The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Cruise of the Noah's Ark, by David Cory This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org Title: The Cruise of the Noah's Ark Author: David Cory Release Date: June 22, 2006 [EBook #18655] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CRUISE OF THE NOAH'S ARK *** Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net LITTLE JOURNEYS TO HAPPY LAND (Trademark Registered) THE CRUISE OF THE NOAH'S ARK By DAVID CORY Author of The Little Jack Rabbit Series Profusely Illustrated GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS NEW YORK Made in the United States of America MR. JONAH LEAVES THE WHALE FOR THE ARK The Cruise of the Noah's Ark. Frontispiece LITTLE JOURNEYS TO HAPPY LAND (Trademark Registered) The Cruise of the Noah's Ark The Magic Soap-Bubble The Iceberg Express BY DAVID CORY Author of Little Jack Rabbit Series (Trademark Registered) Copyright, 1922, by GROSSET & DUNLAP Contents ALL ABOARD! 3 COCK-A-DOODLE-DO 17 THE CIRCUS 31 THE MAJESTY OF THE LAW 49 MAN OVERBOARD 59 FIRE! FIRE! 75 REPAIRS 87 THE ICEBERG 99 A THRILLING RESCUE 111 A LEAK 125 THE PICNIC 135 THE STORM 143 Mr. Noah "shooed" the Hen aboard the Ark. ALL ABOARD! A stands for Animal, Ant or Ape, Quite different in spelling as well as in shape. "Oh, dear!" sighed Marjorie, "I'm tired of writing in this old copy book. What's the use of making the letters just like the copy, anyhow? Mother doesn't. Her capitals are very different." B stands for Bruin, Bee or Bug— The Bee has a sting and the Bear has a hug! "Oh, dear!" sighed Marjorie again, while she rested her head on her arm and looked over at the Noah's Ark. And then, all of a sudden, something very strange happened. Mr. Noah came out of his little Ark and said, "You had better come with us, for it is going to rain for 40 days and 40 nights, and goodness knows where this nursery will be by the end of that time; probably floating about, half full of water, in the apple orchard." "Do you really mean it?" asked Marjorie, gazing anxiously out of the window at the rain which was falling in torrents. "I certainly do," replied Mr. Noah. And then Mrs. Noah poked her head out of a little window in the Ark. "Listen to Mr. Noah, my dear, for he was certainly right the first time, and why shouldn't he be now?" Mr. Noah smiled and walked across the table towards a little yellow hen. "Shoo," he cried, as the contrary fowl tried to dodge around a toy automobile. "Shoo there. You know you can't swim like Mrs. Duck, so why don't you have some sense and get aboard out of harm's way?" As he finished speaking, water began to pour over the windowsill, and soon the nursery floor was ankle deep. Marjorie stood on a chair and, climbing upon the table, walked over to the Ark. On her way she picked up her rag doll, Maria Jane, and the little toy automobile. "Hurry, my dear," cried Mr. Noah, "here comes the water over the edge of the table." As it was, Maria Jane was splashed a bit, and so was the automobile before it was pushed through the narrow doorway, for the Ark was rolling from side to side in rather a dangerous manner. "Make everything tight. Close the hatches and the portholes!" commanded Capt. Noah (for now that they were actually afloat, this seemed the proper title for him), and in a few minutes it was comfortable and snug inside. And then, all of a sudden, a big wave carried them over the windowsill and out into the garden. But it didn't look very much like the garden, for only the tops of the rose bushes could be seen, and the roses rested on the water like pond lilies. And then, away sailed the Ark, across the garden, over the fence, down the road, until it reached an open space. [Pg 3] [Pg 4] [Pg 5] [Pg 6] "The ocean!" cried Mrs. Noah. "Nonsense!" exclaimed Marjorie, "I beg your pardon, Mrs. Noah, I mean it's Uncle Spencer's meadow. Why, there's Tim! Let's save him!" And Marjorie ran down to the lower floor of the Ark and commenced to unfasten the door. "Careful, my dear," cried Capt. Noah. "What are you about?" "Oh, hurry, Captain," begged Marjorie, "Tim, Uncle Spencer's dog, is in the water and I want to bring him aboard." "Here, mates, bring me a life line," shouted Capt. Noah, and in less time than I can take to tell it the line was thrown to the little dog, who managed to catch hold of it with his teeth just in time, for the Ark was going at a tremendous rate of speed. "Don't haul in too fast," advised Capt. Noah, as his three sons began pulling in the rope, "or he'll be drawn under the water and smothered before we can get him aboard." At last, the little dog was landed safely on the deck. Everybody ran away from him to avoid getting a shower bath as he shook himself again and again. "Well, you've all proved to be brave lifesavers," said Mrs. Noah. "Now I'll give him some warm milk and dry him by the kitchen fire, or he may get a severe cold. Goodness knows what would happen if he gave it to the other animals and they all got to sneezing and coughing at the same time." And then the good woman took the little dog down into the hold of the Ark, where the pantry and kitchen were, and he was soon fast asleep by the stove, none the worse for his wetting. It was now time for supper, so Mrs. Noah busied herself preparing the evening meal, while Capt. Noah and his three sons, Ham, Shem and Japheth, fed the animals. This