[Illustration: MR. JONAH LEAVES THE WHALE FOR THE ARK_The Cruise of the Noah's Ark. _ _Frontispiece_]

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_LITTLE JOURNEYS TO HAPPY LAND__(Trademark Registered)_

THE CRUISEOF THENOAH'S ARK

ByDAVID CORY

Author ofThe Little Jack Rabbit Series

_Profusely Illustrated_

_GROSSET & DUNLAP_PUBLISHERS NEW YORK

Made in the United States of America

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_LITTLE JOURNEYS TO HAPPY LAND_(Trademark Registered)

The Cruise of the Noah's ArkThe Magic Soap-BubbleThe Iceberg Express

BYDAVID CORY

Author ofLittle Jack Rabbit Series(Trademark Registered)

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Copyright, 1922, byGROSSET & DUNLAP

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CONTENTS

ALL ABOARD! 3COCK-A-DOODLE-DO 17THE CIRCUS 31THE MAJESTY OF THE LAW 49MAN OVERBOARD 59FIRE! FIRE! 75REPAIRS 87THE ICEBERG 99A THRILLING RESCUE 111A LEAK 125THE PICNIC 135THE STORM 143

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[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? Motherdoesn'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 armand looked over at the Noah's Ark. 

And then, all of a sudden, something very strange happened. Mr. Noah cameout of his little Ark and said, "You had better come with us, for it isgoing to rain for 40 days and 40 nights, and goodness knows where thisnursery will be by the end of that time; probably floating about, halffull of water, in the apple orchard. "

"Do you really mean it?" asked Marjorie, gazing anxiously out of thewindow 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 toyautomobile. "Shoo there. You know you can't swim like Mrs. Duck, so whydon'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 soonthe nursery floor was ankle deep. Marjorie stood on a chair and, climbingupon the table, walked over to the Ark. On her way she picked up her ragdoll, Maria Jane, and the little toy automobile. 

"Hurry, my dear, " cried Mr. Noah, "here comes the water over the edge ofthe table. "

As it was, Maria Jane was splashed a bit, and so was the automobile beforeit was pushed through the narrow doorway, for the Ark was rolling fromside to side in rather a dangerous manner. 

"Make everything tight. Close the hatches and the portholes!" commandedCapt. Noah (for now that they were actually afloat, this seemed the propertitle 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 andout into the garden. But it didn't look very much like the garden, foronly the tops of the rose bushes could be seen, and the roses rested onthe water like pond lilies. And then, away sailed the Ark, across thegarden, 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'sUncle Spencer's meadow. Why, there's Tim! Let's save him!" And Marjorieran 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 inthe water and I want to bring him aboard. "

"Here, mates, bring me a life line, " shouted Capt. Noah, and in less timethan I can take to tell it the line was thrown to the little dog, whomanaged to catch hold of it with his teeth just in time, for the Ark wasgoing at a tremendous rate of speed. 

"Don't haul in too fast, " advised Capt. Noah, as his three sons beganpulling in the rope, "or he'll be drawn under the water and smotheredbefore we can get him aboard. "

At last, the little dog was landed safely on the deck. Everybody ran awayfrom him to avoid getting a shower bath as he shook himself again andagain. 

"Well, you've all proved to be brave lifesavers, " said Mrs. Noah. "NowI'll give him some warm milk and dry him by the kitchen fire, or he mayget a severe cold. Goodness knows what would happen if he gave it to theother 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 thestove, none the worse for his wetting. 

It was now time for supper, so Mrs. Noah busied herself preparing theevening 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 adifferent taste, and the fodder had to be carefully measured so as to giveeach one enough and no more. 

The elephant ate almost a bale of hay for each meal, and the lion ateabout twenty large Delmonico steaks. 

"It's lucky we haven't a whale on board, " said Capt. Noah, as he rolled abale of hay up to Mrs. Elephant, at the same time warning Ham not to givethe lion a sirloin steak by mistake. 

"You might feed the pigs, too, " he added, wiping his forehead with ared-bordered handkerchief. "They seem to like you, Ham. I guess theyconsider you one of the family!"

Marjorie thought the rabbits were very pretty, but just as she was aboutto play a game of hide and go seek with them, the supper bell rang, and assoon as the three Noah boys had washed their hands and combed their hairthey came to the table. Shem pulled out his mother's chair and Hampolitely helped Marjorie into hers. 

It was all very interesting to the little girl, and when Mrs. Noah lookedover at her and said, in a motherly way, "I always wanted a little girl ofmy 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 andMarjorie went up on deck, where they found Capt. Noah contentedly smokinghis pipe. The three boys were having a merry time with the little dog. Therain 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 muchwater 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 everybodyjumped up. "Have we struck a rock?" inquired Mrs. Noah anxiously. 

"I don't know, " answered Capt. Noah, peering over the side. "I can't seebottom. "

Suddenly the Ark stopped altogether. 

"Guess we're aground now, all right, " said Japheth. "It's too dark to tellmuch about it, though. "

"No, it isn't!" cried a deep, gurgling voice, and their astonished eyessaw the head of a whale rise above the bow. 

"I have a passenger for you, " continued the whale. "He doesn't like hispresent 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 toinvestigate. "We have a pretty full house as things are. And, besides, hemight be a Jonah. "

"That's just who he is!" spouted the whale, with a gleeful gurgle, andbefore any one could say "Jack Robinson!" Mr. Jonah appeared upon the deckof the Ark, and with a swish of his great tail the whale disappeared inthe darkness. 

