"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."