While they were gone on this errand, the Boolooroo begged to be
released, whining and wailing for fear the knife would fall upon
him. But Trot did not think it safe to unbind him just then. When
the soldiers returned, she told their leader to put a strong guard
before the palace and to admit no one unless either she or Cap'n
Bill gave the order to do so. The soldiers obeyed readily, and when
Trot and Cap'n Bill were left alone, they turned the goat loose in
the Room of the Great Knife and then locked the animal in with the
Boolooroo.
"The billygoat is the very best guard we could have, for ever'body's
'fraid o' him," remarked Cap'n Bill as he put the key of the room in
his pocket. "So now, Queen Trot, what's next on the program?"
"Next," said Trot, "we're goin' to hunt for that umbrel, Cap'n. I
don't mean to stay in this dismal Blue Country long, even if I am
the Queen. Let's find the umbrel and go home as soon as we can."
"That suits me," the sailor joyfully exclaimed, and then the two
began a careful search through the palace. They went into every room
and looked behind the furniture and underneath the beds and in every
crack and corner, but no place could they spy the Magic Umbrella.
Cap'n Bill even ventured to enter the rooms of the Six Snubnosed
Princesses, who were by this time so thoroughly alarmed that they
had become meek and mild as could be.
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