4. Crash!

CRASH! 4 Sam got a running start and leapt. He clutched the vine as tight as he could as he swung out over the swamp.

"Lucy, duck!" Sam shouted. Sam swung over her head like Tarzan, the star of the old movies his dad loved. But Sam was no Tarzan. His fingers slipped from the vine and he crashed to the wet ground. OOMF! Sam scrambled to his feet. He had made it to the other side! "Hurry, Sam!" Lucy cried out. The branch was tugging on her backpack, pulling her deeper into the swamp. If she let go of the log, she'd be dragged under in a second! Sam yanked off his hall monitor sash and threw one end to Lucy. "Grab on!" Sam said. "I'll use this to pull you free!"

Lucy grabbed the sash. Sam used all his might to pull. SCHLURP! Lucy ripped one foot from the muck and finally broke free from the branch's awful grasp. When Sam and Lucy were far enough away from the swamp, they collapsed. "Wait!" Lucy cried. "Where's Antonio? He ran in the other direction. I heard him scream! He could be gone!"

Just then, there was an earsplitting crash. And another. It was coming from the pine trees up ahead! "What are those n-n-noises?!" Lucy asked. CRASH! CRUNCH! Sam had no idea. The crash sounds grew louder and louder. Someone— or something— was coming toward them!