Merriwell picked up his guitar and began to strum the strings, and soon he and Diamond were again singing, and the laughable, almost disagreeable incident seemed on the way to speedy oblivion.
Hans maintained a glum silence, however, till the steamer reached Capen’s, now and then rubbing some portion of his anatomy as if to make certain it was all there and not violently swelling as a portent of his speedy death.
The lady apologized for the unruliness of the goat, and paid for the damage done to the mirror.
“Here we are,” announced Merriwell, as the steamer rounded to at the boat landing at Capen’s.
The boy came on deck with the goat, leading it by a rope, and Hans dodged behind the Virginian.
“Uf I see dot feller meppe he gid his mat oop again,” he muttered, “und uf I don’t see me he von’t knew me!”
But the goat seemed now to be very peaceably disposed. It obediently followed the boy and was led ashore by him.
The furniture was landed at Capen’s, too; and soon the steamer, with a much lighter burden, was standing off toward the northwest in the direction of Kineo.
One of the first things Merriwell did when they were comfortably located in the hotel was to inquire for a guide. He had written to Capen, explaining his needs, and he found Capen ready to supply them.