"I will!" shouted Ham.
"And so will I!" said the Elephant.
"Come along, then," said Capt. Noah.
"Throw me down the tarpaulin and some planks," he called up a few minutes later.
But, oh dear me! The water had gained such headway that the tarpaulin was of no use at all, and I don't know what would have happened if the Elephant hadn't sat down squarely on the hole, blocking it up so that not a single drop of water leaked in.
"Bully for you!" cried Capt. Noah. "That's the best stunt I've seen yet!"
"It's not very comfortable," said the Elephant, with a shiver. "My, but the water's chilly!"
"Start the pumps!" commanded Capt. Noah, rushing to the foot of the companionway. "Set some of the animals to work!"
Well, after a while the Ark was pumped dry, and everybody heaved a sigh of relief.
"How long do you expect me to be a water plug?" asked the Elephant. "You don't expect me to sit here for the rest of the voyage?"