"Well, you come along with me. All the cows are at the other end of the
Ark."
"Don't be impatient," said Capt. Noah, for the muley cow was a very gentle
creature and never tried to butt any one with her horns, because she
didn't have any, you know.
While all this was going on Marjorie and the little squirrel stood in the
doorway.
"Glad you weren't lost," said Shem, patting the squirrel on the back as if
he were a little pet dog. "The other squirrels said they wouldn't go to
bed until you were found."
"Where are they?" asked the little red squirrel. "I'm pretty sleepy and
would like to cuddle up for the night," and then he swung his bag of nuts
over his shoulder and followed Shem, but before he went he whispered to
Marjorie that he'd give her some hickory nuts in the morning.
After a while everything was made snug and tight for the night. Mr. Jonah
put away his pitchfork and the boys hung up the water pails. Then a
lighted lantern was hung at each end of the cabin, and the evening chores
were done, just the same as if they had been on a farm, you know.
And after that Marjorie went up on deck, where the weathercock was sitting
on the flagpole in the moonlight.
"Oh, I love to be a sailor
And sail the ocean blue,
And hear the Captain shout 'Ahoy!'
And order 'round the crew.
"And when the waves are rolling high
The wind is blowing strong,
I sing my 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 felt
just a little bit homesick, for she was far away from home. And just then
Mrs. Noah came on deck and said, "Come, Madge, it's time for bed," and
then she picked her up and carried her into her cabin and tucked her in
for the night as comfortable as you please. And in the next chapter I'll
tell you what happened in the morning.
[Illustration: Mr. Jonah and the Animals huddled around the stove to get
warm.]