"Are we to do any 'stunts,' while Russ is taking pictures?" asked Alice of the manager.
"No, you are just to stand around on deck, and look a bit anxious. You are supposed to be an old-time passenger packet you know, on a long voyage, and you are running away from the storm. We don't want many feet of this film--just enough to indicate what is to come. The real shipwreck--that is the imitation of it--will come later, when this storm blows over. Get on the side where the motorboat will be," the manager directed, "and line up along the rail."
While Russ was "loading" his camera, Ruth and Alice watched the sailors getting the _Ajax_ ready. The engine had been tested, and seemed to work well. Jack Jepson came along with a small keg of water, and a bundle done up in a piece of sail cloth.
"Provisions and water," answered the old sailor.
"But they're only going to be away a few minutes," the girl objected. "They won't want anything to eat or drink."
"It's a rule of th' sea," said old Jack, "never to put a boat over the side without provisioning and watering her. You never can tell what will happen on th' ocean. I've seen boats put out just for a little row around, and a fog would come up, and they'd be away nearly a week. And when they didn't have any water or food aboard--well, Miss, them's not nice things to talk about to ladies," he said simply. And Alice understood.
The storm seemed to be holding off, at least for a time. Far away the dark mass of the British steamer could be seen. The _Ajax_ was soon ready, and lowered to the heaving water.
"Mr. Sneed, you get in and help Russ," ordered Mr. Pertell. "You know something about motor-boats, don't you?"
"A little, yes. But I--er--I don't like to get in one when a storm is coming up."
"Nonsense!" the manager ejaculated. "There's no danger! You are going only a short distance away from the schooner, to get some views of her as she rides the waves. It will make a good film, the coming storm, and the waters rising and falling. Get aboard, Mr. Sneed, and do whatever Russ wants you to. He'll be busy with the camera so you will have to steer, and run the engine. The last won't bother you though, for it has a self-starter on and a gear clutch. You'll be in no danger."