Aside from Wonota herself, there were few of the characters of the picture of “Brighteyes” appearing in the scenes at this point.  Mr. Hammond had obtained a police permit of course, and the traffic officers and some other policemen in the neighborhood took an interest in the affair.

Traffic was held back at a certain point for a few moments so that there would not be too many people in the scene.  Wonota could not be hidden.  Ruth stood in the street watching the arrangements by the director and his assistants.  Two films are always made at the same time, and the two camera men had got into position and had measured with their tapes the field of the picture to be taken.

Ruth had noticed an automobile stopped by the police on the other side of the cross street.  She even was aware that two men in it were not dressed like ordinary city men.  They had broad-brimmed hats on their heads.

But she really gave the car but a momentary glance.  Wonota took up her closest attention.  The Indian girl crossed and recrossed the field of the camera until she satisfied the director that her gait and facial expression was exactly what he wanted.

“All right!” he said through his megaphone.  “Camera!  Go!”

And at that very moment, and against the commanding gesture of the policeman governing the traffic, the car Ruth had so briefly noticed started forward, swerved into the avenue, and ran straight at Ruth as though to run her down!

CHAPTER XI

EVADING THE TRAFFIC POLICE

Ruth had turned her back on the car and did not see it slip out of the crowd of motor traffic and turn into the avenue.  But Wonota, the Indian girl, saw her friend’s danger.  She uttered a loud cry and bounded out of the camera field just as the two camera men began to crank their machines.

“Look out, Miss Fielding!”

The cry startled Ruth, but it did not aid her much to escape.  And perhaps the chauffeur of the car only intended to crowd by the girl of the Red Mill and so escape from the traffic hold-up.

At Wonota’s scream the director shouted for the camera men to halt.  He started himself with angry excitement after the Indian girl.  She had utterly spoiled the shot.

But on the instant he was adding his warning cry to Wonota’s and to the cries of other bystanders.  Ruth, amazed, could not understand what Wonota meant.  Then the car was upon her, the mudguard knocked her down, and her loose coat catching in some part of the car, she was dragged for several yards before Wonota could reach her.

Over and over in the dust Ruth had been whirled.  She was breathless and bruised.  She could not even cry out, the shock of the accident was so great.

The instant the Indian girl reached the prostrate Ruth the motor-car broke away and its driver shot the machine around the nearest corner and out of sight.