Once again the players were on their way, and this time they were not to stop until they reached Rocky Ranch, unless something occurred to make it necessary.
The remainder of the trip was uneventful, if we may except a slight accident by which the train was derailed. No one was hurt, however, and it gave Russ a chance to make a little film.
Then, late one afternoon, the party of moving picture players with their properties and baggage reached the station of Altmore, the nearest railroad point to Rocky Ranch. The station was little more than a water tank, and there was not much of a town.
"Oh, what a dreary place!" complained Miss Pennington, as she and her friend Miss Dixon surveyed the scene.
"The end of nowhere," agreed the other. "We shall die of loneliness here."
"I guess it will be lively enough for you out at the ranch," said Mr. Pertell. "But I don't understand why the wagons aren't here to meet us."
"There's something coming down the road," said Russ, pointing to a cloud of dust.
"That's so," agreed the manager.
The dust cloud drew nearer, and then from the center of it could be heard an excited shouting and yelling, and the galloping of horses. Added to these were the sharp reports of revolvers.
"Something has happened!" cried Mr. Sneed.