THE first night on the Ark was most uncomfortable. It was not an easy
thing to provide sleeping quarters for the animals, and although Captain
Noah and his three sons did their best, from the complaints that were
heard in the morning, it was easy to see that very few were satisfied.
"We must get up a set of rules and regulations," said Captain Noah at
the breakfast table. "It's all very well to carry a cargo of coal or
salt but when it comes to animals it's quite another thing. Each animal
is so blamed different," and Captain Noah heaved a great sigh as he
lifted the steaming cup of coffee to his lips.
Puss, Junior, and Tom Thumb had risen with the sun--that is, I should
say, at an early hour, for of course there was no sun. No, indeed, there
was nothing but rain and a wide expanse of water. Water, water,
everywhere, but not a speck of dirt. The whole world seemed nothing but
water. The only thing that wasn't water was the Ark and its passengers.
However, this did not keep Puss, Junior, and Tom Thumb from eating a
hearty breakfast. They were good travelers, whether by land or sea, and
to Puss, who had passed through many a dangerous adventure, the present
situation seemed one of great interest.
Mother Goose was also in high spirits. Turning to Captain Noah, she
said:
"My dear Captain, if it weren't for you, I hardly know what in the world
I should have done. To fly on gander-back through the rain for forty
days and nights would be impossible, so I have you to thank for my
deliverance."
"Don't mention it, my dear Mother Goose," replied Captain Noah. "I did
only what was my duty. You know, I have always been the Weatherman of
Arkville, and, if I do say it, I have hit the mark every time. I knew,
in fact, I felt, that we were to have forty days and forty nights of
rain. For the last two weeks I have published this in the Arkville News.
To have the Ark finished in time was my greatest ambition, and now to
reach Mount Ararat will be the crowning joy of my career.
"We didn't know where we were at,
One wide river,
Until we bumped on Ararat,
One wide river to cross."
"I've so often heard that song at the Minstrels," said Mother Goose,
"that I believe it's really coming true."