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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/958-h.zip b/958-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..558510c --- /dev/null +++ b/958-h.zip diff --git a/958-h/958-h.htm b/958-h/958-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7d7d8cb --- /dev/null +++ b/958-h/958-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8566 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> + +<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<TITLE> +The Project Gutenberg E-text of Rinkitink in Oz, by L. Frank Baum +</TITLE> + +<STYLE TYPE="text/css"> +BODY { color: Black; + background: White; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +P {text-indent: 4% } + +P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +P.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: small } + +P.letter {font-size: small ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.finis { text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +</STYLE> + +</HEAD> + +<BODY> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Rinkitink in Oz, by L. Frank Baum + +<table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto" cellpadding="4" border="3"> +<tr> +<td> +THIS EBOOK WAS ONE OF PROJECT GUTENBERG'S EARLY FILES, THERE IS +AN IMPROVED ILLUSTRATED EDITION OF THIS TITLE WHICH MAY VIEWED AT EBOOK <big><b><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/25581/25581-h/25581-h.htm"> +[ #25581 ]</a></b></big> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Rinkitink in Oz + +Author: L. Frank Baum + +Posting Date: March 23, 2009 [EBook #958] +Release Date: June, 1997 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RINKITINK IN OZ *** + + + + +Produced by Anthony Matonac + + + + + +</pre> + + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +RINKITINK IN OZ +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +by +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +L. Frank Baum +</H2> + +<BR><BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> + Wherein is recorded the Perilous Quest of<BR> + Prince Inga of Pingaree and King<BR> + Rinkitink in the Magical<BR> + Isles that lie beyond<BR> + the Borderland<BR> + of Oz<BR> +<BR> + By L. Frank Baum<BR> + "Royal Historian of Oz"<BR> +</H4> + +<BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Introducing this Story +</H3> + +<P> +Here is a story with a boy hero, and a boy of whom you have never +before heard. There are girls in the story, too, including our old +friend Dorothy, and some of the characters wander a good way from the +Land of Oz before they all assemble in the Emerald City to take part in +Ozma's banquet. Indeed, I think you will find this story quite +different from the other histories of Oz, but I hope you will not like +it the less on that account. +</P> + +<P> +If I am permitted to write another Oz book it will tell of some +thrilling adventures encountered by Dorothy, Betsy Bobbin, Trot and the +Patchwork Girl right in the Land of Oz, and how they discovered some +amazing creatures that never could have existed outside a fairy-land. I +have an idea that about the time you are reading this story of +Rinkitink I shall be writing that story of Adventures in Oz. +</P> + +<P> +Don't fail to write me often and give me your advice and suggestions, +which I always appreciate. I get a good many letters from my readers, +but every one is a joy to me and I answer them as soon as I can find +time to do so. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"OZCOT"<BR> + at HOLLYWOOD<BR> + in CALIFORNIA, 1916.<BR> +<BR> +L. FRANK BAUM<BR> + Royal Historian of Oz<BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +LIST OF CHAPTERS +</H2> + +<TABLE ALIGN="center" WIDTH="80%"> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">1 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap01">The Prince of Pingaree</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">2 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">The Coming of King Rinkitink</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">3 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">The Warriors from the North</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">4 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">The Deserted Island</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">5 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">The Three Pearls</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">6 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">The Magic Boat</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">7 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">The Twin Islands</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">8 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">Rinkitink Makes a Great Mistake</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">9 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">A Present for Zella</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">10 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">The Cunning of Queen Cor</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">11 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap11">Zella Goes to Coregos</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">12 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap12">The Excitement of Bilbil the Goat</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">13 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap13">Zella Saves the Prince</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">14 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap14">The Escape</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">15 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap15">The Flight of the Rulers</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">16 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap16">Nikobob Refuses a Crown</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">17 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap17">The Nome King</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">18 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap18">Inga Parts With His Pink Pearl</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">19 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap19">Rinkitink Chuckles</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">20 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap20">Dorothy to the Rescue</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">21 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap21">The Wizard Finds an Enchantment</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">22 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap22">Ozma's Banquet</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">23 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap23">The Pearl Kingdom</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">24 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap24">The Captive King</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter One +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Prince of Pingaree +</H3> + +<P> +If you have a map of the Land of Oz handy, you will find that the great +Nonestic Ocean washes the shores of the Kingdom of Rinkitink, between +which and the Land of Oz lies a strip of the country of the Nome King +and a Sandy Desert. The Kingdom of Rinkitink isn't very big and lies +close to the ocean, all the houses and the King's palace being built +near the shore. The people live much upon the water, boating and +fishing, and the wealth of Rinkitink is gained from trading along the +coast and with the islands nearest it. +</P> + +<P> +Four days' journey by boat to the north of Rinkitink is the Island of +Pingaree, and as our story begins here I must tell you something about +this island. At the north end of Pingaree, where it is widest, the land +is a mile from shore to shore, but at the south end it is scarcely half +a mile broad; thus, although Pingaree is four miles long, from north to +south, it cannot be called a very big island. It is exceedingly pretty, +however, and to the gulls who approach it from the sea it must resemble +a huge green wedge lying upon the waters, for its grass and trees give +it the color of an emerald. +</P> + +<P> +The grass came to the edge of the sloping shores; the beautiful trees +occupied all the central portion of Pingaree, forming a continuous +grove where the branches met high overhead and there was just space +beneath them for the cosy houses of the inhabitants. These houses were +scattered everywhere throughout the island, so that there was no town +or city, unless the whole island might be called a city. The canopy of +leaves, high overhead, formed a shelter from sun and rain, and the +dwellers in the grove could all look past the straight tree-trunks and +across the grassy slopes to the purple waters of the Nonestic Ocean. +</P> + +<P> +At the big end of the island, at the north, stood the royal palace of +King Kitticut, the lord and ruler of Pingaree. It was a beautiful +palace, built entirely of snow-white marble and capped by domes of +burnished gold, for the King was exceedingly wealthy. All along the +coast of Pingaree were found the largest and finest pearls in the whole +world. +</P> + +<P> +These pearls grew within the shells of big oysters, and the people +raked the oysters from their watery beds, sought out the milky pearls +and carried them dutifully to their King. Therefore, once every year +His Majesty was able to send six of his boats, with sixty rowers and +many sacks of the valuable pearls, to the Kingdom of Rinkitink, where +there was a city called Gilgad, in which King Rinkitink's palace stood +on a rocky headland and served, with its high towers, as a lighthouse +to guide sailors to the harbor. In Gilgad the pearls from Pingaree were +purchased by the King's treasurer, and the boats went back to the +island laden with stores of rich merchandise and such supplies of food +as the people and the royal family of Pingaree needed. +</P> + +<P> +The Pingaree people never visited any other land but that of Rinkitink, +and so there were few other lands that knew there was such an island. +To the southwest was an island called the Isle of Phreex, where the +inhabitants had no use for pearls. And far north of Pingaree—six days' +journey by boat, it was said—were twin islands named Regos and +Coregos, inhabited by a fierce and warlike people. +</P> + +<P> +Many years before this story really begins, ten big boatloads of those +fierce warriors of Regos and Coregos visited Pingaree, landing suddenly +upon the north end of the island. There they began to plunder and +conquer, as was their custom, but the people of Pingaree, although +neither so big nor so strong as their foes, were able to defeat them +and drive them all back to the sea, where a great storm overtook the +raiders from Regos and Coregos and destroyed them and their boats, not +a single warrior returning to his own country. +</P> + +<P> +This defeat of the enemy seemed the more wonderful because the +pearl-fishers of Pingaree were mild and peaceful in disposition and +seldom quarreled even among themselves. Their only weapons were their +oyster rakes; yet the fact remains that they drove their fierce enemies +from Regos and Coregos from their shores. +</P> + +<P> +King Kitticut was only a boy when this remarkable battle was fought, +and now his hair was gray; but he remembered the day well and, during +the years that followed, his one constant fear was of another invasion +of his enemies. He feared they might send a more numerous army to his +island, both for conquest and revenge, in which case there could be +little hope of successfully opposing them. +</P> + +<P> +This anxiety on the part of King Kitticut led him to keep a sharp +lookout for strange boats, one of his men patrolling the beach +constantly, but he was too wise to allow any fear to make him or his +subjects unhappy. He was a good King and lived very contentedly in his +fine palace, with his fair Queen Garee and their one child, Prince Inga. +</P> + +<P> +The wealth of Pingaree increased year by year; and the happiness of the +people increased, too. Perhaps there was no place, outside the Land of +Oz, where contentment and peace were more manifest than on this pretty +island, hidden in the besom of the Nonestic Ocean. Had these conditions +remained undisturbed, there would have been no need to speak of +Pingaree in this story. +</P> + +<P> +Prince Inga, the heir to all the riches and the kingship of Pingaree, +grew up surrounded by every luxury; but he was a manly little fellow, +although somewhat too grave and thoughtful, and he could never bear to +be idle a single minute. He knew where the finest oysters lay hidden +along the coast and was as successful in finding pearls as any of the +men of the island, although he was so slight and small. He had a little +boat of his own and a rake for dragging up the oysters and he was very +proud indeed when he could carry a big white pearl to his father. +</P> + +<P> +There was no school upon the island, as the people of Pingaree were far +removed from the state of civilization that gives our modern children +such advantages as schools and learned professors, but the King owned +several manuscript books, the pages being made of sheepskin. Being a +man of intelligence, he was able to teach his son something of reading, +writing and arithmetic. +</P> + +<P> +When studying his lessons Prince Inga used to go into the grove near +his father's palace and climb into the branches of a tall tree, where +he had built a platform with a comfortable seat to rest upon, all +hidden by the canopy of leaves. There, with no one to disturb him, he +would pore over the sheepskin on which were written the queer +characters of the Pingarese language. +</P> + +<P> +King Kitticut was very proud of his little son, as well he might be, +and he soon felt a high respect for Inga's judgment and thought that he +was worthy to be taken into the confidence of his father in many +matters of state. He taught the boy the needs of the people and how to +rule them justly, for some day he knew that Inga would be King in his +place. One day he called his son to his side and said to him: +</P> + +<P> +"Our island now seems peaceful enough, Inga, and we are happy and +prosperous, but I cannot forget those terrible people of Regos and +Coregos. My constant fear is that they will send a