had been
as surprised as anyone at this sudden change of conditions, but she was
quick to take advantage of the opportunities it afforded. First she ran
with her rope to the goat, and as the animal could not see her, she
easily succeeded in tying the rope around its horns and fastening the
loose end to a pillar of the doorway. Next she hurried to Cap'n Bill
and began to unbind him, and as she touched the sailor she became
visible. He nodded cheerfully, then, and said, "I had a notion it was
you, mate, as saved me from the knife. But it were a pretty close call,
an' I hope it won't happen again. I couldn't shiver much, bein' bound
so tight, but when I'm loose I mean to have jus' one good shiver to
relieve my feelin's."

"Shiver all you want to, Cap'n," she said as she removed the last
bonds. "But first you've got to help me save us both."

"As how?" he asked, stepping from the frame.

"Come and get the Boolooroo," she said, going toward the benches. The
sailor followed and pulled out the Boolooroo, who, when he saw the
terrible goat was captured and tied fast, quickly recovered his
courage. "Hi, there!" he cried. "Where are my soldiers? What do you
mean, prisoner, by daring to lay hands upon me? Let me go this minute
or I'll--I'll have you patched TWICE!"

"Don't mind him, Cap'n," said Trot, "but fetch him along to the frame."
The Boolooroo looked around to see where the voice came from, and Cap'n
Bill grinned joyfully and caught up the king in both his strong arms,
dragging the struggling Monarch of the Blues to the frame.

"Stop it! How dare you?" roared the frightened Boolooroo. "I'll have
revenge! I'll--I'll--"

"You'll take it easy, 'cause you can't help yourself," said Cap'n Bill.
"What next, Queen Trot?"

"Hold him steady in the frame, and I'll tie him up," she replied. So
Cap'n Bill held the Boolooroo, and the girl tied him fast in position
as Cap'n Bill had been tied, so that his Majesty couldn't wiggle at
all. Then they rolled the frame in position underneath the Great Knife
and Trot held in her hand the cord which would release it.

"All right, Cap'n," she said in a satisfied tone. "I guess we can run
this Blue Country ourselves after this." The Boolooroo was terrified to
find himself in danger of being sliced by the same knife he had so
often wickedly employed to slice others. Like Cap'n Bill, he had no
room to shiver, but he groaned very dismally and was so full of fear
that his blue hair nearly s