The Cruise of the Noah's Ark Part 12

"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 s.h.i.+ver. "My, but the water's chilly!"

"Start the pumps!" commanded Capt. Noah, rus.h.i.+ng 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."

"h.e.l.lo!" 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, pus.h.i.+ng 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 Weatherc.o.c.k 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, n.o.ble man!" said Capt. Noah, bursting into laughter.

"Thank goodness," said Jonah. "I feel as stiff as a gla.s.s 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.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 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 Weatherc.o.c.k 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 Weatherc.o.c.k:

"Why don't you fly down? We'd like to have you come ash.o.r.e 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.