“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 Boolooroo! 
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.”

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.