clustered around and danced and sang with joy as the blue flames
devoured the dreadful instrument that had once caused them so much
unhappiness.
That evening Trot gave a grand ball in her palace, to which the most
important of the Pinkies and the Blueskins were invited. The combined
bands of both the countries played the music, and a fine supper was
served. The Pinkies would not dance with the Blues, however, nor would
the Blues dance with the Pinkies. The two nations were so different in
all ways that they were unable to agree at all, and several times
during the evening quarrels arose and there was fighting between them,
which Trot promptly checked.
"I think it would be best for us to go back to our own country as soon
as possible," suggested Rosalie the Witch, "for if we stay here very
long, the Blueskins may rise against us and cause the Pinkies much
trouble."
"Jus' as soon as we find that umbrel," promised Trot, "we'll dive into
the Fog Bank an' make tracks for the Land of Sunrise an' Sunset."
THE FATE OF THE MAGIC UMBRELLA
CHAPTER 27
Next morning the search for the Magic Umbrella began in earnest. With
many to hunt for it and the liberty of the whole palace to aid them,
every inch of the great building was carefully examined. But no trace
of the umbrella could be found. Cap'n Bill and Button-Bright went down
to the cabin of the former Boolooroo and tried to find out what he had
done with the umbrella, but the old Boolooroo said,
"I had it brought from the Treasure Chamber and tried to make it work,
but there was no magic about the thing. So I threw it away. I haven't
any idea what became of it."
The six former Princesses were sitting upon a rude bench, looking quite
bedraggled and untidy. Said Indigo:
"If you will make Ghip-Ghisizzle marry me, I'll find your old umbrella."
"Where is it?" asked Button-Bright eagerly.
"Make Ghip-Ghisizzle marry me, and I'll tell you," repeated Indigo.
"But I won't say another word about it until after I am married."
So they went back to the palace and proposed to the new Boolooroo to
marry Indigo so they could get their Magic Umbrella. But Ghip-Ghisizzle
positively refused.
"I'd like to help you," said he, "but nothing will ever induce me to
marry one of those snubnoses."
"They're very pretty--for Blueskins," said Trot.
"But when you marry a girl, you marry the inside as well as the
outside," declared Ghip-Ghisizzle, "and inside these Prin
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