Sky Island

s could not imagine what had happened to them, but presently half a dozen Blueskins, resembling in shape and

ty, Tight and Righty Monarch, ha

easury. See that it is safely locked up. Here's the key, and if you

gged 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 Capta

he had disappeared within the palace, w

They are now quite saf

to be soldiers, although they bore no arms except the cords. Each cord had a weight at the end, and when the weight was skillfu

ls the Boolooroo had rung, but they had kept out of sight and crept up behind the benc

ght. Cap'n Bill shook his head and said he was afeared they'd get into trouble. "Our mistake,

rted Trot bravely. "We're in no hurry

brella, I wouldn't care how long we stopped in this f

ing here yet that reminds me of fairies, but Cap'n Bill sa

' fairies, I've heard. Some is good, an' some is bad, an' if all the

roo sternly. "You are already condemned to severe punishment, and if

patched?" inqu

unces 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

the Six Snubnosed Princesses, the most beau

oking at the girls with much interest, "but I sho

urprise. "Is not a snub nose th

asked t

Center of the Universe, a snub nose is an evidence of

hed the fountain and stood in a row, sta

t. "What queer, dreadful-looking creatures are

m the Earth, Cerulia,"

er Princess. "Our scientists have pr

have to guess agai

o Sky Island?" inquired

I have captured and put away in my Tr

the monsters, papa?" as

riosities, you see, and may serve to amuse us. But as th

? Can they do anything

n't decide in a hurry. Give me time, Azure, give

ome 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.

!" cried all the other fiv

"I present you to the Six Lovely Snubnosed Princesses, to be their slave. If you

. "I don't like these snubnosed, fussy femal

ent!" crie

r!" cried

like!" crie

ly!" cri

rd!" crie

And then all six held up t

gine," he remarked, "and if the girl isn't reasonable and obedient,

ether, your Majesty," begged Cap'n Bill. "If we're to be slave

grily. "Don't try to dictate, old Moonface, for there's

ns. One he tied around Trot's waist and then attached to it six other ribbons. Each of the Six Snubnosed Princesses held

ton-Bright. "We'll get you out

ed Cap'n Bill. "We'll ma

Trot with fine courage. "I'm

, and soon they had all disappeared into

will instruct you two in your future

ill Weedles," inte

"for that suits you quite well. I shall appoint you the Royal Nectar Mixer to the c

mix it?" ask

quire of the palace servants, and perhaps the Royal Chef or the Major-domo will condescend to tell y

king said to Button-Bright, "You, slave, shall be the Royal Bootblue. Your duty w

," answered Butto

blue paste, and when you've brushed this on our shoes, you

id Butto

en and have him instructed in his duties, and the soldiers promptly obeyed an

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