was not an easy matter, for each animal had a different taste, and the fodder had to be carefully measured so as to give each one enough and no more. The elephant ate almost a bale of hay for each meal, and the lion ate about twenty large Delmonico steaks. "It's lucky we haven't a whale on board," said Capt. Noah, as he rolled a bale of hay up to Mrs. Elephant, at the same time warning Ham not to give the lion a sirloin steak by mistake. "You might feed the pigs, too," he added, wiping his forehead with a red-bordered handkerchief. "They seem to like you, Ham. I guess they consider you one of the family!" Marjorie thought the rabbits were very pretty, but just as she was about to play a game of hide and go seek with them, the supper bell rang, and as soon as the three Noah boys had washed their hands and combed their hair they came to the table. Shem pulled out his mother's chair and Ham politely helped Marjorie into hers. It was all very interesting to the little girl, and when Mrs. Noah looked over at her and said, in a motherly way, "I always wanted a little girl of my own," Marjorie felt quite at home. "Thank you, ma'am," she said, "but I think you have very nice boys!" After the supper table was cleared and the dishes washed, Mrs. Noah and Marjorie went up on deck, where they found Capt. Noah contentedly smoking his pipe. The three boys were having a merry time with the little dog. The rain had stopped and the sky was full of stars. "I don't know how much of a rainfall we have had this time," said Capt. Noah, "but it must have been pretty heavy, for there seems to be as much water around as there was when it rained for 40 days and 40 nights." And then, all of a sudden, a harsh, grating noise was heard and everybody jumped up. "Have we struck a rock?" inquired Mrs. Noah anxiously. "I don't know," answered Capt. Noah, peering over the side. "I can't see bottom." Suddenly the Ark stopped altogether. "Guess we're aground now, all right," said Japheth. "It's too dark to tell much about it, though." "No, it isn't!" cried a deep, gurgling voice, and their astonished eyes saw the head of a whale rise above the bow. "I have a passenger for you," continued the whale. "He doesn't like his present mode of travel, so I'm going to ship him over to you." "How do you know we want him?" inquired Capt. Noah, going forward to investigate. "We have a pretty full house as things are. And, besides, he might be a Jonah." "That's just who he is!" spouted the whale, with a gleeful gurgle, and before any one could say "Jack Robinson!" Mr. Jonah appeared upon the deck of the Ark, and with a swish of his great tail the whale disappeared in the darkness. "Sorry if I am intruding," said Mr. Jonah apologetically, "but the truth is it was so dark and uncomfortable inside that [Pg 7] [Pg 8] [Pg 9] [Pg 10] [Pg 11] [Pg 12] whale that I would have had nervous prostration had I been obliged to remain there another minute." "Well," said Mrs. Noah, slowly, looking Mr. Jonah over and seeing that he wasn't such a bad looking person, after all, although a trifle damp, "we'll see how we get along." By this time Marjorie began to feel tired. "Would you mind," she said, turning to Mrs. Noah, "if I went to bed? I feel so sleepy, and it's long past Maria Jane's bedtime, I'm sure." "Come right along with me," answered Mrs. Noah kindly. "Good night, all," said Marjorie, following Mrs. Noah into the Ark. "You shall sleep in the room next to mine," said Mrs. Noah, turning to the little girl with a smile as she led the way into a pretty bedroom. "Would you like me to unfasten your dress for you?" "I think I can manage that," replied Marjorie, "but if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to have you wait and tuck me in bed after I've said my prayers. I can't very well tuck in the sheets at the side after I'm once in." So good, kind, motherly Mrs. Noah tucked in the little girl and kissed her good night, and in a few minutes she was fast asleep, with her arms tightly clasped around her rag doll, Maria Jane. Ham is sent to the "brig" for chasing the pigs around the deck. COCK-A-DOODLE-DO "Cock-a-Doodle-Do, My Master's lost a shoe, But what's the use of an excuse A rubber boot'll do." Marjorie leaped out of bed and ran over to the window to see where the Ark had drifted during the night. To her surprise it was aground on the roof of a big barn. And, goodness me! Didn't the weathercock look handsome, with his gilt feathers shining brightly in the rays of the morning sun as he turned to and fro with every little change of wind. "Good morning," said Marjorie. "Isn't it a beautiful day?" "I don't feel sure about anything," replied the weathercock. "I used to be a jolly weathercock, but now, with all this water around, I feel more like a lighthouse." "Then why didn't you warn us off the reef—I mean the roof?" asked Marjorie. "I did, but everybody was asleep and paid no attention to me." And just then the wind came in a sudden gust and the weathercock flew around to face it. "Goodness," he cried, "I believe it's going to rain again." "Ahoy, there," shouted Capt. Noah from the deck below, "tell that gilt rooster I'm going to shove off. If he wants to come aboard he'd better be quick about it." "Would you like to come with us?" asked Marjorie. "I'd like to have you. I once read about a very nice weathercock in 'Old Mother Goose.'" "Thank you, I