“Now then, you may make your plans accordingly.  As I said, we leave by steamer for St. Augustine by way of Jacksonville this day week.”

“And will all the scenes be taken in St. Augustine?” asked one of the company.

“No, we shall go into the interior.  I expect we may go to a place near Lake Kissimmee, and there—­”

“Lake Kissimmee!” exclaimed Alice DeVere, in surprise.

“What about it?” asked Mr. Pertell.  “Are you afraid to go there?”

“No, but two girls whom we met on the train going to Deerfield, when we were preparing to make the ice and snow dramas, were going to a place near there.  We may meet them.”

“That’s so!” agreed Ruth.

“I hope you will,” went on Mr. Pertell.  “Lake Kissimmee, however, is only one of the interior places we shall touch.  I will tell you more detailed plans later.”

“I—­ah—­er—­presume we shall have a little time to—­er—­see the sights of St. Augustine; will we not?” asked one of the actors, in affected, drawling tones.

“Oh, yes, plenty of time, Mr. Towne,” answered Mr. Pertell.  Claude Towne was a new member of the company, rather a “dudish” sort of chap, and not, as yet, very well liked.  He dressed in what he considered the “height of fashion.”

The week that followed was a busy one for every member of the Comet Film Company.  Not that they were required to do much acting in front of the camera; for, after the outdoor scenes in connection with the current play were made, Russ Dalwood, the operator, packed up his belongings ready for the Florida trip.

The others were doing the same thing, and Mr. Pertell was kept busy arranging for transportation, and hotel accommodations, and for the taking care of such films as he would send back from the interior of Florida, since none would be developed there.  This work would have to be done, and positives printed for the projecting machines, in New York.  This custom was generally followed when the company went out of town.

“Well, are we all here?” asked Mr. Pertell one morning as he reached the steamer, which lay at her dock in New York, ready for the trip to the land of the palms.

“I think so,” answered Russ, who had with him a small moving picture camera.  He had an idea he might see something that would make a good film.

“No one missing?” went on the manager.  “That’s good.  Oh, by the way, did Mr. Towne arrive?  He ’phoned to me that he might be a little late.”

“Yes, he’s here,” answered Russ.  “The last I saw of him he was looking in a mirror, arranging his necktie.”

“Humph!  He’s too fond of dress,” commented the manager, “but he does well in certain society parts, and that’s why I keep him.”

The confusion of the passengers and late freight coming aboard gradually grew less.  Whistles sounded their bass notes, and gongs clanged.

“All ashore that’s goin’ ashore!” came the warning cry, and there was a hurried departure of those who had come to see friends or relatives off on the voyage.