The Megaphone made Captain Noah as mad as a hornet.]
THE MAJESTY OF THE LAW
"Wake up! Wake up! We're off again, Over hill and over plain! The Arkmobile on sea or land Can sail away at our command."
Again the Weathercock awoke little Marjorie, on board the Noah's Ark,where we left her in the last chapter, you remember.
It was the morning after the circus, and she probably would have sleptmuch later had not the faithful bird, as usual, sung his bit of verse.
You see this wonderful Weathercock was just like an alarm clock.
"Where's the ocean?" asked Marjorie, looking out of the window. "Why,we're traveling on land!"
"Of course we are," answered the Weathercock. "Didn't you see the wheelson the bottom of the Ark yesterday?"
"So I did," admitted Marjorie. "I'd forgotten all about them."
"Well, how did you like my poetry? You see, I make up a new verse everymorning, so as to be sure to wake you up."
"I think you are a great poet," answered the little girl.
The Weathercock got very red in the gills. I guess that's the only way hecould blush.
So let the rain or sunshine come, Across the land, we'll swiftly hum, We are prepared for rain or shine, For dusty road or foamy brine.
"Hurrah!" shouted the Elephant from down below. "Bravo, Sir Chanticleer!"
"You'll have to excuse me now," said Marjorie to the Weathercock, "for Imust pull on my shoes and stockings and brush my hair. You don't have tobother about such things, you know. That's one advantage of being aweathercock."
After breakfast, as they all sat in the cabin, Capt. Noah remarked: "I'mgetting a trifle worried. You see, I can't tell by the barometer whetherthe Ark is floating or wheeling. Now, that is rather important. If we keepon in this way I shall have to get a speedometer. It wouldn't be very niceto be arrested for breaking the speed laws and be locked up in jail."
Mrs. Noah turned pale and the Weathercock shifted about uneasily on thetop of the flagpole. "No, indeed," he said, "I don't want to be ajailbird."
"Well, what's the best thing to do?" asked Mrs. Noah.
"Count the telegraph poles as we go along," suggested Ham. "I think thereare about thirty to a mile, and see how long it takes to pass them."
"That's a good idea," said Mr. Jonah, but when they looked out of theportholes they couldn't find any telegraph poles.
And just then, all of a sudden, a pistol shot rang out clear and loud.
The Arkmobile came to a sudden stop, and a voice outside was heard toexclaim:
"Where's the chauffeur?"
Capt. Noah rushed up on deck, followed by his family, Mr. Jonah andMarjorie.
"What's the matter?" asked Capt. Noah, looking about to find the owner ofthe voice.
"Oh, that's what they all say!" came the reply. "You know jolly wellwhat's the matter!"
"Who are you, and where are you?" asked Capt. Noah, vainly trying to findthis remarkable person, who seemed to be nothing but a voice.
"Who am I? You'll find out pretty quick. Where am I? You'd better findthat out even quicker!"
Looking up to the Weathercock, Capt. Noah shouted: "Ahoy, there, Lookout!Who's delaying us?"
"The Majesty of the Law," came the answering voice again--this time sodistinctly that every one turned in the direction from which it came, andthen a huge megaphone on the top of a post repeated: "The Majesty of theLaw!"
"Well, I'll be blowed!" exclaimed Capt. Noah.
"You have exceeded the speed limit," said the Megaphone, "and you arefined $15!"
"Oh!" interposed Mrs. Noah. "I'm sure you must be mistaken. I'm sure wewere not exceeding it $15 worth."
"So am I!" added Mr. Jonah. "In fact, I didn't think we were exceedinganything. We were just rolling along, don't you know, quite comfortably."
"Well, suppose I haven't the money with me?" asked Capt. Noah.
"Fifteen days in jail," answered the Megaphone.
"Mercy!" cried Mrs. Noah.
"Don't worry," whispered Capt. Noah. "I'll borrow the money from Mr.Jonah."
Mr. Jonah was very obliging and lent the money, saying he had had nochance to spend a cent while he was aboard the whale.
"Now, where shall I put the money?" asked Capt. Noah.
"In the little box back of me," replied the Megaphone. And as soon as themoney was dropped in the Megaphone shouted: "The prisoner is discharged!"
"Prisoner!" shouted Capt. Noah, as mad as a hornet. "How dare you call mea prisoner!"
But before he had time to say another word the Arkmobile started off andthe Megaphone was left behind.
"Jehosaphat!" exclaimed Capt. Noah, wiping the perspiration from hisforehead with his red bordered handkerchief. "Bad enough to be robbed of$15, but to be called a 'prisoner'--well, that does make me angry."
"Never mind, my dear," said Mrs. Noah, soothingly. "All's well that endswell. Just think, if we hadn't been able to borrow that $15, we'd havespent fifteen days in jail!"
And then, all of a sudden the Weathercock shouted: "Everybody in thecabin! Water dead ahead!"
My goodness me! you should have seen the animals pull their heads inthrough the portholes. Poor Mrs. Giraffe didn't get hers inside in timeand her bonnet got soaking wet, for as soon as the Ark struck the waterthe spray flew here and there and everywhere and the deck was floodedankle deep.
But the Ark was a sturdy craft, and as soon as it once more felt the oceanbeneath it, rode the waves as gracefully as a swan.
"I guess we won't be fined for speeding now," laughed Marjorie, and in thenext chapter you shall hear what further adventures she had aboard thiswonderful Noah's Ark.