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diff --git a/18655.txt b/18655.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..802f443 --- /dev/null +++ b/18655.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2717 @@ +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: ASCII + +*** 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 + + + + + +[Illustration: 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 + +By +DAVID CORY + +Author of +The Little Jack Rabbit Series + +_Profusely Illustrated_ + +_GROSSET & DUNLAP_ +PUBLISHERS NEW YORK + +Made in the United States of America + +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +_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 + +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + +[Illustration: 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. + +"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 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. + + + + +[Illustration: 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. + + "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 tonight." + +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 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. To-night 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." + + + + +[Illustration: 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; + 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. + +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. + +[Illustration: 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! + + + + +[Illustration: 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. + + 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. "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. + + + + +[Illustration: 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. + + 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." + +"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. + +[Illustration: 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. + + + + +[Illustration: The Whale put out the fire, but he nearly sank the Ark.] + +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. + +"On with the pail brigade!" screamed Ham. And then the monkeys slid down +from the roof and grabbed hold of the pails and threw water down the hold. +But still the cruel flames crept nearer and nearer. + +"Oh, dear!" sighed Mrs. Noah. "I'm afraid my sealskin coat will get +singed, and after all the trouble I've had putting it up in camphor." + +And then, all of a sudden, a tremendous stream of water fell upon the Ark, +soaking every one to the skin. And soon the deck was a river, and the +steam that came out of the hold almost suffocated everybody. + +"Goodness me!" screamed Mrs. Noah. "We'll be swamped!" + +"Hold on, there," shouted Capt. Noah, leaning over the side of the Ark, +where the Whale lay like a fire patrol boat in action. "Hold on! Turn off +the hose, or you'll drown us!" + +So the good-natured Whale shut off the water, while Capt. Noah added: "A +Turkish bath has nothing on this!" + +"It was awfully kind of you to come to our rescue," said Mrs. Noah, +smiling sweetly at the Whale as she leaned over the railing. + +"Well, if you hadn't come just when you did," said Capt. Noah, "I guess +we'd all have gone down to Davey Jones' locker." + +"Don't mention it," said the Whale. "Glad to have been able to do you a +little favor. You see," he added in a low voice, "Mr. Jonah was never +satisfied when he was my guest. He was always complaining about the +dampness. So when you came along and I had a chance to put him aboard the +Ark I was tickled to death. In fact, I was so glad to get rid of my +passenger that I made up this little poem," and then the Whale began to +spout: + + "It's not so very pleasant, when sailing on the sea, + To have a passenger aboard who's sulky as can be; + And that's the reason, after dark, + I landed him aboard the Ark." + +And after that he swam away, and the Ark began once more to skim over the +dark blue sea. And by and by, after a while, Capt. Noah said: + +"We'll have to make new bunks and berths for the animals, I guess, for the +fire has burned up everything." + +And, oh, dear me! When he went below he saw that everything was burned to +a cinder. + +"We'll have to land somewhere and make repairs," said Mr. Jonah. + +"I guess we will," said Capt. Noah, and all the animals began to howl and +make dreadful noises, for they didn't want to go down in the smoky hold, +you see. + +And just then all of a sudden the Weathercock called out: + +"Land to starboard!" + +And, sure enough, looming up in the dim distance was a mountainous shore +line. + + + + +[Illustration: The Squirrel came aboard with a bag of nuts.] + +REPAIRS + + + Ahoy, ahoy, Mount Ararat, + Now we know where we are at. + Run the Ark up high and dry, + Close against the bright blue sky. + +"Not a bit of it!" shouted Capt. Noah, looking up at the Weathercock, "I +don't propose to take any chances running up that mountain side. Suppose +our motor gave out? We'd be in a nice fix. We'll run up on the shore and +heave to." + +The Ark, obeying Capt. Noah's guiding hand, swept up on the beach and came +to a standstill some 200 feet from the water. + +"We can cut all the timber we need for repairs now," said Japheth, looking +over toward a big forest that lay back from the beach. "The animals, too, +can have a nice frolic on the sand. It will do them good after being +cooped up on board ship for so long." + +And in a short time the Ark was empty and all the animals were having a +fine time making castles in the sand and picking up pretty sea