"I want a good square talk with ye, my boy," he said, "an' I'm goin' to do ye a good turn if I kin. Now to begin, I s'pose ye know yer aunt's goin' to take Chip to Greenvale 'n' gin her a chance at the schoolin' she sartinly needs. Now you're callatin' to go 'long 'n' have a heap o' fun this winter. I'm goin' to stay here 'n' keer for Amzi. This is the situation 'bout as it is. Now you hev got yer eddication, 'n' the next move is to make yer way in the world 'n' arn suthin', an' ez a starter, I want ye to stay here this winter with me 'n' trap. The woods round here is jist bristlin' with spruce gum that is worth a dollar-fifty a pound, easy. We've got two months now, 'fore snow gits deep. We kin live on the top shelf in the way o' fish 'n' game. We'll ketch a b'ar and pickle his meat 'n' smoke his hams, and when spring comes, I'll take ye out with mebbe five hundred dollars' worth of furs 'n' gum ez a beginnin'. "Thar's also 'nother side to consider. Chip wants schoolin', 'n' she's got to study night 'n' day fer the next eight months. If you go back with 'em, an' go gallivantin' 'round with her, ez you're sure to, it won't be no help to her. I've given you two all the chances fer weavin' the threads o' 'fect-shun I could this summer, an' now let's you 'n' I turn to and make some money. I've asked your uncle 'n' aunt. They're willin', 'n' now, what do ye say?" Few country boys with a love for trapping, such as Ray had, ever had a more alluring prospect spread before them. He knew Old Cy was right in all his conclusions, and almost without hesitation he agreed to the plan. It was far-sighted wisdom on Old Cy's part, however, in not giving Ray time to reflect, else the magnet of Chip's eyes on the one hand, and eight months of separation on the other, would have proved too strong, and trap-setting and gum-gathering, with five hundred dollars as reward, would have failed. As it was, he came near weakening at the last moment when the canoes were packed and Angie and Chip came to take their seats in them. He and his crude, rude, yet winsome little sweetheart had suffered a brief preliminary parting the evening previous. A good many sweet and silly nothings had been exchanged, also promises, and now the boy's heart was very sore. Chip was more stoical. Her life at Tim's Place and contact with Old Tomah had taught her reserve, and yet when she turned for the last possible look at Old Cy and Ray, waving good-bye at the landing, a mist of tears hid them. Old Cy's face was also a study. To him these parting clouds were as the white ones hiding the sun; yet he felt their chill. His own life shadow was lengthening. He had now but a brief renewal of youth in the lives of these two, and then forgetfulness, as he knew full well, and yet he pitied them. More than that, he had set his hand to guiding the bark of their young lives into the safe harbor of a home, and all feelings of his own subserved to that.