“Perhaps,” said Billy doubtfully, “although I never tried it.” To his great joy the Equator settled down on the summit of the volcano and closed his eyes. He breathed hard and regularly for a little, and then, as one eye opened, he said: “What do you do when the third and seventh and eleventh hippopotamus is a rhinoceros? Count him, too?” “Certainly,” said Billy, and again the Equator closed his eyes. Presently he opened them again. “Look here,” he exclaimed, “I’ve counted all the hippopotamuses and rhinoceroses there are. Now what do I do?” “Begin on the camels and lions and tigers,” said Billy. “And when they’re counted?” “Count the ants,” said Billy with a sudden inspiration, and the Equator troubled him no more. Billy was delighted. The Equator’s lips moved rapidly for some minutes, and Billy slipped quietly down into the crater to find Nimbus and the Evening Star to tell them to hurry and make their escape. He wandered about blindly for some little time, then stopped bewildered. The crater forked in many directions. It seemed hopeless to explore any one of them because his friends might have taken another. At last he determined to make sure that when they did come back they would have no trouble in escaping. Returning to the mouth of the crater he saw the Equator still fast asleep. Billy’s hands went to his pockets, and when they came out they brought a quantity of fish-line, which he always carried for emergencies. He deftly tied the line to a huge stone, making sure that the knot Was fast, and then very cautiously slipped it through the center of the Equator, making a loose knot, but one that would be reasonably sure to hold him. He doubled and redoubled the string, and when the job was done stood back and surveyed it with considerable pride. Then, assured that the Equator was at his mercy, he began to hope for him to wake up so that he could enjoy his triumph. He even coughed once or twice in the hope of awakening his captive, but the Equator was very tired and it seemed impossible to arouse him. At last, unable longer to restrain his impulse, Billy took a sharp stick and poked the Equator smartly once, twice, three times. 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. [Illustration: “Billy took a sharp stick and poked the Equator smartly”] JACK FROST CHAPTER VII JACK FROST