“Go on with your story,” he urged; “tell me all you know about the haunted valley.”
“What shall I tell you, sir?” innocently asked Pearl.
“When was this spirit first seen?”
“Five years ago, ever since the paleface’s grave was in the valley, the spirit has been seen at times; but no warrior dare go near the valley, and those who were bold enough to go where the specter dwells have never returned.”
“Do you know anything about the grave in the valley?”
“No, sir; the Indians say a man was slain there by the spirit, for the grave lies just at the entrance of the haunted valley; but my father thinks that two paleface hunters came into the hills after gold, and one killed the other and buried him there.”
“I thank you, Pearl, for the warning you have given me about the haunted valley; but I am going to the Ramsey settlement, and it will save me many a mile to go through the glen, and I will risk seeing the spirit. Remember, to-morrow night I will meet you, and you had better not mention that you know anything of the death of Bad Burke here.”
“No, sir, I will not speak of it,” she promised; “but please do not go through the haunted valley.”
“Have no fear; good-by!”