now joined by the regular doctor who accompanied the troupe of actors
on their many lengthy trips, was busily engaged, endeavoring to ascertain
the extent of the damages. A dozen of the awed actors and actresses
surrounded the impromptu field hospital, and upon every face could
be seen only the deepest sympathy.

Still, after the worst was known and the last of the injured taken
care of, no doubt the task of completing the picture would go on,
just as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. These roving
players become so accustomed to accepting risks in the pursuit of
their calling that a little thing like this cannot be allowed to
interfere with the main object of their business for any great
length of time.

Other supers would be called upon to take the places of those injured,
if there was any necessity for reenforcements, and the work of completing
the drama would proceed apace.

By degrees the mass of fallen material was pulled aside, many hands
making light work. Half a dozen of the agile players had managed to
save themselves, receiving only slight skin abrasions which would
hardly keep them from earning their salaries.

There were just four who had been carried or helped to the "hospital"
under the tree near by in the grounds of the castle. It was when
the pleasing fact had been communicated by one of the workers that
the last victim of the accident was found, with no fatalities to account
for, that the stage manager came up to Hugh with outstretched hand.

He had his megaphone slung over his back as a sportsman might his
fowling-piece. With that everlasting red bandanna he was mopping his
forehead again, and this time it may have been as much anxiety as
action that started the perspiration streaming down his rosy face.

"I want to thank you from my heart, son," he told the pleased scout
master, as he gripped his hand in a warm clutch. "You have proved
yourself a jewel in this emergency. If this is one of the things
scouts learn, I'm glad my boy has taken up the subject. I'm proud
of you all. I don't see, how we could have done things half as well
if you hadn't been on the ground to assist, yes, to take the lead.
Once more, I thank you!"

He glanced to where Arthur, with his coat thrown off, was working
over one of the victims of the near-tragedy. The sight seemed to
affect the stage manager, for he nodded his head violently, and Hugh
believed he could see a moisture in his eyes just then.