"The biggest fool thing--an' we all do it--is shakin'
hands with trouble 'fore ye meet it."--Old Cy Walker.
For two months life at Birch Camp much resembled that of a woodchuck or
a squirrel. Now and then a day came when the crusted snow permitted a
gum-gathering trip into the forest, or a few midday hours at ice-fishing;
and never were the first signs of spring more welcome than to those
winter-bound prisoners. The wise counsel and patient example of Old Cy
had not been lost upon Ray, either; and that winter's experience had
changed him to an almost marvellous degree. He was no longer a moody and
selfish boy, thinking only of his own privations, but more of a man, who
realized that he had duties and obligations toward others, as well as
himself.
With the returning sun and vanishing snow, animal life was once more
astir, and a short season of trapping was again entered upon, and
mingled with that a few days more of gum-gathering. It was brief and at a
disadvantage, for ice still covered the lake, and until that disappeared
no use of the canoes could be made.
Once well under way, however, spring returned with speed, the brooks
began to overflow, the lake to rise, and one morning, instead of a white
expanse of watery ice, it was a blue and rippled lake once more.
And now plans for Ray's return to Greenvale were in order, and the sole
topic of discussion. He was as eager as a boy anxious for the close of
school, and for a double reason, which is self-evident.
It was agreed that Old Cy and himself should make the trip out together
in two canoes, and convey their stores of gum and firs. At the settlement
these were to be packed, to await later sale and shipment. Old Cy would
then return to camp, and Ray would go on to Greenvale.
A change in this plan came in an unexpected manner, however, for a few
days before the one set for departure, Old Cy, always on watch, saw a
canoe enter the lake, and who should appear but Levi, Martin's old guide.
"I've been cookin' up at a lumber camp on the Moosehorn," he
explained, after greetings had been exchanged, "an' I thought I
would make a trip up here an' call on ye 'fore I went out."
How welcome he was, and how all, even Amzi, of those winter-bound
prisoners vied with each other in making him the guest of honor, need not
be asserted. He had been a part of their life here the previous summer,
with all its joys and dangers, and now seemed one of them.
When mutual experiences and their winter's history had been exchanged,
of course Chip's rescue, the half-breed's escape, and the whereabouts
of her father came up for discussion that evening.
"I've heard from Tim's Place two or three times this winter," said
Levi, "an' neither Pete nor old McGuire has been seen or heard on
since early last fall. Pete got thar all safe, but vowed revenge on
McGuire, as Martin and I found, when we went out. He stayed round a week
or so, I heard later, and then started for his cabin on the Fox Hole,
'n' since then hain't never been seen or heard of by nobody. Tim
an' Mike went over to his cabin 'long in the winter, but no signs of
him was found, or even of his bein' thar since snow came. McGuire also
seems to hev dropped out o' business and ain't been heard on since
in the summer. We've expected him all winter at the lumber camp, but
he didn't show up."
"We've seen him," put in Old Cy, flashing a smile at Ray, "leastwise
I callated 'twas him, though I never let on to that effect. He was
trappin' over beyond a big swamp last fall, 'n' he paid us a visit,
stole a half-dozen o' our catches 'n' left his trade-mark on our
canoe." And then Old Cy told the story of their adventure, omitting,
however, any reference to the supposed cave.
"It's curis what has become o' him," Levi said, when the tale was
told, "and our camp crowd all believe that thar's been foul play,
with Pete at the bottom on't. Nobody's shed any tears, though, an'
I'm thinkin' the woods is well rid o' him. He's been a terror to
everybody long enough."
Much more of this backwoods gossip and change of experience filled in
the evening, and next morning Old Cy gave Ray a word of caution.
"I kept whist 'bout our findin' what we callated was a cave," he
said, "an' I want you to. This matter o' McGuire and the half-breed
ain't blowed over yit, an' we don't want to git mixed up in it. Ez
fer the cave, if we 'lowed we found one, the folks at Tim's Place 'ud
go huntin' fer it, sure, 'n' I've my reasons for not wantin' they
should go. So mum's the word to Levi 'bout it."
Levi's arrival, however, changed their plans, for he at once offered to
convoy Ray out of the woods, thus relieving Old Cy, and three days later
these two, with well-laden canoes, started on the out-going journey.
It was not without incident, for when the main stream was reached, it was
dotted with floating logs and the red-shirted drivers with the bateaux
and spike shoes were in evidence. A monster jam was met at the first
rapid, the bags of gum nuts, bundles of firs, and canoes had to be
carried around it, and when Tim's Place was reached, a score of the
good-natured woodsmen were in possession.
Levi discreetly avoided all questions as to what Tim knew of Chip,
her father, or the half-breed. Ray's lips were also sealed, and so
both escaped much questioning. Here, also, they learned what both had
guessed--that McGuire and Pete had either left the wilderness or had
perished that winter. Where and how, if such was the case, no one seemed
to know or care, and a close observer would have said that every one at
Tim's Place hoped that these two outlaws had met their fate.
Old Tomah was also found at Tim's Place, and he was undeniably glad to
see both Ray and Levi, and to learn that Chip was likely to be well cared
for.
When these two voyagers were ready to start, he joined and kept with
them until the settlement was reached. Knowing full well the value of
gum and furs, he soon found a purchaser for Ray's store and stock at
its full value; and when that youth, now elated as never before, was
ready to start for Greenvale, this fine old Indian showed almost a white
man's emotion.
"Take this to little girl," he said, handing Ray a package, "and tell
her Old Tomah not forget. He hope she come back to see him soon."
"Tell Mr. Frisbie I shall be here, waitin' to meet him, when he sends
word," Levi said; and shaking hands with both of his good friends, Ray
now bade them good-by with many thanks for all they had done.
Of his homeward trip and all the charming anticipations now his, no
mention need be made. They are but the flowers wisely strewn in the
pathway of youth, and Ray--now more a man than when he entered the
woods--full well deserved all that lay before him.
But Old Tomah's heart was sad, and far away beside a rippled lake was
another who felt the same.