The Cruise of the Noahs Ark | Page 5

David Cory
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
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