The Roundbodies broke in upon me with such dismal groans and cries that I stood as if rooted to the earth.
“Ah!” thought I, “they, too, felt the terrible blows of that storm-demon which so nearly beat out the life from mine and from Bulger’s bodies!”
Waving my hand as a signal for silence, I proceeded:
“I bow before the will of thy spherical Majesty, whatever it may be! At the same time, I would beg to call the attention of your Imperial Roundness to the fact that, in the systems of law of all the nations of the globe, a man may not be held responsible for an act which he is made to commit by a force or strength greater than his own.”
I saw that my flattery was telling upon King Bô-gôô-gôô, so I proceeded to make a still further application of the same remedy:
“However, most Royal Globe and perfect Sphere of Strength and Beauty, if, in thy great wisdom, thou dost decide that we must die, crushed beneath the weight of thy people’s bodies, so be it! Great ball-shaped monarch, I am but a bit and shred of humanity, and how may I dare to oppose the will of your right royal Sphericity?”
King Bô-gôô-gôô smiled till his huge double teeth could be seen glittering in his cavernous mouth, like white rocks in a half-lighted pit, and his body swayed from one side to another in his gigantic glee.
“Send for the royal princess!” he roared.
In a few seconds, in answer to his command, a Roundbody came rolling across the plain with the swiftness of the wind.
The crowd of retainers fell back, and the new-comer arrested her flight by the side of King Bô-gôô-gôô.