The rain fell, at first drop by drop, but afterwards more smartly, forcing the pedestrians to take refuge under some leafy pines. There they sat quietly for a time, till their interest was excited by a deep growl, which seemed to come round a jog in the road just ahead.
"Is that a bear or a wolf, Corry?" the dominie asked in a whisper.
"More like a wild cat or a lynx," cheerfully responded his friend.
The growl was repeated, and then a human like voice was heard which quieted the ferocious animal.
"Whatever it is, it's got a keeper," whispered Coristine, "so we needn't be afraid."
Then the sun shone forth brightly and a rainbow spanned the sky.
"The rainbow comes and goes," said the lawyer, which gave the schoolmaster occasion to recite:—
My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky.
So was it when my life began;