"She's an old tub," said Jack to the girls, "but she's in better shape than she was when you were here afore, Missies." And indeed the _Mary Ellen_ did seem so. A new coat of paint added as much to her appearance, as a new dress and hat does to a young lady, though _Mary Ellen_ could no longer be classed as young. Then came a day when many members of the theatrical company, including Jack Jepson, who now enjoyed that distinction, were taken down to the seacoast, some distance from New York. They went in a tug specially hired for the occasion. "Some of the scenes of the marine drama take place on the seacoast," explained Mr. Pertell. "I want to get them now, when we have the chance. I need a rocky shore, and this is the nearest one we can reach. Get ready now. We have rehearsed these scenes, you remember." They were not easy scenes, and, even though they had been gone over in the studio, when it came to actually going through them on the beach, one difficulty after another arose. In the first place it was a raw, windy day, and there was a pretty high sea, dashing up among the rocks of the shore, and sending a spray over toward the cameras. "I can't do anything from this point!" finally complained Russ Dalwood, who was at the machine. "I've spoiled about a hundred feet of film now. We'll have to get around that point." "All right," agreed Mr. Pertell, "but the scenery isn't so good there." But when one difficulty was disposed of another one was found. Mr. Bunn made trouble when he was asked to do a certain "fall" in the water. He complained that he did not want to spoil his tall hat. "Oh, you and your tall hat!" impatiently exclaimed the manager. "Go on with that scene, I tell you!" "But I--er--I--" expostulated the old actor. Before he could make further objection a mist of heavy spray dashed over him, thoroughly wetting his beloved hat. "There!" cried Mr. Pertell. "Your tile is spoiled anyhow, now go on and fall in. It can't get any wetter!" "Oh, what a life! What a life!" groaned the "Ham" actor, but he went through the "business." Perhaps he realized that other engagements were not any too plentiful for men of his talent. Nor did Ruth and Alice have an easy time. They had to scramble over rocks, they had to escape from smugglers, they had to hide in caves, and once Alice had to fall down on the rocks, and pretend to be hurt. It was a very real fall, too, and she did not have to make much of a pretense at limping. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" exclaimed Paul Ardite, hastening to her side. "Shall I carry you?" he asked eagerly. "No indeed. I'm all right. I just----" "Keep back there, Paul! Keep back!" cried Mr. Pertell. "Don't get in range and spoil the picture. That's fine, Miss DeVere. It's very natural--that limp!" "It ought to be!" murmured Alice, biting her lips to keep back an exclamation of pain. "It's real enough, especially the pain." Moving picture acting is not all as easy as it seems. CHAPTER IX THE RISING TIDE