After the Pinkies had been dismissed, their new Queen Rosalie, by means
of a clever charm, conjured up a dinner table set with very nice things
to eat. They all enjoyed a hearty meal and afterward sat and talked over
their adventures.
"Will you take the parrot home with you, Trot?" asked Cap'n Bill.
"Guess not, Cap'n," she answered. "Mother wouldn't like to have him
hangin' 'round an' screechin' bad po'try ev'ry minute. I'll give him to
Rosalie, for I'm sure she'll take good care of him."
Rosalie accepted the gift with pleasure, but the parrot looked sober
awhile and then said:
"This looks to me like a give-away;
But here I am, and here I'll stay.
The country's pink, but we'll all be blue
When Trot goes home, as she says she'll do."
They now packed the lunch-basket with the remains of the feast, for they
knew a long journey was before them and feared they might be hungry
before they landed again. Cap'n Bill straightened out the ropes and
adjusted the seats, while Button-Bright examined the umbrella to see if
it had been injured in any way when the elephant tramped through the Fog
Bank.
The boy looked into the small red eyes of the carved elephant's-head
handle with some misgivings, but as seen in the strong sunshine the eyes
were merely red stones, while the handle plainly showed the marks of the
tool that had carved it.
When all was ready they went into the Court of the Statues, where all
the Pinkies were assembled--together with their Pink Band--and Cap'n
Bill hooked the swinging seats onto the handle of the Magic Umbrella.
Trot kissed Rosalie and Coralie and Tourmaline good-bye and said to
them:
"If you ever happen to come to Earth you must be sure to visit me and
I'll try to give you a good time. But p'raps you'll stay here all your
lives."
"I think we shall," replied Rosalie, laughing, "for in all Sky Island
there will be no Magic Umbrella for us to fly with."
"And when you see Polychrome," added Trot, "jus' give her my love."
Then she and Button-Bright seated themselves in the double seat, which
was flat upon the pink ground, and Cap'n Bill sat before them on his own
seat, to which the lunch basket had been fastened by means of a stout
cord.
"Hold fast!" said the sailorman, and they all held fast to the ropes
while the boy, glancing up toward the open umbrella he held, said
solemnly and distinctly:
"Take us to Trot's house on the Earth."
The umbrella obeyed, at once mounting into the air. It moved slowly at
first but gradually increased its speed. First it lifted the seat of the
boy and girl, then Cap'n Bill's seat and finally the lunch-basket.
"Fly high!--mind your eye!
Don't cry!--bye-bye!"
shouted the parrot from the Pink Witch's shoulder.
Trot leaned over and waved her hand. The Pink Band played as loud as it
could--in order that the travelers might hear it as long as
possible--and Rosalie and Coralie and Tourmaline threw kisses to their
vanishing friends as long as they remained in sight.
* * * * *
"Seems good to be on the way home again," remarked Trot, as the umbrella
bumped into a big black cloud.
"It reely does, mate," answered the sailorman, joyously.
Fast through the cloud the umbrella swept and then suddenly it sailed
into a clear blue sky, across which a great and gorgeous Rainbow spread
its radiant arch. Upon the bow danced the dainty Daughters of the
Rainbow, and the umbrella passed near enough to it for the passengers to
observe Polychrome merrily leading her sisters, her fleecy robes waving
prettily in the gentle breeze.
"Good-bye, Polly!" cried Button-Bright, and Trot and Cap'n Bill both
called out: "Good-bye!"
Polychrome heard and nodded to them smilingly, never halting in her
graceful dance. Then the umbrella dropped far below the arch, which
presently faded from view.
It was an exciting ride. Scenes presented themselves entirely different
from those they had seen on their former voyage, for the sky changes
continually and the clouds of the moment are not the clouds of an hour
ago. Once they passed between two small stars as brilliant as diamonds,
and once an enormous bird, whose wings spread so wide that they shadowed
the sun, soared directly over them and lost itself in the vague distance
of the limitless sky.
[Illustration]
They rode quite comfortably, however, and were full of eager interest in
what they saw. The rush of air past them made them hungry, so Cap'n Bill
drew up the lunch-basket and held it so that Button-Bright and Trot
could help themselves to the pink food, which tasted very good. And,
finally, a dark rim appeared below them, which the sailor declared must
be the Earth. He proved to be correct and when they came nearer they
found themselves flying over the waves of the ocean. Pretty soon a small
island appeared, and Trot exclaimed:
"That's the Sky Island we thought we were goin' to--only we didn't."
"Yes; an' there's the mainland, mate!" cried Cap'n Bill excitedly,
pointing toward a distant coast.
On swept the Magic Umbrella. Then its speed gradually slackened; the
houses and trees on the coast could be seen, and presently-almost
before they realized it-they were set down gently upon the high bluff
near the giant acacia. A little way off stood the white cottage where
Trot lived.
It was growing dusk as Cap'n Bill unhooked the seats and Button-Bright
folded up the umbrella and tucked it under his arm. Trot seized the
lunch-basket and ran to the house, where she found her mother busy in
the kitchen.
"Well, I'm back again," said the little girl. "Is supper ready, mama?"
Button-Bright stayed all night with them, but next morning, bright and
early, he hooked one of the seats to his Magic Umbrella, said good-bye
to Trot and Cap'n Bill and flew into the air to begin his journey to
Philadelphia. Just before he started Trot said:
"Let me know if you get home safe, Button-Bright; an' come an' see me
again as quick as you can."
[Illustration]
"I'll try to come again," said the boy. "We've had a good time; haven't
we, Trot?"
"The bes' time I _ever_ had!" she replied, enthusiastically. Then she
asked: "Didn't you like it, too, Cap'n Bill?"
"Parts o' it, mate," the sailor answered, as he thoughtfully made marks
in the sand with the end of his wooden leg; "but seems to me the bes'
part of all was gett'n' home again."
After several days Trot received a postal-card from Button-Bright. It
was awkwardly scrawled, for the boy was not much of a writer, but Trot
managed to make out the words. It read as follows:
"Got home safe, Trot, and the folks were so worried they forgot to
scold me. Father has taken the Magic Umbrella and locked it up in a
big strong chest in the attic. He put the key in his own pocket, so
I don't know as I'll ever be able to see you again. But I'll never
forget the Queen of Sky Island, and I send my love to you and Cap'n
Bill.
Your friend,
BUTTON-BRIGHT."
THE END.
* * * * *
These typographical errors were corrected by the etext transcriber:
creid the sailor in a voice=>cried the sailor in a voice
which had ben enchanted by Rosalie=>which had been enchanted by Rosalie
went the conquerers down the streets =>went the conquerors down the
streets
spokeman in replying to Queen Trot's speech.=>spokesman in replying to
Queen Trot's speech.