Wonota rode in costume and upon a pony that was quite the equal of her own West Wind.  This pet she had shipped from the Red Mill to her home in Oklahoma before going to New York.  The principal characters had made up at the car and went out in costume, too, They had to travel about ten miles to the first location.

The Hubbell Ranch grazed some steers; but It was a horse ranch in particular.  The country was rugged and offered not very good pasturage for cattle.  But the stockman, Arad Hubbell, was one of the largest shippers of horses and mules in the state.

It was because of the many half-broken horses and mules to be had on the ranch that Mr. Hammond had decided to make “Brighteyes” here.  The first scenes of the prologue—­including the Indian scare—­were to be taken in the open country near the ranch buildings.  Naturally the buildings were not included in any of the pictures.

A train of ten emigrant wagons, drawn by mules, made an imposing showing as it followed the dusty cattle trail.  The train wound in and out of coulees, through romantic-looking ravines, and finally out upon the flat grass-country where the Indians came first into view of the supposedly frightened pilgrims.

Helen and Jennie, as well as Ruth herself, in the gingham and sunbonnets of the far West of that earlier day, added to the crowd of emigrants riding in the wagons.  When the Indians were supposed to appear the excitement of the players was very realistic indeed, and this included the mules!  The stock was all fresh, and the excitement of the human performers spread to it.  The wagons raced over the rough trail in a way that shook up severely the girls riding in them.

“Oh—­oo!” squealed Jennie Stone, clinging to Ruth and Helen.  “What are they trying to do?  I’ll be one m-a-ass of bruises!”

“Stop, William!” commanded Ruth, trying to make the driver of their wagon hear her.  “This is too—­too realistic.”

The man did not seem to hear her at all.  Ruth scrambled up and staggered toward the front, although Mr. Hooley had instructed the girls to remain at the rear of the wagons so that they could be seen from the place where the cameras were stationed.

“Stop!” cried Ruth again.  “You will tip us over—­or something.”

There was good reason why William did not obey.  His six mules had broken away from his control entirely.

A man must be a master driver to hold the reins over three span of mules; and William was as good as any man in the outfit.  But as he got his team into a gallop the leaders took fright at the charging Indians on pony-back, and tried to leave the trail.

William was alone on the driver’s seat.  He put all his strength into an attempt to drag the leaders back into the trail and—­the rein broke!

Under ordinary circumstances this accident would not have been of much moment.  But to have pulled the other mules around, and so throw the runaways, would have spoiled the picture.  William was too old a movie worker to do that.