“Hurrah!” shouted the committee, its uninvited guests and the accompanying crowd of Bayport men and boys which had gathered to assist in the welcome. “Hurrah!”
“Hooray!” yelled Kyan, a little behind, as usual.
A passenger or two peered from the coach window. The stage driver ironically touched his cap.
“Thank ye,” he said. “Thank ye very much. I've been hopin' for this for a long time, though I'd about given up expectin' it. I'm very much obliged. Won't somebody please ask me to make a speech?”
Captain Elkanah frowned his disapproval.
“We are cheering Cap'n Nathaniel Hammond of Trumet,” he explained haughtily. “We are here to meet him and escort him home.”
The driver sighed. “You don't say,” he said. “And I thought my merits had been recognized at last. And 'twas all for Cap'n Hammond? Dear! dear!”
He winked at Simmons, who wanted to laugh, but did not dare.
“Come! come!” said Captain Elkanah. “Where is he? Where's Cap'n Hammond?”
“Well, now, I'll tell ye; I don't know where he is.”