down the
stream in spite of every thing."

"Never mind," said Minnie; "we should land somewhere, and they would
send down for us. We should have a great deal of fun."

How far Minnie would have persevered in urging her plan for a venture in
the boat on the river I do not know; but the conversation was here
interrupted by the appearance of Mr. George, who had come down through
the garden, and just at this instant joined the children on the quay.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XIV.

THE RUIN IN THE GARDEN.

Mr. George said that he had come to ask Rollo to go and take a walk to
see an old ruin in the town, and he told Minnie that he should be very
glad to have her go too, if her mother would be willing.

"O, yes," said Minnie, "she will be willing. I'll go."

"You must go and ask her first," said Mr. George.

So, while Mr. George and Rollo walked slowly up towards the hotel,
Minnie ran before them to ask her mother.

Mr. George explained to Rollo in walking through the garden, that there
were two ruins that he wished to see while he was at Bingen. One was the
famous castle of Rheinstein, which stood on the bank of the river, a few
miles below the town.

"But it is too late to go there to-night," said Mr. George. "We will
take that for to-morrow. But there is an old ruin back here in the
village, which I think we can see to-night."

When they reached the door of the hotel, Minnie met them, and said that
she could go; and so they walked along together.

Mr. George groped about a long time among the narrow streets and passage
ways of the town, to find some way of access to the ruin, but in vain.
He obtained frequent views of it, and of the rocky hill that it stood
upon, which was seen here and there, by chance glimpses, rising in
massive grandeur above the houses of the town; but he could not find any
way to get to it.

"It is in a private garden," said Mr. George, "I know; but how to find
the way to it I cannot imagine."

"Perhaps it is here," said Minnie.

So saying, Minnie ran up to a gate by the side of the street, which led
into a very pretty yard, all shaded with trees and shrubbery, and having
a large and handsome house by the side of it. The gate was shut and
fastened, but Minnie could look through the bars.

There was a woman standing near one of the doors of the house, and
Minnie beckoned to her. The woman came immediately down towards the
gate. Minnie pointed in towards a walk which seemed