The auto that would really come to grief was an old rattletrap of a machine, but it would serve the purpose well enough for the film, since only a momentary glimpse of it, and that showing it going at full speed, would be given. The dummy figures, made up to look like Ruth and Alice, were in readiness. "Now, girls, take your places, if you please," said Mr. Pertell, waving Ruth and Alice toward their car. "Oh, I'm so nervous!" exclaimed Ruth. "What about?" asked her sister, as she buttoned her jacket, for the wind was sharp on the hillside. "Oh, suppose our car doesn't stop in time? Suppose we go over the cliff, instead of the stuffed figures?" "Don't suppose anything of the kind!" cried Alice, gaily. "Come on--they're waiting for us." CHAPTER VII OFF FOR THE WEST Ruth and Alice, taking their places in what might be termed the "regular" auto, were told just what to do. They were supposed to be escaping from their pursuers, who were in another auto that was to come up from the rear. Then their chauffeur, in an endeavor to make speed, would go too fast, would not be able to make the turn in the road, and would go over the cliff. But, at the proper time, the dummies and the old auto would be substituted. "All ready now?" asked Mr. Pertell, when he had carefully repeated his instructions to the girls. "All ready," answered Alice, and Ruth nodded, though a bit doubtfully. She was really nervous, although she tried not to show it too plainly. "All ready here," answered Russ, who was beside the camera. "Then go!" cried the manager, and the auto started. In order to give the idea of a long chase Russ had to set up his camera in several different places. He changed from one stretch of road to another, the auto being brought to a stop, to wait until he was ready, and then started up again. But the public saw none of this when the film was exhibited, for only motion was shown, the various sections of the celluloid being joined together in such a way as to preserve the continuity. "Now ready for the big scene," called Mr. Pertell, after one of these stops. "It's going very well." Ruth and Alice who, with Paul, were in the regular auto, had shown or "registered" all sorts of emotions during the chase. Sometimes the pursuing auto would be almost up to the one in front, and again it would lag far behind, in order to conform to the requirements of the script, or the story of the film play. "You will run your car up to here," said Mr. Pertell to the chauffeur of the machine containing Ruth, Alice and Paul. "Then you will stop, and the substitution will be made. Come on with as much speed as is safe, right to this mark," and he indicated a stone in the highway. "And be sure you _do_ stop!" exclaimed Paul, with a short laugh. "That's rather too near the edge of the cliff to suit me."