fleet of boats to +search for those of their race whom we defeated many years ago, and +whom the sea afterwards destroyed. If the warriors come in great +numbers we may be unable to oppose them, for my people are little +trained to fighting at best; they surely would cause us much injury and +suffering." +</P> + +<P> +"Are we, then, less powerful than in my grandfather's day?" asked +Prince Inga. +</P> + +<P> +The King shook his head thoughtfully. +</P> + +<P> +"It is not that," said he. "That you may fully understand that +marvelous battle, I must confide to, you a great secret. I have in my +possession three Magic Talismans, which I have ever guarded with utmost +care, keeping the knowledge of their existence from anyone else. But, +lest I should die, and the secret be lost, I have decided to tell you +what these talismans are and where they are hidden. Come with me, my +son." +</P> + +<P> +He led the way through the rooms of the palace until they came to the +great banquet hall. There, stopping in the center of the room, he +stooped down and touched a hidden spring in the tiled floor. At once +one of the tiles sank downward and the King reached within the cavity +and drew out a silken bag. +</P> + +<P> +This bag he proceeded to open, showing Inga that it contained three +great pearls, each one as big around as a marble. One had a blue tint +and one was of a delicate rose color, but the third was pure white. +</P> + +<P> +"These three pearls," said the King, speaking in a solemn, impressive +voice, "are the most wonderful the world has ever known. They were +gifts to one of my ancestors from the Mermaid Queen, a powerful fairy +whom he once had the good fortune to rescue from her enemies. In +gratitude for this favor she presented him with these pearls. Each of +the three possesses an astonishing power, and whoever is their owner +may count himself a fortunate man. This one having the blue tint will +give to the person who carries it a strength so great that no power can +resist him. The one with the pink glow will protect its owner from all +dangers that may threaten him, no matter from what source they may +come. The third pearl—this one of pure white—can speak, and its words +are always wise and helpful." +</P> + +<P> +"What is this, my father!" exclaimed the Prince, amazed; "do you tell +me that a pearl can speak? It sounds impossible." +</P> + +<P> +"Your doubt is due to your ignorance of fairy powers," returned the +King, gravely. "Listen, my son, and you will know that I speak the +truth." +</P> + +<P> +He held the white pearl to Inga's ear and the Prince heard a small +voice say distinctly: "Your father is right. Never question the truth +of what you fail to understand, for the world is filled with wonders." +</P> + +<P> +"I crave your pardon, dear father," said the Prince, "for clearly I +heard the pearl speak, and its words were full of wisdom." +</P> + +<P> +"The powers of the other pearls are even greater," resumed the King. +"Were I poor in all else, these gems would make me richer than any +other monarch the world holds." +</P> + +<P> +"I believe that," replied Inga, looking at the beautiful pearls with +much awe. "But tell me, my father, why do you fear the warriors of +Regos and Coregos when these marvelous powers are yours?" +</P> + +<P> +"The powers are mine only while I have the pearls upon my person," +answered King Kitticut, "and I dare not carry them constantly for fear +they might be lost. Therefore, I keep them safely hidden in this +recess. My only danger lies in the chance that my watchmen might fail +to discover the approach of our enemies and allow the warrior invaders +to seize me before I could secure the pearls. I should, in that case, +be quite powerless to resist. My father owned the magic pearls at the +time of the Great Fight, of which you have so often heard, and the pink +pearl protected him from harm, while the blue pearl enabled him and his +people to drive away the enemy. Often have I suspected that the +destroying storm was caused by the fairy mermaids, but that is a matter +of which I have no proof." +</P> + +<P> +"I have often wondered how we managed to win that battle," remarked +Inga thoughtfully. "But the pearls will assist us in case the warriors +come again, will they not?" +</P> + +<P> +"They are as powerful as ever," declared the King. "Really, my son, I +have little to fear from any foe. But lest I die and the secret be lost +to the next King, I have now given it into your keeping. Remember that +these pearls are the rightful heritage of all Kings of Pingaree. If at +any time I should be taken from you, Inga, guard this treasure well and +do not forget where it is hidden." +</P> + +<P> +"I shall not forget," said Inga. +</P> + +<P> +Then the King returned the pearls to their hiding place and the boy +went to his own room to ponder upon the wonderful secret his father had +that day confided to his care. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Two +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Coming of King Rinkitink +</H3> + +<P> +A few days after this, on a bright and sunny morning when the breeze +blew soft and sweet from the ocean and the trees waved their leaf-laden +branches, the Royal Watchman, whose duty it was to patrol the shore, +came running to the King with news that a strange boat was approaching +the island. +</P> + +<P> +At first the King was sore afraid and made a step toward the hidden +pearls, but the next moment he reflected that one boat, even if filled +with enemies, would be powerless to injure him, so he curbed his fear +and went down to the beach to discover who the strangers might be. Many +of the men of Pingaree assembled there also, and Prince Inga followed +his father. Arriving at the water's edge, they all stood gazing eagerly +at the oncoming boat. +</P> + +<P> +It was quite a big boat, they observed, and covered with a canopy of +purple silk, embroidered with gold. It was rowed by twenty men, ten on +each side. As it came nearer, Inga could see that in the stern, seated +upon a high, cushioned chair of state, was a little man who was so very +fat that he was nearly as broad as he was high This man was dressed in +a loose silken robe of purple that fell in folds to his feet, while +upon his head was a cap of white velvet curiously worked with golden +threads and having a circle of diamonds sewn around the band. At the +opposite end of the boat stood an oddly shaped cage, and several large +boxes of sandalwood were piled near the center of the craft. +</P> + +<P> +As the boat approached the shore the fat little man got upon his feet +and bowed several times in the direction of those who had assembled to +greet him, and as he bowed he flourished his white cap in an energetic +manner. His face was round as an apple and nearly as rosy. When he +stopped bowing he smiled in such a sweet and happy way that Inga +thought he must be a very jolly fellow. +</P> + +<P> +The prow of the boat grounded on the beach, stopping its speed so +suddenly that the little man was caught unawares and nearly toppled +headlong into the sea. But he managed to catch hold of the chair with +one hand and the hair of one of his rowers with the other, and so +steadied himself. Then, again waving his jeweled cap around his head, +he cried in a merry voice: +</P> + +<P> +"Well, here I am at last!" +</P> + +<P> +"So I perceive," responded King Kitticut, bowing with much dignity. +</P> + +<P> +The fat man glanced at all the sober faces before him and burst into a +rollicking laugh. Perhaps I should say it was half laughter and half a +chuckle of merriment, for the sounds he emitted were quaint and droll +and tempted every hearer to laugh with him. +</P> + +<P> +"Heh, heh—ho, ho, ho!" he roared. "Didn't expect me, I see. +Keek-eek-eek-eek! This is funny—it's really funny. Didn't know I was +coming, did you? Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo! This is certainly amusing. But I'm +here, just the same." +</P> + +<P> +"Hush up!" said a deep, growling voice. "You're making yourself +ridiculous." +</P> + +<P> +Everyone looked to see where this voice came from; but none could guess +who had uttered the words of rebuke. The rowers of the boat were all +solemn and silent and certainly no one on the shore had spoken. But the +little man did not seem astonished in the least, or even annoyed. +</P> + +<P> +King Kitticut now addressed the stranger, saying courteously: +</P> + +<P> +"You are welcome to the Kingdom of Pingaree. Perhaps you will deign to +come ashore and at your convenience inform us whom we have the honor of +receiving as a guest." +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks; I will," returned the little fat man, waddling from his place +in the boat and stepping, with some difficulty, upon the sandy beach. +"I am King Rinkitink, of the City of Gilgad in the Kingdom of +Rinkitink, and I have come to Pingaree to see for myself the monarch +who sends to my city so many beautiful pearls. I have long wished to +visit this island; and so, as I said before, here I am!" +</P> + +<P> +"I am pleased to welcome you," said King Kitticut. "But why has Your +Majesty so few attendants? Is it not dangerous for the King of a great +country to make distant journeys in one frail boat, and with but twenty +men?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I suppose so," answered King Rinkitink, with a laugh. "But what +else could I do? My subjects would not allow me to go anywhere at all, +if they knew it. So I just ran away." +</P> + +<P> +"Ran away!" exclaimed King Kitticut in surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"Funny, isn't it? Heh, heh, heh—woo, hoo!" laughed Rinkitink, and this +is as near as I can spell with letters the jolly sounds of his +laughter. "Fancy a King running away from his own ple—hoo, hoo—keek, +eek, eek, eek! But I had to, don't you see!" +</P> + +<P> +"Why?" asked the other King. +</P> + +<P> +"They're afraid I'll get into mischief. They don't trust me. +Keek-eek-eek—Oh, dear me! Don't trust their own King. Funny, isn't it?" +</P> + +<P> +"No harm can come to you on this island," said Kitticut, pretending not +to notice the odd ways of his guest. "And, whenever it pleases you to +return to your own country, I will send with you a fitting escort of my +own people. In the meantime, pray accompany me to my palace, where +everything shall be done to make you comfortable and happy." +</P> + +<P> +"Much obliged," answered Rinkitink, tipping his white cap over his left +ear and heartily shaking the hand of his brother monarch. "I'm sure you +can make me comfortable if you've plenty to eat. And as for being +happy—ha, ha, ha, ha!—why, that's my trouble. I'm too happy. But +stop! I've brought you some presents in those boxes. Please order your +men to carry them up to the palace." +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly," answered King Kitticut, well pleased, and at once he gave +his men the proper orders. +</P> + +<P> +"And, by the way," continued the fat little King, "let them also take +my goat from his cage." +</P> + +<P> +"A goat!" exclaimed the King of Pingaree. +</P> + +<P> +"Exactly; my goat Bilbil. I always ride him wherever I go, for I'm not +at all fond of walking, being a trifle stout—eh, Kitticut?—a trifle +stout! Hoo, hoo, hoo-keek, eek!" +</P> + +<P> +The Pingaree people started to lift the big cage out of the boat, but +just then a gruff voice cried: "Be careful, you villains!" and as the +words seemed to come from the goat's mouth the men were so astonished +that they dropped the cage upon the sand with a sudden jar. +</P> + +<P> +"There! I told you so!" cried the voice angrily. "You've rubbed the +skin off my left knee. Why on earth didn't you handle me gently?" +</P> + +<P> +"There, there, Bilbil," said King Rinkitink soothingly; "don't scold, +my boy. Remember that these are strangers, and we their guests." Then +he turned to Kitticut and remarked: "You have no talking goats on your +island, I suppose." +</P> + +<P> +"We have no goats at all," replied the King; "nor have we any animals, +of any sort, who are able to talk." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish my animal couldn't talk, either," said Rinkitink, winking +comically at Inga and then looking toward the cage. "He is very cross +at times, and indulges in language that is not respectful. I thought, +at first, it would be fine to have a talking goat, with whom I could +converse as I rode about my city on his back; +but—keek-eek-eek-eek!—the rascal treats me as if I were a chimney +sweep instead of a King. Heh, heh, heh, keek, eek! A chimney sweep-hoo, +hoo, hoo!—and me a King! Funny, isn't it?" This last was addressed to +Prince Inga, whom he chucked familiarly under the chin, to the boy's +great embarrassment. +</P> + +<P> +"Why do you not ride a horse?" asked King Kitticut. +</P> + +<P> +"I can't climb upon his back, being rather stout; that's why. Kee, kee, +keek, eek!—rather stout—hoo, hoo, hoo!" He paused to wipe the tears +of merriment from his eyes and then added: "But I can get on and off +Bilbil's back with ease." +</P> + +<P> +He now opened the cage and the goat deliberately walked out and looked +about him in a sulky manner. One of the rowers brought from the boat a +saddle made of red velvet and beautifully embroidered with silver +thistles, which he fastened upon the goat's back. The fat King put his +leg over the saddle and seated himself comfortably, saying: +</P> + +<P> +"Lead on, my noble host, and we will follow." +</P> + +<P> +"What! Up that steep hill?" cried the goat. "Get off my back at once, +Rinkitink, or I won't budge a step. +</P> + +<P> +"But-consider, Bilbil," remonstrated the King. "How am I to get up that +hill unless I ride?" +</P> + +<P> +"Walk!" growled Bilbil. +</P> + +<P> +"But I'm too fat. Really, Bilbil, I'm surprised at you. Haven't I +brought you all this distance so you may see something of the world and +enjoy life? And now you are so ungrateful as to refuse to carry me! +Turn about is fair play, my boy. The boat carried you to this shore, +because you can't swim, and now you must carry me up the hill, because +I can't climb. Eh, Bilbil, isn't that reasonable?