"He did sound
savage this morning when he was harnessing those mules to the big
wagon."

But her chum did not reply to this pleasantry. She really had something
on her mind which bothered her. But she did not explain the cause of her
anxiety to the others, even after the arrival of the party in the
canyon.

It looked like a great Gypsy camp when the party was settled on the
sward beside the mountain stream. Mr. Hooley had not seen the location
before, and he was somewhat critical of some points. But finally he
admitted that, unless the place had been built for their need, they
could not really expect to find a location better fitted.

"And thank goodness!" Ruth sighed, when the camera points were severally
decided upon, "after these shots are taken we can head East for good."

"Why, Ruthie! I thought we were having a dandy time," exclaimed Helen.
"Have you lost your old love for the wild and open places?"

"I certainly will be glad to see a porcelain bathtub again," yawned
Jennie, breaking in. "I don't really feel as though a sponge-down in an
icy cold brook with a tarpaulin around one for a bath-house is
altogether the height of luxury."

"It is out here," laughed Helen.

"I do not mind the inconveniences so much," said Ruth reflectively. "The
old Red Mill farmhouse was not very conveniently arranged--above stairs,
at least--until I had it built over at my own expense, greatly to Uncle
Jabez's opposition. It is not the roughing it. That is good for us I
verily believe. But I have a depressing feeling that before the picture
is done something may happen."

"I should expect it would!" cried Helen, not at all disturbed by the
prophecy. Once Helen had prophesied disaster, and it had come. But she
forgot that now. "I expect something to happen--every day, most likely.
But of course it will be a pleasant and exciting something. Yes,
indeedy!"

Neither of her friends, after all, realized that Ruth Fielding was
actually in fear. She was very anxious every waking moment. That strange
man whom the girls had spied here in the canyon might be a perfectly
harmless person. And then again--

Two days were occupied in placing the paraphernalia and training the
actors in their parts. They all got a working knowledge of what was
expected of them when the picture was being photographed, and the
principals learned their lines. For nowadays almost as much care is
given to what is said by actors before the camera as by those ha