If you’ve never had an Equator sweep down on you, of course you cannot understand in the least how frightened Billy was. Even the Equine Ox grew gray with fear when the Equator was angry, and the Equine Ox was seldom disturbed by anything but indigestion in his four stomachs. As for Billy, he had never been really frightened before, excepting the time he fell into a tar barrel, and looking back upon it, that experience now seemed a very tame affair. He shrank back and waited for the worst. To his surprise it did not happen. For just as the Equator was rushing toward him, just as he was trying to say Jack Robinson, and say it so quickly that his life would be spared an instant or two before he was turned to ashes, he heard a voice say: “Hello, ’Quate! Loose, I see!” Instantly the Equator, who had been white-hot, turned a sort of sickly yellow, then faded to dull red, and finally to a bluish green. In the meantime he had stopped sweeping down on Billy and was motionless, save for a tremor that ran through his circular frame. Between Billy and the Equator stood a wiry little fellow dressed all in fluffy white, with a white cap to match. In his hand he held what seemed to be a very straight icicle, which glittered with all the hues of the rainbow. 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. They saw the Equator making off a mile or two away, and Jack Frost, taking Billy by the arm, started down the mountain at a brisk trot. As they hurried along Jack Frost said: “I suppose you have heard of me.” “Oh, yes,” said Billy. “I have, many times.” “I’m not so cold as I’m painted,” said Jack Frost. “I’m sure you are not,” replied Billy respectfully. “No,” said Jack Frost, “I really am not a bad fellow. Your father probably holds it against me because I freeze the water pipes sometimes, but think how the plumber’s poor little children love me for it.” “That’s true,” said Billy.