Suddenly he leaped to his feet, dancing for joy.
“The Rays!” he cried, “they will build me a bridge!”
And he called them by name one after another:
“Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange and Red!”
Instantly the little people stood before him, and Red, who was their spokesman, asked him what he desired.
“A bridge!” cried Billy. “A bridge as quickly as you can.”
It was the work of a second. The little people all sprang into the air together and lo! in front of Billy stretched a slender rainbow bridge, leading from his feet to the snow mountain on which was the imprisoned Evening Star. And at each end was a great pot of yellow gold as large as a preserve kettle.
Bravely Billy started to cross the bridge. It trembled violently in the strong light, as rainbows will, for they are flimsy things at best. Billy hesitated. He was not frightened, but it was so hard to keep his balance.
And then he heard a cheery shout behind him, and up came Jack Frost running as fast as his legs could carry him, and fairly panting with excitement.
“It’s all right, Billy, go ahead!” he called, laying a steadying hand on the rainbow, which at once hardened under his cold.