CHAPTER 7 _ARK OF THE MUD FLATS_
Unaware that he was being observed, Old Noah again rapped the cow smartlyon her flanks.
"Get along, Bessie," he urged impatiently. "The Heavens will open anyminute now, and all the creatures of the earth shall perish. But thiscalamity shall not befall you, Bessie. You are one of God's chosen."
None too willing to be saved from impending doom, Bessie bellowed a loudprotest as she was driven into the over-crowded ark. Next went the goatand the squealing pig. The turkeys made more trouble, gobbling excitedlyas the old man shooed them into the confines of the three-storied boat.
His task accomplished, Old Noah wiped his perspiring brow with a big redhandkerchief. He stood for a moment, gazing anxiously up at the boilingstorm clouds.
"This is it--the second great flood," he murmured. "For the Lord sayeth,'I will cause it to rain forty days and forty nights and every livingsubstance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of theearth.'"
As he stood thus, gazing at the sky, Noah made a striking figure. In hisprime, the old man evidently had been a stalwart physical specimen, andadvancing years had not enfeebled him. His face was that of a Prophet ofold. A certain child-like simplicity shone from a pair of trusting blueeyes whose direct gaze bespoke implicit belief.
"Let's speak to him," Penny urged. Although Louise tried to hold back,she pulled her along toward the ark.
Old Noah heard the girls coming and turned quickly around. After thefirst moment of startled surprise, he leaned on his crooked stick andinquired with a kind smile:
"Why have you come, my daughters?"
"Well, we were curious to see this fine ark," Penny replied. "We pickedup one of your floating blue bottles with a message in it."
"Blessed are they that heed the warnings of the Lord," murmured Old Noah."I, his servant, have prepared a place of refuge for all who come."
By this time rain was falling steadily, and Louise huddled against a treetrunk for protection. "Penny, for Pete's Sake--" she protested.
"Follow me, my daughters," bade Old Noah, motioning for them to cross thegangplank into the ark. "Inside you will find food and shelter."
"We could use a little shelter," said Penny, glancing questioningly ather chum. "How about it, Lou? Shall we go inside and meet the animals?"
Louise hesitated, for in truth she was a bit afraid of the queer old man.
"Come, my daughters," Noah bade again. "Have no fear. The Lord sayeth,'Noah, with thee will I establish my covenant, and thou shalt enter intothe ark.'"
"We'll drown if we stay outside," laughed Penny, following boldly afterthe old man. "Come on, Louise."
Unmindful of the falling rain, Noah stooped to pick up a bedraggledkitten from underfoot.
"It's a very nice boat," Penny remarked, dodging under the shelter of theroof. Louise huddled close beside her.
"A sturdy ark," agreed Old Noah proudly. "Many, many months did I laborbuilding it. The Lord said, 'make thee an ark of gopher wood.' But ofgopher wood there was none to be had. Then the Lord came to me in a dreamand said, 'Noah, use anything you can find.' So I gathered timbers fromthe beaches, and I wrecked an abandoned cottage I found in the woods. Ifelled trees. And I pitched the seams within and without as the Lord bademe."
"What animals do you keep inside?" Penny inquired curiously.
"Well, mostly creatures that aren't too exacting in their needs," saidNoah, perching the wet kitten on his shoulder. "The Lord sayeth two ofevery kind, male and female. But it wasn't practical. Some of the animalswere too big to keep aboard the ark."
A disturbance from within the boat interrupted the old man's explanation."Excuse me, daughters, I've got to fasten Bessie in her stall," heapologized. "If I keep her waitin' she's apt to kick the ark to pieces!"
Old Noah disappeared into the lower story of the boat. Peering in theopen door, the girls saw row upon row of stalls and cages. There was asty for the pigs, a pen for the goat, a little kennel for the dog, lowroosts for the fowls. The walls of the room had been whitewashed and thefloor was clean.
"What a life Old Noah must lead!" Louise whispered to Penny. "Why, itmust be worse than being a zoo keeper!"
In a moment the old fellow reappeared. Beckoning to the girls, he ledthem up a little flight of stairs to the second floor of the ark.
