And then he ran forward and looked over the bow of the Ark.
Only a few yards off was the charred hull of a vessel, riding low in the water.
Quickly examining his own ship, Capt. Noah discovered a hole on the starboard side.
And then, all of a sudden, the animals came rushing up on deck.
"The Ark is filling with water," cried Mrs. Elephant, "and my slippers are all soaking wet. If I had remained below another minute they would have been ruined!"
She had hardly finished when all the rats and mice scrambled up the companionway.
"A bad sign!" said Capt. Noah. "It shows the Ark is sinking!"
Mrs. Noah gave a scream. She had hastily thrown a kimono over her nightdress at the first warning and had hurried on deck.
"Don't worry," said little Marjorie bravely. "Capt. Noah will stop the leak."
"I hope so," he said. Then, turning to the passengers, he asked: "Who will volunteer to go with me below deck?"