shells. + +And after a while Capt. Noah got out his axe and saw, and calling to Mr. +Jonah, and his three boys, started off for the forest, and as soon as he +cut down a tree, Mr. Jonah and the three boys sawed it up into logs. + +"I guess we have enough now," said Capt. Noah. "Guess we'd better start +and split them into planks." + +This was not such easy work, but after a while, they had quite a pile of +lumber on hand. + +"If we only had a wagon to haul the logs to the Ark," said Capt. Noah, +wiping his forehead with his red bordered handkerchief. + +And just then Marjorie came riding down the gang-plank in the little toy +automobile. + +"I'll take them back to the Ark," she said, and after a while, not so very +long, they were all aboard. + +Well, by this time it was pretty dark, and Capt. Noah felt uneasy about +the animals, so he stood up on the bow of the big boat and called out: + +"All aboard for the night!" + +"All aboard for the night!" he called out again, and then he turned to +little Marjorie and said, "I'd never forgive myself if anything should +happen to any one of my passengers." + +But, oh dear me! When Capt. Noah, who had stood by the gang-plank and +checked off each animal as he came aboard, found that the little red +squirrel was missing, he was dreadfully worried. + +"Goodness me!" he exclaimed, "if that squirrel has gone off into the +woods, how will we ever find him?" + +"Well, there's no use in worrying," said Mrs. Noah, who just then came up +from below deck. "Come down and get a nice hot cup of tea. After you've +eaten something you'll know better what to do." + +Well, after supper, everybody felt better, so Capt. Noah and his crew came +up on deck to look for the lost squirrel. + +The moon was just coming up out of the east, making a silver path across +the water right up to the Ark. + +As Capt. Noah looked over the railing to the sand below he saw a little +figure walking directly in the silver moon path. It seemed to be carrying +something heavy; for it paused every now and then to rest. + +"It's the little red squirrel," shouted Marjorie. + +"So it is," said Capt. Noah. + +"Helloa, there!" he shouted, "wait and I'll let down the gang-plank!" + +"Whew, but I'm tired!" panted the red squirrel, as he crawled up on deck. +"This bag of nuts is as heavy as lead!" + +And then he let the well-filled bag slip from his shoulders to the deck. + +"Don't you ever stay out as late as this again, sir," said Capt. Noah, +pulling in the gang-plank and making it fast for the night. "If you do, +you won't get shore leave for a long time." + +"I'm glad you're back," whispered Marjorie, "for we were all dreadfully +worried about you," and this so pleased the little red squirrel that he +gave her a handful of chestnuts. + +"Come along with me," said Capt. Noah, "I'm going below to see what the +boys are doing." + +So Marjorie and the little squirrel followed the captain without a word, +for they saw that he was somewhat vexed. + +Below deck all was in confusion, for the animals, after finishing their +supper, were trying to find places to sleep. + +Although Mr. Jonah and the boys had made the place as clean as possible +since the fire, they had not, of course, been able in so short a time to +replace the bunks and pens in which the animals had slept. + +Everybody was in everybody else's way. + +The smaller animals were squeezed into corners by the larger ones, and the +Elephant complained that the red Ant kept treading on his toes. + +"Order! Order!" shouted Capt. Noah. + +"What are you doing, Jonah, and where are you, boys?" he called out, +peering into the darkness, for of course all the electric lights were out +and the hold was in total darkness. + +"Here we are," answered Mr. Jonah. "We're doing the best we can," and he +came out of the darkness and rested his pitchfork on the floor while he +wiped the perspiration from his forehead. + +"I was spreading out the straw for bedding. Ham is giving the pigs a drink +before they go to bed." + +And just then the other two boys appeared. "What are you doing here?" +Japheth asked the muley cow, which stood by quietly chewing her cud. + +But the muley cow only said, "Moo-o-oo!" + +"Well, you come along with me. All the cows are at the other end of the +Ark." + +"Don't be impatient," said Capt. Noah, for the muley cow was a very gentle +creature and never tried to butt any one with her horns, because she +didn't have any, you know. + +While all this was going on Marjorie and the little squirrel stood in the +doorway. + +"Glad you weren't lost," said Shem, patting the squirrel on the back as if +he were a little pet dog. "The other squirrels said they wouldn't go to +bed until you were found." + +"Where are they?" asked the little red squirrel. "I'm pretty sleepy and +would like to cuddle up for the night," and then he swung his bag of nuts +over his shoulder and followed Shem, but before he went he whispered to +Marjorie that he'd give her some hickory nuts in the morning. + +After a while everything was made snug and tight for the night. Mr. Jonah +put away his pitchfork and the boys hung up the water pails. Then a +lighted lantern was hung at each end of the cabin, and the evening chores +were done, just the same as if they had been on a farm, you know. + +And after that Marjorie went up on deck, where the weathercock was sitting +on the flagpole in the moonlight. + + "Oh, I love to be a sailor + And sail the ocean blue, + And hear the Captain shout 'Ahoy!' + And order 'round the crew. + + "And when the waves are rolling high + The wind is blowing strong, + I sing my cock-a-doodle-do + Just