The door of the cabin was shut and there were no signs of life save the chickens. But as Val lowered himself painfully onto the second step of the ladder-like stairs leading up to the cabin, he thought he heard someone moving around. Glancing up, he saw Ricky staring down at him, open-mouthed.
"Hello," she called, for one of the few times in her life really astounded.
"Hello," Val answered shortly and shifted his weight to try to relieve the ache in his knee. "Nice day, isn't it?"
CHAPTER XI
RALESTONES TO THE RESCUE!
"Val! What are you doing here?" she demanded.
"Following you. Good grief, girl," he exploded, "haven't you any better sense than to come into the swamp this way?"
Ricky's mouth lost its laughing curve and her eyes seemed to narrow. She was, by all the signs, distinctly annoyed.
"It's perfectly safe. I knew what I was doing."