The Moving Picture Boys on the Coast Part 18

"We sure did, and something unexpected, too. I never counted on a swordfish attack."

"No, and I guess the fishermen didn't either. But it will make a realistic film, as Mr. Hadley would say."

"It's just our hoodoo luck again," went on Joe. "Something out of the ordinary seems to be happening all the while to us."

"Well, it's better than monotony."

"I suppose so. But I wonder what it will be next?"

The boys were congratulated on their success by Mr. Hadley and Mr.

Ringold, and the films, when developed and printed a little later, furnished a series of fine views.

For the next week the boys had little time to themselves. The drama with the burning shack was enacted over again, this time with success, the volunteer firemen not throwing any water on the blaze. Other sea dramas were also made, and then came a period of rest, in which Blake and Joe had hardly anything to do.

"Say," exclaimed Blake, one afternoon, "let's go for a walk down the beach, by the cliffs. It's a fine day and it will do us good."

"All right," agreed Joe. "I was thinking of paying another visit to the lighthouse, and asking if there was any news of my father; but, of course, there can't be."

"Hardly," agreed Blake, thinking that the only news his chum would get there would be bad.

They strolled along the sh.o.r.e, making excursions here and there as something attracted them. Going through a little group of scrub oak, somewhat back from the sh.o.r.e, and climbing a slight elevation to get a view of the Pacific, the boys were startled, as they were about to emerge into a little open glade, to hear voices.

"Some one else besides us out here to-day," spoke Joe, in a low voice.

"That's right," agreed his chum. "Keep still until we see who it is."

Cautiously they advanced until they stood behind a little screen of trees, and were gazing into the open place. They saw several men at work erecting some sort of tower, or pile of rocks, and on top of it was mounted a large lantern.

"There--that ought to show pretty well," remarked one of the men.

"Yes, and be seen a good distance out to sea," put in another. "It's just in the right place, too; for the rocks extend a good way out, and you can't see 'em even at dead low water."

"And anything drawing more than ten feet will be sure to strike on 'em,"

suggested a third.

"That's right, Sandy," came the retort. "Have you got the lantern fixed so that she'll flash like the other?"

"I sure have. All we've got to do is to pull one wire--this way--and the light is shut off. Another pull, and she gives a flash, just like a revolving light."

"Good. We'll give it a trial to-night."

"Say, what do you think they are?" whispered Joe.

"I hardly know, and yet----"

"Maybe they're experimenting with a new kind of light?" suggested the other lad.

"Experimenting? Yes!" spoke Blake, in a low, tense voice. "And I can guess what they're experimenting for."

"What?"

Blake was about to answer, when one of the men, looking in the direction where the boys were concealed, uttered an exclamation.

"Hark!" he cried. "I think I heard something."

"It was the wind," declared one.

"A bird in the bushes," said another.

"I'm going to see!" declared the man. And he came straight toward their hiding place.

CHAPTER XVI

JOE SUSPECTS SOMETHING

"What'll we do, Blake?" was the whispered question.

"Stay here, I guess. If we run they'll see us or hear us. Besides, we haven't done anything to run for."

"I know it, but those men look like ugly customers. I wonder what they can be up to?"

"They are--" began Blake, and then he pulled Joe down beside him in the bushes.

"He's turned off to one side," Blake went on. "He hasn't seen us, and he doesn't know just where to look. He may pa.s.s us by. Keep still!"

Together they crouched down. The man looked around as though to trace the noise which had been made when Joe accidentally stepped on a stick, which broke under his weight.

"Don't breathe," whispered Blake, with his lips close to Joe's ear. "I think he's going to pa.s.s us by."

The man paused, seemed as if about to come directly for them again, and then dashed off to one side. He made a leap into the bushes, only to discover nothing, as his chagrined exclamation showed.

"I told you so!" growled one of his companions. "It was only the wind."

"The wind doesn't break sticks," was the snappish reply.

"Then it was a bird--maybe a fishhawk."

"Maybe," a.s.sented the man who had started to make the search. "But I thought some one was spying on us, and if they were----" He did not finish, but glared angrily around. He was so close to the boys that they could hear his rapid breathing, but the leafy screen effectively hid them from view. "If I catch any one," he went on, "he'll wish he never ran across Hemp Danforth!" and he shook a big fist.

"Oh, come on!" called some of his companions. "There's lots to be done yet before we get this lantern finished. And if we want any rich pickings we'll have to hustle for 'em. The weather looks like it was going to break, and that will be just what we want. Come on, Hemp."

"All right, I will, only don't talk so bold and free."

"Why not?"