"This is my bird room," he said, opening a door.
"Hello, Noah!" croaked a brilliantly colored parrot, fluttering on herperch. "You old rascal! Polly wants a slug o' rum!"
Noah glanced quickly at the girls. "I am humble and ashamed," heapologized. "But the bird means no evil. I bought her of a sailor, who, Ifear had wandered from the ways of righteousness."
Placing a drink of water near the parrot, the old man directed attentionto a cage containing a pair of doves.
"When the flood waters recede, I shall send these birds forth from awindow of the ark," he explained. "If they return with a branch of a bushor any green thing, then I shall know that the Lord no longer is angry."
"How long do you imagine it will rain?" Louise asked absently, staringout the little round window.
"Forty days and forty nights," answered Old Noah. Taking a bag of seed,he began to feed the chirping birds. "While your stay here may besomewhat confining, you will find my ark sturdy and snug."
"Our stay here," Louise echoed hollowly.
Penny gave her a little pinch and said to Old Noah, "We appreciate yourhospitality and will be happy to remain until the rain slackens. Butwhere are your living quarters?"
"On the third floor. First, before I conduct you there, I will throw outa few bottles. Although the fatal hour is near at hand, a number ofpersons may yet read my message and seek refuge in time to be saved."
While the girls watched with deep interest, Old Noah moved to theporthole. Opening it, he tossed into the muddy waters a half dozen corkedbottles which he selected from a basket beneath the window.
"Now," he bade, turning again to Penny and Louise, "follow me and I willshow you my humble quarters."
By this time the girls scarcely knew what to expect, but the third floorof the ark proved rather a pleasant surprise. Old Noah had fitted it outwith compartments, a tiny kitchen, living quarters, and a bedroom. Themain room had a rug on the floor, there were several homemade chairs anda radio. Evidently, the master of the ark was musically inclined, for ashelf contained an accordion, a banjo and a mouth organ.
"Just sit down and make yourselves comfortable, daughters," Old Noahinvited, waving them toward chairs. "I'll stir up a bite to eat."
Entering the tiny kitchen, he poked about among the shelves. Watchingrather anxiously, the girls next saw him open one of the portholes totest his fishing lines. Finding one taut, he pulled in a large catfishwhich he immediately began to dress.
"He intends to cook that for us," Louise whispered. "I'll not even tasteit! Oh, let's get away from here!"
Penny wandered to the window. The sky had grown much lighter, and treeswhich had been blotted out by the heavy rain, now were visible.
"The storm is almost over," she said encouragingly. "Let's step outsideand see how things look."
Noah, occupied with his culinary affairs, did not glance up as the girlsquietly slipped away. Descending the steps to the main deck, they huddledclose against a wall to keep dry. Rain still fell, but even as theywatched it slackened.
"Let's say goodbye to Noah and streak for home," Louise suggested, eagerto be off.
Before Penny could reply, both girls were startled to see a strangeremerge from among the bushes along the shore. He wore a raincoat, abroad-brimmed hat which dripped water, and a bright badge gleamed on hischest.
"I'm Sheriff Anderson," he announced, coming close to the ark. "Is DanGrebe aboard?"
"Do you mean Old Noah?" Penny asked doubtfully.
"Most folks call him that. An old man who's lost his buttons, butharmless. He's been maintaining
a public nuisance here with his ark."
As the sheriff started to come aboard, Old Noah himself stepped out ondeck.
"So here you be again!" he shouted angrily, grasping the narrow railingof the gangplank. "Didn't I warn you not to trespass on the property ofthe Lord?"
"Noah, we've been patient with you," the sheriff replied wearily. "Thelast time I was here, you promised to clean up this dump and move yourark down stream. Now you're going with me to talk to the judge."
"Stand back! Stand back!" Old Noah shouted as the officer started acrossthe gangplank. "Beware, or I'll call the wrath of the Lord down on yourhead!"
The sheriff laughed and came on. With surprising strength and agility,Old Noah jerked the gangplank loose from the ark and hurled it into thewater. Sheriff Anderson made a desperate lunge for an overhanging treebranch. Failing to seize it, he fell with a loud splash into the muddyriver.