"Sorry if I am intruding, " said Mr. Jonah apologetically, "but the truthis it was so dark and uncomfortable inside that whale that I would havehad nervous prostration had I been obliged to remain there anotherminute. "

"Well, " said Mrs. Noah, slowly, looking Mr. Jonah over and seeing that hewasn'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? Ifeel 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 thelittle girl with a smile as she led the way into a pretty bedroom. "Wouldyou 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. Ican'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 hergood night, and in a few minutes she was fast asleep, with her armstightly clasped around her rag doll, Maria Jane. 

[Illustration: Ham is sent to the "brig" for chasing the pigs around thedeck. ]

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 Arkhad 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 giltfeathers shining brightly in the rays of the morning sun as he turned toand 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 bea jolly weathercock, but now, with all this water around, I feel more likea lighthouse. "

"Then why didn't you warn us off the reef--I mean the roof?" askedMarjorie. 

"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 flewaround 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 giltrooster I'm going to shove off. If he wants to come aboard he'd better bequick about it. "

"Would you like to come with us?" asked Marjorie. "I'd like to have you. Ionce read about a very nice weathercock in 'Old Mother Goose. '"

"Thank you, I think I will, " replied the weathercock, hopping nimbly on tothe flagpole of the Ark. "I shall feel more at home here now that thegreen meadows have turned into an ocean. A barn is no place for a roosterwhen the water is above the hayloft. "

Marjorie had no time to answer, for just then the rain began to fall intorrents, making it necessary to close the window. 

In a few minutes the Ark began to quiver and shake, and then, with a loudgrating noise it slipped off the ridge of the roof and once more floateddown 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 thewindow pane and ran down to breakfast where in a few minutes the familywere 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 sorryfor Ham. 

"Perhaps they weren't, " said Capt. Noah, sternly. "I think, young man, youhad better be locked up in the brig for the rest of the day and fed onbread and water. We can't afford to have any passengers abused by thecrew, " and then he turned to Marjorie and smiled, "even if one of the crewhappens to be the captain's son. "

And after that, poor Ham was solemnly marched up to the brig and lockedin, much to Marjorie's regret, for she liked Ham very much, although hewas the most mischievous of all Capt. Noah's sons. 

It was still raining heavily, and as the wind was blowing quite a gale thesea became rough and the Ark began to roll from side to side. 

Pretty soon the animals grew uneasy, and strange noises came from manyparts of the boat. 

The roar of the tiger mingled with the trumpeting of the elephant and thehowling of the wolf made a dreadful discord with the bellowing of thebuffalo. 

Then the monkeys started to chatter, and the parrots to screech, thehorses to neigh and the pigs to squeak, the cows to moo and the donkeys tobray, 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 guessMrs. 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 glossyneck. "I'm sure you'd never get a wink of sleep if you had to stay belowdecks tonight. "

Toward evening the weather grew calm, and after supper the rain havingstopped, Marjorie went on deck for some fresh air. The weathercock, onseeing the dove perched on the little girl's shoulder, called outpolitely, "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 alittle advice from Marjorie. "

"Well, you probably won't use it, " said the weathercock. "So you mightjust 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 ofhaving the winds tell you each day what was going on. It's not so muchcuriosity as habit. "

Just then Mrs. Noah called: "Marjorie, I think you'd better come in. It'stoo damp outside, my dear. "

The cabin looked very cozy. Mrs. Noah was seated by the table knitting apair of socks for the captain, and the three boys were writing in theircopy books. 

"I think, my dear, " said Mrs. Noah, kindly, "it would be a good thing foryou to do a little studying each day. " So Marjorie seated herself at thetable and Mrs. Noah opened a writing book and laid it before her. With acry 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. "Ifyou fill in this book nicely you can take it home with you and show yourmother how well you employed your time aboard the Ark. "

"Oh, thank you, " cried Marjorie. "That will be lovely. Mother is alwaysworrying 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 itmade 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 dovespouting poetry, eh? Well, we'll have to give an entertainment. There mustbe lots of talent on board. Plenty of material for a circus, anyhow. "

"How jolly!" exclaimed Marjorie. "I'll make a ring to-morrow, " saidJapheth. 

"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 doanything 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 thebale on his hind legs just as they do in the circus. I'll bet I could makehim do a lot of stunts. "

"Just you wait until you see my wrestling monkeys, " cried Ham. "I'vetaught 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 wastickled 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 injust 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 sickanimals aboard. "

"We'll be careful, " said Japheth. "Let's go to bed now so as to wake upbright and early to-morrow. "

[Illustration: The Laughing Hyena had to be put to bed for fear she wouldlaugh 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 thewindow. 

"Good morning, " she said to the merry gilt rooster, "it's a fine day forthe 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 shefound Mr. Jonah seated with the rest of the family. 

She had forgotten all about him, and so had I and maybe you have too, foryou see, Mr. Jonah hadn't been feeling very well and had remained in hiscabin 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 whaleis supposed to be neutral, nevertheless, I was frightened to death forfear we might be torpedoed!"

"Yes, indeed, " sighed Mrs. Noah, "these awful times one isn't safeanywhere. "

"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 amresponsible for the safety of all my passengers!"

And just then the Weathercock shouted something which sounded very muchlike "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 ahuge billboard with the words "Perry's Slope. "

"Bah!" exclaimed Capt. Noah, "Perry's Slope isn't 'Periscope. ' Well, I'mglad 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 oneclung 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 muchease 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 rushedtoward 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 sandybeach, "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 engagedinspecting 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. "Andit's connected with a shaft, so that it will turn the wheels. We'll haveno 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 theflagpole if you're going to camp here. If you're not, I'll stay where Iam, 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 splendidring in the sand--in fact, we can have three rings if we want to. All wehave 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 atonce. 

