"Ouch!" cried Omo, as a fat maltese fell ker-plunk on his head, yowling like anything. "Whee!" he yelled, as a fox terrier dropped with a thud on his shoulder and barked in his ear. And then, as black, white, brown, yellow cats of every color, and dogs, big, little and medium, began pouring on him and around him, all howling, and barking, and spitting at the same time, he made a rush for a small building, open at the sides but with a dome like roof of metal, where a man was standing. "Quite a shower, isn't it?" said the man, as Omo reached the shelter. "A shower," gasped Omo, "why--why, I think it's much more than a shower. And--and look what's coming down--cats and dogs!" [Illustration: It was raining cats and dogs] "Well," said the other, "why not? That's what always comes down, isn't it? That is why we build these cat and dog proof pavilions for use on rainy days. Now if it rained elephants, that _would_ be an inconvenience." "I should say so," replied the boy. "But does it always rain like this?" "Oh, sometimes it's a great deal worse. I remember about two years ago I was caught in a storm and eight cats, all in one lump, and fighting as hard as they could, fell right on top of me as I crossed the street, and I assure you, sir, I _almost_ lost my temper." "Well," said Omo, "it's lucky they melt as soon as they reach the ground or you'd have more cats and dogs than you knew what to do with." "Quite true," responded the stranger, "and even as it is, it is quite a nuisance when a storm comes up." He was an odd looking fellow with a curly beard, a scimitar in his sash, and a spotted turban on his head. As he finished speaking he began twisting at his ear with his finger as though he were winding a clock. "What's the matter," asked Omo, "is your ear sore?" "Certainly not! You know as well as I do I'm only winding myself up so I can start home as soon as the storm passes." "Oh," cried Omo, "is that it? Well, I don't have to wind myself up when I want to go anywhere. I'm always wound up." "You are!" exclaimed the stranger. "Why, I can hardly believe it! I never heard of _anyone_ being _that_ way! You can't have lived here very long." "Oh, no," said the boy, "I haven't lived here a half hour. I only just came." Then he asked his companion if this was the city of Ootch, where the famous Fountain of Riches was located.