like a sailor song. + + "Oh, I'm a sailor rooster, + And my name is Shanghai Joe, + And I'll sail the sea from A to Z, + I'm a sailor bird, Heave ho!" + +"Well, I'm glad you're so happy," said little Marjorie, and maybe she felt +just a little bit homesick, for she was far away from home. And just then +Mrs. Noah came on deck and said, "Come, Madge, it's time for bed," and +then she picked her up and carried her into her cabin and tucked her in +for the night as comfortable as you please. And in the next chapter I'll +tell you what happened in the morning. + + + + +[Illustration: Mr. Jonah and the Animals huddled around the stove to get +warm.] + +THE ICEBERG + + + Jingle bells! Jingle bells! + It's getting cold as ice, + Put your furs and mittens on, + Wrap up warm and nice. + +Marjorie awoke with a start. My, how cold it was! The porthole glass was +covered with a network of frosty lace, and the little Dove, who slept in +Marjorie's cabin, pulled her head out from under her wing and shivered. + +"What has happened?" asked Marjorie, sitting up in bed and looking about +her. + +Perhaps she expected to see Jack Frost sitting in the rocking chair! + +Quickly pulling on her slippers she ran to the porthole to ask her good +friend the Weathercock the reason for this sudden drop in the temperature. + +She found him, as usual, perched on the flagpole. His comb was very red, +as if Jack Frost had given it a nip, and now and then he raised one leg to +his breast to warm his toes in the fluffy feathers. + +"Good morning," said Marjorie. "Isn't it freezing?" + +"Do you wonder?" answered the Weathercock, pointing to a large iceberg +close at hand. + +She turned to look and, sure enough, just a few feet away was a great +mountain of ice. + +"We're aground on an iceberg," went on the Weathercock. "We ran into an +ice floe last night and the Ark slipped upon the ledge of the iceberg and +grounded." + +"Goodness gracious!" cried Marjorie. "What are we ever going to do?" + +"I'm sure I don't know," answered the Weathercock. "I'll have to get some +woolen socks and a pair of felt shoes or my toes will be frostbitten!" + +"Perhaps Mrs. Noah will knit you a pair," said Marjorie. "I'm going down +to breakfast now and I'll speak to her about it." + +"Thank you," replied the Weathercock. "And tell her I wouldn't mind having +a worsted muffler, too." + +Down below matters were even worse, for the fresh water had frozen during +the night, so that it was impossible to give the animals a drink. + +Mrs. Noah had been forced to melt a piece of ice in a pan over the fire in +order to have water with which to make the coffee. + +"Whew!" exclaimed Capt. Noah, coming in from deck and closing the door as +quickly as possible. "My hands are almost frozen. This is as bad as a trip +to the North Pole. Perhaps worse, for we are totally unprepared for this +kind of weather." + +Just then Mr. Jonah and the boys came in, rubbing their hands and stamping +their feet to keep warm. + +"Merry Christmas!" laughed Ham, "the skating's fine out on the ice floe!" + +"How jolly!" cried Marjorie. "Let's go skating after breakfast!" + +"No, sir-e-e," said Capt. Noah. "The boys must help me float the Ark. One +of the rubber-tired wheels is crushed and it will take a lot of hard work +to get her off." + +"We'd better set about it as soon as possible," said Mr. Jonah, after +Capt. Noah had made an inspection. "Some of the animals are nearly +perishing with the cold. The monkeys are rolled up so tight you'd think +they were fur balls. Only the polar bears seem to enjoy life, and they are +just crazy to take a run on the ice." + +"Let them wait," said Capt. Noah; "we have more serious things to attend +to than pleasure for the moment." + +"Well, come and get a good hot breakfast first," said Mrs. Noah, bringing +in the steaming coffee pot and a plate of hot corn muffins. "After +breakfast you'll all feel differently." + +This was, indeed, good advice, and when breakfast was over Capt. Noah +said, "Get the crowbar and the wooden rollers, Japheth. We'll see if we +can't start the old Ark moving. Maybe she's stuck too deep in the ice, but +we'll try, at any rate." + +"Here, my little girl," said kind Mrs. Noah to Marjorie, "put on this +muffler if you're going out. It's pretty cold." + +So Marjorie tied the warm muffler around her neck and stepped out on deck. + +A beautiful sight met her eyes. Towering high above was a mountain of +glittering ice, while as far as the eye could reach was a field of ice and +snow. + +Under the rays of the morning sun parts of the great berg glittered like a +rainbow. + +It was so cold that Marjorie had to jump up and down to keep her toes from +freezing. + +Down on the ice, close to the Ark, Capt. Noah and his crew were busily at +work. One of the auto wheels had sunk deep into the ice and acted like an +anchor. The other wheels also were embedded in the ice so that the Ark was +held as if in a vise. + +"Guess we'll have to give it up," exclaimed Capt. Noah after an hour's +hard work, during which time the Ark had not moved an inch. + +"We'd better make up our minds to winter here until the iceberg floats +into a warmer climate and either melts or breaks apart." + +"That's cheerful," said Mr. Jonah. "I've nothing but summer flannels and a +mackintosh with me." + +"What about some of the poor animals who are used to the Torrid Zone?" +replied Capt. Noah, shouldering the crowbar and climbing up the rope +ladder to the deck. + +Mr. Jonah did not reply, but turned up his coat collar and stamped upon +his feet to warm them. + +"The hairless Mexican dog will surely die if we don't