think I will," replied the weathercock, hopping nimbly on to the flagpole of the Ark. "I shall feel more at home here now that the green meadows have turned into an ocean. A barn is no place for a rooster when the water is above the hayloft." Marjorie had no time to answer, for just then the rain began to fall in torrents, making it necessary to close the window. In a few minutes the Ark began to quiver and shake, and then, with a loud grating noise it slipped off the ridge of the roof and once more floated down the tide. [Pg 13] [Pg 17] [Pg 18] [Pg 19] [Pg 20] "Good-by, red barn, with your loft of hay, We're off on a voyage to Far Away," crowed the weathercock. And then Marjorie waved her hand from behind the window pane and ran down to breakfast where in a few minutes the family were all seated around the table. "What did you give the pigs for supper last night?" asked Capt. Noah, looking at Ham suspiciously. "Why, father?" asked Ham, in a low voice. "Because they don't seem well this morning." "I gave them some green apples," said Ham. "W-e-l-l," replied Capt. Noah, "don't know as that should make them ill?" "I chased them 'round the deck." "What in thunder did you do that for?" asked his father. "I wanted to see them slide when they turned the corners," said Ham, sheepishly. "Perhaps they were seasick," interposed Mrs. Noah, who began to feel sorry for Ham. "Perhaps they weren't," said Capt. Noah, sternly. "I think, young man, you had better be locked up in the brig for the rest of the day and fed on bread and water. We can't afford to have any passengers abused by the crew," and then he turned to Marjorie and smiled, "even if one of the crew happens to be the captain's son." And after that, poor Ham was solemnly marched up to the brig and locked in, much to Marjorie's regret, for she liked Ham very much, although he was the most mischievous of all Capt. Noah's sons. It was still raining heavily, and as the wind was blowing quite a gale the sea became rough and the Ark began to roll from side to side. Pretty soon the animals grew uneasy, and strange noises came from many parts of the boat. The roar of the tiger mingled with the trumpeting of the elephant and the howling of the wolf made a dreadful discord with the bellowing of the buffalo. Then the monkeys started to chatter, and the parrots to screech, the horses to neigh and the pigs to squeak, the cows to moo and the donkeys to bray, the wild hyena to laugh and the little lambs to bleat. But luckily toward evening the storm went down, and if it had not I guess Mrs. Noah would have gone crazy. The dove, which was the most quiet and peaceful of all the passengers, perched herself on Marjorie's shoulder. "You shall sleep in my cabin," said the little girl, stroking its glossy neck. "I'm sure you'd never get a wink of sleep if you had to stay below decks to-night." Toward evening the weather grew calm, and after supper the rain having stopped, Marjorie went on deck for some fresh air. The weathercock, on seeing the dove perched on the little girl's shoulder, called out politely, "Good evening, ladies." "Aren't you glad it cleared off?" asked Marjorie, looking up with a smile. "Indeed I am," he replied, swinging around on one toe like a dancer. "Isn't he graceful?" cooed the dove in Marjorie's ear. "S-s-sh!" she answered. "Don't let him hear you. He might get conceited." "What are you talking about down there?" asked the weathercock. "Oh, nothing in particular," answered the dove. "I was just receiving a little advice from Marjorie." "Well, you probably won't use it," said the weathercock. "So you might just as well hand it over to me." "My, how curious you are!" laughed Marjorie. "You'd be, too," answered the weathercock, "if you were in the habit of having the winds tell you each day what was going on. It's not so much curiosity as habit." Just then Mrs. Noah called: "Marjorie, I think you'd better come in. It's too damp outside, my dear." The cabin looked very cozy. Mrs. Noah was seated by the table knitting a pair of socks for the captain, and the three boys were writing in their copy books. "I think, my dear," said Mrs. Noah, kindly, "it would be a good thing for you to do a little studying each day." So [Pg 21] [Pg 22] [Pg 23] [Pg 24] [Pg 25] Marjorie seated herself at the table and Mrs. Noah opened a writing book and laid it before her. With a cry of surprise Marjorie turned to Mrs. Noah: "Why, it's the very copy book I have at home!" "'A stands for Animal, Ant or Ape, Quite different in spelling as well as in shape.'" "The very same," cried Marjorie again. "See how well you can make the capital letters," suggested Mrs. Noah. "If you fill in this book nicely you can take it home with you and show your mother how well you employed your time aboard the Ark." "Oh, thank you," cried Marjorie. "That will be lovely. Mother is always worrying about my handwriting. I shall try my best to improve." Mrs. Noah then turned to look in Ham's book. "That is not a very good 'C' you have just made," she said. "Well, you see," answered Ham, with a laugh, "the sea is so rough that it made my 'C' rough, too." Everybody laughed at Ham's witty excuse. "What's all this levity about?" asked Capt. Noah, entering the cabin. "Coo!" said the little dove, "Coo!" said she, "And they all lived together In the big green tree." "Hello!" exclaimed Capt. Noah, forgetting his own