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, " criedMarjorie. "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 jollyglad 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'dhave finished when you fellows did. "

"Father ought to put on his dress suit, " said Shem, "and snap the whipwhen Marjorie rides around the ring. You know just the way they do in thereal circus. "

"Great Scott!" exclaimed Capt. Noah, overhearing the remark as hedescended the gang-plank. "I didn't bargain for this. But I suppose Imight 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 himat least eight feet high. 

"I'm going to be the giant, " he said with a laugh, bumping down thegang-plank in a clumsy manner. "I say, Mrs. Noah, could you sew the legsof 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'mafraid they won't match. "

In due course of time Marjorie's circus dress was finished and the giant'strousers 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, hishead appeared at one of the port holes. "Mother, " he called, "where are mywhite 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 uponhis head and a long whip in his hand. 

As he came down the plank, Japheth led out the big white horse, and afterhelping Marjorie to mount, led him into the center ring. 

Shem then opened the big door in the Ark and all the animals solemnlymarched out and arranged themselves about the rings. 

Next came Ham, leading his two wrestling monkeys and after him came Shemwith his elephant. 

[Illustration: THE CIRCUS--MR. NOAH AS RINGMASTER]

Mr. Jonah, towering above the heads of the tallest animals, including thegiraffe, announced that the circus would commence. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, " he began, "allow me to introduce to you the mostwonderful child rider in the world, Marjorie Hall, on her beautiful whitehorse, Marshmallow. Marjorie, without doubt, is the most daring barebackrider 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. 3is 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, andto Mrs. Noah's amazement Marjorie leaped through it as if she had been acircus bareback rider all her life. 

The boys performed marvelous feats of tumbling and jumping, and were sofunny 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 fearshe would laugh herself to death. 

"Well, well, " exclaimed Mrs. Noah, when it was all over, "I certainlynever enjoyed the circus so much in all my life, not even when I was alittle girl. "

And that night every one slept like a top, let me tell you, for each onewas tired out with the day's work. Even the weathercock, I think, tuckedhis 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 sleptmuch 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 wheelson 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 everymorning, 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 hecould 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 Imust pull on my shoes and stockings and brush my hair. You don't have tobother about such things, you know. That's one advantage of being aweathercock. "

After breakfast, as they all sat in the cabin, Capt. Noah remarked: "I'mgetting a trifle worried. You see, I can't tell by the barometer whetherthe Ark is floating or wheeling. Now, that is rather important. If we keepon in this way I shall have to get a speedometer. It wouldn't be very niceto be arrested for breaking the speed laws and be locked up in jail. "

Mrs. Noah turned pale and the Weathercock shifted about uneasily on thetop of the flagpole. "No, indeed, " he said, "I don't want to be ajailbird. "

"Well, what's the best thing to do?" asked Mrs. Noah. 

"Count the telegraph poles as we go along, " suggested Ham. "I think thereare 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 theportholes 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 toexclaim:

"Where's the chauffeur?"

Capt. Noah rushed up on deck, followed by his family, Mr. Jonah andMarjorie. 

"What's the matter?" asked Capt. Noah, looking about to find the owner ofthe voice. 

"Oh, that's what they all say!" came the reply. "You know jolly wellwhat's the matter!"

"Who are you, and where are you?" asked Capt. Noah, vainly trying to findthis 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 findthat 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 sodistinctly that every one turned in the direction from which it came, andthen a huge megaphone on the top of a post repeated: "The Majesty of theLaw!"

"Well, I'll be blowed!" exclaimed Capt. Noah. 

"You have exceeded the speed limit, " said the Megaphone, "and you arefined $15!"

"Oh!" interposed Mrs. Noah. "I'm sure you must be mistaken. I'm sure wewere not exceeding it $15 worth. "

"So am I!" added Mr. Jonah. "In fact, I didn't think we were exceedinganything. 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 nochance 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 themoney was dropped in the Megaphone shouted: "The prisoner is discharged!"

"Prisoner!" shouted Capt. Noah, as mad as a hornet. "How dare you call mea prisoner!"

But before he had time to say another word the Arkmobile started off andthe Megaphone was left behind. 

"Jehosaphat!" exclaimed Capt. Noah, wiping the perspiration from hisforehead 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 endswell. Just think, if we hadn't been able to borrow that $15, we'd havespent fifteen days in jail!"

And then, all of a sudden the Weathercock shouted: "Everybody in thecabin! Water dead ahead!"

My goodness me! you should have seen the animals pull their heads inthrough the portholes. Poor Mrs. Giraffe didn't get hers inside in timeand her bonnet got soaking wet, for as soon as the Ark struck the waterthe spray flew here and there and everywhere and the deck was floodedankle deep. 

But the Ark was a sturdy craft, and as soon as it once more felt the oceanbeneath it, rode the waves as gracefully as a swan. 

"I guess we won't be fined for speeding now, " laughed Marjorie, and in thenext chapter you shall hear what further adventures she had aboard thiswonderful Noah's Ark. 

[Illustration: The Weathercock called out that he could see the little redAnt 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 portholeand 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 tothe 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 mothertaught me that song when I was a Dovelet. "

"Is that so?" said the Weathercock, and he gave a sigh of relief, for Iguess he wanted to be the only poet on board the Ark and sing his littlesongs 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 withgreat and glorious appetites. 

