human
What is it?
gpt
Are the men playing a game?
human
Is the train off the track? asked one of the fresh air boys.
gpt
I hopes it is--that is, if nobody is hurt, 'cause then we won't have to go home, and maybe we can go back to the country.
human
No, the train isn't off the track, answered Mr. Bobbsey.
gpt
It's a hold-up by masked robbers.
human
There! What'd I tell you? cried Bert to his brother and sisters.
gpt
I _knew_ they were masked robbers.
human
But only make-believe, went on Mr. Bobbsey, still smiling.
gpt
This is a hold-up, or stopping of the train, and a pretend robbery for moving pictures.
human
Moving pictures!
gpt
Yes. There is a man up front, near the engine, with a moving picture camera. With him are some men and women, actors and actresses, dressed up--some like passengers, such as we are, and others like robbers, with false faces on. They wanted the train to stop so they could get a picture of that, for it would be a funny movie of a train robbery without a train to be seen.
human
And did they actually stop the train?
gpt
Yes. They held up a red flag and the engineer stopped. But it was all right, for he knew it was going to be done. It was all arranged for ahead of time. Now, if you like, you may come out and see them take moving pictures.
human
Well, who would have thought that! cried Bert.
gpt
I was sure the men with masks on were robbers. And they're only taking a moving picture.
human
I'd like to see it in a theatre afterward, said Nan.
gpt
Don't you remember what fun it was when we were in the movies this Summer?
human
Were you in them, really?
gpt
Yes, we acted a little, said Bert.
human
There was a make-believe battle being taken near our uncle's farm. We went to watch. They fired cannon and guns, and had horses----
gpt
And the men and horses were shot! interrupted Freddie.
human
Only pretend, of course, but I was there and I was in the movies too. I acted and so did Nan. And I fell in the brook and the man made a moving picture of me doing that!
gpt
Did they really?
human
Yes, the children were in the moving pictures a little this Summer, explained Freddie's mother.
gpt
It was all unexpected, but we did not mind, for it was all outdoors. It was fun for them.
human
Say, I'd like to do that! cried Tommy with shining eyes as he heard what the Bobbseys had done.
gpt
It must have been great!
human
It was fun,