question, "the dove spouting poetry, eh? Well, we'll have to give an entertainment. There must be lots of talent on board. Plenty of material for a circus, anyhow." "How jolly!" exclaimed Marjorie. "I'll make a ring to-morrow," said Japheth. "I've already trained one of the little pigs to walk on its hind legs," said Ham. "It's the white one with the pink nose." "The elephant and I are great friends," added Shem. "I think he'd do anything I asked him. Tonight when I rolled up his bale of hay, he said, 'Hey, young man, look out for my toes!' And then he stood up on top of the bale on his hind legs just as they do in the circus. I'll bet I could make him do a lot of stunts." "Just you wait until you see my wrestling monkeys," cried Ham. "I've taught two of them already. They'll be better than a moving picture show." "My goodness, I think you have very clever boys," said Marjorie, who was tickled to death to think they were going to have a circus. Mrs. Noah did not reply at once. I guess she was thinking it over. "Well, perhaps they are," she said by and by. "I never thought of it in just that way. I'm afraid I've always thought them mischievous." "What time shall we have the circus?" asked Ham. "Not too soon after breakfast," said Capt. Noah. "I don't want any sick animals aboard." "We'll be careful," said Japheth. "Let's go to bed now so as to wake up bright and early to-morrow." The Laughing Hyena had to be put to bed for fear she would laugh herself to death. THE CIRCUS The ark goes sailing down the bay Upon the rushing tide; [Pg 25] [Pg 26] [Pg 27] [Pg 28] [Pg 31] And the circus will commence to-day With the animals safe inside. This is the song the weathercock sang early the next morning. Marjorie rubbed her eyes, and then jumped out of bed and looked out of the window. "Good morning," she said to the merry gilt rooster, "it's a fine day for the circus. That was a pretty verse you just sang. Did you make it up?" "Oh, yes," said the weathercock proudly. "Just couldn't help it, you know. The circus doesn't come to town every day in the week." Well, after that, Marjorie hurried down to the breakfast table, where she found Mr. Jonah seated with the rest of the family. She had forgotten all about him, and so had I and maybe you have too, for you see, Mr. Jonah hadn't been feeling very well and had remained in his cabin since the day he'd left the whale. "It's certainly a relief to be once more at a breakfast table," he said. "Traveling inside a whale is like sailing in a submarine. Although a whale is supposed to be neutral, nevertheless, I was frightened to death for fear we might be torpedoed!" "Yes, indeed," sighed Mrs. Noah, "these awful times one isn't safe anywhere." "That's right," exclaimed Capt. Noah, "we must keep a sharp lookout. There's no telling how soon we may be in the war zone, and I am responsible for the safety of all my passengers!" And just then the Weathercock shouted something which sounded very much like "Periscope!" Well, you can imagine how excited everybody was after that. "Where away?" asked Capt. Noah. "Dead ahead," screamed the Weathercock. Instantly all eyes were turned in that direction. Some distance ahead stretched a long, smooth, sandy beach, on which was a huge billboard with the words "Perry's Slope." "Bah!" exclaimed Capt. Noah, "Perry's Slope isn't 'Periscope.' Well, I'm glad it isn't." "Are we going ashore?" asked Mr. Jonah. "Looks like it," answered Capt. Noah; "the ark is pointed for the beach. Hope we don't bump too hard. Some of the animals might get hurt." The Ark was going at a fast clip, and as they neared the shore every one clung tightly to the railing. "Hold fast," shouted the Weathercock, as the bow touched the beach. In another minute the Ark skimmed gracefully over the sand with as much ease as it had sailed upon the ocean. "Wonderful boat you have," exclaimed Mr. Jonah, looking at Capt. Noah. "Ought to be proud of her. She's a dandy." Before the latter had time to reply the Ark stopped, and everyone rushed toward the gang-plank. "Let it down easily," commanded Capt. Noah, "easy, there!" "Why, the Ark's on wheels," cried Marjorie, as she stepped on the sandy beach, "regular automobile wheels." "Well, I declare," exclaimed Mrs. Noah, "so it is." "Let's call it the 'Arkmobile,'" suggested Ham. "Just the thing," said Shem, "don't you think so, father?" Capt. Noah did not reply for a moment, for he was busily engaged inspecting the bottom of the Ark. "I was looking to see if it were built to run on the land," he replied, "or whether it just went this far on account of its momentum." "What's that noise?" asked Japheth. "Sounds like the engine of an automobile," answered Shem. "It's coming from the Ark," cried Ham. [Pg 32] [Pg 33] [Pg 34] [Pg 35] [Pg 36] Capt. Noah hurriedly went below. Presently he returned, smiling with satisfaction. "There's a regular automobile engine in the hold, way aft," he said. "And it's connected with a shaft, so that it will turn the wheels. We'll have no difficulty in traveling on land." "Hurrah for the Arkmobile!" shouted Ham. "On land or on sea, Wherever we be, The Arkmobile Is the thing for me," sang Marjorie, skipping about on the sand. "Over sand, over foam, Wherever we roam, The Arkmobile Will carry us home," sang the Weathercock, and then he said: "I guess I'll come down from the flagpole if you're going to camp here. If