"How are the animals this morning?" inquired Capt. Noah, helping himselfto 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 thesugar 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 theleg 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 asingle passenger!" Instantly the boys darted after the fleeing insect, butjust as they were about to snatch him up from the deck a wave washed himoverboard. 

"Man overboard!" shouted the Weathercock. 

And, my goodness! What a commotion there was after that! All the animalsrushed up on deck to see who had fallen into the ocean. 

"Throw him a life-preserver!" yelled Mr. Jonah, and in a second Hamunfastened a large "horsecollar" life-preserver and tossed it into theocean. 

"Suppose he can't reach it, " said the elephant. "I guess I'd better jumpin 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 theAnt. "I can't see him!"

And no wonder, for the sea was rough, and it was no easy matter to find sosmall a passenger. 

"Get my telescope!" yelled Capt. Noah. 

"I think it's in my workbasket, " said Mrs. Noah to Ham, who started atonce to obey his father's command. "If it isn't it may be in yourtoolchest. I think you had it the other day when you were going to make ananti-aircraft gun out of it for your toy army. "

"That's where I found it, " said Ham, a minute later, appearing breathlesswith the telescope. 

"Where abouts?" screamed the Elephant, who was now some distance from theArk. 

"Wait a minute, can't you?" yelled Capt. Noah. "I've got to adjust thething. These boys have been meddling with it!"

When this was finally done, Capt. Noah swept the sea with his glass, butin vain; the form of the poor Ant was nowhere to be seen. 

"Shiver my timbers!" said Capt. Noah, under his breath. "What will happento me if I lose a passenger?"

"Hurry up!" gasped the Elephant, now thoroughly worn out by the buffetingof 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 thedavits. "

"I hate to give up looking for the Ant, " said the Elephant, as he slippedthe ropes under his big body. 

And then, after much tugging and hauling away on the ropes he was liftedup 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 theanimal. 

"Put your trunk on the deck, " suggested Mr. Jonah. "That will make youweigh 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 indanger of losing another. It will look very strange to lose the largestand 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 oversleptherself, and had only now heard the commotion on deck. On seeing her mateswinging 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 onboard the Ark. 

Just then the Weathercock called out that he could see the little red Anton the life-preserver. 

"Thank goodness!" exclaimed Capt. Noah, and the Ark was turned in thedirection pointed out by the faithful lookout. Then Mr. Jonah leaned overand pulled in the life-preserver as the Ark slowly came alongside, andjust 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 warmblanket will bring him 'round, I guess. "

"Well, well!" exclaimed Capt. Noah, as the motherly form of Mrs. Noahdisappeared down the companionway. "This has been an exciting forenoon, "and then he wiped his forehead with his red bordered handkerchief andlooked about him. "All you animals go below deck!" he commanded, "or elsewe'll have somebody else overboard. "

So Mrs. Elephant led Mr. Elephant, who was wet to the skin and shiveringwith the cold, down to the hold, where she put him to bed with a hot waterbag at his feet and a woolen night cap on his head. 

"Are you going to put this down in your log book?" asked Marjorie. "Ithink it will make a very interesting story and I've heard from oldsailors that they always put down everything that happens in the logbook. "

"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. Ideclare, I'm all tuckered out with excitement and worry. "

"You'd better lie down and rest, father, " said Mrs. Noah, coming up ondeck. "I have the Ant very comfortable now, and I feel sure he willrecover in a short time. "

So Capt. Noah went below to rest, and the little Dove perched herself onMarjorie'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, forthe 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 theArk. 

[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 thewarning, "Fire! Fire! Fire!"

"Where?" cried Marjorie, looking out of the porthole at the excitedWeathercock and then down to the deck, where at that moment Capt. Noah andhis sons appeared, each armed with a pail. 

The fire evidently was at the forward end of the Ark, for Noah and hiscrew ran in that direction. 

It took Marjorie but a few minutes to dress, and just as she reached thedeck, Mr. Jonah appeared. 

"This is a poor way to put out a fire, " he said, as he tossed the waterfrom his pail down the hatchway, from which was rising a thick cloud ofsmoke. "We need a hose and a pump. "

"Hurry up, Jonah!" commanded Capt. Noah. "This fire is getting too muchheadway to suit me. I'm afraid the animals will be roasted if we don't putit out pretty soon!"

As he finished speaking the Elephant rushed on deck and, leaning over theside of the Ark, filled his trunk with water, which he immediatelysquirted over himself. And then Mrs. Elephant did the same. 

"I was never so warm before, " she remarked; "not even in India. If I hadstayed another minute below deck I would have been scarred for life!"

By this time the deck was crowded. Some of the animals were nearlyfrightened to death; some were choking with the smoke, while others werefilling the air with noises of all kinds. It was as if pandemonium werelet loose. 

Those animals which could climb were soon scrambling to the roof of theArk, where they sat on or clung desperately to the ridgepole. 

The deck grew hotter and hotter, and it was necessary for every one todance about in order to keep his feet from blistering. 

"Holy sufferin' mackerel!" exclaimed Capt. Noah, now realizing theseriousness 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 asgood as hose. Why don't you help us?"

"What do you say, Ella?" said the Elephant. "If we don't we may have toswim later. "

Without answering, she went forward and commenced drawing up the saltwater in her trunk and then sending it in a swift stream down into thehold. The fire, however, was gaining fast, and in spite of the efforts ofthe Elephants and the crew the danger increased to an alarming extent, andat last the flames leaped forth and crawled over the deck. 

