They met no one on the streets and continued their flight until at
last they came to the City Wall, which had a blue-iron gate in it.
Here was a Blueskin guard, who had been peacefully slumbering when
aroused by the footsteps of the fugitives. "Halt!" cried the guard
fiercely.
Cap'n Bill halted long enough to grab the man around his long neck
with one hand and around his long leg with the other hand. Then he
raised the Blueskin in the air and threw him far over the wall. A
moment later they had unfastened the gate and fled into the open
country, where they headed toward the low mountain whose outlines
were plainly visible in the moonlight.
The guard was now howling and crying for help. In the city were
answering shouts. A hue and cry came from every direction, reaching
as far as the palace. Lights began to twinkle everywhere in the
streets, and the Blue city hummed like a beehive filled with angry
bees. "It won't do for us to get caught now," panted Cap'n Bill as
they ran along. "I'm more afeared o' them Blue citizens ner I am 'o
the Blue Boolooroo. They'd tear us to pieces if they could."
Sky Island was not a very big place, especially the blue part of it,
and our friends were now very close to the low mountain. Presently
they paused before a grim archway of blue marble, above which was
carved the one word, "Phinis." The interior seemed dark and terrible
as they stopped to regard it as a possible place of refuge.
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