Just a precautionary measure," Nancy explained, and told of the snake incident.

George was carried indoors and laid on a couch. Mrs. Byrd quickly called the family physician. He arrived shortly, and examined George's wound.

The doctor nodded approvingly as he bathed it with an antiseptic and removed the tourniquets.

"Excellent first-aid treatment," he announced. "You'll be fine, young lady. I'd advise you to rest for several hours."

"Thank you. That's good news." George gave a relieved grin.

or the remainder of the afternoon she was made to lie inactive. When dinnertime came, George got up, declaring, "I never felt better!"

"But take it easy in case we go out tonight," Nancy pleaded with her.

To allay suspicion on the part of the other boarders, Bess and Joanne were posted as guards across the road. If they saw the beginning of rites on the hill, the girls were to give birdcalls. In the meantime. Nancy and George waited in George's room, the costumes ready to be picked up at a moment's notice.

Suddenly Nancy leaped from her chair and flew into her own bedroom. "What's eating you?" George called.

"Oh, why didn't I think of it before? How stupid of me!" Nancy said, returning with a piece of paper in her hand.

"What are you talking about?" George demanded.

"That snake today. The way he wriggled. It looked just like the mark over the numeral 2 in the coded message!" Nancy cried excitedly."The 2 we think means B!"

George sat up. "You mean the B with the wavy line over it might signify the Black Snake Colony?"

"Yes. Oh, George, this connects the Hale Syndicate with the nature cult here. Now the message reads: "Maurice Hale calling Black Snake Colony meeting-"

"And the 18. How about that?" George asked.

"Not too hard to guess, George. The 18 is the letter R, and could stand for Red Gate Farm."