Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Or the Cruise of the Noah's Ark by David Cory,
Chapter four, The Majesty of the Law. Wake Up, Wake up,
We're off again, over hill and over plain. The arcmobile
on sea or land can sail away at our command again.
The weathercock awoke little Marjorie on board the Noah's Ark
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where we left her in the last chapter. You remember
it was the morning after the circus, and she probably
would have slept much later had not the faithful bird,
as usual, sung his bit of verse. You see, this
wonderful weathercock was just like an alarm clock. Where's the ocean,
asked Marjorie, looking out the window. Why we're traveling on land?
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Of course we are, answered the weathercock. Didn't you see
the wheels on the bottom of the arc yesterday? So
I did, admitted Marjorie. I'd forgotten all about them. Well,
how did you like my poetry? You see? I make
up a new verse every morning so as to be
sure to wake you up. I think you're a great poet,
answered the little girl. The weathercock got very red in
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the gills. I guess that's the only way he could blush.
So let the rain or sunshine come across the land
will swiftly hum. We are prepared for rain or shine,
for dusty road or foamy brine. Hoorrah, shouted the elephant
from down below. Bravo, sir chant clear. You'll have to
excuse me now, said Marjorie to the weathercock, for I
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must pull on my shoes and stockings and brush my hair.
You don't have to bother about such things, you know.
That's one advantage of being a weathercock. After breakfast, as
they all sat in the cabin, Captain Noah remarked, I'm
getting a trifle worried. You see, I can't tell by
the barometer whether the arc is floating or wheeling. Now
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that is rather important. If we keep on this way,
I shall have to get a speedometer. It wouldn't be
very nice to be arrested for breaking the speed laws
and be locked up in jail. Missus Noah turned pale,
and the weathercock shifted about uneasily on top of the flagpole. No, indeed,
he said, I don't want to be a jailbird. Well,
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what's the best thing to do, asked Missus Noah. Count
the telegraph poles as we go along, suggested Ham. I
think they're about thirty to a mile and see how
long it takes us to pass them. That's a good idea,
said mister Jonah. But when they looked out of the portholes,
they couldn't find any telegraph poles. And just then, all
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of a sudden, a pistol shot rang out, clear and loud.
The arcmobile came to a sudden stop, and a voice
outside was heard to exclaim, where's the chauffeur. Captain Noah
rushed up on deck, followed by his family, mister Jonah
and Marjorie. What's the matter, asked Captain Noah, looking about
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to find the owner of the voice. Oh that's what
they all say, came the reply, you know, jolly well,
what it's the matter? Who are you and where are you?
Asked Captain Noah, vainly trying to find this remarkable person
who seemed to be nothing but a voice. Who am I?
You'll find out pretty quick? Where am I? You'd better
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find out even quicker. Looking up to the weathercock, Captain
Noah shouted, ohoy there, look out, who's delaying us? The
Majesty of the law. Came the answering voice again, this
time so distinctly that everyone turned in the direction from
which it came, and then a huge megaphone on the
top of a post repeated the majesty of the law.
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Well I'll be blowed, exclaimed Captain Noah. You have exceeded
this speed limit, said the megaphone, and you are fined
fifteen dollars. Oh, interposed Missus Noah. I'm sure you must
be mistaken. I'm sure we were not exceeding it. Fifteen
dollars worth, so am, I added mister Jonah. In fact,
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I didn't think we were exceeding anything. We were just
rolling along, didn't you know, quite comfortably? Well, suppose I
haven't the money with me, asked Captain Noah. Fifteen days
in jail, answered the megaphone. Mercy, cried Missus Noah. Don't worry,
whispered Captain Noah. I'll borrow the money from mister Jonah.
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Mister Jonah was very obliging and lent the money, saying
he had had no chance to spend a cent while
he was aboard the whale. Now where shall I put
the money, asked Captain Noah. In the little box back
of me, replied the megaphone, and as soon as the
money was dropped, in the megaphone shouted, the prisoner is discharged.
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Prisoner shouted Captain Noah, as mad as a hornet, how
dare you call me a prisoner? But before they had
time to say another word, the arcmobile started off and
the megaphone was left behind. Jehosa fat, exclaimed Captain Noah,
wiping the perspiration from his forehead with his red bordered handkerchief.
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Bad enough to be robbed of fifteen dollars, but to
be called a prisoner, well that does make me angry.
Never mind, my dear, said Missus Noah soothingly. All's well
that ends well. Just think if we hadn't been able
to borrow that fifteen dollars, we'd have spent fifteen days
in jail. And then all of a sudden, the weathercock shouted,
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everybody in the cabin, water dead ahead. My goodness me,
you should have seen the animals pull their heads in
through the portholes. Poor missus Draft didn't get hers inside
in time, and her bonnet got soaking wet. For as
soon as the arc struck the water, the spray flew
here and there and everywhere, and the deck was flooded
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ankle deep. But the ark was a thirty craft, and
as soon as it once more felt the ocean beneath,
it rode the waves as gracefully as a swan. I
guess we won't be fine for eating now, laughed Marjorie.
And in the next chapter you shall hear what further
adventure she had aboard this wonderful Noah's Ark. End of
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chapter four, The Majesty of the Law