d 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