Straight toward the deepest part of the channel, she propelled herself. Her crawl strokes were jerky, but they carried her along. And she had calculated well. Aided by the current, she would intercept the path of the oncoming River Queen.
From the water, the ferryboat looked like an immense monster as it steamed majestically up the river. Not wishing to attract attention to himself or his companions, Joe shipped his oars and temporarily gave up the chase. But he remained close by, watching alertly. Should the ferryboat fail to see or pick up Penny, he would be after her upon the instant.
[Treading water, the girl shouted for help] and waved an arm. Her voice was weak even to her own ears, and could not possibly carry to the pilot house of the Queen. Would her frantic signals be seen? The night was dark, and she was not yet in the arc of the vessel’s lights.
Penny swam a few more strokes, then treaded water again, and signaled frantically. The River Queen did not slacken speed.
“They haven’t seen me!” she thought desperately. “It’s useless.”
Now a new danger presented itself. The Queen had swerved slightly so that Penny was directly in its path. Still she had not been seen. Looming up in gigantic proportions above her, the ferry threatened to run her down.
CHAPTER
21
RESCUE
Fearful that she would be killed, Penny screamed and waved. Straight on steamed the River Queen, so close now that she could see Sally Barker on the starboard deck. But the girl was gazing away from her, toward Sweeper Joe and the other drifting boat.
“Help! Help!” screamed Penny in one last desperate attempt to save herself.
Her cry carried, for she saw Sally whirl around and stare intently at the dark water ahead. Then she shouted an order to her father. There came a clanging of bells, and the Queen swerved to port, missing Penny by a scant ten feet.