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, well, well," said the goat, surlily, "keep quiet and I'll carry +you. But you make me very tired, Rinkitink, with your ceaseless +chatter." +</P> + +<P> +After making this protest Bilbil began walking up the hill, carrying +the fat King upon his back with no difficulty whatever. +</P> + +<P> +Prince Inga and his father and all the men of Pingaree were much +astonished to overhear this dispute between King Rinkitink and his +goat; but they were too polite to make critical remarks in the presence +of their guests. King Kitticut walked beside the goat and the Prince +followed after, the men coming last with the boxes of sandalwood. +</P> + +<P> +When they neared the palace, the Queen and her maidens came out to meet +them and the royal guest was escorted in state to the splendid throne +room of the palace. Here the boxes were opened and King Rinkitink +displayed all the beautiful silks and laces and jewelry with which they +were filled. Every one of the courtiers and ladies received a handsome +present, and the King and Queen had many rich gifts and Inga not a few. +Thus the time passed pleasantly until the Chamberlain announced that +dinner was served. +</P> + +<P> +Bilbil the goat declared that he preferred eating of the sweet, rich +grass that grew abundantly in the palace grounds, and Rinkitink said +that the beast could never bear being shut up in a stable; so they +removed the saddle from his back and allowed him to wander wherever he +pleased. +</P> + +<P> +During the dinner Inga divided his attention between admiring the +pretty gifts he had received and listening to the jolly sayings of the +fat King, who laughed when he was not eating and ate when he was not +laughing and seemed to enjoy himself immensely. +</P> + +<P> +"For four days I have lived in that narrow boat," said he, "with no +other amusement than to watch the rowers and quarrel with Bilbil; so I +am very glad to be on land again with such friendly and agreeable +people." +</P> + +<P> +"You do us great honor," said King Kitticut, with a polite bow. +</P> + +<P> +"Not at all—not at all, my brother. This Pingaree must be a wonderful +island, for its pearls are the admiration of all the world; nor will I +deny the fact that my kingdom would be a poor one without the riches +and glory it derives from the trade in your pearls. So I have wished +for many years to come here to see you, but my people said: 'No! Stay +at home and behave yourself, or we'll know the reason why.'" +</P> + +<P> +"Will they not miss Your Majesty from your palace at Gilgad?" inquired +Kitticut. +</P> + +<P> +"I think not," answered Rinkitink. "You see, one of my clever subjects +has written a parchment entitled 'How to be Good,' and I believed it +would benefit me to study it, as I consider the accomplishment of being +good one of the fine arts. I had just scolded severely my Lord High +Chancellor for coming to breakfast without combing his eyebrows, and +was so sad and regretful at having hurt the poor man's feelings that I +decided to shut myself up in my own room and study the scroll until I +knew how to be good—hee, heek, keek, eek, eek!—to be good! Clever +idea, that, wasn't it? Mighty clever! And I issued a decree that no one +should enter my room, under pain of my royal displeasure, until I was +ready to come out. They're awfully afraid of my royal displeasure, +although not a bit afraid of me. Then I put the parchment in my pocket +and escaped through the back door to my boat—and here I am. Oo, +hoo-hoo, keek-eek! Imagine the fuss there would be in Gilgad if my +subjects knew where I am this very minute!" +</P> + +<P> +"I would like to see that parchment," said the solemn-eyed Prince Inga, +"for if it indeed teaches one to be good it must be worth its weight in +pearls." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, it's a fine essay," said Rinkitink, "and beautifully written with +a goosequill. Listen to this: You'll enjoy it—tee, hee, hee!—enjoy +it." +</P> + +<P> +He took from his pocket a scroll of parchment tied with a black ribbon, +and having carefully unrolled it, he proceeded to read as follows: +</P> + +<P> +"'A Good Man is One who is Never Bad.' How's that, eh? Fine thought, +what? 'Therefore, in order to be Good, you must avoid those Things +which are Evil.' Oh, hoo-hoo-hoo!—how clever! When I get back I shall +make the man who wrote that a royal hippolorum, for, beyond question, +he is the wisest man in my kingdom—as he has often told me himself." +With this, Rinkitink lay back in his chair and chuckled his queer +chuckle until he coughed, and coughed until he choked and choked until +he sneezed. And he wrinkled his face in such a jolly, droll way that +few could keep from laughing with him, and even the good Queen was +forced to titter behind her fan. +</P> + +<P> +When Rinkitink had recovered from his fit of laughter and had wiped his +eyes upon a fine lace handkerchief, Prince Inga said to him: +</P> + +<P> +"The parchment speaks truly." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it is true beyond doubt," answered Rinkitink, "and if I could +persuade Bilbil to read it he would be a much better goat than he is +now. Here is another selection: 'To avoid saying Unpleasant Things, +always Speak Agreeably.' That would hit Bilbil, to a dot. And here is +one that applies to you, my Prince: 'Good Children are seldom punished, +for the reason that they deserve no punishment.' Now, I think that is +neatly put, and shows the author to be a deep thinker. But the advice +that has impressed me the most is in the following paragraph: 'You may +not find it as Pleasant to be Good as it is to be Bad, but Other People +will find it more Pleasant.' Haw-hoo-ho! keek-eek! 'Other people will +find it more pleasant!'—hee, hee, heek, keek!—'more pleasant.' Dear +me—dear me! Therein lies a noble incentive to be good, and whenever I +get time I'm surely going to try it." +</P> + +<P> +Then he wiped his eyes again with the lace handkerchief and, suddenly +remembering his dinner, seized his knife and fork and began eating. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Three +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Warriors from the North +</H3> + +<P> +King Rinkitink was so much pleased with the Island of Pingaree that he +continued his stay day after day and week after week, eating good +dinners, talking with King Kitticut and sleeping. Once in a while he +would read from his scroll. "For," said he, "whenever I return home, my +subjects will be anxious to know if I have learned 'How to be Good,' +and I must not disappoint them." +</P> + +<P> +The twenty rowers lived on the small end of the island, with the pearl +fishers, and seemed not to care whether they ever returned to the +Kingdom of Rinkitink or not. Bilbil the goat wandered over the grassy +slopes, or among the trees, and passed his days exactly as he pleased. +His master seldom cared to ride him. Bilbil was a rare curiosity to the +islanders, but since there was little pleasure in talking with the goat +they kept away from him. This pleased the creature, who seemed well +satisfied to be left to his own devices. +</P> + +<P> +Once Prince Inga, wishing to be courteous, walked up to the goat and +said: "Good morning, Bilbil." +</P> + +<P> +"It isn't a good morning," answered Bilbil grumpily. "It is cloudy and +damp, and looks like rain." +</P> + +<P> +"I hope you are contented in our kingdom," continued the boy, politely +ignoring the other's harsh words. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not," said Bilbil. "I'm never contented; so it doesn't matter to +me whether I'm in your kingdom or in some other kingdom. Go away—will +you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly," answered the Prince, and after this rebuff he did not +again try to make friends with Bilbil. +</P> + +<P> +Now that the King, his father, was so much occupied with his royal +guest, Inga was often left to amuse himself, for a boy could not be +allowed to take part in the conversation of two great monarchs. He +devoted himself to his studies, therefore, and day after day he climbed +into the branches of his favorite tree and sat for hours in his +"tree-top rest," reading his father's precious manuscripts and thinking +upon what he read. +</P> + +<P> +You must not think that Inga was a molly-coddle or a prig, because he +was so solemn and studious. Being a King's son and heir to a throne, he +could not play with the other boys of Pingaree, and he lived so much in +the society of the King and Queen, and was so surrounded by the pomp +and dignity of a court, that he missed all the jolly times that boys +usually have. I have no doubt that had he been able to live as other +boys do, he would have been much like other boys; as it was, he was +subdued by his surroundings, and more grave and thoughtful than one of +his years should be. +</P> + +<P> +Inga was in his tree one morning when, without warning, a great fog +enveloped the Island of Pingaree. The boy could scarcely see the tree +next to that in which he sat, but the leaves above him prevented the +dampness from wetting him, so he curled himself up in his seat and fell +fast asleep. +</P> + +<P> +All that forenoon the fog continued. King Kitticut, who sat in his +palace talking with his merry visitor, ordered the candles lighted, +that they might be able to see one another. The good Queen, Inga's +mother, found it was too dark to work at her embroidery, so she called +her maidens together and told them wonderful stories of bygone days, in +order to pass away the dreary hours. +</P> + +<P> +But soon after noon the weather changed. The dense fog rolled away like +a heavy cloud and suddenly the sun shot his bright rays over the island. +</P> + +<P> +"Very good!" exclaimed King Kitticut. "We shall have a pleasant +afternoon, I am sure," and he blew out the candles. +</P> + +<P> +Then he stood a moment motionless, as if turned to stone, for a +terrible cry from without the palace reached his ears—a cry so full of +fear and horror that the King's heart almost stopped beating. +Immediately there was a scurrying of feet as every one in the palace, +filled with dismay, rushed outside to see what had happened. Even fat +little Rinkitink sprang from his chair and followed his host and the +others through the arched vestibule. +</P> + +<P> +After many years the worst fears of King Kitticut were realized. +</P> + +<P> +Landing upon the beach, which was but a few steps from the palace +itself, were hundreds of boats, every one filled with a throng of +fierce warriors. They sprang upon the land with wild shouts of defiance +and rushed to the King's palace, waving aloft their swords and spears +and battleaxes. +</P> + +<P> +King Kitticut, so completely surprised that he was bewildered, gazed at +the approaching host with terror and grief. +</P> + +<P> +"They are the men of Regos and Coregos!" he groaned. "We are, indeed, +lost!" +</P> + +<P> +Then he bethought himself, for the first time, of his wonderful pearls. +Turning quickly, he ran back into the palace and hastened to the hall +where the treasures were hidden. But the leader of the warriors had +seen the King enter the palace and bounded after him, thinking he meant +to escape. Just as the King had stooped to press the secret spring in +the tiles, the warrior seized him from the rear and threw him backward +upon the floor, at the same time shouting to his men to fetch ropes and +bind the prisoner. This they did very quickly and King Kitticut soon +found himself helplessly bound and in the power of his enemies. In this +sad condition he was lifted by the warriors and carried outside, when +the good King looked upon a sorry sight. +</P> + +<P> +The Queen and her maidens, the officers and servants of the royal +household and all who had inhabited this end of the Island of Pingaree +had been seized by the invaders and bound with ropes. At once they +began carrying their victims to the boats, tossing them in as +unceremoniously as if they had been bales of merchandise. +</P> + +<P> +The King looked around for his son Inga, but failed to find the boy +among the prisoners. Nor was the fat King, Rinkitink, to be seen +anywhere about. +</P> + +<P> +The warriors were swarming over the palace like bees in a hive, seeking +anyone who might be in hiding, and after the search had been prolonged +for some time the leader asked impatiently: "Do you find anyone else?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," his men told him. "We have captured them all." +</P> + +<P> +"Then," commanded the leader, "remove everything of value from the +palace and tear down its walls and towers, so that not one stone +remains upon another!" +</P> + +<P> +While the warriors were busy with this task we will return to the boy +Prince, who, when the fog lifted and the sun came out, wakened from his +sleep and began to climb down from his perch in the tree. But the +terrifying cries of the people, mingled with the shouts of the rude +warriors, caused him to pause and listen eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +Then he climbed rapidly up the tree, far above his platform, to the +topmost swaying branches. This tree, which Inga called his own, was +somewhat taller than the other trees that surrounded it, and when he +had reached the top he pressed aside the leaves and saw a great fleet +of boats upon the shore—strange boats, with banners that he had never +seen before. Turning to look upon his father's palace, he found it +surrounded by a horde of enemies. Then Inga knew the truth: that the +island had been invaded by the barbaric warriors from the north. He +grew so faint from the terror of it all that he might have fallen had +he not wound his arms around a limb and clung fast until the dizzy +feeling passed away. Then with his sash he bound himself to the limb +and again ventured to look out through the leaves. +</P> + +<P> +The warriors were now engaged in carrying King Kitticut and Queen Garee +and all their other captives down to the boats, where they were thrown +in and chained one to another. It was a dreadful sight for the Prince +to witness, but he sat very still, concealed from the sight of anyone +below by the bower of leafy branches around him. Inga knew very well +that he could do nothing to help his beloved parents, and that if he +came down he would only be forced to share their cruel fate. +</P> + +<P> +Now a procession of the Northmen passed between the boats and the +palace, bearing the rich furniture, splendid draperies and rare +ornaments of which the royal palace had been robbed, together with such +food and other plunder as they could lay their hands upon. After this, +the men of Regos and Coregos threw ropes around the marble domes and +towers and hundreds of warriors tugged at these ropes until the domes +and towers toppled and fell in ruins upon the ground. Then the walls +themselves were torn down, till little remained of the beautiful palace +but a vast heap of white marble blocks tumbled and scattered upon the +ground. +</P> + +<P> +Prince Inga wept bitter tears of grief as he watched the ruin of his +home; yet he was powerless to avert the destruction. When the palace +had been demolished, some of the warriors entered their boats and rowed +along the coast of the island, while the others marched in a great body +down the length of the island itself. They were so numerous that they +formed a line stretching from shore to shore and they destroyed every +house they came to and took every inhabitant prisoner. +</P> + +<P> +The pearl fishers who lived at the lower end of the island tried to +escape in their boats, but they were soon overtaken and made prisoners, +like the others. Nor was there any attempt to resist the foe, for the +sharp spears and pikes and swords of the invaders terrified the hearts +of the defenseless people of Pingaree, whose sole weapons were their +oyster rakes. +</P> + +<P> +When night fell the whole of the Island of Pingaree had been conquered +by the men of the North, and all its people were slaves of the +conquerors. Next morning the men of Regos and Coregos, being capable of +no further mischief, departed from the scene of their triumph, carrying +their prisoners with them and taking also every boat to be found upon +the island. Many of the boats they had filled with rich plunder, with +pearls and silks and velvets, with silver and gold ornaments and all +the treasure that had made Pingaree famed as one of the richest +kingdoms in the world. And the hundreds of slaves they had captured +would be set to work in the mines of Regos and the grain fields of +Coregos. +</P> + +<P> +So complete was the victory of the Northmen that it is no wonder the +warriors sang songs of triumph as they hastened back to their homes. +Great rewards were awaiting them when they showed the haughty King of +Regos and the terrible Queen of Coregos the results of their ocean raid +and conquest. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Four +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Deserted Island +</H3> + +<P> +All through that terrible night Prince Inga remained hidden in his +tree. In the morning he watched the great fleet of boats depart for +their own country, carrying his parents and his countrymen with them, +as well as everything of value the Island of Pingaree had contained. +</P> + +<P> +Sad, indeed, were the boy's thoughts when the last of the boats had +become a mere speck in the distance, but Inga did not dare leave his +perch of safety until all of the craft of the invaders had disappeared +beyond the horizon. Then he came down, very slowly and carefully, for +he was weak from hunger and the long and weary watch, as he had been in +the tree for twenty-four hours without food. +</P> + +<P> +The sun shone upon the beautiful green isle as brilliantly as if no +ruthless invader had passed and laid it in ruins. The birds still +chirped among the trees and the butterflies darted from flower to +flower as happily as when the land was filled with a prosperous and +contented people. +</P> + +<P> +Inga feared that only he was left of all his nation. Perhaps he might +be obliged to pass his life there alone. He would not starve, for the +sea would give him oysters and fish, and the trees fruit; yet the life +that confronted him was far from enticing. +</P> + +<P> +The boy's first act was to walk over to where the palace had stood and +search the ruins until he found some scraps of food that had been +overlooked by the enemy. He sat upon a block of marble and ate of this, +and tears filled his eyes as he gazed upon the desolation around him. +But Inga tried to bear up bravely, and having satisfied his hunger he +walked over to the well, intending to draw a bucket of drinking water. +</P> + +<P> +Fortunately, this well had been overlooked by the invaders and the +bucket was still fastened to the chain that wound around a stout wooden +windlass. Inga took hold of the crank and began letting the bucket down +into the well, when suddenly he was startled by a muffled voice crying +out: +</P> + +<P> +"Be careful, up there!" +</P> + +<P> +The sound and the words seemed to indicate that the voice came from the +bottom of the well, so Inga looked down. Nothing could be seen, on +account of the darkness. +</P> + +<P> +"Who are you?" he shouted. +</P> + +<P> +"It's I—Rinkitink," came the answer, and the depths of the well +echoed: "Tink-i-tink-i-tink!" in a ghostly manner. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you in the well?" asked the boy, greatly surprised. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and nearly drowned. I fell in while running from those terrible +warriors, and I've been standing in this damp hole ever since, with my +head just above the water. It's lucky the well was no deeper, for had +my head been under water, instead of above it—hoo, hoo, hoo, keek, +eek!—under instead of over, you know—why, then I wouldn't be talking +to you now! Ha, hoo, hee!" And the well dismally echoed: "Ha, hoo, +hee!" which you must imagine was a laugh half merry and half sad. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm awfully sorry," cried the boy, in answer. "I wonder you have the +heart to laugh at all. But how am I to get you out?" +</P> + +<P> +"I've been considering that all night," said Rinkitink, "and I believe +the best plan will be for you to let down the bucket to me, and I'll +hold fast to it while you wind up the chain and so draw me to the top." +</P> + +<P> +"I will try to do that," replied Inga, and he let the bucket down very +carefully until he heard the King call out: +</P> + +<P> +"I've got it! Now pull me up—slowly, my boy, slowly—so I won't rub +against the rough sides." +</P> + +<P> +Inga began winding up the chain, but King Rinkitink was so fat that he +was very heavy and by the time the boy had managed to pull him halfway +up the well his strength was gone. He clung to the crank as long as +possible, but suddenly it slipped from his grasp and the next minute he +heard Rinkitink fall "plump!" into the water again. +</P> + +<P> +"That's too bad!" called Inga, in real distress; "but you were so heavy +I couldn't help it." +</P> + +<P> +"Dear me!" gasped the King, from the darkness below, as he spluttered +and coughed to get the water out of his mouth. "Why didn't you tell me +you were going to let go?" +</P> + +<P> +"I hadn't time," said Inga, sorrowfully. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm not suffering from thirst," declared the King, "for there's +enough water inside me to float all the boats of Regos and Coregos or +at least it feels that way. But never mind! So long as I'm not actually +drowned, what does it matter?" +</P> + +<P> +"What shall we do next?" asked the boy anxiously. +</P> + +<P> +"Call someone to help you," was the reply. +</P> + +<P> +"There is no one on the island but myself," said the boy; "—excepting +you," he added, as an afterthought. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not on it—more's the pity!—but in it," responded Rinkitink. "Are +the warriors all gone?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said Inga, "and they have taken my father and mother, and all +our people, to be their slaves," he added, trying in vain to repress a +sob. +</P> + +<P> +"So—so!" said Rinkitink softly; and then he paused a moment, as if in +thought. Finally he said: "There are worse things than slavery, but I +never imagined a well could be one of them. Tell me, Inga, could you +let down some food to me? I'm nearly starved, and if you could manage +to send me down some food I'd be well fed—hoo, hoo, heek, keek, +eek!—well fed. Do you see the joke, Inga?" +</P> + +<P> +"Do not ask me to enjoy a joke just now, Your Majesty," begged Inga in +a sad voice; "but if you will be patient I will try to find something +for you to eat." +</P> + +<P> +He ran back to the ruins of the palace and began searching for bits of +food with which to satisfy the hunger of the King, when to his surprise +he observed the goat, Bilbil, wandering among the marble blocks. +</P> + +<P> +"What!" cried Inga. "Didn't the warriors get you, either?" +</P> + +<P> +"If they had," calmly replied Bilbil, "I shouldn't be here." +</P> + +<P> +"But how did you escape?" asked the boy. +</P> + +<P> +"Easily enough. I kept my mouth shut and stayed away from the rascals," +said the goat. "I knew that the soldiers would not care for a skinny +old beast like me, for to the eye of a stranger I seem good for +nothing. Had they known I could talk, and that my head contained more +wisdom than a hundred of their own noddles, I might not have escaped so +easily." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps you are right," said the boy. +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose they got the old man?" carelessly remarked Bilbil. +</P> + +<P> +"What old man?" +</P> + +<P> +"Rinkitink." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no! His Majesty is at the bottom of the well," said Inga, "and I +don't know how to get him out again." +</P> + +<P> +"Then let him stay there," suggested the goat. +</P> + +<P> +"That would be cruel. I am sure, Bilbil, that you are fond of the good +King, your master, and do not mean what you say. Together, let us find +some way to save poor King Rinkitink. He is a very jolly companion, and +has a heart exceedingly kind and gentle." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, well; the old boy isn't so bad, taken altogether," admitted +Bilbil, speaking in a more friendly tone. "But his bad jokes and fat +laughter tire me dreadfully, at times." +</P> + +<P> +Prince Inga now ran back to the well, the goat following more leisurely. +</P> + +<P> +"Here's Bilbil!" shouted the boy to the King. "The enemy didn't get +him, it seems." +</P> + +<P> +"That's lucky for the enemy," said Rinkitink. "But it's lucky for me, +too, for perhaps the beast can assist me out of this hole. If you can +let a rope down the well, I am sure that you and Bilbil, pulling +together, will be able to drag me to the earth's surface." +</P> + +<P> +"Be patient and we will make the attempt," replied Inga encouragingly, +and he ran to search the ruins for a rope. Presently he found one that +had been used by the warriors in toppling over the towers, which in +their haste they had neglected to remove, and with some difficulty he +untied the knots and carried the rope to the mouth of the well. +</P> + +<P> +Bilbil had lain down to sleep and the refrain of a merry song came in +muffled tones from the well, proving that Rinkitink was making a +patient endeavor to amuse himself. +</P> + +<P> +"I've found a rope!" Inga called down to him; and then the boy +proceeded to make a loop in one end of the rope, for the King to put +his arms through, and the other end he placed over the drum of the +windlass. He now aroused Bilbil and fastened the rope firmly around the +goat's shoulders. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you ready?" asked the boy, leaning over the well. +</P> + +<P> +"I am," replied the King. +</P> + +<P> +"And I am not," growled the goat, "for I have not yet had my nap out. +Old Rinki will be safe enough in the well until I've slept an hour or +two longer." +</P> + +<P> +"But it is damp in the well," protested the boy, "and King Rinkitink +may catch the rheumatism, so that he will have to ride upon your back +wherever he goes." +</P> + +<P> +Hearing this, Bilbil jumped up at once. +</P> + +<P> +"Let's get him out," he said earnestly. +</P> + +<P> +"Hold fast!" shouted Inga to the King. Then he seized the rope and +helped Bilbil to pull. They soon found the task more difficult than +they had supposed. Once or twice the King's weight threatened to drag +both the boy and the goat into the well, to keep Rinkitink company. But +they pulled sturdily, being aware of this danger, and at last the King +popped out of the hole and fell sprawling full length upon the ground. +</P> + +<P> +For a time he lay panting and breathing hard to get his breath back, +while Inga and Bilbil were likewise worn out from their long strain at +the rope; so the three rested quietly upon the grass and looked at one +another in silence. +</P> + +<P> +Finally Bilbil said to the King: "I'm surprised at you. Why were you so +foolish as to fall down that well? Don't you know it's a dangerous +thing to do? You might have broken your neck in the fall, or been +drowned in the water." +</P> + +<P> +"Bilbil," replied the King solemnly, "you're a goat. Do you imagine I +fell down the well on purpose?" +</P> + +<P> +"I imagine nothing," retorted Bilbil. "I only know you were there." +</P> + +<P> +"There? Heh-heh-heek-keek-eek! To be sure I was there," laughed +Rinkitink. "There in a dark hole, where there was no light; there in a +watery well, where the wetness soaked me through and +through—keek-eek-eek-eek!