animal.

"Put your trunk on the deck," suggested Mr. Jonah. "That will make you
weigh less, and perhaps we can roll you over the edge."

"Yes, that's a good idea," said Shem. "Put your baggage aboard first."

"This is no time for joking----We have lost one passenger and are in
danger of losing another. It will look very strange to lose the largest
and the smallest on the same day," said poor Capt. Noah, despairingly.

[Illustration: MR. ELEPHANT HAS TROUBLE GETTING ABOARD]

Well, just then, Mrs. Elephant came up from the hold. She had overslept
herself, and had only now heard the commotion on deck. On seeing her mate
swinging from the davits she set up a loud trumpeting.

"Goodness, gracious, Ella!" said the Elephant. "Don't carry on like that.
Screaming won't get me out. Get hold of me and help pull."

This was good advice, and pretty soon Mr. Elephant was landed safely on
board the Ark.

Just then the Weathercock called out that he could see the little red Ant
on the life-preserver.

"Thank goodness!" exclaimed Capt. Noah, and the Ark was turned in the
direction pointed out by the faithful lookout. Then Mr. Jonah leaned over
and pulled in the life-preserver as the Ark slowly came alongside, and
just in the nick of time, for the poor Ant was nearly dead.