The Legend of Miner's Creek by Carolyn Keene

Author:Carolyn Keene
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin

10

A Mystery in the Bag

Nancy leaned forward, close to her horse’s neck. The shift in her weight was just the help that Heather needed. The mare scrambled back onto the trail, but Nancy quickly realized the danger was not yet over.

On the trail behind her the other horses were close to panic. The buzzing sound seemed to grow louder. Then, with a scream, Bess pointed to the trail ahead.

A burlap bag was lying on its side in the middle of the trail. It was moving and writhing like a living thing, inching its way down the trail toward them. The top of the bag had been tied shut, but a small opening remained. A large snake was halfway out of the bag, wriggling to free itself.

“It’s full of snakes!” Bess screamed.

“Rattlesnakes,” Rachel said grimly.

Nancy’s horse was prancing and jumping, once again coming dangerously close to the cliff.

Calmly Rachel ordered everyone to turn their horses around. The group started back down the trail.

Finally Nancy steered a frightened and shaky Heather to a safe clearing at the base of the cliffs.

“Rachel, I’d like to know what’s going on here,” Frank Kauffman demanded angrily when they had all settled their horses. “That was a very dangerous stunt someone pulled.”

Shirley had dismounted and was helping Aaron from his horse. The little boy was frightened, and he looked as if he might burst into tears.

“You can’t blame Rachel for this,” Nancy told Frank. “Why would she sabotage her own trail ride?”

“You know that’s right, Frank,” Shirley said gently. “She couldn’t have known those snakes were there.”

“I guess not,” Frank said, frowning. “But I’d like to get my hands on whoever did this.”

“So would I,” Rachel agreed in a weak voice. Her face was pale, and Nancy could see her hands shaking as she toyed with the bridle reins.

Nancy guided her horse next to Rachel’s. “I think someone’s trying to keep us out of Prospector’s Canyon,” Nancy whispered.

Rachel looked startled. She had been too concerned about her guests to consider the reasons for the prank. “But why?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” Nancy said grimly. “But there’s only one way to find out. Is there another route into Prospector’s Canyon?”

“Yes, but it’s longer. The trail isn’t kept up very well, but the horses have been on it before.” As she spoke, a look of determination came over Rachel’s face. “I’m sure we can make it, Nancy,” she added. “Let’s get to the bottom of this.”

Nancy and George nodded, but Bess seemed reluctant to face any more danger. She listened hopefully as the Kauffmans and the Smythes announced that they were heading back to the barn.

“Maybe you should go back to the retreat, too, Bess. If you don’t mind, I mean,” Nancy said. “Maybe you can find out who might have gotten up here this morning and planted those snakes.”

“I guess I could do some more detecting,” Bess said, sounding relieved. She turned her horse back toward the retreat.

“And tell Pete and Granddad about the snakes,” Rachel called after Bess.

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