“But is Coon really fishing?” Penny demanded suspiciously.
“He’s got a pole and a string o’ fish.”
“Also, he’s watching us very closely,” whispered Penny. “I don’t trust him one bit! He’s hiding something on that island! I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t try to keep us from landing.”
CHAPTER
14
A CODE MESSAGE
The old trapper appeared not to have heard Penny’s whispered observation. He paddled the skiff on until it drifted within ten yards of the point where Coon Hawkins sat fishing.
“Howdy!” called the trapper.
“Howdy,” responded Coon, his gaze on the bobbing cork.
“Seen anything of a dog on the island?”
“Hain’t no animal hereabouts,” Coon replied.
“’Pears like the gals has lost a dog,” said the old trapper, dipping his paddle again. “We’re landin’ to have a look around.”