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."

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 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 downstairs 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 tha