you're not, I'll stay where I am, for it's a pretty good climb, and I'm not much of a sailor as yet." "Let's stay here and have the circus," said Ham. "We can make a splendid ring in the sand—in fact, we can have three rings if we want to. All we have to do, you know, is to throw up the sand in a circle." Every one agreed that it was an ideal spot, so the boys set to work at once. Mrs. Noah made Marjorie a wonderful dress, covered with gold spangles. "I'm going to ride the big white horse just like a circus rider," cried Marjorie. "And I shall stand up on the saddle and jump through my hoop. Ham can hold it." "Of course I will," he cried, looking up from his work. "And I'll be jolly glad when this ring is finished. I had no idea it would take so long." "Hurrah! Mine's finished," cried Japheth. "And so's mine," shouted Shem. "Well, I think mine's the biggest of all," said Ham. "It must be, or I'd have finished when you fellows did." "Father ought to put on his dress suit," said Shem, "and snap the whip when Marjorie rides around the ring. You know just the way they do in the real circus." "Great Scott!" exclaimed Capt. Noah, overhearing the remark as he descended the gang-plank. "I didn't bargain for this. But I suppose I might as well put it on," and he turned back into the Ark. The sound of hammering at that moment reached them. "What's going on?" asked Ham. "Let's see," suggested Shem, but before they reached the gang-plank Mr. Jonah appeared. On his legs were strapped a pair of stilts, which made him at least eight feet high. "I'm going to be the giant," he said with a laugh, bumping down the gang-plank in a clumsy manner. "I say, Mrs. Noah, could you sew the legs of an old pair of trousers on to mine, so the stilts won't show?" "Of course I can," replied Mrs. Noah, bursting into laughter. "But I'm afraid they won't match." In due course of time Marjorie's circus dress was finished and the giant's trousers lengthened, the upper part being blue and the lower part gray, but perfectly satisfactory to the wearer. Every one was now waiting impatiently for Capt. Noah when, suddenly, his head appeared at one of the port holes. "Mother," he called, "where are my white dress ties? I can't find them anywhere." So Mrs. Noah laid down her work basket and went into the Ark to find them. And in a few minutes Capt. Noah appeared in full dress, his silk hat upon his head and a long whip in his hand. As he came down the plank, Japheth led out the big white horse, and after helping Marjorie to mount, led him into the center ring. Shem then opened the big door in the Ark and all the animals solemnly marched out and arranged themselves about the rings. Next came Ham, leading his two wrestling monkeys and after him came Shem with his elephant. [Pg 37] [Pg 38] [Pg 39] [Pg 40] [Pg 41] THE CIRCUS—MR. NOAH AS RINGMASTER Mr. Jonah, towering above the heads of the tallest animals, including the giraffe, announced that the circus would commence. "Ladies and gentlemen," he began, "allow me to introduce to you the most wonderful child rider in the world, Marjorie Hall, on her beautiful white horse, Marshmallow. Marjorie, without doubt, is the most daring bareback rider in the universe." There was a great clapping of hands, hoofs and paws at this announcement, for she had become a great favorite with the Noah's Ark people. "Ladies and gentlemen," went on Mr. Noah, "you see before you in Ring No. 2 the most famous wrestlers of the world, Jocko and Monko. In Ring No. 3 is the largest elephant in existence." While all this was going on the Noah boys had run into the Ark. Presently they returned, dressed up as clowns, and then the fun commenced. Ham held up a hoop, which he had carefully covered with tissue paper, and to Mrs. Noah's amazement Marjorie leaped through it as if she had been a circus bareback rider all her life. The boys performed marvelous feats of tumbling and jumping, and were so funny that half of the animals nearly split their sides with laughing. The laughing hyena had to be carried into the Ark and put to bed for fear she would laugh herself to death. "Well, well," exclaimed Mrs. Noah, when it was all over, "I certainly never enjoyed the circus so much in all my life, not even when I was a little girl." And that night every one slept like a top, let me tell you, for each one was tired out with the day's work. Even the weathercock, I think, tucked his head under his gilt wings and snored! The Megaphone made Captain Noah as mad as a hornet. THE MAJESTY OF THE LAW "Wake up! Wake up! We're off again, Over hill and over plain! The Arkmobile on sea or land Can sail away at our command." Again the Weathercock awoke little Marjorie, on board the Noah's Ark, where we left her in the last chapter, you remember. It was the morning after the circus, and she probably would have slept much later had not the faithful bird, as usual, sung his bit of verse. You see this wonderful Weathercock was just like an alarm clock. "Where's the ocean?" asked Marjorie, looking out of the window. "Why, we're traveling on land!" "Of course we are," answered the Weathercock. "Didn't you see the wheels on the bottom of the Ark yesterday?" "So I did," admitted Marjorie. "I'd forgotten all about them." "Well, how did you like my poetry? You see, I make up a new verse every morning, so as to be sure to wake you up." "I think you are a great poet," answered