Bess sprang back in alarm. "You can't expect me to milk a vicious cow!" she exclaimed.
Joanne and Reuben exploded with laughter. "Primrose is an extremely smart cow," Reuben drawled. "She won't stand being milked except from the side she's used to!"
Reluctantly Bess picked up the overturned stool and went around to the left side. The cow leisurely moved herself sideways. "I give up! Here, you try it, George."
"Oh, no, Bess. I wouldn't spoil your fun for anything!"
After a great deal of maneuvering, Bess succeeded in handling the whole procedure to the satisfaction of Primrose. Nancy came last, and she, too, was a bit awkward. When Reuben finally sat down to do the milking, the girls watched him with admiration. "It just takes practice," he said, smiling.
That evening Mrs. Salisbury and Mr. Abbott had their usual disagreement and both retired early. Mrs. Byrd soon followed, leaving the girls alone on the porch.
"Do you think there will be any activity on the hill tonight?" George asked suddenly.
"I'm not sure," Joanne answered. "But it's a good clear night and the moon is full, so the setting is perfect for it."
"I'm dying to see what those nature enthusiasts look like," added Bess. "Just so they don't come too close!"
It was a lovely evening and Nancy had been only half listening to the chatter. She remained silent and thoughtful. The letter addressed to the Black Snake Colony was still very much on her mind.
"What's up, Nancy?" Bess finally asked, noticing her friend's silence.
"Three guesses," Nancy replied with a laugh. "I'm still curious about that envelope I had in my hands this afternoon. I'm almost certain that blurred postmark read Riverside Heights."
"Even if it did," George remarked, "it could have been written by almost anyone and simply mailed in Riverside Heights."
"I suppose you're right," Nancy agreed. "I guess I'm trying too hard. But let's walk over toward the hill."
The four girls started off. They crossed one field in front of the house and were just climbing a rail fence to the next one when Nancy cried out:
"Am I seeing things? Look! Over there on that hill!"
Following her gaze, the girls were astonished to see shadowy white figures flitting about in the moonlight.
"Ghosts!" Bess exclaimed.
"Ghosts nothing," George retorted. "There's no such animal!"
Don't be alarmed," Joanne said with a smile. "I imagine the members of the nature cult are having one of their festive airings by the light of the moon!"
The girls watched the cult members go through their mystic rites.
"They're not doing much of anything," Nancy observed, "except napping around."
Within ten minutes the ceremony apparently was concluded. The white figures clustered together for a moment, then moved off across the hillside.
"I wonder where they're heading," Nancy mused. "Back to their tents?"
Joanne had been watching intently. Now she shook her head. "I don't think so. I forgot to tell you-the cave has another opening on the slope of the hill, near the river. The colony members are going in that direction."
Immediately Nancy's curiosity was aroused. Did this mean the white-robed group intended to go into the cave itself? If so, why? To continue the ceremony?
"It certainly was a short performance," Bess remarked as the mysterious "dancers" vanished from sight. "I wonder if the ritual has any significance."
"That's what I'd like to know," Nancy said quietly. "And that's what we must find out!"
"Not tonight!" Joanne said firmly. "Grandmother will be very upset if we don't come right back."
Reluctantly Nancy gave up the idea. The girls started for the farmhouse, but Nancy kept looking back over her shoulder, determined not to miss anything. However, the hillside remained uninhabited and still.
As the girls drew near the road, the motor of a car broke the silence and headlights appeared. The automobile slowed down in front of the farmhouse as if about to stop. Then suddenly the car went on. Why? Nancy wondered. Had the driver seen the girls and changed his mind?
CHAPTER IXBlack Snake Colony Member
Nancy was too far away from the car to see its driver or license plate. Thoughtfully she went to bed, but lay awake for some time, feeling completely baffled over the many mysterious happenings.
By morning she felt eager for action. Ever since her arrival at Red Gate Farm, Nancy had wanted to visit the cavern on the hillside. The strange moonlight ceremony and the unidentified car which had hesitated in front of the house only intensified her interest in the place.
She broached the subject of a visit there to Mrs. Byrd, but Joanne's grandmother frowned on the idea. "I'll worry if you go," she said. "Those folks are probably harmless, but we don't know much about them. I wish now I had never rented the land. The neighbors are saying I was foolish to do it in the first place."
"And so you were!" Mrs. Salisbury, who had overheard the conversation, chimed in. "You'll ruin the value of your farm. Why, people around are saying dreadful things about the members of that cult. Even Reuben is afraid to go near the place!"
"I'm not," Nancy announced. "I think it would be fun to investigate."
Mrs. Salisbury snorted. "Fun! Girls these days have strange ideas of fun! First thing you know, Mrs. Byrd, she'll be wanting to join the colony!"
"Nonsense." Mrs. Byrd smiled.
In order to avoid further dissension. Nancy dropped the subject of the cave. But that afternoon she set out alone on a hike. Making her way to the woods which skirted the river. Nancy struck a well-worn path and decided to continue along it. She had walked only a short way when the sound of a faint cry came to her. Nancy halted in the path and listened intently. The cry was not repeated.
"Maybe I imagined it," she said to herself. Nevertheless, Nancy quickened her pace, looking about her as she walked. As she rounded a bend a few minutes later, she was startled to see a woman hunched over on the ground, writhing in pain.
"What's the matter?" Nancy cried out, hurrying over to her. Then the girl's eyes widened.
This was the woman she had seen running across a field the night of the storm.
"I tripped on a root in the path," the woman murmured, rocking back and forth in pain. "My ankle-it's broken."
Nancy dropped to one knee and quickly examined the injured ankle. It was swelling rapidly, but all the bones seemed to be in place.
"See if you can stand," she advised.
With Nancy's help the woman managed to get to her feet, but winced as she tried to take her first step.
"It isn't broken," Nancy said gently, "but you have a bad sprain."
"Oh, what'll I do now?" the woman moaned.
"Do you live far from here?" Nancy asked.
The stranger looked at her rather queerly and did not answer at once. Nancy thought she had not understood, so repeated the question.
"About a quarter of a mile up the river," was the mumbled response. "I'll get there all right."
"You're scarcely able to walk a step," Nancy said with a troubled frown. "Please let me run back to the farm and bring help."
"No, no," the woman protested, clutching Nancy fearfully by the arm. "I don't want to be a bother to anyone!"
"Nonsense! You shouldn't be walking at all. It won't take me a minute to get someone to help you."
The woman shook her head stubbornly. "My foot feels better now. I can walk by myself." She started off, but nearly collapsed by the time she had taken three steps.
"If you won't let me go for help, then at least let me take you home."
gain the woman protested, but Nancy took hold of her arm and placed it over her own shoulder. With Nancy's support, the woman made slow and painful progress up the path.
"This is killing you," Nancy said, dismayed that the woman was so foolishly stubborn. "I can get our hired man to carry you-"
"No!" the woman objected vehemently.