And, anyway, exercise keeps off the gout;
Heydiddle ho, keeps off the gout.’”
“I don’t think much of that song,” said the wizard.
“The next verse is very good,” said the Rainbow Cat. “But I’m not going to sing it out here in the cold night air. I shall ruin my voice.”
“Well, come in,” said the wizard, for he wanted to hear the end of the song, and he let the Rainbow Cat in.
But no sooner were they inside the wizard’s room than the Rainbow Cat opened his bag and pulled out the bundle of lightning and let it loose all over the place. You never heard such a commotion!
Meanwhile he threw off his cloak, leapt upon the table, and stood there with his hair all standing on end and his eyes darting green and blue fire, while the lightning flashed all round him and round the terrified wizard, who threw himself down on his knees, crying “Mercy, Mercy!”—for he had never seen anything like it before and he was anyway but a cowardly creature at heart.
Presently the wizard’s attendants came running to see what was the matter.
They dare not come into the room, but stood trembling in the doorway.
“Tie him up,” commanded the Rainbow Cat in a great loud voice.