Every one seemed to be enjoying himself, and since there was to be no picture making until they reached shore, there was little chance for friction between directors and actors.
Meanwhile, Ruth Fielding became better acquainted with the actors and came to feel that she was making some headway with them.
They were more friendly than they had been at first and no longer gathered in groups for the purpose, she could not help feeling, of discussing her.
So it happened that the fifteen days of journey to St. Michael which Ruth had looked upon as a tiresome, if necessary, delay to picture making, was not so unprofitable after all. The only two in the company who were not completely won by their new director’s frank and friendly manner were Gerard Bolton, the assistant director, and the humpback, Rumph.
The former maintained his “have to be shown” attitude while Rumph was openly sullen and unfriendly.
In spite of this, Ruth was very much encouraged. With most of the company squarely back of her and Gerard Bolton not openly unfriendly, she could afford to snap her fingers at Joe Rumph. Or so she thought. But events were soon to prove that Ruth did not know Joe Rumph’s type as well as she thought she did!
The trip was uneventful up to the fifth day, which was the day of the big storm.
The wind rose about dinner time and by nine o’clock had lashed itself to such a frenzy that the passengers left the spray-soaked decks almost in a body and sought the shelter of their cabins and their staterooms.
Even below decks the slapping of the waves against the vessel came to the passengers with an ominous, rumbling, roaring sound.
The wind increased in violence and the rain fell in great, blinding gusts that beat upon the decks with the violence of hailstones.