“Tell me,” said Ghip-Ghisizzle, “did you not take the Royal Record Book from the Treasure Chamber of the Boolooroo?”

“I did,” replied the boy.  “I remember that you wanted it, and so I have kept it with me ever since that night.  Here it is.”  And he presented the little blue book to the Majordomo, the only friend the adventurers had found among all the Blueskins.

Ghip-Ghisizzle took the book eagerly and at once began turning over its leaves.  “Ah!” he exclaimed presently.  “It is just as I suspected.  The wicked Boolooroo had already reigned over the Blue Country three hundred years last Thursday, so that now he has no right to rule at all.  I myself have been the rightful Ruler of the Blues since Thursday, and yet this cruel and deceitful man has not only deprived me of my right to succeed him, but he has tried to have me patched so that I could never become the Boolooroo.”

“Does the book tell how old he is?” asked Button-Bright.

“Yes.  He is not five hundred years old, and has yet another hundred years to live.  He planned to rule the Blue Country until the last, but I now know the deception he has practiced and have the Royal Record Book to prove it.  With this I shall be able to force him to resign that I may take his place, for all the people will support me and abide by the Law.  The tyrant will perhaps fight me and my cause desperately, but I am sure to win in the end.”

“If we can help you,” said Button-Bright, “the whole Pink Army will fight for you.  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.