoke he leaped forward, followed by the others.
+
+"Surrender! We've got you surrounded!" yelled the assistant keeper.
+"It's all over but the shouting!" and as he made a grab for one of the
+men the moving picture machine began clicking.
+
+"Hands up!" ordered Mr. Wilton.
+
+"At 'em, boys!" called the other government man, as he and Blake and Joe
+leaped to the attack together.
+
+For a moment the wreckers stood as if paralyzed about the stone pedestal
+on which the false lantern was being built. Then, with one accord, the
+desperate men made a dash for the bush.
+
+"Stop 'em!" cried Tom Cardiff. "Don't let 'em get away!"
+
+"Come on!" yelled Blake to his chum. "We've got to get in this fracas!"
+
+And as they dashed after the wreckers the moving picture camera in the
+hands of Mr. Hadley recorded view after view of the exciting scene.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+A LIFE GUARD'S ALARM
+
+
+Fortune played into the hands of our friends in two ways as they sought
+to capture the wreckers. Otherwise the desperate men might have gotten
+away, so quickly did they dash out of the clearing at the first alarm.
+
+But, as he ran along, big Hemp Danforth, the leader of the criminals,
+stumbled and fell. Right behind him was sturdy Tom Cardiff, and the
+assistant lighthouse keeper was quick to take advantage of the chance
+thus put in his way.
+
+"I've got you!" he yelled, as he fairly threw himself on the prostrate
+wrecker. "I've got you! Give up, you varmint!"
+
+There was a struggle, none the less desperate because the wrecker was
+underneath. The two rolled on the ground until Tom got a grip on his
+opponent. Then, by putting forth his enormous strength, Tom quickly
+subdued the man.
+
+"Give up, I tell you!" panted Tom, breathing hard. "I'll teach you to
+wreck ships. Give up!"
+
+"I give up!" was the sullen response.
+
+With a quick turn of the ropes he had brought, Tom had the wrecker
+trussed up.
+
+Meanwhile the others had been busy. The secret service men had each
+tackled a man, and had him secure by now, while Joe and Blake, by mutual
+agreement picking out another member of the party had, after a struggle,
+succeeded in tying him, too.
+
+But the wreckers outnumbered our friends two to one, and some, if not
+all, of the desperate characters might have escaped had not
+reinforcements appeared. These were in the shape of four sturdy
+fishermen from the little colony where the moving picture boys lived.
+
+"Oh, if we could only capture the others!" cried Tom Cardiff, when he
+had finished with his man, and saw some of the wreckers struggling to
+make their way through the thick bush. "Come on, boys!" he yelled to his
+friends. "When you finish with those fellows keep after the rest of the
+gang, though I'm afraid they'll give us the slip."
+
+"No, they won't!" cried a new voice, and then appeared the husky toilers
+of the sea, armed with stout clubs. At the sight of them the wreckers
+not yet captured gave up in despair. Counting those tied up, the forces
+were now equal, and as Mr. Hadley had taken all the moving pictures
+possible, owing to the struggle taking place out of range of his
+camera, he left the apparatus, and joined his friends.
+
+"Well, we got 'em!" cried Tom Cardiff, as he surveyed the line of
+prisoners, fastened together with ropes. "Every one of 'em, I guess.
+You're a nice crowd!" he sneered at big Hemp Danforth. "A nice lot of
+men to be let loose!"
+
+"A little later and you wouldn't have had us!" snarled the leader of the
+wreckers. "You were too many for us."
+
+"That's so," spoke Tom. "How did you happen to come to help us?" he
+asked of Abe Haskill, who was one of the reinforcing fishermen. "Who
+sent you?"
+
+"Old Stanton telephoned over from the lighthouse," was the answer. "He
+said you were on your way here, and that the gang might be too much for
+you. So I got a couple of my friends, and over we came--just in time,
+too, I take it."
+
+"That's right!" exclaimed Blake, trying to staunch the flow of blood
+from a cut on his face, received in the fight he and Joe had with their
+prisoner. Joe himself was somewhat bruised. "A little later and we'd had
+only half of 'em," went on Blake.
+
+"It looks as if the lantern was nearly finished, too," went on Joe.
+
+"Um!" sneered the chief wrecker. "You may think you have us, but it's a
+long way from proving anything against us. What have we done that's
+wrong?" and he looked defiantly at Tom Cardiff.
+
+"Wrong!" cried the lighthouse man. "Don't you call it wrong to set up a
+false light to lure unsuspecting captains on the rocks, so you can get
+your pickings? Wrong!"
+
+"Huh! How do you know but what this light was put here as a range finder
+for us fishermen?" asked the other.
+
+"Fishermen! Why, you men never did an honest day's fishing in your
+lives!" cried Abe Haskill. "Fishing! When you haven't been smuggling
+you've been wrecking, or robbing other honest men's nets. You're a bunch
+of scoundrels, and it's the best day's work we've done in many a year to
+get you!"
+
+"That's all right," retorted Hemp, easily. "Words don't prove anything."
+
+"They don't; eh?" cried Tom Cardiff. "You'll see what they do. We'll
+convict you by your own words!"
+
+"Our own words?" asked Hemp Danforth, uneasily.
+
+"Yes, overheard by these two lads, whom you chased but couldn't catch. I
+guess when Blake Stewart and Joe Duncan go into court, and testify
+about hearing you talk of wrecking vessels by your false lantern, the
+jury'll convict you, all right!"
+
+Hemp seemed less concerned with what Tom said than with the name Joe
+Duncan. As this was uttered the wrecker looked at the two lads.
+
+"Did I understand him to say that one of you is a Duncan?" asked Hemp,
+curiously.
+
+"I am," replied Joe.
+
+"Are you Nate Duncan's son?"
+
+"I hope so--yes, I'm sure I am."
+
+"Ha! Ha!" laughed the wrecker.
+
+"What's the joke?" inquired Tom Cardiff.
+
+"This, and it's a good one, too. You think to convict us on the
+testimony of Nate Duncan's son. Why, Nate is one of us! His son's
+evidence wouldn't be any good. Besides, a son wouldn't help to convict
+his father. That's a good one. Nate Duncan is one of us!"
+
+"That's not so!" burst out Joe, jumping toward the big wrecker, as
+though to strike him. "It isn't true. My father never was a wrecker."
+
+"He wasn't; eh?" sneered Hemp. "Well, I'm not saying we are, either; but
+if your father isn't a wrecker why did he run away before the officers
+came for him? Answer me that--if you can!"
+
+"I--I--" began Joe, when Blake stepped to his chum's side.
+
+"Don't answer him," counseled Blake. "It will only make matters worse.
+It will all come out right."
+
+"I'm sure of it," said Joe. "Poor Dad, I wish he were here to defend
+himself; but, as he isn't, I'll stick up for him."
+
+"Well, if you're through talking I guess we'll move along," suggested
+Tom at this point. "There are a few empty cells in the jail at San
+Diego, I understand, and they'll just about accommodate you chaps."
+
+"Are--are you going to put us in jail?" faltered one of the prisoners, a
+young man.
+
+"That's what we are," answered Tom.
+
+"Oh, don't. I'll tell--I'll----"
+
+"You'll keep still--that's what you'll do!" snapped Hemp. "I'll fix you
+if you don't!" and he glared at the youth in such a way that the latter
+said no more. "I'll manage this thing," went on Hemp. "You keep still
+and they can't do a thing to us. Now go ahead; take us to jail if you
+want to."
