cozily asleep.

It was the parrot that aroused them.

"Look out--look out--
There's folks about!"

it screamed.

"The apple-dumplings, fat and pink, Will be here quicker than a
wink!"

Trot stared up in alarm and rubbed her eyes; Cap'n Bill rolled over
and blinked, hardly remembering where he was; Button-Bright was on
his feet in an instant. Advancing toward them were four of the
natives of the Pink Country.

Two were men and two were women, and their appearance was in sharp
contrast to that of the Blueskins. For the Pinkies were round and
chubby--almost like "apple-dumplings," as the parrot called
them--and they were not very tall, the highest of the men being no
taller than Trot or Button-Bright. They all had short necks and
legs, pink hair and eyes, rosy cheeks and pink complexions, and
their faces were good-natured and jolly in expression.

The men wore picturesque pink clothing and round hats with pink
feathers in them, but the apparel of the women was still more
gorgeous and striking. Their dresses consisted of layer after layer
of gauzy tuck and ruffles and laces, caught here and there with bows
of dainty ribbon. The skirts--which of course were of many shades of