"That's a
smart goat all right! He knows where he wants to go, and the shortest
way to get there!"
Surely enough Nicknack was swimming toward the island. When he jumped
out of the boat he floundered a little in the water, and splashed some
on Teddy. Then he struck out, paddling as a dog does with his front
feet. Nicknack turned himself about until he was headed toward the
island, and then he swam straight toward it.
"Oh, won't he drown, Grandpa?" asked Teddy.
"I don't believe so, my boy! I guess Nicknack knows more than we
thought he did. Maybe he didn't like the way we rowed, or he may have
wanted a bath. Anyhow he jumped overboard, but he'll be all right."
"See him go!" cried the hired man.
Nicknack was swimming quite fast. Of course a goat is not as good a
swimmer as is a duck or a fish, but Ted's pet did very well. On shore
were Nora, Mrs. Martin, Janet, Trouble, and the farm hand who had gone
over in the first boatload. They were watching the goat swimming
toward them.
"Did you throw him into the water, Teddy?" asked Janet, as soon as the
boat was near enough so that talking could be heard.
"He jumped in," Ted answered. "Isn't he a good swimmer?"
"I should say so! Here, Nicknack! Come here!" Janet called.
The goat, which had been headed toward a spot a little way down the
island from where Janet and her mother stood, turned at the sound of
the little girl's voice and came in her direction.
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