+
+"That's what we will," declared Tom, and a little later the prisoners
+were on their way to San Diego, where they were locked up. Some
+suspected wreckers had been taken into custody when Mr. Duncan was
+accused, but nothing had been proved against them.
+
+"Well, that was a good day's work!" declared Mr. Hadley late that
+afternoon, when he and the moving picture boys were back at their
+quarters. "We not only got the wreckers, but a fine film of the capture
+besides."
+
+"And we're in it," said Blake. "Joe, how will it seem to see yourself on
+a screen?"
+
+"Oh, rather odd, I guess," and Joe spoke listlessly.
+
+"Now look here!" exclaimed his chum. "I know what's worrying you. It's
+what Hemp said about your father; isn't it?"
+
+"Yes, Blake, it is."
+
+"Well then, you just stop thinking about it. Before you know it your
+father may arrive in Hong Kong, get your letter, and send back an
+answer. Then everything will be cleared up. Meanwhile, we've got to get
+busy; there are a lot of films to make, I understand."
+
+"Indeed there are," declared Mr. Ringold. "I have my sea drama all ready
+for the films now. I don't know what to do about a wreck, though. I'm
+afraid I can't make it realistic enough. I must make other plans about
+that scene. But get your cameras in good shape, boys, for there is
+plenty of work ahead."
+
+"We can keep right on the job," said Joe, "for I guess we've about
+cleaned up the wreckers."
+
+No members of the gang had escaped, as far as could be learned, and the
+renewed work of getting evidence to be used at the trial was in the
+hands of the government men. The false lantern, which had first given
+the boys the clue, was taken down, and proved to be a most ingenious
+piece of apparatus. Had it been used it would undoubtedly have lured
+some ships on the rocks.
+
+The work of making the preliminary scenes of the sea drama were under
+way. It took the best part of three weeks to get what was needed, for
+Mr. Ringold was very particular, and insisted on many rehearsals, these
+taking longer than the actual making of the films.
+
+Joe and Blake were kept busy, as was also their young assistant,
+Macaroni, and Mr. Hadley.
+
+"Everything is going beautifully," said Mr. Ringold one day. "If we
+could only have a storm and wreck to order, now, I would ask nothing
+better."
+
+"Yes, everything is nice, except that we're being worked to death,"
+spoke C. C. Piper, gloomily. "I've lost ten pounds in the last week."
+
+"It will do you good," said Miss Lee, with a laugh. "You were getting
+too stout, anyhow."
+
+"Oh, what a world!" sighed the comedian, as he began whistling the
+latest comic song.
+
+"It looks like a storm," remarked Blake, as he and Joe came in one
+evening from a stroll on the beach.
+
+"And when it does come," added Joe, "it's going to be a bad one, so old
+Abe, the fisherman, says. They're putting storm signals up all along the
+coast, and all leaves of absence for the life guards have been cancelled
+for the next week. A storm sometimes lasts that long, Abe says."
+
+"A storm; eh?" remarked Mr. Ringold, absentmindedly. "Well, that will
+interfere with our plans for to-morrow. I had intended to have some
+peaceful scenes on the beach; but I'll postpone them. I wish I could
+work out this wreck problem," he added, as he pored over the manuscript
+of the sea drama.
+
+One did not need to go outdoors that morning to appreciate the fury of
+the storm. The gale had come in the night, and the force of the wind had
+steadily increased until its violence was terrific. There was no rain,
+as yet, but the sky was obscured by hurrying black clouds.
+
+"Let's go down to the beach and see the big waves," proposed Blake to
+Joe after breakfast.
+
+"All right," agreed his chum. "There won't be anything doing in the
+moving picture line to-day, I guess."
+
+"Say, that's some surf!" cried Joe in his chum's ear, as they got to the
+sandy stretch. "Look at those waves!"
+
+"I guess they're what you call 'mountain high,'" answered Blake, himself
+yelling, for their ordinary voices could not be heard above the thunder
+of the surf and the roar of the gale.
+
+They stood for a few minutes watching the big rollers pounding on the
+sand, and then, looking down the strand, they saw a figure running
+toward them.
+
+"Here comes a life guard," remarked Joe.
+
+"And he acts as if something was up," added Blake.
+
+Nearer came the man, dressed in yellow oilskins, for the spray from the
+sea flew far inland, almost like rain. Joe and Blake had on rubber
+coats.
+
+"What is it?" cried Blake, as the man came opposite.
+
+He held his hands in funnel shape and yelled:
+
+"A wreck--a big sailing vessel is coming ashore! Her masts are gone, and
+she can't get off! She'll strike soon. I want all the men I can get to
+help us with the breeches buoy. We can't launch our boat--too heavy
+surf!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+THE DOOMED VESSEL
+
+
+"You say there's a wreck?" cried Blake.
+
+"Yes, we just made her out through the glass. She's driving on the rocks
+fast. The current is setting inshore and the wind is helping it."
+
+"Where is she?" asked Joe.
+
+"Right down there," answered the life guard. "But she'll come up farther
+this way," and he pointed down toward the rocks opposite which the boys
+had first surprised the wreckers at work.
+
+"I've got to give the alarm," went on the life saver. "We need all the
+help we can get. We're short-handed, anyhow, and two of our men were
+hurt early this morning trying to launch the surf-boat."
+
+"Can't you get some of the fishermen from around here?" asked Joe.
+
+"That's what I came for."
+
+"And we'll help, too!" cried Blake, bracing himself by leaning against
+the wind, which seemed to grow stronger every minute.
+
+"Sure we will," added Joe. "Can you see the vessel?" he asked, peering
+eagerly into the spume and spray.
+
+"Maybe she's drifted far enough up by now," went on the coast guard, as
+he looked intently in the direction he had pointed. "Yes," he cried a
+moment later, "I can catch glimpses of her at times, when the waves go
+down a bit. See! There she is now!"
+
+Looking in the direction the guard pointed, Blake and Joe caught a
+glimpse of a distant black object rising and falling at the mercy of the
+wind and waves. It was the hull of a vessel, and when Blake used the
+glass the guard handed him a moment later, he could see the jagged
+stumps of broken masts.
+
+"She's in a bad way," remarked the lad, gravely.
+
+"Indeed she is," assented the life saver.
+
+"I wonder if my father is in any such storm as this, on his way to
+China?" mused Joe, as he, too, looked through the binoculars.
+
+"It's a bad storm--and a big one, too," said the guard. "But I must
+hurry on and give the alarm to the fishermen. The ship will strike soon,
+and we want to send a line aboard if we can."
+
+"Wait!" cried Blake, as the man started off. "We'll tell the fishermen.
+You can go back to the station. We'll come to help as soon as we can,
+and bring all the men we can find."
+
+"Good!" shouted the man. "It'll take some time to get the apparatus in
+shape, and we'll have to drag it up the beach from the station, to about
+the place where she'll come on the rocks. Go ahead, give the alarm, and
+I'll go back. Whew! But this is a fierce storm!"
+
+"Come on!" cried Blake to his chum, and they raced toward the little
+fishing hamlet.
+
+"Say!" shouted Joe. "I've got an idea!"
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"The wreck--it'll come close on shore, the guard says; why not make some
+moving pictures of it? They'll be just what Mr. Hadley wants."
+
+"That's it!" yelled Blake. "You've struck it. Go on and tell Mr.
+Ringold, Mr. Hadley and the others, and I'll get the fishermen. Then
+we'll go down the beach until we meet the life savers. It's a great
+chance, Joe!"
+
+The lads separated, one to arouse the fishermen, most of whom were in
+their shacks, for it was out of the question to lift the nets in the
+tremendous seas that were running.
