Page:The Keeper of the Bees.pdf/270

 rainbows on the brain. See the violet and the orange and the purple? See how the colours mix and blend? That’s about as good a rainbow as God ever set in the sky to make a sign to His people that He would keep His covenants with man. S. S. That means Sunday School.”

With fingers busy with the ribbons, the Scout Master glanced over toward Jamie.

“Do you know the Bible pretty good?”

“My father was a minister,” said Jamie. “I know the Bible from cover to cover.”

“Then you know that about rainbows?” asked the Scout Master.

“Yes,” said Jamie. “I know.”

“Do you know anything prettier?” asked the Scout Master.

“No,” said Jamie. “In any literature of any language I ever learned to read, I know nothing more beautiful than the promise that is symbolized by the rainbow.”

The Scout Master stood still. Lean brown hands dropped among the ribbons. A pair of deep, expressive, tender eyes lifted to the eyes of the Bee Master.

“Do you reckon,” said the Scout Master, “that that covenant between God and man is a little like our covenant about the bees and about our sekerts?”

The fine old eyes of the Bee Master were tender and solemn and his voice was loving as he said to the little person: “Well, you know a covenant is an understanding; it’s an agreement, usually only between two people, an