The Cruise of the Noahs Ark | Page 7

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,