“It’s all here!” Danny said jubilantly. “Every dollar!”
Ezekiel blew out the lantern light, looking carefully about the yard. “There hain’t no time to divide the money now,” he said. “We gotta git you through the swamp, Danny, before them snoopin’ police come around. Bring the cans and come on! We’re moving out o’ here right now!”
Hod shuffled off to get the boat ready as the others each picked up a can and followed quickly.
CHAPTER
24
UNDER THE FENCE POST
Penny was tormented with worry as she saw the men walk hurriedly to the creek where they launched a flat-bottomed boat belonging to Ezekiel. Soon the craft was lost in the blackness of the swamp channel.
“There goes my chance to catch Danny and recover the stolen money!” she thought. “Oh, what can I do to prevent them from getting away?”
Another boat had been tied up at the dock, but Penny knew she never would dare enter the swamp alone at night. In any case, what chance would she have against four armed men?
“If only Mrs. Jones hadn’t hurt her ankle!” she thought. “It will take her a long while to reach a telephone, and help may not get here for an hour!”
As Penny stood gazing gloomily toward the swamp, a shaft of light cut fleetingly across the water. The flash came from the headbeam of a car swinging up the lane to the Hawkins’ house.
Not knowing who the arrivals might be, the girl stepped behind a tree to wait. Soon the car came closer, halting with a jerk.