don't do it when the cameras are working. It
wouldn't look well in the moving pictures to have a note on the screen
saying that the shipwrecked persons were starving, and then show you
chewing away; would it, now?"

"No, I suppose not," admitted C. C., with a sigh. "Oh, but this is a
miserable business, though! I'm sure I'll be drowned before we get
through with it!"

"Oh, cheer up!" called Miss Lee, but there seemed to be no need for the
advice, for a moment later C. C. broke forth into a comic song.

While the preparations for producing the wreck scene were under way,
there was small need for the services of the boys, and they made ready
to go to San Francisco.

"Even if he has gone away somewhere," suggested Blake, "he may have left
some address where you can reach him."

"Do you think he'll be gone?" asked Joe.

"Well, if he left the lighthouse in a hurry, intending to call on a
shipping agent, naturally he wouldn't stay in port long," said Blake.
"Besides----" He stopped suddenly, being on the verge of saying
something that would give Joe a hint of the truth.

"What is it?" asked his chum, quickly. "What were you going to say,
Blake?"

"Nothing."

"Yes, you were, I'm sure of it. Blake, is there anything you're holding
back from me?"

Joe looked earnestly at his chum.

"I--er--" began Blake--when there came a knock on the door.

"What is it?" called Blake, glad of the interruption.

"Mr. Ringold wants you to get ready to take some scenes to-night," said
the voice of Macaroni.

"Scenes at night?" inquired Joe, opening the door, and forgetting the
question he had put to his chum.

"Yes," went on their young helper. "Flashlight scenes. He wants you at
once."

The boys reported to their superiors, and learned that a smuggling
scene, to fit in one of the sea dramas, was to be attempted. By means of
powerful flash and electric lights, the current coming over cables from
San Diego, it was planned to make views at night.

As this was an unexpected turn to affairs, they had to postpone their
trip to San Francisco for a few days. The night pictures came out well,
however, and the first of the following week saw Joe and Blake start on
their way to the city of the Golden Gate.

CHAPTER XI

A STRANGE CHARGE

"Are you going to take a camera with you, boys?" asked Mr. Ringold, as
Joe and Blake were saying good-bye to their friend, preparatory to
making a brief stay in San Francisco.

"A camera