At that moment something like a dark cloud shot upward from the pipes and spread out, plume-fashion. At the same moment the air was filled with the rank odor of oil and gas.
"She's a spouter! She's a spouter!" cried the men, in delight.
"Cap her up!" came the command.
But it was not easy to do at first, so great was the flow of oil, and considerable had run to waste when the internal pressure of natural gas, which forced out the oil, was reduced sufficiently to allow of the pipe being capped, and the flow of petroleum regulated.
All this time Russ had continued to get pictures of the novel scene, and Paul, as the Kerosene King, went through the act that had been improvised for him, the others of the company doing their share.
"This will make a novel film," said Mr. Pertell in satisfied tones. "I hope you got it all, Russ."
"Every bit. I think the views showing the oil spouting up will be first rate."
"But what are you using two cameras for?" asked Mr. DeVere.
"Two cameras?" repeated Mr. Pertell, questioningly.
"Yes, there's a man over there with another machine," and he pointed to a little hill, not far off, where stood a man working away at the handle of a machine similar to the one Russ was using. And this camera was pointed directly at the oil well and at the Comet players.