an hour's
hard work, during which time the Ark had not moved an inch.

"We'd better make up our minds to winter here until the iceberg floats
into a warmer climate and either melts or breaks apart."

"That's cheerful," said Mr. Jonah. "I've nothing but summer flannels and a
mackintosh with me."

"What about some of the poor animals who are used to the Torrid Zone?"
replied Capt. Noah, shouldering the crowbar and climbing up the rope
ladder to the deck.

Mr. Jonah did not reply, but turned up his coat collar and stamped upon
his feet to warm them.

"The hairless Mexican dog will surely die if we don't do something for
him," said Ham. "I think I'll ask mother if she won't let him stay in the
kitchen."

But Mrs. Noah did not seem very pleased over the suggestion.

"Gracious me!" she said. "Shem already has two parrots, a marmoset and a
little green snake in the kitchen. I don't suppose one more animal would
make much difference, if it will only keep from under my feet. I nearly
stepped on one of the snakes this morning, and the kitchen is none too
large, anyway."

"Don't you boys worry your mother any more," said Capt. Noah sternly. "The
animals have got to make the best of it. Any one who travels by sea
undergoes some risk and I'm sure I'm as careful a captain as a man could
be. It's lucky we didn't go down to the bottom of the sea when we struck
the berg, instead of running up on it safely."

After dinner Capt. Noah and Mr. Jonah held a consultation as to what was
the best thing to do under the circumstances.

"Of course, some of the animals, like the polar bears and the seals, will
enjoy a vacation on the ice. The penguins, too, will be glad to have a
little change. We can let them out and the rest of the Arctic passengers.
But how to keep the other animals warm, puzzles me. We haven't coal enough
to keep the furnaces going for very long."

Mr. Jonah stroked his chin reflectively. "We might dig a channel from the
Ark to the edge of the berg and then float the Ark," he said, after a
pause.

"That's a pretty good scheme," said Capt. Noah. "We'll get to work at
once. Here, you boys, get the pickaxes and come with me."

By evening the canal was finished. "Now, when the tide rises," said Capt.
Noah, resting on the handle of his pickax, "perhaps the old tub will
float."

It was now quite dark, so all hands returned to the Ark.

The animals which had been allowed to play on the ice had all returned
except t