The animals howled and rushed to the stern of the Ark, which raised thebow 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, hersealskin 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? Timedoes go so fast. "

Well, I guess something terrible would have happened if just then all of asudden the Weathercock hadn't seen the Whale, who had landed Mr. Jonahaboard, 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 thefire pretty quick, " said Ham. 

"Good idea, " said Capt. Noah. "Ship ahoy!" yelled Mr. Jonah, waving hisred 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 downfrom 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 getsinged, 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 thesteam 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 offthe hose, or you'll drown us!"

So the good-natured Whale shut off the water, while Capt. Noah added: "ATurkish 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 guesswe'd all have gone down to Davey Jones' locker. "

"Don't mention it, " said the Whale. "Glad to have been able to do you alittle favor. You see, " he added in a low voice, "Mr. Jonah was neversatisfied when he was my guest. He was always complaining about thedampness. So when you came along and I had a chance to put him aboard theArk I was tickled to death. In fact, I was so glad to get rid of mypassenger that I made up this little poem, " and then the Whale began tospout:

 "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 thedark 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 thefire has burned up everything. "

And, oh, dear me! When he went below he saw that everything was burned toa 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 andmake 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 shoreline. 

[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, "Idon't propose to take any chances running up that mountain side. Supposeour motor gave out? We'd be in a nice fix. We'll run up on the shore andheave to. "

The Ark, obeying Capt. Noah's guiding hand, swept up on the beach and cameto a standstill some 200 feet from the water. 

"We can cut all the timber we need for repairs now, " said Japheth, lookingover 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 beingcooped up on board ship for so long. "

And in a short time the Ark was empty and all the animals were having afine 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 hecut 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 startand split them into planks. "

This was not such easy work, but after a while, they had quite a pile oflumber 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 toyautomobile. 

"I'll take them back to the Ark, " she said, and after a while, not so verylong, they were all aboard. 

Well, by this time it was pretty dark, and Capt. Noah felt uneasy aboutthe 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 tolittle Marjorie and said, "I'd never forgive myself if anything shouldhappen to any one of my passengers. "

But, oh dear me! When Capt. Noah, who had stood by the gang-plank andchecked off each animal as he came aboard, found that the little redsquirrel was missing, he was dreadfully worried. 

"Goodness me!" he exclaimed, "if that squirrel has gone off into thewoods, how will we ever find him?"

"Well, there's no use in worrying, " said Mrs. Noah, who just then came upfrom below deck. "Come down and get a nice hot cup of tea. After you'veeaten something you'll know better what to do. "

Well, after supper, everybody felt better, so Capt. Noah and his crew cameup on deck to look for the lost squirrel. 

The moon was just coming up out of the east, making a silver path acrossthe water right up to the Ark. 

As Capt. Noah looked over the railing to the sand below he saw a littlefigure walking directly in the silver moon path. It seemed to be carryingsomething 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 dreadfullyworried about you, " and this so pleased the little red squirrel that hegave her a handful of chestnuts. 

"Come along with me, " said Capt. Noah, "I'm going below to see what theboys 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 theirsupper, were trying to find places to sleep. 

Although Mr. Jonah and the boys had made the place as clean as possiblesince the fire, they had not, of course, been able in so short a time toreplace 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 theElephant 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 outand the hold was in total darkness. 

"Here we are, " answered Mr. Jonah. "We're doing the best we can, " and hecame out of the darkness and rested his pitchfork on the floor while hewiped the perspiration from his forehead. 

"I was spreading out the straw for bedding. Ham is giving the pigs a drinkbefore 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 theArk. "

"Don't be impatient, " said Capt. Noah, for the muley cow was a very gentlecreature and never tried to butt any one with her horns, because shedidn't have any, you know. 

While all this was going on Marjorie and the little squirrel stood in thedoorway. 

"Glad you weren't lost, " said Shem, patting the squirrel on the back as ifhe were a little pet dog. "The other squirrels said they wouldn't go tobed until you were found. "

"Where are they?" asked the little red squirrel. "I'm pretty sleepy andwould like to cuddle up for the night, " and then he swung his bag of nutsover his shoulder and followed Shem, but before he went he whispered toMarjorie that he'd give her some hickory nuts in the morning. 

After a while everything was made snug and tight for the night. Mr. Jonahput away his pitchfork and the boys hung up the water pails. Then alighted lantern was hung at each end of the cabin, and the evening choreswere 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 sittingon 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 feltjust a little bit homesick, for she was far away from home. And just thenMrs. Noah came on deck and said, "Come, Madge, it's time for bed, " andthen she picked her up and carried her into her cabin and tucked her infor the night as comfortable as you please. And in the next chapter I'lltell you what happened in the morning. 

[Illustration: Mr. Jonah and the Animals huddled around the stove to getwarm. ]

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 wascovered with a network of frosty lace, and the little Dove, who slept inMarjorie's cabin, pulled her head out from under her wing and shivered. 

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

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 goodfriend 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 tohis 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 icebergclose at hand. 

She turned to look and, sure enough, just a few feet away was a greatmountain of ice. 

"We're aground on an iceberg, " went on the Weathercock. "We ran into anice floe last night and the Ark slipped upon the ledge of the iceberg andgrounded. "

"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 somewoolen 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 downto breakfast now and I'll speak to her about it. "

"Thank you, " replied the Weathercock. "And tell her I wouldn't mind havinga worsted muffler, too. "

Down below matters were even worse, for the fresh water had frozen duringthe 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 inorder to have water with which to make the coffee. 

