They did not travel on Sunday, however, when the constables reap most of their harvest, so they really had little to complain of in that direction. Nor did they travel fast in any case.
After the rainy days at Portsmouth, the automobile party ran on with only minor incidents and no adventures until they reached Portland. There Ruth telegraphed to Mr. Hammond that they were coming, as in her letter, written before they left Cheslow, she had promised him she would.
Herringport, the nearest town to the moving picture camp at Beach Plum Point, was at the head of a beautiful harbor, dotted with islands, and with water as blue as that of the Bay of Naples. When the two cars rolled into this old seaport the party was welcomed in person by Mr. Hammond, the president and producing manager of the Alectrion Film Corporation.
"I have engaged rooms for you at the hotel here, if you want them," he told Ruth, after being introduced to Aunt Kate and Colonel Marchand, the only members of the party whom he had not previously met.
"But I can give you all comfortable bunks with some degree of luxury at the camp. At least, we think it luxurious after our gold mining experience in the West. You will get better cooking at the Point, too."
"But a camp!" sighed Aunt Kate. "We have roughed it so much coming down here, Mr. Hammond."
"There won't be any black ants at this camp," said her niece cheerfully.
"Only sand fleas," suggested the wicked Tom.
"You can't scare me with fleas," said Jennie. "They only hop; they don't wriggle and creep."
"My star in the 'Seaside Idyl,' Miss Loder, demanded hotel accommodations at first. But she soon changed her mind," Mr. Hammond said. "She is now glad to be on the lot with the rest of the company."
"It sounds like a circus," Aunt Kate murmured doubtfully.
"It is more than that, my dear Madam," replied the manager, laughing. "But these young people----"
"If Aunt Kate won't mind," said Ruth, "let us try it, while she remains at the Herringport Inn."
"I'll run her back and forth every day for the 'eats'," Tom promptly proposed.
"My duty as a chaperon----" began the good woman, when her niece broke in with:
"In numbers there is perfect safety, Auntie. There are a whole lot of girls down there at the Point."