"Oh, Ruth, you did that splendidly!" exclaimed Alice, as her sister finished her work and went up on the shady porch to rest. "Did you like it? I'm glad." "Like it? It was great! Where you discovered that letter in the hay, your face showed such natural surprise." "I'm glad it didn't register merriment." "Why?" "Because, as I picked up the letter, I found a big blot of the yellow from the hens' eggs on it. I hope it doesn't show in the picture. I had all I could do to keep from laughing when I thought of Mr. Switzer in the omelet scene." "Oh, well, you know they want all white stuff yellow when they make pictures." "In the studio, but not outdoors." This is a fact. As the scenes in the studio are taken in the glare of a special kind of electric light, all white objects, even the collars and cuffs of the men, are yellow in tone, though in the picture they show perfectly white. This is due to the chemical rays of the lights used. Out of doors, under sunlight, colors are seen in their own hues. "You did very well in that funny little scene with Paul," said Ruth to her sister. "You mean in the swing under the apple tree?" "Yes." "I was so afraid he would swing me too high," Alice went on. "He was cutting up so. I told him to stop, but he wouldn't." "It was very natural. I think it will show well. Hark! what's that?" cried Ruth, leaping to her feet. "Thunder," suggested Alice, as a distant, rumbling noise came to their ears. "Sounds more like big guns." "Oh, that's what it is!" agreed Alice. "They are going to rehearse one of the battle scenes this afternoon, I heard Mr. Pertell say. The soldiers must have come, and they're practising over in the glen. Come on over and watch. We're in on the scenes later, but we can watch now." "All right," agreed Ruth. "Wait until I get my broad-brimmed hat, the sun is hot up here." Presently the two sisters, with Paul Ardite and some other members of the company, were strolling over the fields toward the scene of the distant firing. As they came in sight of several hundred men and horses, they saw the smoke of cannon and heard the shouting of the director and his assistants who were using big megaphones. It was the rehearsal of one of the many battle scenes that were to take place about Oak Farm. "Oh, look at that girl ride!" suddenly exclaimed Alice, pointing to a young woman who dashed past on a spirited horse. "Isn't she a wonder?" "She is indeed," agreed Ruth. "I wonder who she is?" "One of the extras," said Paul. "A number of them have just arrived. We'll begin active work soon, and film some big scenes with you girls in them." Alice gazed across the fields toward the figure of the girl on horseback. There was something spirited in her riding, and, though she had never seen her before, Alice felt strangely drawn toward the new player. CHAPTER V A DARING RIDER "Come on now, Confederates!"