"Whew!" exclaimed Capt. Noah, coming in from deck and closing the door asquickly as possible. "My hands are almost frozen. This is as bad as a tripto the North Pole. Perhaps worse, for we are totally unprepared for thiskind of weather. "

Just then Mr. Jonah and the boys came in, rubbing their hands and stampingtheir 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. Oneof the rubber-tired wheels is crushed and it will take a lot of hard workto get her off. "

"We'd better set about it as soon as possible, " said Mr. Jonah, afterCapt. Noah had made an inspection. "Some of the animals are nearlyperishing with the cold. The monkeys are rolled up so tight you'd thinkthey were fur balls. Only the polar bears seem to enjoy life, and they arejust crazy to take a run on the ice. "

"Let them wait, " said Capt. Noah; "we have more serious things to attendto than pleasure for the moment. "

"Well, come and get a good hot breakfast first, " said Mrs. Noah, bringingin the steaming coffee pot and a plate of hot corn muffins. "Afterbreakfast you'll all feel differently. "

This was, indeed, good advice, and when breakfast was over Capt. Noahsaid, "Get the crowbar and the wooden rollers, Japheth. We'll see if wecan't start the old Ark moving. Maybe she's stuck too deep in the ice, butwe'll try, at any rate. "

"Here, my little girl, " said kind Mrs. Noah to Marjorie, "put on thismuffler 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 ofglittering ice, while as far as the eye could reach was a field of ice andsnow. 

Under the rays of the morning sun parts of the great berg glittered like arainbow. 

It was so cold that Marjorie had to jump up and down to keep her toes fromfreezing. 

Down on the ice, close to the Ark, Capt. Noah and his crew were busily atwork. One of the auto wheels had sunk deep into the ice and acted like ananchor. The other wheels also were embedded in the ice so that the Ark washeld as if in a vise. 

"Guess we'll have to give it up, " exclaimed Capt. Noah after an hour'shard work, during which time the Ark had not moved an inch. 

"We'd better make up our minds to winter here until the iceberg floatsinto a warmer climate and either melts or breaks apart. "

"That's cheerful, " said Mr. Jonah. "I've nothing but summer flannels and amackintosh 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 ropeladder to the deck. 

Mr. Jonah did not reply, but turned up his coat collar and stamped uponhis feet to warm them. 

"The hairless Mexican dog will surely die if we don't do something forhim, " said Ham. "I think I'll ask mother if she won't let him stay in thekitchen. "

But Mrs. Noah did not seem very pleased over the suggestion. 

"Gracious me!" she said. "Shem already has two parrots, a marmoset and alittle green snake in the kitchen. I don't suppose one more animal wouldmake much difference, if it will only keep from under my feet. I nearlystepped on one of the snakes this morning, and the kitchen is none toolarge, anyway. "

"Don't you boys worry your mother any more, " said Capt. Noah sternly. "Theanimals have got to make the best of it. Any one who travels by seaundergoes some risk and I'm sure I'm as careful a captain as a man couldbe. It's lucky we didn't go down to the bottom of the sea when we struckthe berg, instead of running up on it safely. "

After dinner Capt. Noah and Mr. Jonah held a consultation as to what wasthe best thing to do under the circumstances. 

"Of course, some of the animals, like the polar bears and the seals, willenjoy a vacation on the ice. The penguins, too, will be glad to have alittle 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 enoughto keep the furnaces going for very long. "

Mr. Jonah stroked his chin reflectively. "We might dig a channel from theArk to the edge of the berg and then float the Ark, " he said, after apause. 

"That's a pretty good scheme, " said Capt. Noah. "We'll get to work atonce. 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 willfloat. "

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 returnedexcept the two polar bears, who begged Capt. Noah to let them stay out allnight, as they wished to see the Northern Lights from the top of theiceberg. 

It was a very tired family that gathered around the supper table thatevening. 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 thatthey were once more upon the ocean blue. 

"How did it happen?" she asked, turning to her faithful friend on theflagpole, 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 wasdelighted, you see, to be once more sailing over the great big ocean. 

"You'd better not ask me any more questions, " said the Weathercockquickly. "You just better hurry up and dress and ask Capt. Noah what he isgoing 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 musttell 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 areleft on the iceberg!"

The captain, who had overslept himself, put his head out of his cabindoor. 

"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. Theywill come aboard for breakfast, no doubt!"

"They can't! They can't!" cried Marjorie in great excitement. "The Ark isafloat again and we are sailing away. "

"Blubber and rubber!" exclaimed the captain, now even more excited thanthe little girl. 

"Mother!" he cried, "the Ark's afloat and two of our passengers are stillashore!"

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 thecabin door with a bang, rushed out on deck, with Marjorie close at hisheels. 

In the distance the iceberg could be seen indistinctly through the morningmist. 

"Hard-a-port!" shouted Capt. Noah. 

Mr. Jonah, who was at the wheel, woke up with a start. He was so tiredwith cutting the ice the day before that he had fallen sound asleep at hispost. 

"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 youoverboard!"

"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'dhave to go back to the Whale without having the chance of Capt. Noahcooling off. 

Marjorie stood close to the rail, straining her eyes for a glimpse of thepolar bears. 

The three Noah boys now came on deck, and Ham handed the spyglass to hisfather. 

"I see them! I see them!" cried Capt. Noah. "One of them is waving aflag!"

"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 twofigures and a white object waving back and forth. The sea was gettingrough and the Ark rolled about in a most uncomfortable manner. 

