Part 13 (1/2)

”An' a patched man on guard outside,” Cap'n Bill reminded him.

”I know,” repeated b.u.t.ton-Bright.

”And the key's in the King's own pocket,” added Trot despairingly.

The boy nodded. He didn't say how he would overcome all these difficulties, so the little girl feared they would never see the Magic Umbrella again. But their present position was a very serious one, and even Cap'n Bill dared not advise b.u.t.ton-Bright to give up the desperate attempt.

When Ghip-Ghisizzle returned, he said, ”You must be very careful not to anger the Boolooroo, or he may do you a mischief. I think the little girl had better keep away from the Princesses for tonight unless they demand her presence. The boy must go for the King's shoes and blue them and polish them and then take them back to the Royal Bedchamber. Cap'n Bill won't have anything to do, for I've ordered Tiggle to mix the nectar.”

”Thank 'e, friend Sizzle,” said Cap'n Bill.

”Now follow me, and I will take you to your rooms.”

He led them to the rear of the palace, where he gave them three small rooms on the ground floor, each having a bed in it. Cap'n Bill's room had a small door leading out into the street of the City, but Ghip Ghisizzle advised him to keep this door locked, as the city people would be sure to hurt the strangers if they had the chance to attack them.

”You're safer in the palace than anywhere else,” said the Majordomo, ”for there is no way you can escape from the island, and here the servants and soldiers dare not injure you for fear of the Boolooroo.”

He placed Trot and her six pets--which followed her wherever she went--in one room, and Cap'n Bill in another, and took b.u.t.ton-Bright away with him to show the boy the way to the King's bedchamber. As they proceeded, they pa.s.sed many rooms with closed doors, and before one of these a patched Blueskin was pacing up and down in a tired and sleepy way. It was Jimfred Jinksjones, the double of the Fredjim Jonesjinks they had talked with in the servants' hall, and he bowed low before the Majordomo.

”This is the King's new bootblue, a stranger who has lately arrived here,” said Ghip-Ghisizzle, introducing the boy to the patched man.

”I'm sorry for him,” muttered Jimfred. ”He's a queer-looking chap, with his pale yellow skin, and I imagine our cruel Boolooroo is likely to patch him before long, as he did me--I mean us.”

”No he won't,” said b.u.t.ton-Bright positively. ”The Boolooroo's afraid of me.”

”Oh, that's different,” said Jimfred. ”You're the first person I ever knew that could scare our Boolooroo.”

They pa.s.sed on, and Ghip-Ghisizzle whispered, ”That is the Royal Treasure Chamber.” b.u.t.ton-Bright nodded. He had marked the place well so he couldn't miss it when he wanted to find it again. When they came to the King's apartments there was another guard before the door, this time a long-necked soldier with a terrible scowl.

”This slave is the Royal Bootblue,” said Ghip-Ghisizzle to the guard.

”You will allow him to pa.s.s into his Majesty's chamber to get the royal shoes and to return them when they are blued.”

”All right,” answered the guard. ”Our Boolooroo is in an ugly mood tonight. It will go hard with this little short-necked creature if he doesn't polish the shoes properly.”

Then Ghip-Ghisizzle left b.u.t.ton-Bright and went away, and the boy pa.s.sed through several rooms to the Royal Bedchamber, where his Majesty sat undressing.

”Hi, there! What are you doing here?” he roared as he saw b.u.t.ton-Bright.

”I've come for the shoes,” said the boy.

The king threw them at his head, aiming carefully, but b.u.t.ton-Bright dodged the missiles, and one smashed a mirror while the other shattered a vase on a small table. His Majesty looked around for something else to throw, but the boy seized the shoes and ran away, returning to his own room.

While he polished the shoes he told his plans to Cap'n Bill and Trot and asked them to be ready to fly with him as soon as he returned with the Magic Umbrella. All they need to do was to step out into the street, through the door of Cap'n Bill's room, and open the umbrella.

Fortunately, the seats and the lunch-basket were still attached to the handle--or so they thought--and there would be nothing to prevent their quickly starting on the journey home.

They waited a long time, however, to give the Boolooroo time to get to sleep, so it was after midnight when b.u.t.ton-Bright finally took the shoes in his hand and started for the Royal Bedchamber. He pa.s.sed the guard of the Royal Treasury and Fredjim nodded good-naturedly to the boy. But the sleepy guard before the King's apartments was cross and surly.

”What are you doing here at this hour?” he demanded.