the little girl. The Weathercock got very red in the gills. I guess that's the only way he could blush. [Pg 42] [Pg 43] [Pg 44] [Pg 45] [Pg 49] [Pg 50] So let the rain or sunshine come, Across the land, we'll swiftly hum, We are prepared for rain or shine, For dusty road or foamy brine. "Hurrah!" shouted the Elephant from down below. "Bravo, Sir Chanticleer!" "You'll have to excuse me now," said Marjorie to the Weathercock, "for I must pull on my shoes and stockings and brush my hair. You don't have to bother about such things, you know. That's one advantage of being a weathercock." After breakfast, as they all sat in the cabin, Capt. Noah remarked: "I'm getting a trifle worried. You see, I can't tell by the barometer whether the Ark is floating or wheeling. Now, that is rather important. If we keep on in this way I shall have to get a speedometer. It wouldn't be very nice to be arrested for breaking the speed laws and be locked up in jail." Mrs. Noah turned pale and the Weathercock shifted about uneasily on the top of the flagpole. "No, indeed," he said, "I don't want to be a jailbird." "Well, what's the best thing to do?" asked Mrs. Noah. "Count the telegraph poles as we go along," suggested Ham. "I think there are about thirty to a mile, and see how long it takes to pass them." "That's a good idea," said Mr. Jonah, but when they looked out of the portholes they couldn't find any telegraph poles. And just then, all of a sudden, a pistol shot rang out clear and loud. The Arkmobile came to a sudden stop, and a voice outside was heard to exclaim: "Where's the chauffeur?" Capt. Noah rushed up on deck, followed by his family, Mr. Jonah and Marjorie. "What's the matter?" asked Capt. Noah, looking about to find the owner of the voice. "Oh, that's what they all say!" came the reply. "You know jolly well what's the matter!" "Who are you, and where are you?" asked Capt. Noah, vainly trying to find this remarkable person, who seemed to be nothing but a voice. "Who am I? You'll find out pretty quick. Where am I? You'd better find that out even quicker!" Looking up to the Weathercock, Capt. Noah shouted: "Ahoy, there, Lookout! Who's delaying us?" "The Majesty of the Law," came the answering voice again—this time so distinctly that every one turned in the direction from which it came, and then a huge megaphone on the top of a post repeated: "The Majesty of the Law!" "Well, I'll be blowed!" exclaimed Capt. Noah. "You have exceeded the speed limit," said the Megaphone, "and you are fined $15!" "Oh!" interposed Mrs. Noah. "I'm sure you must be mistaken. I'm sure we were not exceeding it $15 worth." "So am I!" added Mr. Jonah. "In fact, I didn't think we were exceeding anything. We were just rolling along, don't you know, quite comfortably." "Well, suppose I haven't the money with me?" asked Capt. Noah. "Fifteen days in jail," answered the Megaphone. "Mercy!" cried Mrs. Noah. "Don't worry," whispered Capt. Noah. "I'll borrow the money from Mr. Jonah." Mr. Jonah was very obliging and lent the money, saying he had had no chance to spend a cent while he was aboard the whale. "Now, where shall I put the money?" asked Capt. Noah. "In the little box back of me," replied the Megaphone. And as soon as the money was dropped in the Megaphone shouted: "The prisoner is discharged!" "Prisoner!" shouted Capt. Noah, as mad as a hornet. "How dare you call me a prisoner!" But before he had time to say another word the Arkmobile started off and the Megaphone was left behind. "Jehosaphat!" exclaimed Capt. Noah, wiping the perspiration from his forehead with his red bordered handkerchief. [Pg 51] [Pg 52] [Pg 53] [Pg 54] [Pg 55] "Bad enough to be robbed of $15, but to be called a 'prisoner'—well, that does make me angry." "Never mind, my dear," said Mrs. Noah, soothingly. "All's well that ends well. Just think, if we hadn't been able to borrow that $15, we'd have spent fifteen days in jail!" And then, all of a sudden the Weathercock shouted: "Everybody in the cabin! Water dead ahead!" My goodness me! you should have seen the animals pull their heads in through the portholes. Poor Mrs. Giraffe didn't get hers inside in time and her bonnet got soaking wet, for as soon as the Ark struck the water the spray flew here and there and everywhere and the deck was flooded ankle deep. But the Ark was a sturdy craft, and as soon as it once more felt the ocean beneath it, rode the waves as gracefully as a swan. "I guess we won't be fined for speeding now," laughed Marjorie, and in the next chapter you shall hear what further adventures she had aboard this wonderful Noah's Ark. The Weathercock called out that he could see the little red Ant on the life-preserver. MAN OVERBOARD Wake up! Wake up! and sing your song As we roll merrily along. Above the meadow sings the lark, So let us sing aboard the Ark. "There goes the Weathercock," cooed the Dove, flying over to the porthole and looking out over the bright blue ocean. "Tell him I'll get up in a minute," yawned Marjorie. So the Dove, who slept in Marjorie's cabin in a pretty gilt cage, spoke to the Weathercock, after which she commenced to sing: There's a robin in the woodland, There's a robin in the sea, But they are just as different As different can be. The one that's in the forest Has feathers and a tail; The one that's in the ocean Has a scaly coat of mail. The robin in the forest Could never take