+
+"Come on!" cried Blake, as he saw old Abe Haskill come out to look at
+the weather. "Wreck--ship coming ashore. The coast guards need help!"
+
+"Aye, aye, lad. We're with you!" cried the sturdy old man. "I'll get
+the boys. A wreck; eh? Pity the poor sailors that come ashore in such a
+blow!"
+
+Having given the alarm, Blake turned back to join his chum and the
+others of the theatrical colony.
+
+"We may need all three cameras," he reasoned; "it is such a good chance
+we don't want to risk it on one film."
+
+Blake found Mr. Hadley and his chum, with the theatrical manager and the
+male members of the company, ready to set out. Joe had his own camera,
+while Mr. Hadley was getting the largest one in readiness.
+
+"Let's take the automatic, too," suggested Joe. "We can start it going
+and not have to worry about it."
+
+"All right," agreed Blake.
+
+"Say, this is the very chance we wanted!" cried Mr. Ringold. "Think of
+it! A regular wreck, right at our doors!"
+
+"Oh, but the poor sailors!" exclaimed Miss Shay. "I do hope they may be
+saved!"
+
+"Of course they can!" cried C. C. Piper. "We'll all help. Never fear;
+we'll save them!"
+
+His tone and manner, to say nothing of his words, were in such contrast
+to his usual demeanor that everyone looked at his or her neighbor in
+surprise.
+
+"Don't give up!" went on the comedian, cheerfully. "We'll help the life
+guards--we'll do anything. We'll save those sailors!"
+
+"Well, get on to Gloomy; would you!" exclaimed Joe, in a low voice, to
+his chum. "That is the best ever! It's the first time he hasn't
+predicted a calamity."
+
+"And just when anyone else would," added Blake. "For it sure is going to
+be hard work to save anyone from a vessel that comes ashore in such a
+storm as this," and he looked toward the tumbling billows in view from
+the windows.
+
+Films were threaded into the moving picture cameras, the mechanism was
+tested, and then the whole company, even to the ladies, set forth.
+
+"I hope the wreck gets near enough so we can get some good pictures of
+it," said Mr. Ringold.
+
+"It'll have to come pretty well in shore, or the breeches buoy rope
+won't reach," said Mr. Hadley. "I guess we can get some good pictures."
+
+"It's good it doesn't rain," went on the theatrical man; "though I think
+it's going to, soon. We'll have to get up on some elevation to avoid the
+spray."
+
+Down the beach they made their way, to be joined presently by the band
+of sturdy fishermen.
+
+"There she is!" cried old Abe, as he pointed out to sea. "There she is,
+blowing and drifting in fast. And right toward the Dolphin Rocks,
+too--the worst place on the beach!" They all gazed toward the doomed
+vessel, that was now much nearer shore. Blake even thought he could
+descry figures on deck, clinging to the stumps of masts.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+OUT OF THE WRECK
+
+
+"Here come the life savers!" cried Blake a little later, as through the
+spray that flew over the beach a party of men, in yellow oilskins, could
+be seen dragging something over the sand.
+
+"Yes, and few enough of 'em there are to do the work," said old Abe
+Haskill. "The government ought to put more men at the station."
+
+"Some were hurt, trying to launch the boat this morning," said Joe.
+
+"Very likely," agreed the old fisherman. "The sea can be cruel when it
+wants to."
+
+"And there comes Tom Cardiff!" added Blake, as he pointed to another
+oncoming figure.
+
+"Yes, and Harry Stanton is with him," remarked Abe. "They must have left
+the lighthouse to look after itself, and they're going to help in the
+rescue."
+
+"No danger to the light, now that them pesky wreckers have been caught,"
+remarked one of the fishermen.
+
+"Boom!" came a dull report over the waste of tumultuous waters.
+
+"What's that?" asked Blake.
+
+"The signal gun!" cried Abe. "She must be sinking and they want us to
+hurry help. But she's too far out yet for a line to reach her."
+
+Again the signal gun sounded, and hearing it, the life savers hastened
+their pace, but it was hard work dragging their apparatus through the
+sand.
+
+"Let's help 'em!" cried Joe. "The ship is drifting up this way. If we
+make pictures it will have to be from about here. Let's help drag the
+wagon!"
+
+"That's right!" echoed Blake, and the boys, leaving their cameras in
+charge of Mr. Hadley, hastened to relieve the fagged-out life savers.
+The fishermen and some of the theatrical men joined in also.
+
+"Right about here," directed the captain of the life saving crew, when
+the cart containing the gun, "shears" and other parts of the breeches
+buoy had been dragged farther along. "She'll strike about here, I
+fancy."
+
+The doomed vessel was now much nearer shore, and on her wave-washed
+decks could be seen the sailors, some of them lashed to the stumps of
+masts, others to whatever of the standing rigging offered a hold
+against the grasp of the sea.
+
+"Get ready, men!" the commander went on. "The wind is bringing her in
+fast, and it's going to be against us shooting a line over her, but
+we'll do our best. If she strikes now, so much the better."
+
+"Why?" asked Blake, wonderingly.
+
+"Because then she'll be stationary, and we can keep our main line taut.
+If she keeps drifting inshore while we're hauling the buoy back and
+forth it means that we'll have to keep tightening up all the while."
+
+"There, she's struck!" suddenly called one of the life savers. All gazed
+out to sea, where, amid a smother of foam, the craft could be seen. Her
+change in position was evident. Her decks sloped more, and instead of
+drifting she remained in one position.
+
+"The rocks have gripped her," spoke old Abe, solemnly. "She'll go to
+pieces soon now."
+
+"Then get busy!" cried C. C. Piper, who seemed not to have lost his
+strangely cheerful mood. "Save those men!"
+
+"That's what we're going to do," said the captain. "All ready now, men."
+
+"And that means we'd better get busy, Joe," said Blake. "We can't do
+anything to help just now. Besides, there are a lot of men here. We
+must get our cameras in place."
+
+"That's right, Blake," and the two lads got their apparatus in shape to
+operate, Mr. Hadley doing the same. The machines were set up on some
+sand hills, far enough back to be out of the spray, which was like a fog
+close to the surface of the water.
+
+While some of the life savers and their volunteer assistants were
+burying in the sand the heavy anchor that was to hold one end of the
+rope on which the breeches buoy would travel, others were getting ready
+to fire the gun.
+
+In brief, the breeches buoy is operated as follows: A small mortar, or
+cannon, is used, and an elongated projectile is placed in it. Attached
+to the projectile is a thin and strong line. It is coiled in a box and
+placed on the sand near the mortar. The coils are laid around pegs in a
+peculiar manner to prevent tangling. The pegs are then pulled out, and
+the coils lie one upon the other so that the line may be paid out
+rapidly.
+
+When the projectile is fired toward the ship, the aim is to make it
+shoot over her deck, carrying the cord with it. This is called "getting
+a line aboard." Once this is done the crew on the vessel can, by means
+of the small cord, pull aboard a heavy cable. This is made fast to the
+highest point possible.
+
+There is now a cable extending from the shore to the ship, the shore end
+being made fast to the anchor in the sand. The cable is raised as high
+as possible on a pair of wooden "shears," to keep it above the waves.
+
+Running on pulley wheels, on this stout, tight rope, is the "breeches
+buoy." This is literally a pair of canvas breeches, into which the
+person to be saved places himself, getting into the apparatus from the
+deck of the sinking ship. There is a line fast to the buoy, one end
+being on shore. When the signal is given those on the beach pull, the
+buoy and the person in it are pulled along the tight rope by means of
+the pulleys to the beach and saved, though often they are well drenched
+in the process. Those remaining on the ship now pull the empty buoy
+back, and other persons come ashore until all are saved.