do something for +him," said Ham. "I think I'll ask mother if she won't let him stay in the +kitchen." + +But Mrs. Noah did not seem very pleased over the suggestion. + +"Gracious me!" she said. "Shem already has two parrots, a marmoset and a +little green snake in the kitchen. I don't suppose one more animal would +make much difference, if it will only keep from under my feet. I nearly +stepped on one of the snakes this morning, and the kitchen is none too +large, anyway." + +"Don't you boys worry your mother any more," said Capt. Noah sternly. "The +animals have got to make the best of it. Any one who travels by sea +undergoes some risk and I'm sure I'm as careful a captain as a man could +be. It's lucky we didn't go down to the bottom of the sea when we struck +the berg, instead of running up on it safely." + +After dinner Capt. Noah and Mr. Jonah held a consultation as to what was +the best thing to do under the circumstances. + +"Of course, some of the animals, like the polar bears and the seals, will +enjoy a vacation on the ice. The penguins, too, will be glad to have a +little change. We can let them out and the rest of the Arctic passengers. +But how to keep the other animals warm, puzzles me. We haven't coal enough +to keep the furnaces going for very long." + +Mr. Jonah stroked his chin reflectively. "We might dig a channel from the +Ark to the edge of the berg and then float the Ark," he said, after a +pause. + +"That's a pretty good scheme," said Capt. Noah. "We'll get to work at +once. Here, you boys, get the pickaxes and come with me." + +By evening the canal was finished. "Now, when the tide rises," said Capt. +Noah, resting on the handle of his pickax, "perhaps the old tub will +float." + +It was now quite dark, so all hands returned to the Ark. + +The animals which had been allowed to play on the ice had all returned +except the two polar bears, who begged Capt. Noah to let them stay out all +night, as they wished to see the Northern Lights from the top of the +iceberg. + +It was a very tired family that gathered around the supper table that +evening. But after the meal was over the Weathercock began to sing: + + "It's time for bed, and all the Ark + Should soon be snoring in the dark, + The elephant and kangaroo, + The lion and the curled horn gnu, + Have gone to bed, and so should you, + So good night, cock-a-doodle-doo!" + + + + +[Illustration: Ham rescues the Polar Bears from the iceberg.] + +A THRILLING RESCUE + + + We're off! we're off! we're off again + To sail upon the rolling main. + The ice no longer holds us fast, + We're sailing safe and free at last! + +This is what the Weathercock sang loud and clear the next morning. + +It woke up Marjorie with a start, and running to the porthole she saw that +they were once more upon the ocean blue. + +"How did it happen?" she asked, turning to her faithful friend on the +flagpole, who was still crowing and flapping his wings at a great rate. +"How did it all happen?" + +"While you were asleep, my dear little Madge," answered the Weathercock. + +"I didn't ask you when, I asked you how," laughed Marjorie, for she was +delighted, you see, to be once more sailing over the great big ocean. + +"You'd better not ask me any more questions," said the Weathercock +quickly. "You just better hurry up and dress and ask Capt. Noah what he is +going to do about the castaways." + +"The what?" gasped Marjorie. + +"The castaways. The two polar bears who are still on the iceberg." + +"Goodness gracious!" she cried. "I'll hurry and get on my boots. I must +tell Capt. Noah at once." + +In a few minutes she was running down to the lower cabin. + +"Capt. Noah! Capt. Noah!" she shouted. "Capt. Noah, the polar bears are +left on the iceberg!" + +The captain, who had overslept himself, put his head out of his cabin +door. + +"What is all the excitement about?" he asked sleepily. + +"The bears are left on the iceberg!" shouted Marjorie again. + +"Well, that's all right. I told them they could stay out all night. They +will come aboard for breakfast, no doubt!" + +"They can't! They can't!" cried Marjorie in great excitement. "The Ark is +afloat again and we are sailing away." + +"Blubber and rubber!" exclaimed the captain, now even more excited than +the little girl. + +"Mother!" he cried, "the Ark's afloat and two of our passengers are still +ashore!" + +Mrs. Noah opened her eyes. + +"What did you say, my dear?" she asked, sleepily. + +The captain by this time had pulled on his sailor suit and, closing the +cabin door with a bang, rushed out on deck, with Marjorie close at his +heels. + +In the distance the iceberg could be seen indistinctly through the morning +mist. + +"Hard-a-port!" shouted Capt. Noah. + +Mr. Jonah, who was at the wheel, woke up with a start. He was so tired +with cutting the ice the day before that he had fallen sound asleep at his +post. + +"You landlubber," cried Capt. Noah. "What do you mean by falling asleep?" + +"This is my first experience before the mast," apologized poor Jonah. +"I've always been a passenger. Please don't get provoked." + +"Provoked!" yelled Capt. Noah. "Provoked! I feel like throwing you +overboard!" + +"Steer for the iceberg!" + +"I won't throw you overboard until later!" + +Mr. Jonah heaved a sigh of relief, for at first I guess he thought he'd +have to go back to the Whale without having the chance of Capt. Noah +cooling off. + +Marjorie stood close to the rail, straining her eyes for a glimpse of the +polar bears. + +The three Noah boys now came on deck, and Ham handed the spyglass to his +father. + +"I see them! I see them!" cried Capt. Noah. "One of