s near the round building, now used
as an Aquarium, but which, in former years, was Castle Garden, the
immigrant landing station.
"All ready now--start aboard," ordered Mr. Pertell. "And, Russ, get
your camera a little more this way. I want to show off the yacht as
well as possible."
The moving picture operator shifted his three-legged machine to one
side, and was about to start moving the film, as Ruth, Alice and the
others, presumably of a gay yachting party, started up the
gang-plank.
Several feet of film had been exposed, when there was a series of
shouts and cries back of the crowd that had gathered to see the
pictures made in the open air. Then came a warning:
"A runaway! A runaway horse! Look out!"
The crowd parted, and Ruth, looking up, saw a big horse, attached to
a dray, dashing along one of the walks of Battery Park, having
evidently come from one of the steamship piers nearby.
"Grab him, somebody!" yelled Mr. Pertell. "He'll spoil the picture!"
That seemed to be his main thought.
On came the maddened animal, while the crowd scattered still more.
Russ continued to make pictures, for the beast was not yet in focus.
"Go on! Keep moving!" directed Mr. Pertell to Ruth, Alice and the
others. "Maybe you can get aboard before he gets here. Watch
yourself, Russ!"
But the horse was charging directly for the gang-plank, and with
frightened eyes Ruth, Alice and some of the others prepared to rush
back to the pier.
"Go on! I'll get that horse!" cried a voice back of Mr. Pertell, and
a man, apparently a farmer, sprang at the head of the plunging steed.
CHAPTER XX
FARMER SANDY APGAR
For a moment there was considerable confusion and excitement. Men in
pursuit of the frantic animal had rushed after him, calling warnings
to those in the zone of danger. Two policemen ran up to intercept the
steed.
As for the moving picture actresses they hardly knew what to do. If
the plunging animal crashed into the gang-plank he might injure a
number of the performers, and break the rather frail structure,
letting them slip into the water.
"That picture will be spoiled!" groaned Mr. Pertell.
"No, it won't!" cried Russ. "Go on! I'm getting you all right. The
horse isn't in range yet and that young fellow has him now. Go on!"
Ruth and Alice gathered courage and the others followed, going
through with the little gang-plank "business" called for in the
play.
And indeed the quick-witted, rustic
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