by David Cory
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 UNC
LE 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")