Keeping close to the river, Penny and Louise trod a path which they knew would lead to the main road and Peter Fenestra’s farm.
“Queer sort, wasn’t he?” Penny remarked thoughtfully.
“Anchor Joe?”
“Yes, I wonder where Dad found him? He certainly didn’t tell us much about himself.”
Crossing the river by means of a swaying, suspension bridge, the girls came out from beneath the solid canopy of trees. Penny paused to stare up at the sky.
“Aren’t those clouds odd?” she observed. “Just watch them boil!”
“They must be filled with wind,” declared Louise uneasily. “Anchor Joe said he thought a storm would blow up.”
“It’s not far away either. Unless we step right along, we’ll surely get caught in it.”
“Perhaps we should forget The Willows and start home.”
“We never could get there now,” responded Penny. “If we hurry we may reach Fenestra’s place before the storm breaks.”