It didn't rain just then, although the clouds in thesky grew thicker and more threatening. Polychrome hopedfor a thunder-storm, followed by her Rainbow, but thetwo tin men did not relish the idea of getting wet.They even preferred to remain in Nimmie Amee's house,although they felt they were not welcome there, ratherthan go out and face the coming storm. But theScarecrow, who was a very thoughtful person, said tohis friends:

"If we remain here until after the storm, andPolychrome goes away on her Rainbow, then wewill be prisoners inside the Wall of Solid Air; soit seems best to start upon our return journey atonce. If I get wet, my straw stuffing will be ruined,and if you two tin gentlemen get wet, you mayperhaps rust again, and become useless. But eventhat is better than to stay here. Once we are freeof the barrier, we have Woot the Wanderer to helpus, and he can oil your joints and restuff my body,if it becomes necessary, for the boy is made of meat,which neither rusts nor gets soggy or moldy."

"Come along, then!" cried Polychrome from the window,and the others, realizing the wisdom of the Scarecrow'sspeech, took leave of Nimmie Amee, who was glad to berid of them, and said good-bye to her husband, whomerely scowled and made no answer, and then theyhurried from the house.

"Your old parts are not very polite, I must say,"remarked the Scarecrow, when they were in the garden.

"No," said Woot, "Chopfyt is a regular grouch. Hemight have wished us a pleasant journey, at the veryleast."

"I beg you not to hold us responsible for thatcreature's actions," pleaded the Tin Woodman. "We arethrough with Chopfyt and shall have nothing further todo with him."

Polychrome danced ahead of the party and led themstraight to the burrow of the Blue Rabbit, which theymight have had some difficulty in finding without her.There she lost no time in making them all small again.The Blue Rabbit was busy nibbling cabbage leaves inNimmie Amee's garden, so they did not ask hispermission but at once entered the burrow.

Even now the raindrops were beginning to fall, but itwas quite dry inside the tunnel and by the time theyhad reached the other end, outside the circular Wall ofSolid Air, the storm was at its height and the rain wascoming down in torrents.

"Let us wait here," proposed Polychrome, peering outof the hole and then quickly retreating. "The Rainbowwon't appear until after the storm and I can make youbig again in a jiffy, before I join my sisters on ourbow."

"That's a good plan," said the Scarecrow approvingly."It will save me from getting soaked and soggy."

"It will save me from rusting," said the Tin Soldier.

"It will enable me to remain highly polished," saidthe Tin Woodman.

"Oh, as for that, I myself prefer not to get mypretty clothes wet," laughed the Rainbow's daughter.

"But while we wait I will bid you all adieu. I mustalso thank you for saving me from that dreadfulGiantess, Mrs. Yoop. You have been good and patientcomrades and I have enjoyed our adventures together,but I am never so happy as when on my dear Rainbow."

"Will your father scold you for getting left on theearth?" asked Woot.

"I suppose so," said Polychrome gaily; "I'm alwaysgetting scolded for my mad pranks, as they are called.My sisters are so sweet and lovely and proper that theynever dance off our Rainbow, and so they never have anyadventures. Adventures to me are good fun, only I neverlike to stay too long on earth, because I really don'tbelong here. I shall tell my Father the Rainbow thatI'll try not to be so careless again, and he willforgive me because in our sky mansions there is alwaysjoy and happiness."

They were indeed sorry to part with their dainty andbeautiful companion and assured her of their devotionif they ever chanced to meet again. She shook handswith the Scarecrow and the Tin Men and kissed Woot theWanderer lightly upon his forehead.

And then the rain suddenly ceased, and as the tinypeople left the burrow of the Blue Rabbit, a gloriousbig Rainbow appeared in the sky and the end of its archslowly descended and touched the ground just where theystood.

Woot was so busy watching a score of lovely maidens-- sisters of Polychrome -- who were leaning over theedge of the bow, and another score who danced gailyamid the radiance of the splendid hues, that he did notnotice he was growing big again. But now Polychromejoined her sisters on the Rainbow and the huge archlifted and slowly melted away as the sun burst from theclouds and sent its own white beams dancing over themeadows.

"Why, she's gone!" exclaimed the boy, and turned tosee his companions still waving their hands in token ofadieu to the vanished Polychrome.