Success usually comes to all who strive for it, and now, with four willing workers to aid him, Ray was rapidly making a success of this venture. Old Cy, the most valuable assistant, was indefatigable. He not only kept the larder well supplied with game, but tended and set traps, worked in the woods with the rest between times, and his cheerful optimism and droll humor bridged many a stormy day and shortened many a weary tramp. And he seemed to grow younger in this new, helpful life for others. His eyes were bright, his step elastic, his spirits buoyant, his strength tireless. With Chip safe and provided for, with Ray succeeding in manhood's natural ambition, Old Cy saw his heart's best hopes nearing fruition, and for these two and in these two all his interest centred. Only once was the bond of feeling between Ray and Chip referred to by Old Cy, and then in response to a wish of Ray's that he might hear from her. "I don't think ye've cause to worry now, arter ye've sent her word what ye're doin' 'n' who for," he answered. "Chip's true blue, not one o' the fickle sort, 'n' once she keers fer a man, she won't give him up till he's married or dead. I think ye'd orter sent her word sooner,--ye know she run 'way out o' spunk,--but when ye go to her like a man 'n' say, 'I've been workin' 'n' waitin' fer ye all the time,' thar won't be no quarrellin'." "I'm not so sure about that," responded Ray, soberly. "From what Uncle Martin said, my chance is gone with Miss Chip, and I don't blame her for feeling so. Like every young fellow, I took it for granted that she was in love with me and ready to fall into my arms on call. Then I hadn't any plans in life, anyway, and, like a fool, believed it made no difference to her. To mix matters up still more, Hannah crowded herself into our affairs and said things to Chip, with the result that Chip got mad, ran away, and you know the rest." "Wal," asserted Old Cy, his eyes twinkling, "the time to hug a gal is when she's willin', 'n' ye orter spunked up that night 'fore ye come away 'n' told her ye was callatin' to make yer fortin in the woods, an' that ye wanted her to wait 'n' share it--then hugged 'n' kissed her a little more by way o' bindin' the bargain, an'--knowin' that gal ez I do, she'd fought Hannah, tooth 'n' nail, 'n' walked through fire 'n' brimstun fer ye. I think, 'stead o' hidin' herself fer two years, an' changin' her name, she'd 'a' tramped clear to Grindstun jest to tell ye her troubles, 'n', if need be, she'd 'a' starved fer ye. I tell ye, boy, wimmin like her is scarce in this world, 'n' when ye find one young 'n' pretty ez she is, hang on to her an' hang hard." "I know it now well enough," returned Ray, ruefully; "but that don't help matters. Then that fortune you found for her makes my case all the worse, and Chip quite independent."