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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:12:03 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:12:03 -0700 |
| commit | 4d69ae8516c7babe9353e1bf0176b72ccecb0f3e (patch) | |
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diff --git a/39159-h/39159-h.htm b/39159-h/39159-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..06790bc --- /dev/null +++ b/39159-h/39159-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8032 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en" xml:lang="en"> + <head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> +<title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Sky Island, by Frank Baum. +</title> +<style type="text/css"> + p {margin-top:.2em;text-align:justify;margin-bottom:.2em;text-indent:4%;} + +.c {text-align:center;text-indent:0%;} + +.cb {text-align:center;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;} + +.innind {text-indent:0%;margin-left:30%;} + +.nind {text-indent:0%;} + +.un {text-decoration: underline;text-align:center;text-indent:0%;} + +.r {text-align:right;margin-right: 5%;} + +small {font-size: 70%;} + + h1 {margin-top:5%;text-align:center;clear:both;} + + h2 {margin-top:5%;margin-bottom:2%;text-align:center;clear:both; + font-size:120%;} + + hr.full {width: 50%;margin:5% auto 5% auto;border:4px double gray;} + + table {margin-top:2%;margin-bottom:2%;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;border:none;text-align:left;} + + body{margin-left:2%;margin-right:2%;background:#fdfdfd;color:black;font-family:"Times New Roman", serif;font-size:medium;} + +a:link {background-color:#ffffff;color:blue;text-decoration:none;} + + link {background-color:#ffffff;color:blue;text-decoration:none;} + +a:visited {background-color:#ffffff;color:purple;text-decoration:none;} + +a:hover {background-color:#ffffff;color:#FF0000;text-decoration:underline;} + +.smcap {font-variant:small-caps;font-size:95%;} + + img {border:none;} + +.blockquot {margin-top:2%;margin-bottom:2%;} + +.boxx {border:double 6px black; +margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;margin-top:4%; +max-width:25em;} + +.figcenter {margin-top:3%;margin-bottom:3%; +margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;text-indent:0%;} + +.figchap {margin-top:6%;margin-bottom:3%; +text-align:center;text-indent:0%;} +</style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Sky Island, by L. Frank Baum + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license + + +Title: Sky Island + Being the Further Exciting Adventures + of Trot and Cap'n Bill after Their + Visit to the Sea Fairies + +Author: L. Frank Baum + +Illustrator: John R. Neill + +Release Date: March 15, 2012 [EBook #39159] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SKY ISLAND *** + + + + +Produced by Chuck Greif, Broward County Libraries and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/book_dust-end_lg.jpg"> +<img src="images/book_dust-end_sml.jpg" width="94" height="550" alt="book-end" title="book-end" /></a> +</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/front_dustcover_lg.jpg"> +<img src="images/front_dustcover_sml.jpg" width="401" height="550" alt="image of the book's cover" title="image of the book's cover" /></a> +</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_001_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_001_sml.png" width="436" height="550" alt="This Book Belongs To" title="This Book Belongs To" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_003" id="page_003"></a></p> + +<h1>SKY ISLAND</h1> + +<p><a name="page_004" id="page_004"></a></p> + +<p class="un">THE FAMOUS OZ BOOKS</p> + +<p class="c">By L. Frank Baum:</p> + +<p class="innind">THE WIZARD OF OZ<br /> +THE LAND OF OZ<br /> +OZMA OF OZ<br /> +DOROTHY AND THE WIZARD IN OZ<br /> +THE ROAD TO OZ<br /> +THE EMERALD CITY OF OZ<br /> +THE PATCHWORK GIRL OF OZ<br /> +TIK-TOK OF OZ<br /> +THE SCARECROW OF OZ<br /> +RINKITINK IN OZ<br /> +THE LOST PRINCESS OF OZ<br /> +THE TIN WOODMAN OF OZ<br /> +THE MAGIC OF OZ<br /> +GLINDA OF OZ</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="c">C<small>HICAGO</small> THE REILLY & LEE CO. <i>Publishers</i></p> + +<p><a name="page_005" id="page_005"></a></p> + +<div class="boxx"> +<h1>SKY ISLAND</h1> + +<p class="cb"><i>Being the Further Exciting Adventures<br /> +of Trot and Cap'n Bill after Their<br /> +Visit to the Sea Fairies</i><br /> +<br /> +<big>By<br /> +L. FRANK BAUM</big><br /> + +<small>AUTHOR OF THE SEA FAIRIES, THE EMERALD CITY OF OZ,<br /> +DOROTHY AND THE WIZARD IN OZ, OZMA OF OZ,<br /> +THE ROAD TO OZ, THE LAND OF OZ, ETC.</small><br /> +<br /><br /> +<img src="images/colophon.png" width="150" height="70" alt="" title="" /> +<br /><br /> +<small>ILLUSTRATED BY</small><br /> +JOHN R. NEILL<br /> +<br /><br /> +The Reilly & Lee Co.<br /> +Chicago<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_002_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_002_sml.png" width="397" height="550" alt="SKY ISLAND" title="SKY ISLAND" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_006" id="page_006"></a></p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_003_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_003_sml.png" width="414" +height="550" alt="To my Sister, Mary Louise Brewster" title="To my Sister, Mary Louise Brewster" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_007" id="page_007"></a></p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_004_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_004_sml.png" width="402" height="550" alt="COPYRIGHT 1912. BY L. FRANK BAUM +LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOG +CARD NO. 78-125373" title="COPYRIGHT 1912. BY L. FRANK BAUM +LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOG +CARD NO. 78-125373" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_008" id="page_008"></a></p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_005_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_005_sml.png" width="401" height="550" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="images/ill_006_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_006_sml.png" width="377" height="550" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_009" id="page_009"></a></p> + +<h2><a name="A_LITTLE_TALK_TO_MY_READERS" id="A_LITTLE_TALK_TO_MY_READERS"></a>A LITTLE TALK TO MY READERS</h2> + +<p>With "The Sea Fairies," my book for 1911, I ventured into a new field of +fairy literature and to my delight the book was received with much +approval by my former readers, many of whom have written me that they +like Trot "almost as well as Dorothy." As Dorothy was an old, old friend +and Trot a new one, I think this is very high praise for Cap'n Bill's +little companion. Cap'n Bill is also a new character who seems to have +won approval, and so both Trot and the old sailor are again introduced +in the present story, which may be called the second of the series of +adventures of Trot and Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>But you will recognize some other acquaintances in "Sky Island." Here, +for instance, is Button-Bright, who once had an adventure with Dorothy +in Oz, and without Button-Bright and his Magic Umbrella you will see +that the story of "Sky Island" could never have been written. As +Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter, lives in the sky, it is natural that +Trot and Button-Bright meet her during their adventures there.</p> + +<p>This story of Sky Island has astonished me considerably, and I think it +will also astonish you. The sky country is certainly a remarkable +fairyland, but after reading about it I am sure you will agree with me +that our old Mother Earth is a very good place to live upon and that +Trot and Button-Bright and Cap'n Bill were fortunate to get back to it +again.</p> + +<p>By the way, one of my little correspondents has suggested that I print +my address in this book, so that the children may know where letters +will reach me. I am doing this, as you see, and hope that many will +write to me and tell me how they like "Sky Island." My greatest +treasures are these letters from my readers and I am always delighted to +receive them.</p> + +<p class="r">L. F<small>RANK</small> B<small>AUM</small>. +</p> + +<p class="nind">"OZCOT"<br /> +at HOLLYWOOD<br /> +in CALIFORNIA</p> + +<p><a name="page_010" id="page_010"></a></p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_007_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_007_sml.png" width="387" height="550" alt="List of Chapters" title="List of Chapters" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_011" id="page_011"></a></p> + +<h2>LIST OF CHAPTERS</h2> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="CONTENTS"> +<tr><td colspan="3"><small>CHAPTER</small></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_1">1—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">A Mysterious Arrival</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_013">13</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_2">2—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">The Magic Umbrella</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_023">23</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_3">3—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">A Wonderful Experience</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_037">37</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_4">4—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">The Island in the Sky</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_048">48</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_5">5—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">The Boolooroo of the Blues</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_055">55</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_6">6—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">The Six Snubnosed Princesses</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_065">65</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_7">7—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Ghip-Ghisizzle Proves Friendly</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_074">74</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_8">8—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">The Blue City</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_080">80</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_9">9—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">The Tribulation of Trot</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_091">91</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_10">10—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">The King's Treasure Chamber</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_101">101</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_11">11—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Button-Bright Encounters the Blue Wolf</span> </td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_112">112</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_12">12—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Through the Fog Bank</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_119">119</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_13">13—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">The Pink Country</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_130">130</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_14">14—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Tourmaline the Poverty Queen</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_138">138</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_15">15—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">The Sunrise Tribe and the Sunset Tribe</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_147">147</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_16">16—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Rosalie the Witch</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_160">160</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_17">17—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">The Arrival of Polychrome</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_168">168</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_18">18—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Mayre, Queen of the Pink Country</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_179">179</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_19">19—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">The War of the Pinks and Blues</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_187">187</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_20">20—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Ghip-Ghisizzle has a Bad Time</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_193">193</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_21">21—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">The Capture of Cap'n Bill</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_201">201</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_22">22—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Trot's Invisible Adventure</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_214">214</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_23">23—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">The Girl and the Boolooroo</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_222">222</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_24">24—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">The Amazing Conquest of the Blues</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_233">233</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_25">25—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">The Ruler of Sky Island</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_245">245</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_26">26—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Trot Celebrates Her Victory</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_252">252</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_27">27—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">The Fate of the Magic Umbrella</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_263">263</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_28">28—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">The Elephant's Head Comes to Life</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_270">270</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_29">29—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Trot Regulates the Pinkies</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_275">275</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_30">30—</a></td><td><span class="smcap">The Journey Home</span></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_280">280</a></td></tr> +</table> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_008_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_008_sml.png" width="400" height="550" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_012" id="page_012"></a></p> + +<p><a name="page_013" id="page_013"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_1" id="CHAPTER_1"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_009_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_009_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="322" +alt="A MYSTERIOUS ARRIVAL--CHAPTER 1." +title="A MYSTERIOUS ARRIVAL--CHAPTER 1." /></a></p> + +<p>"HELLO," said the boy.</p> + +<p>"Hello," answered Trot, looking up surprised. "Where did you come from?"</p> + +<p>"Philadelphia," said he.</p> + +<p>"Dear me," said Trot; "you're a long way from home, then."</p> + +<p>"'Bout as far as I can get, in this country," the boy replied, gazing +out over the water. "Isn't this the Pacific Ocean?"</p> + +<p>"Of course."</p> + +<p>"Why of course?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Because it's the biggest lot of water in all the world."</p> + +<p>"How do you know?"</p> + +<p>"Cap'n Bill told me," she said.<a name="page_014" id="page_014"></a></p> + +<p>"Who's Cap'n Bill?"</p> + +<p>"An old sailorman who's a friend of mine. He lives at my house, too—the +white house you see over there on the bluff."</p> + +<p>"Oh; is that your home?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Trot, proudly. "Isn't it pretty?"</p> + +<p>"It's pretty small, seems to me," answered the boy.</p> + +<p>"But it's big enough for mother and me, an' for Cap'n Bill," said Trot.</p> + +<p>"Haven't you any father?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, 'ndeed; Cap'n Griffith is my father; but he's gone, most of the +time, sailin' on his ship. You mus' be a stranger in these parts, little +boy, not to know 'bout Cap'n Griffith," she added, looking at her new +acquaintance intently.</p> + +<p>Trot wasn't very big herself, but the boy was not quite as big as Trot. +He was thin, with a rather pale complexion and his blue eyes were round +and earnest. He wore a blouse waist, a short jacket and knickerbockers. +Under his arm he held an old umbrella that was as tall as he was. Its +covering had once been of thick brown cloth, but the color had faded to +a dull drab, except in the creases, and Trot thought it looked very +old-fashioned and common. The handle, though, was really curious. It was +of wood and carved to resemble an elephant's head. The long trunk of the +elephant was curved to make a crook for the handle. The eyes of the +beast were small red stones, and it had two tiny tusks of ivory.<a name="page_015" id="page_015"></a></p> + +<p>The boy's dress was rich and expensive, even to his fine silk stockings +and tan shoes; but the umbrella looked old and disreputable.</p> + +<p>"It isn't the rainy season now," remarked Trot, with a smile.</p> + +<p>The boy glanced at his umbrella and hugged it tighter.</p> + +<p>"No," he said; "but umbrellas are good for other things 'sides rain."</p> + +<p>"'Fraid of gett'n' sun-struck?" asked Trot.</p> + +<p>He shook his head, still gazing far out over the water.</p> + +<p>"I don't b'lieve this is bigger than any other ocean," said he. "I can't +see any more of it than I can of the Atlantic."</p> + +<p>"You'd find out, if you had to sail across it," she declared.</p> + +<p>"When I was in Chicago I saw Lake Michigan," he went on dreamily, "and +it looked just as big as this water does."</p> + +<p>"Looks don't count, with oceans," she asserted. "Your eyes can only see +jus' so far, whether you're lookin' at a pond or a great sea."</p> + +<p>"Then it doesn't make any difference how big an ocean is," he replied. +"What are those buildings over there?" pointing to the right, along the +shore of the bay.</p> + +<p>"That's the town," said Trot. "Most of the people earn their living by +fishing. The town is half a mile from here an' my house is almost a half +mile the other way; so it's 'bout a mile from my house to the town."</p> + +<p>The boy sat down beside her on the flat rock.<a name="page_016" id="page_016"></a></p> + +<p>"Do you like girls?" asked Trot, making room for him.</p> + +<p>"Not very well," the boy replied. "Some of 'em are pretty good fellows, +but not many. The girls with brothers are bossy, an' the girls without +brothers haven't any 'go' to 'em. But the world's full o' both kinds, +and so I try to take 'em as they come. They can't help being girls, of +course. Do you like boys?"</p> + +<p>"When they don't put on airs, or get rough-house," replied Trot. "My +'sperience with boys is that they don't know much, but think they do."</p> + +<p>"That's true," he answered. "I don't like boys much better than I do +girls; but some are all right, and—you seem to be one of 'em."</p> + +<p>"Much obliged," laughed Trot. "You aren't so bad, either, an' if we +don't both turn out worse than we seem we ought to be friends."</p> + +<p>He nodded, rather absently, and tossed a pebble into the water.</p> + +<p>"Been to town?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Mother wanted some yarn from the store. She's knittin' Cap'n Bill +a stocking."</p> + +<p>"Doesn't he wear but one?"</p> + +<p>"That's all. Cap'n Bill has one wooden leg," she explained. "That's why +he don't sailor any more. I'm glad of it, 'cause Cap'n Bill knows +ev'rything. I s'pose he knows more than anyone else in all the world."<a name="page_017" id="page_017"></a></p> + +<p>"Whew!" said the boy; "that's taking a good deal for granted. A +one-legged sailor can't know much."</p> + +<p>"Why not?" asked Trot, a little indignantly. "Folks don't learn things +with their legs, do they?"</p> + +<p>"No; but they can't get around, without legs, to find out things."</p> + +<p>"Cap'n Bill got 'round lively 'nough once, when he had two meat legs," +she said. "He's sailed to 'most ev'ry country on the earth, an' found +out all that the people in 'em knew, and a lot besides. He was +shipwrecked on a desert island, once, and another time a cannibal king +tried to boil him for dinner, an' one day a shark chased him seven +leagues through the water, an'—"</p> + +<p>"What's a league?" asked the boy.</p> + +<p>"It's a—a distance, like a mile is; but a league isn't a mile, you +know."</p> + +<p>"What is it, then?"</p> + +<p>"You'll have to ask Cap'n Bill; he knows ever'thing."</p> + +<p>"Not ever'thing," objected the boy. "I know some things Cap'n Bill don't +know."</p> + +<p>"If you do you're pretty smart," said Trot.</p> + +<p>"No; I'm not smart. Some folks think I'm stupid. I guess I am. But I +know a few things that are wonderful. Cap'n Bill may know more'n I do—a +good deal more—but I'm sure he can't know the same things. Say, what's +your name?"<a name="page_018" id="page_018"></a></p> + +<p>"I'm Mayre Griffith; but ever'body calls me 'Trot.' It's a nickname I +got when I was a baby, 'cause I trotted so fast when I walked, an' it +seems to stick. What's <i>your</i> name?"</p> + +<p>"Button-Bright."</p> + +<p>"How did it happen?"</p> + +<p>"How did what happen?"</p> + +<p>"Such a funny name."</p> + +<p>The boy scowled a little.</p> + +<p>"Just like your own nickname happened," he answered gloomily. "My father +once said I was bright as a button, an' it made ever'body laugh. So they +always call me Button-Bright."</p> + +<p>"What's your real name?" she inquired.</p> + +<p>"Saladin Paracelsus de Lambertine Evagne von Smith."</p> + +<p>"Guess I'll call you Button-Bright," said Trot, sighing. "The only other +thing would be 'Salad,' an' I don't like salads. Don't you find it hard +work to 'member all of your name?"</p> + +<p>"I don't try to," he said. "There's a lot more of it, but I've forgotten +the rest."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said Trot. "Oh, here comes Cap'n Bill!" as she glanced over +her shoulder.</p> + +<p>Button-Bright turned also and looked solemnly at the old sailor who came +stumping along the path toward them. Cap'n Bill wasn't a very handsome +man. He was old, not very tall, somewhat stout and chubby, with a round +face, a bald head<a name="page_019" id="page_019"></a> and a scraggly fringe of reddish whisker underneath +his chin. But his blue eyes were frank and merry and his smile like a +ray of sunshine. He wore a sailor shirt with a broad collar, a short +peajacket and wide-bottomed sailor trousers, one leg of which covered +his wooden limb but did not hide it. As he came "pegging" along the +path, as he himself described his hobbling walk, his hands were pushed +into his coat pockets, a pipe was in his mouth and his black neckscarf +was fluttering behind him in the breeze like a sable banner.</p> + +<p>Button-Bright liked the sailor's looks. There was something very +winning—something jolly and care-free and honest and sociable—about +the ancient seaman that made him everybody's friend; so the strange boy +was glad to meet him.</p> + +<p>"Well, well, Trot," he said, coming up, "is this the way you hurry to +town?"</p> + +<p>"No, for I'm on my way back," said she. "I did hurry when I was going, +Cap'n Bill, but on my way home I sat down here to rest an' watch the +gulls—the gulls seem awful busy to-day, Cap'n Bill—an' then I found +this boy."</p> + +<p>Cap'n Bill looked at the boy curiously.</p> + +<p>"Don't think as ever I sawr him at the village," he remarked. "Guess as +you're a stranger, my lad."</p> + +<p>Button-Bright nodded.</p> + +<p>"Hain't walked the nine mile from the railroad station, hev ye?" asked +Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>"No," said Button-Bright.<a name="page_020" id="page_020"></a></p> + +<p>The sailor glanced around him.</p> + +<p>"Don't see no waggin, er no autymob'l'," he added.</p> + +<p>"No," said Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>"Catch a ride wi' some one?"</p> + +<p>Button-Bright shook his head.</p> + +<p>"A boat can't land here; the rocks is too thick an' too sharp," +continued Cap'n Bill, peering down toward the foot of the bluff on which +they sat and against which the waves broke in foam.</p> + +<p>"No," said Button-Bright; "I didn't come by water."</p> + +<p>Trot laughed.</p> + +<p>"He must 'a' dropped from the sky, Cap'n Bill!" she exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Button-Bright nodded, very seriously.</p> + +<p>"That's it," he said.</p> + +<p>"Oh; a airship, eh?" cried Cap'n Bill, in surprise. "I've hearn tell o' +them sky keeridges; someth'n' like flyin' autymob'l's, ain't they?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Button-Bright; "I've never seen one."</p> + +<p>Both Trot and Cap'n Bill now looked at the boy in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Now, then, lemme think a minute," said the sailor, reflectively. +"Here's a riddle for us to guess, Trot. He dropped from the sky, he +says, an' yet he did'nt come in a airship!<a name="page_021" id="page_021"></a></p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"'Riddlecum, riddlecum ree;</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">What can the answer be?'"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p>Trot looked the boy over carefully. She didn't see any wings on him. The +only queer thing about him was his big umbrella.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" she said suddenly, clapping her hands together; "I know now."</p> + +<p>"Do you?" asked Cap'n Bill, doubtfully. "Then you're some smarter ner I +am, mate."</p> + +<p>"He sailed down with the umbrel!" she cried. "He used his umbrel as a +para—para—"</p> + +<p>"Shoot," said Cap'n Bill. "They're called parashoots, mate; but why, I +can't say. Did you drop down in that way, my lad?" he asked the boy.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Button-Bright; "that was the way."</p> + +<p>"But how did you get up there?" asked Trot. "You had to get up in the +air before you could drop down, an'—oh, Cap'n Bill! he says he's from +Phillydelfy, which is a big city way at the other end of America."</p> + +<p>"Are you?" asked the sailor, surprised.</p> + +<p>Button-Bright nodded again.</p> + +<p>"I ought to tell you my story," he said, "and then you'd understand. But +I'm afraid you won't believe me, and—" he suddenly broke off and looked +toward the white house in the distance—"Didn't you say you lived over +there?" he inquired.<a name="page_022" id="page_022"></a></p> + +<p>"Yes," said Trot. "Won't you come home with us?"</p> + +<p>"I'd like to," replied Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>"All right; let's go, then," said the girl, jumping up.</p> + +<p>The three walked silently along the path. The old sailorman had refilled +his pipe and lighted it again, and he smoked thoughtfully as he pegged +along beside the children.</p> + +<p>"Know anyone around here?" he asked Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>"No one but you two," said the boy, following after Trot, with his +umbrella tucked carefully underneath his arm.</p> + +<p>"And you don't know us very well," remarked Cap'n Bill. "Seems to me +you're pretty young to be travelin' so far from home, an' among +strangers; but I won't say anything more till we've heard your story. +Then, if you need my advice, or Trot's advice—she's a wise little girl, +fer her size, Trot is—we'll freely give it an' be glad to help you."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," replied Button-Bright; "I need a lot of things, I'm sure, +and p'raps advice is one of 'em."</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_011_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_011_sml.png" width="450" height="290" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_023" id="page_023"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_2" id="CHAPTER_2"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_012_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_012_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="302" +alt="THE MAGIC UMBRELLA--CHAPTER 2." +title="THE MAGIC UMBRELLA--CHAPTER 2." /></a></p> + +<p>WHEN they reached the neat frame cottage which stood on a high bluff a +little back from the sea and was covered with pretty green vines, a +woman came to the door to meet them. She seemed motherly and good and +when she saw Button-Bright she exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Goodness me! who's this you've got, Trot?"</p> + +<p>"It's a boy I've just found," explained the girl. "He lives way off in +Phillydelphy."</p> + +<p>"Mercy sakes alive!" cried Mrs. Griffith, looking into his upturned +face; "I don't believe he's had a bite to eat since he started. Ain't +you hungry, child?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>"Run, Trot, an' get two slices o' bread-an'-butter," commanded Mrs. +Griffith. "Cut 'em thick, dear, an' use plenty of butter."</p> + +<p>"Sugar on 'em?" asked Trot, turning to obey.<a name="page_024" id="page_024"></a></p> + +<p>"No," said Button-Bright, "just bread-an'-butter's good enough when +you're hungry, and it takes time to spread sugar on."</p> + +<p>"We'll have supper in an hour," observed Trot's mother, briskly; "but a +hungry child can't wait a whole hour, I'm sure. What are you grinning +at, Cap'n Bill? How dare you laugh when I'm talking? Stop it this +minute, you old pirate, or I'll know the reason why!"</p> + +<p>"I didn't, mum," said Cap'n Bill, meekly, "I on'y—"</p> + +<p>"Stop right there, sir! How dare you speak when I'm talking?" She turned +to Button-Bright and her tone changed to one of much gentleness as she +said: "Come in the house, my poor boy, an' rest yourself. You seem tired +out. Here, give me that clumsy umbrella."</p> + +<p>"No, please," said Button-Bright, holding the umbrella tighter.</p> + +<p>"Then put it in the rack behind the door," she urged. The boy seemed a +little frightened.</p> + +<p>"I—I'd rather keep it with me, if you please," he pleaded.</p> + +<p>"Never mind," Cap'n Bill ventured to say, "it won't worry him so much to +hold the umbrella, mum, as to let it go. Guess he's afraid he'll lose +it, but it ain't any great shakes, to my notion. Why, see here, +Butt'n-Bright, we've got half-a-dozen umbrels in the closet that's +better ner yours."<a name="page_025" id="page_025"></a></p> + +<p>"Perhaps," said the boy. "Yours may look a heap better, sir, but—I'll +keep this one, if you please."</p> + +<p>"Where did you get it?" asked Trot, appearing just then with a plate of +bread-and-butter.</p> + +<p>"It—it belongs in our family," said Button-Bright, beginning to eat and +speaking between bites. "This umbrella has been in our family years, an' +years, an' years. But it was tucked away up in our attic an' no one ever +used it 'cause it wasn't pretty."</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_013_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_013_sml.png" width="450" height="268" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p>"Don't blame 'em much," remarked Cap'n Bill, gazing at it curiously; +"it's a pretty old-lookin' bumbershoot." They were all seated in the +vine-shaded porch of the cottage—all but Mrs. Griffith, who had gone +into the kitchen to look after the supper—and Trot was on one side of +the boy,<a name="page_026" id="page_026"></a> holding the plate for him, while Cap'n Bill sat on the other +side.</p> + +<p>"It <i>is</i> old," said Button-Bright. "One of my great-great-grandfathers +was a Knight—an Arabian Knight—and it was he who first found this +umbrella."</p> + +<p>"An Arabian Night!" exclaimed Trot; "why, that was a magic night, wasn't +it?"</p> + +<p>"There's diff'rent sorts o' nights, mate," said the sailor, "an' the +knight Button-Bright means ain't the same night you mean. Soldiers used +to be called knights, but that were in the dark ages, I guess, an' +likely 'nough Butt'n-Bright's great-gran'ther were that sort of a +knight."</p> + +<p>"But he said an Arabian Knight," persisted Trot.</p> + +<p>"Well, if he went to Araby, or was born there, he'd be an Arabian +Knight, wouldn't he? The lad's gran'ther were prob'ly a furriner, an' +yours an' mine were, too, Trot, if you go back far enough; for Ameriky +wasn't diskivered in them days."</p> + +<p>"There!" said Trot, triumphantly, "didn't I tell you, Button-Bright, +that Cap'n Bill knows ever'thing?"</p> + +<p>"He knows a lot, I expect," soberly answered the boy, finishing the last +slice of bread-and-butter and then looking at the empty plate with a +sigh; "but if he really knows everthing he knows about the Magic +Umbrella, so I won't have to tell you anything about it."<a name="page_027" id="page_027"></a></p> + +<p>"Magic!" cried Trot, with big, eager eyes; "did you say <i>Magic</i> Umbrel, +Button-Bright?"</p> + +<p>"I said 'Magic.' But none of our family knew it was a Magic Umbrella +till I found it out for myself. You're the first people I've told the +secret to," he added, glancing into their faces rather uneasily.</p> + +<p>"Glory me!" exclaimed the girl, clapping her hands in ecstacy; "it must +be jus' <i>elegant</i> to have a Magic Umbrel!"</p> + +<p>Cap'n Bill coughed. He had a way of coughing when he was suspicious.</p> + +<p>"Magic," he observed gravely, "was once lyin' 'round loose in the world. +That was in the Dark Ages, I guess, when the magic Arabian Nights was. +But the light o' Civilization has skeered it away long ago, an' magic's +been a lost art since long afore you an' I was born, Trot."</p> + +<p>"I know that fairies still live," said Trot, reflectively. She didn't +like to contradict Cap'n Bill, who knew "ever'thing."</p> + +<p>"So do I," added Button-Bright. "And I know there's magic still in the +world—or in my umbrella, anyhow."</p> + +<p>"Tell us about it!" begged the girl, excitedly.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the boy, "I found it all out by accident. It rained in +Philadelphia for three whole days, and all the umbrellas in our house +were carried out by the family, and lost or mislaid, or something, so +that when I wanted to go to Uncle Bob's house, which is at Germantown, +there wasn't +<a name="page_028" id="page_028"></a><a name="page_029" id="page_029"></a><a name="page_030" id="page_030"></a> +an umbrella to be found. My governess wouldn't let me go +without one, and—"</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_014_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_014_sml.png" width="393" height="550" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="images/ill_015_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_015_sml.png" width="395" height="550" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Trot; "do you have a governess?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but I don't like her; she's cross. She said I couldn't go to Uncle +Bob's because I had no umbrella. Instead she told me to go up in the +attic and play. I was sorry 'bout that, but I went up in the attic and +pretty soon I found in a corner this old umbrella. I didn't care how it +looked. It was whole and strong and big, and would keep me from getting +wet on the way to Uncle Bob's. So off I started for the car, but I found +the streets awful muddy, and once I stepped in a mud-hole way up to my +ankle.</p> + +<p>"'Gee!' I said, 'I wish I could fly through the air to Uncle Bob's.'</p> + +<p>"I was holding up the open umbrella when I said that, and as soon as I +spoke, the umbrella began lifting me up into the air. I was awful +scared, at first, but I held on tight to the handle and it didn't pull +very much, either. I was going pretty fast, for when I looked down, all +the big buildings were sliding past me so swift that it made me dizzy, +and before I really knew what had happened the umbrella settled down and +stood me on my feet at Uncle Bob's front gate.</p> + +<p>"I didn't tell anybody about the wonderful thing that had happened, +'cause I thought no one would believe me. Uncle Bob looked sharp at the +thing an' said: 'Button-Bright, how did your father happen to let you +take that umbrella?'<a name="page_031" id="page_031"></a> 'He didn't,' I said. 'Father was away at the +office, so I found it in the attic an' I jus' took it.' Then Uncle Bob +shook his head an' said I ought to leave it alone. He said it was a +fam'ly relic that had been handed down from father to son for many +generations. But I told him my father had never handed it to me, though +I'm his son. Uncle Bob said our fam'ly always believed that it brought +'em good luck to own this umbrella. He couldn't say why, not knowing its +early history, but he was afraid that if I lost the umbrella bad luck +would happen to us. So he made me go right home to put the umbrella back +where I got it. I was sorry Uncle Bob was so cross, and I didn't want to +go home yet, where the governess was crosser 'n he was. I wonder why +folks get cross when it rains? But by that time it had stopped raining, +for awhile, anyhow, and Uncle Bob told me to go straight home and put +the umbrella in the attic an' never touch it again.</p> + +<p>"When I was around the corner I thought I'd see if I could fly as I had +before. I'd heard of Buffalo, but I didn't know just where it was; so I +said to the umbrella: 'Take me to Buffalo.'</p> + +<p>"Up in the air I went, just as soon as I said it, and the umbrella +sailed so fast that I felt as if I was in a gale of wind. It was a long, +long trip, and I got awful tired holding onto the handle, but just as I +thought I'd have to let go I began to drop down slowly, and then I found +myself in the streets of<a name="page_032" id="page_032"></a> a big city. I put down the umbrella and asked +a man what the name of the city was, and he said 'Buffalo.'"</p> + +<p>"How wonderful!" gasped Trot. Cap'n Bill kept on smoking and said +nothing.</p> + +<p>"It was magic, I'm sure," said Button-Bright. "It surely couldn't have +been anything else."</p> + +<p>"P'raps," suggested Trot, "the umbrella can do other magic things."</p> + +<p>"No," said the boy; "I've tried it. When I landed in Buffalo I was hot +and thirsty. I had ten cents, car fare, but I was afraid to spend it. So +I held up the umbrella and wished I had an ice-cream soda; but I didn't +get it. Then I wished for a nickel to buy an ice-cream soda with; but I +didn't get that, either. I got frightened and was afraid the umbrella +didn't have any magic left, so to try it I said: 'Take me to Chicago.' I +didn't want to go to Chicago, but that was the first place I thought of, +and so I said it. Up again I flew, swifter than a bird, and I soon saw +this was going to be another long journey; so I called out to the +umbrella: 'Never mind; stop! I guess I won't go to Chicago. I've changed +my mind, so take me home again.' But the umbrella wouldn't. It kept +right on flying and I shut my eyes and held on. At last I landed in +Chicago, and then I was in a pretty fix. It was nearly dark and I was +too tired and hungry to make the trip home again. I knew I'd get an +awful scolding, too, for running away and taking the family luck<a name="page_033" id="page_033"></a> with +me, so I thought that as long as I was in for it I'd better see a good +deal of the country while I had the chance. I wouldn't be allowed to +come away again, you know."</p> + +<p>"No, of course not," said Trot.</p> + +<p>"I bought some buns and milk with my ten cents and then I walked around +the streets of Chicago for a time and afterward slept on a bench in one +of the parks. In the morning I tried to get the umbrella to give me a +magic breakfast, but it won't do anything but fly. I went to a house and +asked a woman for something to eat and she gave me all I wanted and +advised me to go straight home before my mother worried about me. She +didn't know I lived in Philadelphia. That was this morning."</p> + +<p>"This mornin'!" exclaimed Cap'n Bill. "Why, lad, it takes three or four +days for the railroad trains to get to this coast from Chicago."</p> + +<p>"I know," replied Button-Bright, "but I didn't come on a railroad train. +This umbrella goes faster than any train ever did. This morning I flew +from Chicago to Denver, but no one there would give me any lunch. A +policeman said he'd put me in jail if he caught me begging, so I got +away and told the umbrella to take me to the Pacific Ocean. When I +stopped I landed over there by the big rock. I shut up the umbrella and +saw a girl sitting on the rock, so I went up and spoke to her. That's +all."<a name="page_034" id="page_034"></a></p> + +<p>"Goodness me!" said Trot; "if that isn't a fairy story I never heard +one."</p> + +<p>"It <i>is</i> a fairy story," agreed Button-Bright. "Anyhow, it's a magic +story, and the funny part of it is, it's true. I hope you believe me; +but I don't know as I'd believe it myself, if it hadn't been me that it +happened to."</p> + +<p>"I believe ev'ry word of it!" declared Trot, earnestly.</p> + +<p>"As fer me," said Cap'n Bill slowly, "I'm goin' to believe it, too, +by'm'by, when I've seen the umbrel fly once."</p> + +<p>"You'll see me fly away with it," asserted the boy. "But at present it's +pretty late in the day, and Philadelphia is a good way off. Do you +s'pose, Trot, your mother would let me stay here all night?"</p> + +<p>"Course she would!" answered Trot. "We've got an extra room with a nice +bed in it, and we'd love to have you stay—just as long as you want +to—wouldn't we, Cap'n Bill?"</p> + +<p>"Right you are, mate," replied the old man, nodding his bald head. +"Whether the umbrel is magic or not, Butt'n-Bright is welcome."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Griffith came out soon after, and seconded the invitation, so the +boy felt quite at home in the little cottage. It was not long before +supper was on the table and in spite of all the bread-and-butter he had +eaten Button-Bright had a fine appetite for the good things Trot's +mother had cooked. Mrs. Griffith was very kind to the children, but not +quite so<a name="page_035" id="page_035"></a> agreeable toward poor Cap'n Bill. When the old sailorman at +one time spilled some tea on the tablecloth Trot's mother flew angry and +gave the culprit such a tongue-lashing that Button-Bright was sorry for +him. But Cap'n Bill was meek and made no reply. "He's used to it, you +know," whispered Trot to her new friend; and, indeed, Cap'n Bill took it +all cheerfully and never minded a bit.</p> + +<p>Then it came Trot's turn to get a scolding. When she opened the parcel +she had bought at the village it was found she had selected the wrong +color of yarn, and Mrs. Griffith was so provoked that Trot's scolding +was almost as severe as that of Cap'n Bill. Tears came to the little +girl's eyes, and to comfort her the boy promised to take her to the +village next morning with his magic umbrella, so she could exchange the +yarn for the right color.</p> + +<p>Trot quickly brightened at this promise, although Cap'n Bill looked +grave and shook his head solemnly. When supper was over and Trot had +helped with the dishes she joined Button-Bright and the sailorman on the +little porch again. Dusk had fallen and the moon was just rising. They +all sat in silence for a time and watched the silver trail that topped +the crests of the waves far out to sea.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Button-Bright!" cried the little girl, presently; "I'm so glad +you're going to let me fly with you—way to town and back—to-morrow. +Won't it be fine, Cap'n Bill?"<a name="page_036" id="page_036"></a></p> + +<p>"Dunno, Trot," said he. "I can't figger how both o' you can hold on to +the handle o' that umbrel."</p> + +<p>Trot's face fell.</p> + +<p>"I'll hold on to the handle," said Button-Bright, "and she can hold on +to me. It doesn't pull hard at all. You've no idea how easy it is to fly +that way—after you get used to it."</p> + +<p>"But Trot ain't used to it," objected the sailor. "If she happened to +lose her hold and let go, it's good-bye Trot. I don't like to risk it, +for Trot's my chum, an' I can't afford to lose her."</p> + +<p>"Can't you tie us together, then?" asked the boy.</p> + +<p>"We'll see; we'll see," replied Cap'n Bill, and began to think very +deeply. He forgot that he didn't believe the umbrella could fly, and +after Button-Bright and Trot had both gone to bed the old sailor went +out into the shed and worked awhile before he, too, turned into his +"bunk." The sandman wasn't around and Cap'n Bill lay awake for hours +thinking of the strange tale of the Magic Umbrella before he finally +sank into slumber. Then he dreamed about it, and waking or dreaming he +found the tale hard to believe.<a name="page_037" id="page_037"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_3" id="CHAPTER_3"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_016_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_016_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="298" +alt="A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE--CHAPTER 3." +title="A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE--CHAPTER 3." /></a></p> + +<p>THEY had early breakfasts at Trot's house, because they all went to bed +early and it is possible to sleep only a certain number of hours if one +is healthy in body and mind. And right after breakfast Trot claimed +Button-Bright's promise to take her to town with the Magic Umbrella.</p> + +<p>"Any time suits me," said the boy. He had taken his precious umbrella to +bed with him and even carried it to the breakfast table, where he stood +it between his knees as he ate; so now he held it close to him and said +he was ready to fly at a moment's notice. This confidence impressed +Cap'n Bill, who said with a sigh:</p> + +<p>"Well, if you <i>must</i> go, Trot, I've pervided a machine that'll carry you +both comf'table. I'm summat of an inventor myself, though there ain't +any magic about me."</p> + +<p>Then he brought from the shed the contrivance he had made the night +before. It was merely a swing seat. He had<a name="page_038" id="page_038"></a> taken a wide board that was +just long enough for both the boy and girl to sit upon, and had bored +six holes in it—two holes at each end and two in the middle. Through +these holes he had run stout ropes in such a way that the seat could not +turn and the occupants could hold on to the ropes on either side of +them. The ropes were all knotted together at the top, where there was a +loop that could be hooked upon the crooked handle of the umbrella.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_017_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_017_sml.png" width="450" height="272" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p>Button-Bright and Trot both thought Cap'n Bill's invention very clever. +The sailor placed the board upon the ground while they sat in their +places, Button-Bright at the right of Trot, and then the boy hooked the +rope loop to the handle of the umbrella, which he spread wide open.<a name="page_039" id="page_039"></a></p> + +<p>"I want to go to the town over yonder," he said, pointing with his +finger to the roofs of the houses that showed around the bend in the +cliff.</p> + +<p>At once the umbrella rose into the air; slowly, at first, but quickly +gathering speed. Trot and Button-Bright held fast to the ropes and were +carried along very easily and comfortably. It seemed scarcely a minute +before they were in the town, and when the umbrella set them down just +in front of the store—for it seemed to know just where they wanted to +go—a wondering crowd gathered around them. Trot ran in and changed the +yarn, while Button-Bright stayed outside and stared at the people who +stared at him. They asked questions, too, wanting to know what sort of +an aëroplane this was, and where his power was stored, and lots of other +things; but the boy answered not a word. When the little girl came back +and took her seat Button-Bright said:</p> + +<p>"I want to go to Trot's house."</p> + +<p>The simple villagers could not understand how the umbrella suddenly +lifted the two children into the air and carried them away. They had +read of airships, but here was something wholly beyond their +comprehension.</p> + +<p>Cap'n Bill had stood in front of the house, watching with a feeling akin +to bewilderment the flight of the Magic Umbrella. He could follow its +course until it descended in the village and he was so amazed and +absorbed that his pipe went out. He had not moved from his position when +the umbrella<a name="page_040" id="page_040"></a> started back. The sailor's big blue eyes watched it draw +near and settle down with its passengers upon just the spot it had +started from.</p> + +<p>Trot was joyous and greatly excited.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Cap'n, it's gal-lor-ious!" she cried in ecstasy. "It beats ridin' +in a boat or—or—in anything else. You feel so light an' free +an'—an'—glad! I'm sorry the trip didn't last longer, though. Only +trouble is, you go too fast."</p> + +<p>Button-Bright was smiling contentedly. He had proved to both Trot and +Cap'n Bill that he had told the truth about the Magic Umbrella, however +marvelous his tale had seemed to them.</p> + +<p>"I'll take you on another trip, if you like," said he, "I'm in no hurry +to go home and if you will let me stay with you another day we can make +two or three little trips with the family luck."</p> + +<p>"You mus' stay a whole week," said Trot, decidedly. "An' you mus' take +Cap'n Bill for an air-ride, too."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Trot! I dunno as I'd like it," protested Cap'n Bill, nervously.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you would. You're sure to like it."</p> + +<p>"I guess I'm too heavy," he said.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure the umbrella could carry twenty people, if they could be +fastened to the handle," said Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>"Solid land's pretty good to hold on to," decided Cap'n Bill. "A rope +might break, you know."<a name="page_041" id="page_041"></a></p> + +<p>"Oh, Cap'n Bill! You're scared stiff," said Trot.</p> + +<p>"I ain't, mate; it ain't that at all. But I don't see that human +critters has any call to fly in the air, anyhow. The air were made for +the birds, an'—an' muskeeters, an'—"</p> + +<p>"An' flyin'-fishes," added Trot. "I know all that, Cap'n; but why wasn't +it made for humans, too, if they can manage to fly in it? We breathe the +air, an' we can breathe it high up, just as well as down on the earth."</p> + +<p>"Seein' as you like it so much, Trot, it would be cruel for me to go +with Butt'n-Bright an' leave you at home," said the sailor. "When I were +younger—which is ancient history—an' afore I had a wooden leg, I could +climb a ship's ropes with the best of 'em, an' walk out on a boom, or +stand atop a mast. So you know very well I ain't skeert about the +highupness."</p> + +<p>"Why can't we all go together?" asked the boy. "Make another seat, +Cap'n, and swing it right under ours; then we can all three ride +anywhere we want to go."</p> + +<p>"Yes, do!" exclaimed Trot. "And, see here, Cap'n; let's take a day off +and have a picnic. Mother is a little cross, to-day, and she wants to +finish knitting your new stockin'; so I guess she'll be glad to get rid +of us."</p> + +<p>"Where'll we go?" he asked, shifting on his wooden leg uneasily.</p> + +<p>"Anywhere; I don't care. There'll be the air-ride there, an' the +air-ride back, an' that's the main thing with <i>me</i>. If<a name="page_042" id="page_042"></a> you say you'll +go, Cap'n, I'll run in an' pack a basket of lunch."</p> + +<p>"How'll we carry it?"</p> + +<p>"Swing it to the bottom of your seat."</p> + +<p>The old sailor stood silent a moment. He really longed to take the +air-ride but was fearful of danger. However, Trot had gone safely to +town and back and had greatly enjoyed the experience.</p> + +<p>"All right," he said; "I'll risk it, mate, although I guess I'm an old +fool for temptin' fate by tryin' to make a bird o' myself. Get the +lunch, Trot, if your mother'll let you have it, and I'll rig up the +seat."</p> + +<p>He went into the shed and Trot went to her mother. Mrs. Griffith, busy +with her work, knew nothing of what was going on in regard to the flight +of the Magic Umbrella. She never objected when Trot wanted to go away +with Cap'n Bill for a day's picnicking. She knew the child was perfectly +safe with the old sailor, who cared for Trot even better than her mother +would have done. If she had asked any questions to-day, and had found +out they intended to fly in the air, she might have seriously objected; +but Mrs. Griffith had her mind on other things and merely told the girl +to take what she wanted from the cupboard and not bother her. So Trot, +remembering that Button-Bright would be with them and had proved himself +to be a hearty eater, loaded the basket with all the good things she +could find.</p> + +<p>By the time she came out, lugging the basket with both hands, Cap'n Bill +appeared with the new seat he had made for his own use, which he +attached by means of ropes to the double seat of the boy and girl.</p> + +<p>"Now, then, where'll we go?" asked Trot.</p> + +<p>"Anywhere suits me," replied Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>They had walked to the high bluff overlooking the sea, where a gigantic +acacia tree stood on the very edge. A seat had been built around the +trunk of the tree, for this was a favorite spot for Trot and Cap'n Bill +to sit and talk and watch the fleet of fishing boats sail to and from +the village.</p> + +<p>When they came to this tree Trot was still trying to think of the most +pleasant place to picnic. She and Cap'n Bill had been every place that +was desirable and near by, but to-day they didn't want a near-by spot. +They must decide upon one far enough away to afford them a fine trip +through the air. Looking far out over the Pacific, the girl's eyes fell +upon a dim island lying on the horizon line—just where the sky and +water seemed to meet—and the sight gave her an idea.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Cap'n Bill!" she exclaimed, "let's go to that island for our +picnic. We've never been there yet, you know."</p> + +<p>The sailor shook his head.</p> + +<p>"It's a good many miles away, Trot," he said; "further than it looks to +be, from here."</p> + +<p>"That won't matter," remarked Button-Bright; "the umbrella will carry us +there in no time."<a name="page_043" id="page_043"></a></p> + +<p>"Let's go!" repeated Trot. "We'll never have another such chance, Cap'n. +It's too far to sail or row, and I've always wanted to visit that +island."</p> + +<p>"What's the name of it?" inquired Button-Bright, while the sailor +hesitated how to decide.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's got an awful hard name to pernounce," replied the girl, "so +Cap'n Bill and I jus' call it 'Sky Island,' 'cause it looks as if it was +half in the sky. We've been told it's a very pretty island, and a few +people live there and keep cows and goats, and fish for a living. There +are woods and pastures and springs of clear water, and I'm sure we would +find it a fine place for a picnic."</p> + +<p>"If anything happened on the way," observed Cap'n Bill, "we'd drop in +the water."</p> + +<p>"Of course," said Trot; "and if anything happened while we were flyin' +over the land we'd drop there. But nothing's goin' to happen, Cap'n. +Didn't Button-Bright come safe all the way from Philydelfy?"</p> + +<p>"I think I'd like to go to Sky Island," said the boy. "I've always flown +above the land, so far, and it will be something new to fly over the +ocean."</p> + +<p>"All right; I'm agree'ble," decided Cap'n Bill. "But afore we starts on +such a long journey, s'pose we make a little trial trip along the coast. +I want to see if the new seat fits me, an' make certain the umbrel will +carry all three of us."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Button-Bright. "Where shall we go?"<a name="page_044" id="page_044"></a></p> + +<p>"Let's go as far as Smuggler's Cove, an' then turn 'round an' come back. +If all's right an' shipshape, then we can start for the island."</p> + +<p>They put the broad double seat on the ground and then the boy and girl +sat in their places and Button-Bright spread open the Magic Umbrella. +Cap'n Bill sat in his seat just in front of them, all being upon the +ground.</p> + +<p>"Don't we look funny?" said Trot, with a chuckle of glee. "But hold fast +the ropes, Cap'n, an' take care of your wooden leg."</p> + +<p>Button-Bright addressed the umbrella, speaking to it very respectfully, +for it was a thing to inspire awe.</p> + +<p>"I want to go as far as Smuggler's Cove, and then turn around in the air +and come back here," he said.</p> + +<p>At once the umbrella rose into the air, lifting after it, first the seat +in which the children sat, and then Cap'n Bill's seat.</p> + +<p>"Don't kick your heels, Trot!" cried the sailor in a voice that proved +he was excited by his novel experience; "you might bump me in the nose."</p> + +<p>"All right," she called back; "I'll be careful."</p> + +<p>It was really a wonderful, exhilarating ride, and Cap'n Bill wasn't long +making up his mind he liked the sensation. When about fifty feet above +the ground the umbrella began moving along the coast toward Smuggler's +Cove, which it soon reached. Looking downward, Cap'n Bill suddenly +exclaimed:<a name="page_046" id="page_046"></a></p> + +<p>"Why, there's a boat cast loose, an' it's goin' to smash on the rocks. +Hold on a minute, Butt'n-Bright, till we can land an' drag it ashore."</p> + +<p>"Hold on a minute, Umbrella!" cried the boy.</p> + +<p>But the Magic Umbrella kept steadily upon its way. It made a circle over +the Cove and then started straight back the way it had come.</p> + +<p>"It's no use, sir," said Button-Bright to the sailor. "If I once tell it +to go to a certain place, the umbrella will go there, and nowhere else. +I've found that out before this. You simply <i>can't</i> stop it."</p> + +<p>"Won't let you change your mind, eh?" replied Cap'n Bill. "Well, that +has its advantidges, an' its disadvantidges. If your ol' umbrel hadn't +been so obstinate we could have saved that boat."</p> + +<p>"Never mind," said Trot, briskly; "here we are safe back again. Wasn't +it jus' the—the fascinatingest ride you ever took, Cap'n?"</p> + +<p>"It's pretty good fun," admitted Cap'n Bill. "Beats them aëroplanes an' +things all holler, 'cause it don't need any regulatin'."</p> + +<p>"If we're going to that island we may as well start right away," said +Button-Bright, when they had safely landed.</p> + +<p>"All right; I'll tie on the lunch-basket," answered the sailor. He +fastened it so it would swing underneath his own seat and then they all +took their places again.<a name="page_047" id="page_047"></a></p> + +<p>"Ready?" asked the boy.</p> + +<p>"Let'er go, my lad."</p> + +<p>"I want to go to Sky Island," said Button-Bright to the umbrella, using +the name Trot had given him.</p> + +<p>The umbrella started promptly. It rose higher than before, carrying the +three voyagers with it, and then started straight away over the ocean.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_018_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_018_sml.png" width="450" height="273" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_048" id="page_048"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_4" id="CHAPTER_4"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_019_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_019_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="311" +alt="THE ISLAND IN THE SKY--CHAPTER 4." +title="THE ISLAND IN THE SKY--CHAPTER 4." /></a></p> + +<p>THEY clung tightly to the ropes, but the breeze was with them, so after +a few moments, when they became accustomed to the motion, they began to +enjoy the ride immensely.</p> + +<p>Larger and larger grew the island, and although they were headed +directly toward it, the umbrella seemed to rise higher and higher into +the air the farther it traveled. They had not journeyed ten minutes +before they came directly over the island, and looking down they could +see the forests and meadows far below them. But the umbrella kept up its +rapid flight.</p> + +<p>"Hold on, there!" cried Cap'n Bill. "If it ain't keerful the ol' thing +will pass way by the island."</p> + +<p>"I—I'm sure it has passed it already," exclaimed Trot "What's wrong, +Button-Bright? Why don't we stop?"</p> + +<p>Button-Bright seemed astonished too.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I didn't say it right," he replied, after a<a name="page_049" id="page_049"></a> moment's thought. +Then, looking up at the umbrella, he repeated, distinctly: "I said I +wanted to go to Sky Island! Sky Island; don't you understand?"</p> + +<p>The umbrella swept steadily along, getting farther and farther out to +sea and rising higher and higher toward the clouds.</p> + +<p>"Mack'rel an' herrings!" roared Cap'n Bill, now really frightened; +"ain't there any blamed way at all to stop her?"</p> + +<p>"None that I know of," said Button-Bright, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"P'raps," said Trot, after a pause during which she tried hard to think, +"p'raps 'Sky Island' isn't the name of that island, at all."</p> + +<p>"Why, we know very well it ain't the name of it," yelled Cap'n Bill, +from below. "We jus' called it that 'cause its right name is too hard to +say."</p> + +<p>"That's the whole trouble, then," returned Button-Bright. "Somewhere in +the world there's a real Sky Island, and having told the Magic Umbrella +to take us there, it's going to do so."</p> + +<p>"Well, I declare!" gasped the sailorman; "can't we land anywhere else?"</p> + +<p>"Not unless you care to tumble off," said the boy. "I've told the +umbrella to take us to Sky Island, so that's the exact place we're bound +for. I'm sorry. It was your fault for giving me the wrong name."<a name="page_050" id="page_050"></a></p> + +<p>They glided along in silence for a while. The island was now far behind +them, growing small in the distance.</p> + +<p>"Where do you s'pose the real Sky Island can be?" asked Trot presently.</p> + +<p>"We can't tell anything about it until we get there," Button-Bright +answered. "Seems to me I've heard of the Isle of Skye, but that's over +in Great Britain, somewhere the other side of the world; and it isn't +Sky Island, anyhow."</p> + +<p>"This miser'ble ol' umbrel is too pertic'ler," growled Cap'n Bill. "It +won't let you change your mind an' it goes ezzac'ly where you say."</p> + +<p>"If it didn't," said Trot, "we'd never know where we were going."</p> + +<p>"We don't know now," said the sailor. "One thing's certain, folks: we're +gett'n' a long way from home."</p> + +<p>"And see how the clouds are rolling just above us," remarked the boy, +who was almost as uneasy as Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>"We're in the sky, all right," said the girl. "If there could be an +island up here, among the clouds, I'd think it was there we're going."</p> + +<p>"Couldn't there be one?" asked Button-Bright. "Why couldn't there be an +island in the sky that would be named Sky Island?"</p> + +<p>"Of course not!" declared Cap'n Bill. "There wouldn't be anything to +hold it up, you know."</p> + +<p>"What's holding <i>us</i> up?" asked Trot.<a name="page_051" id="page_051"></a></p> + +<p>"Magic, I guess."</p> + +<p>"Then magic might hold an island in the sky.... Whee-e-e-e! what a black +cloud!"</p> + +<p>It grew suddenly dark, for they were rushing through a thick cloud that +rolled around them in billows. Trot felt little drops of moisture +striking her face and knew her clothing was getting damp and soggy.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_020_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_020_sml.png" width="450" height="272" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p>"It's a rain cloud," she said to Button-Bright, "and it seems like an +awful big one, 'cause it takes so long for us to pass through it."</p> + +<p>The umbrella never hesitated a moment. It made a path through the length +of the heavy black cloud at last and carried its passengers into a +misty, billowy bank of white, which<a name="page_052" id="page_052"></a> seemed as soft and fleecy as a +lady's veil. When this broke away they caught sight of a majestic +rainbow spanning the heavens, its gorgeous colors glinting brightly in +the sun, its arch perfect and unbroken from end to end. But it was only +a glimpse they had, for quickly they dove into another bank of clouds +and the rainbow disappeared.</p> + +<p>Here the clouds were not black, nor heavy, but they assumed queer +shapes. Some were like huge ships, some like forest trees, and others +piled themselves into semblances of turreted castles and wonderful +palaces. The shapes shifted here and there continually and the voyagers +began to be bewildered by the phantoms.</p> + +<p>"Seems to me we're goin' down," called Trot.</p> + +<p>"Down where?" asked Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>"Who knows?" said Button-Bright. "But we're dropping, all right."</p> + +<p>It was a gradual descent. The Magic Umbrella maintained a uniform speed, +swift and unfaltering, but its path through the heavens was now in the +shape of an arch, as a flying arrow falls. The queer shapes of the +clouds continued for some time, and once or twice Trot was a little +frightened when a monstrous airy dragon passed beside them, or a huge +giant stood upon a peak of cloud and stared savagely at the intruders +into his domain. But none of these fanciful, vapory creatures seemed +inclined to molest them or to interfere with their flight and after a +while the umbrella dipped below this<a name="page_053" id="page_053"></a> queer cloudland and entered a +clear space where the sky was of an exquisite blue color.</p> + +<p>"Oh, look!" called Cap'n Bill. "There's land below us."</p> + +<p>The boy and girl leaned over and tried to see this land, but Cap'n Bill +was also leaning over and his big body hid all that was just underneath +them.</p> + +<p>"Is it an island?" asked Trot, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Seems so," the old sailor replied. "The blue is around all one side of +it an' a pink sunshine around the other side. There's a big cloud just +over the middle; but I guess it's surely an island, Trot, an' bein' as +it's in the sky, it's likely to be Sky Island."</p> + +<p>"Then we shall land there," said the boy confidently. "I knew the +umbrella couldn't make a mistake."</p> + +<p>Presently Cap'n Bill spoke again.</p> + +<p>"We're goin' down on the blue part o' the island," he said. "I can see +trees, an' ponds, an' houses. Hold tight, Trot! Hold tight, +Butt'n-Bright! I'm afeared we're a-goin' to bump somethin'!"</p> + +<p>They were certainly dropping very quickly, now, and the rush of air made +their eyes fill with water, so that they could not see much below them. +Suddenly the basket that was dangling below Cap'n Bill's seat struck +something with a loud thud and this was followed by a yell of anger. +Cap'n Bill sat flat upon the ground, landing with a force that jarred +the sailorman and made his teeth click together, while down<a name="page_054" id="page_054"></a> upon him +came the seat that Trot and Button-Bright occupied, so that for a moment +they were all tangled up.</p> + +<p>"Get off from me! Get off from my feet, I say!" cried an excited voice. +"What in the Sky do you mean by sitting on my feet? Get off! Get off at +once!"</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_021_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_021_sml.png" width="450" height="274" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_055" id="page_055"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_5" id="CHAPTER_5"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_022_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_022_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="312" +alt="THE BOOLOOROO OF THE BLUES--CHAPTER 5." +title="THE BOOLOOROO OF THE BLUES--CHAPTER 5." /></a></p> + +<p>CAP'N BILL suspected that these remarks were addressed to him, but he +couldn't move just then because the seat was across him, and a boy and +girl were sprawling on the seat. As the Magic Umbrella was now as +motionless as any ordinary umbrella might be, Button-Bright first +released the catch and closed it up, after which he unhooked the crooked +handle from the rope and rose to his feet. Trot had managed by this time +to stand up and she pulled the board off from Cap'n Bill. All this time +the shrill, excited voice was loudly complaining because the sailor was +on his feet, and Trot looked to see who was making the protest, while +Cap'n Bill rolled over and got on his hands and knees so he could pull +his meat leg and his wooden leg into an upright position, which wasn't a +very easy thing to do.</p> + +<p>Button-Bright and Trot were staring with all their might at the queerest +person they had ever seen. They decided it<a name="page_056" id="page_056"></a> must be a man, because he +had two long legs, a body as round as a ball, a neck like an ostrich and +a comical little head set on the top of it. But the most curious thing +about him was his skin, which was of a lovely sky-blue tint. His eyes +were also sky-blue, and his hair, which was trained straight up and +ended in a curl at the top of his head, was likewise blue in color and +matched his skin and his eyes. He wore tight-fitting clothes made of +sky-blue silk, with a broad blue ruffle around his long neck, and on his +breast glittered a magnificent jewel in the form of a star, set with +splendid blue stones.</p> + +<p>If the blue man astonished the travelers they were no less surprised by +his surroundings, for look where they might, everything they beheld was +of the same blue color as the sky above. They seemed to have landed in a +large garden, surrounded by a high wall of blue stone. The trees were +all blue, the grass was blue, the flowers were blue and even the pebbles +in the paths were blue. There were many handsomely carved benches and +seats of blue wood scattered about the garden, and near them stood a +fountain, made of blue marble, which shot lovely sprays of blue water +into the blue air.</p> + +<p>But the angry inhabitant of this blue place would not permit them to +look around them in peace, for as soon as Cap'n Bill rolled off his toes +he began dancing around in an excited way and saying very disrespectful +things of his visitors.</p> + +<p>"You brutes! you apes! you miserable white-skinned creatures! How dare +you come into my garden and knock<a name="page_057" id="page_057"></a> me on the head with that awful basket +and then fall on my toes and cause me pain and suffering? How dare you, +I say? Don't you know you will be punished for your impudence? Don't you +know the Boolooroo of the Blues will have revenge? I can have you +patched for this insult, and I will—just as sure as I'm the Royal +Boolooroo of Sky Island!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, is this Sky Island, then?" asked Trot.</p> + +<p>"Of course it's Sky Island. What else could it be? And I'm its +Ruler—its King—its sole Royal Potentate and Dictator. Behold in the +Personage you have injured the Mighty Quitey Righty Boolooroo of the +Blues!" Here he strutted around in a very pompous manner and wagged his +little head contemptuously at them.</p> + +<p>"Glad to meet you, sir," said Cap'n Bill. "I allus had a likin' for +kings, bein' as they're summat unusual. Please 'scuse me for a-sittin' +on your royal toes, not knowin' as your toes were there."</p> + +<p>"I won't excuse you!" roared the Boolooroo. "But I'll punish you. You +may depend upon that."</p> + +<p>"Seems to me," said Trot, "you're actin' rather imperlite to strangers. +If anyone comes to our country to visit us, we always treat 'em decent."</p> + +<p>"<i>Your</i> country!" exclaimed the Boolooroo, looking at them more +carefully and seeming interested in their appearance. "Where in the Sky +did you come from, then, and where is your country located?"<a name="page_058" id="page_058"></a></p> + +<p>"We live on the Earth, when we're at home," replied the girl.</p> + +<p>"The Earth? Nonsense! I've heard of the Earth, my child, but it isn't +inhabited. No one can live there because it's just a round, cold, barren +ball of mud and water," declared the Blueskin.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you're wrong about that," said Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>"You surely are," added Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>"Why, we live there ourselves," cried Trot.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe it. I believe you are living in Sky Island, where you +have no right to be, with your horrid white skins. And you've intruded +into the private garden of the palace of the Greatly Stately Irately +Boolooroo, which is a criminal offense; and you've bumped my head with +your basket and smashed my toes with your boards and bodies, which is a +crime unparalleled in all the history of Sky Island! Aren't you sorry +for yourselves?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry for you," replied Trot, "'cause you don't seem to know the +proper way to treat visitors. But we won't stay long. We'll go home, +pretty soon."</p> + +<p>"Not until you have been punished!" exclaimed the Boolooroo, sternly. +"You are my prisoners."</p> + +<p>"Beg parding, your Majesty," said Cap'n Bill, "but you're takin' a good +deal for granted. We've tried to be friendly an' peaceable, an' we've +'poligized for hurtin' you; but if that don't satisfy you, you'll have +to make the most of<a name="page_059" id="page_059"></a> it. You may be the Boolooroo of the Blues, but you +ain't even a tin whistle to us, an' you can't skeer us for half a +minute. I'm an ol' man, myself, but if you don't behave I'll spank you +like I would a baby, an' it won't be any trouble at all to do it, +thank'e. As a matter o' fact, we've captured your whole bloomin' blue +island, but we don't like the place very much, and I guess we'll give it +back. It gives us the blues—don't it, Trot?—so as soon as we eat a +bite o' lunch from our basket we'll sail away again."</p> + +<p>"Sail away? How?" asked the Boolooroo.</p> + +<p>"With the Magic Umbrel," said Cap'n Bill, pointing to the umbrella that +Button-Bright was holding underneath his arm.</p> + +<p>"Oh, ho! I see—I see," said the Boolooroo, nodding his funny head. "Go +ahead, then, and eat your lunch."</p> + +<p>He retreated a little way to a marble seat beside the fountain, but +watched the strangers carefully. Cap'n Bill, feeling sure he had won the +argument, whispered to the boy and girl that they must eat and get away +as soon as possible, as this might prove a dangerous country for them to +remain in. Trot longed to see more of the strange blue island, and +especially wanted to explore the magnificent blue palace that adjoined +the garden, and which had six hundred tall towers and turrets; but she +felt that her old friend was wise in advising them to get away quickly. +So she opened the basket and they all three sat in a row on a stone +bench and began to<a name="page_060" id="page_060"></a> eat sandwiches and cake and pickles and cheese and +all the good things that were packed in the lunch basket.</p> + +<p>They were hungry from the long ride, and while they ate they kept their +eyes busily employed in examining all the queer things around them. The +Boolooroo seemed quite the queerest of anything, and Trot noticed that +when he pulled the long curl that stuck up from the top of his head a +bell tinkled somewhere in the palace. He next pulled at the bottom of +his right ear, and another far-away bell tinkled; then he touched the +end of his nose and still another bell was faintly heard. The Boolooroo +said not a word while he was ringing the bells, and Trot wondered if +that was the way he amused himself. But now the frown died away from his +face and was replaced by a look of satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"Have you nearly finished?" he inquired.</p> + +<p>"No," said Trot; "we've got to eat our apples yet."</p> + +<p>"Apples—apples? What are apples?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Trot took some from the basket.</p> + +<p>"Have one?" she said. "They're awful good."</p> + +<p>The Boolooroo advanced a step and took the apple, which he regarded with +much curiosity.</p> + +<p>"Guess they don't grow anywhere but on the Earth," remarked Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>"Are they good to eat?" asked the Boolooroo.</p> + +<p>"Try it and see," answered Trot, biting into an apple herself.<a name="page_061" id="page_061"></a></p> + +<p>The Blueskin sat down on the end of their bench, next to Button-Bright, +and began to eat his apple. He seemed to like it, for he finished it in +a hurry, and when it was gone he picked up the Magic Umbrella.</p> + +<p>"Let that alone!" said Button-Bright, making a grab for it. But the +Boolooroo jerked it away in an instant and standing up he held the +umbrella behind him and laughed aloud.</p> + +<p>"Now, then," said he, "you can't get away until I'm willing to let you +go. You are my prisoners."</p> + +<p>"I guess not," returned Cap'n Bill, and reaching out one of his long +arms, the sailorman suddenly grasped the Boolooroo around his long, thin +neck and shook him until his whole body fluttered like a flag.</p> + +<p>"Drop that umbrel—drop it!" yelled Cap'n Bill, and the Boolooroo +quickly obeyed. The Magic Umbrella fell to the ground and Button-Bright +promptly seized it. Then the sailor let go his hold and the King +staggered to a seat, choking and coughing to get his breath back.</p> + +<p>"I told you to let things alone," growled Cap'n Bill. "If you don't +behave, your Majesty, this Blue Island'll have to get another +Boolooroo."</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked the Blueskin.</p> + +<p>"Because I'll prob'ly spoil you for a king, an' mebbe for anything else. +Anyhow, you'll get badly damaged if you try to interfere with us—an' +that's a fact."</p> + +<p>"Don't kill him, Cap'n Bill," said Trot, cheerfully.<a name="page_062" id="page_062"></a></p> + +<p>"Kill me? Why, he couldn't do that," observed the King, who was trying +to rearrange the ruffle around his neck. "Nothing can kill me."</p> + +<p>"Why not?" asked Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>"Because I haven't lived my six hundred years yet. Perhaps you don't +know that every Blueskin in Sky Island lives exactly six hundred years +from the time he is born."</p> + +<p>"No; I didn't know that," admitted the sailor.</p> + +<p>"It's a fact," said the King. "Nothing can kill us until we've lived to +the last day of our appointed lives. When the final minute is up, we +die; but we're obliged to live all of the six hundred years, whether we +want to or not. So you needn't think of trying to kill anybody on Sky +Island. It can't be done."</p> + +<p>"Never mind," said Cap'n Bill. "I'm no murderer, thank goodness, and I +wouldn't kill you if I could—much as you deserve it."</p> + +<p>"But isn't six hundred years an awful long time to live?" questioned +Trot.</p> + +<p>"It seems like it, at first," replied the King, "but I notice that +whenever any of my subjects get near the end of their six hundred, they +grow nervous and say the life is altogether too short."</p> + +<p>"How long have you lived?" asked Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>The King coughed again and turned a bit bluer.</p> + +<p>"That is considered an impertinent question in Sky<a name="page_063" id="page_063"></a> Island," he +answered; "but I will say that every Boolooroo is elected to reign three +hundred years, and I've reigned not quite—ahem!—two hundred."</p> + +<p>"Are your kings elected, then?" asked Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>"Yes, of course; this is a Republic, you know. The people elect all +their officers, from the King down. Every man and every woman is a +voter. The Boolooroo tells them whom to vote for, and if they don't obey +they are severely punished. It's a fine system of government, and the +only thing I object to is electing the Boolooroo for only three hundred +years. It ought to be for life. My successor has already been elected, +but he can't reign for a hundred years to come."</p> + +<p>"I think three hundred years is plenty long enough," said Trot. "It +gives some one else a chance to rule, an' I wouldn't be s'prised if the +next king is a better one. Seems to me you're not much of a Boolooroo."</p> + +<p>"That," replied the King, indignantly, "is a matter of opinion. I like +myself very much, but I can't expect you to like me, because you're +deformed and ignorant."</p> + +<p>"I'm not!" cried Trot.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you are. Your legs are too short and your neck is nothing at all. +Your color is most peculiar, but there isn't a shade of blue about any +of you, except the deep blue color of the clothes the old ape that +choked me wears. Also, you are ignorant, because you know nothing of Sky +Island, which is<a name="page_064" id="page_064"></a> the Center of the Universe and the only place anyone +would care to live."</p> + +<p>"Don't listen to him, Trot," said Button-Bright; "he's an ignorant +himself."</p> + +<p>Cap'n Bill packed up the lunch basket. One end of the rope was still +tied to the handle of the basket and the other end to his swing seat, +which lay on the ground before them.</p> + +<p>"Well," said he, "let's go home. We've seen enough of this Blue Country +and its Blue Boolooroo, I guess, an' it's a long journey back again."</p> + +<p>"All right," agreed Trot, jumping up.</p> + +<p>Button-Bright stood on the bench and held up the Magic Umbrella, so he +could open it, and the sailor had just attached the ropes when a thin +blue line shot out from behind them and in a twinkling wound itself +around the umbrella. At the same instant another blue cord wound itself +around the boy's body, and others caught Trot and Cap'n Bill in their +coils, so that all had their arms pinned fast to their sides and found +themselves absolutely helpless.<a name="page_065" id="page_065"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_6" id="CHAPTER_6"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_023_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_023_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="300" +alt="THE SIX SNUBNOSED PRINCESSES--CHAPTER 6." +title="THE SIX SNUBNOSED PRINCESSES--CHAPTER 6." /></a></p> + +<p>THE Boolooroo was laughing and dancing around in front of them as if +well pleased. For a moment the prisoners could not imagine what had +happened to them, but presently half a dozen Blueskins, resembling in +shape and costume their ruler but less magnificently dressed, stepped in +front of them and bowed low to the Boolooroo.</p> + +<p>"Your orders, most Mighty, Flighty, Tight and Righty Monarch, have been +obeyed," said the leader.</p> + +<p>"Very well, Captain. Take that umbrella and carry it to my Royal +Treasury. See that it is safely locked up. Here's the key, and if you +don't return it to me within five minutes I'll have you patched."</p> + +<p>The Captain took the key and the Magic Umbrella and hastened away to the +palace. Button-Bright had already hooked the ropes to the elephant-trunk +handle, so that when the Captain carried away the umbrella he dragged +after him<a name="page_066" id="page_066"></a> first the double seat, then Cap'n Bill's seat, which was +fastened to it, and finally the lunch-basket, which was attached to the +lower seat. At every few steps some of these would trip up the Captain +and cause him to take a tumble, but as he had only five minutes' time in +which to perform his errand he would scramble to his feet again and dash +along the path until a board or the basket tripped him again.</p> + +<p>They all watched him with interest until he had disappeared within the +palace, when the King turned to his men and said:</p> + +<p>"Release the prisoners. They are now quite safe, and cannot escape me."</p> + +<p>So the men unwound the long cords that were twined around the bodies of +our three friends, and set them free. These men seemed to be soldiers, +although they bore no arms except the cords. Each cord had a weight at +the end, and when the weight was skillfully thrown by a soldier it wound +the cord around anything in the twinkling of an eye and held fast until +it was unwound again.</p> + +<p>Trot decided these Blueskins must have stolen into the garden when +summoned by the bells the Boolooroo had rung, but they had kept out of +sight and crept up behind the bench on which our friends were seated, +until a signal from the king aroused them to action.</p> + +<p>The little girl was greatly surprised by the suddenness of her capture, +and so was Button-Bright. Cap'n Bill shook his<a name="page_067" id="page_067"></a> head and said he was +afeared they'd get into trouble. "Our mistake," he added, "was in +stoppin' to eat our lunch. But it's too late now to cry over spilt +milk."</p> + +<p>"I don't mind; not much, anyhow," asserted Trot, bravely. "We're in no +hurry to get back; are we, Button-Bright?"</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_024_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_024_sml.png" width="450" height="255" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p>"I'm not," said the boy. "If they hadn't taken the umbrella I wouldn't +care how long we stopped in this funny island. Do you think it's a fairy +country, Trot?"</p> + +<p>"Can't say, I'm sure," she answered. "I haven't seen anything here yet +that reminds me of fairies; but Cap'n Bill said a floating island in the +sky was sure to be a fairyland."</p> + +<p>"I think so yet, mate," returned the sailor. "But there's all sorts o' +fairies, I've heard. Some is good, an' some is bad,<a name="page_068" id="page_068"></a> an' if all the +Blueskins are like their Boolooroo they can't be called fust-class."</p> + +<p>"Don't let me hear any more impudence, prisoners!" called the Boolooroo, +sternly. "You are already condemned to severe punishment, and if I have +any further trouble with you, you are liable to be patched."</p> + +<p>"What's being patched?" inquired the girl.</p> + +<p>The soldiers all laughed at this question, but the King did not reply. +Just then a door in the palace opened and out trooped a group of girls. +There were six of them, all gorgeously dressed in silken gowns with many +puffs and tucks and ruffles and flounces and laces and ribbons, +everything being in some shade of blue, grading from light blue to deep +blue. Their blue hair was elaborately dressed and came to a point at the +top of their heads.</p> + +<p>The girls approached in a line along the garden path, all walking with +mincing steps and holding their chins high. Their skirts prevented their +long legs from appearing as grotesque as did those of the men, but their +necks were so thin and long that the ruffles around them only made them +seem the more absurd.</p> + +<p>"Ah," said the King, with a frown, "here come the Six Snubnosed +Princesses—the most beautiful and aristocratic ladies in Sky Island."</p> + +<p>"They're snubnosed, all right," observed Trot, looking at<a name="page_069" id="page_069"></a> the girls +with much interest; "but I should think it would make 'em mad to call +'em that."</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked the Boolooroo, in surprise. "Is not a snubnose the highest +mark of female beauty?"</p> + +<p>"Is it?" asked the girl.</p> + +<p>"Most certainly. In this favored island, which is the Center of the +Universe, a snubnose is an evidence of high breeding which any lady +would be proud to possess."</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_025_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_025_sml.png" width="450" height="226" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p>The Six Snubnosed Princesses now approached the fountain and stood in a +row, staring with haughty looks at the strangers.</p> + +<p>"Goodness me, your Majesty!" exclaimed the first; "what queer, +dreadful-looking creatures are these? Where in all the Sky did they come +from?"</p> + +<p>"They say they came from the Earth, Cerulia," answered the Boolooroo.<a name="page_070" id="page_070"></a></p> + +<p>"But that is impossible," said another Princess. "Our scientists have +proved that the Earth is not inhabited."</p> + +<p>"Your scientists'll have to guess again, then," said Trot.</p> + +<p>"But how did they get to Sky Island?" inquired the third snubnosed one.</p> + +<p>"By means of a Magic Umbrella, which I have captured and put away in my +Treasure Chamber," replied the Boolooroo.</p> + +<p>"What will you do with the monsters, papa?" asked the fourth Princess.</p> + +<p>"I haven't decided yet," said the Boolooroo. "They're curiosities, you +see, and may serve to amuse us. But as they're only half civilized I +shall make them my slaves."</p> + +<p>"What are they good for? Can they do anything useful?" asked the fifth.</p> + +<p>"We'll see," returned the King, impatiently. "I can't decide in a hurry. +Give me time, Azure; give me time. If there's anything I hate it's a +hurry."</p> + +<p>"I've an idea, your Majesty," announced the sixth Snubnosed Princess, +whose complexion was rather darker than that of her sisters, "and it has +come to me quite deliberately, without any hurry at all. Let us take the +little girl to be our maid—to wait upon us and amuse us when we're +dull. All the other ladies of the court will be wild with envy, and if +the child doesn't prove of use to us we can keep her for a living +pincushion."<a name="page_071" id="page_071"></a></p> + +<p>"Oh! Ah! That will be fine!" cried all the other five, and the Boolooroo +said:</p> + +<p>"Very well, Indigo; it shall be as you desire." Then he turned to Trot +and added: "I present you to the Six Lovely Snubnosed Princesses, to be +their slave. If you are good and obedient you won't get your ears boxed +oftener than once an hour."</p> + +<p>"I won't be anybody's slave," protested Trot. "I don't like these +snubnosed, fussy females an' I won't have anything to do with 'em."</p> + +<p>"How impudent!" cried Cerulia.</p> + +<p>"How vulgar!" cried Turquoise.</p> + +<p>"How unladylike!" cried Sapphire.</p> + +<p>"How silly!" cried Azure.</p> + +<p>"How absurd!" cried Cobalt.</p> + +<p>"How wicked!" cried Indigo. And then all six held up their hands as if +horrified.</p> + +<p>The Boolooroo laughed.</p> + +<p>"You'll know how to bring her to time, I imagine," he remarked, "and if +the girl isn't reasonable and obedient, send her to me and I'll have her +patched. Now, then, take her away."</p> + +<p>But Trot was obstinate and wouldn't budge a step.</p> + +<p>"Keep us together, your Majesty," begged Cap'n Bill. "If we're to be +slaves, don't separate us, but make us all the same kind o' slaves."<a name="page_072" id="page_072"></a></p> + +<p>"I shall do what pleases me," declared the Boolooroo, angrily. "Don't +try to dictate, old Moonface, for there's only one Royal Will in Sky +Island, and that's my own."</p> + +<p>He then gave a command to a soldier, who hastened away to the palace and +soon returned with a number of long blue ribbons. One he tied around +Trot's waist and then attached to it six other ribbons. Each of the Six +Snubnosed Princesses held the end of a ribbon, and then they turned and +marched haughtily away to the palace, dragging the little girl after +them.</p> + +<p>"Don't worry, Trot," cried Button-Bright; "we'll get you out of this +trouble pretty soon."</p> + +<p>"Trust to us, mate," added Cap'n Bill; "we'll manage to take care o' +you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm all right," answered Trot, with fine courage; "I'm not afraid +of these gawkies."</p> + +<p>But the princesses pulled her after them and soon they had all +disappeared into one of the entrances to the Blue Palace.</p> + +<p>"Now, then," said the Boolooroo, "I will instruct you two in your future +duties. I shall make old Moonface—"</p> + +<p>"My name's Cap'n Bill Weedles," interrupted the sailor.</p> + +<p>"I don't care what your name is; I shall call you old Moonface," replied +the king, "for that suits you quite well. I shall appoint you the Royal +Nectar Mixer to the Court of<a name="page_073" id="page_073"></a> Sky Island, and if you don't mix our +nectar properly I'll have you patched.</p> + +<p>"How do you mix it?" asked Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>"I don't mix it; it's not the Boolooroo's place to mix nectar," was the +stern reply. "But you may inquire of the palace servants and perhaps the +Royal Chef or the Majordomo will condescend to tell you. Take him to the +servants' quarters, Captain Ultramarine, and give him a suit of the +royal livery."</p> + +<p>So Cap'n Bill was led away by the chief of the soldiers, and when he had +gone the king said to Button-Bright:</p> + +<p>"You, slave, shall be the Royal Bootblue. Your duty will be to keep the +boots and shoes of the royal family nicely polished with blue."</p> + +<p>"I don't know how," answered Button-Bright, surlily.</p> + +<p>"You'll soon learn. The Royal Steward will supply you with blue paste, +and when you've brushed this on our shoes you must shine them with +Q-rays of Moonshine. Do you understand?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>Then the Boolooroo told one of the soldiers to take the boy to the +shoeblue den and have him instructed in his duties, and the soldier +promptly obeyed and dragged Button-Bright away to the end of the palace +where the servants lived.<a name="page_074" id="page_074"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_7" id="CHAPTER_7"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_026_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_026_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="298" +alt="GHIP-GHISIZZLE PROVES FRIENDLY--CHAPTER 7." +title="GHIP-GHISIZZLE PROVES FRIENDLY--CHAPTER 7." /></a></p> + +<p>THE Royal Palace was certainly a magnificent building, with large and +lofty rooms and superb furnishings, all being in shades of blue. The +soldier and the boy passed through several broad corridors and then came +to a big hall where many servants were congregated. These were staring +in bewilderment at Cap'n Bill, who had been introduced to them by +Captain Ultramarine. Now they turned in no less surprise to examine the +boy, and their looks expressed not only astonishment but dislike.</p> + +<p>The servants were all richly attired in blue silk liveries and they +seemed disposed to resent the fact that these strangers had been added +to their ranks. They scowled and muttered and behaved in a very +unfriendly way, even after Captain Ultramarine had explained that the +newcomers were merely base slaves, and not to be classed with the free +royal servants of the palace.<a name="page_075" id="page_075"></a></p> + +<p>One of those present, however, showed no especial enmity to +Button-Bright and Cap'n Bill, and this Blueskin attracted the boy's +notice because his appearance was so strange. He looked as if he were +made of two separate men, each cut through the middle and then joined +together, half of one to half of the other. One side of his blue hair +was curly and the other half straight; one ear was big and stuck out +from the side of his head, while the other ear was small and flat; one +eye was half shut and twinkling while the other was big and staring; his +nose was thin on one side and flat on the other, while one side of his +mouth curled up and the other down. Button-Bright also noticed that he +limped as he walked, because one leg was a trifle longer than the other, +and that one hand was delicate and slender and the other thick and +hardened by use.</p> + +<p>"Don't stare at him," a voice whispered in the boy's ear; "the poor +fellow has been patched, that's all."</p> + +<p>Button-Bright turned to see who had spoken and found by his side a tall +young Blueskin with a blue-gold chain around his neck. He was quite the +best looking person the boy had seen in Sky Island and he spoke in a +pleasant way and seemed quite friendly. But the two-sided man had +overheard the remark and he now stepped forward and said, in a careless +tone:</p> + +<p>"Never mind; it's no disgrace to be patched in a country ruled by such a +cruel Boolooroo as we have. Let the boy look<a name="page_076" id="page_076"></a> at me, if he wants to; I'm +not pretty, but that's not my fault. Blame the Boolooroo."</p> + +<p>"I—I'm glad to meet you, sir," stammered Button-Bright. "What is <i>your</i> +name, please?"</p> + +<p>"I'm now named Jimfred Jonesjinks, and my partner is called Fredjim +Jinksjones. He's busy at present guarding the Treasure Chamber, but I'll +introduce you to him when he comes back. We've had the misfortune to be +patched, you know."</p> + +<p>"What is being patched?" asked the boy.</p> + +<p>"They cut two of us in halves and mismatch the halves—half of one to +half of the other, you know—and then the other two halves are patched +together. It destroys our individuality and makes us complex creatures, +so it's the worst punishment than can be inflicted in Sky Island."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Button-Bright, alarmed at such dreadful butchery; "doesn't it +hurt?"</p> + +<p>"No; it doesn't hurt," replied Jimfred, "but it makes one frightfully +nervous. They stand you under a big knife, which drops and slices you +neatly in two—exactly in the middle. Then they match half of you to +another person who has likewise been sliced—and there you are, patched +to someone you don't care about and haven't much interest in. If your +half wants to do something, the other half is likely to want to do +something different, and the funny part of it is you don't quite know +which is your half and which is the<a name="page_077" id="page_077"></a> other half. It's a terrible +punishment, and in a country where one can't die or be killed until he +has lived his six hundred years, to be patched is a great misfortune."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure it is," said Button-Bright, earnestly. "But can't you ever +get—get—<i>un</i>-patched again?"</p> + +<p>"If the Boolooroo would consent, I think it could be done," Jimfred +replied; "but he never will consent. This is about the meanest Boolooroo +who ever ruled this land, and he was the first to invent patching people +as a punishment. I think we will all be glad when his three hundred +years of rule are ended."</p> + +<p>"When will that be?" inquired the boy.</p> + +<p>"Hush-sh-sh!" cried everyone, in a chorus, and they all looked over +their shoulders as if frightened by the question. The officer with the +blue-gold chain pulled Button-Bright's sleeve and whispered:</p> + +<p>"Follow me, please." And then he beckoned to Cap'n Bill and led the two +slaves to another room, where they were alone.</p> + +<p>"I must instruct you in your duties," said he, when they were all +comfortably seated in cosy chairs with blue cushions. "You must learn +how to obey the Boolooroo's commands, so he won't become angry and have +you patched."</p> + +<p>"How could he patch <i>us</i>?" asked the sailorman, curiously.</p> + +<p>"Oh, he'd just slice you all in halves and then patch half of the boy to +half of the girl, and the other half to half of you,<a name="page_078" id="page_078"></a> and the other half +of you to the other half of the girl. See?"</p> + +<p>"Can't say I do," said Cap'n Bill, much bewildered. "It's a reg'lar +mix-up."</p> + +<p>"That's what it's meant to be," explained the young officer.</p> + +<p>"An' seein' as we're Earth folks, an' not natives of Sky Island, I've an +idea the slicing machine would about end us, without bein' patched," +continued the sailor.</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Button-Bright; "so it would."</p> + +<p>"While you are in this country you can't die till you've lived six +hundred years," declared the officer.</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Button-Bright; "that's different, of course. But who are you, +please?"</p> + +<p>"My name is Ghip-Ghi-siz-zle. Can you remember it?"</p> + +<p>"I can 'member the 'sizzle,'" said the boy; "but I'm 'fraid the +Gwip—Grip—Glip——"</p> + +<p>"Ghip-Ghi-siz-zle," repeated the officer, slowly. "I want you to +remember my name, because if you are going to live here you are sure to +hear of me a great many times. Can you keep a secret?"</p> + +<p>"I can try," said Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>"I've kep' secrets—once in a while," asserted Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>"Well, try to keep this one. I'm to be the next Boolooroo of Sky +Island."</p> + +<p>"Good for you!" cried the sailor. "I wish you was the<a name="page_079" id="page_079"></a> Boolooroo now, +sir. But it seems you' ve got to wait a hundred years or more afore you +can take his place."</p> + +<p>Ghip-Ghisizzle rose to his feet and paced up and down the room for a +time, a frown upon his blue face. Then he halted and faced Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>"Sir," said he, "there lies all my trouble. I'm quite sure the present +Boolooroo has reigned three hundred years next Thursday; but he claims +it is only two hundred years, and as he holds the Royal Book of Records +under lock and key in the Royal Treasury, there is no way for us to +prove he is wrong."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Button-Bright. "How old is the Boolooroo?"</p> + +<p>"He was two hundred years old when he was elected," replied +Ghip-Ghisizzle. "If he has already reigned three hundred years, as I +suspect, then he is now five hundred years old. You see, he is trying to +steal another hundred years of rule, so as to remain a tyrant all his +life."</p> + +<p>"He don't seem as old as that," observed Cap'n Bill, thoughtfully. "Why, +I'm only sixty, myself, an' I guess I look twice as old as your king +does."</p> + +<p>"We do not show our age in looks," the officer answered. "I am just +about your own age, sir—sixty-two my next birth-day—but I'm sure I +don't look as old as you."</p> + +<p>"That's a fact," agreed Cap'n Bill. Then he turned to Button-Bright and +added: "Don't that prove Sky Island is a fairy country, as I said?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I've known that all along," said the boy. "The<a name="page_080" id="page_080"></a> slicing and +patching proves it, and so do lots of other things."</p> + +<p>"Now, then," said Ghip-Ghisizzle, "let us talk over your duties. It +seems you must mix the royal nectar, Cap'n Bill. Do you know how to do +that?"</p> + +<p>"I'm free to say as I don't, friend Sizzle."</p> + +<p>"The Boolooroo is very particular about his nectar. I think he has given +you this job so he can find fault with you and have you punished. But we +will fool him. You are strangers here, and I don't want you imposed +upon. I'll send Tiggle to the royal pantry and keep him there to mix the +nectar. Then when the Boolooroo, or the Queen, or any of the Snubnosed +Princesses call for a drink, you can carry it to them and it will be +sure to suit them."</p> + +<p>"Thank'e, sir," said Cap'n Bill; "that's real kind of you."</p> + +<p>"Your job, Button-Bright, is easier," continued Ghip-Ghisizzle.</p> + +<p>"I'm no bootblack," declared the boy. "The Boolooroo has no right to +make me do his dirty work."</p> + +<p>"You're a slave," the officer reminded him; "and a slave must obey."</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>"Because he can't help himself. No slave ever wants to obey, but he just +has to. And it isn't dirty work at all. You don't black the royal boots +and shoes; you merely blue them with a finely perfumed blue paste. Then +you shine them<a name="page_081" id="page_081"></a> neatly and your task is done. You will not be humiliated +by becoming a bootblack. You'll be a bootblue."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Button-Bright. "I don't see much difference, but perhaps it's +a little more respectable."</p> + +<p>"Yes; the Royal Bootblue is considered a high official in Sky Island. +You do your work at evening or early morning, and the rest of the day +you are at liberty to do as you please."</p> + +<p>"It won't last long, Button-Bright," said Cap'n Bill, consolingly. +"Somethin's bound to happen pretty soon, you know."</p> + +<p>"I think so myself," answered the boy.</p> + +<p>"And now," remarked Ghip-Ghisizzle, "since you understand your new +duties, perhaps you'd like to walk out with me and see the Blue City and +the glorious Blue Country of Sky Island."</p> + +<p>"We would that!" cried Cap'n Bill, promptly.</p> + +<p>So they accompanied their new friend through a maze of passages—for the +palace was very big—and then through a high arched portal into the +streets of the City. So rapid had been their descent when the umbrella +landed them in the royal garden that they had not even caught a glimpse +of the Blue City, so now they gazed with wonder and interest at the +splendid sights that met their eyes.<a name="page_082" id="page_082"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_8" id="CHAPTER_8"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_027_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_027_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="298" +alt="THE BLUE CITY--CHAPTER 8." +title="THE BLUE CITY--CHAPTER 8." /></a></p> + +<p>THE Blue City was quite extensive, and consisted of many broad streets +paved with blue marble and lined with splendid buildings of the same +beautiful material. There were houses and castles and shops for the +merchants and all were prettily designed and had many slender spires and +imposing turrets that rose far into the blue air. Everything was blue +here, just as was everything in the Royal Palace and gardens, and a blue +haze overhung all the city.</p> + +<p>"Doesn't the sun ever shine?" asked Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>"Not in the blue part of Sky Island," replied Ghip-Ghisizzle. "The moon +shines here every night, but we never see the sun. I am told, however, +that on the other half of the Island—which I have never seen—the sun +shines brightly but there is no moon at all."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Button-Bright; "is there another half to Sky Island?"<a name="page_083" id="page_083"></a></p> + +<p>"Yes; a dreadful place called the Pink Country. I'm told everything +there is pink instead of blue. A fearful place it must be, indeed!" said +the Blueskin, with a shudder.</p> + +<p>"I dunno 'bout that," remarked Cap'n Bill. "That Pink Country sounds +kind o' cheerful to me. Is your Blue Country very big?"</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_028_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_028_sml.png" width="450" height="273" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p>"It is immense," was the proud reply. "This enormous City extends a half +mile in all directions from the center, and the country outside the City +is fully a half mile further in extent. That's very big, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Not very," replied Cap'n Bill, with a smile. "We've cities on the Earth +ten times bigger—an' then some big besides. We'd call this a small town +in our country."</p> + +<p>"Our Country is thousands of miles wide and thousands<a name="page_084" id="page_084"></a> of miles +long—it's the great United States of America!" added the boy, +earnestly.</p> + +<p>Ghip-Ghisizzle seemed astonished. He was silent a moment, and then he +said:</p> + +<p>"Here in Sky Island we prize truthfulness very highly. Our Boolooroo is +not very truthful, I admit, for he is trying to misrepresent the length +of his reign, but our people as a rule speak only the truth."</p> + +<p>"So do we," asserted Cap'n Bill. "What Button-Bright said is the honest +truth—every word of it."</p> + +<p>"But we have been led to believe that Sky Island is the greatest country +in the universe—meaning, of course, our half of it, the Blue Country."</p> + +<p>"It may be for you, perhaps," the sailor stated, politely, "an' I don't +imagine any island floatin' in the sky is any bigger. But the Universe +is a big place an' you can't be sure of what's in it till you've +traveled, like we have."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you are right," mused the Blueskin; but he still seemed to +doubt them.</p> + +<p>"Is the Pink side of Sky Island bigger than the Blue side?" asked +Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>"No; it is supposed to be the same size," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"Then why haven't you ever been there? Seems to me you could walk across +the whole island in an hour," said the boy.</p> + +<p>"The two parts are separated by an impassable barrier,"<a name="page_085" id="page_085"></a> answered +Ghip-Ghisizzle. "Between them lies the Great Fog Bank."</p> + +<p>"A fog bank? Why, that's no barrier!" exclaimed Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>"It is, indeed," returned the Blueskin. "The Fog Bank is so thick and +heavy that it blinds one, and if once you got into the Bank you might +wander forever and not find your way out again. Also it is full of +dampness that wets your clothes and your hair until you become +miserable. It is furthermore said that those who enter the Fog Bank +forfeit the six hundred years allowed them to live, and are liable to +die at any time. Here we do not die, you know; we merely pass away."</p> + +<p>"How's that?" asked the sailor. "Isn't 'pass'n' away' jus' the same as +dyin'?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed. When our six hundred years are ended we march into the +Great Blue Grotto, through the Arch of Phinis, and are never seen +again."</p> + +<p>"That's queer," said Button-Bright. "What would happen if you didn't +march through the Arch?"</p> + +<p>"I do not know, for no one has ever refused to do so. It is the Law, and +we all obey it."</p> + +<p>"It saves funeral expenses, anyhow," remarked Cap'n Bill. "Where is this +Arch?"</p> + +<p>"Just outside the gates of the City. There is a mountain in the center +of the Blue land, and the entrance to the Great<a name="page_086" id="page_086"></a> Blue Grotto is at the +foot of the mountain. According to our figures the Boolooroo ought to +march into this Grotto a hundred years from next Thursday, but he is +trying to steal a hundred years and so perhaps he won't enter the Arch +of Phinis. Therefore, if you will please be patient for about a hundred +years, you will discover what happens to one who breaks the Law."</p> + +<p>"Thank'e," remarked Cap'n Bill. "I don't expect to be very curious, a +hundred years from now."</p> + +<p>"Nor I," added Button-Bright, laughing at the whimsical speech. "But I +don't see how the Boolooroo is able to fool you all. Can't any of you +remember two or three hundred years back, when he first began to rule?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Ghip-Ghisizzle; "that's a long time to remember, and we +Blueskins try to forget all we can—especially whatever is unpleasant. +Those who remember are usually the unhappy ones; only those able to +forget find the most joy in life."</p> + +<p>During this conversation they had been walking along the streets of the +Blue City, where many of the Blueskin inhabitants stopped to gaze +wonderingly at the sailor and the boy, whose strange appearance +surprised them. They were a nervous, restless people and their +egg-shaped heads, set on the ends of long thin necks, seemed so +grotesque to the strangers that they could scarcely forbear laughing at +them. The bodies of these people were short and round and their legs<a name="page_087" id="page_087"></a> +exceptionally long, so when a Blueskin walked he covered twice as much +ground at one step as Cap'n Bill or Button-Bright did. The women seemed +just as repellent as the men, and Button-Bright began to understand that +the Six Snubnosed Princesses were, after all, rather better looking than +most of the females of the Blue Country and so had a certain right to be +proud and haughty.</p> + +<p>There were no horses nor cows in this land, but there were plenty of +blue goats, from which the people got their milk. Children tended the +goats—wee Blueskin boys and girls whose appearance was so comical that +Button-Bright laughed whenever he saw one of them.</p> + +<p>Although the natives had never seen before this any human beings made as +Button-Bright and Cap'n Bill were, they took a strong dislike to the +strangers and several times threatened to attack them. Perhaps if +Ghip-Ghisizzle, who was their favorite, had not been present, they would +have mobbed our friends with vicious ill-will and might have seriously +injured them. But Ghip-Ghisizzle's friendly protection made them hold +aloof.</p> + +<p>By and by they passed through a City gate and their guide showed them +the outer walls, which protected the City from the country beyond. There +were several of these gates, and from their recesses stone steps led to +the top of the wall. They mounted a flight of these steps and from their +elevation plainly saw the low mountain where the Arch of Phinis was<a name="page_088" id="page_088"></a> +located, and beyond that the thick, blue-gray Fog Bank, which constantly +rolled like billows of the ocean and really seemed, from a distance, +quite forbidding.</p> + +<p>"But it wouldn't take long to get there," decided Button-Bright, "and if +you were close up it might not be worse than any other fog. Is the Pink +Country on the other side of it?"</p> + +<p>"So we are told in the Book of Records," replied Ghip-Ghisizzle. "None +of us now living know anything about it, but the Book of Records calls +it the 'Sunset Country,' and says that at evening the pink shades are +drowned by terrible colors of orange and crimson and golden-yellow and +red. Wouldn't it be horrible to be obliged to look upon such a sight? It +must give the poor people who live there dreadful headaches."</p> + +<p>"I'd like to see that Book of Records," mused Cap'n Bill, who didn't +think the discription of the Sunset Country at all dreadful.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to see it myself," returned Ghip-Ghisizzle, with a sigh; "but +no one can lay hands on it because the Boolooroo keeps it safely locked +up in his Treasure Chamber."</p> + +<p>"Where's the key to the Treasure Chamber?" asked Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>"The Boolooroo keeps it in his pocket, night and day," was the reply. +"He is afraid to let anyone see the Book, because it would prove he has +already reigned three hundred years next Thursday, and then he would +have to resign the<a name="page_089" id="page_089"></a> throne to me and leave the Palace and live in a +common house."</p> + +<p>"My Magic Umbrella is in that Treasure Chamber," said Button-Bright, +"and I'm going to try to get it."</p> + +<p>"Are you?" inquired Ghip-Ghisizzle, eagerly. "Well, if you manage to +enter the Treasure Chamber, be sure to bring me the Book of Records. If +you can do that I will be the best and most grateful friend you ever +had!"</p> + +<p>"I'll see," said the boy. "It ought not to be hard work to break into +the Treasure Chamber. Is it guarded?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; the outside guard is Jimfred Jinksjones, the double patch of the +Fredjim whom you have met, and the inside guard is a ravenous creature +known as the Blue Wolf, which has teeth a foot long and as sharp as +needles."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Button-Bright. "But never mind the Blue Wolf; I must manage +to get my umbrella, somehow or other."</p> + +<p>They now walked back to the palace, still objects of much curiosity to +the natives, who sneered at them and mocked them but dared not interfere +with their progress. At the palace they found that dinner was about to +be served in the big dining hall of the servants and dependents and +household officers of the royal Boolooroo. Ghip-Ghisizzle was the +Majordomo and Master of Ceremonies, so he took his seat at the end of +the long table and placed Cap'n Bill on one side of him and +Button-Bright on the other, to the great annoyance of the<a name="page_090" id="page_090"></a> other +Blueskins present, who favored the strangers with nothing pleasanter +than envious scowls.</p> + +<p>The Boolooroo and his Queen and daughters—the Six Snubnosed +Princesses—dined in formal state in the Banquet Hall, where they were +waited upon by favorite soldiers of the Royal Bodyguard. Here in the +servants' hall there was one vacant seat next to Button-Bright which was +reserved for Trot; but the little girl had not yet appeared and the +sailorman and the boy were beginning to be uneasy about her.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_029_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_029_sml.png" width="450" height="274" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_091" id="page_091"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_9" id="CHAPTER_9"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_030_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_030_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="314" +alt="THE TRIBULATION OF TROT--CHAPTER 9." +title="THE TRIBULATION OF TROT--CHAPTER 9." /></a></p> + +<p>THE apartments occupied by the Six Snubnosed Princesses were so +magnificent that when Trot first entered them, led by her haughty +captors, she thought they must be the most beautiful rooms in all the +world. There was a long and broad reception room, with forty-seven +windows in it, and opening out of it were six lovely bedchambers, each +furnished in the greatest luxury. Adjoining each sleeping room was a +marble bath, and each Princess had a separate boudoir and a dressing +room. The furnishings were of the utmost splendor, blue-gold and blue +gems being profusely used in the decorations, while the divans and +chairs were of richly carved bluewood upholstered in blue satins and +silks. The draperies were superbly embroidered and the rugs upon the +marble floors were woven with beautiful scenes in every conceivable +shade of blue.<a name="page_092" id="page_092"></a></p> + +<p>When they first reached the reception room Princess Azure cast herself +upon a divan while her five sisters sat or reclined in easy chairs, with +their heads thrown back and their blue chins scornfully elevated. Trot, +who was much annoyed at the treatment she had received, did not hesitate +to seat herself, also, in a big easy chair.</p> + +<p>"Slave!" cried Princess Cerulia, "fetch me a mirror."</p> + +<p>"Slave!" cried Princess Turquoise, "a lock of my hair is loosened; bind +it up."</p> + +<p>"Slave!" cried Princess Cobalt, "unfasten my shoes; they're too tight."</p> + +<p>"Slave!" cried Princess Sapphire, "bring hither my box of blue +chocolates."</p> + +<p>"Slave!" cried Princess Azure, "stand by my side and fan me."</p> + +<p>"Slave!" cried Princess Indigo, "get out of that chair. How dare you sit +in our presence!"</p> + +<p>"If you're saying all those things to me," replied Trot, "you may as +well save your breath. I'm no slave." And she cuddled down closer in the +chair.</p> + +<p>"You <i>are</i> a slave!" shouted the six, all together.</p> + +<p>"I'm not!"</p> + +<p>"Our father, the Revered and Resplendent Royal Ruler of the Blues, has +made you our slave," asserted Indigo, with a yawn.</p> + +<p>"But he can't," objected the little girl. "I'm some Royal<a name="page_093" id="page_093"></a> an' Rapturous +an' Ridic'lous myself, an' I won't allow any cheap Boolooroo to order me +'round."</p> + +<p>"Are you of royal birth?" asked Azure, seeming surprised.</p> + +<p>"Royal! Why, I'm an American, Snubnoses, and if there's anything royaler +than an American I'd like to know what it is."</p> + +<p>The Princesses seemed uncertain what reply to make to this speech and +began whispering together. Finally Indigo said to Trot:</p> + +<p>"We do not think it matters what you were in your own country, for +having left there you have forfeited your rank. By recklessly intruding +into our domain you have become a slave, and being a slave you must obey +us or suffer the consequences."</p> + +<p>"What cons'quences?" asked the girl.</p> + +<p>"Dare to disobey us and you will quickly find out," snapped Indigo, +swaying her head from side to side on its long, swan-like neck, like the +pendulum of a clock.</p> + +<p>"I don't want any trouble," said Trot, gravely. "We came to Sky Island +by mistake, and wanted to go right away again; but your father wouldn't +let us. It isn't our fault we're still here, an' I'm free to say you're +a very dis'gree'ble an' horrid lot of people, with no manners to speak +of, or you'd treat us nicely."</p> + +<p>"No impertinence!" cried Indigo, savagely.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's the truth," replied Trot.<a name="page_094" id="page_094"></a></p> + +<p>Indigo made a rush and caught Trot by both shoulders. The Princess was +twice the little girl's size and she shook her victim so violently that +Trot's teeth rattled together. Then Princess Cobalt came up and slapped +one side of the slave's face and Princess Turquoise ran forward and +slapped the other side. Cerulia gave Trot a push one way and Sapphire +pushed her the other way, so the little girl was quite out of breath and +very angry when finally her punishment ceased. She had not been much +hurt, though, and she was wise enough to understand that these +Princesses were all cruel and vindictive, so that her safest plan was to +pretend to obey them.</p> + +<p>"Now, then," commanded Princess Indigo, "go and feed my little blue dog +that crows like a rooster."</p> + +<p>"And feed my pretty blue cat that sings like a bird," said Princess +Azure.</p> + +<p>"And feed my soft blue lamb that chatters like a monkey," said Princess +Cobalt.</p> + +<p>"And feed my poetic blue parrot that barks like a dog," said Princess +Sapphire.</p> + +<p>"And feed my fuzzy blue rabbit that roars like a lion," said Princess +Turquoise.</p> + +<p>"And feed my lovely blue peacock that mews like a cat," said Princess +Cerulia.</p> + +<p>"Anything else?" asked Trot, drawing a long breath.</p> + +<p>"Not until you have properly fed our pets," replied Azure, with a +scowl.<a name="page_095" id="page_095"></a></p> + +<p>"What do they eat, then?"</p> + +<p>"Meat!"</p> + +<p>"Milk!"</p> + +<p>"Clover!"</p> + +<p>"Seeds!"</p> + +<p>"Bread!"</p> + +<p>"Carrots!"</p> + +<p>"All right," said Trot; "where do you keep the menagerie?"</p> + +<p>"Our pets are in our boudoirs," said Indigo, harshly. "What a little +fool you are!"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," said Trot, pausing as she was about to leave the room, "when +I grow up I'll be as big a fool as any of you."</p> + +<p>Then she ran away to escape another shaking, and in the first boudoir +she found the little blue dog curled up on a blue cushion in a corner. +Trot patted his head gently and this surprised the dog, who was +accustomed to cuffs and kicks. So he licked Trot's hand and wagged his +funny little tail and then straightened up and crowed like a rooster. +The girl was delighted with the queer doggie and she found some meat in +a cupboard and fed him out of her hand, patting the tiny creature and +stroking his soft blue hair. The doggie had never in his life known +anyone so kind and gentle, so when Trot went into the next boudoir the +animal followed close at her heels, wagging his tail every minute.<a name="page_096" id="page_096"></a></p> + +<p>The blue cat was asleep on a window seat, but it woke up when Trot +tenderly took it in her lap and fed it milk from a blue-gold dish. It +was a pretty cat and instantly knew the little girl was a friend—vastly +different from its own bad-tempered mistress—so it sang beautifully, as +a bird sings, and both the cat and the dog followed Trot into the third +boudoir.</p> + +<p>Here was a tiny baby lamb with fleece as blue as a larkspur and as soft +as silk.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you darling!" cried Trot, hugging the little lamb tight in her +arms. At once the lamb began chattering, just as a monkey chatters, only +in the most friendly and grateful way, and Trot fed it a handful of +fresh blue clover and smoothed and petted it until the lamb was eager to +follow her wherever she might go.</p> + +<p>When she came to the fourth boudoir a handsome blue parrot sat on a blue +perch and began barking as if it were nearly starved. Then it cried out:</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"Rub-a-dub, dub,—</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">Gimme some grub!"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p>Trot laughed and gave it some seeds, and while the parrot ate them she +stroked gently his soft feathers. The bird seemed much astonished at the +unusual caress, and turned upon the girl first one little eye and then +the other, as if trying to discover why she was so kind. He had never +experienced kind treatment in all his life. So it was no wonder<a name="page_097" id="page_097"></a> that +when the little girl entered the fifth boudoir she was followed by the +parrot, the lamb, the cat and the dog, who all stood beside her and +watched her feed the peacock, which she found strutting around and +mewing like a cat for his dinner. Said the parrot:</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"I spy a peacock's eye</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">On every feather—I wonder why?"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p>The peacock soon came to love Trot as much as the other bird and all the +beasts did, and it spread its tail and strutted after her into the next +boudoir—the sixth one. As she entered this room Trot gave a start of +fear, for a terrible roar, like the roar of a lion, greeted her. But +there was no lion there; a fuzzy blue rabbit was making all the noise.</p> + +<p>"For goodness sake, keep quiet," said Trot. "Here's a nice blue carrot +for you. The color seems all wrong, but it may taste jus' as good as if +it was red."</p> + +<p>Evidently it did taste good, for the rabbit ate it greedily. When it was +not roaring the creature was so soft and fluffy that Trot played with it +and fondled it a long time after it had finished eating, and the rabbit +played with the cat and the dog and the lamb and did not seem a bit +afraid of the parrot or the peacock. But, all of a sudden, in pounced +Princess Indigo, with a yell of anger.</p> + +<p>"So, this is how you waste your time, is it?" exclaimed the Princess, +and grabbing Trot's arm she jerked the girl to her feet and began +pushing her from the room. All the pets began<a name="page_098" id="page_098"></a> to follow her, and seeing +this, Indigo yelled at them to keep back. As they paid no attention to +this command the princess seized a basin of water and dashed the fluid +over the beasts and birds, after which she renewed her attempt to push +Trot from the room. The pets rebelled at such treatment, and believing +they ought to protect Trot, whom they knew to be their friend, they +proceeded to defend her. The little blue dog dashed at Indigo and bit +her right ankle, while the blue cat scratched her left leg with its +claws and the parrot flew upon her shoulder and pecked her ear. The lamb +ran up and butted Indigo so that she stumbled forward on her face, when +the peacock proceeded to pound her head with his wings. Indigo, +screaming with fright, sprang to her feet again, but the rabbit ran +between her legs and tripped her up, all the time roaring loudly like a +lion, and the dog crowed triumphantly, as a rooster crows, while the cat +warbled noisily and the lamb chattered and the parrot barked and the +peacock screeched: "me-ow!"</p> + +<p>Altogether, Indigo was, as Trot said, "scared stiff," and she howled for +help until her sisters ran in and rescued her, pulling her through the +bedchamber into the reception room.</p> + +<p>When she was alone Trot sat down on the floor and laughed until the +tears came to her eyes, and she hugged all the pets and kissed them +every one and thanked them for protecting her.<a name="page_099" id="page_099"></a></p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"That's all right;</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">We like a fight,"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">declared the parrot, in reply.</p> + +<p>The Princesses were horrified to find Indigo so scratched and bitten, +and they were likewise amazed at the rebellion of their six pets, which +they had never petted, indeed, but kept in their boudoirs so they could +abuse them whenever they felt especially wicked or ill-natured. None of +the snubnosed ones dared enter the room where the girl was, but they +called through a crack in the door for Trot to come out instantly. Trot, +pretending not to hear, paid no attention to these commands.</p> + +<p>Finding themselves helpless and balked of their revenge, the Six +Snubnosed Princesses finally recovered from their excitement and settled +down to a pleasant sisterly quarrel, as was their customary amusement. +Indigo wanted to have Trot patched, and Cerulia wanted her beaten with +knotted cords, and Cobalt wanted her locked up in a dark room, and +Sapphire wanted her fed on sand, and Turquoise wanted her bound to a +windmill, and so between these various desires they quarrelled and +argued until dinner time arrived.</p> + +<p>Trot was occupying Indigo's room, so that Princess was obliged to dress +with Azure, not daring to enter her own chamber, and the two sisters +quarrelled so enthusiastically that they almost came to blows before +they were ready for dinner.</p> + +<p>Before the Six Snubnosed Princesses went to the Royal<a name="page_100" id="page_100"></a> Banquet Hall, +Cobalt stuck her head through a crack of the door and said to Trot:</p> + +<p>"If you want any dinner, you'll find it in the servants' hall. I advise +you to eat, for after our dinner we will decide upon a fitting +punishment for you, and then I'm sure you won't have much appetite."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," replied the girl; "I'm right hungry, jus' now."</p> + +<p>She waited until the snubnosed sextette had pranced haughtily away and +then she came out, followed by all the pets, and found her way to the +servants' quarters.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_031_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_031_sml.png" width="450" height="269" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_101" id="page_101"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_10" id="CHAPTER_10"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_032_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_032_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="313" +alt="THE KING'S TREASURE CHAMBER--Chapter 10." +title="THE KING'S TREASURE CHAMBER--Chapter 10." /></a></p> + +<p>ALL the Blueskins assembled in the servants' hall were amazed to see the +pets of the Princesses trailing after the strange little girl, but Trot +took her place next to Button-Bright at the table, and the parrot +perched upon her shoulder, while the peacock stood upon one side of her +chair, and the lamb upon the other, and the cat and dog lay at her feet, +and the blue rabbit climbed into her lap and cuddled down there. Some of +the Blueskins insisted that the animals and birds must be put out of the +room, but Ghip-Ghisizzle said they could remain, as they were the +favored pets of the lovely Snubnosed Princesses.</p> + +<p>Cap'n Bill was delighted to see his dear little friend again, and so was +Button-Bright, and now that they were reunited—for a time, at +least—they paid little heed to the sour looks and taunting remarks of +the ugly Blueskins and ate heartily of the dinner, which was really very +good.<a name="page_102" id="page_102"></a></p> + +<p>The meal was no sooner over than Ghip-Ghisizzle was summoned to the +chamber of his Majesty the Boolooroo, but before he went away he took +Trot and Cap'n Bill and Button-Bright into a small room and advised them +to stay there until he returned, so that the servants and soldiers would +not molest them.</p> + +<p>"My people seem to dislike strangers," said the Majordomo, thoughtfully, +"and that surprises me because you are the first strangers they have +ever seen. I think they imagine you will become favorites of the +Boolooroo and of the Princesses, and that is why they are jealous and +hate you."</p> + +<p>"They needn't worry 'bout that," replied Trot; "the Snubnoses hate me +worse than the people do."</p> + +<p>"I can't imagine a bootblue becoming a royal favorite," grumbled +Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>"Or a necktie mixer," added Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>"You don't mix neckties; you're a nectar mixer," said Ghip-Ghisizzle, +correcting the sailor. "I'll not be gone long, for I'm no favorite of +the Boolooroo, either, so please stay quietly in this room until my +return."</p> + +<p>The Majordomo found the Boolooroo in a bad temper. He had finished his +dinner, where his six daughters had bitterly denounced Trot all through +the meal and implored their father to invent some new and terrible +punishment for her. Also his wife, the Queen, had made him angry by +begging for gold to buy ribbons with. Then, when he had retired to<a name="page_103" id="page_103"></a> his +own private room, he decided to send for the umbrella he had stolen from +Button-Bright, and test its magic powers. But the umbrella, in his +hands, proved just as common as any other umbrella might. He opened it +and closed it, and turned it this way and that, commanding it to do all +sorts of things; but of course the Magic Umbrella would obey no one but +a member of the family that rightfully owned it. At last the Boolooroo +threw it down and stamped upon it and then kicked it into a corner, +where it rolled underneath a cabinet. Then he sent for Ghip-Ghisizzle.</p> + +<p>"Do you know how to work that Magic Umbrella?" he asked the Majordomo.</p> + +<p>"No, your Majesty; I do not," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"Well, find out. Make the Whiteskins tell you, so that I can use it for +my own amusement."</p> + +<p>"I'll do my best, your Majesty," said Ghip-Ghisizzle.</p> + +<p>"You'll do more than that, or I'll have you patched!" roared the angry +Boolooroo. "And don't waste any time, either, for as soon as we find out +the secret of the umbrella I'm going to have the three strangers marched +through the Arch of Phinis—and that will be the end of them."</p> + +<p>"You can't do that, your Majesty," said the Majordomo.</p> + +<p>"Why can't I?"</p> + +<p>"They haven't lived six hundred years yet, and only those who have lived +that length of time are allowed to march through the Arch of Phinis into +the Great Blue Grotto."<a name="page_104" id="page_104"></a></p> + +<p>The King looked at him with a sneer.</p> + +<p>"Has anyone ever come out of that Arch alive?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"No," said Ghip-Ghisizzle. "But no one has ever gone into the Blue +Grotto until his allotted time was up."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm going to try the experiment," declared the Boolooroo. "I +shall march these three strangers through the Arch, and if by any chance +they come out alive I'll do a new sort of patching—I'll chop off their +heads and mix 'em up, putting the wrong head on each of 'em. Ha, ha! +Won't it be funny to see the old Moonface's head on the little girl? Ho, +Ho! I really hope they'll come out of the Great Blue Grotto alive!"</p> + +<p>"I also hope they will," replied Ghip-Ghisizzle.</p> + +<p>"Then I'll bet you four button-holes they don't. I've a suspicion that +once they enter the Great Blue Grotto that's the last of them."</p> + +<p>Ghip-Ghisizzle went away quite sad and unhappy. He did not approve the +way the strangers were being treated and thought it was wicked and cruel +to try to destroy them.</p> + +<p>During his absence the prisoners had been talking together very +earnestly.</p> + +<p>"We must get away from here, somehow 'r other," said Cap'n Bill; "but o' +course we can't stir a step without the Magic Umbrel."<a name="page_105" id="page_105"></a></p> + +<p>"No; I must surely manage to get my umbrella first," said Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>"Do it quick, then," urged Trot, "for I can't stand those snubnoses much +longer."</p> + +<p>"I'll do it to-night," said the boy.</p> + +<p>"The sooner the better, my lad," remarked the sailor; "but seein' as the +Blue Boolooroo has locked it up in his Treasure Chamber, it mayn't be +easy to get hold of."</p> + +<p>"No; it won't be easy," Button-Bright admitted. "But it has to be done, +Cap'n Bill, and there's no use waiting any longer. No one here likes us, +and in a few days they may make an end of us."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Button-Bright! There's a Blue Wolf in the Treasure Chamber!" +exclaimed Trot.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I know."</p> + +<p>"An' a patched man on guard outside," Cap'n Bill reminded him.</p> + +<p>"I know," repeated Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>"And the key's in the King's own pocket," added Trot, despairingly.</p> + +<p>The boy nodded. He didn't say how he would overcome all these +difficulties, so the little girl feared they would never see the Magic +Umbrella again. But their present position was a very serious one and +even Cap'n Bill dared not advise Button-Bright to give up the desperate +attempt.</p> + +<p>When Ghip-Ghisizzle returned he said:<a name="page_106" id="page_106"></a></p> + +<p>"You must be very careful not to anger the Boolooroo, or he may do you a +mischief. I think the little girl had better keep away from the +Princesses for to-night, unless they demand her presence. The boy must +go for the King's shoes and blue them and polish them and then take them +back to the Royal Bedchamber. Cap'n Bill won't have anything to do, for +I've ordered Tiggle to mix the nectar."</p> + +<p>"Thank 'e, friend Sizzle," said Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>"Now follow me and I will take you to your rooms."</p> + +<p>He led them to the rear of the palace, where he gave them three small +rooms on the ground floor, each having a bed in it. Cap'n Bill's room +had a small door leading out into the street of the City, but +Ghip-Ghisizzle advised him to keep this door locked, as the city people +would be sure to hurt the strangers if they had the chance to attack +them.</p> + +<p>"You're safer in the palace than anywhere else," said the Majordomo, +"for there is no way you can escape from the island, and here the +servants and soldiers dare not injure you for fear of the Boolooroo."</p> + +<p>He placed Trot and her six pets—which followed her wherever she +went—in one room, and Cap'n Bill in another, and took Button-Bright +away with him to show the boy the way to the King's bedchamber. As they +proceeded they passed many rooms with closed doors, and before one of +these a patched Blueskin was pacing up and down in a tired and sleepy +way. It was Jimfred Jinksjones, the double of the<a name="page_107" id="page_107"></a> Fredjim Jonesjinks +they had talked with in the servants' hall, and he bowed low before the +Majordomo.</p> + +<p>"This is the King's new bootblue, a stranger who has lately arrived +here," said Ghip-Ghisizzle, introducing the boy to the patched man.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry for him," muttered Jimfred. "He's a queer looking chap, with +his pale yellow skin, and I imagine our cruel Boolooroo is likely to +patch him before long, as he did me—I mean us."</p> + +<p>"No, he won't," said Button-Bright, positively. "The Boolooroo's afraid +of me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's different," said Jimfred. "You're the first person I ever +knew that could scare our Boolooroo."</p> + +<p>They passed on, and Ghip-Ghisizzle whispered: "That is the Royal +Treasure Chamber."</p> + +<p>Button-Bright nodded. He had marked the place well, so he couldn't miss +it when he wanted to find it again.</p> + +<p>When they came to the King's apartments there was another guard before +the door, this time a long-necked soldier with a terrible scowl.</p> + +<p>"This slave is the Royal Bootblue," said Ghip-Ghisizzle to the guard. +"You will allow him to pass into his Majesty's chamber to get the royal +shoes and to return them when they are blued."</p> + +<p>"All right," answered the guard. "Our Boolooroo is in<a name="page_108" id="page_108"></a> an ugly mood +to-night. It will go hard with this little short-necked creature if he +doesn't polish the shoes properly."</p> + +<p>Then Ghip-Ghisizzle left Button-Bright and went away, and the boy passed +through several rooms to the Royal Bedchamber, where his Majesty sat +undressing.</p> + +<p>"Hi, there! What are you doing here?" he roared, as he saw +Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>"I've come for the shoes," said the boy.</p> + +<p>The king threw them at his head, aiming carefully, but Button-Bright +dodged the missiles and one smashed a mirror while the other shattered a +vase on a small table. His Majesty looked around for something else to +throw, but the boy seized the shoes and ran away, returning to his own +room.</p> + +<p>While he polished the shoes he told his plans to Cap'n Bill and Trot, +and asked them to be ready to fly with him as soon as he returned with +the Magic Umbrella. All they need to do was to step out into the street, +through the door of Cap'n Bill's room, and open the umbrella. +Fortunately, the seats and the lunch-basket were still attached to the +handle—or so they thought—and there would be nothing to prevent their +quickly starting on the journey home.</p> + +<p>They waited a long time, however, to give the Boolooroo time to get to +sleep, so it was after midnight when Button-Bright finally took the +shoes in his hand and started for the Royal Bedchamber. He passed the +guard of the Royal Treasury and Fredjim nodded good-naturedly to the +boy. But the<a name="page_109" id="page_109"></a> sleepy guard before the King's apartments was cross and +surly.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing here at this hour?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"I'm returning his Majesty's shoes," said Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>"Go back and wait till morning," commanded the guard.</p> + +<p>"If you prevent me from obeying the Boolooroo's orders," returned the +boy, quietly, "he will probably have you patched."</p> + +<p>This threat frightened the long-necked guard, who did not know what +orders the Boolooroo had given his Royal Bootblue.</p> + +<p>"Go in, then," said he; "but if you make a noise and waken his Majesty, +the chances are you'll get yourself patched."</p> + +<p>"I'll be quiet," promised the boy.</p> + +<p>Indeed, Button-Bright had no desire to waken the Boolooroo, whom he +found snoring lustily with the curtains of his high-posted bed drawn +tightly around him. The boy had taken off his own shoes after he passed +the guard and now he tiptoed carefully into the room, set down the royal +shoes very gently and then crept to the chair where his Majesty's +clothes were piled. Scarcely daring to breathe, for fear of awakening +the terrible monarch, the boy searched in the royal pockets until he +found a blue-gold key attached to a blue-gold chain. At once he decided +this must be the key to the Treasure Chamber,<a name="page_110" id="page_110"></a> but in order to make sure +he searched in every other pocket—without finding another key.</p> + +<p>Then Button-Bright crept softly out of the room again, and in one of the +outer rooms he sat down near a big cabinet and put on his shoes. Poor +Button-Bright did not know that lying disregarded beneath that very +cabinet at his side was the precious umbrella he was seeking, or that he +was undertaking a desperate adventure all for nothing. He passed the +long-necked guard again, finding the man half asleep, and then made his +way to the Treasure Chamber. Facing Jimfred he said to the patched man, +in a serious tone:</p> + +<p>"His Majesty commands you to go at once to the corridor leading to the +apartments of the Six Snubnosed Princesses and to guard the entrance +until morning. You are to permit no one to enter or to leave the +apartments."</p> + +<p>"But—good gracious!" exclaimed the surprised Jimfred; "who will guard +the Treasure Chamber?"</p> + +<p>"I am to take your place," said Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>"Oh, very well," replied Jimfred; "this is a queer freak for our +Boolooroo to indulge in, but he is always doing something absurd. You're +not much of a guard, seems to me, but if anyone tries to rob the +Treasure Chamber you must ring this big gong, which will alarm the whole +palace and bring the soldiers to your assistance. Do you understand?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>Then Fredjim stalked away to the other side of the palace<a name="page_111" id="page_111"></a> to guard the +Princesses, and Button-Bright was left alone with the key to the +Treasure Chamber in his hand. But he had not forgotten that the +ferocious Blue Wolf was guarding the interior of the Chamber, so he +searched in some of the rooms until he found a sofa-pillow, which he put +under his arm and then returned to the corridor.</p> + +<p>He placed the key in the lock and the bolt turned with a sharp click. +Button-Bright did not hesitate. He was afraid, to be sure, and his heart +was beating fast with the excitement of the moment, but he knew he must +regain the Magic Umbrella if he would save his comrades and himself from +destruction, for without it they could never return to the Earth. So he +summoned up his best courage, opened the door, stepped quickly +inside—and closed the door after him.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_033_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_033_sml.png" width="450" height="257" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_112" id="page_112"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_11" id="CHAPTER_11"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_034_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_034_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="294" +alt="BUTTON-BRIGHT ENCOUNTERS THE BLUE WOLF--CHAPTER 11." +title="BUTTON-BRIGHT ENCOUNTERS THE BLUE WOLF--CHAPTER 11." /></a></p> + +<p>A LOW, fierce growl greeted him. The Treasure Chamber was pretty dark, +although the moonlight came in through some of the windows, but the boy +had brought with him the low brass lamp that lighted the corrider and +this he set upon a table beside the door before he took time to look +around him.</p> + +<p>The Treasure Chamber was heaped and crowded with all the riches the +Boolooroo had accumulated during his reign of two or three hundred +years. Piles of gold and jewels were on all sides and precious ornaments +and splendid cloths, rare pieces of carved furniture, vases, bric-a-brac +and the like, were strewn about the room in astonishing profusion.</p> + +<p>Just at the boy's feet crouched a monstrous animal of most fearful +aspect. He knew at a glance it was the terrible Blue Wolf and the sight +of the beast sent a shiver through him. The Blue Wolf's head was fully +as big as that of a lion and its wide jaws were armed with rows of long, +pointed teeth. Its<a name="page_113" id="page_113"></a> shoulders and front legs were huge and powerful, but +the rest of the wolf's body dwindled away until at the tail it was no +bigger than a dog. The jaws were therefore the dangerous part of the +creature, and its small blue eyes flashed wickedly at the intruder.</p> + +<p>Just as the boy made his first step forward the Blue Wolf sprang upon +him with its enormous jaws stretched wide open. Button-Bright jammed the +sofa-pillow into the brute's mouth and crowded it in as hard as he +could. The terrible teeth came together and buried themselves in the +pillow, and then Mr. Wolf found he could not pull them out +again—because his mouth was stuffed full. He could not even growl or +yelp, but rolled upon the floor trying in vain to release himself from +the conquering pillow.</p> + +<p>Button-Bright paid no further attention to the helpless animal but +caught up the blue-brass lamp and began a search for his umbrella. Of +course he could not find it, as it was not there. He came across a small +book, bound in light blue leather, which lay upon an exquisitely carved +center-table. It was named, in dark blue letters stamped on the leather, +"The Royal Record Book," and remembering that Ghip-Ghisizzle longed to +possess this book Button-Bright hastily concealed it inside his blouse. +Then he renewed his search for the umbrella, but it was quite in vain. +He hunted in every crack and corner, tumbling the treasures here and +there in the quest, but<a name="page_114" id="page_114"></a> at last he became positive that the Magic +Umbrella had been removed from the room.</p> + +<p>The boy was bitterly disappointed and did not know what to do next. But +he noticed that the Blue Wolf had finally seized an edge of the +sofa-pillow in its sharp claws and was struggling to pull the thing out +of his mouth; so, there being no object in his remaining longer in the +room, where he might have to fight the wolf again, Button-Bright went +out and locked the door behind him.</p> + +<p>While he stood in the corridor wondering what to do next a sudden +shouting reached his ears. It was the voice of the Boolooroo, crying: +"My Key—my Key! Who has stolen my golden Key?" And then there followed +shouts of soldiers and guards and servants and the rapid pattering of +feet was heard throughout the palace.</p> + +<p>Button-Bright took to his heels and ran along the passages until he came +to Cap'n Bill's room, where the sailorman and Trot were anxiously +awaiting him.</p> + +<p>"Quick!" cried the boy; "we must escape from here at once or we will be +caught and patched."</p> + +<p>"Where's the umbrel?" asked Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>"I don't know. I can't find it. But all the palace is aroused and the +Boolooroo is furious. Come, let's get away at once!"</p> + +<p>"Where'll we go?" inquired Trot.<a name="page_115" id="page_115"></a></p> + +<p>"We must make for the open country and hide in the Fog Bank, or in the +Arch of Phinis," replied the boy.</p> + +<p>They did not stop to argue any longer, but all three stepped out of the +little door into the street, where they first clasped hands, so they +would not get separated in the dark, and then ran as swiftly as they +could down the street, which was deserted at this hour by the citizens. +They could not go very fast because the sailorman's wooden leg was +awkward to run with and held them back, but Cap'n Bill hobbled quicker +than he had ever hobbled before in all his life, and they really made +pretty good progress.</p> + +<p>They met no one on the streets and continued their flight until at last +they came to the City Wall, which had a blue-iron gate in it. Here was a +Blueskin guard, who had been peacefully slumbering when aroused by the +footsteps of the fugitives.</p> + +<p>"Halt!" cried the guard, fiercely.</p> + +<p>Cap'n Bill halted long enough to grab the man around his long neck with +one hand and around his long leg with the other hand. Then he raised the +Blueskin in the air and threw him far over the wall. A moment later they +had unfastened the gate and fled into the open country, where they +headed toward the low mountain whose outlines were plainly visible in +the moonlight.</p> + +<p>The guard was now howling and crying for help. In the<a name="page_116" id="page_116"></a> city were +answering shouts. A hue and cry came from every direction, reaching as +far as the palace. Lights began to twinkle everywhere in the streets and +the Blue City hummed like a beehive filled with angry bees.</p> + +<p>"It won't do for us to get caught now," panted Cap'n Bill, as they ran +along. "I'm more afeared o' them Blue citizens ner I am o' the Blue +Boolooroo. They'd tear us to pieces, if they could."</p> + +<p>Sky Island was not a very big place, especially the blue part of it, and +our friends were now very close to the low mountain. Presently they +paused before a grim archway of blue marble, above which was carved the +one word: "Phinis." The interior seemed dark and terrible as they +stopped to regard it as a possible place of refuge.</p> + +<p>"Don't like that place, Cap'n," whispered Trot.</p> + +<p>"No more do I, mate," he answered.</p> + +<p>"I think I'd rather take a chance on the Fog Bank," said Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>Just then they were all startled by a swift flapping of wings, and a +voice cried in shrill tones:</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"Where are you, Trot?</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">As like as not</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">I've been forgot!"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p>Cap'n Bill jumped this way and Button-Bright that, and<a name="page_117" id="page_117"></a> then there +alighted on Trot's shoulder the blue parrot that had been the pet of the +Princess Cerulia.</p> + +<p>Said the bird:</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"Gee! I've flown</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">Here all alone.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">It's pretty far,</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">But here we are!"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">and then he barked like a dog and chuckled with glee at having found his +little friend.</p> + +<p>In escaping from the palace Trot had been obliged to leave all the pets +behind her, but it seemed that the parrot had found some way to get free +and follow her. They were all astonished to hear the bird talk—and in +poetry, too—but Cap'n Bill told Trot that some parrots he had known had +possessed a pretty fair gift of language, and he added that this blue +one seemed an unusually bright bird.</p> + +<p>"As fer po'try," said he, "that's as how you look at po'try. Rhymes come +from your head, but real po'try from your heart, an' whether the blue +parrot has a heart or not he's sure got a head."</p> + +<p>Having decided not to venture into the Arch of Phinis they again started +on, this time across the country straight toward the Fog Bank, which +hung like a blue-gray cloud directly across the center of the island. +They knew they were being followed by bands of the Blueskins, for they +could hear<a name="page_118" id="page_118"></a> the shouts of their pursuers growing louder and louder every +minute, since their long legs covered the ground more quickly than our +friends could possibly go. Had the journey been much farther the +fugitives would have been overtaken, but when the leaders of the +pursuing Blueskins were only a few yards behind them they reached the +edge of the Fog Bank and without hesitation plunged into its thick mist, +which instantly hid them from view.</p> + +<p>The Blueskins fell back, horrified at the mad act of the strangers. To +them the Fog Bank was the most dreadful thing in existence and no +Blueskin had ever ventured within it, even for a moment.</p> + +<p>"That's the end of those short-necked Yellowskins," said one, shaking +his head. "We may as well go back and report the matter to the +Boolooroo."</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_035_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_035_sml.png" width="450" height="277" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_119" id="page_119"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_12" id="CHAPTER_12"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_036_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_036_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="305" +alt="THROUGH THE FOG BANK--CHAPTER 12." +title="THROUGH THE FOG BANK--CHAPTER 12." /></a></p> + +<p>IT was rather moist in the Fog Bank.</p> + +<p>"Seems like a reg'lar drizzle," said Trot. "I'll be soaked through in a +minute." She had been given a costume of blue silk, in exchange for her +own dress, and the silk was so thin that the moisture easily wetted it.</p> + +<p>"Never mind," said Cap'n Bill. "When it's a case of life 'n' death, +clo's don't count for much. I'm sort o' drippy myself."</p> + +<p>Cried the parrot, fluttering his feathers to try to keep them from +sticking together:</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"Floods and gushes fill our path—</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">This is not my day for a bath!</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">Shut it off, or fear my wrath."</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p>"We can't," laughed Trot. "We'll jus' have to stick it out till we get +to the other side."<a name="page_120" id="page_120"></a></p> + +<p>"Had we better go to the other side?" asked Button-Bright, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" returned Cap'n Bill. "The other side's the only safe side for +us."</p> + +<p>"We don't know that, sir," said the boy. "Ghip-Ghisizzle said it was a +terrible country."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe it," retorted the sailor, stoutly. "Sizzle's never been +there, an' he knows nothing about it. 'The Sunset Country' sounds sort +o' good to me."</p> + +<p>"But how'll we ever manage to get there?" inquired Trot. "Aren't we +already lost in this fog?"</p> + +<p>"Not yet," said Cap'n Bill. "I've kep' my face turned straight ahead, +ever since we climbed inter this bank o' wetness. If we don't get +twisted any, we'll go straight through to the other side."</p> + +<p>It was no darker in the Fog Bank than it had been in the Blue Country. +They could see dimly the mass of fog, which seemed to cling to them, and +when they looked down they discovered that they were walking upon white +pebbles that were slightly tinged with the blue color of the sky. +Gradually this blue became fainter, until, as they progressed, +everything became a dull gray.</p> + +<p>"I wonder how far it is to the other side," remarked Trot, wearily.</p> + +<p>"We can't say till we get there, mate," answered the<a name="page_121" id="page_121"></a> sailor in a +cheerful voice. Cap'n Bill had a way of growing more and more cheerful +when danger threatened.</p> + +<p>"Never mind," said the girl; "I'm as wet as a dish rag now, and I'll +never get any wetter."</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"Wet, wet, wet!</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">It's awful wet, you bet!"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">moaned the parrot on her shoulder.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"I'm a fish-pond, I'm a well;</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">I'm a clam without a shell!"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p>"Can't you dry up?" asked Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p> +"Not this evening, thank you, sir;<br /> +To talk and grumble I prefer,"<br /> +</p> + +<p class="nind">replied the parrot, dolefully.</p> + +<p>They walked along more slowly now, still keeping hold of hands; for +although they were anxious to get through the Fog Bank they were tired +with the long run across the country and with their day's adventures. +They had had no sleep and it was a long time past midnight.</p> + +<p>"Look out!" cried the parrot, sharply; and they all halted to find a +monstrous frog obstructing their path. Cap'n Bill thought it was as big +as a whale, and as it squatted on the gray pebbles its eyes were on a +level with those of the old sailor.</p> + +<p>"Ker-chug, ker-choo!" grunted the frog; "what in the Sky is <i>this</i> +crowd?"<a name="page_122" id="page_122"></a></p> + +<p>"W—we're—strangers," stammered Trot; "an' we're tryin' to 'scape from +the Blueskins an' get into the Pink Country."</p> + +<p>"I don't blame you," said the frog, in a friendly tone. "I hate those +Blueskins. The Pinkies, however, are very decent neighbors."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm glad to hear that!" cried Button-Bright. "Can you tell us, +Mister—Mistress—good Mr. Frog—eh—eh—your Royal Highness—if we're +on the right road to the Pink Country?"</p> + +<p>The frog seemed to laugh, for he gurgled in his throat in a very funny +way.</p> + +<p>"I'm no Royal Highness," he said. "I'm just a common frog; and a little +wee tiny frog, too. But I hope to grow, in time. This Fog Bank is the +Paradise of Frogs and our King is about ten times as big as I am."</p> + +<p>"Then he's a big un, an' no mistake," admitted Cap'n Bill. "I'm glad you +like your country, but it's a mite too damp for us, an' we'd be glad to +get out of it."</p> + +<p>"Follow me," said the frog. "I'll lead you to the border. It's only +about six jumps."</p> + +<p>He turned around, made a mighty leap and disappeared in the gray mist.</p> + +<p>Our friends looked at one another in bewilderment.</p> + +<p>"Don't see how we can foller that lead," remarked Cap'n Bill; "but we +may as well start in the same direction."<a name="page_123" id="page_123"></a></p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"Brooks and creeks,</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">How it leaks!"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">muttered the parrot;</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"How can we jog</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">To a frog in a fog?"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p>The big frog seemed to understand their difficulty, for he kept making +noises in his throat to guide them to where he had leaped. When at last +they came up to him he made a second jump—out of sight, as before—and +when they attempted to follow they found a huge lizard lying across the +path. Cap'n Bill thought it must be a giant alligator, at first, it was +so big; but he looked at them sleepily and did not seem at all +dangerous.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"O, Liz—you puffy Liz—</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">Get out of our way and mind your biz,"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">cried the parrot.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"Creep-a-mousie, crawl-a-mousie, please move on!</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">We can't move a step till you are gone."</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p>"Don't disturb me," said the lizard; "I'm dreaming about parsnips. Did +you ever taste a parsnip?"</p> + +<p>"We're in a hurry, if it's the same to you, sir," said Cap'n Bill, +politely.<a name="page_124" id="page_124"></a></p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_037_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_037_sml.png" width="388" height="550" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="images/ill_038_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_038_sml.png" width="392" height="550" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_125" id="page_125"></a></p> + +<p><a name="page_126" id="page_126"></a></p> + +<p>"Then climb over me—or go around—I don't care which," murmured the +lizard. "When they're little, they're juicy; when they're big, there's +more of 'em; but either way there's nothing so delicious as a parsnip. +There are none here in the Fog Bank, so the best I can do is dream of +them. Oh, parsnips—par-snips—p-a-r-snips!" He closed his eyes sleepily +and resumed his dreams.</p> + +<p>Walking around the lizard they resumed their journey and soon came to +the frog, being guided by its grunts and croaks. Then off it went again, +its tremendous leap carrying it far into the fog. Suddenly Cap'n Bill +tripped and would have fallen flat had not Trot and Button-Bright held +him up. Then he saw that he had stumbled over the claw of a gigantic +land-crab, which lay sprawled out upon the pebbly bottom.</p> + +<p>"Oh; beg parding, I'm sure!" exclaimed Cap'n Bill backing away.</p> + +<p>"Don't mention it," replied the crab, in a tired tone. "You did not +disturb me, so there is no harm done."</p> + +<p>"We didn't know you were here," explained Trot.</p> + +<p>"Probably not," said the crab. "It's no place for me, anyhow, for I +belong in the Constellations, you know, with Taurus and Gemini and the +other fellows. But I had the misfortune to tumble out of the Zodiac some +time ago. My name is Cancer—but I'm not a disease. Those who examine +the heavens in these days, alas! can find no Cancer there."<a name="page_127" id="page_127"></a></p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"Yes, we can, sir,</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">Mister Cancer!"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">said the parrot, with a chuckle.</p> + +<p>"Once," remarked Cap'n Bill, "I sawr a picter of you in an almanac."</p> + +<p>"Ah; the almanacs always did us full justice," the crab replied, "but +I'm told they're not fashionable now."</p> + +<p>"If you don't mind, we'd like to pass on," said Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>"No; I don't mind; but be careful not to step on my legs. They're +rheumatic, it's so moist here."</p> + +<p>They climbed over some of the huge legs and walked around others. Soon +they had left the creature far behind.</p> + +<p>"Aren't you rather slow?" asked the frog, when once more they came up to +him.</p> + +<p>"It isn't that," said Trot. "You are rather swift, I guess."</p> + +<p>The frog chuckled and leaped again. They noticed that the fog had caught +a soft rose tint, and was lighter and less dense than before, for which +reason the sailor remarked that they must be getting near to the Pink +Country.</p> + +<p>On this jump they saw nothing but a monstrous turtle, which lay asleep +with its head and legs drawn into its shell. It was not in their way, so +they hurried on and rejoined the frog, which said to them:<a name="page_128" id="page_128"></a></p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, but I'm due at the King's Court in a few minutes and I can't +wait for your short, weak legs to make the journey to the Pink Country. +But if you will climb upon my back I think I can carry you to the border +in one more leap."</p> + +<p>"I'm tired," said Trot, "an' this awful fog's beginnin' to choke me. +Let's ride on the frog, Cap'n."</p> + +<p>"Right you are, mate," he replied, and although he shook a bit with +fear, the old man at once began to climb to the frog's back. Trot seated +herself on one side of him and Button-Bright on the other, and the +sailor put his arms around them both to hold them tight together.</p> + +<p>"Are you ready?" asked the frog.</p> + +<p>"Ding-dong!" cried the parrot;</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"All aboard! let 'er go!</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">Jump the best jump that you know."</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p>"Don't—don't! Jump sort o' easy, please," begged Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>But the frog was unable to obey his request. Its powerful hind legs +straightened like steel springs and shot the big body, with its +passengers, through the fog like an arrow launched from a bow. They +gasped for breath and tried to hang on, and then suddenly the frog +landed just at the edge of the Fog Bank, stopping so abruptly that his +three riders left his back and shot far ahead of him.<a name="page_129" id="page_129"></a></p> + +<p>They felt the fog melt away and found themselves bathed in glorious rays +of sunshine; but they had no time to consider this change because they +were still shooting through the air, and presently—before they could +think of anything at all—all three were rolling heels over head on the +soft grass of a meadow.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_039_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_039_sml.png" width="450" height="309" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_130" id="page_130"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_13" id="CHAPTER_13"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_040_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_040_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="302" +alt="THE PINK COUNTRY--CHAPTER 13." +title="THE PINK COUNTRY--CHAPTER 13." /></a></p> + +<p>WHEN the travelers could collect their senses and sit up they stared +about them in bewilderment, for the transition from the sticky, damp fog +to this brilliant scene was so abrupt as to daze them at first.</p> + +<p>It was a Pink Country, indeed. The grass was a soft pink, the trees were +pink, all the fences and buildings which they saw in the near distance +were pink—even the gravel in the pretty paths was pink. Many shades of +color were there, of course, grading from a faint blush rose to deep +pink verging on red, but no other color was visible. In the sky hung a +pink glow, with rosy clouds floating here and there, and the sun was not +silvery white, as we see it from the Earth, but a distinct pink.</p> + +<p>The sun was high in the sky, just now, which proved the adventurers had +been a long time in passing through the Fog Bank. But all of them were +wonderfully relieved to reach<a name="page_131" id="page_131"></a> this beautiful country in safety, for +aside from the danger that threatened them in the Blue Country, the +other side of the island was very depressing. Here the scene that +confronted them was pretty and homelike, except for the prevailing color +and the fact that all the buildings were round, without a single corner +or angle.</p> + +<p>Half a mile distant was a large City, its pink tintings glistening +bravely in the pink sunshine, while hundreds of pink banners floated +from its numerous domes. The country between the Fog Bank and the City +was like a vast garden, very carefully kept and as neat as wax.</p> + +<p>The parrot was fluttering its wings and pruning its feathers to remove +the wet of the fog. Trot and Button-Bright and Cap'n Bill were all +soaked to the skin and chilled through, but as they sat upon the pink +grass they felt the rays of the sun sending them warmth and rapidly +drying their clothes; so, being tired out, they laid themselves +comfortably down and first one and then another fell cosily asleep.</p> + +<p>It was the parrot that aroused them.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"Look out—look out—</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">There's folks about!"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">it screamed;</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"The apple-dumplings, fat and pink,</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">Will be here quicker than a wink!"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p><a name="page_132" id="page_132"></a></p> + +<p>Trot started up in alarm and rubbed her eyes; Cap'n Bill rolled over and +blinked, hardly remembering where he was; Button-Bright was on his feet +in an instant. Advancing toward them were four of the natives of the +Pink Country.</p> + +<p>Two were men and two were women, and their appearance was in sharp +contrast to that of the Blueskins. For the Pinkies were round and +chubby—almost like "apple-dumplings," as the parrot had called +them—and they were not very tall, the highest of the men being no +taller than Trot or Button-Bright. They all had short necks and legs, +pink hair and eyes, rosy cheeks and pink complexions, and their faces +were good-natured and jolly in expression.</p> + +<p>The men wore picturesque pink clothing and round hats with pink feathers +in them, but the apparel of the women was still more gorgeous and +striking. Their dresses consisted of layer after layer of gauzy tucks +and ruffles and laces, caught here and there with bows of dainty ribbon. +The skirts—which of course were of many shades of pink—were so fluffy +and light that they stuck out from the fat bodies of the Pinkie women +like the skirts of ballet-dancers, displaying their chubby pink ankles +and pink kid shoes. They wore rings and necklaces and bracelets and +brooches of rose-gold set with pink gems, and all four of the new +arrivals, both men and women, carried sharp-pointed sticks, made of +rosewood, for weapons.<a name="page_133" id="page_133"></a></p> + +<p>They halted a little way from our adventurers and one of the women +muttered in a horrified voice: "Blueskins!"</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"Guess again! The more you guess</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">I rather think you'll know the less,"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">retorted the parrot; and then he added grumblingly in Trot's ear: "Blue +feathers don't make bluebirds."</p> + +<p>"Really," said the little girl, standing up and bowing respectfully to +the Pinkies, "we are not Blueskins, although we are wearing the blue +uniforms of the Boolooroo and have just escaped from the Blue Country. +If you will look closely you will see that our skins are white."</p> + +<p>"There is some truth in what she says," remarked one of the men, +thoughtfully. "Their skins are not blue, but neither are they white. To +be exact, I should call the skin of the girl and that of the boy a muddy +pink, rather faded, while the skin of the gigantic monster with them is +an unpleasant brown."</p> + +<p>Cap'n Bill looked cross for a minute, for he did not like to be called a +"gigantic monster," although he realized he was much larger than the +pink people.</p> + +<p>"What country did you come from?" asked the woman who had first spoken.</p> + +<p>"From the Earth," replied Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>"The Earth! The Earth!" they repeated. "That is a country we have never +heard of. Where is it located?"</p> + +<p>"Why, down below, somewhere," said the boy, who did<a name="page_134" id="page_134"></a> not know in which +direction the Earth lay. "It isn't just one country, but a good many +countries."</p> + +<p>"We have three countries in Sky Island," returned the woman. "They are +the Blue Country, the Fog Country and the Pink Country; but of course +this end of the Island is the most important."</p> + +<p>"How came you in the Blue Country, from whence you say you escaped?" +asked the man.</p> + +<p>"We flew there by means of a Magic Umbrella," explained Button-Bright; +"but the wicked Boolooroo stole it from us."</p> + +<p>"Stole it! How dreadful," they all cried in a chorus.</p> + +<p>"And they made us slaves," said Trot.</p> + +<p>"An' wanted fer to patch us," added Cap'n Bill, indignantly.</p> + +<p>"So we ran away and passed through the Fog Bank and came here," said +Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>The Pinkies turned away and conversed together in low tones. Then one of +the women came forward and addressed the strangers.</p> + +<p>"Your story is the strangest we have ever heard," said she; "and your +presence here is still more strange and astonishing. So we have decided +to take you to Tourmaline and let her decide what shall be your fate."</p> + +<p>"Who is Tourmaline?" inquired Trot, doubtfully, for she didn't like the +idea of being "taken" to anyone.<a name="page_135" id="page_135"></a></p> + +<p>"The Queen of the Pinkies. She is the sole Ruler of our country, so the +word of Tourmaline is the Law of the Land."</p> + +<p>"Seems to me we've had 'bout enough of kings an' queens," remarked Cap'n +Bill. "Can't we shy your Tut—Tor—mar-line—or whatever you call +her—in some way, an' deal with you direct?"</p> + +<p>"No. Until we prove your truth and honor we must regard you as enemies +of our race. If you had a Magic Umbrella you may be magicians and +sorcerers, come here to deceive us and perhaps betray us to our natural +enemies, the Blueskins."</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"Mud and bricks—fiddlesticks!</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">We don't play such nasty tricks,"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">yelled the parrot, angrily, and this caused the Pinkies to shrink back +in alarm, for they had never seen a parrot before.</p> + +<p>"Surely this is magic!" declared one of the men. "No bird can talk +unless inspired by witchcraft."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; parrots can," said Trot.</p> + +<p>But this incident had determined the Pinkies to consider our friends +prisoners and to take them immediately before their Queen.</p> + +<p>"Must we fight you?" asked the woman, "or will you come with us +peaceably?"</p> + +<p>"We'll go peaceable," answered Cap'n Bill. "You're a-makin' a sad +mistake, for we're as harmless as doves; but<a name="page_136" id="page_136"></a> seein' as you're +suspicious we'd better have it out with your Queen first as last."</p> + +<p>Their clothing was quite dry by this time, although much wrinkled and +discolored by the penetrating fog, so at once they prepared to follow +the Pinkies. The two men walked on either side of them, holding the +pointed sticks ready to jab them if they attempted to escape, and the +two women followed in the rear, also armed with sharp sticks.</p> + +<p>So the procession moved along the pretty roadways to the City, which +they soon reached. There was a strong high wall of pink marble around it +and they passed through a gate made of pink metal bars and found +themselves in a most delightful and picturesque town. The houses were +big and substantial, all round in shape, with domed roofs and circular +windows and doorways. In all the place there was but one street—a +circular one that started at the gate and wound like a corkscrew toward +the center of the City. It was paved with pink marble and between the +street and the houses that lined both sides of it were gardens filled +with pink flowers and pink grass lawns, which were shaded by pink trees +and shrubbery.</p> + +<p>As the Queen lived in the very center of the city the captives were +obliged to parade the entire length of this street, and that gave all +the Pink Citizens a chance to have a good look at the strangers. The +Pinkies were every one short and fat and gorgeously dressed in pink +attire, and their faces indicated that they were contented and happy. +They were<a name="page_137" id="page_137"></a> much surprised at Cap'n Bill's great size and wooden leg—two +very unusual things in their experience—and the old sailor frightened +more than one Pinky boy and girl and sent them scampering into the +houses, where they viewed the passing procession from behind the window +shutters, in comparative safety. As for the grown people, many of them +got out their sharp-pointed sticks to use as weapons in case the +strangers attacked them or broke away from their guards. A few, more +bold than the others, followed on at the tail of the procession, and so +presently they all reached an open, circular place in the exact center +of the Pink City.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_041_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_041_sml.png" width="450" height="276" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_138" id="page_138"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_14" id="CHAPTER_14"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_042_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_042_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="308" +alt="TOURMALINE THE POVERTY QUEEN--CHAPTER 14." +title="TOURMALINE THE POVERTY QUEEN--CHAPTER 14." /></a></p> + +<p>THE open space which they entered was paved with pink marble and around +it were two rows of large pink statues, at least life-size and +beautifully sculptured. All were set upon nicely carved pink pedestals. +They were, of course, statues of Pinky men and women and all had bands +of pink metal around their foreheads, in the center of each band being a +glistening pink jewel.</p> + +<p>About the middle of the open space inside the statues, which appeared to +be the public meeting place of the Pinkies, was a small, low house, +domed like all the other houses but built of a coarse pink stone instead +of the fine marble to be seen everywhere else. It had no ornamentation, +being exceedingly plain in appearance. No banners floated from it; no +flowers grew near it.<a name="page_139" id="page_139"></a></p> + +<p>"Here," said one of their guides, as the procession halted before the +little stone building, "is the palace of Tourmaline, who is our Queen."</p> + +<p>"What! that little cabin?" exclaimed Trot.</p> + +<p>"Of course. Did you suppose a palace would be like one of our handsome +residences?" asked the woman, evidently surprised.</p> + +<p>"I thought it would be better," said the girl. "All the palaces I've +seen were splendid."</p> + +<p>"A splendid palace!" exclaimed one of the Pinkies, and then they looked +at one another in amazement and seemed to doubt that their ears had +heard aright.</p> + +<p>"These intruders are very peculiar people," remarked a man in the crowd.</p> + +<p>"They seem very ignorant, poor things!" said another, in reply.</p> + +<p>"Come!" commanded the woman who led the party; "you three must follow me +to the presence of Tourmaline. The people must wait outside, for there +is no room for them in the palace."</p> + +<p>So they followed her through the low archway, and in a room beyond, very +simply furnished, sat a young girl engaged in darning a pair of pink +stockings. She was a beautiful girl of about seventeen years of age, not +fat like all the rest of the Pinkies, but slender and well formed +according to our own ideas of beauty. Her complexion was not a decided +pink but<a name="page_140" id="page_140"></a> a soft rosy tint not much deeper than that of Trot's skin. +Instead of a silken gown, furbelowed like all the others they had seen +women wear in this land, Tourmaline was dressed in a severely plain robe +of coarse pink cloth much resembling bedticking. Across her brow, +however, was a band of rose gold, in the center of which was set a +luminous pink jewel which gleamed more brilliantly than a diamond. It +was her badge of office, and seemed very incongruous when compared with +her poor raiment and simple surroundings.</p> + +<p>As they entered, the girl sighed and laid down her work. Her expression +was patient and resigned as she faced her audience.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Coralie?" she asked the woman.</p> + +<p>"Here are three strange people, Tourmaline," was the reply, "who say +they have entered our country through the Fog Bank. They tell a queer +story of an escape from the Blueskins, so I decided to bring them to +you, that you may determine their fate."</p> + +<p>The Queen gazed upon our friends with evident interest. She smiled—a +little sadly—at Trot, seemed to approve Button-Bright's open, frank +face and was quite surprised because Cap'n Bill was so much bigger than +her own people.</p> + +<p>"Are you a giant?" she asked the sailor, in a soft, sweet voice.</p> + +<p>"No, your Majesty," he replied; "I'm only——"<a name="page_141" id="page_141"></a></p> + +<p>"Majesty!" she exclaimed, flushing a deeper pink. "Are you addressing +that word to me?"</p> + +<p>"O' course, ma'am," answered Cap'n Bill; "I'm told that's the proper way +to speak to a Queen."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you are trying to ridicule me," she continued, regarding the +sailor's face closely. "There is nothing majestic about me, as you know +very well. Coralie, do you consider 'majesty' a proper word to use when +addressing a Queen?" she added, appealing to the Pinky woman.</p> + +<p>"By no means," was the prompt reply.</p> + +<p>"What shall I call her, then?" inquired Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>"Just Tourmaline. That is her name, and it is sufficient," said the +woman.</p> + +<p>"The Ruler of a country ought to be treated with great respec'," +declared Trot, a little indignantly, for she thought the pretty little +queen was not being properly deferred to.</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Tourmaline, curiously.</p> + +<p>"Because the Ruler is the mos' 'risticratic person in any land," +explained the little girl. "Even in America ever'body bows low to our +President, an' the Blueskins are so 'fraid o' their Boolooroo that they +tremble whenever they go near him."</p> + +<p>"But surely that is all wrong," said Tourmaline gravely. "The Ruler is +appointed to protect and serve the people, and here in the Pink Country +I have the full power to carry out the laws. I even decree death, when +such a punishment is<a name="page_142" id="page_142"></a> merited. Therefore I am a mere agent to direct the +laws, which are the Will of the People, and am only a public servant, +obliged constantly to guard the welfare of my subjects."</p> + +<p>"In that case," said Button-Bright, "you're entitled to the best there +is, to pay for your trouble. A powerful ruler ought to be rich and to +live in a splendid palace. Your folks ought to treat you with great +respect, as Trot says."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," responded Tourmaline quickly; "that would indeed be very +wrong. Too much should never be given to anyone. If, with my great +power, conferred upon me by the people, I also possessed great wealth, I +might be tempted to be cruel and overbearing. In that case my subjects +would justly grow envious of my superior station. If I lived as +luxuriously as my people do, and had servants and costly gowns, the good +Pinkies would say that their Queen had more than they themselves—and it +would be true. No; our way is best. The Ruler, be it king or queen, has +absolute power to rule, but no riches—no high station—no false +adulation. The people have the wealth and honor, for it is their due. +The Queen has nothing but the power to execute the laws, to adjust +grievances and to compel order."</p> + +<p>"What pays you, then, for all your bother?" asked Trot.</p> + +<p>"I have one great privilege. After my death a pink marble statue of me +will be set up in the Grand Court, with the statues of the other Kings +and Queens who have ruled this<a name="page_143" id="page_143"></a> land, and all the Pinkies in ages to +come will then honor me as having been a just and upright queen. That is +my reward."</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry for you, ma'am," said Cap'n Bill. "Your pay for bein' a queen +is sort o' like a life-insurance. It don't come due till after you're +dead, an' then you can't get much fun out o' it."</p> + +<p>"I did not choose to be the Queen," answered Tourmaline, simply. "A +misfortune of birth placed me here and I cannot escape my fate. It is +much more desirable to be a private citizen, happy and care free. But we +have talked long enough of myself. Tell me who you are, and why you have +come here."</p> + +<p>Between them they told the story of how the Magic Umbrella had taken +them to Sky Island, which they did not know, when they started, was +anywhere in existence. Button-Bright told this, and then Trot related +their adventures among the Blueskins and how the Boolooroo had stolen +the umbrella and prevented them from going home again. The parrot on her +shoulder kept interrupting her continually, for the mention of the +Boolooroo seemed to make the bird frantic with rage.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"Naughty, naugh-ty Boo-loo-roo!</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">He's the worst I ev-er knew!"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">the parrot repeated over and over again.</p> + +<p>Cap'n Bill finished the story by telling of their escape<a name="page_144" id="page_144"></a> through the +Fog Bank. "We didn't know what your Pink Country was like, o' course," +he said, "but we knew it couldn't be worse than the Blue Country, an' we +didn't take any stock in their stories that the Fog Bank would be the +death o' us."</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"Pretty wet! Pretty wet</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">Was the journey, you can bet!"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">declared the parrot, in conclusion.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it was wet an' sticky, all right," agreed the sailor; "but the big +frog helped us an' we got through all right."</p> + +<p>"But what can you do here?" asked Tourmaline. "You are not like my +people, the Pinkies, and there is no place for you in our country."</p> + +<p>"That's true enough," said Cap'n Bill; "but we had to go somewhere, an' +this was the likeliest place we could think of. Your Sky Island ain't +very big, so when we couldn't stay in the Blue Country, where ever'body +hated us, or in the Fog Bank, which ain't healthy an' is too wet for +humans to live in for long, we nat'rally were forced to enter the Pink +Country, where we expected to find nice people."</p> + +<p>"We <i>are</i> nice," said Tourmaline; "but it is our country—not yours—and +we have no place here for strangers. In all our history you are the +first people from outside our borders who have ever stepped a foot in +our land. We do not hate you, as you say the Blueskins do, nor are we +savage or<a name="page_145" id="page_145"></a> cruel; but we do not want you here and I am really puzzled +what to do with you."</p> + +<p>"Isn't there a law to cover this case?" asked Coralie.</p> + +<p>"I do not remember any such law," replied the queen; "but I will search +in the Great Book and see if I can find anything that refers to strange +people entering our land."</p> + +<p>"If not," said the woman, "you must make a law. It is your duty."</p> + +<p>"I know," answered Tourmaline; "but I hope such a responsibility will +not fall upon my shoulders. These poor strangers are in a very +uncomfortable position and I wish I could help them to get back to their +own country."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said Trot. "We wish so, too. Haven't you any fairies here?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, there are fairies, of course, as there are everywhere," answered +Tourmaline; "but none that we can call to our assistance, or command to +do our bidding."</p> + +<p>"How about witches?" asked Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>"I know of one witch," said Tourmaline, thoughtfully, "but she is not +very obliging. She says it makes her head ache to perform witchcraft and +so she seldom indulges in it. But, if there is no other way, I may be +obliged to call upon Rosalie for help. I'll look in the Great Book +first. Meantime you will go home with Coralie, who will feed you and +give you<a name="page_146" id="page_146"></a> entertainment. To-morrow morning come to me again and then I +will decree your fate."</p> + +<p>The little Queen then picked up her stocking and began to darn the holes +in it, and Coralie, without any formal parting, led the strangers from +the miserable palace.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_043_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_043_sml.png" width="450" height="271" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_147" id="page_147"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_15" id="CHAPTER_15"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_044_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_044_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="296" +alt="THE SUNRISE TRIBE AND THE SUNSET TRIBE--CHAPTER 15." +title="THE SUNRISE TRIBE AND THE SUNSET TRIBE--CHAPTER 15." /></a></p> + +<p>ALTHOUGH Trot and her comrades were still prisoners they were far more +comfortable than they had been in the Blue Country. Coralie took them to +her own home, where she lived in great luxury, being one of the +prominent women of the Pinkies. In this country the women seemed fully +as important as the men, and instead of being coddled and petted they +performed their share of the work, both in public and private affairs, +and were expected to fight in the wars exactly as the men did.</p> + +<p>Our friends learned considerable about the Pinkies during that afternoon +and evening, for their hostess proved kind and agreeable and frankly +answered all their questions. Although this half of Sky Island was no +larger than the Blue Country, being no more than two miles square, it +had several hundred inhabitants. These were divided into two tribes, +which were called the Sunrise Tribe and the Sunset Tribe.<a name="page_148" id="page_148"></a> The Sunrise +Tribe lived in the eastern half of the Pink Country and the Sunset Tribe +in the west half, and there was great rivalry between them and, +sometimes, wars.</p> + +<p>It was all a question of social importance. The Sunrise Tribe claimed +that every day the sun greeted them first of all, which proved they were +the most important; but, on the other hand, the Sunset Tribe claimed +that the sun always deserted the other tribe and came to them, which was +evidence that they were the most attractive people. On Sky Island—at +least on the Pink side—the sun arose in wonderful splendor, but also it +set in a blaze of glory, and so there were arguments on both sides and +for want of something better to argue about, the Pinkies took this queer +subject as a cause of dispute.</p> + +<p>Both Tribes acknowledged Tourmaline their Queen and obeyed the laws of +the country, and just at this time there was peace in the land and all +the inhabitants of the east and west were friendly. But they had been +known, Coralie said, to fight one another fiercely with the sharp +sticks, at which times a good many were sure to get hurt.</p> + +<p>"Why do they call this an Island?" asked Button-Bright. "There isn't any +water around it, is there?"</p> + +<p>"No, but there is sky all around it," answered Coralie; "and, if one +should step off the edge, he would go tumbling into the great sky and +never be heard of again."</p> + +<p>"Is there a fence around the edge?" asked Trot.</p> + +<p>"Only a few places are fenced," was the reply. "Usually<a name="page_149" id="page_149"></a> there are rows +of thick bushes set close to the edge, to prevent people from falling +off. Once there was a King of the Pinkies who was cruel and overbearing +and imagined he was superior to the people he ruled, so one day his +subjects carried him to the edge of the island and threw him over the +bushes."</p> + +<p>"Goodness me!" said Trot. "He might have hit some one on the Earth."</p> + +<p>"Guess he skipped it, though," added Cap'n Bill, "for I never heard of a +Pinky till I came here."</p> + +<p>"And I have never heard of the Earth," retorted Coralie. "Of course +there must be such a place, because you came from there, but the Earth +is never visible in our sky."</p> + +<p>"No," said Button-Bright, "'cause it's <i>under</i> your island. But it's +there, all right, and it's a pretty good place to live. I wish I could +get back to it."</p> + +<p>"So do I, Button-Bright!" exclaimed Trot.</p> + +<p>"Let's fly!" cried the parrot, turning his head so that one bright +little eye looked directly into the girl's eye. "Say good-bye and let's +fly through the sky, far and high!"</p> + +<p>"If we only had my umbrella, we'd fly in a minute," sighed +Button-Bright. "But the Boolooroo stole it."</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"Naugh-ty, naugh-ty Boo-loo-roo;</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">What a wicked thing to do!"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">wailed the parrot; and they all agreed with him.<a name="page_150" id="page_150"></a></p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_045_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_045_sml.png" width="394" height="550" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="images/ill_046_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_046_sml.png" width="397" height="550" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_151" id="page_151"></a></p> + +<p><a name="page_152" id="page_152"></a></p> + +<p>Coralie belonged to the Sunset Tribe, as she lived west of the queen's +palace, which was the center of the Pink Country. A servant came to the +room where they were conversing, to state that the sun was about to set, +and at once Coralie arose and took the strangers to an upper balcony, +where all the household had assembled.</p> + +<p>The neighboring houses also had their balconies and roofs filled with +people, for it seemed all the Sunset Tribe came out every night to +witness the setting of the sun. It was really a magnificent sight and +Trot scarcely breathed as the great golden ball sank low in the sky and +colored all the clouds with gorgeous tints of orange, red and yellow. +Never on the Earth was there visible such splendor, and as the little +girl watched the ever-changing scene she decided the Sunset Tribe was +amply justified in claiming that the West was the favored country of the +sun.</p> + +<p>"You see," said Cap'n Bill, "the sky is all around us, an' we're high +up; so the sun really loses itself in the clouds an' leaves a trail of +beauty behind him."</p> + +<p>"He does that!" agreed Trot. "This is almost worth comin' for, Cap'n."</p> + +<p>"But not quite," said Button-Bright, sadly. "I'd get along without the +sunset if only we could go home."</p> + +<p>They went in to dinner, after this, and sat at Coralie's own table, with +her husband and children, and found the meal very good. After a pleasant +evening, during which<a name="page_153" id="page_153"></a> no reference was made to their being prisoners, +they were shown to prettily furnished rooms—all in pink—and slept +soundly in the soft beds provided for them.</p> + +<p>Trot wakened early the next morning and went out on the balcony to see +the sunrise. The little girl was well repaid, for the splendor of the +rising sun was almost equal to that of the setting sun. Surely this was +a wonderful country and much more delightful than the Blue side of the +island, where the sun was hidden by the great Fog Bank and only the moon +was visible.</p> + +<p>When she went in she found that both Button-Bright and Cap'n Bill were +up and dressed, so they decided to take a walk before breakfast. No one +restrained them or interfered with them in any way.</p> + +<p>"They know we can't get away," observed the sailor, "so they don't need +to watch us."</p> + +<p>"We could go into the Fog Bank again," suggested Trot.</p> + +<p>"We could, mate, but we won't," answered Cap'n Bill. "If there's no way +for us to get clean off'n Sky Island, I'd rather stay with the Pinkies +than with the Blues."</p> + +<p>"I wonder what they'll do with us," said Button-Bright. "The Queen seems +like a nice girl and I don't think she'll hurt us, whatever happens."</p> + +<p>They walked freely along the circular street, seeing such sights as the +Pink City afforded, and then returned to Coralie's house for breakfast. +Coralie herself was not there, as<a name="page_154" id="page_154"></a> she had been summoned to the Queen's +palace, but her husband looked after the guests and when breakfast was +finished he said to them:</p> + +<p>"I am to take you to Tourmaline, who has promised to decide your fate +this morning. I am curious to know what she will do with you, for in all +our history we have never before had strangers intrude upon us."</p> + +<p>"We're curious, too," said Trot; "but we'll soon find out."</p> + +<p>As they walked down the street they observed that the sky was now +covered with dark clouds, which entirely hid the sun.</p> + +<p>"Does it ever rain here?" inquired Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>"Certainly," answered Coralie's husband; "that is the one drawback of +our country; it rains quite often, and although it makes the flowers and +the grass grow I think rain is very disagreeable. I am always glad to +see the rainbow, which is a sign that the sun will shine again."</p> + +<p>"Looks like rain now," remarked Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>"It does," said the man, glancing at the sky. "We must hurry, or we may +get wet."</p> + +<p>"Haven't you any umbrellas?" asked Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>"No; we don't know what umbrellas are," replied the Pinky man.</p> + +<p>It did not rain at once and they reached Tourmaline's wretched hut in +safety. There they found quite a number of<a name="page_155" id="page_155"></a> Pinkies assembled, and a +spirited discussion was taking place when they arrived.</p> + +<p>"Come in, please," said Tourmaline, opening the door for them, and when +they had entered she placed a pinkwood bench for them to sit upon and +went back to her throne, which was a common rocking-chair.</p> + +<p>At her right were seated six men and women of the Sunrise Tribe and on +her left six men and women of the Sunset Tribe, among the latter being +Coralie. The contrast between the plain, simple dress of the Queen and +the gorgeous apparel of her Counselors was quite remarkable, yet her +beauty far surpassed that of any of her people and her demeanor was so +modest and unassuming that it was difficult for the prisoners to believe +that her word could decree life or death and that all the others were +subservient to her. Tourmaline's eyes were so deep a shade of pink that +they were almost hazel, and her hair was darker than that of the others, +being a golden-red in color. These points, taken with her light pink +skin and slender form, rendered her distinctive among the Pinkies, +whatever gown she might wear.</p> + +<p>When the strangers were seated she turned to them and said:</p> + +<p>"I have searched through the Great Book of Laws and found nothing about +foreign people entering our land. There is a law that if any of the +Blueskins break through the Fog Bank they shall be driven back with +sharp sticks; but<a name="page_156" id="page_156"></a> you are not Blueskins, so this Law does not apply to +you. Therefore, in order to decide your fate, I have summoned a Council +of twelve of my people, who will vote as to whether you shall be +permitted to remain here or not. They wanted to see you before they cast +their final vote, that they may examine you carefully and discover if +you are worthy to become inhabitants of the Pink Country."</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"The rose is red, the violet's blue,</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">But Trot is sweeter than the two!"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">declared the parrot in a loud voice. It was a little verse Cap'n Bill +had taught the bird that very morning, while Trot was seeing the sun +rise.</p> + +<p>The Pinkies were startled and seemed a little frightened at hearing a +bird speak so clearly. Trot laughed and patted the bird's head in return +for the compliment.</p> + +<p>"Is the Monster Man whose legs are part wood a dangerous creature?" +asked one of the Sunrise Tribe.</p> + +<p>"Not to my friends," replied Cap'n Bill, much amused. "I s'pose I could +fight your whole crowd o' Pinkies, if I had to, an' make you run for +your lives; but bein' as you're friendly to us you ain't in any danger."</p> + +<p>The sailor thought this speech was diplomatic and might "head off any +trouble," but the Pinkies seemed uneasy and several of them picked up +their slender, pointed sticks and<a name="page_157" id="page_157"></a> held them in their hands. They were +not cowardly, but it was evident they mistrusted the big man, who on +Earth was not considered big at all, but rather undersized.</p> + +<p>"What we'd like," said Trot, "is to stay here, cosy an' peaceable, till +we can find a way to get home to the Earth again. Your country is much +nicer than the Blue Country, and we like you pretty well, from what +we've seen of you; so, if you'll let us stay, we won't be any more +trouble to you than we can help."</p> + +<p>They all gazed upon the little girl curiously, and one of them said:</p> + +<p>"How strangely light her color is! And it is pink, too, which is in her +favor. But her eyes are of that dreadful blue tint which prevails in the +other half of Sky Island, while her hair is a queer color all unknown to +us. She is not like our people and would not harmonize with the +universal color here."</p> + +<p>"That's true," said another; "the three strangers are all inharmonious. +If allowed to remain here they would ruin the color scheme of the +country, where all is now pink."</p> + +<p>"In spite of that," said Coralie, "they are harmless creatures and have +done us no wrong."</p> + +<p>"Yes, they have," replied a nervous little Sunrise man; "they wronged us +by coming here."</p> + +<p>"They could not help doing that," argued Coralie, "and it is their +misfortune that they are here on Sky Island at all.<a name="page_158" id="page_158"></a> Perhaps, if we keep +them with us for awhile, they may find a way to return safely to their +own country."</p> + +<p>"We'll fly through the sky by-and-by—ki-yi!" yelled the parrot with +startling suddenness.</p> + +<p>"It that true?" asked a Pinky, seriously.</p> + +<p>"Why, we would if we could," answered Trot. "We flew to this island, +anyhow."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," said another, "if we pushed them off the edge they could fly +down again. Who knows?"</p> + +<p>"We know," answered Cap'n Bill hastily. "We'd tumble, but we wouldn't +fly."</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"They'd take a fall—</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">And that is all!"</span></td></tr> +</table> +<p class="nind">observed the parrot, fluttering its wings.</p> + +<p>There was silence for a moment, while all the Pinkies seemed to think +deeply. Then the Queen asked the strangers to step outside while they +counseled together. Our friends obeyed, and leaving the room they +entered the courtyard and examined the rows of pink marble statues for +nearly an hour before they were summoned to return to the little room in +Tourmaline's palace.</p> + +<p>"We are now ready to vote as to your fate," said the pretty Queen to +them. "We have decided there are but two things for us to do: either +permit you to remain here as honored<a name="page_159" id="page_159"></a> guests or take you to an edge of +the island and throw you over the bushes into the sky."</p> + +<p>They were silent at hearing this dreadful alternative, but the parrot +screamed shrilly:</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"Oh, what a dump! Oh, what a jump!</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">Won't we all thump when we land with a bump?"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p>"If we do," said Cap'n Bill, thoughtfully, "we'll none of us know it."</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_047_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_047_sml.png" width="450" height="277" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_160" id="page_160"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_16" id="CHAPTER_16"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_048_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_048_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="307" +alt="ROSALIE THE WITCH--CHAPTER 16." +title="ROSALIE THE WITCH--CHAPTER 16." /></a></p> + +<p>TROT and Button-Bright had now become worried and anxious, for they knew +if they were tossed over the edge of the island they would be killed. +Cap'n Bill frowned and set his jaws tight together. The old sailor had +made up his mind to make a good fight for his boy and girl, as well as +for his own life, if he was obliged to do so.</p> + +<p>The twelve Counselors then voted, and when the vote was counted +Tourmaline announced that six had voted to allow the strangers to remain +and six to toss them over the bushes.</p> + +<p>"We seem evenly divided on this matter," remarked the Queen, with a +puzzled look at her Council.</p> + +<p>Trot thought the pretty Queen was their friend, so she said:</p> + +<p>"Of course you'll have the deciding vote, then, you being the Ruler."<a name="page_161" id="page_161"></a></p> + +<p>"Oh, no," replied Tourmaline. "Since I have asked these good people to +advise me it would be impolite to side against some of them and with the +others. That would imply that the judgment of some of my Counselors is +wrong, and the judgment of others right. I must ask some one else to +cast the deciding vote."</p> + +<p>"Who will it be, then?" inquired Trot. "Can't I do it? Or Cap'n Bill, or +Button-Bright?"</p> + +<p>Tourmaline smiled and shook her head, while all the Counselors murmured +their protests.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"Let Trot do it</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">Or you'll rue it!"</span></td></tr> +</table> +<p class="nind">advised the parrot, and then he barked like a dog and made them all +jump.</p> + +<p>"Let me think a moment," said the Queen, resting her chin on her hand.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"A Pink can think</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">As quick's a wink!"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">the parrot declared.</p> + +<p>But Tourmaline's thoughts required time and all her Counselors remained +silent and watched her anxiously.</p> + +<p>At last she raised her head and said:</p> + +<p>"I shall call upon Rosalie the Witch. She is wise and honest and will +decide the matter justly."<a name="page_162" id="page_162"></a></p> + +<p>The Pinkies seemed to approve this choice, so Tourmaline rose and took a +small pink paper parcel from a drawer. In it was a pink powder which she +scattered upon the seat of a big armchair. Then she lighted this powder, +which at first flashed vivid pink and then filled all the space around +the chair with a thick pink cloud of smoke. Presently the smoke cleared +away, when they all saw seated within the chair Rosalie the Witch.</p> + +<p>This famous woman was much like the other Pinkies in appearance except +that she was somewhat taller and not quite so fat as most of the people. +Her skin and hair and eyes were all of a rosy pink color and her gown +was of spider-web gauze that nicely matched her complexion. She did not +seem very old, for her features were smiling and attractive and pleasant +to view. She held in her hand a slender staff tipped with a lustrous +pink jewel.</p> + +<p>All the Pinkies present bowed very respectfully to Rosalie, who returned +the salutation with a dignified nod. Then Tourmaline began to explain +the presence of the three strangers and the difficulty of deciding what +to do with them.</p> + +<p>"I have summoned you here that you may cast the deciding vote," added +the Queen. "What shall we do, Rosalie: allow them to remain here as +honored guests, or toss them over the bushes into the sky?"</p> + +<p>Rosalie, during Tourmaline's speech, had been attentively examining the +faces of the three Earth people. Now she said:<a name="page_163" id="page_163"></a></p> + +<p>"Before I decide I must see who these strangers are. I will follow their +adventures in a vision, to discover if they have told you the truth. +And, in order that you may all share my knowledge, you shall see the +vision as I see it."</p> + +<p>She then bowed her head and closed her eyes.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"Rock-a-bye, baby, on a tree-top;</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">Don't wake her up or the vision will stop,"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">muttered the parrot; but no one paid any attention to the noisy bird.</p> + +<p>Gradually a pink mist formed in the air about the Witch and in this mist +the vision began to appear.</p> + +<p>First, there was Button-Bright in the attic of his house, finding the +Magic Umbrella. Then his first flight was shown, and afterward his trip +across the United States until he landed on the bluff where Trot sat. In +rapid succession the scenes shifted and disclosed the trial flights, +with Trot and Cap'n Bill as passengers, then the trip to Sky Island and +the meeting with the Boolooroo. No sound was heard, but it was easy from +the gestures of the actors for the Pinkies to follow all the adventures +of the strangers in the Blue Country. Button-Bright was greatly +astonished to see in this vision how the Boolooroo had tested the Magic +Umbrella and in a fit of rage cast it into a corner underneath the +cabinet, with the seats and lunch basket still attached to the handle by +means of the rope. The boy now knew why he could not<a name="page_164" id="page_164"></a> find the umbrella +in the Treasure Chamber, and he was provoked to think he had several +times been quite close to it without knowing it was there. The last +scene ended with the trip through the Fog Bank and the assistance +rendered them by the friendly frog. After the three tumbled upon the +grass of the Pink Country the vision faded away and Rosalie lifted her +head with a smile of triumph at the success of her witchcraft.</p> + +<p>"Did you see clearly?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"We did, O Wonderful Witch!" they declared.</p> + +<p>"Then," said Rosalie, "there can be no doubt in your minds that these +strangers have told you the truth."</p> + +<p>"None at all," they admitted.</p> + +<p>"What arguments are advanced by the six Counselors who voted to allow +them to remain here as guests?" inquired the Witch.</p> + +<p>"They have done us no harm," answered Coralie, speaking for her side; +"therefore we should, in honor and justice, do them no harm."</p> + +<p>Rosalie nodded. "What arguments have the others advanced?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"They interfere with our color scheme, and do not harmonize with our +people," a man of the Sunrise Tribe answered.</p> + +<p>Again Rosalie nodded, and Trot thought her eyes twinkled a little.<a name="page_165" id="page_165"></a></p> + +<p>"I think I now fully comprehend the matter," said she, "and so I will +cast my vote. I favor taking the Earth people to the edge of the island +and casting them into the sky."</p> + +<p>For a moment there was perfect silence in the room. All present realized +that this was a decree of death to the strangers.</p> + +<p>Trot was greatly surprised at the decision and for a moment she thought +her heart had stopped beating, for a wave of fear swept over her. +Button-Bright flushed red as a Pinky and then grew very pale. He crept +closer to Trot and took her hand in his own, pressing it to give the +little girl courage. As for Cap'n Bill, he was watching the smiling face +of the Witch in a puzzled but not hopeless way, for he thought she did +not seem wholly in earnest in what she had said.</p> + +<p>"The case is decided," announced Tourmaline, in a clear, cold voice. +"The three strangers shall be taken at once to the edge of the island +and thrown over the bushes into the sky."</p> + +<p>"It's raining hard outside," announced Coralie, who sat near the door; +"why not wait until this shower is over?"</p> + +<p>"I have said 'at once'," replied the little Queen, with dignity, "and so +it must be at once. We are accustomed to rain, so it need not delay us, +and when a disagreeable duty is to be performed the sooner it is +accomplished the better."</p> + +<p>"May I ask, ma'am," said Cap'n Bill, addressing the Witch, "why you have +decided to murder of us in this cold-blooded way?"<a name="page_166" id="page_166"></a></p> + +<p>"I did not decide to murder you," answered Rosalie.</p> + +<p>"To throw us off the island will be murder," declared the sailor.</p> + +<p>"Then they cannot throw you off," the Witch replied.</p> + +<p>"The Queen says they will."</p> + +<p>"I know," said Rosalie; "but I'm quite positive her people can't do it."</p> + +<p>This statement astonished all the Pinkies, who looked at the Witch +inquiringly.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" asked Tourmaline.</p> + +<p>"It is evident to me," said the Witch, speaking slowly and distinctly, +"that these Earth people are protected in some way by fairies. They may +not be aware of this themselves, nor did I see any fairies in my vision. +But, if you will think upon it carefully, you will realize that the +Magic Umbrella has no power in itself, but is enchanted by fairy powers, +so that it is made to fly and to carry passengers through the air <i>by +fairies</i>. This being the case, I do not think you will be allowed to +injure these favored people in any way; but I am curious to see in what +manner the fairies will defend them, and therefore I voted to have them +thrown off the island. I bear these strangers no ill will, nor do I +believe they are in any danger. But since you, Tourmaline, have +determined to attempt this terrible thing at once, I shall go with you +and see what will happen."<a name="page_167" id="page_167"></a></p> + +<p>Some of the Pinkies looked pleased and some troubled at this speech, but +they all prepared to escort the prisoners to the nearest edge of the +island. The rain was pouring down in torrents and umbrellas were +unknown; but all of them, both men and women, slipped gossamer raincoats +over their clothing which kept the rain from wetting them. Then they +caught up their sharp sticks and, surrounding the doomed captives, +commanded them to march to meet their fate.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_049_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_049_sml.png" width="450" height="272" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_168" id="page_168"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_17" id="CHAPTER_17"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_050_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_050_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="311" +alt="THE ARRIVAL OF POLYCHROME--CHAPTER 17." +title="THE ARRIVAL OF POLYCHROME--CHAPTER 17." /></a></p> + +<p>CAP'N BILL had determined to fight desperately for their lives, but he +was a shrewd old sailorman and he found much that was reasonable in the +Witch's assertion that fairies would protect them. He had often wondered +how the Magic Umbrella could fly and obey spoken commands, but now he +plainly saw that the thing must be directed by some invisible power, and +that power was quite likely to save them from the cruel death that had +been decreed. To be sure, the Magic Umbrella was now in the Blue +Country, and the fairies that directed its flight might be with the +umbrella instead of with them, yet the old sailor had already +experienced some strange adventures in Trot's company and knew she had +managed to escape every danger that had threatened. So he decided not to +fight until the last moment, and meekly hobbled along the street, as he +was commanded to do. Trot was also encouraged<a name="page_169" id="page_169"></a> by the Witch's +suggestion, for she believed in fairies and trusted them; but +Button-Bright could find no comfort in their situation and his face was +very sad as he marched along by Trot's side.</p> + +<p>If they had followed the corkscrew windings of the street it would have +been a long journey to the outer edge of the Pink Country, but +Tourmaline took a short cut, leading them through private gardens and +even through houses, so that they followed almost a bee line to their +destination. It rained all the way and the walking was very +disagreeable; but our friends were confronting an important crisis in +their strange adventures and with possible death at their journey's end +they were in no hurry to arrive there.</p> + +<p>Once free of the City they traversed the open country, and here they +often stepped into sticky pink mud up to their ankles. Cap'n Bill's +wooden leg would often go down deep and stick fast in this mud, and at +such times he would be helpless until two of the Pinkies—who were a +strong people—pulled him out again.</p> + +<p>The parrot was getting its feathers sadly draggled in the rain and the +poor bird soon presented a wet and woebegone appearance.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"Soak us again—</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">Drown us with rain!"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p><a name="page_170" id="page_170"></a></p> + +<p class="nind">it muttered in a resigned tone; and then it would turn to Trot and moan:</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"The rose is red, the violet's blue;</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">The Pinkies are a beastly crew!"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p>The country was not so trim and neatly kept near the edge, for it was +evident the people did not care to go too near to the dangerous place. +There was a row of thick bushes, which concealed the gulf below, and as +they approached these bushes the rain abruptly ceased and the clouds +began to break and drift away in the sky.</p> + +<p>"Two of you seize the girl and throw her over," said Tourmaline, in a +calm, matter-of-fact way, "and two others must throw the boy over. It +may take four, perhaps, to lift the huge and ancient man."</p> + +<p>"More'n that," said Cap'n Bill, grimly. "I'm pretty sure it'll take all +o' you, young lady, an' the chances are you won't do it then."</p> + +<p>They had halted a short distance from the bushes and now there suddenly +appeared through a rift in the clouds an immense Rainbow. It was +perfectly formed and glistened with a dozen or more superb tintings that +were so vivid and brilliant and blended into one another so exquisitely +that every one paused to gaze enraptured upon the sight.</p> + +<p>Steadily, yet with wonderful swiftness, the end of the great bow +descended until it rested upon the pink field—almost<a name="page_171" id="page_171"></a> at the feet of +the little party of observers. Then they saw, dancing gaily upon the +arch, a score of beautiful maidens, dressed in fleecy robes of rainbow +tints which fluttered around them like clouds.</p> + +<p>"The Daughters of the Rainbow!" whispered Tourmaline, in an awed voice, +and the Witch beside her nodded and said: "Fairies of the sky. What did +I tell you, Tourmaline?"</p> + +<p>Just then one of the maidens tripped lightly down the span of the arch +until near the very end, leaning over to observe the group below. She +was exquisitely fair, dainty as a lily and graceful as a bough swaying +in the breeze.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's Polychrome!" exclaimed Button-Bright, in a voice of mingled +wonder and delight. "Hello, Polly! Don't you remember me?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I remember Button-Bright," replied the maiden, in a sweet, +tinkling voice. "The last time I saw you was in the Land of Oz."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" cried Trot, turning to stare at the boy with big, wide-open eyes; +"were you ever in the Land of Oz?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," he answered, still looking at the Rainbow's Daughter; and then he +said appealingly: "These people want to kill us, Polly. Can't you help +us?"</p> + +<p>"Polly wants a cracker!—Polly wants a cracker!" screeched the parrot.</p> + +<p>Polychrome straightened up and glanced at her sisters.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_051_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_051_sml.png" width="378" height="550" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="images/ill_052_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_052_sml.png" width="388" height="550" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p>"Tell Father to call for me in an hour or two," said she.</p> + +<p><a name="page_172" id="page_172"></a></p> + +<p><a name="page_173" id="page_173"></a></p> + +<p><a name="page_174" id="page_174"></a></p> + +<p>"There is work for me to do here, for one of my old friends is in trouble."</p> + +<p>With this she sprang lightly from the rainbow and stood beside +Button-Bright and Trot, and scarcely had she left the splendid arch when +it lifted and rose into the sky. The other end had been hidden in the +clouds and now the Rainbow began to fade gradually, like mist, and the +sun broke through the clouds and shot its cheering rays over the Pink +Country until presently the Rainbow had vanished altogether and the only +reminder of it was the lovely Polychrome standing among the wondering +band of Pinkies.</p> + +<p>"Tell me," she said gently to the boy, "why are you here, and why do +these people of the sky wish to destroy you?"</p> + +<p>In a few hurried words Button-Bright related their adventure with the +Magic Umbrella, and how the Boolooroo had stolen it and they had been +obliged to escape into the Pink Country.</p> + +<p>Polychrome listened and then turned to the Queen.</p> + +<p>"Why have you decreed death to these innocent strangers?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"They do not harmonize with our color scheme," replied Tourmaline.</p> + +<p>"That is utter nonsense," declared Polychrome, impatiently. "You're so +dreadfully pink here that your color, which in itself is beautiful, has +become tame and insipid. What you really need is some sharp contrast to +enhance the<a name="page_175" id="page_175"></a> charm of your country, and to keep these three people with +you would be a benefit rather than an injury to you."</p> + +<p>At this the Pinkies looked downcast and ashamed, while only Rosalie the +Witch laughed and seemed to enjoy the rebuke.</p> + +<p>"But," protested Tourmaline, "the Great Book of Laws says our country +shall harbor none but the Pinkies."</p> + +<p>"Does it, indeed?" asked the Rainbow's Daughter. "Come, let us return at +once to your City and examine your Book of Laws. I am quite sure I can +find in them absolute protection for these poor wanderers."</p> + +<p>They dared not disobey Polychrome's request, so at once they all turned +and walked back to the City. As it was still muddy underfoot the +Rainbow's Daughter took a cloak from one of the women, partly rolled it +and threw it upon the ground. Then she stepped upon it and began walking +forward. The cloak unrolled as she advanced, affording a constant carpet +for her feet and for those of the others who followed her. So, being +protected from the mud and wet, they speedily gained the City and in a +short time were all gathered in the low room of Tourmaline's palace, +where the Great Book of Laws lay upon a table.</p> + +<p>Polychrome began turning over the leaves, while the others all watched +her anxiously and in silence.</p> + +<p>"Here," she said presently, "is a Law which reads as follows: 'Everyone +in the Pink Country is entitled to the protection<a name="page_176" id="page_176"></a> of the Ruler and to a +house and a good living, except only the Blueskins. If any of the +natives of the Blue Country should ever break through the Fog Bank they +must be driven back with sharp sticks.' Have you read this Law, +Tourmaline?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the Queen; "but how does that apply to these strangers?"</p> + +<p>"Why, being in the Pink Country, as they surely are, and not being +Blueskins, they are by this Law entitled to protection, to a home and +good living. The Law does not say 'Pinkies,' it says any who are in the +Pink Country."</p> + +<p>"True," agreed Coralie, greatly pleased, and all the other Pinkies +nodded their heads and repeated: "True—true!"</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"The rose is red, the violet's blue,</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">The law's the thing, because it's true!"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">cried the parrot.</p> + +<p>"I am indeed relieved to have you interpret the Law in this way," +declared Tourmaline. "I knew it was cruel to throw these poor people +over the edge, but that seemed to us the only thing to be done."</p> + +<p>"It was cruel and unjust," answered Polychrome, as sternly as her sweet +voice could speak. "But here," she added, for she had still continued to +turn the leaves of the Great Book, "is another Law which you have also +overlooked. It<a name="page_177" id="page_177"></a> says: 'The person, whether man or woman, boy or girl, +living in the Pink Country who has the lightest skin, shall be the +Ruler—King or Queen—as long as he or she lives, unless some one of a +lighter skin is found, and this Ruler's commands all the people must +obey.' Do you know this Law?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," replied Tourmaline. "That is why I am the Queen. You will +notice my complexion is of a lighter pink than that of any other of my +people."</p> + +<p>"Yes," remarked Polychrome, looking at her critically, "when you were +made Queen without doubt you had the lightest colored skin in all the +Pink Country. But now you are no longer Queen of the Pinkies, +Tourmaline."</p> + +<p>Those assembled were so startled by this statement that they gazed at +the Rainbow's Daughter in astonishment for a time. Then Tourmaline +asked:</p> + +<p>"Why not, your Highness?"</p> + +<p>"Because here is one lighter in color than yourself," pointing to Trot. +"This girl is, by the Law of the Great Book, the rightful Queen of the +Pinkies, and as loyal citizens you are all obliged to obey her commands. +Give me that circlet from your brow, Tourmaline."</p> + +<p>Without hesitation Tourmaline removed the rose-gold circlet with its +glittering jewel and handed it to Polychrome, who turned and placed it +upon Trot's brow. Then she called in a loud, imperative voice:</p> + +<p>"Greet your new Queen, Pinkies!"<a name="page_178" id="page_178"></a></p> + +<p>One by one they all advanced, knelt before Trot and pressed her hand to +their lips.</p> + +<p>"Long live Queen Mayre!" called out Cap'n Bill, dancing around on his +wooden leg in great delight; "vive la—vive la—ah, ah—Trot!"</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Polly," said Button-Bright gratefully. "This will fix us all +right, I'm sure."</p> + +<p>"Why, I have done nothing," returned Polychrome, smiling upon him; "it +is the Law of the Country. Isn't it surprising how little most people +know of their Laws? Are you all contented, Pinkies?" she asked, turning +to the people.</p> + +<p>"We are!" they cried. Then several of the men ran out to spread the news +throughout the City and Country, so that a vast crowd soon began to +gather in the Court of the Statues.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_053_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_053_sml.png" width="450" height="274" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_179" id="page_179"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_18" id="CHAPTER_18"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_054_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_054_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="300" +alt="MAYRE, QUEEN OF THE PINK COUNTRY--CHAPTER 18." +title="MAYRE, QUEEN OF THE PINK COUNTRY--CHAPTER 18." /></a></p> + +<p>POLYCHROME now dismissed all but Button-Bright, Cap'n Bill, Rosalie the +Witch and the new Queen of the Pinkies. Tourmaline hastened away to her +father's house to put on a beautiful gown all covered with flounces and +ribbons, for she was glad to be relieved of the duties of Queen and was +eager to be gaily dressed and one of the people again.</p> + +<p>"I s'pose," said Trot, "I'll have to put on one of Tourmaline's common +pink dresses."</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Polychrome, "you must follow the customs of the country, +absurd though they may be. In the little sleeping chamber adjoining this +room you will find plenty of gowns poor enough for the Queen to wear. +Shall I assist you to put one on?"</p> + +<p>"No," answered Trot, "I guess I can manage it alone."</p> + +<p>When she withdrew to the little chamber the Rainbow's<a name="page_180" id="page_180"></a> Daughter began +conversing with the Witch, whom she urged to stay with the new queen and +protect her as long as she ruled the Pink Country. Rosalie, who longed +to please the powerful Polychrome, whose fairy powers as Daughter of the +Rainbow were far superior to her own witchcraft, promised faithfully to +devote herself to Queen Mayre as long as she might need her services.</p> + +<p>By the time Trot was dressed in pink, and had returned to the room, +there was an excited and clamorous crowd assembled in the court, and +Polychrome took the little girl's hand and led her out to greet her new +subjects.</p> + +<p>The Pinkies were much impressed by the fact that the Rainbow's Daughter +was their new Queen's friend, and that Rosalie the Witch stood on Trot's +left hand and treated her with humble deference. So they shouted their +approval very enthusiastically and pressed forward one by one to kneel +before their new Ruler and kiss her hand.</p> + +<p>The parrot was now on Cap'n Bill's shoulder, for Trot thought a Queen +ought not to carry a bird around; but the parrot did not mind the change +and was as much excited as anyone in the crowd.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what bliss to kiss a miss!" he shouted, as Trot held out her hand +to be kissed by her subjects; and then he would scream:</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"We're in the sky and flyin' high:</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">We're goin' to live instead of die,<a name="page_181" id="page_181"></a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">It's time to laugh instead of cry;</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">Oh, my! ki-yi! ain't this a pie!"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p>Cap'n Bill let the bird jabber as he pleased, for the occasion was a +joyful one and it was no wonder the parrot was excited.</p> + +<p>And, while the throng shouted greetings to the Queen, suddenly the great +Rainbow appeared in the sky and dropped its end right on the Court of +the Statues. Polychrome stooped to kiss Trot and Button-Bright, gave +Cap'n Bill a charming smile and Rosalie the Witch a friendly nod of +farewell. Then she sprang lightly upon the arch of the Rainbow and was +greeted by the bevy of dancing, laughing maidens who were her sisters.</p> + +<p>"I shall keep watch over you, Button-Bright," she called to the boy. +"Don't despair, whatever happens, for behind the clouds is always the +Rainbow!"</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Polly," he answered, and Trot also thanked the lovely +Polychrome—and so did Cap'n Bill. The parrot made quite a long speech, +flying high above the arch where Polychrome stood and then back to Cap'n +Bill's shoulder. Said he:</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"We Pollys know our business, and we're—all—right!</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">We'll take good care of Cap'n Bill and Trot and Button-Bright<a name="page_182" id="page_182"></a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">You watch 'em from the Rainbow, and I'll watch day and night,</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">And we'll call a sky policeman if trouble comes in sight!"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p>Suddenly the bow lifted and carried the dancing maidens into the sky. +The colors faded, the arch slowly dissolved and the heavens were clear.</p> + +<p>Trot turned to the Pinkies.</p> + +<p>"Let's have a holiday to-day," she said. "Have a good time and enjoy +yourselves. I don't jus' know how I'm goin' to rule this country, yet, +but I'll think it over an' let you know."</p> + +<p>Then she went into the palace hut with Cap'n Bill and Button-Bright and +Rosalie the Witch, and the people went away to enjoy themselves and talk +over the surprising events of the day.</p> + +<p>"Dear me," said Trot, throwing herself into a chair, "wasn't that a +sudden change of fortune, though? That Rainbow's Daughter is a pretty +good fairy. I'm glad you knew her, Button-Bright."</p> + +<p>"I was sure something would happen to save you," remarked Rosalie, "and +that was why I voted to have you thrown off the edge. I wanted to +discover who would come to your assistance, and I found out. Now I have +made a friend of Polychrome and that will render me more powerful<a name="page_183" id="page_183"></a> as a +Witch, for I can call upon her for assistance whenever I need her."</p> + +<p>"But—see here," said Cap'n Bill; "you can't afford to spend your time +a-rulin' this tucked-up country, Trot."</p> + +<p>"Why not?" asked Trot, who was pleased with her new and important +position.</p> + +<p>"It'd get pretty tiresome, mate, after you'd had a few quarrels with the +Pinkies, for they expec' their Queen to be as poor as poverty an' never +have any fun in life."</p> + +<p>"You wouldn't like it for long, I'm sure," added Button-Bright, +seriously.</p> + +<p>Trot seemed thoughtful.</p> + +<p>"No; I don't know's I would," she admitted. "But as long as we stay here +it seems a pretty good thing to be Queen. I guess I'm a little proud of +it. I wish mother could see me rulin' the Pinkies—an' Papa Griffith, +too. Wouldn't they open their eyes?"</p> + +<p>"They would, mate; but they can't see you," said Cap'n Bill. "So the +question is, what's to be done?"</p> + +<p>"We ought to get home," observed the boy. "Our folks will worry about us +and Earth's the best place to live, after all. If we could only get hold +of my Magic Umbrella, we'd be all right."</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"The rose is red, the violet's blue,</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">But the umbrel's stole by the Boo-loo-roo!"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">screamed the parrot.<a name="page_184" id="page_184"></a></p> + +<p>"That's it," said Cap'n Bill; "the Boolooroo's got the umbrel, an' that +settles the question."</p> + +<p>"Tell me," said Rosalie; "if you had your Magic Umbrella, could you fly +home again in safety?"</p> + +<p>"Of course we could," replied Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>"And would you prefer to go home to remaining here?"</p> + +<p>"We would, indeed!"</p> + +<p>"Then why do you not get the umbrella?"</p> + +<p>"How?" asked Trot, eagerly.</p> + +<p>The Witch paused a moment. Then she said:</p> + +<p>"You must go into the Blue Country and force the Boolooroo to give up +your property."</p> + +<p>"Through the Fog Bank?" asked Cap'n Bill, doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"And let the Boolooroo capture us again?" demanded Button-Bright, with a +shiver.</p> + +<p>"An' have to wait on the Snubnoses instead of bein' a Queen!" said Trot.</p> + +<p>"You must remember that conditions have changed, and you are now a +powerful Ruler," replied Rosalie. "The Pinkies are really a great +nation, and they are pledged to obey your commands. Why not assemble an +army, march through the Fog Bank, fight and conquer the Boolooroo and +recapture the Magic Umbrella?"</p> + +<p>"Hooray!" shouted Cap'n Bill, pounding his wooden leg on the floor; +"that's the proper talk! Let's do it, Queen Trot."<a name="page_185" id="page_185"></a></p> + +<p>"It doesn't seem like a bad idea," added Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>"Do you think the Pinkies could fight the Blueskins?" asked Trot.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" replied the sailorman. "They have sharp sticks, an' know how +to use 'em, whereas the Blueskins have only them windin'-up cords, with +weights on the ends."</p> + +<p>"The Blueskins are the biggest people," said the girl.</p> + +<p>"But they're cowards, I'm sure," declared the boy.</p> + +<p>"Anyhow," the sailor remarked, "that's our only hope of ever gett'n' +home again. I'd like to try it, Trot."</p> + +<p>"If you decide on this adventure," said Rosalie, "I believe I can be of +much assistance to you."</p> + +<p>"That'll help," asserted Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>"And we've one good friend among the Blueskins," said Button-Bright. +"I'm sure Ghip-Ghisizzle will side with us, and I've got the Royal +Record Book, which proves that the Boolooroo has already reigned his +lawful three hundred years."</p> + +<p>"Does the book say that?" inquired Trot, with interest.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I've been reading it."</p> + +<p>"Then Sizzle'll be the new Boolooroo," said the girl, "an' p'raps we +won't have to fight, after all."</p> + +<p>"We'd better go prepared, though," advised Cap'n Bill, "fer that awful +ol' Boolooroo won't give up without a struggle. When shall we start?"</p> + +<p>Trot hesitated, so they all looked to Rosalie for advice.<a name="page_186" id="page_186"></a></p> + +<p>"Just as soon as we can get the army together and ready," decided the +Witch. "That will not take long—perhaps two or three days."</p> + +<p>"Good!" cried Cap'n Bill, and the parrot screamed:</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"Here's a lovely how-d'y'-do—</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">We're going to fight the Boo-loo-roo!</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">We'll get the Six Snubnoses, too,</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">And make'em all feel mighty blue."</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p>"Either that or the other thing," said Trot. "Anyhow, we're in for it."</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_055_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_055_sml.png" width="450" height="274" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_187" id="page_187"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_19" id="CHAPTER_19"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_056_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_056_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="303" +alt="THE WAR OF THE PINKS AND BLUES--CHAPTER 19." +title="THE WAR OF THE PINKS AND BLUES--CHAPTER 19." /></a></p> + +<p>MUCH to the surprise of the Earth people the Pinkies made no objection +whatever to undertaking the adventure. Their lives were so monotonous +and uninteresting that they welcomed anything in the way of excitement. +This march through the unknown Fog Bank to fight the unknown Blueskins +aroused them to enthusiasm, and although the result of the expedition +could not be foretold and some of them were almost certain to get hurt, +they did not hesitate to undertake the war.</p> + +<p>It appeared that Coralie was Captain of the Sunset Tribe and a man named +Tintint the Captain of the Sunrise Tribe. Tintint had a very pink skin +and eyes so faded in their pink color that he squinted badly in order to +see anything around him. He was a fat and pompous little fellow and +loved to strut up and down his line of warriors twirling his long +pointed stick so that all might admire him.<a name="page_188" id="page_188"></a></p> + +<p>By Rosalie's advice the Army of Conquest consisted of one hundred +Sunsets and one hundred Sunrises. Many more were eager to go, but the +Witch thought that would be enough. The warriors consisted of both men +and women, equally divided, and there was no need to provide uniforms +for them because their regular pink clothing was a distinctive uniform +in itself. Each one bore a long pointed stick as the main weapon and had +two short pointed sticks stuck in his belt.</p> + +<p>While the army was getting ready, Rosalie the Witch went to the central +edge of the Fog Bank and fearlessly entered it. There she called for the +King of the Giant Frogs, who came at her bidding, and the two held an +earnest and long talk together.</p> + +<p>Meantime Cap'n Bill had the army assembled in the Court of the Statues, +where Queen Mayre appeared and told the Pinkies that the sailorman was +to be Commander in Chief of the Expedition and all must obey his +commands. Then Cap'n Bill addressed the army and told what the Fog Bank +was like. He advised them all to wear their raincoats over their pretty +pink clothes, so they would not get wet, and he assured them that all +the creatures to be met with in the Fog were perfectly harmless.</p> + +<p>"When we come to the Blue Country, though," he added, "you're liable to +be pretty busy. The Blueskins are tall an' lanky, an' ugly an' fierce, +an' if they happen to capture you,<a name="page_189" id="page_189"></a> you'll all be patched—which is a +deep disgrace an' a uncomfertable mix-up."</p> + +<p>"Will they throw us over the edge?" asked Captain Tintint, nervously.</p> + +<p>"I don't think it," replied Cap'n Bill. "While I was there I never heard +the edge mentioned. They're cruel enough to do that—'specially the +Boolooroo—but I guess they've never thought o' throwin' folks over the +edge. They fight with long cords that have weights on the ends, which +coil 'round you an' make you helpless in a jiffy; so whenever they throw +them cords you mus' ward 'em off with your long sticks. Don't let 'em +wind around your bodies, or you're done for."</p> + +<p>He told them other things about the Blueskins, so they would not be +frightened when they faced the enemy and found them so different in +appearance from themselves, and also he assured them that the Pinkies +were so much the braver and better armed that he had no doubt they would +easily conquer.</p> + +<p>On the third day, just at sunrise, the army moved forward to the Fog +Bank, headed by Cap'n Bill, clad in an embroidered pink coat with wide, +flowing pink trousers, and accompanied by Trot and Button-Bright and +Rosalie the Witch—all bundled up in their pink raincoats. The parrot +was there, too, as the bird refused to be left behind.</p> + +<p>They had not advanced far into the deep fog when they were halted by a +queer barrier consisting of a long line of gigantic<a name="page_190" id="page_190"></a> frogs, crouching so +close together that no Pinkie could squeeze between them. As the heads +of the frogs were turned the other way, toward the Blue Country, the +army could not at first imagine what the barrier was; but Rosalie said +to them:</p> + +<p>"Our friends the frogs have agreed to help us through the Fog Bank. +Climb upon their backs—as many on each frog as are able to hold on—and +then we shall make the journey more quickly."</p> + +<p>Obeying this injunction, the Pinkies began climbing upon the frogs, and +by crowding close together all were able to find places. On the back of +the King Frog rode Trot and her parrot, besides Rosalie, Button-Bright, +Cap'n Bill and the captains of the two companies of the army.</p> + +<p>When all were seated, clinging to one another so they would not slide +off, Cap'n Bill gave the word of command and away leaped the frogs, all +together. They bounded a long distance at this jump—some farther than +others—and as soon as they landed they jumped again, without giving +their passengers a chance to get their breaths. It was a bewildering and +exciting ride, but a dozen of the huge jumps accomplished the journey +and at the edge of Fog Bank each frog stopped so suddenly that the +Pinkies went flying over their heads to tumble into the blue fields of +the Blue Country, where they rolled in a confused mass until they could +recover and scramble to their feet. No one was hurt, however, and<a name="page_191" id="page_191"></a> the +King Frog had been wise enough to treat his passengers more gently by +slowing down at the edge and allowing his riders to slip to the ground +very comfortably.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_057_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_057_sml.png" width="450" height="259" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p>Cap'n Bill at once formed his army into line of battle and had them all +remove the cumbersome raincoats, which they piled in a heap at the edge +of the Fog Bank. It was a splendid array of warriors and from where they +stood they could discover several Blueskins rushing in a panic toward +the Blue City, as fast as their long blue legs could carry them.</p> + +<p>"Well, they know we're here, anyhow," said Cap'n Bill, "and instead of +waitin' to see what'll they do I guess we'll jus' march on the City an' +ask 'em to please surrender."<a name="page_192" id="page_192"></a></p> + +<p>So he raised the long sharp stick with which he had armed himself and +shouted:</p> + +<p>"For-rerd—march!"</p> + +<p>"For-ward—march!" repeated Coralie to the Sunset Tribe.</p> + +<p>"For-ward—march!" roared Tintint to the Sunrise people.</p> + +<p>"March—April—June—October!" screamed the parrot.</p> + +<p>Then the drums beat and the band played and away marched the Pinkies to +capture the Blue City.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_058_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_058_sml.png" width="450" height="292" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_193" id="page_193"></a></p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_060_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_060_sml.png" width="450" height="269" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_20" id="CHAPTER_20"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_059_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_059_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="296" +alt="GHIP-GHISIZZLE HAS A BAD TIME--CHAPTER 20." +title="GHIP-GHISIZZLE HAS A BAD TIME--CHAPTER 20." /></a></p> + +<p>THE Boolooroo was quite busy at the time the Pinkies invaded his +country. He had discovered the loss of the Book of Records and after +being frightened 'most to death at the prospect of his fraud on the +people's being made public, he decided to act boldly and hold his +position as Boolooroo at any cost.</p> + +<p>Since Ghip-Ghisizzle was to be the next Boolooroo, the king suspected +him first of all, so he had the Majordomo bound with cords and brought +before him, when he accused him of stealing the Book of Records. Of +course Ghip-Ghisizzle denied taking the Book, but he became almost as +nervous at its loss as had the Boolooroo. He secretly believed that +Button-Bright had taken the Book from the Treasure Chamber, and if this +were true it might prove as great a misfortune as if the king had kept +it locked up. For Button-Bright had escaped into the Fog Bank and +Ghip-Ghisizzle<a name="page_194" id="page_194"></a> was afraid the boy would never again be seen in the Blue +Country.</p> + +<p>He did not tell the Boolooroo of this suspicion, because in that case +the king would realize he was secure, and that his deception could never +be proved against him. The Majordomo simply denied taking the Record +Book, and the Boolooroo did not believe he spoke truly. To prevent his +rival from ever becoming the Ruler of the Blue Country the Boolooroo +determined to have him patched, but for some time he could find no other +Blueskin to patch him with. No one had disobeyed a command or done +anything wrong, so the king was in a quandary until he discovered that a +servant named Tiggle had mixed the royal nectar for Cap'n Bill, who had +been ordered to do it at the time of his capture. This was sufficient +excuse for the Boolooroo, who at once had Tiggle made a prisoner and +brought before him.</p> + +<p>This servant was not so long-legged as Ghip-Ghisizzle and his head was +thicker and his nose flatter. But that pleased the Boolooroo all the +more. He realized that when the great knife had sliced the prisoners in +two, and their halves were patched together, they would present a +ridiculous sight and all the Blueskins would laugh at them and avoid +them. So, on the very morning that the Pinkies arrived, the Boolooroo +had ordered his two prisoners brought into the room of the palace where +the Great Knife stood and his soldiers were getting ready to perform the +operation of<a name="page_195" id="page_195"></a> patching Ghip-Ghisizzle with Tiggle, when a messenger came +running to say that a great army of the Pinkies had broken through the +Fog Bank.</p> + +<p>"Never mind," said the Boolooroo, "I'll attend to them in a minute. I'm +busy now."</p> + +<p>"They are marching on the City," said the frightened messenger. "If you +delay, Most High and Mighty One, we shall all be captured. You'd better +save your City first and do your patching afterward."</p> + +<p>"What!" roared the Boolooroo, "dare you dictate to me?" But he was +impressed by the man's logic. After locking the prisoners, who were +still bound, in the Room of the Great Knife, the Ruler hurried away to +assemble his soldiers.</p> + +<p>By this time the Pinkies had advanced halfway to the walls of the City, +so the first thing the Boolooroo did was to order all the gates closed +and locked and then he placed a line of soldiers on the wall to prevent +any of the Pinkies from climbing over.</p> + +<p>Therefore when Cap'n Bill's army reached the wall he was obliged to halt +his ranks until he could find a way to enter the City.</p> + +<p>Now when the Boolooroo looked through the blue-steel bars of the main +gate and saw the enemy armed with sharp-pointed sticks, he began to +tremble; and when he thought how painful it would be to have his body +and arms and legs<a name="page_196" id="page_196"></a> prodded and pricked by such weapons he groaned aloud +and was very miserable. But the thought occurred to him that if he could +avoid being caught by the Pinkies they would be unable to harm him. So +he went among his people and reminded them how horrible it would feel to +be punched full of holes by the invaders, and urged them to fight +desperately and drive the Pinkies back into the Fog Bank.</p> + +<p>Only a few of the Blueskins were soldiers, and these all belonged to the +King's bodyguard, but the citizens realized they must indeed fight +bravely to save themselves from getting hurt, so they promised the +Boolooroo to do all they could. They armed themselves with long cords +having weights fastened to the ends, and practiced throwing these +weights in such a manner that the cords would wind around their enemies. +Also they assembled in the streets in small groups and told each other +in frightened whispers that all their trouble was due to the Boolooroo's +cruel treatment of the Earth people. If he had received them as friends +instead of making them slaves, they would never have escaped to the +Pinkies and brought an army into the Blue Country, that they might be +revenged. The Blueskins had not liked their Boolooroo, before this, and +now they began to hate him, forgetting they had also treated the +strangers in a very disagreeable manner.</p> + +<p>Meantime the Six Snubnosed Princesses had seen from their rooms in a +tower of the palace the army of the Pinkies<a name="page_197" id="page_197"></a> marching upon them, and the +sight had served to excite them greatly. They had been quarreling +bitterly among themselves all the morning, and strangely enough this +quarrel was all about which of them should marry Ghip-Ghisizzle. They +knew that some day the Majordomo would become Boolooroo, and each one of +the six had determined to marry him so as to be the Queen—and thus +force her sisters to obey her commands. They paid no attention to the +fact that Ghip-Ghisizzle did not want to marry any of them, for they had +determined that when it was agreed who should have him they would ask +their father to force the man to marry.</p> + +<p>While they quarreled in one room of the palace Ghip-Ghisizzle was in +danger of being patched in another room; but the Six Snubnosed +Princesses did not know that. The arrival of the Pinkies gave them +something new to talk about, so they hurried downstairs and along the +corridors so as to gain the courtyard and take part in the exciting +scenes.</p> + +<p>But as they passed the closed door of the Room of the Great Knife they +heard a low moan and stopped to listen. The moan was repeated and, being +curious, they unlocked the door—the key having been left on the +outside—and entered the room.</p> + +<p>At once the Pinkies were forgotten, for there upon the floor, tightly +bound, lay Ghip-Ghisizzle, and beside him poor Tiggle, who had uttered +the moans.<a name="page_198" id="page_198"></a></p> + +<p>The six Princesses sat down in a circle facing the captives and Cerulia +said:</p> + +<p>"Ghip, my dear, we will release you on one condition: That you choose a +wife from among us and promise to marry the one selected, as soon as the +Pinkies are driven back into the Fog Bank."</p> + +<p>Ghip-Ghisizzle managed to shake his head. Then he said:</p> + +<p>"Really, ladies, you must excuse me. I'd rather be patched than +mismatched, as I would be with a lovely snubnosed wife. You are too +beautiful for me; go seek your husbands elsewhere."</p> + +<p>"Monster!" cried Indigo; "if you choose me I'll scratch your eyes out!"</p> + +<p>"If you choose me," said Cobalt, in a rage, "I'll tear out your hair by +the roots!"</p> + +<p>"If I am to be your wife," screamed Azure. "I'll mark your obstinate +face with my finger nails!"</p> + +<p>"And I," said Turquoise, passionately, "will pound your head with a +broomstick!"</p> + +<p>"I'll shake him till his teeth rattle!" shrieked Sapphire.</p> + +<p>"The best way to manage a husband," observed Cerulia angrily, "is to +pull his nose."</p> + +<p>"Ladies," said Ghip-Ghisizzle, when he had a chance to speak, "do not +anticipate these pleasures, I beg of you, for I shall choose none among +you for a wife."<a name="page_199" id="page_199"></a></p> + +<p>"We'll see about that," said Indigo.</p> + +<p>"I think you will soon change your mind," added Azure.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to be patched to Tiggle, here, as soon as the Boolooroo +returns," said Ghip-Ghisizzle, "and it's against the law for a patched +man to marry anyone. It's regarded as half-bigamy."</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_061_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_061_sml.png" width="450" height="409" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p>"Dear me!" cried Cobalt; "if he's patched he never can be Boolooroo."</p> + +<p>"Then he mustn't be patched," declared Sapphire. "We must save him from +that fate, girls, and force him to decide among us. Otherwise, none of +us can ever be the Queen."<a name="page_200" id="page_200"></a></p> + +<p>This being evident, they proceeded to unbind the long legs of +Ghip-Ghisizzle, leaving his body and arms, however, tied fast together. +Then between them they got him upon his feet and led him away, paying no +attention to poor Tiggle, who whined to be released so he could fight in +the war.</p> + +<p>After a hurried consultation the Six Snubnosed Princesses decided to +hide the Majordomo in one of their boudoirs, so they dragged him up the +stairs to their reception room and fell to quarreling as to whose +boudoir should be occupied by their captive. Not being able to settle +the question they finally locked him up in a vacant room across the hall +and told him he must stay there until he had decided to marry one of the +Princesses and could make a choice among them.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_063_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_063_sml.png" width="393" height="550" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="images/ill_064_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_064_sml.png" width="408" height="550" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_201" id="page_201"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_21" id="CHAPTER_21"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_062_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_062_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="303" +alt="THE CAPTURE OF CAP'N BILL--CHAPTER 21." +title="THE CAPTURE OF CAP'N BILL--CHAPTER 21." /></a></p> + +<p>WHILE this was transpiring in the palace Cap'n Bill and the Pinkies had +encamped before the principal gate of the City and a tent had been +pitched for Trot and Button-Bright and Rosalie. The army had been very +fearful and weak-kneed when it first entered the Blue Country, but +perceiving that the Boolooroo and his people were afraid of them and had +locked themselves up in the City, the Pinkies grew bolder and longed to +make an attack.</p> + +<p>One of them, in his curiosity to examine the Blue City, got a little too +near the wall, and a blue soldier throw his cord-and-weight at him. The +cord didn't wind around the Pinkie, as he was too far off, but the +weight hit him in the eye and made him howl lustily as he trotted back +to his comrades at full speed. After this experience the invaders were +careful to keep a safe distance from the wall.<a name="page_202" id="page_202"></a></p> + +<p>The Boolooroo, having made all preparations to receive the enemy, was +annoyed because they held back. He was himself so nervous and excited +that he became desperate and after an hour of tedious waiting, during +which time he pranced around impatiently, he decided to attack the hated +Pinkies and rid the country of them.</p> + +<p>"Their dreadful color makes me hysterical," he said to his soldiers, "so +if I am to have any peace of mind we must charge the foe and drive them +back into the Fog Bank. But take all the prisoners you can, my brave +men, and to-morrow we will have a jolly time patching them. Don't be +afraid; those pink creatures have no blue blood in their veins and +they'll run like rabbits when they see us coming."</p> + +<p>Then he ordered the gate thrown open and immediately the Blueskins +poured out into the open plain and began to run toward the Pinkies. The +Boolooroo went out, too, but he kept well behind his people, remembering +the sharp sticks with which the enemy were armed.</p> + +<p>Cap'n Bill was alert and had told his army what to do in case of an +attack. The Pinkies did not run like rabbits, but formed a solid line +and knelt down with their long, sharp sticks pointed directly toward the +Blueskins, the other ends being set firmly upon the ground. Of course +the Blueskins couldn't run against these sharp points, so they halted a +few feet away and began to swing their cord-and-weights. But the Pinkies +were too close together to be caught in this<a name="page_203" id="page_203"></a> manner, and now by command +of Cap'n Bill they suddenly rose to their feet and began jabbing their +sticks at the foe. The Blueskins hesitated until a few got pricked and +began to yell with terror, when the whole of the Boolooroo's attacking +party turned and ran back to the gate, their Ruler reaching it first of +all. The Pinkies tried to chase them, but their round, fat legs were no +match for the long, thin legs of the Blueskins, who quickly gained the +gate and shut themselves up in the City again.</p> + +<p>"It is evident," panted the Boolooroo, facing his defeated soldiers +wrathfully, "that you are a pack of cowards!"</p> + +<p>"We but followed your own royal example in running," replied the +Captain.</p> + +<p>"I merely ran back to the City to get a drink of water, for I was +thirsty," declared the Boolooroo.</p> + +<p>"So did we! So did we!" cried the soldiers, eagerly. "We were all +thirsty."</p> + +<p>"Your High and Mighty Spry and Flighty Majesty," remarked the Captain, +respectfully, "it occurs to me that the weapons of the Pinkies are +superior to our own. What we need, in order to oppose them successfully, +is a number of sharp sticks which are longer than their own."</p> + +<p>"True—true!" exclaimed the Boolooroo, enthusiastically. "Get to work at +once and make yourselves long sharp sticks, and then we will attack the +enemy again."<a name="page_204" id="page_204"></a></p> + +<p>So the soldiers and citizens all set to work preparing long sharp +sticks, and while they were doing this Rosalie the Witch had a vision in +which she saw exactly what was going on inside the City wall. Queen Trot +and Cap'n Bill and Button-Bright saw the vision, too, for they were all +in the tent together, and the sight made them anxious.</p> + +<p>"What can be done?" asked the girl. "The Blueskins are bigger and +stronger than the Pinkies, and if they have sharp sticks which are +longer than ours they will surely defeat us."</p> + +<p>"I have one magic charm," said Rosalie, thoughtfully, "that will save +our army; but I am allowed to work only one magic charm every three +days—not oftener—and perhaps I'll need the magic for other things."</p> + +<p>"Strikes me, ma'am," returned the sailor, "that what we need most on +this expedition is to capture the Blueskins. If we don't, we'll need +plenty of magic to help us back to the Pink Country; but if we do, we +can take care of ourselves without magic."</p> + +<p>"Very well," replied Rosalie; "I will take your advice, Cap'n, and +enchant the weapons of the Pinkies."</p> + +<p>She then went out and had all the Pinkies come before her, one by one, +and she enchanted their sharp sticks by muttering some cabalistic words +and making queer passes with her hands over the weapons.<a name="page_205" id="page_205"></a></p> + +<p>"Now," she said to them, "you will be powerful enough to defeat the +Blueskins, whatever they may do."</p> + +<p>The Pinkies were overjoyed at this promise and it made them very brave +indeed, since they now believed they would surely be victorious.</p> + +<p>When the Boolooroo's people were armed with long, thin lances of +bluewood, all sharpened to fine points at one end, they prepared to +march once more against the invaders. Their sticks were twice as long as +those of the Pinkies and the Boolooroo chuckled with glee to think what +fun they would have in punching holes in the round, fat bodies of his +enemies.</p> + +<p>Out from the gate they marched very boldly and pressed on to attack the +Pinkies, who were drawn up in line of battle to receive them, with Cap'n +Bill at their head. When the opposing forces came together, however, and +the Blueskins pushed their points against the Pinkies, the weapons which +had been enchanted by Rosalie began to whirl in swift circles—so swift +that the eye could scarcely follow the motion. The result was that the +lances of the Boolooroo's people could not touch the Pinkies, but were +thrust aside with violence and either broken in two or sent hurling +through the air in all directions. Finding themselves so suddenly +disarmed, the amazed Blueskins turned about and ran again, while Cap'n +Bill, greatly excited by his victory, shouted to his followers to pursue +the enemy, and hobbled<a name="page_206" id="page_206"></a> after them as fast as he could make his wooden +leg go, swinging his sharp stick as he advanced.</p> + +<p>The Blues were in such a frightened, confused mass that they got in one +another's way and could not make very good progress on the retreat, so +the old sailor soon caught up with them and began jabbing at the crowd +with his stick. Unfortunately the Pinkies had not followed their +commander, being for the moment dazed by their success, so that Cap'n +Bill was all alone among the Blueskins when he stepped his wooden leg +into a hole in the ground and tumbled full length, his sharp stick +flying from his hand and pricking the Boolooroo in the leg as it fell.</p> + +<p>At this the Ruler of the Blues stopped short in his flight to yell with +terror, but seeing that only the sailorman was pursuing them and that +this solitary foe had tumbled flat upon the ground, he issued a command +and several of his people fell upon poor Cap'n Bill, seized him in their +long arms and carried him struggling into the City, where he was fast +bound.</p> + +<p>Then a panic fell upon the Pinkies at the loss of their leader, and Trot +and Button-Bright called out in vain for them to rescue Cap'n Bill. By +the time the army recovered their wits and prepared to obey, it was too +late. And, although Trot ran with them, in her eagerness to save her +friend, the gate was found to be fast barred and she knew it was +impossible for them to force an entrance into the City.<a name="page_207" id="page_207"></a></p> + +<p>So she went sorrowfully back to the camp, followed by the Pinkies, and +asked Rosalie what could be done.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I do not know," replied the Witch. "I cannot use another magic +charm until three days have expired, but if they do not harm Cap'n Bill +during that time I believe I can then find a way to save him."</p> + +<p>"Three days is a long time," remarked Trot, dismally.</p> + +<p>"The Boolooroo may decide to patch him at once," added Button-Bright, +with equal sadness, for he too mourned the sailor's loss.</p> + +<p>"It can't be helped," replied Rosalie. "I am not a fairy, my dears, but +merely a witch, and so my magic powers are limited. We can only hope +that the Boolooroo won't patch Cap'n Bill for three days."</p> + +<p>When night settled down upon the camp of the Pinkies, where many tents +had now been pitched, all the invaders were filled with gloom. The band +tried to enliven them by playing the "Dead March," but it was not a +success. The Pinkies were despondent in spite of the fact that they had +repulsed the attack of the Blues, for as yet they had not succeeded in +gaining the City or finding the Magic Umbrella, and the blue dusk of +this dread country—which was so different from their own land of +sunsets—made them all very nervous. They saw the moon rise for the +first time in their lives, and its cold, silvery radiance made them +shudder and prevented them from going to sleep. Trot<a name="page_208" id="page_208"></a><a name="page_209" id="page_209"></a><a name="page_210" id="page_210"></a> +tried to +interest them by telling them that on the Earth the people had both the +sun and the moon, and loved them both; but nevertheless it is certain +that had not the terrible Fog Bank stood between them and the Pink Land +most of the invading army would have promptly deserted and gone back +home.</p> + +<p>Trot couldn't sleep, either, she was so worried over Cap'n Bill. She +went back to the tent where Rosalie and Button-Bright were sitting in +the moonlight and asked the Witch if there was no way in which she could +secretly get into the City of the Blues and search for her friend. +Rosalie thought it over for some time and then replied:</p> + +<p>"We can make a rope ladder that will enable you to climb to the top of +the wall, and then you can lower it to the other side and descend into +the City. But, if anyone should see you, you would be captured."</p> + +<p>"I'll risk that," said the child, excited at the prospect of gaining the +side of Cap'n Bill in this adventurous way. "Please make the rope ladder +at once, Rosalie!"</p> + +<p>So the Witch took some ropes and knotted together a ladder long enough +to reach to the top of the wall. When it was finished, the +three—Rosalie, Trot and Button-Bright—stole out into the moonlight and +crept unobserved into the shadow of the wall. The Blueskins were not +keeping a very close watch, as they were confident the Pinkies could not +get into the City.<a name="page_211" id="page_211"></a></p> + +<p>The hardest part of Rosalie's task was to toss up one end of the rope +ladder until it would catch on some projection on top of the wall. There +were few such projections, but after creeping along the wall for a +distance they saw the end of a broken flagstaff near the top edge. The +Witch tossed up the ladder, trying to catch it upon this point, and on +the seventh attempt she succeeded.</p> + +<p>"Good!" cried Trot; "now I can climb up."</p> + +<p>"Don't you want me to go with you?" asked Button-Bright, a little +wistfully.</p> + +<p>"No," said the girl; "you must stay to lead the army. And, if you can +think of a way, you must try to rescue us. Perhaps I'll be able to save +Cap'n Bill myself; but if I don't it's all up to you, Button-Bright."</p> + +<p>"I'll do my best," he promised.</p> + +<p>"And here—keep my polly till I come back," added Trot, giving him the +bird. "I can't take it with me, for it would be a bother, an' if it +tried to spout po'try I'd be discovered in a jiffy."</p> + +<p>As the beautiful Witch kissed the little girl good-bye she slipped upon +her finger a curious ring. At once Button-Bright exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Why, where has she gone?"</p> + +<p>"I'm right here," said Trot's voice by his side. "Can't you see me?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied the boy, mystified.<a name="page_212" id="page_212"></a></p> + +<p>Rosalie laughed. "It's a magic ring I've loaned you, my dear," said she, +"and as long as you wear it you will be invisible to all eyes—those of +Blueskins and Pinkies alike. I'm going to let you wear this wonderful +ring, for it will save you from being discovered by your enemies. If at +any time you wish to be seen, take the ring from your finger; but as +long as you wear it, no one can see you—not even Earth people."</p> + +<p>"Oh, thank you!" cried Trot. "That will be fine."</p> + +<p>"I see you have another ring on your hand," said Rosalie, "and I +perceive it is enchanted in some way. Where did you get it?"</p> + +<p>"The Queen of the Mermaids gave it to me," answered Trot; "but Sky +Island is so far away from the sea that the ring won't do me any good +while I'm here. It's only to call the mermaids to me if I need them, and +they can't swim in the sky, you see."</p> + +<p>Rosalie smiled and kissed her again. "Be brave, my dear," she said, "and +I am sure you will be able to find Cap'n Bill without getting in danger +yourself. But be careful not to let any Blueskin touch you, for while +you are in contact with any person you will become visible. Keep out of +their way and you will be perfectly safe. Don't lose the ring, for you +must give it back to me when you return. It is one of my witchcraft +treasures and I need it in my business."<a name="page_213" id="page_213"></a></p> + +<p>Then Trot climbed the ladder, although neither Button-Bright nor Rosalie +could see her do so, and when she was on top the broad wall she pulled +up the knotted ropes and began to search for a place to let it down on +the other side. A little way off she found a bluestone seat, near to the +inner edge, and attaching the ladder to this she easily descended it and +found herself in the Blue City. A guard was pacing up and down near her, +but as he could not see the girl he of course paid no attention to her. +So, after marking the place where the ladder hung, that she might know +how to reach it again, Trot hurried away through the streets of the +city.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_065_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_065_sml.png" width="450" height="275" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_214" id="page_214"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_22" id="CHAPTER_22"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_066_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_066_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="297" +alt="TROT'S INVISIBLE ADVENTURE--CHAPTER 22." +title="TROT'S INVISIBLE ADVENTURE--CHAPTER 22." /></a></p> + +<p>All the Blueskins except a few sentries had gone to bed and were sound +asleep. A blue gloom hung over the City, which was scarcely relieved by +a few bluish, wavering lights here and there, but Trot knew the general +direction in which the palace lay and she decided to go there first. She +believed the Boolooroo would surely keep so important a prisoner as +Cap'n Bill locked up in his own palace.</p> + +<p>Once or twice the little girl lost her way, for the streets were very +puzzling to one not accustomed to them, but finally she sighted the +great palace and went up to the entrance. There she found a double guard +posted. They were sitting on a bench outside the doorway and both stood +up as she approached.</p> + +<p>"We thought we heard footsteps," said one.</p> + +<p>"So did we," replied the other; "yet there is no one in sight."<a name="page_215" id="page_215"></a></p> + +<p>Trot then saw that the guards were the two patched men, Jimfred +Jonesjinks and Fredjim Jinksjones, who had been talking together quite +cheerfully. It was the first time the girl had seen them together and +she marveled at the queer patching that had so strongly united them, yet +so thoroughly separated them.</p> + +<p>"You see," remarked Jimfred, as they seated themselves again upon the +bench, "the Boolooroo has ordered the patching to take place to-morrow +morning after breakfast. The old Earth man is to be patched to poor +Tiggle, instead of Ghip-Ghisizzle, who has in some way managed to escape +from the Room of the Great Knife—no one knows how but Tiggle, and +Tiggle won't tell."</p> + +<p>"We're sorry for anyone who has to be patched," replied Fredjim in a +reflective tone, "for although it didn't hurt us as much as we expected, +it's a terrible mix-up to be in—until we become used to our strange +combination. You and we are about alike now, Jimfred, although we were +so different before."</p> + +<p>"Not so," said Jimfred; "we are really more intelligent than you are, +for the left side of our brain was always the keenest before we were +patched."</p> + +<p>"That may be," admitted Fredjim, "but we are much the strongest, because +our right arm was by far the best before we were patched."<a name="page_216" id="page_216"></a></p> + +<p>"We are not sure of that," responded Jimfred, "for we have a right arm, +too, and it is pretty strong."</p> + +<p>"We will test it," suggested the other, "by all pulling upon one end of +this bench with our right arms. Whichever can pull the bench from the +others must be the stronger."</p> + +<p>While they were tussling at the bench, dragging it first here and then +there in the trial of strength, Trot opened the door of the palace and +walked in. It was pretty dark in the hall and only a few dim blue lights +showed at intervals down the long corridors. As the girl walked through +these passages she could hear snores of various degrees coming from +behind some of the closed doors and knew that all the regular inmates of +the place were sound asleep. So she mounted to the upper floor, and +thinking she would be likely to find Cap'n Bill in the Room of the Great +Knife she went there and tried the door. It was locked, but the key had +been left on the outside. She waited until the sentry who was pacing the +corridor had his back toward her and then she turned the key and slipped +within, softly closing the door behind her.</p> + +<p>It was dark as pitch in the room and Trot didn't know how to make a +light. After a moment's thought she began feeling her way to the window, +stumbling over objects as she went. Every time she made a noise some one +groaned, and that made the child uneasy.</p> + +<p>At last she found a window and managed to open the<a name="page_217" id="page_217"></a> shutters and let the +moonlight in. It wasn't a very strong moonlight but it enabled her to +examine the interior of the room. In the center stood the Great Knife +which the Boolooroo used to split people in two when he patched them, +and at one side was a dark form huddled upon the floor and securely +bound.</p> + +<p>Trot hastened to this form and knelt beside it, but was disappointed to +find it was only Tiggle. The man stirred a little and rolled against +Trot's knee, when she at once became visible to him.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's the Earth Child," said he. "Are you condemned to be patched, +too, little one?"</p> + +<p>"No," answered Trot. "Tell me where Cap'n Bill is."</p> + +<p>"I can't," said Tiggle. "The Boolooroo has hidden him until to-morrow +morning, when he's to be patched to me. Ghip-Ghisizzle was to have been +my mate, but Ghip escaped, being carried away by the Six Snubnosed +Princesses."</p> + +<p>"Why?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"One of them means to marry him," explained Tiggle.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's worse than being patched!" cried Trot.</p> + +<p>"Much worse," said Tiggle, with a groan.</p> + +<p>But now an idea occurred to the girl.</p> + +<p>"Would you like to escape?" she asked the captive.</p> + +<p>"I would, indeed!" said he.</p> + +<p>"If I get you out of the palace, can you hide yourself so that you won't +be found?"<a name="page_218" id="page_218"></a></p> + +<p>"Certainly!" he declared. "I know a house where I can hide so snugly +that all the Boolooroo's soldiers cannot find me."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Trot; "I'll do it; for when you're gone the Boolooroo +will have no one to patch Cap'n Bill to."</p> + +<p>"He may find some one else," suggested the prisoner.</p> + +<p>"But it will take him time to do that, and time is all I want," answered +the child. Even while she spoke Trot was busy with the knots in the +cords, and presently she had unbound Tiggle, who soon got upon his feet.</p> + +<p>"Now, I'll go to one end of the passage and make a noise," said she; +"and when the guard runs to see what it is you must run the other way. +Outside the palace Jimfred and Fredjim are on guard, but if you tip over +the bench they are seated on you can easily escape them."</p> + +<p>"I'll do that, all right," promised the delighted Tiggle. "You've made a +friend of me, little girl, and if ever I can help you I'll do it with +pleasure."</p> + +<p>Then Trot started for the door and Tiggle could no longer see her +because she was not now touching him. The man was much surprised at her +disappearance, but listened carefully and when he heard the girl make a +noise at one end of the corridor he opened the door and ran in the +opposite direction, as he had been told to do.</p> + +<p>Of course the guard could not discover what made the noise and Trot ran +little risk, as she was careful not to let<a name="page_219" id="page_219"></a> him touch her. When Tiggle +had safely escaped, the little girl wandered through the palace in +search of Cap'n Bill, but soon decided such a quest in the dark was +likely to fail and she must wait until morning. She was tired, too, and +thought she would find a vacant room—of which there were many in the +big palace—and go to sleep until daylight. She remembered there was a +comfortable vacant room just opposite the suite of the Six Snubnosed +Princesses, so she stole softly up to it and tried the door. It was +locked, but the key was outside, as the Blueskins seldom took a door-key +away from its place. So she turned the key, opened the door, and walked +in.</p> + +<p>Now, this was the chamber in which Ghip-Ghisizzle had been confined by +the Princesses, his arms being bound tight to his body but his legs left +free. The Boolooroo in his search had failed to discover what had become +of Ghip-Ghisizzle, but the poor man had been worried every minute for +fear his retreat would be discovered or that the terrible Princesses +would come for him and nag him until he went crazy. There was one window +in his room and the prisoner had managed to push open the sash with his +knees. Looking out, he found that a few feet below the window was the +broad wall that ran all around the palace gardens. A little way to the +right the wall joined the wall of the City, being on the same level with +it.</p> + +<p>Ghip-Ghisizzle had been thinking deeply upon this discovery,<a name="page_220" id="page_220"></a> and he +decided that if anyone entered his room he would get through the window, +leap down upon the wall and try in this way to escape. It would be a +dangerous leap, for as his arms were bound he might topple off the wall +into the garden; but he resolved to take this chance.</p> + +<p>Therefore, when Trot rattled at the door of his room Ghip-Ghisizzle ran +and seated himself upon the window-sill, dangling his long legs over the +edge. When she finally opened the door he slipped off and let himself +fall to the wall, where he doubled up in a heap. The next minute, +however, he had scrambled to his feet and was running swiftly along the +garden wall.</p> + +<p>Trot, finding the window open, came and looked out, and she saw the +Majordomo's tall form hastening along the top of the wall. The guards +saw him, too, outlined against the sky in the moonlight, and they began +yelling at him to stop; but Ghip-Ghisizzle kept right on until he +reached the City Wall, when he began to follow that. More guards were +yelling, now, running along the foot of the wall to keep the fugitive in +sight, and people began to pour out of the houses and join in the chase.</p> + +<p>Poor Ghip realized that if he kept on the wall he would merely circle +the city and finally be caught. If he leaped down into the City he would +be seized at once. Just then he came opposite the camp of the Pinkies +and decided to trust himself to the mercies of his Earth friends rather +than<a name="page_221" id="page_221"></a> be made a prisoner by his own people, who would obey the commands +of their detested but greatly feared Boolooroo. So, suddenly he gave a +mighty leap and came down into the field outside the City. Again he fell +in a heap and rolled over and over, for it was a high wall and the jump +a dangerous one; but finally he recovered and got upon his feet, +delighted to find he had broken none of his bones.</p> + +<p>Some of the Blueskins had by now opened a gate, and out rushed a crowd +to capture the fugitive; but Ghip-Ghisizzle made straight for the camp +of the Pinkies and his pursuers did not dare follow him far in that +direction. They soon gave up the chase and returned to the City, while +the runaway Majordomo was captured by Captain Coralie and marched away +to the tent of Rosalie the Witch, a prisoner of the Pinkies.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_067_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_067_sml.png" width="450" height="267" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_222" id="page_222"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_23" id="CHAPTER_23"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_068_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_068_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="300" +alt="THE GIRL AND THE BOOLOOROO--CHAPTER 23." +title="THE GIRL AND THE BOOLOOROO--CHAPTER 23." /></a></p> + +<p>TROT watched from the window the escape of Ghip-Ghisizzle but did not +know, of course, who it was. Then, after the City had quieted down +again, she lay upon the bed without undressing and was sound asleep in a +minute.</p> + +<p>The blue dawn was just breaking when she opened her eyes with a start of +fear that she might have overslept, but soon she found that no one else +in the palace was yet astir. Even the guards had gone to sleep by this +time and were adding their snores to the snores of the other inhabitants +of the Royal Palace. So the little girl got up and, finding a ewer of +water and a basin upon the dresser, washed herself carefully and then +looked in a big mirror to see how her hair was. To her astonishment +there was no reflection at all; the mirror was blank so far as Trot was +concerned. She laughed a little, at that, remembering she wore the ring +of<a name="page_223" id="page_223"></a> Rosalie the Witch, which rendered her invisible. Then she slipped +quietly out of the room and found it was already light enough in the +corridors for her to see all objects distinctly.</p> + +<p>After hesitating a moment which way to turn she decided to visit the +Snubnosed Princesses and passed through the big reception room to the +sleeping room of Indigo. There this Princess, the crossest and most +disagreeable of all the disagreeable six, was curled up in bed and +slumbering cosily. The little blue dog came trotting out of Indigo's +boudoir and crowed like a rooster, for although he could not see Trot +his keen little nose scented her presence. Thinking it time the Princess +awoke, Trot leaned over and gave her snubnose a good tweak, and at once +Indigo yelled like an Indian and sat up, glaring around her to see who +had dared to pull her nose. Trot, standing back in the room, threw a +sofa pillow that caught the Princess on the side of her head. At once +Indigo sprang out of bed and rushed into the chamber of Cobalt, which +adjoined her own. Thinking it was this sister who had slyly attacked +her, Indigo rushed at the sleeping Cobalt and slapped her face.</p> + +<p>At once there was war. The other four Princesses, hearing the screams +and cries of rage, came running into Cobalt's room and as fast as they +appeared Trot threw pillows at them, so that presently all six were +indulging in a free-for-all battle and snarling like tigers.<a name="page_224" id="page_224"></a></p> + +<p>The blue lamb came trotting into the room and Trot leaned over and +patted the pretty little animal; but as she did so she became visible +for an instant, each pat destroying the charm of the ring while the girl +was in contact with a living creature. These flashes permitted some of +the Princesses to see her and at once they rushed toward her with +furious cries. But the girl realized what had happened, and leaving the +lamb she stepped back into a corner and her frenzied enemies failed to +find her. It was a little dangerous, though, remaining in a room where +six girls were feeling all around for her, so she went away and left +them to their vain search while she renewed her hunt for Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>The sailorman did not seem to be in any of the rooms she entered, so she +decided to visit the Boolooroo's own apartments. In the room where +Rosalie's vision had shown them the Magic Umbrella lying under a +cabinet, Trot attempted to find it, for she considered that next to +rescuing Cap'n Bill this was the most important task to accomplish; but +the umbrella had been taken away and was no longer beneath the cabinet. +This was a severe disappointment to the child, but she reflected that +the umbrella was surely some place in the Blue City, so there was no +need to despair.</p> + +<p>Finally she entered the King's own sleeping chamber and found the +Boolooroo in bed and asleep, with a funny nightcap tied over his +egg-shaped head. As Trot looked at him she was surprised to see that he +had one foot out of bed and<a name="page_225" id="page_225"></a> that to his big toe was tied a cord that +led out of the bedchamber into a small dressing room beyond. Trot slowly +followed this cord and in the dressing room came upon Cap'n Bill, who +was lying asleep upon a lounge and snoring with great vigor. His arms +were tied to his body and his body was tied fast to the lounge. The +wooden leg stuck out into the room at an angle and the shoe on his one +foot had been removed so that the end of the cord could be fastened to +the sailor's big toe.</p> + +<p>This arrangement had been a clever thought of the Boolooroo. Fearing his +important prisoner might escape before he was patched, as Ghip-Ghisizzle +had done, the cruel King of the Blues had kept Cap'n Bill in his private +apartments and had tied his own big toe to the prisoner's big toe, so +that if the sailor made any attempt to get away he would pull on the +cord, and that would arouse the Boolooroo.</p> + +<p>Trot saw through this cunning scheme at once, so the first thing she did +was to untie the cord from Cap'n Bill's big toe and retie it to a leg of +the lounge. Then she unfastened her friend's bonds and leaned over to +give his leathery face a smacking kiss.</p> + +<p>Cap'n Bill sat up and rubbed his eyes. He looked around the room and +rubbed his eyes again, seeing no one who could have kissed him. Then he +discovered that his bonds had been removed and he rubbed his eyes once +more to make sure he was not dreaming.<a name="page_226" id="page_226"></a></p> + +<p>The little girl laughed softly.</p> + +<p>"Trot!" exclaimed the sailor, recognizing her voice.</p> + +<p>Then Trot came up and took his hand, the touch at once rendering her +visible to him.</p> + +<p>"Dear me!" said the bewildered sailor; "however did you get here, mate, +in the Boolooroo's own den? Is the Blue City captured?"</p> + +<p>"Not yet," she replied; "but <i>you</i> are, Cap'n, and I've come to save +you."</p> + +<p>"All alone, Trot?"</p> + +<p>"All alone, Cap'n Bill. But it's got to be done, jus' the same." And +then she explained about the magic ring Rosalie had lent her, which +rendered her invisible while she wore it—unless she touched some living +creature. Cap'n Bill was much interested.</p> + +<p>"I'm willing to be saved, mate," he said, "for the Boo-l'roo is set on +patchin' me right after breakfas', which I hope the cook'll be late +with."</p> + +<p>"Who are you to be patched with?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"A feller named Tiggle, who's in disgrace 'cause he mixed the royal +necktie for me."</p> + +<p>"That was nectar—not necktie," corrected Trot. "But you needn't be +'fraid of bein' patched with Tiggle, 'cause I've set him loose. By this +time he's in hiding, where he can't be found."</p> + +<p>"That's good," said Cap'n Bill, nodding approval; "but<a name="page_227" id="page_227"></a> the blamed ol' +Bool'roo's sure to find some one else. What's to be done, mate?"</p> + +<p>Trot thought about it for a moment. Then she remembered how some unknown +man had escaped from the palace the night before, by means of the wall, +which he had reached from the window of the very chamber in which she +had slept. Cap'n Bill might easily do the same. And the rope ladder she +had used would help the sailor down from the top of the wall.</p> + +<p>"Could you climb down a rope ladder, Cap'n?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Like enough," said he. "I've done it many a time on shipboard."</p> + +<p>"But you hadn't a wooden leg then," she reminded him.</p> + +<p>"The wooden leg won't bother much," he assured her.</p> + +<p>So Trot tied a small sofa cushion around the end of his wooden leg, so +it wouldn't make any noise pounding upon the floor, and then she quietly +led the sailor through the room of the sleeping Boolooroo and through +several other rooms until they came to the passage. Here a soldier was +on guard, but he had fallen asleep for a moment, in order to rest +himself. They passed this Blueskin without disturbing him and soon +reached the chamber opposite the suite of the Six Snubnosed Princesses, +whom they could hear still quarreling loudly among themselves.</p> + +<p>Trot locked the door from the inside, so no one could disturb<a name="page_228" id="page_228"></a> them, and +then led the sailor to the window. The garden was just below.</p> + +<p>"But—good gracious me! It's a drop o' ten feet, Trot," he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"And you've only one foot to drop, Cap'n," she said, laughing. "Couldn't +you let yourself down with one of the sheets from the bed?"</p> + +<p>"I'll try," he rejoined. "But, can <i>you</i> do that circus act, Trot?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm goin' to stay here an' find the Magic Umbrella," she replied. +"Bein' invis'ble, Cap'n, I'm safe enough. What I want to do is to see +you safe back with the Pinkies, an' then I'll manage to hold my own all +right, never fear."</p> + +<p>So they brought a blue sheet and tied one end to a post of the blue bed +and let the other end dangle out the blue window.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, mate," said Cap'n Bill, preparing to descend; "don't get +reckless."</p> + +<p>"I won't, Cap'n. Don't worry."</p> + +<p>Then he grasped the sheet with both hands and easily let himself down to +the wall. Trot had told him where to find the rope ladder she had left +and how to fasten it to the broken flagstaff so he could climb down into +the field outside the City.</p> + +<p>As soon as he was safe on the wall Cap'n Bill began to hobble along the +broad top toward the connecting wall that<a name="page_229" id="page_229"></a> surrounded the entire +City—just as Ghip-Ghisizzle had done—and Trot anxiously watched him +from the window.</p> + +<p>But the Blue City was now beginning to waken to life. One of the +soldiers came from a house, sleepily yawning and stretching himself, and +presently his eyes lit upon the huge form of Cap'n Bill hastening along +the top of the wall. The soldier gave a yell that aroused a score of his +comrades and brought them tumbling into the street. When they saw how +the Boolooroo's precious prisoner was escaping they instantly became +alert and wide-awake, and every one started in pursuit along the foot of +the wall.</p> + +<p>Of course the long-legged Blueskins could run faster than poor Cap'n +Bill. Some of them soon got ahead of the old sailorman and came to the +rope ladder which Trot had left dangling from the stone bench, where it +hung down inside the City. The Blue soldiers promptly mounted this +ladder and so gained the wall, heading off the fugitive. When Cap'n Bill +came up, panting and all out of breath, the Blueskins seized him and +held him fast.</p> + +<p>Cap'n Bill was terribly disappointed at being recaptured, and so was +Trot, who had eagerly followed his every movement from her window in the +palace. The little girl could have cried with vexation, and I think she +did weep a few tears before she recovered her courage; but Cap'n Bill +was a philosopher, in his way, and had learned to accept ill fortune +cheerfully. Knowing he was helpless, he made no protest<a name="page_230" id="page_230"></a> when they again +bound him and carried him down the ladder like a bale of goods.</p> + +<p>Others were also disappointed by his capture. Button-Bright had heard +the parrot squawking:</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"Oh, there's Cap'n Bill! There's <b>Cap'n Bill</b>!</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">I see him still—up on that hill!</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">It's Cap'n Bill!"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p>So the boy ran out of his tent to find the sailor hurrying along the top +of the wall as fast as he could go. At once Button-Bright aroused +Coralie, who got her Pinkies together and quickly marched them toward +the wall to assist in the escape of her Commander in Chief.</p> + +<p>But they were too late. Before they could reach the wall the Blueskins +had captured Trot's old friend and lugged him down into the City, so +Coralie and Button-Bright were forced to return to their camp +discomfited. There Ghip-Ghisizzle and Rosalie were awaiting them and +they all went into the Witch's tent and held a council of war.</p> + +<p>"Tell me," said Ghip-Ghisizzle to Button-Bright, "did you not take the +Royal Record Book from the Treasure Chamber of the Boolooroo?"</p> + +<p>"I did," replied the boy. "I remember that you wanted it and so I have +kept it with me ever since that night. Here it is," and he presented the +little blue book to the Majordomo,<a name="page_231" id="page_231"></a> the only friend the adventurers had +found among all the Blueskins.</p> + +<p>Ghip-Ghisizzle took the book eagerly and at once began turning over its +leaves.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" he exclaimed, presently, "it is just as I suspected. The wicked +Boolooroo had already reigned over the Blue Country three hundred years +last Thursday, so that now he has no right to rule at all. I, myself, +have been the rightful Ruler of the Blues since Thursday, and yet this +cruel and deceitful man has not only deprived me of my right to succeed +him, but he has tried to have me patched, so that I could never become +the Boolooroo."</p> + +<p>"Does the book tell how old he is?" asked Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>"Yes; he is now five hundred years old, and has yet another hundred +years to live. He planned to rule the Blue Country until the last, but I +now know the deception he has practiced and have the Royal Record Book +to prove it. With this I shall be able to force him to resign, that I +may take his place, for all the people will support me and abide by the +Law. The tyrant will perhaps fight me and my cause desperately, but I am +sure to win in the end."</p> + +<p>"If we can help you," said Button-Bright, "the whole Pink Army will +fight for you. Only, if you win, you must promise to give me back my +Magic Umbrella and let us fly away to our own homes again."</p> + +<p>"I will do that most willingly," agreed Ghip-Ghisizzle.<a name="page_232" id="page_232"></a> "And now let us +consult together how best to take the Blue City and capture the +Boolooroo. As I know my own country much better than you or the Pinkies +do, I think I can find a way to accomplish our purpose."</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_069_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_069_sml.png" width="450" height="272" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_233" id="page_233"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_24" id="CHAPTER_24"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_070_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_070_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="304" +alt="THE AMAZING CONQUEST OF THE BLUES--CHAPTER 24." +title="THE AMAZING CONQUEST OF THE BLUES--CHAPTER 24." /></a></p> + +<p>THE shouting and excitement in the City following upon the recapture of +Cap'n Bill aroused the sleeping Boolooroo. He found the cord still tied +to his big toe and at first imagined his prisoner was safe in the +dressing room. While he put on his clothes the king occasionally gave +the cord a sudden pull, hoping to hurt Cap'n Bill's big toe and make him +yell; but as no response came to this mean action the Boolooroo finally +looked into the room, only to find he had been pulling on a leg of the +couch and that his prisoner had escaped.</p> + +<p>Then he flew into a mighty rage and running out into the hall he aimed a +blow at the unfaithful guard, knocking the fellow off his feet. Then he +rushed down stairs into the courtyard, shouting loudly for his soldiers +and threatening to patch everybody in his dominions if the sailorman was +not recaptured.<a name="page_234" id="page_234"></a></p> + +<p>While the Boolooroo stormed and raged a band of soldiers and citizens +came marching in, surrounding Cap'n Bill, who was again firmly bound.</p> + +<p>"So-ho!" roared the monarch, "you thought you could defy me, Earth Clod, +did you? But you were mistaken. No one can resist the Mighty Boolooroo +of the Blues, so it is folly for you to rebel against my commands. Hold +him fast, my men, and as soon as I've had my coffee and oatmeal I'll +take him to the Room of the Great Knife and patch him."</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't mind a cup o' coffee myself," said Cap'n Bill. "I've had +consid'ble exercise this mornin' and I'm all ready for breakfas'."</p> + +<p>"Very well," replied the Boolooroo, "you shall eat with me, for then I +can keep an eye on you. My guards are not to be trusted, and I don't +mean to let you out of my sight again until you are patched."</p> + +<p>So Cap'n Bill and the Boolooroo had breakfast together, six Blueskins +standing in a row back of the sailorman to grab him if he attempted to +escape. But Cap'n Bill made no such attempt, knowing it would be +useless.</p> + +<p>Trot was in the room, too, standing in a corner and listening to all +that was said while she racked her little brain for an idea that would +enable her to save Cap'n Bill from being patched. No one could see her, +so no one—not even Cap'n Bill—knew she was there.</p> + +<p>After breakfast was over a procession was formed, headed<a name="page_235" id="page_235"></a> by the +Boolooroo, and they marched the prisoner through the palace until they +came to the Room of the Great Knife. Invisible Trot followed soberly +after them, still wondering what she could do to save her friend.</p> + +<p>As soon as they entered the Room of the Great Knife the Boolooroo gave a +yell of disappointment.</p> + +<p>"What's become of Tiggle?" he shouted. "Where's Tiggle? Who has released +Tiggle? Go at once, you dummies, and find him—or it will go hard with +you!"</p> + +<p>The frightened soldiers hurried away to find Tiggle, and Trot was well +pleased because she knew Tiggle was by this time safely hidden.</p> + +<p>The Boolooroo stamped up and down the room, muttering threats and +declaring Cap'n Bill should be patched whether Tiggle was found or not, +and while they waited Trot took time to make an inspection of the place, +which she now saw for the first time in broad daylight.</p> + +<p>The Room of the Great Knife was high and big, and around it ran rows of +benches for the spectators to sit upon. In one place—at the head of the +room—was a raised platform for the royal family, with elegant +throne-chairs for the King and Queen and six smaller but richly +upholstered chairs for the Snubnosed Princesses. The poor Queen, by the +way, was seldom seen, as she passed all her time playing solitaire with +a deck that was one card short, hoping that before she had lived her +entire six hundred years she would win the<a name="page_236" id="page_236"></a> game. Therefore her Majesty +paid no attention to anyone and no one paid any attention to her.</p> + +<p>In the center of the room stood the terrible knife that gave the place +its name—a name dreaded by every inhabitant of the Blue City. The knife +was built into a huge framework, like a derrick, that reached to the +ceiling, and it was so arranged that when the Boolooroo pulled a cord +the great blade would drop down in its frame and neatly cut in two the +person who stood under it. And, in order that the slicing would be +accurate, there was another frame, to which the prisoner was tied so +that he couldn't wiggle either way. This frame was on rollers, so that +it could be placed directly underneath the knife.</p> + +<p>While Trot was observing this dreadful machine the door opened and in +walked the Six Snubnosed Princesses, all in a row and with their chins +up, as if they disdained everyone but themselves. They were +magnificently dressed and their blue hair was carefully arranged in huge +towers upon their heads, with blue plumes stuck into the tops. These +plumes waved gracefully in the air with every mincing step the +Princesses took. Rich jewels of blue stones glittered upon their persons +and the royal ladies were fully as gorgeous as they were haughty and +overbearing. They marched to their chairs and seated themselves to enjoy +the cruel scene their father was about to enact, and Cap'n Bill bowed to +them politely and said:<a name="page_237" id="page_237"></a></p> + +<p>"Mornin', girls; hope ye feel as well as ye look."</p> + +<p>"Papa," exclaimed Turquoise, angrily, "can you not prevent this vile +Earth Being from addressing us? It is an insult to be spoken to by one +about to be patched."</p> + +<p>"Control yourselves, my dears," replied the Boolooroo; "the worst +punishment I know how to inflict on anyone, this prisoner is about to +suffer. You'll see a very pretty patching, my royal daughters."</p> + +<p>"When?" inquired Cobalt.</p> + +<p>"When? As soon as the soldiers return with Tiggle," said he.</p> + +<p>But just then in came the soldiers to say that Tiggle could not be found +anywhere in the City; he had disappeared as mysteriously as had +Ghip-Ghisizzle. Immediately the Boolooroo flew into another towering +rage.</p> + +<p>"Villains!" he shouted, "go out and arrest the first living thing you +meet, and whoever it proves to be will be instantly patched to Cap'n +Bill."</p> + +<p>The Captain of the Guards hesitated to obey this order.</p> + +<p>"Suppose it's a friend?" he suggested.</p> + +<p>"Friend!" roared the Boolooroo; "I haven't a friend in the country. Tell +me, sir, do you know of anyone who is my friend?"</p> + +<p>The Captain shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I can't think of anyone just now, your Spry and Flighty High and Mighty +Majesty," he answered.<a name="page_238" id="page_238"></a></p> + +<p>"Of course not," said the Boolooroo. "Everyone hates me, and I don't +object to that because I hate everybody. But I'm the Ruler here, and +I'll do as I please. Go and capture the first living creature you see, +and bring him here to be patched to Cap'n Bill."</p> + +<p>So the Captain took a file of soldiers and went away very sorrowful, for +he did not know who would be the victim, and if the Boolooroo had no +friends, the Captain had plenty, and did not wish to see them patched.</p> + +<p>Meantime Trot, being invisible to all, was roaming around the room and +behind a bench she found a small coil of rope, which she picked up. Then +she seated herself in an out-of-the-way place and quietly waited.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there was a noise in the corridor and evidence of scuffling and +struggling. Then the door flew open and in came the soldiers dragging a +great blue billygoat, which was desperately striving to get free.</p> + +<p>"Villains!" howled the Boolooroo; "what does this mean?"</p> + +<p>"Why, you said to fetch the first living creature we met, and that was +this billygoat," replied the Captain, panting hard as he held fast to +one of the goat's horns.</p> + +<p>The Boolooroo stared a moment and then he fell back in his throne, +laughing boisterously. The idea of patching Cap'n Bill to a goat was +vastly amusing to him, and the more he<a name="page_239" id="page_239"></a> thought of it the more he roared +with laughter. Some of the soldiers laughed, too, being tickled with the +absurd notion, and the Six Snubnosed Princesses all sat up straight and +permitted themselves to smile contemptuously. This would indeed be a +severe punishment; therefore the Princesses were pleased at the thought +of Cap'n Bill's becoming half a billygoat, and the billygoat's being +half Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>"They look something alike, you know," suggested the Captain of the +Guards, looking from one to the other doubtfully; "and they're nearly +the same size if you stand the goat on his hind legs. They've both got +the same style of whiskers and they're both of 'em obstinate and +dangerous; so they ought to make a good patch."</p> + +<p>"Splendid! Fine! Glorious!" cried the Boolooroo, wiping the tears of +merriment from his eyes. "We will proceed with the Ceremony of Patching +at once."</p> + +<p>Cap'n Bill regarded the billygoat with distinct disfavor, and the +billygoat glared evilly upon Cap'n Bill. Trot was horrified, and wrung +her little hands in sore perplexity, for this was a most horrible fate +that awaited her dear old friend.</p> + +<p>"First, bind the Earth Man in the frame," commanded the Boolooroo. +"We'll slice him in two before we do the same to the billygoat."</p> + +<p>So they seized Cap'n Bill and tied him into the frame so that he +couldn't move a jot in any direction. Then they<a name="page_240" id="page_240"></a> rolled the frame +underneath the Great Knife and handed the Boolooroo the cord that +released the blade.</p> + +<p>But while this was going on Trot had crept up and fastened one end of +her rope to the frame in which Cap'n Bill was confined. Then she stood +back and watched the Boolooroo, and just as he pulled the cord she +pulled on her rope and dragged the frame on its rollers away, so that +the Great Knife fell with a crash and sliced nothing but the air.</p> + +<p>"Huh!" exclaimed the Boolooroo; "that's queer. Roll him up again, +soldiers."</p> + +<p>The soldiers again rolled the frame in position, having first pulled the +Great Knife once more to the top of the derrick. The immense blade was +so heavy that it took the strength of seven Blueskins to raise it.</p> + +<p>When all was in readiness the King pulled the cord a second time and +Trot at the same instant pulled upon her rope. The same thing happened +as before. Cap'n Bill rolled away in his frame and the knife fell +harmlessly.</p> + +<p>Now, indeed, the Boolooroo was as angry as he was amazed. He jumped down +from the platform and commanded the soldiers to raise the Great Knife +into position. When this had been accomplished the Boolooroo leaned over +to try to discover why the frame rolled away—seemingly of its own +accord—and he was the more puzzled because it had never done such a +thing before.</p> + +<p>As he stood, bent nearly double, his back was toward the<a name="page_241" id="page_241"></a> billygoat, +which, in their interest and excitement, the soldiers were holding in a +careless manner. At once the goat gave a leap, escaped from the soldiers +and with bowed head rushed upon the Boolooroo. Before any could stop him +he butted his Majesty so furiously that the King soared far into the air +and tumbled in a heap among the benches, where he lay moaning and +groaning.</p> + +<p>The goat's warlike spirit was roused by this successful attack. Finding +himself free, he turned and assaulted the soldiers, butting them so +fiercely that they tumbled down in bunches and as soon as they could +rise again ran frantically from the room and along the corridors as if a +fiend was after them. By this time the goat was so animated by the +spirit of conquest that he rushed at the Six Snubnosed Princesses, who +had all climbed upon their chairs and were screaming in a panic of fear. +Six times the goat butted and each time he tipped over a chair and sent +a haughty Princess groveling upon the floor, where the ladies got mixed +up in their long blue trains and flounces and laces, and struggled +wildly until they recovered their footing. Then they sped in great haste +for the door, and the goat gave a final butt that sent the row of royal +ladies all diving into the corridor in another tangle, whereupon they +shrieked in a manner that terrified everyone within sound of their +voices.</p> + +<p>As the Room of the Great Knife was now cleared of all but Cap'n +Bill—who was tied in his frame—and of Trot and<a name="page_242" id="page_242"></a> the moaning Boolooroo, +who lay hidden behind the benches, the goat gave a victorious bleat and +stood in the doorway to face any enemy that might appear.</p> + +<p>Trot had been as surprised as anyone at this sudden change of +conditions, but she was quick to take advantage of the opportunities it +afforded. First she ran with her rope to the goat and, as the animal +could not see her, she easily succeeded in tying the rope around its +horns and fastening the loose end to a pillar of the doorway. Next she +hurried to Cap'n Bill and began to unbind him, and as she touched the +sailor she became visible. He nodded cheerfully, then, and said:</p> + +<p>"I had a notion it was you, mate, as saved me from the knife. But it +were a pretty close call an' I hope it won't happen again. I couldn't +shiver much, bein' bound so tight, but when I'm loose I mean to have +jus' one good shiver to relieve my feelin's."</p> + +<p>"Shiver all you want to, Cap'n," she said, as she removed the last +bonds; "but first you've got to help me save us both."</p> + +<p>"As how?" he asked, stepping from the frame.</p> + +<p>"Come and get the Boolooroo," she said, going toward the benches.</p> + +<p>The sailor followed and pulled out the Boolooroo, who, when he saw the +terrible goat was captured and tied fast, quickly recovered his courage.</p> + +<p>"Hi, there!" he cried; "where are my soldiers? What do<a name="page_243" id="page_243"></a> you mean, +prisoner, by daring to lay hands upon me? Let me go this minute or +I'll—I'll have you patched <i>twice</i>!"</p> + +<p>"Don't mind him, Cap'n," said Trot, "but fetch him along to the frame."</p> + +<p>The Boolooroo looked around to see where the voice came from and Cap'n +Bill grinned joyfully and caught up the king in both his strong arms, +dragging the struggling Monarch of the Blues to the frame.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_071_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_071_sml.png" width="450" height="270" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p>"Stop it! How dare you?" roared the frightened Boolooroo. "I'll have +revenge!—I'll—I'll—"</p> + +<p>"You'll take it easy, 'cause you can't help yourself," said Cap'n Bill. +"What next, Queen Trot?"<a name="page_244" id="page_244"></a></p> + +<p>"Hold him steady in the frame and I'll tie him up," she replied. So +Cap'n Bill held the Boolooroo, and the girl tied him fast in position, +as Cap'n Bill had been tied, so that his Majesty couldn't wiggle at all.</p> + +<p>Then they rolled the frame in position underneath the Great Knife and +Trot held in her hand the cord which would release it.</p> + +<p>"All right, Cap'n," she said in a satisfied tone, "I guess we can run +this Blue Country ourselves, after this."</p> + +<p>The Boolooroo was terrified to find himself in danger of being sliced by +the same knife he had so often wickedly employed to slice others. Like +Cap'n Bill, he had no room to shiver, but he groaned very dismally and +was so full of fear that his blue hair nearly stood on end.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_072_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_072_sml.png" width="425" height="450" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_245" id="page_245"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_25" id="CHAPTER_25"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_073_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_073_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="296" +alt="THE RULER OF SKY ISLAND--CHAPTER 25." +title="THE RULER OF SKY ISLAND--CHAPTER 25." /></a></p> + +<p>THE girl now took off Rosalie's ring and put it carefully away in her +pocket.</p> + +<p>"It won't matter who sees me now," she remarked, "an' I want 'em to know +that you an' me, Cap'n, are running this kingdom. I'm Queen o' the +Pinkies an' Booloorooess o' the Blues, an ——"</p> + +<p>"What's that?" asked the sailor. "You're—you're <i>what</i>, Trot?"</p> + +<p>"Booloorooess. Isn't that right, Cap'n?"</p> + +<p>"I dunno, mate. It sounds bigger ner you are, an' I don't like the word, +anyhow. S'pose you jus' call yourself the Boss? That fills the bill an' +don't need pernouncin'."</p> + +<p>"All right," she said; "Queen o' the Pinkies an' Boss o' the Blues. +Seems funny, don't it, Cap'n Bill?"</p> + +<p>Just then they heard a sound of footsteps in the corridor.<a name="page_246" id="page_246"></a> The soldiers +had partly recovered their courage and, fearful of the anger of their +dreaded Boolooroo, whom the Princesses declared would punish them +severely, had ventured to return to the room. They came rather +haltingly, though, and the Captain of the Guards first put his head +cautiously through the doorway to see if the coast was clear. The goat +discovered him and tried to make a rush, but the rope held the animal +back and when the Captain saw this he came forward more boldly.</p> + +<p>"Halt!" cried Trot.</p> + +<p>The Captain halted, his soldiers peering curiously over his shoulders +and the Six Snubnosed Princesses looking on from behind, where they +considered themselves safe.</p> + +<p>"If anyone dares enter this room without my permission," said Trot, +"I'll pull this cord and slice your master that once was the Boolooroo."</p> + +<p>"Don't come in! Don't come in!" yelled the Boolooroo in a terrified +voice.</p> + +<p>Then they saw that the sailor was free and the Boolooroo bound in his +place. The soldiers were secretly glad to observe this, but the +Princesses were highly indignant.</p> + +<p>"Release his Majesty at once!" cried Indigo from the corridor. "You +shall be severely punished for this rebellion."</p> + +<p>"Don't worry," replied Trot. "His Majesty isn't his Majesty any longer; +he's jus' a common Blueskin. Cap'n Bill and I perpose runnin' this +Island ourselves, after this.<a name="page_247" id="page_247"></a> You've all got to obey <i>me</i>, for I'm the +Booloorooess—no, I mean the Boss—o' the Blues, and I've a notion to +run things my own way."</p> + +<p>"You can't," said Turquoise, scornfully; "the Law says——"</p> + +<p>"Bother the Law!" exclaimed Trot. "I'll make the Laws myself, from now +on, and I'll unmake every Law you ever had before I conquered you."</p> + +<p>"Oh. Have you conquered us, then?" asked the Captain of the Guards, in a +surprised tone.</p> + +<p>"Of course," said Trot. "Can't you see?"</p> + +<p>"It looks like it," admitted the Captain.</p> + +<p>"Cap'n Bill is goin' to be my General o' the Army an' the Royal Manager +o' the Blue Country," continued Trot; "so you'll mind what he says."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" shouted Indigo. "March in and capture them, Captain! Never +mind if they do slice the Boolooroo. I'm his daughter, and <i>I'll</i> rule +the kingdom."</p> + +<p>"You won't!" screamed Cobalt. "I'll rule it!"</p> + +<p>"I'll rule it myself!" cried Cerulia.</p> + +<p>"No, no!" yelled Turquoise; "I'll be the Ruler."</p> + +<p>"That shall be <i>my</i> privilege!" shouted Sapphire. Cobalt began to say:</p> + +<p>"I'm the ——"</p> + +<p>"Be quiet!" said Trot, sternly. "Would you have your own father sliced, +so that you could rule in his place?"<a name="page_248" id="page_248"></a></p> + +<p>"Yes, yes; of course!" rejoined the six Princesses, without a second's +hesitation.</p> + +<p>"Well, well! What d' ye think o' that, Mr. Boolooroo?" asked Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>"They're undutiful daughters; don't pay any attention to them," replied +the frightened Boolooroo.</p> + +<p>"We're not goin' to," said Trot. "Now, you Blue Cap'n, who are you and +your soldiers going to obey—me or the snubnosed ones?"</p> + +<p>"You!" declared the Captain of the Guards, positively, for he hated the +Princesses, as did all the Blueskins.</p> + +<p>"Then escort those girls to their rooms, lock 'em in, an' put a guard +before the door."</p> + +<p>At once the soldiers seized the Princesses and, notwithstanding their +snarls and struggles, marched them to their rooms and locked them in. +While they were gone on this errand the Boolooroo begged to be released, +whining and wailing for fear the knife would fall upon him. But Trot did +not think it safe to unbind him just then. When the soldiers returned +she told their leader to put a strong guard before the palace and to +admit no one unless either she or Cap'n Bill gave the order to do so.</p> + +<p>The soldiers obeyed readily, and when Trot and Cap'n Bill were left +alone they turned the goat loose in the Room of the Great Knife and then +locked the animal in with the Boolooroo.<a name="page_249" id="page_249"></a></p> + +<p>"The billygoat is the very best guard we could have, for ever'body's +'fraid o' him," remarked Cap'n Bill, as he put the key of the room in +his pocket. "So now, Queen Trot, what's next on the program?"</p> + +<p>"Next," said Trot, "we're goin' to hunt for that umbrel, Cap'n. I don't +mean to stay in this dismal Blue Country long, even if I am the Queen. +Let's find the umbrel and get home as soon as we can."</p> + +<p>"That suits me," the sailor joyfully exclaimed, and then the two began a +careful search through the palace.</p> + +<p>They went into every room and looked behind the furniture and underneath +the beds and in every crack and corner, but no place could they spy the +Magic Umbrella. Cap'n Bill even ventured to enter the rooms of the Six +Snubnosed Princesses, who were by this time so thoroughly alarmed that +they had become meek and mild as could be. But the umbrella wasn't +there, either.</p> + +<p>Finally they returned to the great throne room of the palace, where they +seated themselves on the throne and tried to think what could possibly +have become of the precious umbrella. While they were sitting and +talking together the Captain of the Guards entered and bowed +respectfully.</p> + +<p>"Beg pardon, your Small-Sized Majesty," said he to Trot, "but it is my +duty to report that the Pinkies are preparing to attack the City."</p> + +<p>"Oh; I'd forgotten the Pinkies!" exclaimed the girl.<a name="page_250" id="page_250"></a> "Tell me, Captain, +have you such a thing as a Brass Band in this City?"</p> + +<p>"We have two fine bands, but they are not brass," replied the Captain. +"Their instruments are made of blue metal."</p> + +<p>"Well, order 'em out," commanded Trot. "And, say; get all the soldiers +together and tell all the people there's going to be a high time in the +Blue City to-night. We'll have music and dancing and eating and ——"</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_074_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_074_sml.png" width="450" height="270" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p>"An' neckties to drink, Trot; don't forget the royal neckties," urged +Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>"We'll have all the fun there is going," continued the girl, "for we are +to entertain the Army of the Pinkies."</p> + +<p>"The Pinkies!" exclaimed the Captain of the Guards; "why, they're our +enemies, your Short Highness."<a name="page_251" id="page_251"></a></p> + +<p>"Not any more," replied Trot. "I'm Queen of the Pinkies, an' I'm also +Queen of the Blues, so I won't have my people quarreling. Tell the Blue +people we are to throw open the gates and welcome the Pinkies to the +City, where everybody will join in a grand celebration. And jus' as soon +as you've spread the news an' got the bands tuned up and the soldiers +ready to march, you let us know and we'll head the procession."</p> + +<p>"Your Microscopic Majesty shall be obeyed," said the Captain, and went +away to carry out these commands.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_075_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_075_sml.png" width="392" height="450" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_252" id="page_252"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_26" id="CHAPTER_26"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_076_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_076_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="302" +alt="TROT CELEBRATES HER VICTORY--CHAPTER 26." +title="TROT CELEBRATES HER VICTORY--CHAPTER 26." /></a></p> + +<p>THE Blue people were by this time dazed with wonder at all the events +that had transpired that eventful day, but they still had wit enough to +be glad the war was over; for in war some one is likely to get hurt and +it is foolish to take such chances when one can remain quietly at home. +The Blues did not especially admire the Pinkies, but it was easier to +entertain them than to fight them, and, above all, the Blueskins were +greatly rejoiced that their wicked Boolooroo had been conquered and +could no longer abuse them. So they were quite willing to obey the +orders of their girl Queen and in a short time the blasts of trumpets +and roll of drums and clashing of cymbals told Trot and Cap'n Bill that +the Blue Bands had assembled before the palace.</p> + +<p>So they went down and found that a great crowd of people had gathered, +and these cheered Trot with much enthusiasm<a name="page_253" id="page_253"></a>—which was very different +from the scowls and surly looks with which they had formerly greeted +their strange visitors from the Earth.</p> + +<p>The soldiers wore their best blue uniforms and were formed before the +palace in marching order, so Trot and Cap'n Bill headed the procession, +and then came the soldiers—all keeping step—and then the bands, +playing very loud noises on their instruments, and finally the crowd of +Blue citizens waving flags and banners and shouting joyfully.</p> + +<p>In this order they proceeded to the main gate, which Trot ordered the +guards to throw wide open. Then they all marched out a little way into +the fields and found that the Army of Pinkies had already formed and was +advancing steadily toward them.</p> + +<p>At the head of the Pinkies were Ghip-Ghisizzle and Button-Bright, who +had the parrot on his shoulder, and they were supported by Captain +Coralie and Captain Tintint and Rosalie the Witch. They had decided to +capture the Blue City at all hazards, that they might rescue Trot and +Cap'n Bill and conquer the Boolooroo, so when from a distance they saw +the Blueskins march from the gate, with banners flying and bands +playing, they supposed a most terrible fight was about to take place.</p> + +<p>However, as the two forces came nearer together, Button-Bright spied +Trot and Cap'n Bill standing before the enemy, and the sight astonished +him considerably.<a name="page_254" id="page_254"></a></p> + +<p>"Welcome, friends!" shouted Cap'n Bill in a loud voice; and "Welcome!" +cried Trot; and "Welcome!" roared the Blue soldiers and the people of +the Blue City.</p> + +<p>"Hooray!" yelled the parrot,</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"Welcome to our happy home</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">From which no longer will we roam!"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">and then he flapped his wings and barked like a dog with pure delight, +and added as fast as his bird's tongue could speak:</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"One army's pink and one is blue,</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">But neither one is in a stew</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">Because the naughty Boolooroo</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">Is out of sight, so what we'll do</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">Is try to be a jolly crew</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">And dance and sing our too-ral-loo</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">And to our friends be ever true</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">And to our foes——"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p>"Stop it!" said Button-Bright; "I can't hear myself think."</p> + +<p>The Pinkies were amazed at the strange reception of the Blues and +hesitated to advance; but Trot now ran up in front of them and made a +little speech.<a name="page_255" id="page_255"></a></p> + +<p>"Pinkies," said she, "your Queen has conquered the Boolooroo and is now +the Queen of the Blues. All of Sky Island, except the Fog Bank, is now +my kingdom, so I welcome my faithful Pinkies to my Blue City, where you +are to be royally entertained and have a good time. The war is over an' +ever'body must be sociable an' happy or I'll know the reason why!"</p> + +<p>Now, indeed, the Pinkies raised a great shout of joy and the Blues +responded with another joyful shout, and Rosalie kissed the little girl +and said she had performed wonders, and everybody shook hands with Cap'n +Bill and congratulated him upon his escape, and the parrot flew to +Trot's shoulder and screeched:</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"The Pinkies are pink, the Blues are blue</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">But Trot's the Queen, so too-ral-loo!"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p>When the Blueskins saw Ghip-Ghisizzle they raised another great shout, +for he was the favorite of the soldiers and very popular with all the +people. But Ghip-Ghisizzle did not heed the shouting. He was looking +downcast and sad, and it was easy to see he was disappointed because he +had not conquered the Boolooroo himself. But the people called upon him +for a speech, so he faced the Blueskins and said:</p> + +<p>"I escaped from the City because the Boolooroo tried to patch me, as you +all know, and the Six Snubnosed Princesses<a name="page_256" id="page_256"></a> tried to marry me, which +would have been a far greater misfortune. But I have recovered the Book +of Royal Records, which has long been hidden in the Treasure Chamber, +and by reading it I find that the Boolooroo is not your lawful Boolooroo +at all, having reigned more than his three hundred years. Since last +Thursday, I, Ghip-Ghisizzle, have been the lawful Boolooroo of the Blue +Country, but now that you are conquered by Queen Trot I suppose I am +conquered, too, and you have no Boolooroo at all."</p> + +<p>"Hooray!" cried the parrot;</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"Here's a pretty howdy-do—</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">You haven't any Boolooroo!"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p>Trot had listened carefully to the Majordomo's speech. When he finished +she said cheerfully:</p> + +<p>"Don't worry, Sizzle dear; it'll all come right pretty soon. Now, then, +let's enter the City an' enjoy the grand feast that's being cooked. I'm +nearly starved, myself, for this conquerin' kingdoms is hard work."</p> + +<p>So the Pinkies and the Blues marched side by side into the City and +there was great rejoicing and music and dancing and feasting and games +and merrymaking that lasted for three full days.</p> + +<p>Trot carried Rosalie and Captain Coralie and Ghip-Ghisizzle to the +palace, and of course Button-Bright and<a name="page_257" id="page_257"></a> Cap'n Bill were with her. They +had the Royal Chef serve dinner at once and they ate it in great state, +seated in the Royal Banquet Hall, where they were waited on by a hundred +servants. The parrot perched upon the back of Queen Trot's chair and the +girl fed it herself, being glad to have the jolly bird with her again.</p> + +<p>After they had eaten all they could, and the servants had been sent +away, Trot related her adventures, telling how, with the assistance of +the billygoat, she had turned the tables on the wicked Boolooroo. Then +she gave Rosalie back her magic ring, thanking the kind Witch for all +she had done for them.</p> + +<p>"And now," said she, "I want to say to Ghip-'Sizzle that jus' as soon as +we can find Button-Bright's umbrel we're going to fly home again. I'll +always be Queen of Sky Island, but the Pink and Blue Countries must each +have a Ruler. I think I'll make 'Sizzle the Boolooroo of the Blues; but +I want you to promise me, Ghip, that you'll destroy the Great Knife and +its frame and clean up the room and turn it into a skating-rink an' +never patch anyone as long as you rule the Blueskins."</p> + +<p>Ghip-Ghisizzle was overjoyed at the prospect of being Boolooroo of the +Blues, but he looked solemn at the promise Trot exacted.</p> + +<p>"I'm not cruel," he said, "and I don't approve of patching in general, +so I'll willingly destroy the Great Knife.<a name="page_258" id="page_258"></a> But before I do that I want +the privilege of patching the Snubnosed Princesses to each other—mixing +the six as much as possible—and then I want to patch the former +Boolooroo to the billygoat, which is the same punishment he was going to +inflict upon Cap'n Bill."</p> + +<p>"No," said Trot, positively, "there's been enough patching in this +country and I won't have any more of it. The old Boolooroo and the six +stuck-up Princesses will be punished enough by being put out of the +palace. The people don't like 'em a bit, so they'll be outcasts and +wanderers and that will make 'em sorry they were so wicked an' cruel +when they were powerful. Am I right, Cap'n Bill?"</p> + +<p>"You are, mate," replied the sailor.</p> + +<p>"Please, Queen Trot," begged Ghip-Ghisizzle, "let me patch just the +Boolooroo. It will be such a satisfaction."</p> + +<p>"I have said no, an' I mean it," answered the girl. "You let the poor +old Boolooroo alone. There's nothing that hurts so much as a come-down +in life, an' I 'spect the old rascal's goin' to be pretty miser'ble +by'm'by."</p> + +<p>"What does he say to his reverse of fortune?" asked Rosalie.</p> + +<p>"Why, I don't b'lieve he knows about it," said Trot. "Guess I'd better +send for him an' tell him what's happened."</p> + +<p>So the Captain of the Guards was given the key and told to fetch the +Boolooroo from the Room of the Great Knife. The guards had a terrible +struggle with the goat, which was<a name="page_259" id="page_259"></a> loose in the room and still wanted to +fight, but finally they subdued the animal and then they took the +Boolooroo out of the frame he was tied in and brought both him and the +goat before Queen Trot, who awaited them in the throne room of the +palace.</p> + +<p>When the courtiers and the people assembled saw the goat they gave a +great cheer, for the beast had helped to dethrone their wicked Ruler.</p> + +<p>"What's goin' to happen to this tough ol' warrior, Trot?" asked Cap'n +Bill. "It's my idee as he's braver than the whole Blue Army put +together."</p> + +<p>"You're right, Cap'n," she returned. "I'll have 'Sizzle make a fine yard +for the goat, where he'll have plenty of blue grass to eat. An' I'll +have a pretty fence put around it an' make all the people honor an' +respec' him jus' as long as he lives."</p> + +<p>"I'll gladly do that," promised the new Boolooroo; "and I'll feed the +honorable goat all the shavings and leather and tin cans he can eat, +besides the grass. He'll be the happiest goat in Sky Island, I assure +you."</p> + +<p>As they led the now famous animal from the room the Boolooroo shuddered +and said:</p> + +<p>"How dare you people give orders in my palace? I'm the Boolooroo!"</p> + +<p>"'Scuse me," said Trot; "I neglected to tell you that you're not the +Boolooroo any more. We've got the Royal<a name="page_260" id="page_260"></a> Record Book, an' it proves +you've already ruled this country longer than you had any right to. +'Sides all that, I'm the Queen o' Sky Island—which means Queen o' the +Pinkies an' Queen o' the Blues—both of 'em. So things are run as I say, +an' I've made Ghip-Ghisizzle Boolooroo in your place. He'll look after +this end of the Island hereafter, an' unless I'm much mistaken he'll do +it a heap better than you did."</p> + +<p>The former Boolooroo groaned.</p> + +<p>"What's going to become of me, then?" he asked. "Am I to be patched, or +what?"</p> + +<p>"You won't be hurt," answered the girl, "but you'll have to find some +other place to stay besides this palace, an' perhaps you'll enjoy +workin' for a livin, by way of variety."</p> + +<p>"Can't I take any of the treasure with me?" he pleaded.</p> + +<p>"Not even a bird cage," said she. "Ever'thing in the palace now belongs +to Ghip-Ghisizzle."</p> + +<p>"Except the Six Snubnosed Princesses," exclaimed the new Boolooroo, +earnestly. "Won't you please get rid of them, too, your Majesty? Can't +they be discharged?"</p> + +<p>"Of course," said Trot; "they must go with their dear father an' mother. +Isn't there some house in the City they can all live in, Ghip?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I own a little cabin at the end of the town," said Ghip-Ghisizzle, +"and I'll let them use that, as I won't need it any longer. It isn't a +very pretty cabin and the furniture is<a name="page_261" id="page_261"></a> cheap and common, but I'm sure +it is good enough for this wicked man and his family."</p> + +<p>"I'll not be wicked any more," sighed the old Boolooroo; "I'll reform. +It's always best to reform when it is no longer safe to remain wicked. +As a private citizen I shall be a model of deportment, because it would +be dangerous to be otherwise."</p> + +<p>Trot now sent for the Princesses, who had been weeping and wailing and +fighting among themselves ever since they learned that their father had +been conquered. When first they entered the throne room they tried to be +as haughty and scornful as ever, but the Blues who were assembled there +all laughed at them and jeered them, for there was not a single person +in all the Blue Country who loved the Princesses the least little bit.</p> + +<p>Trot told the girls that they must go with their father to live in +Ghip-Ghisizzle's little old cabin, and when they heard this dreadful +decree the six snubnosed ones began to scream and have hysterics, and +between them they managed to make so much noise that no one could hear +anything else. So Ghip-Ghisizzle ordered the Captain to take a file of +soldiers and escort the raving beauties to their new home.</p> + +<p>This was done, the once royal family departing from the palace with +shamed and downcast looks.</p> + +<p>Then the Room of the Great Knife was cleared of its awful furniture. The +frames were split into small pieces of<a name="page_262" id="page_262"></a> bluewood, and the benches +chopped into kindling, and the immense sharp knife broken into bits. All +the rubbish was piled in the square before the palace and a bonfire made +of it, while the Blue people clustered around and danced and sang with +joy as the blue flames devoured the dreadful instrument that had once +caused them so much unhappiness.</p> + +<p>That evening Trot gave a grand ball in the palace, to which the most +important of the Pinkies and the Blueskins were invited. The combined +bands of both the countries played the music and a fine supper was +served.</p> + +<p>The Pinkies would not dance with the Blues, however, nor would the Blues +dance with the Pinkies. The two nations were so different in all ways +that they were unable to agree at all, and several times during the +evening quarrels arose and there was fighting between them, which Trot +promptly checked.</p> + +<p>"I think it will be best for us to go back to our own country as soon as +possible," suggested Rosalie the Witch; "for, if we stay here very long, +the Blueskins may rise against us and cause the Pinkies much trouble."</p> + +<p>"Jus' as soon as we find that umbrel," promised Trot, "we'll dive into +the Fog Bank an' make tracks for the Land of Sunrise an' Sunset."<a name="page_263" id="page_263"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_27" id="CHAPTER_27"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_077_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_077_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="289" +alt="THE FATE OF THE MAGIC UMBRELLA--CHAPTER 27." +title="THE FATE OF THE MAGIC UMBRELLA--CHAPTER 27." /></a></p> + +<p>NEXT morning the search for the Magic Umbrella began in earnest. With +many to hunt for it and the liberty of the whole palace to aid them, +every inch of the great building was carefully examined. But no trace of +the umbrella could be found. Cap'n Bill and Button-Bright went down to +the cabin of the former Boolooroo and tried to find out what he had done +with the umbrella, but the old Boolooroo said:</p> + +<p>"I had it brought from the Treasure Chamber and tried to make it work, +but there was no magic about the thing. So I threw it away. I haven't +any idea what became of it."</p> + +<p>The six former Princesses were sitting upon a rude bench, looking quite +bedraggled and untidy. Said Indigo:</p> + +<p>"If you will make Ghip-Ghisizzle marry me, I'll find your old umbrella."</p> + +<p>"Where is it?" asked Button-Bright, eagerly.<a name="page_264" id="page_264"></a></p> + +<p>"Make Ghip-Ghisizzle marry me, and I'll tell you," repeated Indigo. "But +I won't say another word about it until after I am married."</p> + +<p>So they went back to the palace and proposed to the new Boolooroo to +marry Indigo, so they could get their Magic Umbrella. But Ghip-Ghisizzle +positively refused.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to help you," said he, "but nothing will ever induce me to +marry one of those snubnoses."</p> + +<p>"They're very pretty—for Blueskins," said Trot.</p> + +<p>"But when you marry a girl, you marry the inside as well as the +outside," declared Ghip-Ghisizzle, "and inside these Princesses there +are wicked hearts and evil thoughts. I'd rather be patched than marry +the best of them."</p> + +<p>"Which <i>is</i> the best?" asked Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, I'm sure," was the reply. "Judging from their actions in +the past, there is no best."</p> + +<p>Rosalie the Witch now went to the cabin and put Indigo into a deep +sleep, by means of a powerful charm. Then, while the Princess slept, the +Witch made her tell all she knew, which wasn't a great deal, to be sure; +but it was soon discovered that Indigo had been deceiving them and knew +nothing at all about the umbrella. She had hoped to marry Ghip-Ghisizzle +and become Queen, after which she could afford to laugh at their +reproaches. So the Witch woke her up and went back to the palace to tell +Trot of her failure.</p> + +<p>The girl and Button-Bright and Cap'n Bill were all rather<a name="page_265" id="page_265"></a> discouraged +by this time, for they had searched high and low and had not found a +trace of the all-important umbrella. That night none of them slept much, +for they all lay awake wondering how they could ever return to the Earth +and to their homes.</p> + +<p>In the morning of the third day after Trot's conquest of the Blues the +little girl conceived another idea. She called all the servants of the +palace to her and questioned them closely. But not one could remember +having seen anything that looked like an umbrella.</p> + +<p>"Are all the servants of the old Boolooroo here?" inquired Cap'n Bill, +who was sorry to see Trot looking so sad and downcast.</p> + +<p>"All but one," was the reply. "Tiggle used to be a servant, but he +escaped and ran away."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes!" exclaimed Trot; "Tiggle is in hiding, somewhere. Perhaps he +don't know there's been a revolution and a new Boolooroo rules the +country. If he did, there's no need for him to hide any longer, for he +is now in no danger."</p> + +<p>She now dispatched messengers all through the City and the surrounding +country, who cried aloud for Tiggle, saying that the new Boolooroo +wanted him. Tiggle, hiding in the cellar of a deserted house in a back +street, at last heard these cries and joyfully came forth to confront +the messenger.</p> + +<p>Having heard of the old Boolooroo's downfall and disgrace,<a name="page_266" id="page_266"></a> the man +consented to go to the palace again, and as soon as Trot saw him she +asked about the umbrella.</p> + +<p>Tiggle thought hard for a minute and then said he remembered sweeping +the King's rooms and finding a queer thing—that might have been an +umbrella—lying beneath a cabinet. It had ropes and two wooden seats and +a wicker basket all attached to the handle.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_078_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_078_sml.png" width="450" height="268" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p>"That's it!" cried Button-Bright, excitedly; and "That's it!" "That's +it!" cried both Trot and Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>"But what did you do with it?" asked Ghip-Ghisizzle.</p> + +<p>"I dragged it out and threw it on the rubbish heap, in an alley back of +the palace," said Tiggle.<a name="page_267" id="page_267"></a></p> + +<p>At once they all rushed out to the alley and began digging in the +rubbish heap. By and by Cap'n Bill uncovered the lunch basket, and +pulling on this he soon drew up the two seats and, finally, the Magic +Umbrella.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" shouted Button-Bright, grabbing the umbrella and hugging it +tight in his arms.</p> + +<p>"Hooray!" shrieked the parrot;</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"Cap'n Bill's a lucky fellah,</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">'Cause he found the old umbrella!"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p>Trot's face was wreathed in smiles.</p> + +<p>"This is jus' the best luck that could have happened to us," she +exclaimed, "'cause now we can go home whenever we please."</p> + +<p>"Let's go now—this minute—before we lose the umbrella again," said +Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>But Trot shook her head.</p> + +<p>"Not yet," she replied. "We've got to straighten out things in Sky +Island, first of all. A Queen has some duties, you know, and as long as +I'm Queen here I've got to live up to the part."</p> + +<p>"What has to be did, mate?" inquired Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>"Well, we've fixed the Blue Country pretty well, by makin' 'Sizzle the +Boolooroo of it; but the Pinkies mus' be looked after, too, 'cause +they've stood by us an' helped us to win. We must take 'em home again, +safe an' sound, and get a<a name="page_268" id="page_268"></a> new Queen to rule over 'em. When that's done +we can go home any time we want to."</p> + +<p>"Quite right, Trot," said the sailor, approvingly. "When do we march?"</p> + +<p>"Right away," she replied. "I've had enough of the Blue Country. Haven't +you?"</p> + +<p>"We have, mate."</p> + +<p>"We've had plenty of it," observed Button-Bright.</p> + +<p>"And the Pinkies are anxious to get home," added Rosalie, who was +present.</p> + +<p>So Cap'n Bill unhooked the seats from the handle of the umbrella and +wound the ropes around the two boards and made a package of them, which +he carried under his arm. Trot took the empty lunch-basket and +Button-Bright held fast to the precious umbrella. Then they returned to +the palace to bid good-bye to Ghip-Ghisizzle and the Blues.</p> + +<p>The new Boolooroo seemed rather sorry to lose his friends, but the +people were secretly glad to get rid of the strangers, especially of the +Pinkies. They maintained a sullen silence while Coralie and Captain +Tintint formed their ranks in marching order, and they did not even +cheer when Trot said to them in a final speech:</p> + +<p>"I'm the Queen of Sky Island, you know, and the new Boolooroo has got to +carry out my orders and treat you all nicely while I'm away. I don't +know when I'll come back,<a name="page_269" id="page_269"></a> but you'd better watch out an' not make any +trouble, or I'll find a way to make you sorry for it. So now, good-bye!"</p> + +<p>"And good riddance!" screamed the Six Snubnosed Girls who had once been +Princesses, and who were now in the crowd that watched the departure.</p> + +<p>But Trot paid no attention to them. She made a signal to the Pinkie +Band, which struck up a fine Pink March, and then the Army stepped out +with the left foot first, and away went the conquerors down the streets +of the Blue City, out of the blue-barred gateway and across the country +toward the Fog Bank.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_079_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_079_sml.png" width="450" height="271" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_270" id="page_270"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_28" id="CHAPTER_28"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_080_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_080_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="305" +alt="THE ELEPHANT'S HEAD COMES TO LIFE--CHAPTER 28." +title="THE ELEPHANT'S HEAD COMES TO LIFE--CHAPTER 28." /></a></p> + +<p>WHEN they reached the edge of the Fog Bank the Pinkies all halted to put +on their raincoats and Button-Bright put up his umbrella and held it +over himself and Trot. Then, when everybody was ready, they entered the +Fog and Rosalie the Witch made a signal to call the Frog King and his +subjects to aid them, as they had done before.</p> + +<p>Pretty soon the great frogs appeared, a long line of them facing Trot +and her Pink Army and sitting upon their haunches close together.</p> + +<p>"Turn around, so we can get upon your backs," said Rosalie.</p> + +<p>"Not yet," answered the Frog King, in a gruff, deep voice. "You must +first take that insulting umbrella out of my dominions."<a name="page_271" id="page_271"></a></p> + +<p>"Why, what is there about my umbrella that seems insulting?" asked +Button-Bright, in surprise.</p> + +<p>"It is an insinuation that you don't like our glorious climate, and +object to our delightful fog, and are trying to ward off its soulful, +clinging kisses," replied the Frog King, in an agitated voice. "There +has never been an umbrella in my kingdom before, and I'll not allow one +in it now. Take it away at once!"</p> + +<p>"But we can't," explained Trot. "We've got to take the umbrella with us +to the Pink Country. We'll put it down, if you like, an' cross the bank +in this drizzle—which may be clingin' an' soulful, but is too wet to be +comfort'ble. But the umbrella's got to go with us."</p> + +<p>"It can't go another inch," cried the obstinate frog, with an angry +croak, "nor shall any of your people advance another step while that +insulting umbrella is with you."</p> + +<p>Trot turned to Rosalie.</p> + +<p>"What shall we do?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"I really do not know," replied the Witch, greatly perplexed.</p> + +<p>"Can't you <i>make</i> the frogs let us through?" inquired the boy.</p> + +<p>"No; I have no power over the frogs," Rosalie answered. "They carried us +before as a favor, but if the king now insists that we cannot pass with +the umbrella we must go back to the Blue Country or leave your umbrella +behind us."<a name="page_272" id="page_272"></a></p> + +<p>"We won't do that!" said Button-Bright, indignantly. "Can't we fight the +frogs?"</p> + +<p>"Fight!" cried Trot; "why, see how big they are. They could eat up our +whole army, if they wanted to."</p> + +<p>But just then, while they stood dismayed at this unfortunate position, a +queer thing happened. The umbrella in Button-Bright's hand began to +tremble and shake. He looked down at the handle and saw that the red +eyes of the carved elephant's head were rolling fiercely and sending out +red sparks of anger in all directions. The trunk swayed from side to +side and the entire head began to swell and grow larger.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_081_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_081_sml.png" width="450" height="271" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_273" id="page_273"></a></p> + +<p>In his fright the boy sprang backward a step and dropped the umbrella to +the ground, and as he did so it took the form of a complete elephant, +growing rapidly to a monstrous size. Then, flapping its ears and wagging +its tail—which was merely the covered frame of the umbrella—the huge +elephant lifted its trunk and charged the line of astonished frogs.</p> + +<p>In a twinkling the frogs all turned and made the longest leaps their +powerful legs enabled them to. The King jumped first of all and in a +panic of fear the others followed his example. They were out of sight in +an instant, and then the elephant turned its head and looked at +Button-Bright and at once trotted into the depths of the fog.</p> + +<p>"He wants us to follow," said the boy, gasping in amazement at this +wonderful transformation. So immediately they began marching through the +fog behind the elephant, and as the great beast advanced the frogs +scrambled out of his way and hid themselves in the moist banks until he +had passed them by.</p> + +<p>Cap'n Bill had to mind his wooden leg carefully and the old sailor was +so excited that he mumbled queer sentences about "Araby Ann Knights," +and "ding-donged magic" and the "fool foolishness of fussin' with +witches an' sich," until Trot wondered whether her old friend had gone +crazy or was only badly scared.</p> + +<p>It was a long journey, and all the Pinkies were dripping<a name="page_274" id="page_274"></a> water from +their raincoats, and their little fat legs were tired and aching, when +the pink glow showing through the fog at last announced the fact that +they were nearing the Pink Country.</p> + +<p>At the very edge of the Fog Bank the elephant halted, winked at +Button-Bright, lowered its head and began to shrink in size and dwindle +away. By the time the boy came up to it, closely followed by Trot and +Cap'n Bill, the thing was only the well-known Magic Umbrella, with the +carved elephant's head for a handle, and it lay motionless upon the +ground. Button-Bright cautiously picked it up and as he examined it he +thought the tiny red eyes still twinkled a little, as if with triumph +and pride.</p> + +<p>Trot drew a long breath.</p> + +<p>"That was <i>some</i> magic, I guess!" she exclaimed. "Don't you think so, +Rosalie?"</p> + +<p>"It was the most wonderful thing I ever saw," admitted the Witch. "The +fairies who control Button-Bright's umbrella must be very powerful, +indeed!"</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_082_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_082_sml.png" width="450" height="293" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p><a name="page_275" id="page_275"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_29" id="CHAPTER_29"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_083_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_083_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="329" +alt="TROT REGULATES THE PINKIES--CHAPTER 29." +title="TROT REGULATES THE PINKIES--CHAPTER 29." /></a></p> + +<p>THE Pinkies were rejoiced to find themselves again in their beloved land +of sunrises and sunsets. They sang and shouted with glee and the Band +uncovered its pink instruments and played the National Pink Anthem, +while the parrot flew from Trot's shoulder to Cap'n Bill's shoulder and +back again, screaming ecstatically:</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"Hooray! we're through the wetful fogs</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">Where the elephant scared the fretful frogs!"</span></td></tr> +</table> +<p>There was a magnificent sunset in the sky just then and it cheered the +Pinkies and gave them renewed strength. Away they hastened across the +pink fields to the Pink City, where all the Pink people who had been +left behind ran out to welcome them home again.<a name="page_276" id="page_276"></a></p> + +<p>Trot and Button-Bright, with Cap'n Bill and Rosalie the Witch, went to +the humble palace, where they had a simple supper of coarse food and +slept upon hard beds. In the houses of the City, however, there was much +feasting and merrymaking, and it seemed to Trot that the laws of the +country which forbade the Queen from enjoying all the good things the +people did were decidedly wrong and needed changing.</p> + +<p>The next morning Rosalie said to the little girl:</p> + +<p>"Will you make Tourmaline the Queen again, when you go away?"</p> + +<p>"I'll send for her and see about it," replied Trot.</p> + +<p>But when Tourmaline arrived at the palace, dressed all in lovely fluffy +robes and with a dainty pink plume in her pink hair, she begged most +earnestly not to be made the Queen again.</p> + +<p>"I'm having a good time, just now, after years of worry and +uncomfortable living in this uncomfortable old hut of a palace," said +the poor girl, "so it would be cruel for you to make me the servant of +the people again and condemn me to want and misery."</p> + +<p>"That seems reason'ble," replied Trot, thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"Rosalie's skin is just as light a pink as my own," continued +Tourmaline. "Why don't you make her the Queen?"</p> + +<p>"I hadn't thought of that," said Trot. Then she turned to Rosalie and +asked: "How would you like to rule the Pinkies?"<a name="page_277" id="page_277"></a></p> + +<p>"I wouldn't like it," replied the Witch, with a smile. "The Queen is the +poorest and most miserable creature in all the kingdom and I'm sure I +don't deserve such a fate. I've always tried to be a good witch and to +do my duty."</p> + +<p>Trot thought this over quite seriously for a time. Then one of her +quaint ideas came to her—so quaint that it was entirely sensible.</p> + +<p>"I'm the Queen of the Pinkies just now, am I not?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Of course," answered Rosalie; "none can dispute that."</p> + +<p>"Then I've the right to make new laws, haven't I?"</p> + +<p>"I believe so."</p> + +<p>"In that case," said the girl, "I'm goin' to make a law that the Queen +shall have the same food an' the same dresses an' the same good times +that her people have; and she shall live in a house jus' as good as the +houses of any of her people, an' have as much money to spend as anybody. +But no more. The Queen can have her share of ever'thing, 'cordin' to the +new law, but if she tries to get more than her share I'll have the law +say she shall be taken to the edge an' pushed off. What do you think of +<i>that</i> law, Rosalie?"</p> + +<p>"It's a good law, and a just one," replied the Witch approvingly.</p> + +<p>So Trot sent for the Royal Scribbler, who was a very fat Pinky with +large pink eyes and curly pink hair, and had him carefully write the new +law in the Great Book of Laws. The<a name="page_278" id="page_278"></a> Royal Scribbler wrote it very nicely +in pink ink, with a big capital letter at the beginning and a fine +flourish at the end. After Trot had signed her name to it as Queen she +called all of the important people of the land to assemble in the Court +of the Statues and ordered the Royal Declaimer to read to them the new +law. The Pinkies seemed to think it was a just law and much better than +the old one, and Rosalie said:</p> + +<p>"Now no one can object to becoming the Queen, since the Ruler of the +Pinkies will no longer be obliged to endure suffering and hardships."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Trot. "In that case I'll make you the Queen, Rosalie, +for you've got more sense than Tourmaline has and your powers as a witch +will help you to protect the people."</p> + +<p>At once she made the announcement, telling the assembled Pinkies that by +virtue of her high office as Queen of Sky Island she would leave Rosalie +the Witch to rule over the Pink Country while she returned to the Earth +with her friends. As Rosalie was greatly loved and respected, the people +joyfully accepted her as their Queen, and Trot ordered them to tear down +the old hut and build a new palace for Rosalie—one which would be just +as good as any other house in the City, but no better. She further +ordered a pink statue of Tourmaline to be set up in the Court, and also +a pink statue of herself, so that the record of all the rulers of the +Pinkies should be complete.<a name="page_279" id="page_279"></a></p> + +<p>The people agreed to do all this as soon as possible, and some of the +leaders whispered together and then asked Coralie to be their spokesman +in replying to Queen Trot's speech.</p> + +<p>Coralie stood on a chair and made a bow, after which she thanked Trot in +the name of the Pinkies for leading them safely into the Blue Country +and out again, and for giving them so good a Queen as Rosalie. The +Pinkies would be sorry to have their new friends, the Earth people, +leave them, but asked the Queen of Sky Island to carry with her the +royal band of pink gold which she now wore upon her brow, together with +the glistening pink jewel set in its center. It would remind her, +Coralie declared, of the Beautiful Land of Sunset and Sunrise and of the +fact that the Pinkies would always be glad to welcome her back.</p> + +<p>Trot knew she would never return to Sky Island, but she did not tell +them that. She merely thanked Coralie and the Pinkies and said they +might all come to the Court after dinner and see her and her comrades +fly away through the sky.<a name="page_280" id="page_280"></a></p> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_30" id="CHAPTER_30"></a></p> + +<p class="figchap"> +<a href="images/ill_084_chap_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_084_chap_sml.png" +width="500" +height="298" +alt="THE JOURNEY HOME.--CHAPTER 30." +title="THE JOURNEY HOME.--CHAPTER 30." /></a></p> + +<p>AFTER the Pinkies had been dismissed, their new Queen Rosalie, by means +of a clever charm, conjured up a dinner table set with very nice things +to eat. They all enjoyed a hearty meal and afterward sat and talked over +their adventures.</p> + +<p>"Will you take the parrot home with you, Trot?" asked Cap'n Bill.</p> + +<p>"Guess not, Cap'n," she answered. "Mother wouldn't like to have him +hangin' 'round an' screechin' bad po'try ev'ry minute. I'll give him to +Rosalie, for I'm sure she'll take good care of him."</p> + +<p>Rosalie accepted the gift with pleasure, but the parrot looked sober +awhile and then said:<a name="page_281" id="page_281"></a></p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"This looks to me like a give-away;</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">But here I am, and here I'll stay.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">The country's pink, but we'll all be blue</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">When Trot goes home, as she says she'll do."</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p>They now packed the lunch-basket with the remains of the feast, for they +knew a long journey was before them and feared they might be hungry +before they landed again. Cap'n Bill straightened out the ropes and +adjusted the seats, while Button-Bright examined the umbrella to see if +it had been injured in any way when the elephant tramped through the Fog +Bank.</p> + +<p>The boy looked into the small red eyes of the carved elephant's-head +handle with some misgivings, but as seen in the strong sunshine the eyes +were merely red stones, while the handle plainly showed the marks of the +tool that had carved it.</p> + +<p>When all was ready they went into the Court of the Statues, where all +the Pinkies were assembled—together with their Pink Band—and Cap'n +Bill hooked the swinging seats onto the handle of the Magic Umbrella.</p> + +<p>Trot kissed Rosalie and Coralie and Tourmaline good-bye and said to +them:</p> + +<p>"If you ever happen to come to Earth you must be sure to visit me and +I'll try to give you a good time. But p'raps you'll stay here all your +lives."<a name="page_282" id="page_282"></a></p> + +<p>"I think we shall," replied Rosalie, laughing, "for in all Sky Island +there will be no Magic Umbrella for us to fly with."</p> + +<p>"And when you see Polychrome," added Trot, "jus' give her my love."</p> + +<p>Then she and Button-Bright seated themselves in the double seat, which +was flat upon the pink ground, and Cap'n Bill sat before them on his own +seat, to which the lunch basket had been fastened by means of a stout +cord.</p> + +<p>"Hold fast!" said the sailorman, and they all held fast to the ropes +while the boy, glancing up toward the open umbrella he held, said +solemnly and distinctly:</p> + +<p>"Take us to Trot's house on the Earth."</p> + +<p>The umbrella obeyed, at once mounting into the air. It moved slowly at +first but gradually increased its speed. First it lifted the seat of the +boy and girl, then Cap'n Bill's seat and finally the lunch-basket.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"Fly high!—mind your eye!</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: .25em;">Don't cry!—bye-bye!"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p class="nind">shouted the parrot from the Pink Witch's shoulder.</p> + +<p>Trot leaned over and waved her hand. The Pink Band played as loud as it +could—in order that the travelers might hear it as long as +possible—and Rosalie and Coralie and Tourmaline threw kisses to their +vanishing friends as long as they remained in sight.</p> + +<p class="cb">* * * * * * * * </p> + +<p><a name="page_283" id="page_283"></a></p> + +<p>"Seems good to be on the way home again," remarked Trot, as the umbrella +bumped into a big black cloud.</p> + +<p>"It reely does, mate," answered the sailorman, joyously.</p> + +<p>Fast through the cloud the umbrella swept and then suddenly it sailed +into a clear blue sky, across which a great and gorgeous Rainbow spread +its radiant arch. Upon the bow danced the dainty Daughters of the +Rainbow, and the umbrella passed near enough to it for the passengers to +observe Polychrome merrily leading her sisters, her fleecy robes waving +prettily in the gentle breeze.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, Polly!" cried Button-Bright, and Trot and Cap'n Bill both +called out: "Good-bye!"</p> + +<p>Polychrome heard and nodded to them smilingly, never halting in her +graceful dance. Then the umbrella dropped far below the arch, which +presently faded from view.</p> + +<p>It was an exciting ride. Scenes presented themselves entirely different +from those they had seen on their former voyage, for the sky changes +continually and the clouds of the moment are not the clouds of an hour +ago. Once they passed between two small stars as brilliant as diamonds, +and once an enormous bird, whose wings spread so wide that they shadowed +the sun, soared directly over them and lost itself in the vague distance +of the limitless sky.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_085_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_085_sml.png" width="407" height="550" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="images/ill_086_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_086_sml.png" width="391" height="550" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p>They rode quite comfortably, however, and were full of eager interest in +what they saw. The rush of air past them made them hungry, so Cap'n Bill +drew up the lunch-basket<a name="page_284" id="page_284"></a><a name="page_285" id="page_285"></a><a name="page_286" id="page_286"></a> +and held it so that Button-Bright and Trot +could help themselves to the pink food, which tasted very good. And, +finally, a dark rim appeared below them, which the sailor declared must +be the Earth. He proved to be correct and when they came nearer they +found themselves flying over the waves of the ocean. Pretty soon a small +island appeared, and Trot exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"That's the Sky Island we thought we were goin' to—only we didn't."</p> + +<p>"Yes; an' there's the mainland, mate!" cried Cap'n Bill excitedly, +pointing toward a distant coast.</p> + +<p>On swept the Magic Umbrella. Then its speed gradually slackened; the +houses and trees on the coast could be seen, and presently-–almost +before they realized it-–they were set down gently upon the high bluff +near the giant acacia. A little way off stood the white cottage where +Trot lived.</p> + +<p>It was growing dusk as Cap'n Bill unhooked the seats and Button-Bright +folded up the umbrella and tucked it under his arm. Trot seized the +lunch-basket and ran to the house, where she found her mother busy in +the kitchen.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm back again," said the little girl. "Is supper ready, mama?"</p> + +<p>Button-Bright stayed all night with them, but next morning, bright and +early, he hooked one of the seats to his Magic Umbrella, said good-bye +to Trot and Cap'n Bill and flew<a name="page_287" id="page_287"></a> into the air to begin his journey to +Philadelphia. Just before he started Trot said:</p> + +<p>"Let me know if you get home safe, Button-Bright; an' come an' see me +again as quick as you can."</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/ill_087_lg.png"> +<img src="images/ill_087_sml.png" width="450" height="270" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<p>"I'll try to come again," said the boy. "We've had a good time; haven't +we, Trot?"</p> + +<p>"The bes' time I <i>ever</i> had!" she replied, enthusiastically. Then she +asked: "Didn't you like it, too, Cap'n Bill?"</p> + +<p>"Parts o' it, mate," the sailor answered, as he thoughtfully made marks +in the sand with the end of his wooden leg; "but seems to me the bes' +part of all was gett'n' home again."<a name="page_288" id="page_288"></a></p> + +<p>After several days Trot received a postal-card from Button-Bright. It +was awkwardly scrawled, for the boy was not much of a writer, but Trot +managed to make out the words. It read as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Got home safe, Trot, and the folks were so worried they forgot to +scold me. Father has taken the Magic Umbrella and locked it up in a +big strong chest in the attic. He put the key in his own pocket, so +I don't know as I'll ever be able to see you again. But I'll never +forget the Queen of Sky Island, and I send my love to you and Cap'n +Bill.</p> + +<p class="r">Your friend,<br /> +B<small>UTTON</small>-B<small>RIGHT</small>."</p></div> + +<p class="c">THE END.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="" +style="border:2px dotted black;padding:2%;"> +<tr><th align="center">These typographical errors were corrected by the etext transcriber:</th></tr> +<tr><td align="left">creid the sailor in a voice=>cried the sailor in a voice</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">which had ben enchanted by Rosalie=>which had been enchanted by Rosalie</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">went the conquerers down the streets =>went the conquerors down the streets</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">spokeman in replying to Queen Trot's speech.=>spokesman in replying to Queen Trot's speech.</td></tr> +</table> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/rear_dustcover_lg.jpg"> +<img src="images/rear_dustcover_sml.jpg" width="399" height="550" alt="image of the book's back cover" title="image of the book's back cover" /></a> +</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Sky Island, by L. 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