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Page 38
The Osage Indians had always been a plains' tribe. The rugged and
white-capped heights interested Wonota because they were strange to
her. Here, too, were primeval forests visible from the windows of the
car. Hemlock and spruce in black masses clothed the mountainsides, while
bare-limbed groves of other wood filled the valleys and the sweeps of
the hills.
Years before Ruth and her two chums had been through this country in
going to "Silver Ranch," but the charm of its mysterious gorges, its
tottering cliffs, its deep canyons where the dashing waters flowed, and
the generally rugged aspect of all nature, did not fail now to awe them.
Wonota was not alone in gazing, enthralled, at the landscape which was
here revealed.
Two days of this journey amid the mountains, and the train slowed down
at Clearwater, where the special car was sidetracked. Although the
station was some distance from the "location" Mr. Hammond's
representative had selected for the taking of the outdoor pictures, the
company was to use the car as its headquarters. There were several
automobiles and a herd of riding ponies at hand for the use of the
company. Here, too, Mr. Hammond and his companions were met by the
remainder of the performers selected to play parts in "Brighteyes."
There were about twenty riders--cowpunchers and the like; "stunt
riders," for the most part. In addition there were more than a score of
Indians--some pure blood like Wonota, but many of them halfbreeds, and
all used to the moving picture work, down to the very toddlers clinging
to their mothers' blankets. The Osage princess was inclined to look
scornfully at this hybrid crew at first. Finally, however, she found
them to be very decent sort of folk, although none of them were of her
tribe.
Ruth and Helen and Jennie met several riders who had worked for Mr.
Hammond when he had made Ruth's former Western picture which is
described in "Ruth Fielding in the Saddle," and the gallant Westerners
were ready to devote themselves to the entertainment of the girls from
the East.
There was only one day of planning and making ready for the picture, in
which Helen and Jennie could be "beaued" about by the cow-punchers. Ruth
was engaged with Mr. Hammond, Jim Hooley, and the camera man and their
assistants. Everyone was called for work on the ensuing morning and the
automobiles and the cavalcade of pony-riders started for the Hubbell
Ranch.
Wonota rode in costume and upon a pony that was quite the equal of her
own West Wind. This pet she had shipped from the Red Mill to her home in
Oklahoma before going to New York. The principal characters had made up
at the car and went out in costume, too, They had to travel about ten
miles to the first location.
The Hubbell Ranch grazed some steers; but It was a horse ranch in
particular. The country was rugged and offered not very good pasturage
for cattle. But the stockman, Arad Hubbell, was one of the largest
shippers of horses and mules in the state.
It was because of the many half-broken horses and mules to be had on the
ranch that Mr. Hammond had decided to make "Brighteyes" here. The first
scenes of the prologue--including the Indian scare--were to be taken in
the open country near the ranch buildings. Naturally the buildings were
not included in any of the pictures.
A train of ten emigrant wagons, drawn by mules, made an imposing showing
as it followed the dusty cattle trail. The train wound in and out of
coulees, through romantic-looking ravines, and finally out upon the flat
grass-country where the Indians came first into view of the supposedly
frightened pilgrims.
Helen and Jennie, as well as Ruth herself, in the gingham and sunbonnets
of the far West of that earlier day, added to the crowd of emigrants
riding in the wagons. When the Indians were supposed to appear the
excitement of the players was very realistic indeed, and this included
the mules! The stock was all fresh, and the excitement of the human
performers spread to it. The wagons raced over the rough trail in a way
that shook up severely the girls riding in them.
"Oh--oo!" squealed Jennie Stone, clinging to Ruth and Helen. "What _are_
they trying to do? I'll be one m-a-ass of bruises!"
"Stop, William!" commanded Ruth, trying to make the driver of their
wagon hear her. "This is too--too realistic."
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