“The tree!” whispered Jerry, his eyes flashing. “It’s lifting!”
Very slowly, an inch at a time, the great tree raised from the water, its huge roots serving as a hinge. When it was high enough, the motor boat passed beneath the dripping branches and waited on the other side.
Slowly, the tree was lowered into place once more.
“Clever, mighty clever,” Jerry muttered. “Anyone searching for the hide-out would never think of looking beyond this fallen tree. To all purposes nature put it here.”
“Nature probably did,” Penny added. “But our dishonorable friends adapted it to their own use.”
Through the window Penny saw the man called Gus reboard the boat.
Once more the cruiser went on up the narrow stream, making slow but steady progress. Long shadows had settled over the water. Soon it became dark.
Then a short distance ahead, Jerry and Penny observed a light. As the boat drifted up to a wharf, a man could be seen standing there with a glowing lantern. They were unable to see his face, and quickly dodged back from the cabin window to avoid being noticed.
“Everything all right, Aaron?” the man at the wheel asked, jumping ashore. He looped a coil of rope about one of the dock posts.
“Aaron!” whispered Penny, gripping Jerry’s hand.