them is waving a +flag!" + +"Let me look," said Marjorie, who was dreadfully worried about them. + +Yes, there they were. On the top of the berg she could dimly see two +figures and a white object waving back and forth. The sea was getting +rough and the Ark rolled about in a most uncomfortable manner. + +The Weathercock clung tightly to his post, however, and flapped his wings +now and then. + +"Look out!" he cautioned as the Ark neared the berg. "Be careful or you'll +stave a hole in the Ark!" + +"Hurry up!" shouted the polar bears. "We're nearly starved. We want our +breakfast." + +"Want your breakfast!" muttered Capt. Noah under his breath. "You'll be +wanting something more than breakfast if we don't find a way to get you +aboard!" + +"Let them swim!" suggested Ham. + +"Run up close and let them jump!" advised Shem. + +"Let them fly!" chuckled Japheth, unsympathetically, who was somewhat +tired of feeding the animals and felt that two less would not be such an +awful thing after all. + +"Nothing of the sort," cried Capt. Noah. "I am responsible for the safety +of every passenger. I will take no such chances." + +"What are we going to do, then?" asked Mr. Jonah, looking over the side of +the Ark to make sure that it was not getting too close to the dangerous +berg, which jutted out in ragged points beneath the water. + +"Launch the life-boat!" commanded Capt. Noah. "Who will volunteer?" + +"I will!" cried Ham, and in less time than I can take to tell it, Ham and +his trained monkeys lowered the boat and jumped in. + +"Shove off!" commanded Cockswain Ham, and with a strong pull and a loud +"Yo-ho!" the little boat shot away. + +Ham held firmly to the tiller and kept the bow pointed toward the big +rollers, while the monkeys handled the oars. + +"Pull for the shore, sailor, pull for the shore," sang the Weathercock. + +The bears, who had slid down the iceberg close to the water's edge, stood +anxiously waiting. + +"Careful, now!" cried Ham. "Pull on your starboard oar!" + +The boat grazed the iceberg. "Jump!" shouted Ham. "Quick!" + +And then one of the bears gave a spring and landed in the boat. His mate, +however, slipped, and a big wave at that moment whirled the boat away from +the ice, and with a big splash he landed in the water. + +"Throw him a life-preserver!" shouted Capt. Noah. + +"Throw him a life line!" yelled Shem. + +"Throw him the anchor!" growled Japheth, who never had liked the Polar +Bears, I guess. + +But Cockswain Ham was not the least bit rattled. He steered the boat +toward the frightened bear and told him to catch hold. + +"Now pull for all you're worth!" shouted Ham to the monkeys, "and we'll +tow Brother Bear." + +But, oh, dear me! The great waves kept washing over the little boat, and +the two monkeys had a hard time rowing with that great heavy bear dragging +on the stern. + +"They'll be swamped!" screamed Mrs. Noah, as a tremendous great wave +dashed over the little life-boat. + +"Bail, bail, you lubber!" shouted Ham. "We'll all be in Davy Jones's +locker if you don't!" + +Well, pretty soon they came alongside the Ark, and Capt. Noah let down a +rope ladder, up which the two bears managed to scramble after a hard +struggle. + +And after that Cockswain Ham and his gallant crew came aboard, and the +life-boat was hoisted up on deck. + +Motherly Mrs. Noah at once put the two bears to bed after a hot mustard +bath and a drink of Jamaica ginger. + +"Well, this beats the old days all holler!" exclaimed Capt. Noah. "We +never had such accidents on my first voyage. It just rained and rained for +forty days and forty nights." + +"That's the truth, my dear," agreed Mrs. Noah. "I remember it very well. +Ham was just a baby, and the other two boys were little fellows. It was +hard work finding something new for them to do each day. Rainy days on +board ship--well, I never want to go through with it again." + +"I should think your boys would think you're just lovely," said little +Marjorie. + +"Well, I guess we do," said Ham, kissing his mother. "You know we do, +mother dear." + +"Of course I do," she replied, giving him a hug. + +"Go and kiss your mother," said Capt. Noah to Shem and Japheth, "or she +won't give you any breakfast." + +And then they both ran over to her and kissed her, glad of an excuse to +show their real feelings. + +"Now, come and get something nice and hot for breakfast," said Mrs. Noah, +"for if we don't eat breakfast pretty soon, we'll have to call it lunch." + +And in the next chapter you shall hear of a dreadful collision, but don't +worry, for I shan't let anything happen to little Marjorie and the kind +Noah family. + + + + +[Illustration: Captain Noah discovers a leak in the side of the Ark.] + +A LEAK + + + "Look out! Look out! A boat in sight; + Turn quickly to the left or right; + You'll have a smash-up, sure as fate-- + Alas! my warning came too late!" + +sang the Weathercock. + +And, oh, dear me! He was right! Crash! Bang! The Noah's Ark shivered from +bow to stern, and all the animals were thrown off their feet. + +Little Marjorie awoke with a start. It was just daylight, and far off in +the east the rising sun was tinging the sky pink and gold. + +She hurriedly put on her clothes and ran out on deck, where she met Capt. +Noah and his sons. + +"Whales and porpoises!" exclaimed Capt. Noah. "Mr. Jonah has been asleep +at the switch again, I'll bet!" + +And then he ran forward and looked over the bow of the Ark. + +Only a few yards off was the charred hull of a vessel, riding low in the +water. + +Quickly examining his own ship, Capt. Noah discovered a hole on the +starboard side. + +And then, all of a