a swim; The robin of the ocean Could never fly or skim Across a grassy meadow, Nor fly up in a tree. But he can do all kinds of stunts Within the deep blue sea. "Where did you learn all that?" asked Marjorie, pulling on her stockings. "Listen; there's another verse and maybe two or three," cooed the Dove, and then she began to sing again: The robin of the woodland Has a pretty crimson vest; He sings a merry, blithesome song And builds a cozy nest. [Pg 56] [Pg 59] [Pg 60] [Pg 61] The robin of the ocean Has fins that look like wings. He doesn't build a nest at all, He grunts, but never sings. Yet both of them are robins, As some of us have heard— Although the ocean one's a fish, The woodland one's a bird. "Cock-a-doodle-do!" crowed the Weathercock, as the Dove finished her song. "Hurrah for you! You are the poet of the Ark." "Oh, no!" replied the modest little Dove. "That is not my own. My mother taught me that song when I was a Dovelet." "Is that so?" said the Weathercock, and he gave a sigh of relief, for I guess he wanted to be the only poet on board the Ark and sing his little songs every morning just as he had always done. By this time Marjorie was dressed and, taking the Dove on her shoulder, went down to the diningroom. As usual, the Noah boys were on hand with great and glorious appetites. "How are the animals this morning?" inquired Capt. Noah, helping himself to a big saucer of oatmeal. "Pretty well," answered Japheth. "Some of the insects are getting restless," said Ham. "I should say so," exclaimed Mrs. Noah. "Here's that big red Ant in the sugar bowl." "Catch him," cried Shem, "we ought to put him back where he belongs."' But the Ant all of a sudden crawled out of the sugar bowl and ran down the leg of the table and out on deck. "There he goes!" shouted Marjorie. "Quick, or he'll get away!" cried Capt. Noah. "I can't afford to lose a single passenger!" Instantly the boys darted after the fleeing insect, but just as they were about to snatch him up from the deck a wave washed him overboard. "Man overboard!" shouted the Weathercock. And, my goodness! What a commotion there was after that! All the animals rushed up on deck to see who had fallen into the ocean. "Throw him a life-preserver!" yelled Mr. Jonah, and in a second Ham unfastened a large "horsecollar" life-preserver and tossed it into the ocean. "Suppose he can't reach it," said the elephant. "I guess I'd better jump in and save him," and overboard went the big animal with a loud splash. "Where is he?" asked the Elephant, after looking around in vain for the Ant. "I can't see him!" And no wonder, for the sea was rough, and it was no easy matter to find so small a passenger. "Get my telescope!" yelled Capt. Noah. "I think it's in my workbasket," said Mrs. Noah to Ham, who started at once to obey his father's command. "If it isn't it may be in your toolchest. I think you had it the other day when you were going to make an anti-aircraft gun out of it for your toy army." "That's where I found it," said Ham, a minute later, appearing breathless with the telescope. "Where abouts?" screamed the Elephant, who was now some distance from the Ark. "Wait a minute, can't you?" yelled Capt. Noah. "I've got to adjust the thing. These boys have been meddling with it!" When this was finally done, Capt. Noah swept the sea with his glass, but in vain; the form of the poor Ant was nowhere to be seen. "Shiver my timbers!" said Capt. Noah, under his breath. "What will happen to me if I lose a passenger?" "Hurry up!" gasped the Elephant, now thoroughly worn out by the buffeting of the waves. "Hurry up, I'm most in." "Well, we'll have to get you out, then," answered Capt. Noah. "Swim around to the port side," said Ham; "we'll hoist you up by the davits." [Pg 62] [Pg 63] [Pg 64] [Pg 65] [Pg 66] "I hate to give up looking for the Ant," said the Elephant, as he slipped the ropes under his big body. And then, after much tugging and hauling away on the ropes he was lifted up even with the deck. But beyond this it was impossible to do anything. The davits refused to swing in, being hindered by the immense size of the animal. "Put your trunk on the deck," suggested Mr. Jonah. "That will make you weigh less, and perhaps we can roll you over the edge." "Yes, that's a good idea," said Shem. "Put your baggage aboard first." "This is no time for joking——We have lost one passenger and are in danger of losing another. It will look very strange to lose the largest and the smallest on the same day," said poor Capt. Noah, despairingly. MR. ELEPHANT HAS TROUBLE GETTING ABOARD Well, just then, Mrs. Elephant came up from the hold. She had overslept herself, and had only now heard the commotion on deck. On seeing her mate swinging from the davits she set up a loud trumpeting. "Goodness, gracious, Ella!" said the Elephant. "Don't carry on like that. Screaming won't get me out. Get hold of me and help pull." This was good advice, and pretty soon Mr. Elephant was landed safely on board the Ark. Just then the Weathercock called out that he could see the little red Ant on the life-preserver. "Thank goodness!" exclaimed Capt. Noah, and the Ark was turned in the direction pointed out by the faithful lookout. Then Mr. Jonah leaned over and pulled in the life-preserver as the Ark slowly came alongside, and just in the nick of time, for the poor Ant was nearly dead. "Give him to me," said