The Cruise of the Noah's Ark Part 8

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 pa.s.sengers."

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.

"h.e.l.loa, 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 sh.o.r.e 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 finis.h.i.+ng 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?"

j.a.pheth 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 b.u.t.t 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 ch.o.r.es 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 weatherc.o.c.k 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 c.o.c.k-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.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 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 gla.s.s 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 s.h.i.+vered.

"What has happened?" asked Marjorie, sitting up in bed and looking about her.