There was no answer, and before she could call out a word of thanks for deliverance, the man had vanished.
His disappearance reminded her that though she had been snatched from the jaws of death, the danger by no means was over. At any moment the herd of rooters might return to attack.
Turning, Penny ran swiftly to the planked walk, in her haste not watching where she stepped. Her boots sank deeply in muck. Once on the planks well above the water level, she paused to catch her breath, and to gaze searchingly toward the bushes. All now was still.
“Who could my rescuer have been?” she mused. “Why didn’t he wait for me to thank him?”
Penny called several times but received no reply. Finally, giving up, she started slowly back along the walk toward the bay where she had left Louise.
More than the girl realized, the adventure had unnerved her. She felt weak all over, and several times as she gazed steadily at the water, became dizzy and nearly lost her balance.
“Guess I’m not tough enough for swamp life,” she reflected. “If ever I get out of here in one piece, I’m tempted to forget Danny Deevers and let the police do all the searching.”
Footsteps became audible on the boardwalk some distance away.
Every sense now alert to danger, Penny halted to listen.
Someone was coming toward her, moving swiftly on the creaking planks.