Meanwhile the work of preparing for the scenes of “Brighteyes” to be shot in the canyon went on.  The day came when all the company were informed that the morrow would see the work begun.  At daybreak, after a hasty breakfast, the motors and vans and the cavalcade of riders left the Clearwater station for a week—­and that the last week of their stay—­up in the lovely canyon Ruth and her two girl chums had found.

“I do declare!” exclaimed the gay Jennie (even the lack of letters from Henri Marchand could not quench her spirits for long), “this bunch of tourists does look like an old-time emigrant train.  We might be following the Santa Fe Trail, all so merrily.”

“Only there were no motor-cars in those old days,” remarked Ruth.

“Nor portable stoves,” put in Helen with a smile.

“And I am quite sure,” suggested Mr. Hammond, who heard this, “that no moving picture cameras went along with the old Santa Fe Trailers.”

“Yet,” said Ruth thoughtfully, “the country about here, at any rate, is just about as wild as it was in those old days.  And perhaps some of the people are quite as savage as they were in the old days.  Oh, dear!”

“Who are you worrying about?  William?” asked Helen slyly.  “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!”