Mrs. Noah. "A little Jamaica ginger and a warm blanket will bring him 'round, I guess." "Well, well!" exclaimed Capt. Noah, as the motherly form of Mrs. Noah disappeared down the companionway. "This has been an exciting forenoon," and then he wiped his forehead with his red bordered handkerchief and looked about him. "All you animals go below deck!" he commanded, "or else we'll have somebody else overboard." So Mrs. Elephant led Mr. Elephant, who was wet to the skin and shivering with the cold, down to the hold, where she put him to bed with a hot water bag at his feet and a woolen night cap on his head. "Are you going to put this down in your log book?" asked Marjorie. "I think it will make a very interesting story and I've heard from old sailors that they always put down everything that happens in the log book." "Of course I will," answered Capt. Noah. "Bring me the log book, Japheth. You haven't done anything this morning. Suppose you jot it down. I declare, I'm all tuckered out with excitement and worry." "You'd better lie down and rest, father," said Mrs. Noah, coming up on deck. "I have the Ant very comfortable now, and I feel sure he will recover in a short time." So Capt. Noah went below to rest, and the little Dove perched herself on Marjorie's shoulder and watched Capt. Noah's son write in the log book. And what do you suppose he wrote? Well, it was something like this, for the little Dove told me afterwards: The little red Ant fell into the sea, But, oh, dear you, and oh, dear me! And then the Elephant with a shout Jumped in and tried to pull him out. But he wasn't saved by the Elephant; It was Mr. Jonah who saved the Ant. And in the next chapter I'll tell you more about Marjorie on board the Ark. The Whale put out the fire, but he nearly sank the Ark. [Pg 67] [Pg 68] [Pg 69] [Pg 70] [Pg 71] [Pg 72] FIRE! FIRE! "Fire! Fire! Fire!" Marjorie awoke with a start. The Weathercock was again sounding the warning, "Fire! Fire! Fire!" "Where?" cried Marjorie, looking out of the porthole at the excited Weathercock and then down to the deck, where at that moment Capt. Noah and his sons appeared, each armed with a pail. The fire evidently was at the forward end of the Ark, for Noah and his crew ran in that direction. It took Marjorie but a few minutes to dress, and just as she reached the deck, Mr. Jonah appeared. "This is a poor way to put out a fire," he said, as he tossed the water from his pail down the hatchway, from which was rising a thick cloud of smoke. "We need a hose and a pump." "Hurry up, Jonah!" commanded Capt. Noah. "This fire is getting too much headway to suit me. I'm afraid the animals will be roasted if we don't put it out pretty soon!" As he finished speaking the Elephant rushed on deck and, leaning over the side of the Ark, filled his trunk with water, which he immediately squirted over himself. And then Mrs. Elephant did the same. "I was never so warm before," she remarked; "not even in India. If I had stayed another minute below deck I would have been scarred for life!" By this time the deck was crowded. Some of the animals were nearly frightened to death; some were choking with the smoke, while others were filling the air with noises of all kinds. It was as if pandemonium were let loose. Those animals which could climb were soon scrambling to the roof of the Ark, where they sat on or clung desperately to the ridgepole. The deck grew hotter and hotter, and it was necessary for every one to dance about in order to keep his feet from blistering. "Holy sufferin' mackerel!" exclaimed Capt. Noah, now realizing the seriousness of the situation. "Are we to be burned at sea?" "Get the Elephants to squirt water down the hold," suggested Ham. "Get busy," said Capt. Noah to the Elephants. "Your trunks are nearly as good as hose. Why don't you help us?" "What do you say, Ella?" said the Elephant. "If we don't we may have to swim later." Without answering, she went forward and commenced drawing up the salt water in her trunk and then sending it in a swift stream down into the hold. The fire, however, was gaining fast, and in spite of the efforts of the Elephants and the crew the danger increased to an alarming extent, and at last the flames leaped forth and crawled over the deck. The animals howled and rushed to the stern of the Ark, which raised the bow high in the air, and thus added to the danger. "If it would only rain!" said Mrs. Noah, who sat on a coil of rope, her sealskin coat on her arm and her jewel box in her hand. "If it would only rain! This can't be the forty-first day, can it? Time does go so fast." Well, I guess something terrible would have happened if just then all of a sudden the Weathercock hadn't seen the Whale, who had landed Mr. Jonah aboard, some two or three chapters ago. "There's the Whale!" shouted the Weathercock. "See him spout!" "Run up a signal of distress!" commanded Capt. Noah. "He might save Mr. Jonah for old times' sake!" "If he'd only get up close and spout water over the Ark, he'd put out the fire pretty quick," said Ham. "Good idea," said Capt. Noah. "Ship ahoy!" yelled Mr. Jonah, waving his red bandanna handkerchief in the air. "Ahoy! Ahoy!" Then the Whale stopped spouting and made for the Ark. "He's coming! He's coming!" shouted the Weathercock. "Don't stop squirting water," said Capt. Noah to the Elephants. [Pg 75] [Pg 76] [Pg 77] [Pg 78] [Pg 79] [Pg 80]