trusted them; but
Button-Bright could find no comfort in their situation, and his face
was very sad as he marched along by Trot's side.

If they had followed the corkscrew windings of the street, it would
have been a long journey to the outer edge of the Pink Country, but
Tourmaline took a shortcut, leading them through private gardens and
even through houses, so that they followed almost a bee line to their
destination. It rained all the way and the walking was very
disagreeable, but our friends were confronting an important crisis in
their strange adventures, and with possible death at their journey's
end, they were in no hurry to arrive there.

Once free of the City they traversed the open country, and here they
often stepped into sticky, pink mud up to their ankles. Cap'n Bill's
wooden leg would often go down deep and stick fast in this mud, and at
such times he would be helpless until two of the Pinkies--who were a
strong people--pulled him out again. The parrot was getting its
feathers sadly draggled in the rain, and the poor bird soon presented a
wet and woebegone appearance.

"Soak us again,
Drown us with rain!"

it muttered in a resigned tone; and then it would turn to Trot and
moan, "The rose is red, the violet's blue, The Pinkies are a beastly
crew!"

The country was not so trim and neatly kept near the edge, for it was
evident the people did not care to go too near to the dangerous place.
There was a row of thick bushes which concealed the gulf below, and as
they approached these bushes the rain abruptly ceased, and the clouds
began to break and drift away in the sky. "Two of you seize the girl
and throw her over," said Tourmaline in a calm, matter-of-fact way,
"and two others must throw the boy over. It may take four, perhaps, to
lift the huge and ancient man."

"More'n that," said Cap'n Bill grimly. "I'm pretty sure it'll take all
o' you, young lady, an' the chances are you won't do it then."

They had halted a short distance from the bushes, and now there
suddenly appeared through a rift in the clouds an immense Rainbow. It
was perfectly formed and glistened with a dozen or more superb tintings
that were so vivid and brilliant and blended into one another so
exquisitely that everyone paused to gaze enraptured upon the sight.
Steadily, yet with wonderful swiftness, the end of the great bow
descended until it rested upon the pink field--almost at the feet of
the little party of observers. The