+
+Sometimes, instead of the canvas breeches, a small enclosed car is used
+to slide along the rope. In this car more than one person can get, and
+they are protected from the waves.
+
+"All ready?" asked the captain of the life saving crew, after he had
+inspected what his men and the others helping them had done.
+
+"All ready, sir!" came the response.
+
+"Then fire!"
+
+The mortar boomed, through the wind shot the projectile toward the ship,
+carrying with it the swiftly uncoiling rope. All watched anxiously.
+
+"Too short!" cried the captain a moment later, lowering the glass
+through which he had watched the effect of the shot. "Use a little more
+powder this time."
+
+The projectile was hauled back through the waves, and attached to
+another line, coiled in readiness, while some of the life savers busied
+themselves recoiling the first rope, in case the second shot failed too.
+
+It did, again falling short.
+
+"Try more powder," said the captain, grimly. "We've got to reach her."
+
+"And soon," murmured old Abe. "She's breaking up fast."
+
+Once more the mortar was fired, Blake and Joe, as well as Mr. Hadley,
+getting films of every move.
+
+"There she goes!" cried the captain, in delight, as he watched the third
+shot. "Over her decks as clean as you'd want! Now to get the poor souls
+ashore!"
+
+On board the wrecked ship could be observed a scene of activity. The
+sailors began hauling on the line, and presently the big cable began
+paying out from shore. Soon it reached the side of the ship, to be
+hauled up, and made fast to the stump of one of the masts.
+
+"Lively now, boys!" cried the captain. "Pull taut and then run out the
+buoy. She can't last much longer!"
+
+The men made redoubled efforts, and Blake and Joe, leaving their
+automatic camera working, while Mr. Hadley turned the operation of his
+over to Macaroni, the three moving picture experts aided in the work of
+rescue.
+
+Soon the breeches buoy was hauled out to the ship for its first
+passenger, and presently the sagging of the cable told that some one was
+in it.
+
+"Pull, boys!" cried the captain of the life savers, and through the
+dashing waves, that threw their crests over the shipwrecked person, the
+buoy was hauled ashore.
+
+"Grab him!" cried the captain, as the first one saved was pulled up high
+on the beach.
+
+"It isn't a him, captain!" cried one of the men. "It's a woman!"
+
+"Bless my sea boots!" yelled the captain. "A woman! Are there any more
+of you aboard--or any children?"
+
+"I--I'm the only one," was the panting answer, for she had swallowed
+much water. "I'm the captain's wife. Can you--can you save the others?
+They made me come first."
+
+"That's right! Women and children always first!" shouted the captain.
+
+"Of course we'll save the others," yelled C. C., who was running
+excitedly about, helping all he could. "We'll save every one!" he
+repeated.
+
+"Gloomy in a new role--a happy one!" remarked Blake.
+
+The buoy was hauled back, and another was saved--one of the sailors,
+this time. He reported that there were in all twenty-five hands on the
+ship, exclusive of the captain.
+
+"He'll come last, of course," he said, simply.
+
+"Of course," agreed Abe Haskill. "The captain allers does that. Once
+more, boys!"
+
+Again was a rescue effected, the moving picture cameras registering
+faithfully everything that went on. The work had to be done quickly now,
+for the vessel was fast breaking up.
+
+"Two more left!" cried the chief life saver. "Jack up that cable, boys;
+she's sagging. I guess the old ship is working farther in. Jack her up!"
+
+By means of pulleys attached to the main rope it was made tauter. Then
+came a heavy sag on it.
+
+"What's that?" asked one of the life savers.
+
+"It's two of 'em--two of 'em, clinging to the buoy!" cried Blake, who
+was watching through a glass. "I guess the ship must be going to pieces
+too fast to allow for another trip. You've got to save two at once."
+
+"And we can do it!" cried the captain. "All together, now, boys! But
+they're going to get wet!"
+
+By reason of the added weight the rope was sagging badly, and the men
+clinging to the buoy could be seen half in and half out of the water.
+
+"Lively, men, or they'll drown!" yelled the captain.
+
+Hardy and intrepid as were the life-savers and the volunteers who had
+assembled to help them, they paused a moment now. It seemed impossible
+that the two in the buoy could be pulled ashore in time to be saved.
+
+Over them broke great seas, the waves hissing and foaming as though
+angry at being cheated of their prey. The storm-swept waters seemed to
+seize on the rope, as though to pull it beneath the billows. The anchor
+that held the rope which passed over the "shears" seemed to be pulling
+out of the sand packed around it.
+
+"Come on, men!" cried the captain. "Take a brace now, and we'll have 'em
+ashore in a jiffy!"
+
+"But she's slipping!" cried a grizzled seaman. "She can't hold any
+longer. The whole business is going!"
+
+"She can't go until we git 'em ashore!" yelled the captain of the
+life-savers. "I won't let her! Here, Jim Black, you mosey back there and
+pile more sand around that anchor. Now then, men, pull as though you
+meant it. What! You're not going to have it said that you let a little
+cat's paw of wind like this beat you; are you?"
+
+Something of the captain's courage seemed to infuse itself into his men.
+They had been half-hearted before, but they were brave now. Once more
+they ranged themselves on the rope that was used to haul the buoy from
+the ship to shore. It was as though the waves had tried to intimidate
+them, and had been bidden defiance.
+
+The weight of the two persons in the buoy was almost too much. The waves
+had a doubly large surface against which to break, and well the captain
+knew that there was a limit to the strain to which the tackle could be
+subjected. Once the main rope leading from the anchor to the ship, on
+which cable the buoy ran, parted, and nothing could save those last two
+lives. No wonder the captain wanted haste.
+
+"Haul away!" he bellowed through the roar of the wind, using his hands
+as a trumpet. "Haul away, men!"
+
+His companions braced themselves in the shifting sand. They bent their
+backs. Their arms swelled into bunches of muscles that had been trained
+in the hard school of the sea.
+
+"Will the haul-rope stand it?" cried one man.
+
+"She's _got_ to stand it!" cried the captain. "She's just _got_ to!
+Pull, men; you're not half hauling!"
+
+"If that rope gives," faltered an old, gray-haired man, who seemed too
+aged for this life, "if that rope gives way----"
+
+"Don't you talk about it!" snapped the captain. "I'll take all the
+responsibility of that rope. It'll hold all right. I looked at it the
+other day. All you've got to do is pull! Do you hear me? Pull as you
+never pulled before!"
+
+Once more the backs of the men bent to the strain. The moving picture
+boys, watching and waiting; filled with anxiety even as they filmed the
+wreck, saw that the rise and fall of the waves had a good deal to do
+with the rescue.
+
+"They can pull better when the waves don't wash over those two poor
+souls in the buoy," observed Blake.
+
+"Yes, there's less resistance," agreed Joe. "Oh, there comes a big one!"
+and, as he spoke, an immense comber buried from sight the two whom the
+life-savers were endeavoring to pull from the grip of the sea.
+
+"If they can only hold their breaths long enough, they may come through
+it," said Blake. "But it's a tough proposition."
+
+"It sure is," agreed his chum. They had gone back to snap a few
+pictures, and then, finding that the automatic apparatus was working
+well, they again joined the group on the sands.
+
+"Another pull or two and we'll have 'em ashore!" yelled the captain.
+"Lively, men!"
+
+As he spoke a grizzled seaman rushed up to him.
