Part 1, Scene 9 Summary

Noah and his sons are building the Ark, a steamboat, and gathering the animals according to God's instructions. Captain Noah strolls the deck and smokes a pipe while giving orders. He wears a silk hat, captain's uniform and rain slicker. Noah's wife is in town telling the other women that it is going to rain for forty days and nights. Zeba and Flatfoot come to make fun of Noah's Ark, which is nowhere near water. Noah explains that the water will rise to the boat. They want to know if the Ark is going to be a stern wheeler paddleboat.

Cain the Sixth and the gambling men enter to laugh at the Ark. Cain the Sixth catches Zeba's eye, and she remembers his threat to shoot Flatfoot. Cain says he does not have a gun, and Zeba frisks him. Cain approaches...