"Oh, I don't mean that. What I mean is that anybody could have done what I did." "But you did it, young man, and you ought to have credit for it," put in Mrs. Ford, bluntly. "It was certainly a brave thing to do." "It was; and I shall never cease to thank Mr. Porter for it," went on Della Ford, and she gave Dave another warm look, at which he blushed more than ever. This look was not lost on Jessie; and she bit her lip in a way that showed she was not altogether pleased. Then Mr. Appleby, the manager of the moving-picture company, came forward, followed by several others. "This certainly is a surprise!" said the manager. "First we meet on the Atlantic Ocean, and next in the heart of the Adirondacks." "It's like some of your changes in the movies," answered Dave, smiling. "You show us a shipwreck, and then, presto! you transfer us to an office in Wall Street. You must have to jump around pretty lively to get all the scenes of a drama." "We don't take just one drama," explained Mr. Appleby. "We sometimes do half a dozen or more. For instance, while we are up here we are going to take the outdoor scenes to fifteen or twenty dramas. Then we'll go back to the city and finish up with a number of interiors." "Wouldn't you like to be a moving-picture actor, Mr. Porter?" asked Della Ford, eagerly. "You could go into a nautical rescue scene very nicely." "There you go again, Miss Ford!" returned Dave. "Just the same, it must be some fun being in a moving picture." "Oh, Dave, don't you go into any moving picture," interrupted Jessie, quickly. "Why, what would be the harm?" he questioned. "Oh, no particular harm, I suppose. Only I shouldn't like it," she answered, in a low tone. "You might get into our next scene," went on Della Ford, ignoring Jessie's remark. "We are going to have one that will show several canoes besides the motor-boat tied up at the dock around the bend." "Well, I'll think about it," answered Dave, hesitatingly; and then he went on to Mr. Appleby: "By the way, is Ward Porton still with you?" "He is with my company, yes; but he is not here just now," was the reply. "I expect him in a week or so." "I met him in Crumville, where I live." "Is that so? I thought he had gone to his old home down East. However, it doesn't matter; he has a right to go where he pleases." "By the way, Mr. Appleby, I would like to speak to you in private for a moment," went on Dave, and leaping ashore he drew the manager to one side. "What is it?" "You have a new member of your company, a young fellow named Link Merwell." "Yes, what of it?" "Link Merwell is a criminal--a fugitive from justice," answered Dave. And then he gave the man some of the particulars already known to my readers. "If what you say is true, Porter, I don't want that fellow in my company," said Mr. Appleby, warmly. "What do you want me to do when he comes, hold him a prisoner?" "I wish you would do that, and let us know. Mr. Wadsworth will take care of Merwell."