+
+"That anchor's slippin' ag'in!" he bellowed through the noise of the
+storm. "I can't put sand on fast enough to hold it!"
+
+"Then I'll have some one help you!" cried the captain. "Here, Si Watson!
+You git back there and help Jim pile sand on that anchor. It mustn't be
+allowed to pull out--do you understand? It mustn't pull out if--if you
+have to--sit on it!"
+
+"Aye--aye, sir," was the answer, and the two men ran back to where the
+anchor was buried in the beach, to pile the sand on with the shovels
+provided for that purpose.
+
+"Now one more pull, and we'll have 'em safe!" yelled the captain a
+little later, and with a mighty haul his men bent to their task.
+
+"There they come through the last line of surf!" yelled Joe, pointing to
+the buoy containing the two shipwrecked persons.
+
+"If only the rope holds," murmured his chum.
+
+Even as he spoke there came a cry from the two men who had been sent to
+watch that the anchor in the sand did not drag.
+
+"It's coming! It's coming out!" shouted one of them.
+
+"Sit on it! Hold it down!" yelled the captain. "Into the water after
+'em, boys! Come on, ye old seadogs!"
+
+There was a snap--the rope had parted, but so near to the beach were the
+two that the life-savers waded into the foam and spume, and grabbed
+them, holding them safe.
+
+They were hauled to the beach, on which huddled the others who had been
+saved from the wreck.
+
+The lone woman had been taken in charge by the feminine members of the
+theatrical troupe, who led her toward their boarding house. They said
+they would soon have hot coffee ready for all the sailors.
+
+"Get 'em out of the buoy!" cried the captain, as the two last rescued
+were seen to be well-nigh insensible. They were assisted out, and sank
+helpless on the sand.
+
+"Pretty far gone," remarked a life saver. "One must be the captain, I
+reckon."
+
+"And the other," began Harry Stanton, keeper of the Rockypoint light;
+"the other--why, if it isn't Nate Duncan, who used to be my assistant!
+He came out of the wreck--Nate Duncan!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+A NEW QUEST
+
+
+From where he was standing by a group of the rescued sailors, Joe Duncan
+heard what the lighthouse keeper said. The lad rushed forward.
+
+"Nate Duncan!" he repeated, as he gazed at the two men, who were just
+beginning to revive under the application of stimulants. "Which one of
+you is Mr. Duncan?" he asked, eagerly.
+
+"I--I am," faltered the younger of the two men. "Why, who wants me. Oh,
+it's you, Harry Stanton," and he looked at the lighthouse keeper
+standing near him. "I--I can explain everything. I----"
+
+"It wasn't I who asked," spoke the lighthouse keeper. "It was this lad
+here," and he indicated Joe. "Your son."
+
+"My son!" cried the rescued man. "Are you sure--can it be true. Oh, is
+it possible? Don't disappoint me! Are you my son?" and he held out his
+hands to Joe.
+
+"I--I think so, father," spoke the boy, softly. "I--I have been looking
+for you a long time."
+
+"And I have, too, Joe; yes, you are my boy. I can see it now. Oh, the
+dear Lord be praised!" and there was moisture in his eyes that was not
+the salt from the raging sea.
+
+"But--but," went on Joe. "I thought you went to China. I wrote to you at
+Hong Kong."
+
+"I did start for there, Joe; but the vessel on which I sailed was
+wrecked, and this craft, bound back for San Francisco, picked us up. So
+I didn't get very far. Oh, but I have found my boy!"
+
+The others drew a little aside while father and son, so strangely
+restored to each other by the fury of the sea, clasped each other close.
+
+"Now, friends," said Mr. Ringold, bustling up; "those of you who are wet
+through had better let us take care of you. We have room for you all,
+and I'll send word to any of your friends if you'll give me the
+addresses. Your wreck, in a way, has been a great thing for me, for I
+have obtained some wonderful moving pictures of it and this rescue. It
+will make a great drama. So I want to help you all I can."
+
+By this time the captain of the vessel had been revived and with his
+wife and crew was taken to the theatrical boarding place, where the
+women busied themselves getting warm drinks and food, and the men
+changed into dry garments loaned by the fishermen and the others. Soon
+after the last one came ashore the wreck broke up and sank.
+
+"Well, of all the wonderful things I ever experienced, this is the most
+marvelous," declared Mr. Duncan, as he sat with his son's hand in his.
+"I am wrecked twice, and come back to the same place I ran away from, to
+find Joe waiting for me."
+
+"It is wonderful," agreed Joe, wondering how he was going to bring up
+the subject of the wreckers.
+
+"Yes, this is the very place I left in such a hurry, a few months ago,"
+went on Mr. Duncan.
+
+"Would you mind telling me why you left so suddenly?" asked the
+lighthouse keeper, solemnly. "Of course it's none of my affair; but I
+might say it concerns you mightily, Nate Duncan. Can you prove your
+innocence?"
+
+"Prove my innocence! Of what charge?" cried the man.
+
+"Oh, father, of course we don't believe it!" burst out Joe, unable to
+keep silent longer; "but Hemp Danforth says you were implicated with him
+in wrecking boats by means of false lights!"
+
+"Hemp Danforth says that!" cried Joe's father.
+
+"Yes. Tell me--tell all of them--that it isn't so!" pleaded the lad.
+
+"Of course it isn't so, Joe."
+
+"But why did you leave so suddenly, and why did the officer come for you
+the next day?" asked the lighthouse keeper. "It looked bad, Nate."
+
+"I suppose it did," said Mr. Duncan, slowly. "But it can easily be
+explained. I was mixed up with those wreckers----"
+
+"Father!" cried Joe.
+
+"But not the way you think, son," went on the former lighthouse worker
+quickly. "Hemp Danforth and I had a quarrel. It was over some business
+matters that he and I were mixed up in before I learned that he and his
+gang were wreckers.
+
+"We quarreled, because he tried to defraud me of my rights, and I had to
+give him a severe beating. Perhaps I was wrong, but I acted on impulse.
+Then I heard that Hemp, to get even, had accused me of being a wrecker,
+and he had his men ready to swear to false testimony about me; even that
+I let the light go out, which I never did.
+
+"I knew I could not refute it, especially at that time, and as something
+came up that made it necessary for me to leave for China at once, I
+decided to go away. I realize now that it must have looked bad,
+especially after the charge against me. But now I am ready to stay and
+face it. I can prove that I had nothing to do with the wrecking, and
+that as soon as I learned that Hemp and his gang were concerned in it I
+left them. If we can get hold of Hemp I can easily make him acknowledge
+this."
+
+"You can easily get hold of him," said Blake. "He and his crowd are all
+in jail. They were caught in the act of setting a false light."
+
+"And I don't believe you'll even have to prove your innocence," said Mr.
+Ringold. "They'll be convicted, and their evidence will never be
+accepted. You are already cleared, Mr. Duncan."
+
+"My name cleared--and my son with me--what else could I want?" murmured
+the happy man.
+
+"But, Dad," asked Joe, his face showing his delight that he could now
+use that word. "Why did you have to leave so suddenly?"
+
+"To try and find your sister, Joe."
+
+"My sister?"
+
+"Yes, I have a daughter, as well as a son," went on Mr. Duncan. "I have
+found one, and now to find the other."
+
+"Where is she?" cried Joe. "What is she like? Did I ever see her when we
+were both little?"
+
+"Indeed you did, and when your mother died I left you with a family,
+who later disappeared. You must tell me your story, Joe, and how you
+found me. But now as to your sister.
