E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Project Gutenberg Beginners Projects, Mary Meehan, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team THE PHANTOM HERD BY B. M. BOWER Author of Chip of the Flying-U, The Flying-U's Last Stand, The Gringos, etc. 1916 FOREWORD For the accuracy of certain parts of this story which deal most intimately with the business of making motion pictures, I am indebted to Buck Connor. whose name is a sufficient guarantee that all technical points are correct. His criticism, advice and other assistance have been invaluable, and I take this opportunity of expressing my appreciation and thanks for the help he has given me. B.M.BOWER. CONTENTS CHAPTER I THE INDIANS MUST GO II "WHERE THE CATTLE ROAMED IN THOUSANDS, A-MANY A HERD AND BRAND..." III AND THEY SIGH FOR THE DAYS THAT ARE GONE IV THE LITTLE DOCTOR PROTESTS V A BUNCH OF ONE-REELERS FROM BENTLY BROWN VI VILLAINS ALL AND PROUD OF IT VII BENTLY BROWN DOES NOT APPRECIATE COMEDY VIII "THERE'S GOT TO BE A LINE DRAWN SOMEWHERES" IX LEAVE IT TO THE BUNCH X UNEXPECTED GUESTS FOR APPLEHEAD XI JUST A FEW UNFORESEEN OBSTACLES XII "I THINK YOU NEED INDIAN GIRL FOR PICTURE" XIII "PAM. BLEAK MESA--CATTLE DRIFTING BEFORE WIND--" XIV "PLUMB SPOILED, D'YUH MEAN?" XV A LETTER FROM CHIEF BIG TURKEY XVI "THE CHANCES IS SLIM AND GITTIN' SLIMMER" XVII THE STORM XVIII A FEW OF THE MINOR DIFFICULTIES XIX WHEREIN LUCK MAKES A SPEECH XX "SHE'S SHAPING UP LIKE A BANK ROLL" CHAPTER ONE THE INDIANS MUST GO Luck Lindsay had convoyed his thirty-five actor-Indians to their reservation at Pine Ridge, and had turned them over to the agent in good condition and a fine humor and nice new hair hatbands and other fixings; while their pockets were heavy with dollars that you may be sure would not he spent very wisely. He had shaken hands with the braves, and had promised to let them know when there was another job in sight, and to speak a good word for them to other motion-picture companies who might want to hire real Indians. He had smiled at the fat old squaws who had waddled docilely in and out of the scenes and teetered tirelessly round and round in their queer native dances in the hot sun at his behest, when Luck wanted several rehearsals of "atmosphere" scenes before turning the camera on them.