CHAPTER
16
GATHERING CLUES
The girls could hear no movement behind them as they darted down the path. They dared to hope that they had eluded the old gardener.
Then as they came within sight of the river, Louise stumbled over a vine. Although she stifled an outcry the dull thud of her body against the ground seemed actually to reverberate through the forest. A black crow on the lower limb of an oak tree cawed in protest before he flew away.
Penny pulled Louise to her feet and they went on as fast as they could, but they knew the sound had betrayed them. Now they could hear the man in pursuit, his heavy shoes pounding on the hard, dry path.
“Run!” Penny commanded.
They reached the river bank and looked about for the boat which would take them across. As they had feared it was on the opposite shore.
Penny gestured frantically, but the boy did not understand the need for haste. He picked up his oars and rowed toward them at a very deliberate pace.
“Oh, he’ll never get here in time,” Louise murmured fearfully. “Shall we hide?”
“That’s all we can do.”
They realized then that they had waited too long. Before they could dodge into the deeper thicket the gardener reached the clearing.