s bounced up, and would have been bounced off had he not had that neck
grip. Again the bronco bucked.

"Oh stop him! Stop him!" cried the actor.

"Get every move of that, Russ!" called Mr. Pertell.

But there was not much more to get, for with the next buck Mr. Bunn's
hold was loosened and away he shot, out of the saddle. Fortunately he
landed on a pile of hay and was not hurt beyond a shaking up. But Russ
got a good picture of the whole scene. The actor picked himself up, and
without a word started for the ranch house. Probably he suspected the
trick that had been played on him, and for some days after that he
refused to mount a horse, so Mr. Pertell had to make some changes in his
plans, as he did not care to antagonize Mr. Bunn by insisting on his
taking part.

And when the actor did again get into the saddle, he had his horse
branded on one hoof, as army horses are marked, so he could not again be
deceived.

Life at Rocky Ranch was a delight to all the moving picture players,
though there was plenty of hard work, too.

Of course it was impossible to keep from Mr. Pertell the story of the
Indians and their rites on the _mesa_, and he determined, before he left
the West, to get a film of them.

"But you'll have to be careful, Russ, how you go about it," he said.

"That's what I will," agreed the operator.

It was about a week after this that Russ, Paul, Alice, Ruth and Mr.
DeVere were riding out toward the _mesa_ to get some scenes in the
foothills, the two girls, their father and Paul being scheduled to go
through a little act by themselves.

As they passed under the shadow of the eminence Russ looked up and saw a
thin wisp of smoke curling around the top.

"Look!" he exclaimed. "I wonder if the Indians can be there now, doing
some of their snake ceremonies?"

"Let's have a look," suggested Paul. "We've got lots of time. I'd like
to have a peep."

"I would too!" exclaimed Alice.

"Oh, Daddy, will it be safe?" asked Ruth, for she saw that her father
seemed interested.

"There are so many of us, I think so," he replied. "We will try it, at
all events. They can no more than tell us to go. I should very much like
to see what they do, and perhaps I can get some of their weapons or
musical instruments for my collection," for the actor had that fad. And
then, though Ruth was a bit timid about it, they turned toward the
elevated table land to see if the Indians were at their rites.

CHAPTER XVI