“Horrid person,” said Coppertop. “He doesn’t know what a good friend we’ve found through his old blizzard. Mr. Atom is awfully nice. And he is going to help us--heaps. It’s funny how things happen.” CHAPTER VII. THE CASTLE OF THE SOUTH WIND The fact that the children were now so big helped them greatly on their journey; but they had to walk, as they were far too large and cumbersome to fly, their gauze wings would never carry them. “Really, I’m very grateful to Mr. Atom,” said Coppertop; “what a wonderful little person he is.” “Yes, it isn’t always size that counts,” came a tiny voice from a cloud near by, which she instantly recognised as belonging to Mr. Atom. “Why, I believe he’s up here, too!” she cried. “Quite right, my dear,” continued the small voice. “You see, I’m pretty well everywhere.” “So am I,” replied Coppertop, who had mistaken his meaning, “except in India! Of course I love India terrifikly, because I’ve been there, and it’s nearly always warm and sunny; but people get so dried up--I know Mummie and Daddy do!” “That’s why you call her Mummie, I suppose, instead of Mother?” interrupted Mr. Atom, with the sound of a smile in his voice. “Not at all,” replied Coppertop; “I’ve always called her Mummie. But oh, I’m always well in Australia--it’s simply glorious! The paddocks and the scrumptious little gardens full of flowers; the birds--I know all their names--and the air smells so wonderful, it feels just like music when you breathe it.” “Ah, yes, precisely,” said Mr. Atom. “It makes me want to cry when I think of it. I believe I’m going to be homesick!” At this Tibbs and Kiddiwee commenced to laugh. “You’re both very horrid!” said Coppertop, and she pouted her lips and waited for them to say something nice. But boys never will, when you want them to. “Come along,” was all the response she got from Tibbs, but Kiddiwee squeezed her hand. So they continued their tramp to the Castle of the South Wind. And now they found themselves walking on thick ice across a frozen ocean, stepping over mountainous icebergs which shone and glittered like green diamonds in the soft sunlight. It was the most exciting and amusing part of the whole trip, so far, and Coppertop thoroughly enjoyed it. “What a fine story all this would make! I think I’ll try and write it some day,” she said. As she was speaking, a brilliant bluish light lit up the sky in front of them. From the centre of this light rose slowly a widening circle of flame, from which shot out jets of rainbow-coloured fire. The beauty of this light took away the children’s breath, and they could only gaze in wonder and amazement at the sight. Slowly the light faded, and where it had been they beheld a towering Castle built of glistening blocks of ice. “Come along! Let us see if the South Wind is in” cried Tibbs.