ttomed skiff cutting through the still, sluggish water t

sat with her hand resting carelessly on the collar of her dog, Bone

We have all the flowers you'll need to

e those beautiful Cherokee roses growing over there on

arder t

the wild, tangled growth which r

Joe rented us this boat his last words wer

art straight home, Lou. We're too near

ssed a lock of auburn hair out of her

up from the tall water grass. As he trumpeted

, giving him a reassuring pat.

ing again, but through half-close

?" Penny demanded in a sudden outbreak of e

e're both hot and tired. If you must have those

ed the skiff early that afternoon from Trapper Joe Scovill

trance channel, gathering water lilies, late-blo

ny Parker, publisher of the Riverview Star, was acting as host to a state newspapermen's convent

things differently, had decided to sav

from a florist," she declared, gazing appreciatively at the

an do with twenty dol

owe Trapper Joe three d

ll it a day. Let's get the flow

ugh," Pen

o a point of the low-lying island. There she held it

ter her and was off in a flash bef

ter plants. "This place looks like a natural haunt for cottonmouths

ck, alertly keeping an eye upon all overhead l

et, she turned to protest to Penny that the roses we

rds never

ame the sound of men's voices. Louise liste

island," she whispered n

eeing a single human being. Now to hear voices in this isolated area was slightly un

keep her voice low. "We have a perfect right to b

not so easi

wers you need, Penny

. I'll slip over to the bank and

yed log, Penny started toward the ros

ahead of her, his sensi

enny ordered softly

ok him and seized the trailing leas

away, completely hidden by the bush

e one was saying. "Maybe me and the boys will help if ye make

man who answered

ght me back here. I aim to get the guy who put me up! I was in town last

g so intently that she

om the girl's hand. She scrambled for it, only to

. Fearful that he would be lost, she calle

d carried far and served to warn those in

Then Penny heard one of the men

toward the boat. Before she could r

growth of red beard, peered out at her. He wore a wide-brimmed,

d hostile, fastened

he said

a step, then h

in the underbrush," she began.

ted toward her, Penny saw that he c