The Weathercock clung tightly to his post, however, and flapped his wingsnow and then. 

"Look out!" he cautioned as the Ark neared the berg. "Be careful or you'llstave a hole in the Ark!"

"Hurry up!" shouted the polar bears. "We're nearly starved. We want ourbreakfast. "

"Want your breakfast!" muttered Capt. Noah under his breath. "You'll bewanting something more than breakfast if we don't find a way to get youaboard!"

"Let them swim!" suggested Ham. 

"Run up close and let them jump!" advised Shem. 

"Let them fly!" chuckled Japheth, unsympathetically, who was somewhattired of feeding the animals and felt that two less would not be such anawful thing after all. 

"Nothing of the sort, " cried Capt. Noah. "I am responsible for the safetyof every passenger. I will take no such chances. "

"What are we going to do, then?" asked Mr. Jonah, looking over the side ofthe Ark to make sure that it was not getting too close to the dangerousberg, 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 andhis 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 bigrollers, 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, stoodanxiously 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 fromthe 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 PolarBears, I guess. 

But Cockswain Ham was not the least bit rattled. He steered the boattoward the frightened bear and told him to catch hold. 

"Now pull for all you're worth!" shouted Ham to the monkeys, "and we'lltow Brother Bear. "

But, oh, dear me! The great waves kept washing over the little boat, andthe two monkeys had a hard time rowing with that great heavy bear draggingon the stern. 

"They'll be swamped!" screamed Mrs. Noah, as a tremendous great wavedashed over the little life-boat. 

"Bail, bail, you lubber!" shouted Ham. "We'll all be in Davy Jones'slocker if you don't!"

Well, pretty soon they came alongside the Ark, and Capt. Noah let down arope ladder, up which the two bears managed to scramble after a hardstruggle. 

And after that Cockswain Ham and his gallant crew came aboard, and thelife-boat was hoisted up on deck. 

Motherly Mrs. Noah at once put the two bears to bed after a hot mustardbath and a drink of Jamaica ginger. 

"Well, this beats the old days all holler!" exclaimed Capt. Noah. "Wenever had such accidents on my first voyage. It just rained and rained forforty 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 washard work finding something new for them to do each day. Rainy days onboard ship--well, I never want to go through with it again. "

"I should think your boys would think you're just lovely, " said littleMarjorie. 

"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 shewon't give you any breakfast. "

And then they both ran over to her and kissed her, glad of an excuse toshow 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'tworry, for I shan't let anything happen to little Marjorie and the kindNoah 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 frombow to stern, and all the animals were thrown off their feet. 

Little Marjorie awoke with a start. It was just daylight, and far off inthe 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 asleepat 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 thewater. 

Quickly examining his own ship, Capt. Noah discovered a hole on thestarboard 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 areall soaking wet. If I had remained below another minute they would havebeen ruined!"

She had hardly finished when all the rats and mice scrambled up thecompanionway. 

"A bad sign!" said Capt. Noah. "It shows the Ark is sinking!"

Mrs. Noah gave a scream. She had hastily thrown a kimono over hernightdress at the first warning and had hurried on deck. 

"Don't worry, " said little Marjorie bravely. "Capt. Noah will stop theleak. "

"I hope so, " he said. Then, turning to the passengers, he asked: "Who willvolunteer 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 minuteslater. 

But, oh dear me! The water had gained such headway that the tarpaulin wasof no use at all, and I don't know what would have happened if theElephant hadn't sat down squarely on the hole, blocking it up so that nota 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, butthe water's chilly!"

"Start the pumps!" commanded Capt. Noah, rushing to the foot of thecompanionway. "Set some of the animals to work!"

Well, after a while the Ark was pumped dry, and everybody heaved a sigh ofrelief. 

"How long do you expect me to be a water plug?" asked the Elephant. "Youdon'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'tbeen asleep at the tiller we never would have had the accident. "

"We might punish him for neglect of duty, " said Capt. Noah. "We'll plugthe 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 soonhe came back with Mr. Jonah, who of course didn't know what they weregoing 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 grabbedpoor Mr. Jonah. 

"Help! Murder!" yelled Jonah, nearly strangled by the water, which rushedinto 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 theleak!"

Mr. Jonah was too frightened to speak. Finally, when he partly recoveredfrom 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 getup. "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 astandstill. 

"Throw out the anchor!" commanded Capt. Noah. "We won't take any chancesthis 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!" heexclaimed, 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 theyall 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 makingthe 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 shegoes!"

And with a great flutter and flapping of his gilt wings he landed on thesand. 

And after that he and Marjorie went over to the clump of palm trees whereMrs. Noah and the boys were resting. 

"This would be a fine spot for a picnic, " she said. "Did you ever go toone?"

"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 geta 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 tosurprise the Captain when he came back, and pretty soon the kettle wassinging 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 andbrought back enough for everybody. 

And I guess Mrs. Noah had been to many a clam bake, for she knew just howto 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 ofthe Ark and sat down beneath the palm trees, and then all the animals sataround 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 Elephantbegan 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. Thegiraffe stood near by and ate the tender leaves off the tops of the treesand the monkeys ate cocoanuts, and the ducks and geese kept close to thewater and snapped up little fishes and snails. But everybody had awonderful 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 shoulderduring the meal, "we had better spend the night ashore. I'll bring the bigtent from the Ark and set it up under the trees. I'm going to do a littlepainting 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 whichhad been driven into the ground, Mrs. Noah and Marjorie busied themselvesfixing 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 roastedapples. 

