Slowly they walked on along the rickety planks, now and then bending down to pluck a water lily. Louise quickly jerked back her hand as a water snake slithered past.
“Ugh!” she gasped. “Another one of those horrid things!”
Interested to learn where the planks led, the girls followed the bridge-like trail among the trees. Louise, however, soon grew tired. As they presently came to a stump which offered a perfect resting place, she sat down.
“This is as far as I’m going,” she announced.
“But we have lots of time to explore, Louise. Don’t you want to learn where this boardwalk goes?”
“Not at the risk of falling into the water! At any rate, I’m tired. If you want to explore, go on alone. I’ll wait for you here.”
Penny hesitated, reluctant to leave her chum alone.
“Sure you won’t mind, Louise?”
“I’d much rather wait here. Please go on. I know you’ll never rest until you reach the end of the walk.”
Thus urged. Penny, with the package of lunch still tucked under her arm, picked her way carefully along.