Then came the turn in the battle where the Southern force had to give way.

“Burn the house, boys!” cried their officer; and this would be flashed on the screen later as a lead.

The dwelling, which had been purchased with the right to burn it, was set afire, and then began a scene that satisfied even the exacting producer.  Great clouds of smoke rolled out, most of it coming from specially prepared bombs, and amid them and the red fire, which simulated flames, could be seen the Union leader carrying out his sweetheart, Birdie Lee.

Blake and Joe ground away at their cameras, faithfully recording the scenes for the thrill and delight of those who would afterward see them in comfortable theaters, all unaware of the hard work necessary to produce them.

The Confederates made a last stand at the barn.  They were fired upon by the Unionists and finally driven off down the road—­such as were left of them—­while the victorious Northern fighters put out the fire in the house and the scene ended in the reuniting of long-separated lovers.

“Well, I’m glad that’s over!” remarked Mr. Hadley, as he came up to Blake and Joe where they were taking their cameras apart in readiness for carrying them back to the studio.  “It didn’t go so badly, do you think?”

“I think it’ll be a fine picture!” declared Joe.

“The last stand of the Confederates was particularly good,” observed Blake.

“Good!” cried the producer.  “That’s a fine line for a leader—­’The Last Stand.’  I must make a note of it before I forget it.  And now you boys can go back to New York.  Have the films developed the first thing and let me know how they have come out.”

“They’ll probably be spoiled,” put in the gloomy voice of C. C.

Mr. Hadley looked around far something to throw at him, but having nothing but his note book, which was too valuable for that, contented himself with a sharp look at the gloomy comedian.

“When will you want us again, Mr. Hadley?” asked Blake, as he and Joe made ready to go back in the automobile to New York, the “Southern” battle scene having taken place in a location outside of Fort Lee on the New Jersey bank of the Hudson River, where many large moving picture studios are located.

“Oh, that’s so!  I did want to talk to you about something new I have in mind,” said Mr. Hadley.  “Blake—­and you, too, Joe—­are you game for some dangerous work?”

“Do you mean such as we had in Earthquake Land?” asked Blake.

“Or under the sea?” inquired his partner.

“This is a call to battle,” replied Mr. Hadley.  “And it’s real battle, too!  None of this smoke-bomb stuff!  Boys, are you game for some actual fighting?”

CHAPTER II

THE ACCIDENT

Not at all to the discredit of the moving picture boys is it to be considered when it is recorded that, following this question on the part of Mr. Hadley, they looked sharply at one another.