sudden, the animals came rushing up on deck. + +"The Ark is filling with water," cried Mrs. Elephant, "and my slippers are +all soaking wet. If I had remained below another minute they would have +been ruined!" + +She had hardly finished when all the rats and mice scrambled up the +companionway. + +"A bad sign!" said Capt. Noah. "It shows the Ark is sinking!" + +Mrs. Noah gave a scream. She had hastily thrown a kimono over her +nightdress at the first warning and had hurried on deck. + +"Don't worry," said little Marjorie bravely. "Capt. Noah will stop the +leak." + +"I hope so," he said. Then, turning to the passengers, he asked: "Who will +volunteer to go with me below deck?" + +"I will!" shouted Ham. + +"And so will I!" said the Elephant. + +"Come along, then," said Capt. Noah. + +"Throw me down the tarpaulin and some planks," he called up a few minutes +later. + +But, oh dear me! The water had gained such headway that the tarpaulin was +of no use at all, and I don't know what would have happened if the +Elephant hadn't sat down squarely on the hole, blocking it up so that not +a single drop of water leaked in. + +"Bully for you!" cried Capt. Noah. "That's the best stunt I've seen yet!" + +"It's not very comfortable," said the Elephant, with a shiver. "My, but +the water's chilly!" + +"Start the pumps!" commanded Capt. Noah, rushing to the foot of the +companionway. "Set some of the animals to work!" + +Well, after a while the Ark was pumped dry, and everybody heaved a sigh of +relief. + +"How long do you expect me to be a water plug?" asked the Elephant. "You +don't expect me to sit here for the rest of the voyage?" + +"I don't know what we'll do if you get up," answered Capt. Noah. + +"Neither do I," said the Elephant. + +"Let's call Mr. Jonah," said Capt. Noah. + +"What's the use?" said the Elephant. "What good will he do? If he hadn't +been asleep at the tiller we never would have had the accident." + +"We might punish him for neglect of duty," said Capt. Noah. "We'll plug +the hole up with him. He can sit on the opening for a punishment." + +"Great idea!" chuckled the Elephant. "Bring him down." + +So Capt. Noah hastened on deck to look for poor Mr. Jonah. And pretty soon +he came back with Mr. Jonah, who of course didn't know what they were +going to do with him. + +"What do you want me for?" he asked. "It's pretty damp down here." + +"Hello!" said the Elephant. "Excuse my not rising!" + +"Certainly," said Mr. Jonah, "but you don't look very comfortable." + +And then, quick as a wink, the Elephant reached out his trunk and grabbed +poor Mr. Jonah. + +"Help! Murder!" yelled Jonah, nearly strangled by the water, which rushed +into the Ark as the Elephant got up. + +"Keep quiet!" commanded Capt. Noah, and then the Elephant pushed poor Mr. +Jonah into the hole. + +"It's all your fault that we had this accident. Now you can stop up the +leak!" + +Mr. Jonah was too frightened to speak. Finally, when he partly recovered +from his fright he said: + +"But what am I to do?" + +"Don't do a thing," said Capt. Noah, pushing him down as he started to get +up. "You just sit there and be a hero!" + +"I won't!" cried Mr. Jonah. + +"Then we'll all drown, and you, too!" said Capt. Noah. + +And just then the Weathercock shouted out loud and clear: + +"Land ahead! Land ahead!" + +And in a few short seconds the Ark rolled upon a sandy beach and came to a +standstill. + +"Throw out the anchor!" commanded Capt. Noah. "We won't take any chances +this time." + +And pretty soon all the animals were playing on the sand, while Mrs. Noah, +with Marjorie and the boys, made a fire under some palm trees. + +Suddenly Capt. Noah remembered Mr. Jonah. "Thunder and lightning!" he +exclaimed, and at once descended into the hold, where he found poor Mr. +Jonah still sitting on the hole in the Ark. + +"Arise, noble man!" said Capt. Noah, bursting into laughter. + +"Thank goodness," said Jonah. "I feel as stiff as a glass bottle stopper." + +And in the next chapter you shall hear of a wonderful picnic which they +all had on this little green island in the middle of the big blue ocean. + + + + +[Illustration: The boys were busy with Captain Noah repairing the Ark.] + +THE PICNIC + + + "Don't leave me alone on the Ark, Marjie, dear, + For I shall be lonely I very much fear. + Now, how would you like to be left alone + High up on a perch where the wild breezes moan?" + +"The Weathercock wants to come with us," said Marjorie. + +"Then why doesn't he?" said Capt. Noah, who was busily engaged in making +the anchor line fast. + +"I'll tell him to come with us." + +And she ran up the gang-plank and called to the lonely Weathercock: + +"Why don't you fly down? We'd like to have you come ashore with us." + +"That's all I wanted to know," said the faithful bird. "Look out! Here she +goes!" + +And with a great flutter and flapping of his gilt wings he landed on the +sand. + +And after that he and Marjorie went over to the clump of palm trees where +Mrs. Noah and the boys were resting. + +"This would be a fine spot for a picnic," she said. "Did you ever go to +one?" + +"No, I've never been to one, although I once went to a fair with father," +said Marjorie. + +"Well, while the boys are busy with Capt. Noah mending the Ark, we'll get +a fire started and have our lunch out here beneath the trees." + +It didn't take long to get the fire started, for Mrs. Noah wished to +surprise the Captain when he came back, and pretty soon the kettle was +singing away: + + "Hurray for the jolly picnic + And the crew of the red Noah's Ark. + I'll whistle and sing like a bird in the spring, + While the red flames