olling and pitching. Well, let's go aboard, and
see how they're coming on."

Russ had a permit to view the craft, and as he was expected to give some
instructions regarding the building of the platform, the man in charge
of the overhauling work welcomed the four young people.

The _Ajax_ was, as Russ had said, rather a tub, but it was a large,
comfortable boat, and was capable of going on quite a cruise. There was
a partially enclosed cabin, and many comforts and conveniences. But just
for the present purpose, everything was being subordinated to the taking
of moving pictures.

"I'm readjusting the motor," the head of the repair gang told Russ, "so
she'll start and stop, as well as reverse easily and quickly. That's
what you want, isn't it?"

"That's it, yes. You see I can't tell when I'll have to shift, to make
allowances for what the actors and actresses will do. There's no telling
about these moving picture people," and Russ gave Ruth and Alice, as
well as Paul, a laughing look as though to indicate that they were very
temperamental, and hard to get along with.

"Are these some of the actor folks?" asked the mechanic who was laboring
over the motor.

"That's what they are, and good ones, too!" cried Russ.

"Gee! They don't look it!" was the frank remark, and the two girls broke
into peals of laughter.

Paul and Russ showed Ruth and Alice over the big motorboat, and then
leaving the three to their own devices for a while, the young camera
operator went into details of the work with the head mechanic. Russ was
told that the _Ajax_ would be ready in plenty of time for him. He
expressed himself as satisfied with the progress made, though he made
one or two slight changes in the platform, built on the forward deck of
the craft, where he was to stand when he took the pictures of the
shipwreck.

"Well, how about those sodas now?" asked Russ of his companions when he
had finished. "There's a nice place a few blocks up, and it's about warm
enough for ice cream."

"Couldn't we take just a look at the _Mary Ellen_ while we are here?"
asked Alice. "Isn't that she, over there?" and she pointed across the
basin.

"You speak of that ship as if she were a person," objected Ruth.

"And so she is!" Alice exclaimed. "A ship is always a lady, isn't she,
Paul?"

"She ought to try to be, at least," he laughed. "How about it, Russ?
Shall we take the girls over to the schooner?"

"Might as well, I guess. It won't take lon