+
+"Most unexpectedly, after years of searching, I got word that she had
+been brought up in a minister's family, and that lately she had gone as
+a missionary's helper to China. I had long planned to take a sea voyage,
+and when I got this news I decided to go at once, and bring her back.
+Then I was to renew my search for you.
+
+"An agent in San Francisco told me of a vessel about to sail for Hong
+Kong, and I deserted my post at the lighthouse and sailed. I admit I did
+wrong in leaving so suddenly, but it seemed to be the best thing to do.
+I did not want to be arrested as a wrecker even though I was innocent."
+
+"I'll forgive you," said Mr. Stanton, with a smile. "I'm so glad to
+learn you're not one of them pesky wreckers."
+
+And then began a long series of explanations, Mr. Duncan listening with
+interest to Joe's story, and, in turn, telling how his vessel was
+wrecked, and how he and the others were picked up, only to be wrecked
+again, nearer home.
+
+Joe's father paused a moment and then said:
+
+"But, son, tell me something of yourself. I've been doing all the
+talking, it seems. Are you really in this queer business of taking
+moving pictures?"
+
+"That's what I am, Dad--Blake and I. We've been in it some time, and
+we're doing well. We hope to be in it some time longer, too. If it
+hadn't been for these pictures I might never have found you."
+
+"That's so, Joe. After this I'll never pass a moving picture theatre
+without thinking what it has done for me. It gave me back my boy!"
+
+"Now I think you have talked enough, Mr. Duncan," said one of the women,
+coming up. "You had a much harder time of it than we did, and you must
+quiet down. You must have swallowed a lot of salt water."
+
+"I guess I did--enough to preserve about a barrel of pickles," he
+admitted, with a smile. "I would be glad of a little rest. But you won't
+leave me; will you, Joe?"
+
+"No indeed, Dad. I've had enough trouble finding you to lose you now.
+But you get a good rest. Blake and I have a lot to do yet. I want to get
+these latest films in shape to send off for development. I hope they
+came out good."
+
+"I don't see how they could--with the weather conditions what they
+were," remarked C. C. Piper, joining the group.
+
+"Now that isn't a nice thing to say," Miss Lee reminded him. "Why can't
+you be cheerful?"
+
+"Why, I'm not at all gloomy. I only said----"
+
+"You tried to throw cold water on what the boys did," she reminded him.
+
+"Water! Say, if anybody says water to me again to-day, I don't know what
+I will do!" exclaimed Blake. "Shame on you, C. C.! You ought to be more
+careful."
+
+"Oh, well, I didn't mean anything. I guess those pictures will be all
+right--if the salt spray doesn't spoil the celluloid," he added, as he
+moved off.
+
+"You're hopeless," declared Miss Lee. "I'll never speak to you again."
+
+The nonsensical talk served to raise the spirits of those who had been
+rather plunged in gloom ever since the wreck. Mr. Duncan was given a
+room to himself where he could be quiet and recover from the shock of
+having been so near death.
+
+The moving picture boys found plenty to do. In addition to getting off
+to the developing studio the films they had taken that day, they had to
+prepare for a hard day's work to follow, for, now that he had the wreck
+scene, Mr. Ringold declared that he needed some others to go with it to
+round out the drama of the sea that he had in mind when coming to the
+coast.
+
+It may seem that it would not pay to go to such big expense to make a
+single films play, or even one or two, but I assure my readers that it
+is not uncommon for a concern to spend ten thousand dollars in making a
+single play, and some elaborate productions, such as Shakespearian
+plays, and historical dramas, will cost over fifty thousand dollars to
+get ready to be filmed.
+
+Months are spent in preparation, rehearsals go on day after day, and
+finally the play itself is given, often not lasting more than an hour or
+half hour on the screen, yet representing many weary weeks of work, and
+the expenditure of large sums of money. Such is the moving picture
+business to-day.
+
+The boys were kept busy nearly all the rest of that week, and then came
+a period of calm. Joe sought out his father, who had steadily gained in
+strength after his sensational rescue, and began to question him as to
+his experiences, for Mr. Duncan had only given a mere outline of his
+experiences up to this time.
+
+"You must have had some strenuous adventures," said Blake, who went with
+his chum.
+
+"I certainly did. But, according to Joe, here, they weren't much more
+than what you boys went through with in New York, and getting those
+Indian films."
+
+"That's right; we did have a time," admitted Blake.
+
+"Well, I'm glad I've got my boy, anyhow," went on the former lighthouse
+worker, with a fond glance at Joe. "Nothing is worse than to have folks,
+and not know where to find 'em. I hungered and longed for Joe for days
+and nights, and now I have him. And I'm not going to lose him again,
+either, if I can help it," and he clasped his son's hand warmly in his
+palm, while tears dimmed his eyes. Joe, too, was much affected.
+
+"If you only had your daughter now, you'd be all right," said Blake,
+anxious to turn the subject.
+
+"Yes, so I would. My poor little girl! We must locate her next, Joe."
+
+"But what about my sister?" asked Joe. "Can we find her?"
+
+"We'll try, Joe, my boy!" exclaimed his father. "You and I together."
+
+"Count me in!" cried Blake.
+
+"I sure will," agreed Joe. "I wonder what will happen to us."
+
+And what did, and how the two lads went on their new quest, will be
+related in the next volume of this series, to be entitled "The Moving
+Picture Boys in the Jungle; Or, Stirring Times Among the Wild Animals."
+In it will be told of their adventures and you may learn whether or not
+they found Joe's sister.
+
+"Well, we got everything we came for," said Mr. Ringold, a few days
+later, when the shipwrecked ones had been sent to their homes with the
+exception of Mr. Duncan, who remained with Joe.
+
+"Yes, all the dramas, and the storm and wreck as well," agreed Mr.
+Hadley.
+
+"But we'll never have such good luck again," predicted C. C. Piper, with
+a return of his gloomy manner. "I know something will happen to us on
+our way back East."
+
+"Oh, cheer up," urged Miss Lee; "the sun is shining."
+
+"But it will rain to-morrow," declared the comedian, as he did some odd
+little dance steps.
+
+Preparations for taking the theatrical company back East were made; but
+Joe, Blake and Mr. Duncan were uncertain about accompanying them. While
+Joe and his father were talking over their plans, Blake went to San
+Francisco on a vacation for a week.
+
+But it was not much of a rest for him. While there he learned of a prize
+offered for the best moving picture of the fire department in action,
+and, though many operators tried, Blake's film was regarded as the
+best. He "scooped" the others easily, and beat some of the most skillful
+men in the business.
+
+But now, for a time, we will take leave of the moving picture boys.
+
+THE END
+
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+
+THE FAMOUS ROVER BOYS SERIES
+By Arthur W. Winfield
+
+American Stories of American Boys and Girls
+ONE MILLION COPIES ALREADY SOLD OF THIS SERIES
+
+12mo. Cloth. Handsomely printed and illustrated.