"Nine o'clock, " said Capt. Noah, "time for bed. We must be up early in themorning. "

"It was the loveliest picnic I ever had, " said Marjorie, as she kissedMrs. 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 theArk ready to set sail. 

"We must get the animals together, " he said, looking anxiously about. "Ican't imagine where they have all gone to. "

"Well, I'll have everything packed and ready to put aboard by the time youround up your passengers, " laughed Mrs. Noah who never seemed to worryabout anything, and Marjorie thought she was the nicest person she hadever met. 

"Come, boys, " commanded Capt. Noah, "let's start the hunt. I hope theisland isn't large, for I don't fancy walking many miles in this hotclimate. "

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, fromwhich they had a good view of the island. And not very far away were allthe animals, enjoying themselves to their hearts' content. 

Capt. Noah took his bugle and blew a long blast, and at once all theanimals looked around. 

Then he blew again, and after that the animals formed in line with theElephant at their head and marched toward them. 

When they reached the Ark the gang-plank was lowered and they all marchedaboard. 

Everything below decks was in apple-pie order and the animals all seemedglad to be once more back in the Ark. 

"All's well that ends well, " said Capt. Noah, turning to Mr. Jonah. "Myduty is to land these animals safely after the rain is over. But it looksto me as if it were going to commence again. "

"There's a big black cloud in the west, " shouted the Weathercock, who hadflown 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 downto the water, it once more rode the waves. 

"You'd better come down to the cabin, " Capt. Noah called out to theWeathercock as a flash of lightning passed across the sky. "We're going tohave a storm, and you may be blown off your perch. "

So the Weathercock came down and perched on his shoulder, and then hebegan 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 everythingsnug and tight. 

But, oh dear me! How the thunder roared and the lightning flashed, but inspite of all this, Marjorie grew so sleepy that pretty soon she went up toher little cabin with the dove on her shoulder, and crept into bed. 

And then something strange happened. The Weathercock, although he hadhopped into the cabin to escape the storm, went out on deck every now andthen to look about him, so as to report to Capt. Noah the whereabouts ofthe Ark. 

He didn't seem to mind the storm, for a weathercock is used to all sortsof weather and knows just from what quarter the wind is blowing, you know. 

About midnight, after coming in from deck, he hopped up to littleMarjorie's cabin and knocked on the door. But she was so fast asleep shedidn't hear him, and if it hadn't been for the dove, who was a very lightsleeper, I don't believe the Weathercock would ever have been able to tellMarjorie this strange thing that had happened. 

But just as soon as the little dove heard the knocking, she flew down fromher cage and opened the door. And after the Weathercock had whispered toher 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 sogradually did the great boat stop that Capt. Noah, who was also soundasleep, did not even move in his berth. 

"Wake little Marjorie, " whispered the Weathercock, and then the littlewhite 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 ownlittle bedroom window. 

"Step over carefully, " whispered the Weathercock, while the Dove took herby the hand. Marjorie stepped across the open space and entered herbedroom. 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 theydisappeared through the window. Indistinctly Marjorie heard the Ark castaway from the windowsill. And the voice of Capt. Noah came faintly to herears:

"Careful, now! We must slip in through the nursery window without wakingthe household. "

As the "Noah's Ark" slowly drifted in through the nursery window, CaptainNoah ran forward with a hawser, ready to make fast to the book case nearthe 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 ondeck. "It is wonderful that the water has done no damage to Marjorie'spretty nursery. "

"See how fast it is running away!" exclaimed Ham. "Lucky we sailed hometonight!"

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 onthe 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 IcebergExpress. ' That sounds interesting. "

"I think 'A Little Journey to Happyland in the Magic Soap Bubble' would besome trip!" exclaimed Shem. 

"Time for bed, " suddenly exclaimed Captain Noah. "I am going to turn outall the lights on the 'Noah's Ark. ' No time tonight for you to read theseother books in this series, " and with these words he turned out the redlight on the port side of the Ark and the green light on the starboardside and with a sigh of relief added, "Thank goodness! All the animals arewell and Marjorie upstairs asleep in her little bed and the old 'Noah'sArk' back safe in the nursery. "

As Captain Noah ceased speaking, the Weathercock fluttered off the Ark andover to the nursery window. Pausing a moment on the sill, he turned forone 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

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LITTLE JACK RABBIT BOOKS

(Trademark Registered. )By DAVID CORYColored 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 woodsand meadows. 

LITTLE JACK RABBIT'S ADVENTURESLittle Jack Rabbit is a jolly fellow, but he has to keep away from DannyFox, Wicked Weasel and Hungry Hawk. 

LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND DANNY FOXMany a hairbreadth escape has Little Jack Rabbit from this old rascal, wholives on the woody hillside under a pile of rocks. 

LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE SQUIRREL BROTHERSMr. Squirrel Nutcracker's two boys are great friends of Little Jack, butold Barney Owl makes a lot of trouble for all three. 

LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND CHIPPY CHIPMUNKLittle Jack Rabbit visits Chippy Chipmunk's store, but you should readabout what happens to the sign over the door. 

LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE BIG BROWN BEARThe Big Brown Bear is a particular friend of Little Jack Rabbit. CoseyCave, where he lives, is well stored with honey and lollypops. 

LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND UNCLE JOHN HARETells all about the bunnymobile, Ragged Rabbit Giant and the RabbitFairies. 

LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND PROFESSOR CROWProfessor Crow, with his Wisdom Book, teaches Little Jack Rabbit manyinteresting things. 

Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York

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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")