OF COURSE there was but one thing to do, and that was to escape as quickly as possible. Even Nimbus, powerful as he was, couldn’t control a runaway Equator single-handed, and if the Evening Star were ever turned into a comet it would take years of patient effort on the part of her parents to turn her back into a Star again.
Nimbus looked swiftly about him for a second, and then he said: “Fortunately, this is not an active volcano, so we’ll slip into the crater.”
He led the way toward a cavelike opening right in the summit of the mountain—an opening which led downward diagonally, so that it afforded ample shelter.
Billy hesitated. He had heard about volcanoes, and the thought of bearding it in its crater was very terrifying.
“Don’t be afraid,” said Nimbus; “this is a passive volcano.”
That reassured Billy, and when he was safe inside the crater he asked what a passive volcano was.
“It’s one that isn’t active. There are two kinds of verbs and two kinds of volcanoes—active and passive. The fire in this one has been banked, so it’s perfectly safe.”
Billy was still a little uneasy, and he was by no means cheered by a sound of dull rumbling that came up out of the depths of the crater.
He had little time to worry about this new danger, however, for just then the crater became filled with terrific heat, and its dark recesses were illumined by a brilliant glare.
Billy’s eyes were dazzled at first, then right above him he made out the circular form of the Equator staring blankly down at him.