Swamp Island

ING A

ward; neither w

nd her mind telegraphed the warning: "Th

it goin' now!" he ordered sh

wet her fingers and whistled for Bones, but the dog, off on a fascin

emanded. "I be a patient man,

half tempted to

," Louise cal

Stumbling over a vine, she caught her bal

fast until they were well out into the cha

e lost Bones for good. W

e we

row back there today. H

nything she might say would

lled away. Like a grim statue, he stood in the sh

ecoming bolder as they put greater distance between

ection of it. Don't feel too badly about Bone

n will shoot him! Oh, Penny, Bones was such a cute little dog. He alw

insisting upon landing

nee

ne. "Maybe we'll find him again or he'll

swished gently against the skiff as Louise se

mass of flowers in the bottom of the

me to the swamp today,

l we met that man. Please, P

fish broke the surface of the still water. Across the channel, the sun had become

two men on the point. Did you

a murmur o

ntly for more information. Penny plucked a

ed to be asking the other to hide him, and there was t

prob

apparently didn't know anyone wa

ss, we're almost out of the swamp now. I can see the

ace?" Penny asked, st

d swung into

sted on the oars a moment. "Don't you remember-it'

ylinders today. Anyway, we're out of the swamp.

ded the skiff to a sagging, make-

enclosed by a broken fence, stood a

. At the pump near the house, a middle-aged woman in loose-fitt

ckly as the skiff gr

girls at their approach.

d Penny. "May we have

your

cup attached to the pump with a string. She s

few sips, for the water was

ers hereabouts," t

rom Riverview,"

t been in

nture. "We gathered flowers, and then met a horrid man with red wh

d at the girls

a grim voice. "The swamp's no place fer young gals.

s much worried about that," Penny

copper boiler again. After a moment she looked

the swamp. And don't go pokin' yer nose into what ain't none o' your consarn. If I was you,

Louise insisted. "He'

g agin. And if you know what's good 'n

ck and went on with her work. Made increasingly aware of her hos

ey could see that the

d when the skiff had floated on toward Trapper

, they saw the lean old swamper standing near the dock, skinning

"After I let you take the skiff I got to worryin' fer fear you'd

ouise declared, stepping out on the do

ppened on the island. He listened attentivel

l Hawkins," he said then. "Leastwise, he's the

fugitive from the

oys, Hod and Coon, tend purty much to their own busin

hey own t

ent land. Can't figure why, if 'twas Ezekie

ny asked as the tr

ep an eye out fer the dog and m

f the boat. Gathering up the flowers they had picked, they

ked with them t

ked, "who is the woman on

swamp? That's the Ez

that bearded ma

kon

talked to a tall, dark-haired wo

ngued, Manthy is, and not too friendly. Works hard sl

ons, but again saying goodbye to Trap

ke on us, Lou! There we were, complaining to Mrs. Hawkins

d reason to

can't be dead certain the bearded man was Ezekiel

r set foot near this place again!

just off the sideroad. A clock on the dash

"I'll have to step on it to get dressed in time for

to the main paved highway. Much later, as they neared R

hrough. Then the girls were startled to

y Deevers alias Spike Devons. Five-feet nine, blue eyes, brown hair.

ol. "I repeat," boomed the dispatcher's voice. "Be on lookout for Dan