The ex-Pirate took the piece of paper and looked at it. It was an advertisement:
DELUGE LINE: ......................
THE ARK
(Captain Noah)
Will sail at NOON precisely.
"I am sure we shall miss the boat," continued the Turtle, nervously. "What time is it, please?"
Tommy and the ex-Pirate looked at each other. Neither one had a watch.
"I can't tell you what time it is," answered the little boy. "I'm not big enough to have a watch; and the last time I saw the clock it was going so fast, I could not tell what time it was."
"Well," said the Turtle, "you are more polite than the Cuckoos, anyway. But I am sure we shall be late."
"I guess not," said the ex-Pirate, reassuringly. "Don't get nervous about it. There is always a delay. The Ark won't sail on time. And besides, they will have to wait for the mails."