No longer was she a staid and matronly widow--not young, it is true, yet not old, but with rounded face, few wrinkles, and slightly gray hair. Instead was she sweet Abby Grey of the long ago, and once more the belle of this quiet village and Bayport, and the leader at every dance, every husking, and every party. Once more she primped and curled her hair, and donned her best, and waited her sailor boy's coming. Once more she heard the bells jingle and saw the stars twinkle as they sped away to a winter night's dance--and once more she felt the sorrow of parting, the long years of waiting, waiting, waiting, and at last the numb despair and final conviction that never would her lover return. And now he was still alive, though a wanderer, and some day he might--surely would come to see her, just once, if no more. "Ah, me," she said, rousing herself at last and looking at Chip's smiling, sunny face, "life is a queer riddle, and we never know how to guess it." Then she sighed again. CHAPTER XXXVII "The milk o' human kindness 'most allus turns out old cheese, 'n' all rind at that."--Old Cy Walker. Some sneering critic once said that few young men ever start out in the world until they are kicked out, and there is a grain of truth in that assertion. It is seldom an actual kick, however, but some motive force quite as compelling. In Ray's case it was his uncle's assertion that if he hoped to win Chip he must first show the ability to provide a home for her, which is excellent advice for any young man to follow. "It won't be a pleasure trip," Martin said when Ray proposed to go to the wilderness and, with Levi and a couple of other assistants, make a business of gum-gathering and trap-setting, "but you can't lose much by it. You are welcome to the camp; Levi will see that you have game enough to eat, and boss the expedition. I will loan you five hundred, and with what you have, that is capital enough and you ought to do well. It would be better if Old Cy could take charge, but as it is, you must go it alone." And go it alone Ray did. Levi's services were easily secured. Two young fellows whom he knew were hired at Greenvale. A bateau was purchased, together with more traps and supplies, and after Ray had written Chip his plan, the party started for Martin's camp. They had been established there a month and were doing well. The first ice had begun forming in shallow coves when one afternoon, who should enter the lake and paddle rapidly across but Old Cy. "Ye can't git rid o' me when trappin's goin' on," he said cheerily, as Ray and Levi met him at the landing. "I fetched into the settlement kinder homesick fer the woods last week. I heard the good news 'bout Chip's bein' found 'n' you'd come here fer the winter, 'n' I didn't wait a minute 'fore I hired a canoe 'n' started." And then, in the exuberance of his joy, he shook hands with Ray and Levi once more.