federates to rush up.

CHAPTER XIII

FORGETFULNESS

Ruth and Alice for the moment were not quite certain whether or not this
was a part of the scene. Very often the director would spring some
unexpected effect for the sake of causing a natural surprise that would
register in the camera better than any simulated one.

But these were real cows, and they did not seem to have rehearsed their
parts very well, for they rushed here and there and surrounded the
carriage, to the no small terror of the horses, which Ruth had all she
could do to hold in.

"Oh, what shall we do?" cried Alice. "I'm going to jump out!"

"You'll do nothing of the sort!" exclaimed her sister. "Sit where you
are! Do you want to be trampled on or pierced with those sharp horns,
Alice?"

"I certainly do not!"

"Then sit still! This must be a mistake."

It did not take much effort on Ruth's part to make Alice remain in the
carriage with all those cows about. For she had learned on Rocky Ranch
that while a crowd of steers will pay no attention to a person on a
horse, once let the same person dismount, and he may be trampled down.

These, of course, were not wild steers--Alice could see that. But she
thought the same rule, in a measure, might hold good.

More cows crashed through the bushes until the road was fairly blocked,
and then came another rush of many feet and the Union skirmish party
came galloping along. They had received no orders to hold back, and so
dashed up.

At the same moment a ragged boy with a long whip came rushing up.
Evidently, he was in charge of the cows, but when he saw the soldiers in
their uniforms, a look of fear spread over his face.

"I didn't do nothin', Mister Captain! Honest I didn't!" he yelled.
"These is pap's cows, an' I'm drivin' 'em over to the man he sold 'em
to. I didn't do nothin'."

"Nobody said you did!" laughed Lieutenant Varley with a bow to Ruth and
Alice in the carriage. "But why did you drive them in here to spoil the
picture?"

"I didn't know nothin' about no picture--honest I didn't! I took this
road because it was shorter. Don't shoot pap's cow-critters. I'll take
'em away."

"Well, that's all we want you to do," said Mr. Pertell, coming up with a
grim smile. "You nearly got yourself and your cow-critters in trouble,
my boy. Drive 'em back now, and we'll go on with the film. Did any of
'em get in, Russ?" he asked.

"Just a few, on the last inch or so of the reel. I can cut that