Then, Chip's presence was an added danger. If once this brute found that she was here, there was no limit to what he would do to secure her and take revenge. They had smuggled her past Tim's Place, but concealment here was impossible; if ever this half-breed returned, she would be discovered, and then what? And so by day, while Martin and Levi were busy with hut-building, or beside the evening camp-fire when Ray picked his banjo and Chip watched him with admiring glances, these two guardians had eyes and ears ever alert for this expected enemy. CHAPTER VI "It allus makes me coltish to see two young folks a-weavin' the thread o' affection."--Old Cy Walker. There were three people at Birch Camp,--as Angie had christened it,--namely, herself, Ray, and Chip, who did not share Martin's suspicion of danger. A firm belief that a woman's aid in such a complication was of no value, coupled with a desire to save her anxiety, had kept his lips closed as to the situation. Life here at all hours soon settled itself into a certain daily routine of work, amusement, and, on Chip's part, of study. True to her philanthropic sense of duty toward this waif, Angie had at once set about her much-needed education. A reading and spelling book suitable for a child of eight had been secured at the settlement, and now "lessons" occupied a few hours of each day. It was only a beginning, of course, and yet with constant reminders as to pronunciation, this was all that Angie could do. The idioms of Tim's Place, with all its profanity, still adhered to Chip's speech. This latter, especially, would now and then crop out in spite of all admonitions; and so Angie found that her pupil made slow progress. There was also another reason for this. Chip was afraid of her, and oft reproved for her lapses in speech, soon ceased all unnecessary talk when with Angie. But with Ray it was different. He was near her own age, the companionship of youth was theirs, and with him Chip's speech was ready enough. This, of course, answered all the purposes of benefit by assimilation, and so Angie was well satisfied that they should be together. Beyond that she had no thought that love might accrue from this association. Chip, while fair of face and form, and at a sentimental age, was so crude of speech, so grossly ignorant, and so allied to the ways and manners of Tim's Place, that, according to Angie's reasoning, Ray's feelings were safe enough. He was well bred and refined, a happy, natural boy now verging upon manhood. In Greenvale he had never shown much interest in girls' society, and while he now showed a playmate enjoyment of Chip's company, that was all that was likely to happen. But the winged god wots not of speech or manners. A youth of eighteen and a maid of sixteen are the same the world over, and so out of sight of Angie, and unsuspected by her, the by-play of heart-interest went on. And what a glorious golden summer opportunity these two had!