As for the other members of the picture company, they rejoiced to the extent of tears, and even Mr. Sneed whistled cheerfully.

Mabel and Helen Madison were really in need of food and rest, for they had fared worse than our friends, having been lost so long, and suffering so from exposure.  They were put to bed, and ordered to rest, the assurance being given that early in the morning the start would be made for their home in Sycamore.

And then such a talking time as there was!  It was almost morning before anyone thought of bed.

“And all the while we were only a comparatively short distance from here,” said Russ, when everything had been explained.  But the dense woods and the winding waterways were as effective a barrier as many miles would have been.

“It’s lucky Uncle Joshua came along,” commented Alice, and there was no dissent from this.

“I declare, we seem to be getting into more and more strenuous adventures, the more moving picture business we do,” said Ruth.  “But I think this is about the end.”

“Indeed it isn’t!” declared Mr. Pertell.  “I don’t want to crowd you too much, but I have an idea for some new moving pictures, and I’d like to keep this whole company together.”

“Where this time?” Alice asked.

“Out West,” was the answer.  “I am planning a big drama, to be called ‘East and West,’ and I think it will be our best effort.”

“Out West,” said Ruth, softly.  “I wonder what will happen to us out there?”

And the answer may be found by reading the next book of this series, to be entitled “The Moving Picture Girls at Rocky Ranch; Or, Great Days Among the Cowboys.”

The day following the finding of the lost girls the Magnolia started back for Sycamore.  It was reached without accident, or incident of moment, and how the whole town rejoiced when it was known that the two Madison girls were aboard the boat!  There was a veritable holiday.

The moving picture girls, too, came in for their share of attention, and had Uncle Joshua been there he probably would have been one of the centres of attraction.  But, after being suitably rewarded, he went back to his palm hut, which had served the lost girls so well.

Russ made a few more films, to complete the set wanted, and then came a packing-up for the return to New York.  Before that, however, Mr. Madison insisted on being the host to the entire company at a garden fete in honor of his daughters’ safe return.

“Oh, but it was lovely under the palms, even if we did get lost,” said Alice, as they started on their northward journey.

“Indeed it was,” agreed Ruth.  “I wonder if we will like the West as well.”

“Better!” predicted Russ.

“I’m going to be a cowboy!” declared Paul.

And now we will take leave of the Moving Picture Girls and their friends.

THE END