“Who are you?” she demanded in a whisper.
“Friend.”
“Then show yourself!”
The leaves rustled, and a dark-haired lad with tangled curls crawled into the tunnel beside her. His shoes were ripped, his clothing dirty and in tatters. A rifle was grasped in his hand.
“Bada men,” he warned, jerking his head in the direction Penny had been crawling. “Mucha better go back boat.”
“Who are you and why do you warn me?” Penny asked, deeply puzzled.
The boy did not reply.
Light dawned suddenly upon Penny. “You’re the one who saved me from the boar!”
The boy’s quick grin was acknowledgment he had fired the shot.
“But why did you run away?” Penny asked. “Why didn’t you wait and let me thank you for saving my life?”