"Quick, or he'll get away!" cried Capt. Noah. "I can't afford to lose a single passenger!" Instantly the boys darted after the fleeing insect, but just as they were about to snatch him up from the deck a wave washed him overboard. "Man overboard!" shouted the Weathercock. And, my goodness! What a commotion there was after that! All the animals rushed up on deck to see who had fallen into the ocean. "Throw him a life-preserver!" yelled Mr. Jonah, and in a second Ham unfastened a large "horsecollar" life-preserver and tossed it into the ocean. "Suppose he can't reach it," said the elephant. "I guess I'd better jump in and save him," and overboard went the big animal with a loud splash. "Where is he?" asked the Elephant, after looking around in vain for the Ant. "I can't see him!" And no wonder, for the sea was rough, and it was no easy matter to find so small a passenger. "Get my telescope!" yelled Capt. Noah. "I think it's in my workbasket," said Mrs. Noah to Ham, who started at once to obey his father's command. "If it isn't it may be in your toolchest. I think you had it the other day when you were going to make an anti-aircraft gun out of it for your toy army." "That's where I found it," said Ham, a minute later, appearing breathless with the telescope. "Where abouts?" screamed the Elephant, who was now some distance from the Ark. "Wait a minute, can't you?" yelled Capt. Noah. "I've got to adjust the thing. These boys have been meddling with it!" When this was finally done, Capt. Noah swept the sea with his glass, but in vain; the form of the poor Ant was nowhere to be seen. "Shiver my timbers!" said Capt. Noah, under his breath. "What will happen to me if I lose a passenger?" "Hurry up!" gasped the Elephant, now thoroughly worn out by the buffeting of the waves. "Hurry up, I'm most in." "Well, we'll have to get you out, then," answered Capt. Noah. "Swim around to the port side," said Ham; "we'll hoist you up by the davits." "I hate to give up looking for the Ant," said the Elephant, as he slipped the ropes under his big body. And then, after much tugging and hauling away on the ropes he was lifted up even with the deck. But beyond this it was impossible to do anything. The davits refused to swing in, being hindered by the immense size of the animal. "Put your trunk on the deck," suggested Mr. Jonah. "That will make you weigh less, and perhaps we can roll you over the edge." "Yes, that's a good idea," said Shem. "Put your baggage aboard first." "This is no time for joking----We have lost one passenger and are in danger of losing another. It will look very strange to lose the largest and the smallest on the same day," said poor Capt. Noah, despairingly. [Illustration: MR. ELEPHANT HAS TROUBLE GETTING ABOARD] Well, just then, Mrs. Elephant came up from the hold. She had overslept herself, and had only now heard the commotion on deck. On seeing her mate swinging from the davits she set up a loud trumpeting.