orses
attached to the sleds in which they had come to the woods. She now took
out some of these and held them out to the timid deer.

The beautiful creature, made bold, perhaps, by hunger, came a step
nearer.

"Oh, that's fine!" cried Russ, squinting through the focusing tube to
get clear, sharp impressions on the film. "Keep at it, Ruth."

The deer came nearer, thrusting forth its velvet nose. It sniffed at the
sugar Ruth held, and then put out its lips and tongue and picked up the
lumps.

"Fine!" cried Russ. "Maybe he'd like salt better, for I've read of
salt-licks that animals visit, but sugar will do on a pinch; won't it,
old fellow?"

Perhaps it was the loud, laughing voice that Russ used, or it may have
been because there was no more sugar, but, at any rate, the deer, after
taking the sweet lumps gave a sudden turn, and rushed off through the
bushes, going rather slowly because of the deep snow.

Russ caught every motion of the graceful creature, however, and called
out to Ruth to pose with her hand shaded over her eyes, as though she
were looking after the deer. She did this, and that ended the little
scene with the timid woodland creature, who, if he ever saw moving
pictures, would doubtless be very much surprised to perceive a
presentment of himself on the screen.

"Come on now, Paul!" called Russ, indicating to the young actor to show
himself so that he would get into the picture.

The other players who had come up on hearing Ruth call out were now
ready for their parts in the play. They had kept out of sight of the
camera, however, so as not to spoil the picture.

"Very well done!" declared Mr. Pertell, when Ruth had finished her part
in the play. "That deer will make a very effective picture, I think."

"It was a dear deer!" punned Alice, and the others laughed.

On the way back to Elk Lodge the manager made an announcement that
interested all in the company, the young people especially.

"I have a drama," he said, "that calls for a coasting race in one scene.
I wonder if we couldn't do that to-morrow."

"Oh, riding down hill!" cried Alice, with girlish enthusiasm. "What fun!
May I steer a bob?"

"Alice, you never could!" cried Ruth.

"Pooh! I've done it lots of times!" her sister answered.

"Yes, when you were a little girl, perhaps, with two sleds held
together," laughed Mr. Pertell. "This will be different. Mr. Macksey
tells me he has two big, old-fashioned bobsleds in one of the barns