"No, it's on account of the curse," said Kit.
"But what has the curse to do with it?" the professor asked.
"Plenty. The daughter of the old chief still walks at times, and she cursed that village, and the Indians try to forget that there ever was such a place. None of them will go near it."
"What does the ghost look like, Kit?" asked Bet.
"She always wears a costume of deerskin and feathers. And at night she just appears out of nothing in Lost Canyon. One minute she isn't there and the next she is. And when she appears she is supposed to curse those who see her. They run for their lives."
"Is that true?" Joy's voice was trembling. "If it is, I won't ever go into this canyon again."
"Don't worry, Joy. If you are good you'll never see the ghost. Only those who are planning to do wrong see her."
The girls laughed at the timid Joy. "Don't worry, dear," Bet patted her hand lovingly. "I'll take care of you."
"Some say," went on Kit, "that the ruin of the village must be left untouched, and that any one disturbing it will see the ghost."
"And that's why Old Mapia won't talk," said the professor. "He's afraid of the curse. It would hasten matters very much if I could get some reliable information as to the location of the village."