“Now,” he bade, turning again to Penny and Louise, “follow me and I will show you my humble quarters.”
By this time the girls scarcely knew what to expect, but the third floor of the ark proved rather a pleasant surprise. Old Noah had fitted it out with compartments, a tiny kitchen, living quarters, and a bedroom. The main room had a rug on the floor, there were several homemade chairs and a radio. Evidently, the master of the ark was musically inclined, for a shelf contained an accordion, a banjo and a mouth organ.
“Just sit down and make yourselves comfortable, daughters,” Old Noah invited, waving them toward chairs. “I’ll stir up a bite to eat.”
Entering the tiny kitchen, he poked about among the shelves. Watching rather anxiously, the girls next saw him open one of the portholes to test his fishing lines. Finding one taut, he pulled in a large catfish which he immediately began to dress.
“He intends to cook that for us,” Louise whispered. “I’ll not even taste it! Oh, let’s get away from here!”
Penny wandered to the window. The sky had grown much lighter, and trees which had been blotted out by the heavy rain, now were visible.
“The storm is almost over,” she said encouragingly. “Let’s step outside and see how things look.”
Noah, occupied with his culinary affairs, did not glance up as the girls quietly slipped away. Descending the steps to the main deck, they huddled close against a wall to keep dry. Rain still fell, but even as they watched it slackened.
“Let’s say goodbye to Noah and streak for home,” Louise suggested, eager to be off.
Before Penny could reply, both girls were startled to see a stranger emerge from among the bushes along the shore. He wore a raincoat, a broad-brimmed hat which dripped water, and a bright badge gleamed on his chest.