“Now, sir, where is that Equator?”
“That’s the question,” said the Equine Ox; “where is he? Who knows the answer?” Then seeing Billy, he added: “Maybe you do!”
“Why, no, sir,” replied Billy in confusion. “I don’t. Not at all.”
“Pay no attention to him,” said Nimbus. “He’s merely trying to avert suspicion from himself.” Then turning to the Equine Ox, he proceeded: “Tell us how he got away. Be quick, there is no time to lose.”
“Oh, yes, there is,” said the Equine Ox; “any quantity of it! I lose a great deal every day and hope to lose a great deal more. As for finding time, now that is another——”
“How did the Equator get away?” said Nimbus sternly.
“Well, you see, it was this way. Night fell on the tropics and the tropics broke.”
“Ho, ho!” exclaimed the conductor. “That’s a joke. Ho, ho!”
“What is the gentleman angry about?” uneasily asked the Equine Ox, who always laughed when he was angry.
“Nothing,” said Nimbus; “go ahead with your explanation.”