“The only place she could have gone is under the dock,” Penny said, her eyebrows knitting into a puzzled frown.
“Under it?”
“That’s what she must have done,” Penny insisted. “I suppose the planking would give some protection from the storm.”
The snow was coming down harder now than ever, in huge flakes. Trailing the footprints to the dock’s edge, Penny flattened herself on the planks and peered over the side.
“I can’t see a thing!” she complained. “Dark as pitch!”
“Listen!” commanded Louise.
Both girls became quiet. Distinctly they could hear a faint creak of snow as someone walked beneath the dock, a long distance away.
“Hello, down there!” shouted Penny.
The creaking sound ceased. But no one answered the call.
“If she’s down there, she’ll never answer!” Louise said, thoroughly disgusted. “Should we go after her?”