CHAPTER 13 _INTO THE SWAMP_
By eleven o'clock the next morning, the two girls were on their way toCaleb Corners in Penny's car. Both wore high boots, heavy shirts, andriding breeches, having dressed carefully for the swamp.
"I had one awful time convincing Dad and Mrs. Weems I should make thistrip," Penny remarked as they parked the car under a giant oak not farfrom Trapper Joe's shack on the river creek. "If we hadn't had Bones foran excuse, they never would have allowed me to go."
Louise stared curiously at her chum.
"Why else would we make the trip?" she inquired.
"Oh, we're going there to find Bones," Penny assured her hastily. "But ifwe should meet Ezekiel Hawkins or whoever was on the island--"
"My parents made it very clear I'm not to go to the island unless TrapperJoe is with us."
"So did my father, unfortunately," sighed Penny.
As the girls approached Trapper Joe's shack, they saw smoke issuing in astraight column from the rear of the premises.
Investigating, they found the old guide roasting a fat turkey on a spitwhich slowly revolved above a fire of cherry red coals.
"Howdy," the old man greeted them. "You're jest in time fer somevictuals."
"Lunch so early?" Louise asked in surprise.
"It hain't breakfast and it hain't lunch," the trapper chuckled. "I eatwhen I'm hongry, an' right now I feel a hankerin' fer food. Kin I giveyou a nice turkey leg?"
The girls looked at the delicately browned fowl and wavered.
"I'll fetch you'uns each a plate," the trapper offered.
From the shack he brought two cracked ones and forks with bent tines. Toeach of the girls he gave a generous helping, saving for himself a largeslice of breast.
"What brings ye here today?" he presently asked. "Be ye aimin' to rent myboat again?"
"Providing your services go with it," Penny replied. "We want to searchfor Louise's dog."
"'Tain't likely you'll ever see him again."
"All the same, we've planned on searching the island thoroughly. Will youtake us?"
Trapper Joe tossed away a turkey bone as he observed: "There'scottonmouths on that island and all manner o' varmints."
"That's why we want you to go with us," Penny urged. "We'll be safe withyou."
"I hain't so sartain I'll be safe myself," Joe argued. "My gun's beenstole. Some thieven scalawag made off with it late last night while I wasskinnin' an animal. Left it a-settin' against a post down by the dock.The rascal took my gun and some salted meat I had in a crock!"
"Someone who came from the swamp?" Penny asked quickly.
"'Pears he must o' come from there."
"Could the thief have been one of the Hawkins family?"
"'Tain't likely," the guide replied. "They all got good guns o' theirown. Anyhow, the Hawkins' hain't never stooped so low they'd steal from aneighbor."
"Will you take us in your boat?" Louise urged impatiently. "We'll pay youwell for your time. If we find Bones, you'll receive an extra twenty-fivedollars."
"It hain't the money. Lookin' fer that dog would be like lookin' fer aneedle in a haystack."
"You might accidently run into the person who stole your gun," Pennysuggested.
"Now, there'd be some sense to that," the trapper said with suddeninterest. "I'd like to lay hands on him!"
"Then you'll go?" the girls demanded together.
"'Pears like I will," he said, his leathery face cracking into a smile."'Tain't smart going into the swamp without a gun, but we kin trust toProvidence an' our wits, I calculate."
Pleased that the trapper had consented, the girls leaped to their feetand started toward the skiff which was tied up at the dock.
"Not so fast!" the trapper brought them up short. "We got to take somewater and some victuals with us."
"But we're not going far," Louise said in surprise. "We just ate."
"Ye can git mighty hongry and thirsty, rowin' in a broiling hot sun. WhenI go into the swamp, I always takes rations along jest in case."
"Surely you don't expect to lose your way," Penny said teasingly. "An oldtimer like you!"
"I'm an old timer 'cause I always prepares fer the wust," the trapperretorted witheringly. "Many a young punk's give his life being show-offand foolhardy in that swamp. I was lost there oncst years ago. I hain'tnever forgot my lesson."
Properly put in their places, Penny and Louise said no more as TrapperJoe prepared for the trip into the swamp. He wrapped the remains of theturkey in a paper, depositing it in a covered metal container in thebottom of the skiff.
Also, he dropped in a jug of water and an extra paddle.
"Tell us about the swamp," Louise urged as they finally shoved off. "Isit filled with wild and dangerous animals?"
"Bears mostly been killed off," the old trapper replied, sending theskiff along with powerful stabs of the oars. "The rooters are about thewust ye run into now."
"Rooters?" Louise repeated, puzzled.
"Wild hogs. They got a hide so tough even the rattlers can't kill 'em.It's most likely yer dogs been et by one."
"Oh, no!" Louise protested in horror.
"Rooters'll go straight fer a dog or a deer or a lamb. They'll attack aman too if they're hongry enough. Their tusks are sharp as daggers."
Penny quickly changed the subject by asking Trapper Joe if he thoughtPretty Boy Danny Deevers might be hiding in the swamp.
"'Tain't likely," he replied briefly.
"Why do you think not?"
"City bred, waren't he?"
"That's what I was told."
"No city bred feller could live in the swamp many days. He wouldn't havesense enough to git his food; at night the sounds would drive him crazy,and he'd end up bein' bit by a snake."
"Yet someone stole your gun," Penny reminded him.
"It waren't Danny," said the old trapper with finality.
The skiff glided on. As the sun rose high overhead pouring down upontheir backs, Penny and Louise began to feel drowsy. Repeatedly, theyreached for Joe's jug of water.
As the channel became congested with floating plants and rotted logs, thetrapper shipped the oars and used a paddle.
Presently they came within view of Lookout Island. In the bow, Pennyleaned forward to peer at the jungle-like growth which grew densely tothe water's edge.
"Someone's on the island!" she exclaimed in a low voice.
"Sure, it's Coon Hawkins doin' a little fishin'," agreed the trapper."His boat's pulled up on the point."
Louise stirred uneasily. "Is anyone with him?" she whispered.
"Don't see no one 'cepting Coon. He won't hurt ye. Harmless, ole Coon is,an' mighty shiftless too."
"But is Coon really fishing?" Penny demanded suspiciously.
"He's got a pole and a string o' fish."
"Also, he's watching us very closely," whispered Penny. "I don't trusthim one bit! He's hiding something on that island! I'll be surprised ifhe doesn't try to keep us from landing."