There are few rapid streams around the vicinity of Sycamore, most of them being sluggish to the point of swampiness.  And a short distance away from the hotel, on some of the creeks and bayous, one could imagine oneself in some impenetrable jungle, so still and quiet was it.

“It will give us some new effects in moving pictures,” said Mr. Pertell.  “It is just what we want.”

“How are we going to get farther into the interior?” asked Mr. DeVere, when that subject was brought up.

“I have chartered a small steamer,” said the manager.  “At first I decided we could use a large motor boat, and make the trips back and forth from the hotel each day, to get to the various places.  But I find that distances are longer than I calculated on, and it might be inconvenient, at times, to come back to the hotel.  So I have engaged a good-sized, flat-bottomed stern-wheeler, and we can spend several days at a time on her if need be.”

“Oh, how lovely!” cried Alice, clapping her hands in girlish enthusiasm.  “Won’t it be fine, Ruth?”

“It sounds enticing.”

“To think of steaming along these quiet and mysterious streams, under the palms,” exclaimed Alice.  “Oh, I’m so glad I came.”

“Huh!  Yes.  Suppose we get lost, as those two girls are?” demanded Mr. Sneed, who was the only one, you may be sure, who would make such a disquieting suggestion.

“Well, if we’re all lost together it won’t be so bad,” declared Alice.  “But I should hate to be lost all alone.”

“Don’t speak of it!” begged Ruth, with a shudder.

After two or three days of fretting, because the boat he had ordered did not come, Mr. Pertell finally received word that it was on its way up the Kissimmee River.

The Magnolia, which was the name of the steamer, arrived two days later.  It proved to be an old, comfortable craft, with a wheezy engine, burning wood.  At the stern was a paddle wheel, so placed because of the character of the waters to be navigated.  The boat only drew about a foot, and could go in very shallow streams.

There were sleeping and cooking quarters aboard, and on the upper deck a place to promenade, or to sit in the shade of an awning.

“It’s like a house-boat!” cried Alice in delight, as she and Ruth inspected it.  “Oh, I’d just like to live aboard this all the while.”

“You will be on it a good deal,” observed Russ.  “We’ve got a number of dramas planned, of which the boat is the background.”

CHAPTER XIV

UNDER THE PALMS

“Attention, everyone!”

Mr. Pertell stood on the deck of the Magnolia, facing his company of players.  At his side was Russ, with the moving picture camera ready for action.

“The first part of this play takes place aboard here,” went on the manager.  “The action is simple, as you can see from the scenarios I have distributed.  Some acts will take place on shore, and when the time comes for that the boat will be sent over to the bank and be tied up.  Now then, Russ, get ready to film them.  Mr. DeVere, you are in this first act; also Miss Ruth and Miss Dixon.  Are you up in your parts?”