+Price, 60 Cents per volume, postpaid
+
+THE ROVER BOYS IN THE AIR Or From College Campus to the Clouds
+THE ROVER BOYS DOWN EAST Or The Struggle for the Stanhope Fortune
+THE ROVER BOYS AT COLLEGE Or The Right Road and the Wrong
+THE ROVER BOYS ON TREASURE ISLE Or The Strange Cruise of the Steam Yacht
+THE ROVER BOYS ON THE FARM Or The Last Days at Putnam Hall
+THE ROVER BOYS IN SOUTHERN WATERS Or The Deserted Steam Yacht
+THE ROVER BOYS ON THE PLAINS Or The Mystery of Red Rock Ranch
+THE ROVER BOYS ON THE RIVER Or The Search for the Missing Houseboat
+THE ROVER BOYS IN CAMP Or The Rivals of Pine Island
+THE ROVER BOYS ON LAND AND SEA Or The Crusoes of Seven Islands
+THE ROVER BOYS IN THE MOUNTAINS Or A Hunt for Fame and Fortune
+THE ROVER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES Or The Secret of the Island Cave
+THE ROVER BOYS OUT WEST Or The Search for a Lost Mine
+THE ROVER BOYS IN THE JUNGLE Or Stirring Adventures in Africa
+THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN Or A Chase for a Fortune
+THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL Or The Cadets of Putnam Hall
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP - NEW YORK
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+THE PUTNAM HALL SERIES
+Companion Stories to the Famous Rover Boys Series
+By Arthur M. Winfield
+
+Open-air pastimes have always been popular with boys, and should always
+be encouraged. These books mingle adventure and fact, and will appeal to
+every manly boy.
+
+12mo. Handsomely printed and illustrated.
+Price 60 Cents Per Volume, Postpaid.
+
+THE PUTNAM HALL MYSTERY Or The School Chums' Strange Discovery
+
+The particulars of the mystery and the solution of it are very
+interesting reading.
+
+THE PUTNAM HALL ENCAMPMENT Or The Secret of the Old Mill
+
+A story full of vim and vigor, telling what the cadets did during the
+summer encampment, including a visit to a mysterious old mill, said to
+be haunted. The book has a wealth of fun in it.
+
+THE PUTNAM HALL REBELLION Or The Rival Runaways
+
+The boys had good reasons for running away during Captain Putnam's
+absence. They had plenty of fun, and several queer adventures.
+
+THE PUTNAM HALL CHAMPIONS Or Bound to Win Out
+
+In this volume the Putnam Hall Cadets show what they can do in various
+keen rivalries on the athletic field and elsewhere. There is one victory
+which leads to a most unlooked-for discovery.
+
+THE PUTNAM HALL CADETS Or Good Times in School and Out
+
+The cadets are lively, flesh-and-blood fellows, bound to make friends
+from the start. There are some keen rivalries, in school and out, and
+something is told of a remarkable midnight feast and a hazing that had
+an unlooked-for ending.
+
+THE PUTNAM HALL RIVALS Or Fun and Sport Afloat and Ashore
+
+It is a lively, rattling, breezy story of school life in this country
+written by one who knows all about its pleasures and its perplexities,
+its glorious excitements, and its chilling disappointments.
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP - NEW YORK
+
+
+
+THE RISE IN LIFE SERIES
+By Horatio Alger, Jr.
+
+These are Copyrighted Stories which cannot be obtained elsewhere. They
+are the stories last written by this famous author.
+
+12mo. Illustrated. Bound in cloth, stamped in colored inks.
+Price, 40 Cents per Volume, Postpaid.
+
+THE YOUNG BOOK AGENT, Or Frank Hardy's Road to Success
+
+A plain but uncommonly interesting tale of everyday life, describing the
+ups and downs of a boy book-agent.
+
+FROM FARM TO FORTUNE, Or Nat Nason's Strange Experience
+
+Nat was a poor country lad. Work on the farm was hard, and after a
+quarrel with his uncle, with whom he resided, he struck out for himself.
+
+OUT FOR BUSINESS, Or Robert Frost's Strange Career
+
+Relates the adventures of a country boy who is compelled to leave home
+and seek his fortune in the great world at large.
+
+FALLING IN WITH FORTUNE, Or The Experiences of a Young Secretary
+
+This is a companion tale to "Out for Business," but complete in itself,
+and tells of the further doings of Robert Frost as private secretary.
+
+YOUNG CAPTAIN JACK, Or The Son of a Soldier
+
+The scene is laid in the South during the Civil War, and the hero is a
+waif who was cast up by the sea and adopted by a rich Southern planter.
+
+NELSON THE NEWSBOY, Or Afloat in New York
+
+Mr. Alger is always at his best in the portrayal of life in New York
+City, and this story is among the best he has given our young readers.
+
+LOST AT SEA, Or Robert Roscoe's Strange Cruise
+
+A sea story of uncommon interest. The hero falls in with a strange
+derelict--a ship given over to the wild animals of a menagerie.
+
+JERRY, THE BACKWOODS BOY, Or the Parkhurst Treasure
+
+Depicts life on a farm of New York State. The mystery of the treasure
+will fascinate every boy. Jerry is a character well worth knowing.
+
+RANDY OF THE RIVER, Or the adventures of a Young Deckhand
+
+Life on a river steamboat is not so romantic as some young people may
+imagine, but Randy Thompson wanted work and took what was offered.
+
+JOE, THE HOTEL BOY, Or Winning Out by Pluck.
+
+A graphic account of the adventures of a country boy in the city.
+
+BEN LOGAN'S TRIUMPH, Or The Boys of Boxwood Academy
+
+The trials and triumphs of a city newsboy in the country.
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP - NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+THE FLAG AND FRONTIER SERIES
+By Captain Ralph Bonehill.
+
+These bracing stories of American life, exploration and adventure should
+find a place in every school and home library for the enthusiasm they
+kindle in American heroism and history. The historical background is
+absolutely correct. Every volume complete in itself.
+
+12mo. Bound in cloth. Stamped in colors.
+Price, 60 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.
+
+WITH BOONE ON THE FRONTIER, Or The Pioneer Boys of Old Kentucky.
+
+Relates the true-to-life adventures of two boys who, in company with
+their folks, move westward with Daniel Boone. Contains many thrilling
+scenes among the Indians and encounters with wild animals.
+
+PIONEER BOYS OF THE GREAT NORTHWEST, Or With Lewis and Clark Across the
+Rockies.
+
+A splendid story describing in detail the great expedition formed under
+the leadership of Lewis and Clark, and telling what was done by the
+pioneer boys who were first to penetrate the wilderness of the
+northwest.
+
+PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS, Or The Nugget Hunters of '49.
+
+Giving the particulars of the great rush of the gold seekers to
+California in 1849. In the party making its way across the continent are
+three boys who become chums, and share in no end of adventures.
+
+WITH CUSTER IN THE BLACK HILLS, Or A Young Scout Among the Indians.
+
+Tells of the experiences of a youth who, with his parents, goes to the
+Black Hills in search of gold. Custer's last battle is well described.
+
+BOYS OF THE FORT, Or A Young Captain's Pluck.
+
+This story of stirring doings at one of our well-known forts in the Wild
+West is of more than ordinary interest. Gives a good insight into army
+life of to-day.
+
+THE YOUNG BANDMASTER, Or Concert, Stage and Battlefield.
+
+The hero is a youth who becomes a cornetist in an orchestra, and works
+his way up to the leadership of a brass band. He is carried off to sea
+and is taken to Cuba, and while there joins a military band which
+accompanies our soldiers in the attack on Santiago.
+
+OFF FOR HAWAII, Or The Mystery of a Great Volcano.
+
+Several boys start on a tour of the Hawaiian Islands. They have heard
+that there is a treasure located in the vicinity of Kilauea, the largest
+active volcano in the world, and go in search of it.
+
+A SAILOR BOY WITH DEWEY, Or Afloat in the Philippines.
+
+The story of Dewey's victory in Manila Bay as it appeared to a real,
+live American youth who was in the navy at the time. Many adventures in
+Manila and in the interior follow.
+
+WHEN SANTIAGO FELL, Or The War Adventures of Two Chums.
