Tititi-Hoochoo turned to Tubekins.
"I command you," said he, "to escort these
strangers to the Tube and see that they all enter
it."
The King of the Tube, who had first discovered
our friends and brought them to the Private
Citizen, stepped forward and bowed. As he did so,
the Jinjin and all the Kings and Queens suddenly
disappeared and only Tubekins remained visible.
"All right," said Betsy, with a sigh; "I don't
mind going back so very much, 'cause the Jinjin
promised to make it easy for us."
Indeed, Queen Ann and her officers were the only
ones who looked solemn and seemed to fear the
return journey. One thing that bothered Ann was
her failure to conquer this land of Tititi-
Hoochoo. As they followed their guide through the
gardens to the mouth of the Tube she said to
Shaggy:
"How can I conquer the world, if I go away
and leave this rich country unconquered?"
"You can't," he replied. "Don't ask me why,
please, for if you don't know I can't inform
you."
"Why not?" said Ann; but Shaggy paid no
attention to the question.
This end of the Tube had a silver rim and around
it was a gold railing to which was attached a sign
that read.
"IF YOU ARE OUT, STAY THERE.
IF YOU ARE IN, DON'T COME OUT."
On a little silver plate just inside the Tube
was engraved the words:
"Burrowed and built by
Hiergargo the Magician,
In the Year of the World
1 9 6 2 5 4 7 8
For his own exclusive uses."
"He was some builder, I must say," remarked
Betsy, when she had read the inscription; "but
if he had known about that star I guess he'd
have spent his time playing solitaire.
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