facts, but simply goes ahead and makes statements with an utter
disregard of the truth. The Ark was not stove in. We beached her
very successfully. I say this in defence of my seamanship, which was
top-notch for my day."

"Couldn't sail six weeks without fouling a mountain-peak!" sneered
Wren, perceiving a chance to get even.

"The hole's there, just the same," said Charon. "Maybe she was a
centreboard, sad that's where you kept the board."

"The hole is there because it was worn there by one of the
elephants," retorted Noah. "You get a beast like the elephant
shuffling one of his fore-feet up and down, up and down, a plank for
twenty-four hours a day for forty days in one of your boats, and see
where your boat would be."

"Thanks," said Charon, calmly. "But the elephants don't patronize my
line. All the elephants I've ever seen in Hades waded over, except
Jumbo, and he reached his trunk across, fastened on to a tree limb
with it, and swung himself over. However, the Ark isn't at all what
you want, unless you are going to man her with a lot of centaurs. If
that's your intention, I'd charter her; the accommodations are just
the thing for a crew of that kind."

"Well, what do you suggest?" asked Raleigh, somewhat impatiently.
"You've told us what we can't do. Now tell us what we can do."

"I'd stay right here," said Charon, "and let the ladies rescue
themselves. That's what I'd do. I've had the honor of bringing 'em