Sky Island

sed 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 be

had been added to their ranks. They scowled and muttered and behaved in a very unfriendly way, even after Captain Ultramari

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

ered in the boy's ear. "The poor fe

s neck. He was quite the best looking person the boy had seen in Sky Island, and he spoke in a pleasant way and seemed

uch a cruel Boolooroo as we have. Let the boy look at me if he want

," stammered Button-Bright.

s. He's busy at present guarding the Treasure Chamber, but I'll introduce you

g patched?" a

know-and then the other two halves are patched together. It destroys our individuality and m

alarmed at such dreadful b

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 i

right earnestly. "But can't you

t. This is about the meanest Boolooroo who ever ruled this land, and he was the first to invent patchi

hat be?" inq

e question. The officer with the blue-gold chain pulled Button-Bright's sleeve and whispered, "Follow me,

bly seated in cozy chairs with blue cushions. "You must learn how to obey

h US?" asked the s

the boy to half of the girl, and the other half to half of you

p'n Bill, much bewildered

ant to be," explaine

ky Island, I've an idea the slicing machine would abou

tton-Bright,

can't die till you've lived six hu

That's different, of course

Ghi-siz-zle. Can

,'" said the boy, "but I'm

remember my name, because if you are going to live here, you ar

," said Bu

once in a while," a

one. I'm to be the next

Boolooroo now, sir. But it seems you've got to wait

d 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 tw

-Bright. "How old

dy reigned three hundred years as I suspect, then he is now five hundred years old. You see,

ill thoughtfully. "Why, I'm only sixty myself, a

red. "I am just about your age, sir-sixty-two my nex

rned to Button-Bright and added, "Don't that p

the boy. "The slicing and patching pro

er your duties. It seems you must mix the royal

ay as I don't,

ll 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. T

Cap'n Bill. "That'

ght, is easier," cont

boy. "The Boolooroo has no righ

officer reminded him,

ked Butto

You don't black the royal boots and shoes, you merely blue them with a finely perfumed blue paste. Then you shi

t see much difference, but perhap

y Island. You do your work at evening or early morning, and

id Cap'n Bill consolingly. "Somethin's

myself," ans

ur new duties, perhaps you'd like to walk out with me and se

!" cried Cap'n

l into the streets of the City. So rapid had been their descent when the umbrella landed them in the royal garden that they had n

BLUE