+
+Two boys leave New York to join their parents in Cuba. The war between
+Spain and the Cubans is on, and the boys are detained at Santiago, but
+escape across the bay at night. Many adventures follow.
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP - NEW YORK
+
+
+
+THE ENTERPRISE BOOKS
+Captivating Stories for Boys by Justly Popular Writers
+
+The episodes are graphic, exciting, realistic--the tendency of the tales
+is to the formation of an honorable and manly character. They are
+unusually interesting, and convey lessons of pluck, perseverance and
+manly independence. 12mo. Illustrated. Attractively bound in cloth.
+
+Price, 40 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.
+
+MOFFAT, WILLIAM D.
+THE CRIMSON BANNER. A Story of College Baseball
+
+A tale that grips one from start to finish. The students are almost
+flesh and blood, and the contests become real as we read about them. The
+best all-around college and baseball tale yet presented.
+
+GRAYDON, WILLIAM MURRAY
+CANOE BOYS AND CAMP FIRES.
+
+In this book we have the doings of several bright and lively boys, who
+go on a canoeing trip and meet with many exciting happenings.
+
+HARKNESS, PETER T.
+ANDY, THE ACROBAT. Or, With the Greatest Show on Earth
+
+Andy is as bright as a silver dollar. In the book we can smell the
+sawdust, hear the flapping of the big white canvas and the roaring of
+the lions, and listen to the merry "hoop la!" of the clown.
+
+FOSTER, W. BERT
+THE QUEST OF THE SILVER SWAN. A Tale of Ocean Adventure
+
+A Youth's story of the deep blue sea--of the search for a derelict
+carrying a fortune. Brandon Tarr is a manly lad, and all lads will be
+eager to learn whether he failed or succeeded in his mission.
+
+WHITE, MATTHEW, JR.
+TWO BOYS AND A FORTUNE. Or, The Tyler Will
+
+If you had been poor and were suddenly left a half-million dollars, what
+would you do with it? That was the problem that confronted the Pell
+family, and especially the twin brothers, Rex and Roy. A strong, helpful
+story, that should be read by every boy in our land.
+
+WINFIELD, ARTHUR M.
+BOB, THE PHOTOGRAPHER. Or, A Hero in Spite of Himself
+
+Relates the experiences of a poor boy who falls in with a "camera
+fiend," and develops a liking for photography. After a number of
+stirring adventures Bob becomes photographer for a railroad; thwarts the
+plan of those who would injure the railroad corporation and incidently
+clears a mystery surrounding his parentage.
+
+BONEHILL, CAPTAIN RALPH
+LOST IN THE LAND OF ICE. Or, Daring Adventures Round the South Pole
+
+An expedition is fitted out by a rich young man and with him goes the
+hero of the tale, a lad who has some knowledge of a treasure ship said
+to be cast away in the land of ice. The heroes land among the wild
+Indians of Patagonia and have many exciting adventures.
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP - NEW YORK
+
+
+
+THE YOUNG REPORTER SERIES
+By Howard R. Garis
+
+The author is a practised journalist, and these stories convey a true
+picture of the workings of a great newspaper. The incidents are taken
+from life.
+
+12mo. Bound in Cloth. Illustrated.
+Price, 40 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.
+
+FROM OFFICE BOY TO REPORTER
+Or The First Step in Journalism.
+
+LARRY DEXTER, THE YOUNG REPORTER
+Or Strange Adventures in a Great City.
+
+LARRY DEXTER'S GREAT SEARCH
+Or The Hunt for a Missing Millionaire.
+
+LARRY DEXTER AND THE BANK MYSTERY
+Or A Young Reporter in Wall Street.
+
+LARRY DEXTER AND THE STOLEN BOY
+Or A Young Reporter on the Lakes.
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+THE SEA TREASURE SERIES
+By Roy Rockwood
+
+No manly boy ever grew tired of sea stories--there is a fascination
+about them, and they are a recreation to the mind. These books are
+especially interesting and are full of adventure, clever dialogue and
+plenty of fun.
+
+12mo. Bound in Cloth. Illustrated.
+Price, 40 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.
+
+ADRIFT ON THE PACIFIC
+Or The Secret of the Island Cave.
+
+THE CRUISE OF THE TREASURE SHIP
+Or The Castaways of Floating Island.
+
+THE RIVAL OCEAN DIVERS
+Or The Search for a Sunken Treasure.
+
+JACK NORTH'S TREASURE HUNT
+Or Daring Adventures in South America.
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP - NEW YORK
+
+
+
+THE DICK HAMILTON SERIES
+By Howard R. Garis
+
+A NEW LINE OF CLEVER TALES FOR BOYS
+
+DICK HAMILTON'S FORTUNE Or The Stirring Doings of a Millionaire's Son
+
+Dick, the son of a millionaire, has a fortune left to him by his mother.
+But before he can touch the bulk of this money it is stipulated in his
+mother's will that he must do certain things, in order to prove that he
+is worthy of possessing such a fortune. The doings of Dick and his chums
+make the liveliest kind of reading.
+
+DICK HAMILTON'S CADET DAYS Or The Handicap of a Millionaire's Son
+
+The hero, a very rich young man, is sent to a military academy to make
+his way without the use of money. A fine picture of life at an
+up-to-date military academy is given, with target shooting, broadsword
+exercise, trick riding, sham battles, and all. Dick proves himself a
+hero in the best sense of the word.
+
+DICK HAMILTON'S STEAM YACHT Or A Young Millionaire and the Kidnappers
+
+A series of adventures while yachting in which our hero's wealth plays a
+part. Dick is marooned on an island, recovers his yacht and foils the
+kidnappers. The wrong young man is spirited away, Dick gives chase and
+there is a surprising rescue at sea.
+
+DICK HAMILTON'S FOOTBALL TEAM Or A Young Millionaire on the Gridiron
+
+A very interesting account of how Dick succeeded in developing a
+champion team and of the lively contests with other teams. There is also
+related a number of thrilling incidents in which Dick is the central
+figure.
+
+Other volumes in preparation.
+
+12mo. Handsomely printed and illustrated, and bound in cloth, stamped in
+colors. Printed wrappers.
+
+Price, 60 Cents per volume, postpaid
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP - NEW YORK
+
+
+
+THE TOM SWIFT SERIES
+By Victor Appleton
+
+12mo, printed from large type on good paper, each volume with half-tone
+frontispiece. Handsomely bound in cloth. Printed wrappers.
+
+Price, 40 Cents per Volume, postpaid
+
+It is the purpose of these spirited tales to convey in a realistic way
+the wonderful advances in land and sea locomotion. Stories like these
+impress themselves on the youthful memory and their reading is
+productive only of good.
+
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE
+Or Fun and Adventure on the Road
+
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT
+Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa
+
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP
+Or The Stirring Cruise of the Red Cloud
+
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT
+Or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure
+
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT
+Or The Speediest Car on the Road
+
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE
+Or Daring Adventures in Elephant Land
+
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER
+Or The Quickest Flight on Record
+
+TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE
+Or The Wreck of the Airship
+
+TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS
+Or The Secret of Phantom Mountain
+
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE
+Or The Castaways of Earthquake Island
+
+TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD
+Or Marvellous Adventures Underground
+
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER
+Or Seeking the Platinum Treasure
+
+TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY
+Or A Daring Escape by Airship
+
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
+Or The Perils of Moving Picture Taking
+
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT
+Or On the Border for Uncle Sam
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE
+COAST***
+
+
+******* This file should be named 23677.txt or 23677.zip *******
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