Noah and the girls dressed in their new spring clothes and their new
bonnets. Those hats were sights. The ladies marched about the deck,
while we males had to admire them as they passed. I must say Mrs. Noah
looked a couple of hundred years younger than usual.—She gave me a
lecture because I wore my bedroom slippers on deck.—Oh! I’ll be glad
to get ashore.
[Illustration]
NEXT FRIDAY. SOUNDING—12 cubits.
REMARKS:
Have not written in the log-book for the past week. It’s a nuisance.
The company will probably haul me over the coals.—Weather, animals,
and family just the same.—Today I thought I would send out a bird to
see if there was any land afloat. Tossed up a coin to see whether I
would use a red or black raven. Black won. When I opened the window,
the raven quoth “never more” and flew away. Expected her back tonight
at supper time, but up until now (11.30 P.M.) she has not put
in an appearance.—Terribly worried.
SATURDAY.
REMARKS:
Confound that raven. She hasn’t showed up yet. That bird has either
found land or she is some flyer.—Put the egg she laid in the
incubator.—This afternoon Mrs. Ham told fortunes with cards. Had
her tell mine. She said I soon would travel to a strange land, and
that I should beware of a tall, striking blonde. She declared I would
inherit large tracts of land. She also fortuned I would have family
trouble, and that I should curb my passion for beverages. That was a
mean fortune, but I don’t take much stock in these soothsayings.—Ham
had a worse fortune than mine. According to his wife, he has dark days
before him, and he has to travel to a hot country and work like the old
Nick.—Took my bath.
[Illustration: “_Mrs. Ham told fortunes with cards_”]
SUNDAY. SOUNDING—could not touch bottom with the lead line.
We must be over some ocean.
REMARKS:
Services. Ham spilled the collection plate.—I wonder what is keeping
that raven?—Guess I should have sent the old cat. They always come
back.—Wish it would rain.
MONDAY. SOUNDING—hit ground again—11 cubits.
REMARKS:
No raven!—Today is the 500th anniversary of my marriage. These have
been 500 long, long years. That’s quite a while to live with one woman.
It’s our radium anniversary. Did not receive any presents.—By this
time I know all her faults. My, I’ve learned a lot in these years. I’ve
found that Mrs. Noah never makes a mistake, that I am always wrong, and
that everything has always been my fault. It’s funny how these women
have their own way. Grandpa used to say it was just the same when he
was young.—Just to think—everybody who attended our wedding—preacher
and all—have passed away.
Mrs. Noah dressed in her wedding gown tonight. It has come into style
again. It made me think how crazy I used to be about her. I was a young
skylarker then. She used to sing in the temple choir. Tonight she
reminded me of a few pet names I used to call her. If what she said was
true, I must have been foolish. I had to tell her that I love her more
and more as each century rolls by.
SATURDAY. Five days later. SOUNDING—9 cubits.
REMARKS:
The pigeon left on schedule time. I tied a message to her feet giving
my name and nautical position. She first tacked a bit to starboard, and
then took a crow’s course to land. At 5.32 P.M. she came back
with muddy feet and an olive branch in her mouth. Hurrah! the waters
are evaporating from off the face of the earth.—I don’t care whether
that raven comes back or not. Her egg hatched.—We had fresh olives for
supper.—Bath. COURSE—toward that tree.
[Illustration]
THE NEXT SATURDAY. SOUNDING—7 cubits. Everything will soon be
mud.
REMARKS:
Let the pigeon have another fly. She has either gone with the raven or
found another tree. Perhaps someone shot her.—My observations show
we are approaching land.—Ham is planning an expedition to find the
pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.—The women folks spent most of
the day answering their steamer letters, and reading guide-books. I’ve
been thinking those Peruvian llamas are going to have a long journey
before they get home.—The purser has sold all the postage stamps. The
postcards are also having a great sale.—Took a bath.
[Illustration]
SUNDAY. SOUNDING—5 cubits.
REMARKS:
Services.—Have been reading about Ararat. It’s a mountain 16,964 feet
high. Some authors say there is snow on the top. There must be some
mistake because olives don’t grow in snow.—Am not sure of the docking
facilities. Ham thinks it would be easier to stop the Ark in the
harbour instead of at the regular wharf.—I will be relieved when the
cargo pass the quarantine.—Got my money changed by the purser. Now,
I have to think about tips.—The women folks are bothering me about
the time of landing.—Some queer things are happening on the Ark these
days. I see the ladies sewing lace where lace doesn’t belong. Mrs. Noah
wants me to wear her necklace day after tomorrow. She never would let
me do that before.—Slipped two boxes of cigars in Mrs. Noah’s trunk.
No officer will ever think of looking there for them.
MONDAY.
REMARKS:
The ladies are bothering me about the custom regulations, just as
though I hadn’t enough troubles of my own.—Spent the morning packing
and making out my reports.—Gave the captain’s dinner tonight. It was a
swell affair. We all came in our evening robes. Ham drew the menus. We
only saved enough food for tomorrow. I opened some of the wine grandpa
made. Um!! We drank each others’ health all evening. Japheth made a
fine speech in which he congratulated me on the safe passage. He said I
was the greatest captain afloat, and that he would tell all his friends
about the line. Mrs. Shem spoke for the ladies. She thanked me for the
attention I had paid them during the trip. Ham tried to speak, but he
forgot it. He upset the flower dish.—In replying I said the passengers
were the finest who had ever sailed under me. Then I delivered the
regular captain’s address. I thought their expressions might have taken
a tangible form, but I was disappointed. We ended by singing, “For he’s
a jolly good fellow.” That meant me.—Sighted the Ararat lighthouse.
[Illustration: “_The Captain’s dinner_”]
TUESDAY.
REMARKS:
Passed quarantine at 9.15. At anchor. Ararat just ahead. Fine big
mountain, but very muddy.—Saw the raven and the pigeon roosting on
the olive tree.—We’re all anxious to get ashore. Guess we will feel
the motion of the boat for a few days.—I have decided to retire from
the sea, and go in for real estate. Business will be dull for a while,
but it will pick up in time.—I’m getting along in years to do this
pioneering work, but it must be done. Posterity worries me a great
deal. Why should it? What has posterity ever done for me?
The animals are making a lot of noise? They smell the green grass.—The
ladies are on deck admiring the rainbow.—We expect to land late this
afternoon.—I must stop writing, and get up on the bridge to whistle
for the pilot.
Well, if we ever have another flood, I’ll know just what to do.
LAND.
[Illustration: _Land_!]
[Illustration]