now," said Mr. Pertell, after a
bit. "Get ready for that, Russ. And, whatever you do, Mr. Sneed,
don't have the tree fall on the camera. I don't want all the film
spoiled."

Soon all was in readiness for the final act of the day. Mr. Sneed
swung his axe with vigorous strokes and the keen weapon bit deep into
the wood. Alice and Ruth, who were acting with him, went through
their parts in the little play.

At times Mr. Sneed would pause to go through some other "business,"
and then resume his chopping.

"Look out," warned Sandy Apgar, who was one of the characters in the
act. "She'll fall in a minute."

"Yes, get from under," advised Russ. "I'll get a good picture of the
tree coming down."

Mr. Sneed ran out of the way, as a cracking warned him that the tree
was going to fall. It was not a large one, but it had very heavy and
thick foliage.

Crash! Down came the tree, and then followed a cry of alarm.

"Ach! I am killet! I am caught under der tree!"

"Great Scott! Another accident!" groaned Mr. Pertell. "This certainly
is a hoodoo day!" and they all ran to where Mr. Switzer had been
pinned.

CHAPTER XVIII

GOING TO SCHOOL

Fortunately for the German actor, he had been far enough away when
the tree came down, so that only the top part of it, consisting of
little branches and leaves, fell on him. In fact, he was not even
knocked down by the impact, but stood up right in the midst of the
foliage, his frightened blue eyes and rumpled light hair standing out
from amid the maze of green in a curious fashion.

"Vot for you do dot to me?" demanded Mr. Switzer of the grouchy actor
who had chopped the tree. "Dot vos not in the act; vos it, Mr.
Pertell?"

"No, but as long as you're not hurt we'll leave it in. It will make a
little variety. Why didn't you get out of the way?"

"Nobody tolt me to. I t'ought Herr Sneed knowed vot he vos doin' by
der tree yet! Vhy shoult I get der vay oudt?"

"Well, I knew something would happen when I tried to chop a tree,"
grumbled the author of the mischief.

"As long as it's nothing very bad we'll forgive you," went on the
manager.

"Und I forgif him, too," spoke the German. "Only he must now use his
axe again und get me out of dis. I am helt fast yet!"

This was true enough, for the branches, though not heavy enough to
have caused any injury, were quite thick, and fairly hemmed Mr.
Switzer in.

"Better let me lop off a few," suggested Sandy, and they agreed that