The Secret of Red Gate Farm - Carolyn Keene [35]
“What—was—that?” Bess chattered.
“Only some wild animal,” Nancy reassured her. “Come on!” she urged. “We must hurry or we’ll miss the ritual!”
The girls went through the dark forest as fast as they could. The moon was rising, and ghostly rays of light filtered through gaps in the foliage overhead. A faint breeze stirred the leaves into what seemed like menacing whispers. The girls finally reached the river trail and followed it.
“We must be careful now,” Nancy warned in a low voice. “We’re drawing near the colony. The cult may have a lookout stationed during the night ceremonies.”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” Joanne murmured.
“I almost wish I hadn’t come,” Bess whispered nervously. “I had no idea it would be this dark.”
“What were you expecting at nine-thirty at night?” George chided in as low a tone as possible.
“It will be lighter when the moon rises higher,” Joanne told her. “Still—if you want to turn back—”
“No, I’m going through with this masquerade if the rest of you are!” Bess retorted stalwartly.
Nancy hoped fervently it would remain a masquerade. She was firmly convinced now that the Black Snake group were unscrupulous people working with, or at least friendly with Maurice Hale. Nancy now felt convinced that the mystic rites were nothing but a sham.
Fortunately, for Nancy’s purpose, the hillside was covered with large rocks as well as dense shrubs which would provide temporary hiding places. As the girls stole cautiously up the steep path, they could see cult members still congregating.
“We’re in plenty of time,” she thought.
The girls separated, George and Bess crouching behind a huge rock. Joanne and Nancy took cover behind a heavy growth of shrubs and tall grass.
For nearly ten minutes the girls watched as figures milled about the hillside. Then they heard the sound of cars approaching.
“They must be coming up through the pasture again,” Joanne said, listening intently.
An instant later she and Nancy saw the headlights of three automobiles.
“Look!” Joanne tugged at Nancy’s sleeve. “More members are coming out of their tents!”
The two girls watched the white-robed figures walking slowly toward the brow of the hill, where the three automobiles had parked.
“I wonder if one of the newcomers is Maurice Hale,” Nancy thought.
She and Joanne were too far away to hear what was being said, but they could see distinctly. They watched as a group of men and women, twelve in number, stepped from the cars. Nancy could not distinguish any of their faces.
The new arrivals quickly donned white garments and headgear similar to the outfits Nancy and her friends had made, then joined the other members of the cult.
The ghostly figures soon began dancing about in the moonlight, and Nancy felt that the time was right for her daring attempt to join the group. Before she could tell Joanne, there was a slight stir in the bushes directly behind her.
Involuntarily Nancy jumped, fully expecting to come face to face with one of the cult members. Instead, Bess and George emerged.
“Isn’t it about time for us to do something?” they asked, almost simultaneously.
“Yes,” Nancy agreed, “we’d better get into our robes as quickly as we can.”
The girls were well hidden by the rocks and bushes. They donned their costumes and pulled the headgear over their faces. For the first time, Nancy noticed the scent of Blue Jade on Bess. “I wonder if that was wise,” Nancy thought. “If it attracts attention to Bess it might increase her danger, but it’s too late now to do anything about it.”
As George, overeager, started off, Nancy caught her friend’s arm. “Wait!” she warned. “We must slip quietly into the circle one at a time.”
“My knees are shaking now,” Bess admitted. “I don’t know how I’ll be able to dance.”
“Stay here if you like,” Nancy told her. “I think we should leave someone to keep guard, anyway.”
“I’ll stay,” Joanne offered. “I know the way back through the woods better than you girls do.”
“Come on!” George pleaded. “If we don’t hurry we’ll be too late!”
“Good luck!