The Pinkies turned away and conversed together in low tones. Then
one of the women came forward and addressed the strangers. "Your
story is the strangest we have ever heard," said she, "and your
presence here is still more strange and astonishing. So we have
decided to take you to Tourmaline and let her decide what shall be
your fate."
"Who is Tourmaline?" inquired Trot doubtfully, for she didn't like
the idea of being "taken" to anyone.
"The Queen of the Pinkies. She is the sole Ruler of our country, so
the word of Tourmaline is the Law of the Land."
"Seems to me we've had 'bout enough of kings an' queens," remarked
Cap'n Bill. "Can't we shy your Tut-Tor-mar-line--or whatever you
call her--in some way an' deal with you direct?"
"No. Until we prove your truth and honor we must regard you as
enemies of our race. If you had a Magic Umbrella, you may be
magicians and sorcerers come here to deceive us and perhaps betray
us to our natural enemies, the Blueskins."
"Mud and bricks, fiddlesticks!
We don't play such nasty tricks,"
yelled the parrot angrily, and this caused the Pinkies to shrink
back in alarm, for they had never seen a parrot before.
"Surely this is magic!" declared one of the men. "No bird can talk
unless inspired by witchcraft."
"Oh yes, parrots can," said Trot. But this incident had determined
the Pinkies to consider our friends prisoners and to take them
immediately before their Queen.
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