The Equator glowered upon the newcomer for some seconds before he growled huskily: “Jack Frost!”
“Perfectly correct,” said the stranger cheerfully. “I always did admire a good memory for names.”
“What are you doing here?” demanded the Equator sulkily, and Billy saw to his joy that he was now in no further danger of attack.
“Nothing that I am ashamed of,” returned Jack Frost, “which is more, it seems to me, than you can say.”
The Equator stared at Billy. “I—I—” he faltered.
“What was he doing?” asked Jack Frost, turning suddenly to Billy. Before the little boy could answer the Equator with a flop or two rose in the air, circled once or twice over the trees and sailed rapidly away.
“Bad lot!” commented Jack Frost. “Never take him seriously.”
“But he was going to burn me up,” said Billy.
“Umph!” said Jack Frost. “That’s different. Let’s go and see about it.”
Billy thought he had seen all of the Equator he cared to, but Jack Frost insisted on watching that ill-tempered creature, and so Billy followed him to the very top of the volcano where they could get a clear view of the horizon.