"Too much choorka-choorka! Suppose the queen we lose--"
He pointed with his thumb to his neck by way of completing the sentence.
"Too much choorka-choorka!" repeated the young prince. "You old--you stop her."
"No, no, you young--you run quick, you stop her!"
That dragon-fly gave Leeboo grand sport for over half an hour. From bush to bush it flitted, and flew from flower to flower, over rocks, over cairns, and finally down the great hill that led to the plain below.
Matters looked serious, so both lovers were now in duty bound to follow their all-too-lively queen.
When they reached the bottom of the brae, however, behold!--but stay, there was no behold about it. Queen Leeboo was nowhere to be seen!
[CHAPTER XXV--BENEE'S MOTHER TO THE FRONT]
Here was a difficulty!
If they returned without the queen, they would be torn in pieces and quietly eaten afterwards.