This
frame was on rollers so that it could be placed directly underneath
the knife.
While Trot was observing this dreadful machine, the door opened and
in walked the Six Snubnosed Princesses, all in a row and with their
chins up as if they disdained everyone but themselves. They were
magnificently dressed, and their blue hair was carefully arranged in
huge towers upon their heads, with blue plumes stuck into the tops.
These plumes waved gracefully in the air with every mincing step the
Princesses took. Rich jewels of blue stones glittered upon their
persons, and the royal ladies were fully as gorgeous as they were
haughty and overbearing. They marched to their chairs and seated
themselves to enjoy the cruel scene their father was about to enact,
and Cap'n Bill bowed to them politely and said:
"Mornin', girls. Hope ye feel as well as ye look."
"Papa," exclaimed Turquoise angrily, "can you not prevent this vile
Earth Being from addressing us? It is an insult to be spoken to by
one about to be patched."
"Control yourselves, my dears," replied the Boolooroo. "The worst
punishment I know how to inflict on anyone this prisoner is about to
suffer. You'll see a very pretty patching, my royal daughters."
"When?" inquired Cobalt.
"When? As soon as the soldiers return with Tiggle," said he.
But just then in came the soldiers to say that Tiggle could not be
found anywhere in the City; he had disappeared as mysteriously as
had Ghip-Ghisizzle.
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