bravely. "Capt. Noah will stop the
leak."

"I hope so," he said. Then, turning to the passengers, he asked: "Who will
volunteer to go with me below deck?"

"I will!" shouted Ham.

"And so will I!" said the Elephant.

"Come along, then," said Capt. Noah.

"Throw me down the tarpaulin and some planks," he called up a few minutes
later.

But, oh dear me! The water had gained such headway that the tarpaulin was
of no use at all, and I don't know what would have happened if the
Elephant hadn't sat down squarely on the hole, blocking it up so that not
a single drop of water leaked in.

"Bully for you!" cried Capt. Noah. "That's the best stunt I've seen yet!"

"It's not very comfortable," said the Elephant, with a shiver. "My, but
the water's chilly!"

"Start the pumps!" commanded Capt. Noah, rushing to the foot of the
companionway. "Set some of the animals to work!"

Well, after a while the Ark was pumped dry, and everybody heaved a sigh of
relief.

"How long do you expect me to be a water plug?" asked the Elephant. "You
don't expect me to sit here for the rest of the voyage?"

"I don't know what we'll do if you get up," answered Capt. Noah.

"Neither do I," said the Elephant.

"Let's call Mr. Jonah," said Capt. Noah.

"What's the use?" said the Elephant. "What good will he do? If he hadn't
been asleep at the tiller we never would have had the accident."

"We might punish him for neglect of duty," said Capt. Noah. "We'll plug
the hole up with him. He can sit on the opening for a punishment."

"Great idea!" chuckled the Elephant. "Bring him down."

So Capt. Noah hastened on deck to look for poor Mr. Jonah. And pretty soon
he came back with Mr. Jonah, who of course didn't know what they were
going to do with him.

"What do you want me for?" he asked. "It's pretty damp down here."

"Hello!" said the Elephant. "Excuse my not rising!"

"Certainly," said Mr. Jonah, "but you don't look very comfortable."

And then, quick as a wink, the Elephant reached out his trunk and grabbed
poor Mr. Jonah.

"Help! Murder!" yelled Jonah, nearly strangled by the water, which rushed
into the Ark as the Elephant got up.

"Keep quiet!" commanded Capt. Noah, and then the Elephant pushed poor Mr.
Jonah into the hole.

"It's all your fault that we had this accident. Now you can stop up the
leak!"

Mr. Jonah was too frightened to speak. Finally, when he partly recovered
from his fright he said:

"But what am I to do?"