Dan Carter And The Haunted Castle Part 8

The boys had entered into play acting with tremendous enthusiasm.

Everyone craved to have the Robin Hood role, but it was generally conceded that it would fall to either Dan or Ross.

Mr. Holloway took several movie shots of the two Cubs at target practice.

He told them that if they would drop around to his house a few nights later, all of the films would be run off.

"It will give us an idea of how we're coming along," he remarked. "We have a lot of work ahead of us before the play can be whipped into shape for the final filming."

Mr. Hatfield explained to the Cubs that as the script was being written, a shooting match at Nottingham would be one of the outstanding scenes.

"We can't film this scene until nearly last because we haven't settled upon who is to be Robin Hood," he declared. "For that reason, it will be necessary to skip around in the story, shooting a scene whenever we can.

Later on we'll prune out many of them."

"This preliminary work is more or less to get a line on acting ability,"

Mr. Holloway added. "The roles are only temporary."

"What scene will we film first?" Midge asked his father.

Mr. Holloway said he had thought of doing one in which the sheriff played the leading part.

"You know the story," he refreshed the memories of the boys. "At the shooting match in Nottingham, Robin Hood disguises himself and wins out over some of the best shots in England. But after tricking the sheriff, he wishes to let him know that it was he who had been victorious."

"Oh, I remember that scene!" cried Dan. "Robin Hood sends Little John and Will Stutely into the town. While the sheriff and his men are at dinner, they shoot an arrow onto the table. A scroll is attached to the shaft.

The message reveals that it was Robin Hood who won the shooting match, disguised as the tattered stranger."

"We'll have to modify the scene somewhat," Mr. Holloway said. "For one thing, it will be taken outdoors instead of inside the castle."

"We could make it inside," interposed Ross.

Mr. Holloway shook his head. "We have no permission to enter the building," he reminded the Cub.

"What will we use for a banquet table?" inquired Brad.

The Den Dad told the boys he had noticed a roadside picnic table and bench along the highway, which would serve.

"I asked permission of the State Highway Dept. to borrow it for an hour,"

he said. "We can move it up here, so we'll have the castle for a background. Then when the scene is finished, we'll carry it back again."

Brad, Dan, Chips and Fred Hatfield started off to get the table and bench.

"Coming, Ross?" Chips asked him.

"Oh, I've got to do something else," he replied vaguely.

"I'll go," offered Red Suell.

Several of the Den 1 boys also offered their services. No comment was made on Ross' reluctance to help. Each Cub, however, secretly was annoyed by the other boy's laziness.

The long wooden table and bench were set up on the brick terrace in front of the vine-covered castle wall.

Food and dishes then were brought out from the picnic hampers.

"We'll shoot the scene two or three times, using different boys in various parts," Mr. Hatfield declared. "Brad will act the role of Little John for the first filming. We'll try Ross out as the sheriff-"

"But I'm to be Robin Hood," the boy broke in.

"That hasn't been decided yet," the Cub leader reminded him. Ignoring Ross' scowl, he went on: "Chips will take the part of Will Stutely. The others will be knights gathered at the festive board."

"I don't want to be the sheriff," Ross muttered.

"Oh, forget it, will you?" Brad demanded, losing patience. "A Cub is supposed to be cooperative."

The filming of the scene began. Still grumbling at the role which had been thrust upon him, Ross took his place at the head of the picnic table.

As the camera began to grind, Brad, from the nearby thicket, shot an arrow. His first missed the table completely. On the second try, however, it dropped squarely amid the dishes.

"Whence came this?" Ross demanded, speaking the lines which had been a.s.signed him.

He picked up the arrow, and removing the scroll, read the message.

"'Thou didst give the prize to Robin Hood,'" he read aloud. And he added with gruff hostility: "Wait until I lay my hands on that sneaking coward!"

"Cut!" called Mr. Holloway. "Well done, boys!"

The Cubs praised Ross, for he had spoken the lines of the sheriff naturally. Also, his sullen manner had suited the character perfectly.

"You make a swell sheriff," Red praised him.

"Oh, yeah?" Ross retorted. "Well, don't think you're going to unload that role on me! I'm going to be Robin Hood."

Mr. Holloway filmed a scene with Brad and Chips as Little John and Will Stutely. He then tried out several of the Den 1 boys in the part of the sheriff.

However, everyone agreed that Ross had acted the role better than anyone else.

"Dan, you ought to be Robin Hood," Brad told him as the two rested under a tree. "You're a natural for that part, just as Ross is in the role of sheriff."

"Try to make him think so!"

"It's up to Mr. Holloway and Mr. Hatfield to a.s.sign the parts."

"Sure," Dan agreed, chewing at a blade of gra.s.s, "but it was decided Robin Hood should be played by the Cub who proves to be the best shot.

And we both know Ross is tops."

"It hasn't been proven yet," Brad insisted. "I noticed while you were practicing a while ago, you're improving fast, Dan. Ross hasn't touched a bow all day."

"I'm working hard," Dan admitted. "Honestly though, I think Ross will win the part."

"He doesn't deserve it with all his boasting."

"Maybe not, but he's handy with a bow. And that's what counts. Say-"