"And then, all of a sudden, that boy Arnold took the Ark and dropped it
in the bathtub full of water, with all us animals inside!" said the
Lion.

"Good gracious! why did he do that?" asked the Lamb, in surprise.

"Oh, he said he was pretending there was another flood, and he wanted to
see if any of us could swim," the Lion answered.

"Could you?" the Lamb wanted to know.

"Well, those of us who couldn't swim could float, so none of us was
drowned," the Lion answered. "Only being soaked in the water, as I was,
made some of the paint come off my tail. I really haven't been the same
Lion since," he added, with a sorrowful sigh.

"That is too bad," said the Lamb sympathetically.

"Of course Arnold was smaller than he is now, and he was not so kind to
his toys as he has since learned to be," resumed the Wooden Lion. "He
really meant no harm. But, as I say, I am the only one of the Noah's Ark
animals left, and really I am very glad to have you to talk to."

The two new friends spent some time together telling each other their
different adventures, and then, suddenly, the door of the playroom
opened and Mirabell came in.

"Hush! Not another word!" said the Wooden Lion in a whisper.

"Well, I guess my Lamb has slept long enough," said Mirabell, picking up