The sleeper’s eyes opened, and he tried to yawn and stretch, but the fish-line restrained him. He looked about wrathfully and espied Billy.
Instantly his dull glowing skin became white hot with rage, and the line melted away like straw.
The Equator sprang to his feet, his whole circular body shining like the iron which the blacksmith has just taken from the forge.
“You shall pay for this, young man!” he cried. “I may not be able to turn you into a Comet, but I can maroon you on the Polar Star, which will be quite as satisfactory.”
As Billy stood petrified with fear the Equator swept down upon him.
“Billy took a sharp stick and poked the Equator smartly”