THE Ark was an exceedingly good sea craft. It rode the waves and
breasted the gale without a mishap. Some of the animals became sea sick.
But this, of course, was to be expected. Even Captain Noah himself felt
rather queer at times, and as for little Tom Thumb, he kept to his bed
for almost a week. Puss, Junior, proved to be a very fine sailor. Not
once did he feel the least bit ill, and was able to help Mrs. Noah
attend to the sick passengers.
Of all the animals, however, the elephant was the most sea sick.
"Of course, it had to be the biggest animal!" said Captain Noah at
breakfast one morning. "Too bad, my dear," turning to Mrs. Noah, "that
you have such an unwieldy patient on your hands." Mrs. Noah only smiled.
"He does very little complaining," replied Mrs. Noah, "that is one thing
to be thankful for. Now, take the little black ant. She does nothing
but complain all the time. I'd rather attend to the elephant ten times
over."
"Well, mother, you always had something to be thankful for at the Ark
Hotel. I'm glad that on board the Ark you still keep your cheerful
disposition!" answered Captain Noah.
[Illustration]
But, oh, dear me! Pretty soon Puss, Junior, and Tom Thumb wondered if
the forty days and forty nights would ever end and if the rain would
ever stop. At last, one day, it seemed as if the sun were trying to
break through the clouds. And then, all of a sudden, the rain ceased,
and in the distance the dim outline of a mountain appeared through the
mist.
At once the animals began to sing:
"We didn't know where we were at,
One wide river,
Until we bumped on Ararat,
One wide river to cross."
As if in obedience to the words of the song the Ark grounded, the sun
came out from the clouds, and every one knew the voyage was at an end,
for
"The Ark she landed high and dry,
One wide river,
And the monkey kissed the cow good-by,
One wide river to cross."
In a few minutes the gang-plank was lowered and the animals landed.
Captain Noah was the last to leave.
"Well," he exclaimed, "we have passed through an awful lot. But we're
safe on land again." "Hurrah!" shouted all the animals, "we're safe at
last!"