“What’s coming off here?” demanded another voice, that of Wessler. “Have you gone completely crazy?”
“I want to know why this door is locked!” Noah said wrathfully. “Unlock it or I will break it down!”
Completely aroused, the old man backed away as if to make a running attack. Wessler drew his revolver, but Noah paid not the slightest heed.
“Let me get at my birds!” he cried. “Stand back!”
“Better humor him,” Breneham said uneasily. “Unless you do, he’ll arouse the countryside.”
Wessler returned the revolver to its holster beneath his coat. “Calm down, Grandpa, calm down,” he tried to soothe the old man. “No one is going to hurt your precious birds.”
“Then open that door!”
“Go ahead,” Wessler directed his companion. “If he makes any more trouble we’ll lock him in with the girls.”
“There are no doors on this ark strong enough to hold me,” said Noah. “Open it I say!”
The command was obeyed. The old man stumbled across the threshold and began to murmur soothing words to the birds. At first he did not see Penny and Louise. Finally observing them, he spoke rather absently: