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+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
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: This Book Belongs To]
+
+
+
+
+SKY ISLAND
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE FAMOUS OZ BOOKS
+
+By L. Frank Baum:
+
+  THE WIZARD OF OZ
+  THE LAND OF OZ
+  OZMA OF OZ
+  DOROTHY AND THE WIZARD IN OZ
+  THE ROAD TO OZ
+  THE EMERALD CITY OF OZ
+  THE PATCHWORK GIRL OF OZ
+  TIK-TOK OF OZ
+  THE SCARECROW OF OZ
+  RINKITINK IN OZ
+  THE LOST PRINCESS OF OZ
+  THE TIN WOODMAN OF OZ
+  THE MAGIC OF OZ
+  GLINDA OF OZ
+
+CHICAGO THE REILLY & LEE CO. _Publishers_
+
+
+
+
+SKY ISLAND
+
+_Being the Further Exciting Adventures
+of Trot and Cap'n Bill after Their
+Visit to the Sea Fairies_
+
+By
+L. FRANK BAUM
+
+AUTHOR OF THE SEA FAIRIES, THE EMERALD CITY OF OZ,
+DOROTHY AND THE WIZARD IN OZ, OZMA OF OZ,
+THE ROAD TO OZ, THE LAND OF OZ, ETC.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY
+JOHN R. NEILL
+
+The Reilly & Lee Co.
+Chicago
+
+[Illustration]
+
+COPYRIGHT 1912. BY L. FRANK BAUM
+LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOG
+CARD NO. 78-125373
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+To
+MY SISTER
+MARY LOUISE BREWSTER
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+A LITTLE TALK TO MY READERS
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+L. FRANK BAUM.
+
+"OZCOT"
+at HOLLYWOOD
+in CALIFORNIA
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+LIST OF CHAPTERS
+
+
+CHAPTER
+
+1--A MYSTERIOUS ARRIVAL                                               13
+
+2--THE MAGIC UMBRELLA                                                 23
+
+3--A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE                                             37
+
+4--THE ISLAND IN THE SKY                                              48
+
+5--THE BOOLOOROO OF THE BLUES                                         55
+
+6--THE SIX SNUBNOSED PRINCESSES                                       65
+
+7--GHIP-GHISIZZLE PROVES FRIENDLY                                     74
+
+8--THE BLUE CITY                                                      80
+
+9--THE TRIBULATION OF TROT                                            91
+
+10--THE KING'S TREASURE CHAMBER                                      101
+
+11--BUTTON-BRIGHT ENCOUNTERS THE BLUE WOLF                           112
+
+12--THROUGH THE FOG BANK                                             119
+
+13--THE PINK COUNTRY                                                 130
+
+14--TOURMALINE THE POVERTY QUEEN                                     138
+
+15--THE SUNRISE TRIBE AND THE SUNSET TRIBE                           147
+
+16--ROSALIE THE WITCH                                                160
+
+17--THE ARRIVAL OF POLYCHROME                                        168
+
+18--MAYRE, QUEEN OF THE PINK COUNTRY                                 179
+
+19--THE WAR OF THE PINKS AND BLUES                                   187
+
+20--GHIP-GHISIZZLE HAS A BAD TIME                                    193
+
+21--THE CAPTURE OF CAP'N BILL                                        201
+
+22--TROT'S INVISIBLE ADVENTURE                                       214
+
+23--THE GIRL AND THE BOOLOOROO                                       222
+
+24--THE AMAZING CONQUEST OF THE BLUES                                233
+
+25--THE RULER OF SKY ISLAND                                          245
+
+26--TROT CELEBRATES HER VICTORY                                      252
+
+27--THE FATE OF THE MAGIC UMBRELLA                                   263
+
+28--THE ELEPHANT'S HEAD COMES TO LIFE                                270
+
+29--TROT REGULATES THE PINKIES                                       275
+
+30--THE JOURNEY HOME                                                 280
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+A MYSTERIOUS ARRIVAL
+
+CHAPTER 1.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+"Hello," said the boy.
+
+"Hello," answered Trot, looking up surprised. "Where did you come from?"
+
+"Philadelphia," said he.
+
+"Dear me," said Trot; "you're a long way from home, then."
+
+"'Bout as far as I can get, in this country," the boy replied, gazing
+out over the water. "Isn't this the Pacific Ocean?"
+
+"Of course."
+
+"Why of course?" he asked.
+
+"Because it's the biggest lot of water in all the world."
+
+"How do you know?"
+
+"Cap'n Bill told me," she said.
+
+"Who's Cap'n Bill?"
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh; is that your home?"
+
+"Yes," said Trot, proudly. "Isn't it pretty?"
+
+"It's pretty small, seems to me," answered the boy.
+
+"But it's big enough for mother and me, an' for Cap'n Bill," said Trot.
+
+"Haven't you any father?"
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+The boy's dress was rich and expensive, even to his fine silk stockings
+and tan shoes; but the umbrella looked old and disreputable.
+
+"It isn't the rainy season now," remarked Trot, with a smile.
+
+The boy glanced at his umbrella and hugged it tighter.
+
+"No," he said; "but umbrellas are good for other things 'sides rain."
+
+"'Fraid of gett'n' sun-struck?" asked Trot.
+
+He shook his head, still gazing far out over the water.
+
+"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."
+
+"You'd find out, if you had to sail across it," she declared.
+
+"When I was in Chicago I saw Lake Michigan," he went on dreamily, "and
+it looked just as big as this water does."
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+The boy sat down beside her on the flat rock.
+
+"Do you like girls?" asked Trot, making room for him.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+He nodded, rather absently, and tossed a pebble into the water.
+
+"Been to town?" he asked.
+
+"Yes. Mother wanted some yarn from the store. She's knittin' Cap'n Bill
+a stocking."
+
+"Doesn't he wear but one?"
+
+"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."
+
+"Whew!" said the boy; "that's taking a good deal for granted. A
+one-legged sailor can't know much."
+
+"Why not?" asked Trot, a little indignantly. "Folks don't learn things
+with their legs, do they?"
+
+"No; but they can't get around, without legs, to find out things."
+
+"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'--"
+
+"What's a league?" asked the boy.
+
+"It's a--a distance, like a mile is; but a league isn't a mile, you
+know."
+
+"What is it, then?"
+
+"You'll have to ask Cap'n Bill; he knows ever'thing."
+
+"Not ever'thing," objected the boy. "I know some things Cap'n Bill don't
+know."
+
+"If you do you're pretty smart," said Trot.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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 _your_ name?"
+
+"Button-Bright."
+
+"How did it happen?"
+
+"How did what happen?"
+
+"Such a funny name."
+
+The boy scowled a little.
+
+"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."
+
+"What's your real name?" she inquired.
+
+"Saladin Paracelsus de Lambertine Evagne von Smith."
+
+"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?"
+
+"I don't try to," he said. "There's a lot more of it, but I've forgotten
+the rest."
+
+"Thank you," said Trot. "Oh, here comes Cap'n Bill!" as she glanced over
+her shoulder.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+"Well, well, Trot," he said, coming up, "is this the way you hurry to
+town?"
+
+"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."
+
+Cap'n Bill looked at the boy curiously.
+
+"Don't think as ever I sawr him at the village," he remarked. "Guess as
+you're a stranger, my lad."
+
+Button-Bright nodded.
+
+"Hain't walked the nine mile from the railroad station, hev ye?" asked
+Cap'n Bill.
+
+"No," said Button-Bright.
+
+The sailor glanced around him.
+
+"Don't see no waggin, er no autymob'l'," he added.
+
+"No," said Button-Bright.
+
+"Catch a ride wi' some one?"
+
+Button-Bright shook his head.
+
+"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.
+
+"No," said Button-Bright; "I didn't come by water."
+
+Trot laughed.
+
+"He must 'a' dropped from the sky, Cap'n Bill!" she exclaimed.
+
+Button-Bright nodded, very seriously.
+
+"That's it," he said.
+
+"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?"
+
+"I don't know," said Button-Bright; "I've never seen one."
+
+Both Trot and Cap'n Bill now looked at the boy in astonishment.
+
+"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!
+
+    "'Riddlecum, riddlecum ree;
+      What can the answer be?'"
+
+Trot looked the boy over carefully. She didn't see any wings on him. The
+only queer thing about him was his big umbrella.
+
+"Oh!" she said suddenly, clapping her hands together; "I know now."
+
+"Do you?" asked Cap'n Bill, doubtfully. "Then you're some smarter ner I
+am, mate."
+
+"He sailed down with the umbrel!" she cried. "He used his umbrel as a
+para--para--"
+
+"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.
+
+"Yes," said Button-Bright; "that was the way."
+
+"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."
+
+"Are you?" asked the sailor, surprised.
+
+Button-Bright nodded again.
+
+"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.
+
+"Yes," said Trot. "Won't you come home with us?"
+
+"I'd like to," replied Button-Bright.
+
+"All right; let's go, then," said the girl, jumping up.
+
+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.
+
+"Know anyone around here?" he asked Button-Bright.
+
+"No one but you two," said the boy, following after Trot, with his
+umbrella tucked carefully underneath his arm.
+
+"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."
+
+"Thank you," replied Button-Bright; "I need a lot of things, I'm sure,
+and p'raps advice is one of 'em."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+THE MAGIC UMBRELLA
+
+CHAPTER 2.
+
+
+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:
+
+"Goodness me! who's this you've got, Trot?"
+
+"It's a boy I've just found," explained the girl. "He lives way off in
+Phillydelphy."
+
+"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?"
+
+"Yes," said Button-Bright.
+
+"Run, Trot, an' get two slices o' bread-an'-butter," commanded Mrs.
+Griffith. "Cut 'em thick, dear, an' use plenty of butter."
+
+"Sugar on 'em?" asked Trot, turning to obey.
+
+"No," said Button-Bright, "just bread-an'-butter's good enough when
+you're hungry, and it takes time to spread sugar on."
+
+"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!"
+
+"I didn't, mum," said Cap'n Bill, meekly, "I on'y--"
+
+"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."
+
+"No, please," said Button-Bright, holding the umbrella tighter.
+
+"Then put it in the rack behind the door," she urged. The boy seemed a
+little frightened.
+
+"I--I'd rather keep it with me, if you please," he pleaded.
+
+"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."
+
+"Perhaps," said the boy. "Yours may look a heap better, sir, but--I'll
+keep this one, if you please."
+
+"Where did you get it?" asked Trot, appearing just then with a plate of
+bread-and-butter.
+
+"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."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"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, holding the plate for him, while Cap'n Bill sat on the other
+side.
+
+"It _is_ 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."
+
+"An Arabian Night!" exclaimed Trot; "why, that was a magic night, wasn't
+it?"
+
+"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."
+
+"But he said an Arabian Knight," persisted Trot.
+
+"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."
+
+"There!" said Trot, triumphantly, "didn't I tell you, Button-Bright,
+that Cap'n Bill knows ever'thing?"
+
+"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."
+
+"Magic!" cried Trot, with big, eager eyes; "did you say _Magic_ Umbrel,
+Button-Bright?"
+
+"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.
+
+"Glory me!" exclaimed the girl, clapping her hands in ecstacy; "it must
+be jus' _elegant_ to have a Magic Umbrel!"
+
+Cap'n Bill coughed. He had a way of coughing when he was suspicious.
+
+"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."
+
+"I know that fairies still live," said Trot, reflectively. She didn't
+like to contradict Cap'n Bill, who knew "ever'thing."
+
+"So do I," added Button-Bright. "And I know there's magic still in the
+world--or in my umbrella, anyhow."
+
+"Tell us about it!" begged the girl, excitedly.
+
+"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 an umbrella to be found. My governess wouldn't let me go
+without one, and--"
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"Oh," said Trot; "do you have a governess?"
+
+"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.
+
+"'Gee!' I said, 'I wish I could fly through the air to Uncle Bob's.'
+
+"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.
+
+"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?' '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.
+
+"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.'
+
+"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 big city. I put down the umbrella and asked
+a man what the name of the city was, and he said 'Buffalo.'"
+
+"How wonderful!" gasped Trot. Cap'n Bill kept on smoking and said
+nothing.
+
+"It was magic, I'm sure," said Button-Bright. "It surely couldn't have
+been anything else."
+
+"P'raps," suggested Trot, "the umbrella can do other magic things."
+
+"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 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."
+
+"No, of course not," said Trot.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Goodness me!" said Trot; "if that isn't a fairy story I never heard
+one."
+
+"It _is_ 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."
+
+"I believe ev'ry word of it!" declared Trot, earnestly.
+
+"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."
+
+"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?"
+
+"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?"
+
+"Right you are, mate," replied the old man, nodding his bald head.
+"Whether the umbrel is magic or not, Butt'n-Bright is welcome."
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+"Dunno, Trot," said he. "I can't figger how both o' you can hold on to
+the handle o' that umbrel."
+
+Trot's face fell.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Can't you tie us together, then?" asked the boy.
+
+"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.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE
+
+CHAPTER 3.
+
+
+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.
+
+"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:
+
+"Well, if you _must_ 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."
+
+Then he brought from the shed the contrivance he had made the night
+before. It was merely a swing seat. He had 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.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+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 a�roplane 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:
+
+"I want to go to Trot's house."
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+Trot was joyous and greatly excited.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"You mus' stay a whole week," said Trot, decidedly. "An' you mus' take
+Cap'n Bill for an air-ride, too."
+
+"Oh, Trot! I dunno as I'd like it," protested Cap'n Bill, nervously.
+
+"Yes, you would. You're sure to like it."
+
+"I guess I'm too heavy," he said.
+
+"I'm sure the umbrella could carry twenty people, if they could be
+fastened to the handle," said Button-Bright.
+
+"Solid land's pretty good to hold on to," decided Cap'n Bill. "A rope
+might break, you know."
+
+"Oh, Cap'n Bill! You're scared stiff," said Trot.
+
+"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'--"
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Where'll we go?" he asked, shifting on his wooden leg uneasily.
+
+"Anywhere; I don't care. There'll be the air-ride there, an' the
+air-ride back, an' that's the main thing with _me_. If you say you'll
+go, Cap'n, I'll run in an' pack a basket of lunch."
+
+"How'll we carry it?"
+
+"Swing it to the bottom of your seat."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Now, then, where'll we go?" asked Trot.
+
+"Anywhere suits me," replied Cap'n Bill.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Oh, Cap'n Bill!" she exclaimed, "let's go to that island for our
+picnic. We've never been there yet, you know."
+
+The sailor shook his head.
+
+"It's a good many miles away, Trot," he said; "further than it looks to
+be, from here."
+
+"That won't matter," remarked Button-Bright; "the umbrella will carry us
+there in no time."
+
+"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."
+
+"What's the name of it?" inquired Button-Bright, while the sailor
+hesitated how to decide.
+
+"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."
+
+"If anything happened on the way," observed Cap'n Bill, "we'd drop in
+the water."
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Very well," said Button-Bright. "Where shall we go?"
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+Button-Bright addressed the umbrella, speaking to it very respectfully,
+for it was a thing to inspire awe.
+
+"I want to go as far as Smuggler's Cove, and then turn around in the air
+and come back here," he said.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"All right," she called back; "I'll be careful."
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+"Hold on a minute, Umbrella!" cried the boy.
+
+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.
+
+"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 _can't_ stop it."
+
+"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."
+
+"Never mind," said Trot, briskly; "here we are safe back again. Wasn't
+it jus' the--the fascinatingest ride you ever took, Cap'n?"
+
+"It's pretty good fun," admitted Cap'n Bill. "Beats them a�roplanes an'
+things all holler, 'cause it don't need any regulatin'."
+
+"If we're going to that island we may as well start right away," said
+Button-Bright, when they had safely landed.
+
+"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.
+
+"Ready?" asked the boy.
+
+"Let'er go, my lad."
+
+"I want to go to Sky Island," said Button-Bright to the umbrella, using
+the name Trot had given him.
+
+The umbrella started promptly. It rose higher than before, carrying the
+three voyagers with it, and then started straight away over the ocean.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+THE ISLAND IN THE SKY
+
+CHAPTER 4.
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Hold on, there!" cried Cap'n Bill. "If it ain't keerful the ol' thing
+will pass way by the island."
+
+"I--I'm sure it has passed it already," exclaimed Trot "What's wrong,
+Button-Bright? Why don't we stop?"
+
+Button-Bright seemed astonished too.
+
+"Perhaps I didn't say it right," he replied, after 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?"
+
+The umbrella swept steadily along, getting farther and farther out to
+sea and rising higher and higher toward the clouds.
+
+"Mack'rel an' herrings!" roared Cap'n Bill, now really frightened;
+"ain't there any blamed way at all to stop her?"
+
+"None that I know of," said Button-Bright, anxiously.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Well, I declare!" gasped the sailorman; "can't we land anywhere else?"
+
+"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."
+
+They glided along in silence for a while. The island was now far behind
+them, growing small in the distance.
+
+"Where do you s'pose the real Sky Island can be?" asked Trot presently.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"If it didn't," said Trot, "we'd never know where we were going."
+
+"We don't know now," said the sailor. "One thing's certain, folks: we're
+gett'n' a long way from home."
+
+"And see how the clouds are rolling just above us," remarked the boy,
+who was almost as uneasy as Cap'n Bill.
+
+"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."
+
+"Couldn't there be one?" asked Button-Bright. "Why couldn't there be an
+island in the sky that would be named Sky Island?"
+
+"Of course not!" declared Cap'n Bill. "There wouldn't be anything to
+hold it up, you know."
+
+"What's holding _us_ up?" asked Trot.
+
+"Magic, I guess."
+
+"Then magic might hold an island in the sky.... Whee-e-e-e! what a black
+cloud!"
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"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."
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+"Seems to me we're goin' down," called Trot.
+
+"Down where?" asked Cap'n Bill.
+
+"Who knows?" said Button-Bright. "But we're dropping, all right."
+
+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 queer cloudland and entered a
+clear space where the sky was of an exquisite blue color.
+
+"Oh, look!" called Cap'n Bill. "There's land below us."
+
+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.
+
+"Is it an island?" asked Trot, anxiously.
+
+"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."
+
+"Then we shall land there," said the boy confidently. "I knew the
+umbrella couldn't make a mistake."
+
+Presently Cap'n Bill spoke again.
+
+"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'!"
+
+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 upon him
+came the seat that Trot and Button-Bright occupied, so that for a moment
+they were all tangled up.
+
+"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!"
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+THE BOOLOOROO OF THE BLUES
+
+CHAPTER 5.
+
+
+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.
+
+Button-Bright and Trot were staring with all their might at the queerest
+person they had ever seen. They decided it 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"You brutes! you apes! you miserable white-skinned creatures! How dare
+you come into my garden and knock 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!"
+
+"Oh, is this Sky Island, then?" asked Trot.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"I won't excuse you!" roared the Boolooroo. "But I'll punish you. You
+may depend upon that."
+
+"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."
+
+"_Your_ 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?"
+
+"We live on the Earth, when we're at home," replied the girl.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, you're wrong about that," said Button-Bright.
+
+"You surely are," added Cap'n Bill.
+
+"Why, we live there ourselves," cried Trot.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"Not until you have been punished!" exclaimed the Boolooroo, sternly.
+"You are my prisoners."
+
+"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 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."
+
+"Sail away? How?" asked the Boolooroo.
+
+"With the Magic Umbrel," said Cap'n Bill, pointing to the umbrella that
+Button-Bright was holding underneath his arm.
+
+"Oh, ho! I see--I see," said the Boolooroo, nodding his funny head. "Go
+ahead, then, and eat your lunch."
+
+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 eat sandwiches and cake and pickles and cheese and
+all the good things that were packed in the lunch basket.
+
+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.
+
+"Have you nearly finished?" he inquired.
+
+"No," said Trot; "we've got to eat our apples yet."
+
+"Apples--apples? What are apples?" he asked.
+
+Trot took some from the basket.
+
+"Have one?" she said. "They're awful good."
+
+The Boolooroo advanced a step and took the apple, which he regarded with
+much curiosity.
+
+"Guess they don't grow anywhere but on the Earth," remarked Cap'n Bill.
+
+"Are they good to eat?" asked the Boolooroo.
+
+"Try it and see," answered Trot, biting into an apple herself.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Now, then," said he, "you can't get away until I'm willing to let you
+go. You are my prisoners."
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Why?" asked the Blueskin.
+
+"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."
+
+"Don't kill him, Cap'n Bill," said Trot, cheerfully.
+
+"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."
+
+"Why not?" asked Cap'n Bill.
+
+"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."
+
+"No; I didn't know that," admitted the sailor.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"But isn't six hundred years an awful long time to live?" questioned
+Trot.
+
+"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."
+
+"How long have you lived?" asked Button-Bright.
+
+The King coughed again and turned a bit bluer.
+
+"That is considered an impertinent question in Sky 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."
+
+"Are your kings elected, then?" asked Cap'n Bill.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"I'm not!" cried Trot.
+
+"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 the Center of the Universe and the only place anyone
+would care to live."
+
+"Don't listen to him, Trot," said Button-Bright; "he's an ignorant
+himself."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"All right," agreed Trot, jumping up.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+THE SIX SNUBNOSED PRINCESSES
+
+CHAPTER 6.
+
+
+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.
+
+"Your orders, most Mighty, Flighty, Tight and Righty Monarch, have been
+obeyed," said the leader.
+
+"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."
+
+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 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.
+
+They all watched him with interest until he had disappeared within the
+palace, when the King turned to his men and said:
+
+"Release the prisoners. They are now quite safe, and cannot escape me."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The little girl was greatly surprised by the suddenness of her capture,
+and so was Button-Bright. Cap'n Bill shook his 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."
+
+"I don't mind; not much, anyhow," asserted Trot, bravely. "We're in no
+hurry to get back; are we, Button-Bright?"
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"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, an' if all the
+Blueskins are like their Boolooroo they can't be called fust-class."
+
+"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."
+
+"What's being patched?" inquired the girl.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Ah," said the King, with a frown, "here come the Six Snubnosed
+Princesses--the most beautiful and aristocratic ladies in Sky Island."
+
+"They're snubnosed, all right," observed Trot, looking at the girls
+with much interest; "but I should think it would make 'em mad to call
+'em that."
+
+"Why?" asked the Boolooroo, in surprise. "Is not a snubnose the highest
+mark of female beauty?"
+
+"Is it?" asked the girl.
+
+"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."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The Six Snubnosed Princesses now approached the fountain and stood in a
+row, staring with haughty looks at the strangers.
+
+"Goodness me, your Majesty!" exclaimed the first; "what queer,
+dreadful-looking creatures are these? Where in all the Sky did they come
+from?"
+
+"They say they came from the Earth, Cerulia," answered the Boolooroo.
+
+"But that is impossible," said another Princess. "Our scientists have
+proved that the Earth is not inhabited."
+
+"Your scientists'll have to guess again, then," said Trot.
+
+"But how did they get to Sky Island?" inquired the third snubnosed one.
+
+"By means of a Magic Umbrella, which I have captured and put away in my
+Treasure Chamber," replied the Boolooroo.
+
+"What will you do with the monsters, papa?" asked the fourth Princess.
+
+"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."
+
+"What are they good for? Can they do anything useful?" asked the fifth.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh! Ah! That will be fine!" cried all the other five, and the Boolooroo
+said:
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"How impudent!" cried Cerulia.
+
+"How vulgar!" cried Turquoise.
+
+"How unladylike!" cried Sapphire.
+
+"How silly!" cried Azure.
+
+"How absurd!" cried Cobalt.
+
+"How wicked!" cried Indigo. And then all six held up their hands as if
+horrified.
+
+The Boolooroo laughed.
+
+"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."
+
+But Trot was obstinate and wouldn't budge a step.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"Don't worry, Trot," cried Button-Bright; "we'll get you out of this
+trouble pretty soon."
+
+"Trust to us, mate," added Cap'n Bill; "we'll manage to take care o'
+you."
+
+"Oh, I'm all right," answered Trot, with fine courage; "I'm not afraid
+of these gawkies."
+
+But the princesses pulled her after them and soon they had all
+disappeared into one of the entrances to the Blue Palace.
+
+"Now, then," said the Boolooroo, "I will instruct you two in your future
+duties. I shall make old Moonface--"
+
+"My name's Cap'n Bill Weedles," interrupted the sailor.
+
+"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 Sky Island, and if you don't mix our
+nectar properly I'll have you patched.
+
+"How do you mix it?" asked Cap'n Bill.
+
+"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."
+
+So Cap'n Bill was led away by the chief of the soldiers, and when he had
+gone the king said to Button-Bright:
+
+"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."
+
+"I don't know how," answered Button-Bright, surlily.
+
+"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?"
+
+"No," said Button-Bright.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+GHIP-GHISIZZLE PROVES FRIENDLY
+
+CHAPTER 7.
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Don't stare at him," a voice whispered in the boy's ear; "the poor
+fellow has been patched, that's all."
+
+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:
+
+"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 at me, if he wants to; I'm
+not pretty, but that's not my fault. Blame the Boolooroo."
+
+"I--I'm glad to meet you, sir," stammered Button-Bright. "What is _your_
+name, please?"
+
+"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."
+
+"What is being patched?" asked the boy.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh," said Button-Bright, alarmed at such dreadful butchery; "doesn't it
+hurt?"
+
+"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 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."
+
+"I'm sure it is," said Button-Bright, earnestly. "But can't you ever
+get--get--_un_-patched again?"
+
+"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."
+
+"When will that be?" inquired the boy.
+
+"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:
+
+"Follow me, please." And then he beckoned to Cap'n Bill and led the two
+slaves to another room, where they were alone.
+
+"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."
+
+"How could he patch _us_?" asked the sailorman, curiously.
+
+"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, and the other half
+of you to the other half of the girl. See?"
+
+"Can't say I do," said Cap'n Bill, much bewildered. "It's a reg'lar
+mix-up."
+
+"That's what it's meant to be," explained the young officer.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh," said Button-Bright; "so it would."
+
+"While you are in this country you can't die till you've lived six
+hundred years," declared the officer.
+
+"Oh," said Button-Bright; "that's different, of course. But who are you,
+please?"
+
+"My name is Ghip-Ghi-siz-zle. Can you remember it?"
+
+"I can 'member the 'sizzle,'" said the boy; "but I'm 'fraid the
+Gwip--Grip--Glip----"
+
+"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?"
+
+"I can try," said Button-Bright.
+
+"I've kep' secrets--once in a while," asserted Cap'n Bill.
+
+"Well, try to keep this one. I'm to be the next Boolooroo of Sky
+Island."
+
+"Good for you!" cried the sailor. "I wish you was the Boolooroo now,
+sir. But it seems you' ve got to wait a hundred years or more afore you
+can take his place."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh," said Button-Bright. "How old is the Boolooroo?"
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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?"
+
+"Oh, I've known that all along," said the boy. "The slicing and
+patching proves it, and so do lots of other things."
+
+"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?"
+
+"I'm free to say as I don't, friend Sizzle."
+
+"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."
+
+"Thank'e, sir," said Cap'n Bill; "that's real kind of you."
+
+"Your job, Button-Bright, is easier," continued Ghip-Ghisizzle.
+
+"I'm no bootblack," declared the boy. "The Boolooroo has no right to
+make me do his dirty work."
+
+"You're a slave," the officer reminded him; "and a slave must obey."
+
+"Why?" asked Button-Bright.
+
+"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 neatly and your task is done. You will not be humiliated
+by becoming a bootblack. You'll be a bootblue."
+
+"Oh," said Button-Bright. "I don't see much difference, but perhaps it's
+a little more respectable."
+
+"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."
+
+"It won't last long, Button-Bright," said Cap'n Bill, consolingly.
+"Somethin's bound to happen pretty soon, you know."
+
+"I think so myself," answered the boy.
+
+"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."
+
+"We would that!" cried Cap'n Bill, promptly.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+THE BLUE CITY
+
+CHAPTER 8.
+
+
+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.
+
+"Doesn't the sun ever shine?" asked Cap'n Bill.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh," said Button-Bright; "is there another half to Sky Island?"
+
+"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.
+
+"I dunno 'bout that," remarked Cap'n Bill. "That Pink Country sounds
+kind o' cheerful to me. Is your Blue Country very big?"
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"Our Country is thousands of miles wide and thousands of miles
+long--it's the great United States of America!" added the boy,
+earnestly.
+
+Ghip-Ghisizzle seemed astonished. He was silent a moment, and then he
+said:
+
+"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."
+
+"So do we," asserted Cap'n Bill. "What Button-Bright said is the honest
+truth--every word of it."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Perhaps you are right," mused the Blueskin; but he still seemed to
+doubt them.
+
+"Is the Pink side of Sky Island bigger than the Blue side?" asked
+Button-Bright.
+
+"No; it is supposed to be the same size," was the reply.
+
+"Then why haven't you ever been there? Seems to me you could walk across
+the whole island in an hour," said the boy.
+
+"The two parts are separated by an impassable barrier," answered
+Ghip-Ghisizzle. "Between them lies the Great Fog Bank."
+
+"A fog bank? Why, that's no barrier!" exclaimed Cap'n Bill.
+
+"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."
+
+"How's that?" asked the sailor. "Isn't 'pass'n' away' jus' the same as
+dyin'?"
+
+"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."
+
+"That's queer," said Button-Bright. "What would happen if you didn't
+march through the Arch?"
+
+"I do not know, for no one has ever refused to do so. It is the Law, and
+we all obey it."
+
+"It saves funeral expenses, anyhow," remarked Cap'n Bill. "Where is this
+Arch?"
+
+"Just outside the gates of the City. There is a mountain in the center
+of the Blue land, and the entrance to the Great 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."
+
+"Thank'e," remarked Cap'n Bill. "I don't expect to be very curious, a
+hundred years from now."
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+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
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Where's the key to the Treasure Chamber?" asked Button-Bright.
+
+"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 throne to me and leave the Palace and live in a
+common house."
+
+"My Magic Umbrella is in that Treasure Chamber," said Button-Bright,
+"and I'm going to try to get it."
+
+"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!"
+
+"I'll see," said the boy. "It ought not to be hard work to break into
+the Treasure Chamber. Is it guarded?"
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh," said Button-Bright. "But never mind the Blue Wolf; I must manage
+to get my umbrella, somehow or other."
+
+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 other
+Blueskins present, who favored the strangers with nothing pleasanter
+than envious scowls.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+THE TRIBULATION OF TROT
+
+CHAPTER 9.
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Slave!" cried Princess Cerulia, "fetch me a mirror."
+
+"Slave!" cried Princess Turquoise, "a lock of my hair is loosened; bind
+it up."
+
+"Slave!" cried Princess Cobalt, "unfasten my shoes; they're too tight."
+
+"Slave!" cried Princess Sapphire, "bring hither my box of blue
+chocolates."
+
+"Slave!" cried Princess Azure, "stand by my side and fan me."
+
+"Slave!" cried Princess Indigo, "get out of that chair. How dare you sit
+in our presence!"
+
+"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.
+
+"You _are_ a slave!" shouted the six, all together.
+
+"I'm not!"
+
+"Our father, the Revered and Resplendent Royal Ruler of the Blues, has
+made you our slave," asserted Indigo, with a yawn.
+
+"But he can't," objected the little girl. "I'm some Royal an' Rapturous
+an' Ridic'lous myself, an' I won't allow any cheap Boolooroo to order me
+'round."
+
+"Are you of royal birth?" asked Azure, seeming surprised.
+
+"Royal! Why, I'm an American, Snubnoses, and if there's anything royaler
+than an American I'd like to know what it is."
+
+The Princesses seemed uncertain what reply to make to this speech and
+began whispering together. Finally Indigo said to Trot:
+
+"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."
+
+"What cons'quences?" asked the girl.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"No impertinence!" cried Indigo, savagely.
+
+"Why, it's the truth," replied Trot.
+
+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.
+
+"Now, then," commanded Princess Indigo, "go and feed my little blue dog
+that crows like a rooster."
+
+"And feed my pretty blue cat that sings like a bird," said Princess
+Azure.
+
+"And feed my soft blue lamb that chatters like a monkey," said Princess
+Cobalt.
+
+"And feed my poetic blue parrot that barks like a dog," said Princess
+Sapphire.
+
+"And feed my fuzzy blue rabbit that roars like a lion," said Princess
+Turquoise.
+
+"And feed my lovely blue peacock that mews like a cat," said Princess
+Cerulia.
+
+"Anything else?" asked Trot, drawing a long breath.
+
+"Not until you have properly fed our pets," replied Azure, with a
+scowl.
+
+"What do they eat, then?"
+
+"Meat!"
+
+"Milk!"
+
+"Clover!"
+
+"Seeds!"
+
+"Bread!"
+
+"Carrots!"
+
+"All right," said Trot; "where do you keep the menagerie?"
+
+"Our pets are in our boudoirs," said Indigo, harshly. "What a little
+fool you are!"
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Here was a tiny baby lamb with fleece as blue as a larkspur and as soft
+as silk.
+
+"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.
+
+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:
+
+    "Rub-a-dub, dub,--
+     Gimme some grub!"
+
+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 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:
+
+    "I spy a peacock's eye
+     On every feather--I wonder why?"
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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 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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+    "That's all right;
+     We like a fight,"
+
+declared the parrot, in reply.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Before the Six Snubnosed Princesses went to the Royal Banquet Hall,
+Cobalt stuck her head through a crack of the door and said to Trot:
+
+"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."
+
+"Thank you," replied the girl; "I'm right hungry, jus' now."
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+THE KING'S TREASURE CHAMBER
+
+Chapter 10.
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"They needn't worry 'bout that," replied Trot; "the Snubnoses hate me
+worse than the people do."
+
+"I can't imagine a bootblue becoming a royal favorite," grumbled
+Button-Bright.
+
+"Or a necktie mixer," added Cap'n Bill.
+
+"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."
+
+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 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.
+
+"Do you know how to work that Magic Umbrella?" he asked the Majordomo.
+
+"No, your Majesty; I do not," was the reply.
+
+"Well, find out. Make the Whiteskins tell you, so that I can use it for
+my own amusement."
+
+"I'll do my best, your Majesty," said Ghip-Ghisizzle.
+
+"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."
+
+"You can't do that, your Majesty," said the Majordomo.
+
+"Why can't I?"
+
+"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."
+
+The King looked at him with a sneer.
+
+"Has anyone ever come out of that Arch alive?" he asked.
+
+"No," said Ghip-Ghisizzle. "But no one has ever gone into the Blue
+Grotto until his allotted time was up."
+
+"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!"
+
+"I also hope they will," replied Ghip-Ghisizzle.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+During his absence the prisoners had been talking together very
+earnestly.
+
+"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."
+
+"No; I must surely manage to get my umbrella first," said Button-Bright.
+
+"Do it quick, then," urged Trot, "for I can't stand those snubnoses much
+longer."
+
+"I'll do it to-night," said the boy.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh, Button-Bright! There's a Blue Wolf in the Treasure Chamber!"
+exclaimed Trot.
+
+"Yes; I know."
+
+"An' a patched man on guard outside," Cap'n Bill reminded him.
+
+"I know," repeated Button-Bright.
+
+"And the key's in the King's own pocket," added Trot, despairingly.
+
+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.
+
+When Ghip-Ghisizzle returned he said:
+
+"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."
+
+"Thank 'e, friend Sizzle," said Cap'n Bill.
+
+"Now follow me and I will take you to your rooms."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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 Fredjim Jonesjinks
+they had talked with in the servants' hall, and he bowed low before the
+Majordomo.
+
+"This is the King's new bootblue, a stranger who has lately arrived
+here," said Ghip-Ghisizzle, introducing the boy to the patched man.
+
+"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."
+
+"No, he won't," said Button-Bright, positively. "The Boolooroo's afraid
+of me."
+
+"Oh, that's different," said Jimfred. "You're the first person I ever
+knew that could scare our Boolooroo."
+
+They passed on, and Ghip-Ghisizzle whispered: "That is the Royal
+Treasure Chamber."
+
+Button-Bright nodded. He had marked the place well, so he couldn't miss
+it when he wanted to find it again.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"All right," answered the guard. "Our Boolooroo is in an ugly mood
+to-night. It will go hard with this little short-necked creature if he
+doesn't polish the shoes properly."
+
+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.
+
+"Hi, there! What are you doing here?" he roared, as he saw
+Button-Bright.
+
+"I've come for the shoes," said the boy.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 sleepy guard before the King's apartments was cross and
+surly.
+
+"What are you doing here at this hour?" he demanded.
+
+"I'm returning his Majesty's shoes," said Button-Bright.
+
+"Go back and wait till morning," commanded the guard.
+
+"If you prevent me from obeying the Boolooroo's orders," returned the
+boy, quietly, "he will probably have you patched."
+
+This threat frightened the long-necked guard, who did not know what
+orders the Boolooroo had given his Royal Bootblue.
+
+"Go in, then," said he; "but if you make a noise and waken his Majesty,
+the chances are you'll get yourself patched."
+
+"I'll be quiet," promised the boy.
+
+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, but in order to make sure
+he searched in every other pocket--without finding another key.
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+"But--good gracious!" exclaimed the surprised Jimfred; "who will guard
+the Treasure Chamber?"
+
+"I am to take your place," said Button-Bright.
+
+"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?"
+
+"Yes," said Button-Bright.
+
+Then Fredjim stalked away to the other side of the palace 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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+BUTTON-BRIGHT ENCOUNTERS THE BLUE WOLF
+
+CHAPTER 11.
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 at last he became positive that the Magic
+Umbrella had been removed from the room.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Quick!" cried the boy; "we must escape from here at once or we will be
+caught and patched."
+
+"Where's the umbrel?" asked Cap'n Bill.
+
+"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!"
+
+"Where'll we go?" inquired Trot.
+
+"We must make for the open country and hide in the Fog Bank, or in the
+Arch of Phinis," replied the boy.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Halt!" cried the guard, fiercely.
+
+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.
+
+The guard was now howling and crying for help. In the 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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"Don't like that place, Cap'n," whispered Trot.
+
+"No more do I, mate," he answered.
+
+"I think I'd rather take a chance on the Fog Bank," said Button-Bright.
+
+Just then they were all startled by a swift flapping of wings, and a
+voice cried in shrill tones:
+
+    "Where are you, Trot?
+     As like as not
+     I've been forgot!"
+
+Cap'n Bill jumped this way and Button-Bright that, and then there
+alighted on Trot's shoulder the blue parrot that had been the pet of the
+Princess Cerulia.
+
+Said the bird:
+
+    "Gee! I've flown
+     Here all alone.
+     It's pretty far,
+     But here we are!"
+
+and then he barked like a dog and chuckled with glee at having found his
+little friend.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+THROUGH THE FOG BANK
+
+CHAPTER 12.
+
+
+It was rather moist in the Fog Bank.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+Cried the parrot, fluttering his feathers to try to keep them from
+sticking together:
+
+    "Floods and gushes fill our path--
+     This is not my day for a bath!
+     Shut it off, or fear my wrath."
+
+"We can't," laughed Trot. "We'll jus' have to stick it out till we get
+to the other side."
+
+"Had we better go to the other side?" asked Button-Bright, anxiously.
+
+"Why not?" returned Cap'n Bill. "The other side's the only safe side for
+us."
+
+"We don't know that, sir," said the boy. "Ghip-Ghisizzle said it was a
+terrible country."
+
+"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."
+
+"But how'll we ever manage to get there?" inquired Trot. "Aren't we
+already lost in this fog?"
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"I wonder how far it is to the other side," remarked Trot, wearily.
+
+"We can't say till we get there, mate," answered the sailor in a
+cheerful voice. Cap'n Bill had a way of growing more and more cheerful
+when danger threatened.
+
+"Never mind," said the girl; "I'm as wet as a dish rag now, and I'll
+never get any wetter."
+
+    "Wet, wet, wet!
+     It's awful wet, you bet!"
+
+moaned the parrot on her shoulder.
+
+    "I'm a fish-pond, I'm a well;
+     I'm a clam without a shell!"
+
+"Can't you dry up?" asked Cap'n Bill.
+
+"Not this evening, thank you, sir;
+To talk and grumble I prefer,"
+
+replied the parrot, dolefully.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Ker-chug, ker-choo!" grunted the frog; "what in the Sky is _this_
+crowd?"
+
+"W--we're--strangers," stammered Trot; "an' we're tryin' to 'scape from
+the Blueskins an' get into the Pink Country."
+
+"I don't blame you," said the frog, in a friendly tone. "I hate those
+Blueskins. The Pinkies, however, are very decent neighbors."
+
+"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?"
+
+The frog seemed to laugh, for he gurgled in his throat in a very funny
+way.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Follow me," said the frog. "I'll lead you to the border. It's only
+about six jumps."
+
+He turned around, made a mighty leap and disappeared in the gray mist.
+
+Our friends looked at one another in bewilderment.
+
+"Don't see how we can foller that lead," remarked Cap'n Bill; "but we
+may as well start in the same direction."
+
+    "Brooks and creeks,
+     How it leaks!"
+
+muttered the parrot;
+
+    "How can we jog
+     To a frog in a fog?"
+
+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.
+
+    "O, Liz--you puffy Liz--
+     Get out of our way and mind your biz,"
+
+cried the parrot.
+
+    "Creep-a-mousie, crawl-a-mousie, please move on!
+     We can't move a step till you are gone."
+
+"Don't disturb me," said the lizard; "I'm dreaming about parsnips. Did
+you ever taste a parsnip?"
+
+"We're in a hurry, if it's the same to you, sir," said Cap'n Bill,
+politely.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"Oh; beg parding, I'm sure!" exclaimed Cap'n Bill backing away.
+
+"Don't mention it," replied the crab, in a tired tone. "You did not
+disturb me, so there is no harm done."
+
+"We didn't know you were here," explained Trot.
+
+"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."
+
+    "Yes, we can, sir,
+     Mister Cancer!"
+
+said the parrot, with a chuckle.
+
+"Once," remarked Cap'n Bill, "I sawr a picter of you in an almanac."
+
+"Ah; the almanacs always did us full justice," the crab replied, "but
+I'm told they're not fashionable now."
+
+"If you don't mind, we'd like to pass on," said Button-Bright.
+
+"No; I don't mind; but be careful not to step on my legs. They're
+rheumatic, it's so moist here."
+
+They climbed over some of the huge legs and walked around others. Soon
+they had left the creature far behind.
+
+"Aren't you rather slow?" asked the frog, when once more they came up to
+him.
+
+"It isn't that," said Trot. "You are rather swift, I guess."
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+"I'm tired," said Trot, "an' this awful fog's beginnin' to choke me.
+Let's ride on the frog, Cap'n."
+
+"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.
+
+"Are you ready?" asked the frog.
+
+"Ding-dong!" cried the parrot;
+
+    "All aboard! let 'er go!
+     Jump the best jump that you know."
+
+"Don't--don't! Jump sort o' easy, please," begged Cap'n Bill.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+THE PINK COUNTRY
+
+CHAPTER 13.
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+It was the parrot that aroused them.
+
+    "Look out--look out--
+     There's folks about!"
+
+it screamed;
+
+    "The apple-dumplings, fat and pink,
+     Will be here quicker than a wink!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+They halted a little way from our adventurers and one of the women
+muttered in a horrified voice: "Blueskins!"
+
+    "Guess again! The more you guess
+     I rather think you'll know the less,"
+
+retorted the parrot; and then he added grumblingly in Trot's ear: "Blue
+feathers don't make bluebirds."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"What country did you come from?" asked the woman who had first spoken.
+
+"From the Earth," replied Button-Bright.
+
+"The Earth! The Earth!" they repeated. "That is a country we have never
+heard of. Where is it located?"
+
+"Why, down below, somewhere," said the boy, who did not know in which
+direction the Earth lay. "It isn't just one country, but a good many
+countries."
+
+"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."
+
+"How came you in the Blue Country, from whence you say you escaped?"
+asked the man.
+
+"We flew there by means of a Magic Umbrella," explained Button-Bright;
+"but the wicked Boolooroo stole it from us."
+
+"Stole it! How dreadful," they all cried in a chorus.
+
+"And they made us slaves," said Trot.
+
+"An' wanted fer to patch us," added Cap'n Bill, indignantly.
+
+"So we ran away and passed through the Fog Bank and came here," said
+Button-Bright.
+
+The Pinkies turned away and conversed together in low tones. Then one of
+the women came forward and addressed the strangers.
+
+"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."
+
+"Who is Tourmaline?" inquired Trot, doubtfully, for she didn't like the
+idea of being "taken" to anyone.
+
+"The Queen of the Pinkies. She is the sole Ruler of our country, so the
+word of Tourmaline is the Law of the Land."
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+    "Mud and bricks--fiddlesticks!
+     We don't play such nasty tricks,"
+
+yelled the parrot, angrily, and this caused the Pinkies to shrink back
+in alarm, for they had never seen a parrot before.
+
+"Surely this is magic!" declared one of the men. "No bird can talk
+unless inspired by witchcraft."
+
+"Oh, yes; parrots can," said Trot.
+
+But this incident had determined the Pinkies to consider our friends
+prisoners and to take them immediately before their Queen.
+
+"Must we fight you?" asked the woman, "or will you come with us
+peaceably?"
+
+"We'll go peaceable," answered Cap'n Bill. "You're a-makin' a sad
+mistake, for we're as harmless as doves; but seein' as you're
+suspicious we'd better have it out with your Queen first as last."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+TOURMALINE THE POVERTY QUEEN
+
+CHAPTER 14.
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Here," said one of their guides, as the procession halted before the
+little stone building, "is the palace of Tourmaline, who is our Queen."
+
+"What! that little cabin?" exclaimed Trot.
+
+"Of course. Did you suppose a palace would be like one of our handsome
+residences?" asked the woman, evidently surprised.
+
+"I thought it would be better," said the girl. "All the palaces I've
+seen were splendid."
+
+"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.
+
+"These intruders are very peculiar people," remarked a man in the crowd.
+
+"They seem very ignorant, poor things!" said another, in reply.
+
+"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."
+
+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 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.
+
+As they entered, the girl sighed and laid down her work. Her expression
+was patient and resigned as she faced her audience.
+
+"What is it, Coralie?" she asked the woman.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"Are you a giant?" she asked the sailor, in a soft, sweet voice.
+
+"No, your Majesty," he replied; "I'm only ----"
+
+"Majesty!" she exclaimed, flushing a deeper pink. "Are you addressing
+that word to me?"
+
+"O' course, ma'am," answered Cap'n Bill; "I'm told that's the proper way
+to speak to a Queen."
+
+"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.
+
+"By no means," was the prompt reply.
+
+"What shall I call her, then?" inquired Cap'n Bill.
+
+"Just Tourmaline. That is her name, and it is sufficient," said the
+woman.
+
+"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.
+
+"Why?" asked Tourmaline, curiously.
+
+"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."
+
+"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 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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"What pays you, then, for all your bother?" asked Trot.
+
+"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 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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+    "Naughty, naugh-ty Boo-loo-roo!
+     He's the worst I ev-er knew!"
+
+the parrot repeated over and over again.
+
+Cap'n Bill finished the story by telling of their escape 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."
+
+    "Pretty wet! Pretty wet
+     Was the journey, you can bet!"
+
+declared the parrot, in conclusion.
+
+"Yes, it was wet an' sticky, all right," agreed the sailor; "but the big
+frog helped us an' we got through all right."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"We _are_ 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 cruel; but we do not want you here and I am really puzzled
+what to do with you."
+
+"Isn't there a law to cover this case?" asked Coralie.
+
+"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."
+
+"If not," said the woman, "you must make a law. It is your duty."
+
+"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."
+
+"Thank you," said Trot. "We wish so, too. Haven't you any fairies here?"
+
+"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."
+
+"How about witches?" asked Button-Bright.
+
+"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 entertainment. To-morrow morning come to me again and then I
+will decree your fate."
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+THE SUNRISE TRIBE AND THE SUNSET TRIBE
+
+CHAPTER 15.
+
+
+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.
+
+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. 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Why do they call this an Island?" asked Button-Bright. "There isn't any
+water around it, is there?"
+
+"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."
+
+"Is there a fence around the edge?" asked Trot.
+
+"Only a few places are fenced," was the reply. "Usually 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."
+
+"Goodness me!" said Trot. "He might have hit some one on the Earth."
+
+"Guess he skipped it, though," added Cap'n Bill, "for I never heard of a
+Pinky till I came here."
+
+"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."
+
+"No," said Button-Bright, "'cause it's _under_ 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."
+
+"So do I, Button-Bright!" exclaimed Trot.
+
+"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!"
+
+"If we only had my umbrella, we'd fly in a minute," sighed
+Button-Bright. "But the Boolooroo stole it."
+
+    "Naugh-ty, naugh-ty Boo-loo-roo;
+     What a wicked thing to do!"
+
+wailed the parrot; and they all agreed with him.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"He does that!" agreed Trot. "This is almost worth comin' for, Cap'n."
+
+"But not quite," said Button-Bright, sadly. "I'd get along without the
+sunset if only we could go home."
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"They know we can't get away," observed the sailor, "so they don't need
+to watch us."
+
+"We could go into the Fog Bank again," suggested Trot.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+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 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:
+
+"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."
+
+"We're curious, too," said Trot; "but we'll soon find out."
+
+As they walked down the street they observed that the sky was now
+covered with dark clouds, which entirely hid the sun.
+
+"Does it ever rain here?" inquired Button-Bright.
+
+"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."
+
+"Looks like rain now," remarked Cap'n Bill.
+
+"It does," said the man, glancing at the sky. "We must hurry, or we may
+get wet."
+
+"Haven't you any umbrellas?" asked Button-Bright.
+
+"No; we don't know what umbrellas are," replied the Pinky man.
+
+It did not rain at once and they reached Tourmaline's wretched hut in
+safety. There they found quite a number of Pinkies assembled, and a
+spirited discussion was taking place when they arrived.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+When the strangers were seated she turned to them and said:
+
+"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 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."
+
+    "The rose is red, the violet's blue,
+     But Trot is sweeter than the two!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Is the Monster Man whose legs are part wood a dangerous creature?"
+asked one of the Sunrise Tribe.
+
+"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."
+
+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 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.
+
+"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."
+
+They all gazed upon the little girl curiously, and one of them said:
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"In spite of that," said Coralie, "they are harmless creatures and have
+done us no wrong."
+
+"Yes, they have," replied a nervous little Sunrise man; "they wronged us
+by coming here."
+
+"They could not help doing that," argued Coralie, "and it is their
+misfortune that they are here on Sky Island at all. Perhaps, if we keep
+them with us for awhile, they may find a way to return safely to their
+own country."
+
+"We'll fly through the sky by-and-by--ki-yi!" yelled the parrot with
+startling suddenness.
+
+"It that true?" asked a Pinky, seriously.
+
+"Why, we would if we could," answered Trot. "We flew to this island,
+anyhow."
+
+"Perhaps," said another, "if we pushed them off the edge they could fly
+down again. Who knows?"
+
+"We know," answered Cap'n Bill hastily. "We'd tumble, but we wouldn't
+fly."
+
+    "They'd take a fall--
+     And that is all!"
+
+observed the parrot, fluttering its wings.
+
+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.
+
+"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 guests or take you to an edge of
+the island and throw you over the bushes into the sky."
+
+They were silent at hearing this dreadful alternative, but the parrot
+screamed shrilly:
+
+    "Oh, what a dump! Oh, what a jump!
+     Won't we all thump when we land with a bump?"
+
+"If we do," said Cap'n Bill, thoughtfully, "we'll none of us know it."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+ROSALIE THE WITCH
+
+CHAPTER 16.
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"We seem evenly divided on this matter," remarked the Queen, with a
+puzzled look at her Council.
+
+Trot thought the pretty Queen was their friend, so she said:
+
+"Of course you'll have the deciding vote, then, you being the Ruler."
+
+"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."
+
+"Who will it be, then?" inquired Trot. "Can't I do it? Or Cap'n Bill, or
+Button-Bright?"
+
+Tourmaline smiled and shook her head, while all the Counselors murmured
+their protests.
+
+    "Let Trot do it
+     Or you'll rue it!"
+
+advised the parrot, and then he barked like a dog and made them all
+jump.
+
+"Let me think a moment," said the Queen, resting her chin on her hand.
+
+    "A Pink can think
+     As quick's a wink!"
+
+the parrot declared.
+
+But Tourmaline's thoughts required time and all her Counselors remained
+silent and watched her anxiously.
+
+At last she raised her head and said:
+
+"I shall call upon Rosalie the Witch. She is wise and honest and will
+decide the matter justly."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+Rosalie, during Tourmaline's speech, had been attentively examining the
+faces of the three Earth people. Now she said:
+
+"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."
+
+She then bowed her head and closed her eyes.
+
+    "Rock-a-bye, baby, on a tree-top;
+     Don't wake her up or the vision will stop,"
+
+muttered the parrot; but no one paid any attention to the noisy bird.
+
+Gradually a pink mist formed in the air about the Witch and in this mist
+the vision began to appear.
+
+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 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.
+
+"Did you see clearly?" she asked.
+
+"We did, O Wonderful Witch!" they declared.
+
+"Then," said Rosalie, "there can be no doubt in your minds that these
+strangers have told you the truth."
+
+"None at all," they admitted.
+
+"What arguments are advanced by the six Counselors who voted to allow
+them to remain here as guests?" inquired the Witch.
+
+"They have done us no harm," answered Coralie, speaking for her side;
+"therefore we should, in honor and justice, do them no harm."
+
+Rosalie nodded. "What arguments have the others advanced?" she asked.
+
+"They interfere with our color scheme, and do not harmonize with our
+people," a man of the Sunrise Tribe answered.
+
+Again Rosalie nodded, and Trot thought her eyes twinkled a little.
+
+"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."
+
+For a moment there was perfect silence in the room. All present realized
+that this was a decree of death to the strangers.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"It's raining hard outside," announced Coralie, who sat near the door;
+"why not wait until this shower is over?"
+
+"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."
+
+"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?"
+
+"I did not decide to murder you," answered Rosalie.
+
+"To throw us off the island will be murder," declared the sailor.
+
+"Then they cannot throw you off," the Witch replied.
+
+"The Queen says they will."
+
+"I know," said Rosalie; "but I'm quite positive her people can't do it."
+
+This statement astonished all the Pinkies, who looked at the Witch
+inquiringly.
+
+"Why not?" asked Tourmaline.
+
+"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 _by
+fairies_. 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."
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+THE ARRIVAL OF POLYCHROME
+
+CHAPTER 17.
+
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The parrot was getting its feathers sadly draggled in the rain and the
+poor bird soon presented a wet and woebegone appearance.
+
+    "Soak us again--
+     Drown us with rain!"
+
+it muttered in a resigned tone; and then it would turn to Trot and moan:
+
+    "The rose is red, the violet's blue;
+     The Pinkies are a beastly crew!"
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+Steadily, yet with wonderful swiftness, the end of the great bow
+descended until it rested upon the pink field--almost 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.
+
+"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?"
+
+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.
+
+"Why, it's Polychrome!" exclaimed Button-Bright, in a voice of mingled
+wonder and delight. "Hello, Polly! Don't you remember me?"
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh!" cried Trot, turning to stare at the boy with big, wide-open eyes;
+"were you ever in the Land of Oz?"
+
+"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?"
+
+"Polly wants a cracker!--Polly wants a cracker!" screeched the parrot.
+
+Polychrome straightened up and glanced at her sisters.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"Tell Father to call for me in an hour or two," said she. "There is
+work for me to do here, for one of my old friends is in trouble."
+
+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.
+
+"Tell me," she said gently to the boy, "why are you here, and why do
+these people of the sky wish to destroy you?"
+
+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.
+
+Polychrome listened and then turned to the Queen.
+
+"Why have you decreed death to these innocent strangers?" she asked.
+
+"They do not harmonize with our color scheme," replied Tourmaline.
+
+"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 charm of your country, and to keep these three people with
+you would be a benefit rather than an injury to you."
+
+At this the Pinkies looked downcast and ashamed, while only Rosalie the
+Witch laughed and seemed to enjoy the rebuke.
+
+"But," protested Tourmaline, "the Great Book of Laws says our country
+shall harbor none but the Pinkies."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+Polychrome began turning over the leaves, while the others all watched
+her anxiously and in silence.
+
+"Here," she said presently, "is a Law which reads as follows: 'Everyone
+in the Pink Country is entitled to the protection 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?"
+
+"Yes," said the Queen; "but how does that apply to these strangers?"
+
+"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."
+
+"True," agreed Coralie, greatly pleased, and all the other Pinkies
+nodded their heads and repeated: "True--true!"
+
+    "The rose is red, the violet's blue,
+     The law's the thing, because it's true!"
+
+cried the parrot.
+
+"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."
+
+"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 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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+Those assembled were so startled by this statement that they gazed at
+the Rainbow's Daughter in astonishment for a time. Then Tourmaline
+asked:
+
+"Why not, your Highness?"
+
+"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."
+
+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:
+
+"Greet your new Queen, Pinkies!"
+
+One by one they all advanced, knelt before Trot and pressed her hand to
+their lips.
+
+"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!"
+
+"Thank you, Polly," said Button-Bright gratefully. "This will fix us all
+right, I'm sure."
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+MAYRE, QUEEN OF THE PINK COUNTRY
+
+CHAPTER 18.
+
+
+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.
+
+"I s'pose," said Trot, "I'll have to put on one of Tourmaline's common
+pink dresses."
+
+"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?"
+
+"No," answered Trot, "I guess I can manage it alone."
+
+When she withdrew to the little chamber the Rainbow's 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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:
+
+    "We're in the sky and flyin' high:
+     We're goin' to live instead of die,
+     It's time to laugh instead of cry;
+     Oh, my! ki-yi! ain't this a pie!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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!"
+
+"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:
+
+    "We Pollys know our business, and we're--all--right!
+     We'll take good care of Cap'n Bill and Trot and Button-Bright
+     You watch 'em from the Rainbow, and I'll watch day and night,
+     And we'll call a sky policeman if trouble comes in sight!"
+
+Suddenly the bow lifted and carried the dancing maidens into the sky.
+The colors faded, the arch slowly dissolved and the heavens were clear.
+
+Trot turned to the Pinkies.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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 as a
+Witch, for I can call upon her for assistance whenever I need her."
+
+"But--see here," said Cap'n Bill; "you can't afford to spend your time
+a-rulin' this tucked-up country, Trot."
+
+"Why not?" asked Trot, who was pleased with her new and important
+position.
+
+"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."
+
+"You wouldn't like it for long, I'm sure," added Button-Bright,
+seriously.
+
+Trot seemed thoughtful.
+
+"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?"
+
+"They would, mate; but they can't see you," said Cap'n Bill. "So the
+question is, what's to be done?"
+
+"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."
+
+    "The rose is red, the violet's blue,
+     But the umbrel's stole by the Boo-loo-roo!"
+
+screamed the parrot.
+
+"That's it," said Cap'n Bill; "the Boolooroo's got the umbrel, an' that
+settles the question."
+
+"Tell me," said Rosalie; "if you had your Magic Umbrella, could you fly
+home again in safety?"
+
+"Of course we could," replied Button-Bright.
+
+"And would you prefer to go home to remaining here?"
+
+"We would, indeed!"
+
+"Then why do you not get the umbrella?"
+
+"How?" asked Trot, eagerly.
+
+The Witch paused a moment. Then she said:
+
+"You must go into the Blue Country and force the Boolooroo to give up
+your property."
+
+"Through the Fog Bank?" asked Cap'n Bill, doubtfully.
+
+"And let the Boolooroo capture us again?" demanded Button-Bright, with a
+shiver.
+
+"An' have to wait on the Snubnoses instead of bein' a Queen!" said Trot.
+
+"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?"
+
+"Hooray!" shouted Cap'n Bill, pounding his wooden leg on the floor;
+"that's the proper talk! Let's do it, Queen Trot."
+
+"It doesn't seem like a bad idea," added Button-Bright.
+
+"Do you think the Pinkies could fight the Blueskins?" asked Trot.
+
+"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."
+
+"The Blueskins are the biggest people," said the girl.
+
+"But they're cowards, I'm sure," declared the boy.
+
+"Anyhow," the sailor remarked, "that's our only hope of ever gett'n'
+home again. I'd like to try it, Trot."
+
+"If you decide on this adventure," said Rosalie, "I believe I can be of
+much assistance to you."
+
+"That'll help," asserted Cap'n Bill.
+
+"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."
+
+"Does the book say that?" inquired Trot, with interest.
+
+"Yes; I've been reading it."
+
+"Then Sizzle'll be the new Boolooroo," said the girl, "an' p'raps we
+won't have to fight, after all."
+
+"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?"
+
+Trot hesitated, so they all looked to Rosalie for advice.
+
+"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."
+
+"Good!" cried Cap'n Bill, and the parrot screamed:
+
+    "Here's a lovely how-d'y'-do--
+     We're going to fight the Boo-loo-roo!
+     We'll get the Six Snubnoses, too,
+     And make'em all feel mighty blue."
+
+"Either that or the other thing," said Trot. "Anyhow, we're in for it."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+THE WAR OF THE PINKS AND BLUES
+
+CHAPTER 19.
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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, you'll all be patched--which is a
+deep disgrace an' a uncomfertable mix-up."
+
+"Will they throw us over the edge?" asked Captain Tintint, nervously.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+They had not advanced far into the deep fog when they were halted by a
+queer barrier consisting of a long line of gigantic 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:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+So he raised the long sharp stick with which he had armed himself and
+shouted:
+
+"For-rerd--march!"
+
+"For-ward--march!" repeated Coralie to the Sunset Tribe.
+
+"For-ward--march!" roared Tintint to the Sunrise people.
+
+"March--April--June--October!" screamed the parrot.
+
+Then the drums beat and the band played and away marched the Pinkies to
+capture the Blue City.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+GHIP-GHISIZZLE HAS A BAD TIME
+
+CHAPTER 20.
+
+
+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.
+
+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 was afraid the boy would never again be seen in the Blue
+Country.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+"Never mind," said the Boolooroo, "I'll attend to them in a minute. I'm
+busy now."
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+Meantime the Six Snubnosed Princesses had seen from their rooms in a
+tower of the palace the army of the Pinkies 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The six Princesses sat down in a circle facing the captives and Cerulia
+said:
+
+"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."
+
+Ghip-Ghisizzle managed to shake his head. Then he said:
+
+"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."
+
+"Monster!" cried Indigo; "if you choose me I'll scratch your eyes out!"
+
+"If you choose me," said Cobalt, in a rage, "I'll tear out your hair by
+the roots!"
+
+"If I am to be your wife," screamed Azure. "I'll mark your obstinate
+face with my finger nails!"
+
+"And I," said Turquoise, passionately, "will pound your head with a
+broomstick!"
+
+"I'll shake him till his teeth rattle!" shrieked Sapphire.
+
+"The best way to manage a husband," observed Cerulia angrily, "is to
+pull his nose."
+
+"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."
+
+"We'll see about that," said Indigo.
+
+"I think you will soon change your mind," added Azure.
+
+"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."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"Dear me!" cried Cobalt; "if he's patched he never can be Boolooroo."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+THE CAPTURE OF CAP'N BILL
+
+CHAPTER 21.
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+"It is evident," panted the Boolooroo, facing his defeated soldiers
+wrathfully, "that you are a pack of cowards!"
+
+"We but followed your own royal example in running," replied the
+Captain.
+
+"I merely ran back to the City to get a drink of water, for I was
+thirsty," declared the Boolooroo.
+
+"So did we! So did we!" cried the soldiers, eagerly. "We were all
+thirsty."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Very well," replied Rosalie; "I will take your advice, Cap'n, and
+enchant the weapons of the Pinkies."
+
+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.
+
+"Now," she said to them, "you will be powerful enough to defeat the
+Blueskins, whatever they may do."
+
+The Pinkies were overjoyed at this promise and it made them very brave
+indeed, since they now believed they would surely be victorious.
+
+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.
+
+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 after them as fast as he could make his wooden
+leg go, swinging his sharp stick as he advanced.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+So she went sorrowfully back to the camp, followed by the Pinkies, and
+asked Rosalie what could be done.
+
+"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."
+
+"Three days is a long time," remarked Trot, dismally.
+
+"The Boolooroo may decide to patch him at once," added Button-Bright,
+with equal sadness, for he too mourned the sailor's loss.
+
+"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."
+
+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 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.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Good!" cried Trot; "now I can climb up."
+
+"Don't you want me to go with you?" asked Button-Bright, a little
+wistfully.
+
+"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."
+
+"I'll do my best," he promised.
+
+"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."
+
+As the beautiful Witch kissed the little girl good-bye she slipped upon
+her finger a curious ring. At once Button-Bright exclaimed:
+
+"Why, where has she gone?"
+
+"I'm right here," said Trot's voice by his side. "Can't you see me?"
+
+"No," replied the boy, mystified.
+
+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."
+
+"Oh, thank you!" cried Trot. "That will be fine."
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+TROT'S INVISIBLE ADVENTURE
+
+CHAPTER 22.
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"We thought we heard footsteps," said one.
+
+"So did we," replied the other; "yet there is no one in sight."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"That may be," admitted Fredjim, "but we are much the strongest, because
+our right arm was by far the best before we were patched."
+
+"We are not sure of that," responded Jimfred, "for we have a right arm,
+too, and it is pretty strong."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+At last she found a window and managed to open the 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.
+
+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.
+
+"Oh, it's the Earth Child," said he. "Are you condemned to be patched,
+too, little one?"
+
+"No," answered Trot. "Tell me where Cap'n Bill is."
+
+"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."
+
+"Why?" she asked.
+
+"One of them means to marry him," explained Tiggle.
+
+"Oh, that's worse than being patched!" cried Trot.
+
+"Much worse," said Tiggle, with a groan.
+
+But now an idea occurred to the girl.
+
+"Would you like to escape?" she asked the captive.
+
+"I would, indeed!" said he.
+
+"If I get you out of the palace, can you hide yourself so that you won't
+be found?"
+
+"Certainly!" he declared. "I know a house where I can hide so snugly
+that all the Boolooroo's soldiers cannot find me."
+
+"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."
+
+"He may find some one else," suggested the prisoner.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+Of course the guard could not discover what made the noise and Trot ran
+little risk, as she was careful not to let 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.
+
+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.
+
+Ghip-Ghisizzle had been thinking deeply upon this discovery, 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+THE GIRL AND THE BOOLOOROO
+
+CHAPTER 23.
+
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The little girl laughed softly.
+
+"Trot!" exclaimed the sailor, recognizing her voice.
+
+Then Trot came up and took his hand, the touch at once rendering her
+visible to him.
+
+"Dear me!" said the bewildered sailor; "however did you get here, mate,
+in the Boolooroo's own den? Is the Blue City captured?"
+
+"Not yet," she replied; "but _you_ are, Cap'n, and I've come to save
+you."
+
+"All alone, Trot?"
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Who are you to be patched with?" she asked.
+
+"A feller named Tiggle, who's in disgrace 'cause he mixed the royal
+necktie for me."
+
+"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."
+
+"That's good," said Cap'n Bill, nodding approval; "but the blamed ol'
+Bool'roo's sure to find some one else. What's to be done, mate?"
+
+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.
+
+"Could you climb down a rope ladder, Cap'n?" she asked.
+
+"Like enough," said he. "I've done it many a time on shipboard."
+
+"But you hadn't a wooden leg then," she reminded him.
+
+"The wooden leg won't bother much," he assured her.
+
+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.
+
+Trot locked the door from the inside, so no one could disturb them, and
+then led the sailor to the window. The garden was just below.
+
+"But--good gracious me! It's a drop o' ten feet, Trot," he exclaimed.
+
+"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?"
+
+"I'll try," he rejoined. "But, can _you_ do that circus act, Trot?"
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"Good-bye, mate," said Cap'n Bill, preparing to descend; "don't get
+reckless."
+
+"I won't, Cap'n. Don't worry."
+
+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.
+
+As soon as he was safe on the wall Cap'n Bill began to hobble along the
+broad top toward the connecting wall that surrounded the entire
+City--just as Ghip-Ghisizzle had done--and Trot anxiously watched him
+from the window.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 when they again
+bound him and carried him down the ladder like a bale of goods.
+
+Others were also disappointed by his capture. Button-Bright had heard
+the parrot squawking:
+
+    "Oh, there's Cap'n Bill! There's =Cap'n Bill=!
+     I see him still--up on that hill!
+     It's Cap'n Bill!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Tell me," said Ghip-Ghisizzle to Button-Bright, "did you not take the
+Royal Record Book from the Treasure Chamber of the Boolooroo?"
+
+"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, the only friend the adventurers had
+found among all the Blueskins.
+
+Ghip-Ghisizzle took the book eagerly and at once began turning over its
+leaves.
+
+"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."
+
+"Does the book tell how old he is?" asked Button-Bright.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"I will do that most willingly," agreed Ghip-Ghisizzle. "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."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+THE AMAZING CONQUEST OF THE BLUES
+
+CHAPTER 24.
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+While the Boolooroo stormed and raged a band of soldiers and citizens
+came marching in, surrounding Cap'n Bill, who was again firmly bound.
+
+"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."
+
+"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'."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+After breakfast was over a procession was formed, headed 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.
+
+As soon as they entered the Room of the Great Knife the Boolooroo gave a
+yell of disappointment.
+
+"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!"
+
+The frightened soldiers hurried away to find Tiggle, and Trot was well
+pleased because she knew Tiggle was by this time safely hidden.
+
+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.
+
+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 game. Therefore her Majesty
+paid no attention to anyone and no one paid any attention to her.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"Mornin', girls; hope ye feel as well as ye look."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"When?" inquired Cobalt.
+
+"When? As soon as the soldiers return with Tiggle," said he.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+The Captain of the Guards hesitated to obey this order.
+
+"Suppose it's a friend?" he suggested.
+
+"Friend!" roared the Boolooroo; "I haven't a friend in the country. Tell
+me, sir, do you know of anyone who is my friend?"
+
+The Captain shook his head.
+
+"I can't think of anyone just now, your Spry and Flighty High and Mighty
+Majesty," he answered.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Villains!" howled the Boolooroo; "what does this mean?"
+
+"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.
+
+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 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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Splendid! Fine! Glorious!" cried the Boolooroo, wiping the tears of
+merriment from his eyes. "We will proceed with the Ceremony of Patching
+at once."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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 rolled the frame
+underneath the Great Knife and handed the Boolooroo the cord that
+released the blade.
+
+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.
+
+"Huh!" exclaimed the Boolooroo; "that's queer. Roll him up again,
+soldiers."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+As he stood, bent nearly double, his back was toward the 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"As how?" he asked, stepping from the frame.
+
+"Come and get the Boolooroo," she said, going toward the benches.
+
+The sailor followed and pulled out the Boolooroo, who, when he saw the
+terrible goat was captured and tied fast, quickly recovered his courage.
+
+"Hi, there!" he cried; "where are my soldiers? What do you mean,
+prisoner, by daring to lay hands upon me? Let me go this minute or
+I'll--I'll have you patched _twice_!"
+
+"Don't mind him, Cap'n," said Trot, "but fetch him along to the frame."
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"Stop it! How dare you?" roared the frightened Boolooroo. "I'll have
+revenge!--I'll--I'll--"
+
+"You'll take it easy, 'cause you can't help yourself," said Cap'n Bill.
+"What next, Queen Trot?"
+
+"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.
+
+Then they rolled the frame in position underneath the Great Knife and
+Trot held in her hand the cord which would release it.
+
+"All right, Cap'n," she said in a satisfied tone, "I guess we can run
+this Blue Country ourselves, after this."
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+THE RULER OF SKY ISLAND
+
+CHAPTER 25.
+
+
+The girl now took off Rosalie's ring and put it carefully away in her
+pocket.
+
+"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 ----"
+
+"What's that?" asked the sailor. "You're--you're _what_, Trot?"
+
+"Booloorooess. Isn't that right, Cap'n?"
+
+"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'."
+
+"All right," she said; "Queen o' the Pinkies an' Boss o' the Blues.
+Seems funny, don't it, Cap'n Bill?"
+
+Just then they heard a sound of footsteps in the corridor. 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.
+
+"Halt!" cried Trot.
+
+The Captain halted, his soldiers peering curiously over his shoulders
+and the Six Snubnosed Princesses looking on from behind, where they
+considered themselves safe.
+
+"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."
+
+"Don't come in! Don't come in!" yelled the Boolooroo in a terrified
+voice.
+
+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.
+
+"Release his Majesty at once!" cried Indigo from the corridor. "You
+shall be severely punished for this rebellion."
+
+"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. You've all got to obey _me_, for I'm the
+Booloorooess--no, I mean the Boss--o' the Blues, and I've a notion to
+run things my own way."
+
+"You can't," said Turquoise, scornfully; "the Law says----"
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh. Have you conquered us, then?" asked the Captain of the Guards, in a
+surprised tone.
+
+"Of course," said Trot. "Can't you see?"
+
+"It looks like it," admitted the Captain.
+
+"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."
+
+"Nonsense!" shouted Indigo. "March in and capture them, Captain! Never
+mind if they do slice the Boolooroo. I'm his daughter, and _I'll_ rule
+the kingdom."
+
+"You won't!" screamed Cobalt. "I'll rule it!"
+
+"I'll rule it myself!" cried Cerulia.
+
+"No, no!" yelled Turquoise; "I'll be the Ruler."
+
+"That shall be _my_ privilege!" shouted Sapphire. Cobalt began to say:
+
+"I'm the ----"
+
+"Be quiet!" said Trot, sternly. "Would you have your own father sliced,
+so that you could rule in his place?"
+
+"Yes, yes; of course!" rejoined the six Princesses, without a second's
+hesitation.
+
+"Well, well! What d' ye think o' that, Mr. Boolooroo?" asked Cap'n Bill.
+
+"They're undutiful daughters; don't pay any attention to them," replied
+the frightened Boolooroo.
+
+"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?"
+
+"You!" declared the Captain of the Guards, positively, for he hated the
+Princesses, as did all the Blueskins.
+
+"Then escort those girls to their rooms, lock 'em in, an' put a guard
+before the door."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"That suits me," the sailor joyfully exclaimed, and then the two began a
+careful search through the palace.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh; I'd forgotten the Pinkies!" exclaimed the girl. "Tell me, Captain,
+have you such a thing as a Brass Band in this City?"
+
+"We have two fine bands, but they are not brass," replied the Captain.
+"Their instruments are made of blue metal."
+
+"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 ----"
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"An' neckties to drink, Trot; don't forget the royal neckties," urged
+Cap'n Bill.
+
+"We'll have all the fun there is going," continued the girl, "for we are
+to entertain the Army of the Pinkies."
+
+"The Pinkies!" exclaimed the Captain of the Guards; "why, they're our
+enemies, your Short Highness."
+
+"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."
+
+"Your Microscopic Majesty shall be obeyed," said the Captain, and went
+away to carry out these commands.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+TROT CELEBRATES HER VICTORY
+
+CHAPTER 26.
+
+
+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.
+
+So they went down and found that a great crowd of people had gathered,
+and these cheered Trot with much enthusiasm--which was very different
+from the scowls and surly looks with which they had formerly greeted
+their strange visitors from the Earth.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Hooray!" yelled the parrot,
+
+    "Welcome to our happy home
+     From which no longer will we roam!"
+
+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:
+
+    "One army's pink and one is blue,
+     But neither one is in a stew
+     Because the naughty Boolooroo
+     Is out of sight, so what we'll do
+     Is try to be a jolly crew
+     And dance and sing our too-ral-loo
+     And to our friends be ever true
+     And to our foes----"
+
+"Stop it!" said Button-Bright; "I can't hear myself think."
+
+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.
+
+"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!"
+
+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:
+
+    "The Pinkies are pink, the Blues are blue
+     But Trot's the Queen, so too-ral-loo!"
+
+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:
+
+"I escaped from the City because the Boolooroo tried to patch me, as you
+all know, and the Six Snubnosed Princesses 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."
+
+"Hooray!" cried the parrot;
+
+    "Here's a pretty howdy-do--
+     You haven't any Boolooroo!"
+
+Trot had listened carefully to the Majordomo's speech. When he finished
+she said cheerfully:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+Trot carried Rosalie and Captain Coralie and Ghip-Ghisizzle to the
+palace, and of course Button-Bright and 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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+Ghip-Ghisizzle was overjoyed at the prospect of being Boolooroo of the
+Blues, but he looked solemn at the promise Trot exacted.
+
+"I'm not cruel," he said, "and I don't approve of patching in general,
+so I'll willingly destroy the Great Knife. 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."
+
+"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?"
+
+"You are, mate," replied the sailor.
+
+"Please, Queen Trot," begged Ghip-Ghisizzle, "let me patch just the
+Boolooroo. It will be such a satisfaction."
+
+"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."
+
+"What does he say to his reverse of fortune?" asked Rosalie.
+
+"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."
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+As they led the now famous animal from the room the Boolooroo shuddered
+and said:
+
+"How dare you people give orders in my palace? I'm the Boolooroo!"
+
+"'Scuse me," said Trot; "I neglected to tell you that you're not the
+Boolooroo any more. We've got the Royal 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."
+
+The former Boolooroo groaned.
+
+"What's going to become of me, then?" he asked. "Am I to be patched, or
+what?"
+
+"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."
+
+"Can't I take any of the treasure with me?" he pleaded.
+
+"Not even a bird cage," said she. "Ever'thing in the palace now belongs
+to Ghip-Ghisizzle."
+
+"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?"
+
+"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?"
+
+"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 cheap and common, but I'm sure
+it is good enough for this wicked man and his family."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+This was done, the once royal family departing from the palace with
+shamed and downcast looks.
+
+Then the Room of the Great Knife was cleared of its awful furniture. The
+frames were split into small pieces of 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+THE FATE OF THE MAGIC UMBRELLA
+
+CHAPTER 27.
+
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+The six former Princesses were sitting upon a rude bench, looking quite
+bedraggled and untidy. Said Indigo:
+
+"If you will make Ghip-Ghisizzle marry me, I'll find your old umbrella."
+
+"Where is it?" asked Button-Bright, eagerly.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"I'd like to help you," said he, "but nothing will ever induce me to
+marry one of those snubnoses."
+
+"They're very pretty--for Blueskins," said Trot.
+
+"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."
+
+"Which _is_ the best?" asked Button-Bright.
+
+"I don't know, I'm sure," was the reply. "Judging from their actions in
+the past, there is no best."
+
+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.
+
+The girl and Button-Bright and Cap'n Bill were all rather 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.
+
+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.
+
+"Are all the servants of the old Boolooroo here?" inquired Cap'n Bill,
+who was sorry to see Trot looking so sad and downcast.
+
+"All but one," was the reply. "Tiggle used to be a servant, but he
+escaped and ran away."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+Having heard of the old Boolooroo's downfall and disgrace, the man
+consented to go to the palace again, and as soon as Trot saw him she
+asked about the umbrella.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"That's it!" cried Button-Bright, excitedly; and "That's it!" "That's
+it!" cried both Trot and Cap'n Bill.
+
+"But what did you do with it?" asked Ghip-Ghisizzle.
+
+"I dragged it out and threw it on the rubbish heap, in an alley back of
+the palace," said Tiggle.
+
+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.
+
+"Hurrah!" shouted Button-Bright, grabbing the umbrella and hugging it
+tight in his arms.
+
+"Hooray!" shrieked the parrot;
+
+    "Cap'n Bill's a lucky fellah,
+    'Cause he found the old umbrella!"
+
+Trot's face was wreathed in smiles.
+
+"This is jus' the best luck that could have happened to us," she
+exclaimed, "'cause now we can go home whenever we please."
+
+"Let's go now--this minute--before we lose the umbrella again," said
+Button-Bright.
+
+But Trot shook her head.
+
+"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."
+
+"What has to be did, mate?" inquired Cap'n Bill.
+
+"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 new Queen to rule over 'em. When that's done
+we can go home any time we want to."
+
+"Quite right, Trot," said the sailor, approvingly. "When do we march?"
+
+"Right away," she replied. "I've had enough of the Blue Country. Haven't
+you?"
+
+"We have, mate."
+
+"We've had plenty of it," observed Button-Bright.
+
+"And the Pinkies are anxious to get home," added Rosalie, who was
+present.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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, 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!"
+
+"And good riddance!" screamed the Six Snubnosed Girls who had once been
+Princesses, and who were now in the crowd that watched the departure.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+THE ELEPHANT'S HEAD COMES TO LIFE
+
+CHAPTER 28.
+
+
+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.
+
+Pretty soon the great frogs appeared, a long line of them facing Trot
+and her Pink Army and sitting upon their haunches close together.
+
+"Turn around, so we can get upon your backs," said Rosalie.
+
+"Not yet," answered the Frog King, in a gruff, deep voice. "You must
+first take that insulting umbrella out of my dominions."
+
+"Why, what is there about my umbrella that seems insulting?" asked
+Button-Bright, in surprise.
+
+"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!"
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+Trot turned to Rosalie.
+
+"What shall we do?" she asked.
+
+"I really do not know," replied the Witch, greatly perplexed.
+
+"Can't you _make_ the frogs let us through?" inquired the boy.
+
+"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."
+
+"We won't do that!" said Button-Bright, indignantly. "Can't we fight the
+frogs?"
+
+"Fight!" cried Trot; "why, see how big they are. They could eat up our
+whole army, if they wanted to."
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+It was a long journey, and all the Pinkies were dripping 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.
+
+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.
+
+Trot drew a long breath.
+
+"That was _some_ magic, I guess!" she exclaimed. "Don't you think so,
+Rosalie?"
+
+"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!"
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+TROT REGULATES THE PINKIES
+
+CHAPTER 29.
+
+
+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:
+
+    "Hooray! we're through the wetful fogs
+     Where the elephant scared the fretful frogs!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The next morning Rosalie said to the little girl:
+
+"Will you make Tourmaline the Queen again, when you go away?"
+
+"I'll send for her and see about it," replied Trot.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"That seems reason'ble," replied Trot, thoughtfully.
+
+"Rosalie's skin is just as light a pink as my own," continued
+Tourmaline. "Why don't you make her the Queen?"
+
+"I hadn't thought of that," said Trot. Then she turned to Rosalie and
+asked: "How would you like to rule the Pinkies?"
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"I'm the Queen of the Pinkies just now, am I not?" she asked.
+
+"Of course," answered Rosalie; "none can dispute that."
+
+"Then I've the right to make new laws, haven't I?"
+
+"I believe so."
+
+"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
+_that_ law, Rosalie?"
+
+"It's a good law, and a just one," replied the Witch approvingly.
+
+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 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:
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+THE JOURNEY HOME.
+
+CHAPTER 30.
+
+
+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.
+
+"Will you take the parrot home with you, Trot?" asked Cap'n Bill.
+
+"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."
+
+Rosalie accepted the gift with pleasure, but the parrot looked sober
+awhile and then said:
+
+    "This looks to me like a give-away;
+     But here I am, and here I'll stay.
+     The country's pink, but we'll all be blue
+     When Trot goes home, as she says she'll do."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Trot kissed Rosalie and Coralie and Tourmaline good-bye and said to
+them:
+
+"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."
+
+"I think we shall," replied Rosalie, laughing, "for in all Sky Island
+there will be no Magic Umbrella for us to fly with."
+
+"And when you see Polychrome," added Trot, "jus' give her my love."
+
+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.
+
+"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:
+
+"Take us to Trot's house on the Earth."
+
+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.
+
+    "Fly high!--mind your eye!
+     Don't cry!--bye-bye!"
+
+shouted the parrot from the Pink Witch's shoulder.
+
+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.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+"Seems good to be on the way home again," remarked Trot, as the umbrella
+bumped into a big black cloud.
+
+"It reely does, mate," answered the sailorman, joyously.
+
+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.
+
+"Good-bye, Polly!" cried Button-Bright, and Trot and Cap'n Bill both
+called out: "Good-bye!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+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 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:
+
+"That's the Sky Island we thought we were goin' to--only we didn't."
+
+"Yes; an' there's the mainland, mate!" cried Cap'n Bill excitedly,
+pointing toward a distant coast.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Well, I'm back again," said the little girl. "Is supper ready, mama?"
+
+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 into the air to begin his journey to
+Philadelphia. Just before he started Trot said:
+
+"Let me know if you get home safe, Button-Bright; an' come an' see me
+again as quick as you can."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"I'll try to come again," said the boy. "We've had a good time; haven't
+we, Trot?"
+
+"The bes' time I _ever_ had!" she replied, enthusiastically. Then she
+asked: "Didn't you like it, too, Cap'n Bill?"
+
+"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."
+
+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:
+
+     "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.
+
+     Your friend,
+
+     BUTTON-BRIGHT."
+
+
+THE END.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+These typographical errors were corrected by the etext transcriber:
+
+creid the sailor in a voice=>cried the sailor in a voice
+
+which had ben enchanted by Rosalie=>which had been enchanted by Rosalie
+
+went the conquerers down the streets =>went the conquerors down the
+streets
+
+spokeman in replying to Queen Trot's speech.=>spokesman in replying to
+Queen Trot's speech.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Sky Island, by L. Frank Baum
+
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