there, and so you will have to get
some one else, Mr. Ringold, to take my place. Blake can stay here, of
course, and make moving pictures, but I----"

"I'm going with you," said his chum, simply.

There was a moment's silence, and then the theatrical manager exclaimed:

"Well, say, this just fits in all right. There's no need for any of us
to be separated, for I intend taking my whole company to the coast to
get a new series of sea dramas. The Southern California coast will suit
me as well as any.

"Joe, you can't shake me that way. We'll all go together, and you'll
have plenty of chance to locate your father!"

CHAPTER VI

ON THE COAST

The announcement of Mr. Ringold was followed by a silence, during which
Joe and Blake looked at each other. It seemed like too much good fortune
to learn that they would still have the company of their friends in this
new quest.

"Do you really mean that?" asked Joe. "You're not saying it just to help
us out; are you, Mr. Ringold?"

"No. What makes you think that?"

"Because it seems too good to be true. I wouldn't like anything better
than to go with your company and make pictures."

"The same here," added Blake.

"And if, at the same time, I can locate my father," went on Joe, "so
much the better, though I don't imagine I will have any trouble finding
him, once I can communicate with the government lighthouse board, and
learn where he is stationed. They have a list of all employees, I
imagine."

"Yes, I think so," spoke Mr. Hadley. "As you say, it will be easy to
locate him. And, boys, I'm very glad you're going to be with us again. I
wouldn't like to break in two new lads, and we will certainly need three
photographers to take all the scenes in the sea dramas that are
planned."

"Will we have to go very far to sea?" asked Macaroni, who was among
those who had greeted the moving picture boys. The lads' thin assistant
had been kept busy assisting Mr. Hadley while they were after the
Indians. "Because if it's very far out on the ocean wave I don't believe
I want to go; I'm very easily made seasick."

"Oh, we can arrange to keep you near shore," said the theatrical man,
with a laugh.

"He may be drowned, even near shore," put in C. C., with his most gloomy
voice; though he was, at the same time, practicing some new facial
contortions that were sending the women members of the troupe into
spasms of laughter.

"Oh, there you go, Gloomy!" exclaimed Mr. Hadley