The Ark was going at a fast clip, and as they neared the shore every one
clung tightly to the railing.
"Hold fast," shouted the Weathercock, as the bow touched the beach.
In another minute the Ark skimmed gracefully over the sand with as much
ease as it had sailed upon the ocean.
"Wonderful boat you have," exclaimed Mr. Jonah, looking at Capt. Noah.
"Ought to be proud of her. She's a dandy."
Before the latter had time to reply the Ark stopped, and everyone rushed
toward the gang-plank. "Let it down easily," commanded Capt. Noah, "easy,
there!"
"Why, the Ark's on wheels," cried Marjorie, as she stepped on the sandy
beach, "regular automobile wheels."
"Well, I declare," exclaimed Mrs. Noah, "so it is."
"Let's call it the 'Arkmobile,'" suggested Ham.
"Just the thing," said Shem, "don't you think so, father?"
Capt. Noah did not reply for a moment, for he was busily engaged
inspecting the bottom of the Ark.
"I was looking to see if it were built to run on the land," he replied,
"or whether it just went this far on account of its momentum."
"What's that noise?" asked Japheth.
"Sounds like the engine of an automobile," answered Shem.
"It's coming from the Ark," cried Ham.
Capt. Noah hurriedly went below.
Presently he returned, smiling with satisfaction.
"There's a regular automobile engine in the hold, way aft," he said. "And
it's connected with a shaft, so that it will turn the wheels. We'll have
no difficulty in traveling on land."
"Hurrah for the Arkmobile!" shouted Ham.
"On land or on sea,
Wherever we be,
The Arkmobile
Is the thing for me,"
sang Marjorie, skipping about on the sand.
"Over sand, over foam,
Wherever we roam,
The Arkmobile
Will carry us home,"
sang the Weathercock, and then he said: "I guess I'll come down from the
flagpole if you're going to camp here. If you're not, I'll stay where I
am, for it's a pretty good climb, and I'm not much of a sailor as yet."
"Let's stay here and have the circus," said Ham. "We can make a splendid
ring in the sand--in fact, we can have three rings if we want to. All we
have to do, you know, is to throw up the sand in a circle."
Every one agreed that it was an ideal spot, so the boys set to work at
once.
Mrs. Noah made Marjorie a wonderful dress, covered with gold spangles.
"I'm going to ride the big white horse just like a circus rider," cried
Marjorie. "And I shall stand up on the saddle and jump through my hoop.
Ham can hold it."
"Of course I will," he cried, looking up from his work. "And I'll be jolly
glad when this ring is finished. I had no idea it would take so long."
"Hurrah! Mine's finished," cried Japheth.
"And so's mine," shouted Shem.
"Well, I think mine's the biggest of all," said Ham. "It must be, or I'd
have finished when you fellows did."
"Father ought to put on his dress suit," said Shem, "and snap the whip
when Marjorie rides around the ring. You know just the way they do in the
real circus."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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