When all were seated, clinging to one another so they would not slide off, Cap’n Bill gave the word of command and away leaped the frogs, all together.  They bounded a long distance at this jump—­some farther than others—­and as soon as they landed they jumped again, without giving their passengers a chance to get their breaths.  It was a bewildering and exciting ride, but a dozen of the huge jumps accomplished the journey, and at the edge of the Fog Bank each frog stopped so suddenly that the Pinkies went flying over their heads to tumble into the blue fields of the Blue Country, where they rolled in a confused mass until they could recover and scramble to their feet.  No one was hurt, however, and the King Frog had been wise enough to treat his passengers more gently by slowing down at the edge and allowing his riders to slip to the ground very comfortably.

Cap’n Bill at once formed his army into line of battle and had them all remove the cumbersome raincoats, which they piled in a heap at the edge of the Fog Bank.  It was a splendid array of warriors, and from where they stood they could discover several Blueskins rushing in a panic toward the Blue City as fast as their long, blue legs could carry them.

“Well, they know we’re here, anyhow,” said Cap’n Bill, “and instead of waitin’ to see what’ll they do, I guess we’ll jus’ march on the City an’ ask ’em to please surrender.”

GHIP-GHISIZZLE HAS A BAD TIME

CHAPTER 20

The Boolooroo was quite busy at the time the Pinkies invaded his country.  He had discovered the loss of the Book of Records, and after being frightened ’most to death at the prospect of his fraud on the people’s being made public, he decided to act boldly and hold his position as Boolooroo at any cost.

Since Ghip-Ghisizzle was to be the next Boolooroo, the king suspected him first of all, so he had the Majordomo bound with cords and brought before him, when he accused him of stealing the Book of Records.  Of course, Ghip-Ghisizzle denied taking the Book, but he became almost as nervous at its loss as had the Boolooroo.  He secretly believed that Button-Bright had taken the Book from the Treasure Chamber, and if this were true it might prove as great a misfortune as if the king had kept it locked up.  For Button-Bright had escaped into the Fog Bank, and Ghip-Ghisizzle was afraid the boy would never again be seen in the Blue Country.

He did not tell the Boolooroo of this suspicion, because in that case the king would realize he was secure and that his deception could never be proved against him.  The Majordomo simply denied taking the Record Book, and the Boolooroo did not believe he spoke truly.  To prevent his rival from ever becoming the Ruler of the Blue Country, the Boolooroo determined to have him patched, but for some time he could find no other Blueskin to patch him with.  No one had disobeyed a command or done anything wrong, so the king was in a quandary until he discovered that a servant named Tiggle had mixed the royal nectar for Cap’n Bill, who had been ordered to do it at the time of his capture.  This was sufficient excuse for the Boolooroo, who at once had Tiggle made a prisoner and brought before him.