gleam and spark." + +"There are some nice clams on the beach," said Mrs. Noah. + +So the Weathercock took a basket and went down to the water's edge and +brought back enough for everybody. + +And I guess Mrs. Noah had been to many a clam bake, for she knew just how +to roast them in a pile of seaweed and red hot stones. + +Well, pretty soon Capt. Noah with Mr. Jonah and the three boys came out of +the Ark and sat down beneath the palm trees, and then all the animals sat +around in a ring, for this was the first picnic they had ever been to. + +"I'm as hungry as a bear," said little Marjorie, and then the Elephant +began to laugh, but the bear only smiled and spread his bread with honey. + +Of course, some of the animals didn't eat any of Mrs. Noah's lunch. The +giraffe stood near by and ate the tender leaves off the tops of the trees +and the monkeys ate cocoanuts, and the ducks and geese kept close to the +water and snapped up little fishes and snails. But everybody had a +wonderful time. + +"I think, Mother," said Capt. Noah, wiping the crumbs from the tablecloth, +and holding them out to a little brown thrush who had sat on his shoulder +during the meal, "we had better spend the night ashore. I'll bring the big +tent from the Ark and set it up under the trees. I'm going to do a little +painting inside the Ark this afternoon." + +"That's a very good idea," said Mrs. Noah. + +When the tent was set up and the ropes securely fastened to the pegs which +had been driven into the ground, Mrs. Noah and Marjorie busied themselves +fixing it up inside in order to make it comfortable for the night. + +And when evening came, a bright fire was lighted and after supper, +everybody sat around and talked. Ham popped corn and Marjorie roasted +apples. + +"Nine o'clock," said Capt. Noah, "time for bed. We must be up early in the +morning." + +"It was the loveliest picnic I ever had," said Marjorie, as she kissed +Mrs. Noah good night. + + + + +[Illustration: Captain Noah called all the Animals aboard the Ark] + +THE STORM + + +By noon the next day Capt. Noah reported that the paint was dry and the +Ark ready to set sail. + +"We must get the animals together," he said, looking anxiously about. "I +can't imagine where they have all gone to." + +"Well, I'll have everything packed and ready to put aboard by the time you +round up your passengers," laughed Mrs. Noah who never seemed to worry +about anything, and Marjorie thought she was the nicest person she had +ever met. + +"Come, boys," commanded Capt. Noah, "let's start the hunt. I hope the +island isn't large, for I don't fancy walking many miles in this hot +climate." + +So they all started off, Mr. Jonah and the three Noah boys following Capt. +Noah, and after walking for some time they came to the top of a hill, from +which they had a good view of the island. And not very far away were all +the animals, enjoying themselves to their hearts' content. + +Capt. Noah took his bugle and blew a long blast, and at once all the +animals looked around. + +Then he blew again, and after that the animals formed in line with the +Elephant at their head and marched toward them. + +When they reached the Ark the gang-plank was lowered and they all marched +aboard. + +Everything below decks was in apple-pie order and the animals all seemed +glad to be once more back in the Ark. + +"All's well that ends well," said Capt. Noah, turning to Mr. Jonah. "My +duty is to land these animals safely after the rain is over. But it looks +to me as if it were going to commence again." + +"There's a big black cloud in the west," shouted the Weathercock, who had +flown up to his perch on the flagpole and was keeping a sharp lookout. + +"Yes, I guess we're going to have some nasty weather," said Capt. Noah. +"Let us hurry and get the Ark afloat." + +In a few minutes the great boat was in motion, and after a short run down +to the water, it once more rode the waves. + +"You'd better come down to the cabin," Capt. Noah called out to the +Weathercock as a flash of lightning passed across the sky. "We're going to +have a storm, and you may be blown off your perch." + +So the Weathercock came down and perched on his shoulder, and then he +began to sing: + + "Oh, the animals came into the Ark, + The little dog with a bow-wow bark, + The lion gave a kingly roar, + And the monkey shook the rat by the paw, + And the muley cow said moo-o-o, + And the rooster sang his cockle-do." + +Well, it didn't take long for Capt. Noah and his crew to make everything +snug and tight. + +But, oh dear me! How the thunder roared and the lightning flashed, but in +spite of all this, Marjorie grew so sleepy that pretty soon she went up to +her little cabin with the dove on her shoulder, and crept into bed. + +And then something strange happened. The Weathercock, although he had +hopped into the cabin to escape the storm, went out on deck every now and +then to look about him, so as to report to Capt. Noah the whereabouts of +the Ark. + +He didn't seem to mind the storm, for a weathercock is used to all sorts +of weather and knows just from what quarter the wind is blowing, you know. + +About midnight, after coming in from deck, he hopped up to little +Marjorie's cabin and knocked on the door. But she was so fast asleep she +didn't hear him, and if it hadn't been for the dove, who was a very light +sleeper, I don't believe the Weathercock would ever have been able to tell +Marjorie this strange thing that had happened. + +But just as soon as the little dove heard the knocking, she flew down from +her cage and opened the door. And after the Weathercock had whispered to +her she went over to where Marjorie lay sound asleep in her berth. + +And just then the Ark grated on something and came to a standstill, but so +gradually did the great boat stop that Capt. Noah, who was also sound +asleep, did not even move in his berth. + +"Wake little Marjorie," whispered the Weathercock, and then the little +white bird leaned over the pillow, and sang in a low voice: + + "Wake up, wake up, Marjorie dear, + Come to the window, + Your home is quite near. + See, we are landed + Upon your own roof, + Just outside your bedroom. + Come, here is the proof-- + I'll lift up the curtain; + There's your little bed, + With the cosy white pillow + And cover of red." + +"What is it? Where am I?" asked Marjorie, opening her eyes. + +"Come," said the Weathercock, "follow me." + +Dreamily she got up and followed him to the window. Opposite was her own +little bedroom window. + +"Step over carefully," whispered the Weathercock, while the Dove took her +by the hand. Marjorie stepped across the open space and entered her +bedroom. Then she walked over to her own little bed and crept inside. + +"Go to sleep!" whispered the Weathercock. + +"See you in the morning," cooed the Dove, and with a gentle flutter they +disappeared through the window. Indistinctly Marjorie heard the Ark cast +away from the windowsill. And the voice of Capt. Noah came faintly to her +ears: + +"Careful, now! We must slip in through the nursery window without waking +the household." + +As the "Noah's Ark" slowly drifted in through the nursery window, Captain +Noah ran forward with a hawser, ready to make fast to the book case near +the big table. + +"Well! Well!" he exclaimed. "It is nice to be home again!" + +"It certainly is!" said Mrs. Noah, as she and the three boys came out on +deck. "It is wonderful that the water has done no damage to Marjorie's +pretty nursery." + +"See how fast it is running away!" exclaimed Ham. "Lucky we sailed home +tonight!" + +Just then Mr. Noah looked at the book case. "Gee Hossephat!" he exclaimed. +"See that book--'The Cruise of the Noah's Ark'--why there is my picture on +the cover!" + +"Look! Look!" shouted Japheth. "There are more books in the series of +'Little Journeys to Happyland!'" + +"So there are," laughed Mrs. Noah. "I would like to read 'The Iceberg +Express.' That sounds interesting." + +"I think 'A Little Journey to Happyland in the Magic Soap Bubble' would be +some trip!" exclaimed Shem. + +"Time for bed," suddenly exclaimed Captain Noah. "I am going to turn out +all the lights on the 'Noah's Ark.' No time tonight for you to read these +other books in this series," and with these words he turned out the red +light on the port side of the Ark and the green light on the starboard +side and with a sigh of relief added, "Thank goodness! All the animals are +well and Marjorie upstairs asleep in her little bed and the old 'Noah's +Ark' back safe in the nursery." + +As Captain Noah ceased speaking, the Weathercock fluttered off the Ark and +over to the nursery window. Pausing a moment on the sill, he turned for +one last look, and then flew straight away for Uncle Spencer's barn. + +"Home again!" he chuckled. + + "Who'd have thought I'd ever be + A pilot on the deep blue sea." + + THE END + +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT BOOKS + +(Trademark Registered.) +By DAVID CORY +Colored Wrapper and Text Illustrations Drawn by H. S. BARBOUR + +PRINTED IN LARGE TYPE EASY TO READ. FOR CHILDREN FROM 3 TO 8 YEARS + +A unique series, about the furred and feathered little people of the woods +and meadows. + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT'S ADVENTURES +Little Jack Rabbit is a jolly fellow, but he has to keep away from Danny +Fox, Wicked Weasel and Hungry Hawk. + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND DANNY FOX +Many a hairbreadth escape has Little Jack Rabbit from this old rascal, who +lives on the woody hillside under a pile of rocks. + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE SQUIRREL BROTHERS +Mr. Squirrel Nutcracker's two boys are great friends of Little Jack, but +old Barney Owl makes a lot of trouble for all three. + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND CHIPPY CHIPMUNK +Little Jack Rabbit visits Chippy Chipmunk's store, but you should read +about what happens to the sign over the door. + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE BIG BROWN BEAR +The Big Brown Bear is a particular friend of Little Jack Rabbit. Cosey +Cave, where he lives, is well stored with honey and lollypops. + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND UNCLE JOHN HARE +Tells all about the bunnymobile, Ragged Rabbit Giant and the Rabbit +Fairies. + +LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND PROFESSOR CROW +Professor Crow, with his Wisdom Book, teaches Little Jack Rabbit many +interesting things. + +Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York + +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES + +1. Punctuation has been normalized to contemporary standards. +2. List of books relocated to after title page. +3. Typographic errors corrected in original: + p. 11 Japhet to Japheth ("said Japheth") + p. 27 Japhet to Japheth ("said Japheth") + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Cruise of the Noah's Ark, by David Cory + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CRUISE OF THE NOAH'S ARK *** + +***** This file should be named 18655.txt or 18655.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/6/5/18655/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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