—through and through!" +</P> + +<P> +"How did it happen?" inquired Inga. +</P> + +<P> +"I was running away from the enemy," explained the King, "and I was +carelessly looking over my shoulder at the same time, to see if they +were chasing me. So I did not see the well, but stepped into it and +found myself tumbling down to the bottom. I struck the water very +neatly and began struggling to keep myself from drowning, but presently +I found that when I stood upon my feet on the bottom of the well, that +my chin was just above the water. So I stood still and yelled for help; +but no one heard me." +</P> + +<P> +"If the warriors had heard you," said Bilbil, "they would have pulled +you out and carried you away to be a slave. Then you would have been +obliged to work for a living, and that would be a new experience." +</P> + +<P> +"Work!" exclaimed Rinkitink. "Me work? Hoo, hoo, heek-keek-eek! How +absurd! I'm so stout—not to say chubby—not to say fat—that I can +hardly walk, and I couldn't earn my salt at hard work. So I'm glad the +enemy did not find me, Bilbil. How many others escaped?" +</P> + +<P> +"That I do not know," replied the boy, "for I have not yet had time to +visit the other parts of the island. When you have rested and satisfied +your royal hunger, it might be well for us to look around and see what +the thieving warriors of Regos and Coregos have left us." +</P> + +<P> +"An excellent idea," declared Rinkitink. "I am somewhat feeble from my +long confinement in the well, but I can ride upon Bilbil's back and we +may as well start at once." +</P> + +<P> +Hearing this, Bilbil cast a surly glance at his master but said +nothing, since it was really the goat's business to carry King +Rinkitink wherever he desired to go. +</P> + +<P> +They first searched the ruins of the palace, and where the kitchen had +once been they found a small quantity of food that had been half hidden +by a block of marble. This they carefully placed in a sack to preserve +it for future use, the little fat King having first eaten as much as he +cared for. This consumed some time, for Rinkitink had been exceedingly +hungry and liked to eat in a leisurely manner. When he had finished the +meal he straddled Bilbil's back and set out to explore the island, +Prince Inga walking by his side. +</P> + +<P> +They found on every hand ruin and desolation. The houses of the people +had been pilfered of all valuables and then torn down or burned. Not a +boat had been left upon the shore, nor was there a single person, man +or woman or child, remaining upon the island, save themselves. The only +inhabitants of Pingaree now consisted of a fat little King, a boy and a +goat. +</P> + +<P> +Even Rinkitink, merry hearted as he was, found it hard to laugh in the +face of this mighty disaster. Even the goat, contrary to its usual +habit, refrained from saying anything disagreeable. As for the poor boy +whose home was now a wilderness, the tears came often to his eyes as he +marked the ruin of his dearly loved island. +</P> + +<P> +When, at nightfall, they reached the lower end of Pingaree and found it +swept as bare as the rest, Inga's grief was almost more than he could +bear. Everything had been swept from him—parents, home and country—in +so brief a time that his bewilderment was equal to his sorrow. +</P> + +<P> +Since no house remained standing, in which they might sleep, the three +wanderers crept beneath the overhanging branches of a cassa tree and +curled themselves up as comfortably as possible. So tired and exhausted +were they by the day's anxieties and griefs that their troubles soon +faded into the mists of dreamland. Beast and King and boy slumbered +peacefully together until wakened by the singing of the birds which +greeted the dawn of a new day. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Five +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Three Pearls +</H3> + +<P> +When King Rinkitink and Prince Inga had bathed themselves in the sea +and eaten a simple breakfast, they began wondering what they could do +to improve their condition. +</P> + +<P> +"The poor people of Gilgad," said Rinkitink cheerfully, "are little +likely ever again to behold their King in the flesh, for my boat and my +rowers are gone with everything else. Let us face the fact that we are +imprisoned for life upon this island, and that our lives will be short +unless we can secure more to eat than is in this small sack." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll not starve, for I can eat grass," remarked the goat in a pleasant +tone—or a tone as pleasant as Bilbil could assume. +</P> + +<P> +"True, quite true," said the King. Then he seemed thoughtful for a +moment and turning to Inga he asked: "Do you think, Prince, that if the +worst comes, we could eat Bilbil?" +</P> + +<P> +The goat gave a groan and cast a reproachful look at his master as he +said: +</P> + +<P> +"Monster! Would you, indeed, eat your old friend and servant?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not if I can help it, Bilbil," answered the King pleasantly. "You +would make a remarkably tough morsel, and my teeth are not as good as +they once were." +</P> + +<P> +While this talk was in progress Inga suddenly remembered the three +pearls which his father had hidden under the tiled floor of the banquet +hall. Without doubt King Kitticut had been so suddenly surprised by the +invaders that he had found no opportunity to get the pearls, for +otherwise the fierce warriors would have been defeated and driven out +of Pingaree. So they must still be in their hiding place, and Inga +believed they would prove of great assistance to him and his comrades +in this hour of need. But the palace was a mass of ruins; perhaps he +would be unable now to find the place where the pearls were hidden. +</P> + +<P> +He said nothing of this to Rinkitink, remembering that his father had +charged him to preserve the secret of the pearls and of their magic +powers. Nevertheless, the thought of securing the wonderful treasures +of his ancestors gave the boy new hope. +</P> + +<P> +He stood up and said to the King: +</P> + +<P> +"Let us return to the other end of Pingaree. It is more pleasant than +here in spite of the desolation of my father's palace. And there, if +anywhere, we shall discover a way out of our difficulties." +</P> + +<P> +This suggestion met with Rinkitink's approval and the little party at +once started upon the return journey. As there was no occasion to delay +upon the way, they reached the big end of the island about the middle +of the day and at once began searching the ruins of the palace. +</P> + +<P> +They found, to their satisfaction, that one room at the bottom of a +tower was still habitable, although the roof was broken in and the +place was somewhat littered with stones. The King was, as he said, too +fat to do any hard work, so he sat down on a block of marble and +watched Inga clear the room of its rubbish. This done, the boy hunted +through the ruins until he discovered a stool and an armchair that had +not been broken beyond use. Some bedding and a mattress were also +found, so that by nightfall the little room had been made quite +comfortable. +</P> + +<P> +The following morning, while Rinkitink was still sound asleep and +Bilbil was busily cropping the dewy grass that edged the shore, Prince +Inga began to search the tumbled heaps of marble for the place where +the royal banquet hall had been. After climbing over the ruins for a +time he reached a flat place which he recognized, by means of the tiled +flooring and the broken furniture scattered about, to be the great hall +he was seeking. But in the center of the floor, directly over the spot +where the pearls were hidden, lay several large and heavy blocks of +marble, which had been torn from the dismantled walls. +</P> + +<P> +This unfortunate discovery for a time discouraged the boy, who realized +how helpless he was to remove such vast obstacles; but it was so +important to secure the pearls that he dared not give way to despair +until every human effort had been made, so he sat him down to think +over the matter with great care. +</P> + +<P> +Meantime Rinkitink had risen from his bed and walked out upon the lawn, +where he found Bilbil reclining at ease upon the greensward. +</P> + +<P> +"Where is Inga?" asked Rinkitink, rubbing his eyes with his knuckles +because their vision was blurred with too much sleep. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't ask me," said the goat, chewing with much satisfaction a cud of +sweet grasses. +</P> + +<P> +"Bilbil," said the King, squatting down beside the goat and resting his +fat chin upon his hands and his elbows on his knees, "allow me to +confide to you the fact that I am bored, and need amusement. My good +friend Kitticut has been kidnapped by the barbarians and taken from me, +so there is no one to converse with me intelligently. I am the King and +you are the goat. Suppose you tell me a story. +</P> + +<P> +"Suppose I don't," said Bilbil, with a scowl, for a goat's face is very +expressive. +</P> + +<P> +"If you refuse, I shall be more unhappy than ever, and I know your +disposition is too sweet to permit that. Tell me a story, Bilbil." +</P> + +<P> +The goat looked at him with an expression of scorn. Said he: +</P> + +<P> +"One would think you are but four years old, Rinkitink! But there—I +will do as you command. Listen carefully, and the story may do you some +good—although I doubt if you understand the moral." +</P> + +<P> +"I am sure the story will do me good," declared the King, whose eyes +were twinkling. +</P> + +<P> +"Once on a time," began the goat. +</P> + +<P> +"When was that, Bilbil?" asked the King gently. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't interrupt; it is impolite. Once on a time there was a King with +a hollow inside his head, where most people have their brains, and—" +</P> + +<P> +"Is this a true story, Bilbil?" +</P> + +<P> +"And the King with a hollow head could chatter words, which had no +sense, and laugh in a brainless manner at senseless things. That part +of the story is true enough, Rinkitink." +</P> + +<P> +"Then proceed with the tale, sweet Bilbil. Yet it is hard to believe +that any King could be brainless—unless, indeed, he proved it by +owning a talking goat." +</P> + +<P> +Bilbil glared at him a full minute in silence. Then he resumed his +story: +</P> + +<P> +"This empty-headed man was a King by accident, having been born to that +high station. Also the King was empty-headed by the same chance, being +born without brains." +</P> + +<P> +"Poor fellow!" quoth the King. "Did he own a talking goat?" +</P> + +<P> +"He did," answered Bilbil. +</P> + +<P> +"Then he was wrong to have been born at all. Cheek-eek-eek-eek, oo, +hoo!" chuckled Rinkitink, his fat body shaking with merriment. "But +it's hard to prevent oneself from being born; there's no chance for +protest, eh, Bilbil?" +</P> + +<P> +"Who is telling this story, I'd like to know," demanded the goat, with +anger. +</P> + +<P> +"Ask someone with brains, my boy; I'm sure I can't tell," replied the +King, bursting into one of his merry fits of laughter. +</P> + +<P> +Bilbil rose to his hoofs and walked away in a dignified manner, leaving +Rinkitink chuckling anew at the sour expression of the animal's face. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Bilbil, you'll be the death of me, some day—I'm sure you will!" +gasped the King, taking out his lace handkerchief to wipe his eyes; +for, as he often did, he had laughed till the tears came. +</P> + +<P> +Bilbil was deeply vexed and would not even turn his head to look at his +master. To escape from Rinkitink he wandered among the ruins of the +palace, where he came upon Prince Inga. +</P> + +<P> +"Good morning, Bilbil," said the boy. "I was just going to find you, +that I might consult you upon an important matter. If you will kindly +turn back with me I am sure your good judgment will be of great +assistance." +</P> + +<P> +The angry goat was quite mollified by the respectful tone in which he +was addressed, but he immediately asked: +</P> + +<P> +"Are you also going to consult that empty-headed King over yonder?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am sorry to hear you speak of your kind master in such a way," said +the boy gravely. "All men are deserving of respect, being the highest +of living creatures, and Kings deserve respect more than others, for +they are set to rule over many people." +</P> + +<P> +"Nevertheless," said Bilbil with conviction, "Rinkitink's head is +certainly empty of brains." +</P> + +<P> +"That I am unwilling to believe," insisted Inga. "But anyway his heart +is kind and gentle and that is better than being wise. He is merry in +spite of misfortunes that would cause others to weep and he never +speaks harsh words that wound the feelings of his friends." +</P> + +<P> +"Still," growled Bilbil, "he is—" +</P> + +<P> +"Let us forget everything but his good nature, which puts new heart +into us when we are sad," advised the boy. +</P> + +<P> +"But he is—" +</P> + +<P> +"Come with me, please," interrupted Inga, "for the matter of which I +wish to speak is very important." +</P> + +<P> +Bilbil followed him, although the boy still heard the goat muttering +that the King had no brains. Rinkitink, seeing them turn into the +ruins, also followed, and upon joining them asked for his breakfast. +</P> + +<P> +Inga opened the sack of food and while he and the King ate of it the +boy said: +</P> + +<P> +"If I could find a way to remove some of the blocks of marble which +have fallen in the banquet hall, I think I could find means for us to +escape from this barren island." +</P> + +<P> +"Then," mumbled Rinkitink, with his mouth full, "let us move the blocks +of marble." +</P> + +<P> +"But how?" inquired Prince Inga. "They are very heavy." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, how, indeed?" returned the King, smacking his lips contentedly. +"That is a serious question. But—I have it! Let us see what my famous +parchment says about it." He wiped his fingers upon a napkin and then, +taking the scroll from a pocket inside his embroidered blouse, he +unrolled it and read the following words: 'Never step on another man's +toes.' +</P> + +<P> +The goat gave a snort of contempt; Inga was silent; the King looked +from one to the other inquiringly. +</P> + +<P> +"That's the idea, exactly!" declared Rinkitink. +</P> + +<P> +"To be sure," said Bilbil scornfully, "it tells us exactly how to move +the blocks of marble." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, does it?" responded the King, and then for a moment he rubbed the +top of his bald head in a perplexed manner. The next moment he burst +into a peal of joyous laughter. The goat looked at Inga and sighed. +</P> + +<P> +"What did I tell you?" asked the creature. "Was I right, or was I +wrong?" +</P> + +<P> +"This scroll," said Rinkitink, "is indeed a masterpiece. Its advice is +of tremendous value. 'Never step on another man's toes.' Let us think +this over. The inference is that we should step upon our own toes, +which were given us for that purpose. Therefore, if I stepped upon +another man's toes, I would be the other man. Hoo, hoo, hoo!—the other +man—hee, hee, heek-keek-eek! Funny, isn't it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Didn't I say—" began Bilbil. +</P> + +<P> +"No matter what you said, my boy," roared the King. "No fool could have +figured that out as nicely as I did." +</P> + +<P> +"We have still to decide how to remove the blocks of marble," suggested +Inga anxiously. +</P> + +<P> + "Fasten a rope to them, and pull," said Bilbil.<BR> +"Don't pay any more attention to Rinkitink, for he is no wiser than the +man who wrote that brainless scroll. Just get the rope, and we'll +fasten Rinkitink to one end of it for a weight and I'll help you pull." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you, Bilbil," replied the boy. "I'll get the rope at once." +</P> + +<P> +Bilbil found it difficult to climb over the ruins to the floor of the +banquet hall, but there are few places a goat cannot get to when it +makes the attempt, so Bilbil succeeded at last, and even fat little +Rinkitink finally joined them, though much out of breath. +</P> + +<P> +Inga fastened one end of the rope around a block of marble and then +made a loop at the other end to go over Bilbil's head. When all was +ready the boy seized the rope and helped the goat to pull; yet, strain +as they might, the huge block would not stir from its place. Seeing +this, King Rinkitink came forward and lent his assistance, the weight +of his body forcing the heavy marble to slide several feet from where +it had lain. +</P> + +<P> +But it was hard work and all were obliged to take a long rest before +undertaking the removal of the next block. +</P> + +<P> +"Admit, Bilbil," said the King, "that I am of some use in the world." +</P> + +<P> +"Your weight was of considerable help," acknowledged the goat, "but if +your head were as well filled as your stomach the task would be still +easier." +</P> + +<P> +When Inga went to fasten the rope a second time he was rejoiced to +discover that by moving one more block of marble he could uncover the +tile with the secret spring. So the three pulled with renewed energy +and to their joy the block moved and rolled upon its side, leaving Inga +free to remove the treasure when he pleased. +</P> + +<P> +But the boy had no intention of allowing Bilbil and the King to share +the secret of the royal treasures of Pingaree; so, although both the +goat and its master demanded to know why the marble blocks had been +moved, and how it would benefit them, Inga begged them to wait until +the next morning, when he hoped to be able to satisfy them that their +hard work had not been in vain. +</P> + +<P> +Having little confidence in this promise of a mere boy, the goat +grumbled and the King laughed; but Inga paid no heed to their ridicule +and set himself to work rigging up a fishing rod, with line and hook. +During the afternoon he waded out to some rocks near the shore and +fished patiently until he had captured enough yellow perch for their +supper and breakfast. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah," said Rinkitink, looking at the fine catch when Inga returned to +the shore; "these will taste delicious when they are cooked; but do you +know how to cook them?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," was the reply. "I have often caught fish, but never cooked them. +Perhaps Your Majesty understands cooking." +</P> + +<P> +"Cooking and majesty are two different things," laughed the little +King. "I could not cook a fish to save me from starvation." +</P> + +<P> +"For my part," said Bilbil, "I never eat fish, but I can tell you how +to cook them, for I have often watched the palace cooks at their work." +And so, with the goat's assistance, the boy and the King managed to +prepare the fish and cook them, after which they were eaten with good +appetite. +</P> + +<P> +That night, after Rinkitink and Bilbil were both fast asleep, Inga +stole quietly through the moonlight to the desolate banquet hall. +There, kneeling down, he touched the secret spring as his father had +instructed him to do and to his joy the tile sank downward and +disclosed the opening. You may imagine how the boy's heart throbbed +with excitement as he slowly thrust his hand into the cavity and felt +around to see if the precious pearls were still there. In a moment his +fingers touched the silken bag and, without pausing to close the +recess, he pressed the treasure against his breast and ran out into the +moonlight to examine it. When he reached a bright place he started to +open the bag, but he observed Bilbil lying asleep upon the grass near +by. So, trembling with the fear of discovery, he ran to another place, +and when he paused he heard Rinkitink snoring lustily. Again he fled +and made his way to the seashore, where he squatted under a bank and +began to untie the cords that fastened the mouth of the bag. But now +another fear assailed him. +</P> + +<P> +"If the pearls should slip from my hand," he thought, "and roll into +the water, they might be lost to me forever. I must find some safer +place." +</P> + +<P> +Here and there he wandered, still clasping the silken bag in both +hands, and finally he went to the grove and climbed into the tall tree +where he had made his platform and seat. But here it was pitch dark, so +he found he must wait patiently until morning before he dared touch the +pearls. During those hours of waiting he had time for reflection and +reproached himself for being so frightened by the possession of his +father's treasures. +</P> + +<P> +"These pearls have belonged to our family for generations," he mused, +"yet no one has ever lost them. If I use ordinary care I am sure I need +have no fears for their safety." +</P> + +<P> +When the dawn came and he could see plainly, Inga opened the bag and +took out the Blue Pearl. There was no possibility of his being observed +by others, so he took time to examine it wonderingly, saying to +himself: "This will give me strength." +</P> + +<P> +Taking off his right shoe he placed the Blue Pearl within it, far up in +the pointed toe. Then he tore a piece from his handkerchief and stuffed +it into the shoe to hold the pearl in place. Inga's shoes were long and +pointed, as were all the shoes worn in Pingaree, and the points curled +upward, so that there was quite a vacant space beyond the place where +the boy's toes reached when the shoe was upon his foot. +</P> + +<P> +After he had put on the Shoe and laced it up he opened the bag and took +out the Pink Pearl. "This will protect me from danger," said Inga, and +removing the shoe from his left foot he carefully placed the pearl in +the hollow toe. This, also, he secured in place by means of a strip +torn from his handkerchief. +</P> + +<P> +Having put on the second shoe and laced it up, the boy drew from the +silken bag the third pearl—that which was pure white—and holding it +to his ear he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Will you advise me what to do, in this my hour of misfortune?" +</P> + +<P> +Clearly the small voice of the pearl made answer: +</P> + +<P> +"I advise you to go to the Islands of Regos and Coregos, where you may +liberate your parents from slavery." +</P> + +<P> +"How could I do that?" exclaimed Prince Inga, amazed at receiving such +advice. +</P> + +<P> +"To-night," spoke the voice of the pearl, "there will be a storm, and +in the morning a boat will strand upon the shore. Take this boat and +row to Regos and Coregos." +</P> + +<P> +"How can I, a weak boy, pull the boat so far?" he inquired, doubting +the possibility. +</P> + +<P> +"The Blue Pearl will give you strength," was the reply. +</P> + +<P> +"But I may be shipwrecked and drowned, before ever I reach Regos and +Coregos," protested the boy. +</P> + +<P> +"The Pink Pearl will protect you from harm," murmured the voice, soft +and low but very distinct. +</P> + +<P> +"Then I shall act as you advise me," declared Inga, speaking firmly +because this promise gave him courage, and as he removed the pearl from +his ear it whispered: +</P> + +<P> +"The wise and fearless are sure to win success." +</P> + +<P> +Restoring the White Pearl to the depths of the silken bag, Inga +fastened it securely around his neck and buttoned his waist above it to +hide the treasure from all prying eyes. Then he slowly climbed down +from the tree and returned to the room where King Rinkitink still slept. +</P> + +<P> +The goat was browsing upon the grass but looked cross and surly. When +the boy said good morning as he passed, Bilbil made no response +whatever. As Inga entered the room the King awoke and asked: +</P> + +<P> +"What is that mysterious secret of yours? I've been dreaming about it, +and I haven't got my breath yet from tugging at those heavy blocks. +Tell me the secret." +</P> + +<P> +"A secret told is no longer a secret," replied Inga, with a laugh. +"Besides, this is a family secret, which it is proper I should keep to +myself. But I may tell you one thing, at least: We are going to leave +this island to-morrow morning." +</P> + +<P> +The King seemed puzzled' by this statement. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not much of a swimmer," said he, "and, though I'm fat enough to +float upon the surface of the water, I'd only bob around and get +nowhere at all." +</P> + +<P> +"We shall not swim, but ride comfortably in a boat," promised Inga. +</P> + +<P> +"There isn't a boat on this island!" declared Rinkitink, looking upon +the boy with wonder. +</P> + +<P> +"True," said Inga. "But one will come to us in the morning." He spoke +positively, for he had perfect faith in the promise of the White Pearl; +but Rinkitink, knowing nothing of the three marvelous jewels, began to +fear that the little Prince had lost his mind through grief and +misfortune. +</P> + +<P> +For this reason the King did not question the boy further but tried to +cheer him by telling him witty stories. He laughed at all the stories +himself, in his merry, rollicking way, and Inga joined freely in the +laughter because his heart had been lightened by the prospect of +rescuing his dear parents. Not since the fierce warriors had descended +upon Pingaree had the boy been so hopeful and happy. +</P> + +<P> +With Rinkitink riding upon Bilbil's back, the three made a tour of the +island and found in the central part some bushes and trees bearing ripe +fruit. They gathered this freely, for—aside from the fish which Inga +caught—it was the only food they now had, and the less they had, the +bigger Rinkitink's appetite seemed to grow. +</P> + +<P> +"I am never more happy," said he with a sigh, "than when I am eating." +</P> + +<P> +Toward evening the sky became overcast and soon a great storm began to +rage. Prince Inga and King Rinkitink took refuge within the shelter of +the room they had fitted up and there Bilbil joined them. The goat and +the King were somewhat disturbed by the violence of the storm, but Inga +did not mind it, being pleased at this evidence that the White Pearl +might be relied upon. +</P> + +<P> +All night the wind shrieked around the island; thunder rolled, +lightning flashed and rain came down in torrents. But with morning the +storm abated and when the sun arose no sign of the tempest remained +save a few fallen trees. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Six +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Magic Boat +</H3> + +<P> +Prince Inga was up with the sun and, accompanied by Bilbil, began +walking along the shore in search of the boat which the White Pearl had +promised him. Never for an instant did he doubt that he would find it +and before he had walked any great distance a dark object at the +water's edge caught his eye. +</P> + +<P> +"It is the boat, Bilbil!" he cried joyfully, and running down to it he +found it was, indeed, a large and roomy boat. Although stranded upon +the beach, it was in perfect order and had suffered in no way from the +storm. +</P> + +<P> +Inga stood for some moments gazing upon the handsome craft and +wondering where it could have come from. Certainly it was unlike any +boat he had ever seen. On the outside it was painted a lustrous black, +without any other color to relieve it; but all the inside of the boat +was lined with pure silver, polished so highly that the surface +resembled a mirror and glinted brilliantly in the rays of the sun. The +seats had white velvet cushions upon them and the cushions were +splendidly embroidered with threads of gold. At one end, beneath the +broad seat, was a small barrel with silver hoops, which the boy found +was filled with fresh, sweet water. A great chest of sandalwood, bound +and ornamented with silver, stood in the other end of the boat. Inga +raised the lid and discovered the chest filled with sea-biscuits, +cakes, tinned meats and ripe, juicy melons; enough good and wholesome +food to last the party a long time. +</P> + +<P> +Lying upon the bottom of the boat were two shining oars, and overhead, +but rolled back now, was a canopy of silver cloth to ward off the heat +of the sun. +</P> + +<P> +It is no wonder the boy was delighted with the appearance of this +beautiful boat; but on reflection he feared it was too large for him to +row any great distance. Unless, indeed, the Blue Pearl gave him unusual +strength. +</P> + +<P> +While he was considering this matter, King Rinkitink came waddling up +to him and said: +</P> + +<P> +"Well, well, well, my Prince, your words have come true! Here is the +boat, for a certainty, yet how it came here—and how you knew it would +come to us—are puzzles that mystify me. I do not question our good +fortune, however, and my heart is bubbling with joy, for in this boat I +will return at once to my City of Gilgad, from which I have remained +absent altogether too long a time." +</P> + +<P> +"I do not wish to go to Gilgad," said Inga. +</P> + +<P> +"That is too bad, my friend, for you would be very welcome. But you may +remain upon this island, if you wish," continued Rinkitink, "and when I +get home I will send some of my people to rescue you." +</P> + +<P> +"It is my boat, Your Majesty," said Inga quietly. +</P> + +<P> +"May be, may be," was the careless answer, "but I am King of a great +country, while you are a boy Prince without any kingdom to speak of. +Therefore, being of greater importance than you, it is just and right +that I take, your boat and return to my own country in it." +</P> + +<P> +"I am sorry to differ from Your Majesty's views," said Inga, "but +instead of going to Gilgad I consider it of greater importance that we +go to the islands of Regos and Coregos." +</P> + +<P> +"Hey? What!" cried the astounded King. "To Regos and Coregos! To become +slaves of the barbarians, like the King, your father? No, no, my boy! +Your Uncle Rinki may have an empty noddle, as Bilbil claims, but he is +far too wise to put his head in the lion's mouth. It's no fun to be a +slave." +</P> + +<P> +"The people of Regos and Coregos will not enslave us," declared Inga. +"On the contrary, it is my intention to set free my dear parents, as +well as all my people, and to bring them back again to Pingaree." +</P> + +<P> +"Cheek-eek-eek-eek-eek! How funny!" chuckled Rinkitink, winking at the +goat, which scowled in return. "Your audacity takes my breath away, +Inga, but the adventure has its charm, I must, confess. Were I not so +fat, I'd agree to your plan at once, and could probably conquer that +horde of fierce warriors without any assistance at all—any at all—eh, +Bilbil? But I grieve to say that I am fat, and not in good fighting +trim. As for your determination to do what I admit I can't do, Inga, I +fear you forget that you are only a boy, and rather small at that." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I do not forget that," was Inga's reply. +</P> + +<P> +"Then please consider that you and I and Bilbil are not strong enough, +as an army, to conquer a powerful nation of skilled warriors. We could +attempt it, of course, but you are too young to die, while I am too +old. Come with me to my City of Gilgad, where you will be greatly +honored. I'll have my professors teach you how to be good. Eh? What do +you say?" +</P> + +<P> +Inga was a little embarrassed how to reply to these arguments, which he +knew King Rinkitink considered were wise; so, after a period of +thought, he said: +</P> + +<P> +"I will make a bargain with Your Majesty, for I do not wish to fail in +respect to so worthy a man and so great a King as yourself. This boat +is mine, as I have said, and in my father's absence you have become my +guest; therefore I claim that I am entitled to some consideration, as +well as you." +</P> + +<P> +"No doubt of it," agreed Rinkitink. "What is the bargain you propose, +Inga?" +</P> + +<P> +"Let us both get into the boat, and you shall first try to row us to +Gilgad. If you succeed, I will accompany you right willingly; but +should you fail, I will then row the boat to Regos, and you must come +with me without further protest." +</P> + +<P> +"A fair and just bargain!" cried the King, highly pleased. "Yet, +although I am a man of mighty deeds, I do not relish the prospect of +rowing so big a boat all the way to Gilgad. But I will do my best and +abide by the result." +</P> + +<P> +The matter being thus peaceably settled, they prepared to embark. A +further supply of fruits was placed in the boat and Inga also raked up +a quantity of the delicious oysters that abounded on the coast of +Pingaree but which he had before been unable to reach for lack of a +boat. This was done at the suggestion of the ever-hungry Rinkitink, and +when the oysters had been stowed in their shells behind the water +barrel and a plentiful supply of grass brought aboard for Bilbil, they +decided they were ready to start on their voyage. +</P> + +<P> +It proved no easy task to get Bilbil into the boat, for he was a +remarkably clumsy goat and once, when Rinkitink gave him a push, he +tumbled into the water and nearly drowned before they could get him out +again. But there was no thought of leaving the quaint animal behind. +His power of speech made him seem almost human in the eyes of the boy, +and the fat King was so accustomed to his surly companion that nothing +could have induced him to part with him. Finally Bilbil fell sprawling +into the bottom of the boat, and Inga helped him to get to the front +end, where there was enough space for him to lie down. +</P> + +<P> +Rinkitink now took his seat in the silver-lined craft and the boy came +last, pushing off the boat as he sprang aboard, so that it floated +freely upon the water. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, here we go for Gilgad!" exclaimed the King, picking up the oars +and placing them in the row-locks. Then he began to row as hard as he +could, singing at the same time an odd sort of a song that ran like +this: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "The way to Gilgad isn't bad<BR> + For a stout old King and a brave young lad,<BR> + For a cross old goat with a dripping coat,<BR> + And a silver boat in which to float.<BR> + So our hearts are merry, light and glad<BR> + As we speed away to fair Gilgad!"<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"Don't, Rinkitink; please don't! It makes me seasick," growled Bilbil. +</P> + +<P> +Rinkitink stopped rowing, for by this time he was all out of breath and +his round face was covered with big drops of perspiration. And when he +looked over his shoulder he found to his dismay that the boat had +scarcely moved a foot from its former position. +</P> + +<P> +Inga said nothing and appeared not to notice the King's failure. So now +Rinkitink, with a serious look on his fat, red face, took off his +purple robe and rolled up the sleeves of his tunic and tried again. +</P> + +<P> +However, he succeeded no better than before and when he heard Bilbil +give a gruff laugh and saw a smile upon the boy Prince's face, +Rinkitink suddenly dropped the oars and began shouting with laughter at +his own defeat. As he wiped his brow with a yellow silk handkerchief he +sang in a merry voice: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "A sailor bold am I, I hold,<BR> + But boldness will not row a boat.<BR> + So I confess I'm in distress<BR> + And just as useless as the goat."<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"Please leave me out of your verses," said Bilbil with a snort of anger. +</P> + +<P> +"When I make a fool of myself, Bilbil, I'm a goat," replied Rinkitink. +</P> + +<P> +"Not so," insisted Bilbil. "Nothing could make you a member of my +superior race." +</P> + +<P> +"Superior? Why, Bilbil, a goat is but a beast, while I am a King!" +</P> + +<P> +"I claim that superiority lies in intelligence," said the goat. +</P> + +<P> +Rinkitink paid no attention to this remark, but turning to Inga he said: +</P> + +<P> +"We may as well get back to the shore, for the boat is too heavy to row +to Gilgad or anywhere else. Indeed, it will be hard for us to reach +land again." +</P> + +<P> +"Let me take the oars," suggested Inga. "You must not forget our +bargain." +</P> + +<P> +"No, indeed," answered Rinkitink. "If you can row us to Regos, or to +any other place, I will go with you without protest." +</P> + +<P> +So the King took Inga's place at the stern of the boat and the boy +grasped the oars and commenced to row. And now, to the great wonder of +Rinkitink—and even to Inga's surprise—the oars became light as +feathers as soon as the Prince took hold of them. In an instant the +boat began to glide rapidly through the water and, seeing this, the boy +turned its prow toward the north. He did not know exactly where Regos +and Coregos were located, but he did know that the islands lay to the +north of Pingaree, so he decided to trust to luck and the guidance of +the pearls to carry him to them. +</P> + +<P> +Gradually the Island of Pingaree became smaller to their view as the +boat sped onward, until at the end of an hour they had lost sight of it +altogether and were wholly surrounded by the purple waters of the +Nonestic Ocean. +</P> + +<P> +Prince Inga did not tire from the labor of rowing; indeed, it seemed to +him no labor at all. Once he stopped long enough to place the poles of +the canopy in the holes that had been made for them, in the edges of +the boat, and to spread the canopy of silver over the poles, for +Rinkitink had complained of the sun's heat. But the canopy shut out the +hot rays and rendered the interior of the boat cool and pleasant. +</P> + +<P> +"This is a glorious ride!" cried Rinkitink, as he lay back in the +shade. "I find it a decided relief to be away from that dismal island +of Pingaree. +</P> + +<P> +"It may be a relief for a short time," said Bilbil, "but you are going +to the land of your enemies, who will probably stick your fat body full +of spears and arrows." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I hope not!" exclaimed Inga, distressed at the thought. +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind," said the King calmly, "a man can die but once, you know, +and when the enemy kills me I shall beg him to kill Bilbil, also, that +we may remain together in death as in life." +</P> + +<P> +"They may be cannibals, in which case they will roast and eat us," +suggested Bilbil, who wished to terrify his master. +</P> + +<P> +"Who knows?" answered Rinkitink, with a shudder. "But cheer up, Bilbil; +they may not kill us after all, or even capture us; so let us not +borrow trouble. Do not look so cross, my sprightly quadruped, and I +will sing to amuse you." +</P> + +<P> +"Your song would make me more cross than ever," grumbled the goat. +</P> + +<P> +"Quite impossible, dear Bilbil. You couldn't be more surly if you +tried. So here is a famous song for you." +</P> + +<P> +While the boy rowed steadily on and the boat rushed fast over the +water, the jolly King, who never could be sad or serious for many +minutes at a time, lay back on his embroidered cushions and sang as +follows: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "A merry maiden went to sea—<BR> + Sing too-ral-oo-ral-i-do!<BR> + She sat upon the Captain's knee<BR> + And looked around the sea to see<BR> + What she could see, but she couldn't see me—<BR> + Sing too-ral-oo-ral-i-do!<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"How do you like that, Bilbil?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't like it," complained the goat. "It reminds me of the alligator +that tried to whistle." +</P> + +<P> +"Did he succeed, Bilbil?" asked the King. +</P> + +<P> +"He whistled as well as you sing." +</P> + +<P> +"Ha, ha, ha, ha, heek, keek, eek!" chuckled the King. "He must have +whistled most exquisitely, eh, my friend?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am not your friend," returned the goat, wagging his ears in a surly +manner. +</P> + +<P> +"I am yours, however," was the King's cheery reply; "and to prove it +I'll sing you another verse." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't, I beg of you!" +</P> + +<P> +But the King sang as follows: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "The wind blew off the maiden's shoe—<BR> + Sing too-ral-oo-ral-i-do!<BR> + And the shoe flew high to the sky so blue<BR> + And the maiden knew 'twas a new shoe, too;<BR> + But she couldn't pursue the shoe, 'tis true—<BR> + Sing too-ral-oo-ral-i-do!<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"Isn't that sweet, my pretty goat?" +</P> + +<P> +"Sweet, do you ask?" retorted Bilbil. "I consider it as sweet as candy +made from mustard and vinegar." +</P> + +<P> +"But not as sweet as your disposition, I admit. Ah, Bilbil, your temper +would put honey itself to shame." +</P> + +<P> +"Do not quarrel, I beg of you," pleaded Inga. "Are we not sad enough +already?" +</P> + +<P> +"But this is a jolly quarrel," said the King, "and it is the way Bilbil +and I often amuse ourselves. Listen, now, to the last verse of all: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "The maid who shied her shoe now cried—<BR> + Sing too-ral-oo-ral-i-do!<BR> + Her tears were fried for the Captain's bride<BR> + Who ate with pride her sobs, beside,<BR> + And gently sighed 'I'm satisfied'—<BR> + Sing to-ral-oo-ral-i-do!"<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"Worse and worse!" grumbled Bilbil, with much scorn. "I am glad that is +the last verse, for another of the same kind might cause me to faint." +</P> + +<P> +"I fear you have no ear for music," said the King. +</P> + +<P> +"I have heard no music, as yet," declared the goat. "You must have a +strong imagination, King Rinkitink, if you consider your songs music. +Do you remember the story of the bear that hired out for a nursemaid?" +</P> + +<P> +"I do not recall it just now," said Rinkitink, with a wink at Inga. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, the bear tried to sing a lullaby to put the baby to sleep." +</P> + +<P> +"And then?" said the King. +</P> + +<P> +"The bear was highly pleased with its own voice, but the baby was +nearly frightened to death." +</P> + +<P> +"Heh, heb, heh, heh, whoo, hoo, hoo! You are a merry rogue, Bilbil," +laughed the King; "a merry rogue in spite of your gloomy features. +However, if I have not amused you, I have at least pleased myself, for +I am exceedingly fond of a good song. So let us say no more about it." +</P> + +<P> +All this time the boy Prince was rowing the boat. He was not in the +least tired, for the oars he held seemed to move of their own accord. +He paid little heed to the conversation of Rinkitink and the goat, but +busied his thoughts with plans of what he should do when he reached the +islands of Regos and Coregos and confronted his enemies. When the +others finally became silent, Inga inquired. +</P> + +<P> +"Can you fight, King Rinkitink?" +</P> + +<P> +"I have never tried," was the answer. "In time of danger I have found +it much easier to run away than to face the foe." +</P> + +<P> +"But could you fight?" asked the boy. +</P> + +<P> +"I might try, if there was no chance to escape by running. Have you a +proper weapon for me to fight with?" +</P> + +<P> +"I have no weapon at all," confessed Inga. +</P> + +<P> +"Then let us use argument and persuasion instead of fighting. For +instance, if we could persuade the warriors of Regos to lie down, and +let me step on them, they would be crushed with ease." +</P> + +<P> +Prince Inga had expected little support from the King, so he was not +discouraged by this answer. After all, he reflected, a conquest by +battle would be out of the question, yet the White Pearl would not have +advised him to go to Regos and Coregos had the mission been a hopeless +one. It seemed to him, on further reflection, that he must rely upon +circumstances to determine his actions when he reached the islands of +the barbarians. +</P> + +<P> +By this time Inga felt perfect confidence in the Magic Pearls. It was +the White Pearl that had given him the boat, and the Blue Pearl that +had given him strength to row it. He believed that the Pink Pearl would +protect him from any danger that might arise; so his anxiety was not +for himself, but for his companions. King Rinkitink and the goat had no +magic to protect them, so Inga resolved to do all in his power to keep +them from harm. +</P> + +<P> +For three days and three nights the boat with the silver lining sped +swiftly over the ocean. On the morning of the fourth day, so quickly +had they traveled, Inga saw before him the shores of the two great +islands of Regos and Coregos. +</P> + +<P> +"The pearls have guided me aright!" he whispered to himself. "Now, if I +am wise, and cautious, and brave, I believe I shall be able to rescue +my father and mother and my people." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Seven +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Twin Islands +</H3> + +<P> +The Island of Regos was ten miles wide and forty miles long and it was +ruled by a big and powerful King named Gos. Near to the shores were +green and fertile fields, but farther back from the sea were rugged +hills and mountains, so rocky that nothing would grow there. But in +these mountains were mines of gold and silver, which the slaves of the +King were forced to work, being confined in dark underground passages +for that purpose. In the course of time huge caverns had been hollowed +out by the slaves, in which they lived and slept, never seeing the +light of day. Cruel overseers with whips stood over these poor people, +who had been captured in many countries by the raiding parties of King +Cos, and the overseers were quite willing to lash the slaves with their +whips if they faltered a moment in their work. +</P> + +<P> +Between the green shores and the mountains were forests of thick, +tangled trees, between which narrow paths had been cut to lead up to +the caves of the mines. It was on the level green meadows, not far from +the ocean, that the great City of Regos had been built, wherein was +located the palace of the King. This city was inhabited by thousands of +the fierce warriors of Gos, who frequently took to their boats and +spread over the sea to the neighboring islands to conquer and pillage, +as they had done at Pingaree. When they were not absent on one of these +expeditions, the City of Regos swarmed with them and so became a +dangerous place for any peaceful person to live in, for the warriors +were as lawless as their King. +</P> + +<P> +The Island of Coregos lay close beside the Island of Regos; so close, +indeed, that one might have thrown a stone from one shore to another. +But Coregos was only half the size of Regos and instead of being +mountainous it was a rich and pleasant country, covered with fields of +grain. The fields of Coregos furnished food for the warriors and +citizens of both countries, while the mines of Regos made them all rich. +</P> + +<P> +Coregos was ruled by Queen Cor, who was wedded to King Gos; but so +stern and cruel was the nature of this Queen that the people could not +decide which of their sovereigns they dreaded most. +</P> + +<P> +Queen Cor lived in her own City of Coregos, which lay on that side of +her island facing Regos, and her slaves, who were mostly women, were +made to plow the land and to plant and harvest the grain. +</P> + +<P> +From Regos to Coregos stretched a bridge of boats, set close together, +with planks laid across their edges for people to walk upon. In this +way it was easy to pass from one island to the other and in times of +danger the bridge could be quickly removed. +</P> + +<P> +The native inhabitants of Regos and Coregos consisted of the warriors, +who did nothing but fight and ravage, and the trembling servants who +waited on them. King Gos and Queen Cor were at war with all the rest of +the world. Other islanders hated and feared them, for their slaves were +badly treated and absolutely no mercy was shown to the weak or ill. +</P> + +<P> +When the boats that had gone to Pingaree returned loaded with rich +plunder and a host of captives, there was much rejoicing in Regos and +Coregos and the King and Queen gave a fine feast to the warriors who +had accomplished so great a conquest. This feast was set for the +warriors in the grounds of King Gos's palace, while with them in the +great throne room all the captains and leaders of the fighting men were +assembled with King Gos and Queen Cor, who had come from her island to +attend the ceremony. Then all the goods that had been stolen from the +King of Pingaree were divided according to rank, the King and Queen +taking half, the captains a quarter, and the rest being divided amongst +the warriors. +</P> + +<P> +The day following the feast King Gos sent King Kitticut and all the men +of Pingaree to work in his mines under the mountains, having first +chained them together so they could not escape. The gentle Queen of +Pingaree and all her women, together with the captured children, were +given to Queen Cor, who set them to work in her grain fields. +</P> + +<P> +Then the rulers and warriors of these dreadful islands thought they had +done forever with Pingaree. Despoiled of all its wealth, its houses +torn down, its boats captured and all its people enslaved, what +likelihood was there that they might ever again hear of the desolated +island? So the people of Regos and Coregos were surprised and puzzled +when one morning they observed approaching their shores from the +direction of the south a black boat containing a boy, a fat man and a +goat. The warriors asked one another who these could be, and where they +had come from? No one ever came to those islands of their own accord, +that was certain. +</P> + +<P> +Prince Inga guided his boat to the south end of the Island of Regos, +which was the landing place nearest to the city, and when the warriors +saw this action they went down to the shore to meet him, being led by a +big captain named Buzzub. +</P> + +<P> +"Those people surely mean us no good," said Rinkitink uneasily to the +boy. "Without doubt they intend to capture us and make us their slaves." +</P> + +<P> +"Do not fear, sir," answered Inga, in a calm voice. "Stay quietly in +the boat with Bilbil until I have spoken with these men." +</P> + +<P> +He stopped the boat a dozen feet from the shore, and standing up in his +place made a grave bow to the multitude confronting him. Said the big +Captain Buzzub in a gruff voice: +</P> + +<P> +"Well, little one, who may you be? And how dare you come, uninvited and +all alone, to the Island of Regos?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am Inga, Prince of Pingaree," returned the boy, "and I have come +here to free my parents and my people, whom you have wrongfully +enslaved." +</P> + +<P> +When they heard this bold speech a mighty laugh arose from the band of +warriors, and when it had subsided the captain said: +</P> + +<P> +"You love to jest, my baby Prince, and the joke is fairly good. But why +did you willingly thrust your head into the lion's mouth? When you were +free, why did you not stay free? We did not know we had left a single +person in Pingaree! But since you managed to escape us then, it is +really kind of you to come here of your own free will, to be our slave. +Who is the funny fat person with you?" +</P> + +<P> +"It is His Majesty, King Rinkitink, of the great City of Gilgad. He has +accompanied me to see that you render full restitution for all you have +stolen from Pingaree." +</P> + +<P> +"Better yet!" laughed Buzzub. "He will make a fine slave for Queen Cor, +who loves to tickle fat men, and see them jump." +</P> + +<P> +King Rinkitink was filled with horror when he heard this, but the +Prince answered as boldly as before, saying: +</P> + +<P> +"We are not to be frightened by bluster, believe me; nor are we so weak +as you imagine. We have magic powers so great and terrible that no host +of warriors can possibly withstand us, and therefore I call upon you to +surrender your city and your island to us, before we crush you with our +mighty powers." +</P> + +<P> +The boy spoke very gravely and earnestly, but his words only aroused +another shout of laughter. So while the men of Regos were laughing Inga +drove the boat we'll up onto the sandy beach and leaped out. He also +helped Rinkitink out, and when the goat had unaided sprung to the +sands, the King got upon Bilbil's back, trembling a little internally, +but striving to look as brave as possible. +</P> + +<P> +There was a bunch of coarse hair between the goat's ears, and this Inga +clutched firmly in his left hand. The boy knew the Pink Pearl would +protect not only himself, but all whom he touched, from any harm, and +as Rinkitink was astride the goat and Inga had his hand upon the +animal, the three could not be injured by anything the warriors could +do. But Captain Buzzub did not know this, and the little group of three +seemed so weak and ridiculous that he believed their capture would be +easy. So he turned to his men and with a wave of his hand said: +</P> + +<P> +"Seize the intruders!" +</P> + +<P> +Instantly two or three of the warriors stepped forward to obey, but to +their amazement they could not reach any of the three; their hands were +arrested as if by an invisible wall of iron. Without paying any +attention to these attempts at capture, Inga advanced slowly and the +goat kept pace with him. And when Rinkitink saw that he was safe from +harm he gave one of his big, merry laughs, and it startled the warriors +and made them nervous. Captain Buzzub's eyes grew big with surprise as +the three steadily advanced and forced his men backward; nor was he +free from terror himself at the magic that protected these strange +visitors. As for the warriors, they presently became terror-stricken +and fled in a panic up the slope toward the city, and Buzzub was +obliged to chase after them and shout threats of punishment before he +could halt them and form them into a line of battle. +</P> + +<P> +All the men of Regos bore spears and bows-and-arrows, and some of the +officers had swords and battle-axes; so Buzzub ordered them to stand +their ground and shoot and slay the strangers as they approached. This +they tried to do. Inga being in advance, the warriors sent a flight of +sharp arrows straight at the boy's breast, while others cast their long +spears at him. +</P> + +<P> +It seemed to Rinkitink that the little Prince must surely perish as he +stood facing this hail of murderous missiles; but the power of the Pink +Pearl did not desert him, and when the arrows and spears had reached to +within an inch of his body they bounded back again and fell harmlessly +at his feet. Nor were Rinkitink or Bilbil injured in the least, +although they stood close beside Inga. +</P> + +<P> +Buzzub stood for a moment looking upon the boy in silent wonder. Then, +recovering himself, he shouted in a loud voice: +</P> + +<P> +"Once again! All together, my men. No one shall ever defy our might and +live!" +</P> + +<P> +Again a flight of arrows and spears sped toward the three, and since +many more of the warriors of Regos had by this time joined their +fellows, the air was for a moment darkened by the deadly shafts. But +again all fell harmless before the power of the Pink Pearl, and Bilbil, +who had been growing very angry at the attempts to injure him and his +party, suddenly made a bolt forward, casting off Inga's hold, and +butted into the line of warriors, who were standing amazed at their +failure to conquer. +</P> + +<P> +Taken by surprise at the goat's attack, a dozen big warriors tumbled in +a heap, yelling with fear, and their comrades, not knowing what had +happened but imagining that their foes were attacking them, turned +about and ran to the city as hard as they could go. Bilbil, still +angry, had just time to catch the big captain as he turned to follow +his men, and Buzzub first sprawled headlong upon the ground, then +rolled over two or three times, and finally jumped up and ran yelling +after his defeated warriors. This butting on the part of the goat was +very hard upon King Rinkitink, who nearly fell off Bilbil's back at the +shock of encounter; but the little fat King wound his arms around the +goat's neck and shut his eyes and clung on with all his might. It was +not until he heard Inga say triumphantly, "We have won the fight +without striking a blow!" that Rinkitink dared open his eyes again. +Then he saw the warriors rushing into the City of Regos and barring the +heavy gates, and he was very much relieved at the sight. +</P> + +<P> +"Without striking a blow!" said Bilbil indignantly. "That is not quite +true, Prince Inga. You did not fight, I admit, but I struck a couple of +times to good purpose, and I claim to have conquered the cowardly +warriors unaided." +</P> + +<P> +"You and I together, Bilbil," said Rinkitink mildly. "But the next time +you make a charge, please warn me in time, so that I may dismount and +give you all the credit for the attack." +</P> + +<P> +There being no one now to oppose their advance, the three walked to the +gates of the city, which had been closed against them. The gates were +of iron and heavily barred, and upon the top of the high walls of the +city a host of the warriors now appeared armed with arrows and spears +and other weapons. For Buzzub had gone straight to the palace of King +Cos and reported his defeat, relating the powerful magic of the boy, +the fat King and the goat, and had asked what to do next. +</P> + +<P> +The big captain still trembled with fear, but King Gos did not believe +in magic, and called Buzzub a coward and a weakling. At once the King +took command of his men personally, and he ordered the walls manned +with warriors and instructed them to shoot to kill if any of the three +strangers approached the gates. +</P> + +<P> +Of course, neither Rinkitink nor Bilbil knew how they had been +protected from harm and so at first they were inclined to resent the +boy's command that the three must always keep together and touch one +another at all times. But when Inga explained that his magic would not +otherwise save them from injury, they agreed to obey, for they had now +seen enough to convince them that the Prince was really protected by +some invisible power. +</P> + +<P> +As they came before the gates another shower of arrows and spears +descended upon them, and as before not a single missile touched their +bodies. King Gos, who was upon the wall, was greatly amazed and +somewhat worried, but he depended upon the strength of his gates and +commanded his men to continue shooting until all their weapons were +gone. +</P> + +<P> +Inga let them shoot as much as they wished, while he stood before the +great gates and examined them carefully. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps Bilbil can batter down the gates, suggested Rinkitink. +</P> + +<P> +"No," replied the goat; "my head is hard, but not harder than iron." +</P> + +<P> +"Then," returned the King, "let us stay outside; especially as we can't +get in." +</P> + +<P> +But Inga was not at all sure they could not get in. The gates opened +inward, and three heavy bars were held in place by means of stout +staples riveted to the sheets of steel. The boy had been told that the +power of the Blue Pearl would enable him to accomplish any feat of +strength, and he believed that this was true. +</P> + +<P> +The warriors, under the direction of King Gos, continued to hurl arrows +and darts and spears and axes and huge stones upon the invaders, all +without avail. The ground below was thickly covered with weapons, yet +not one of the three before the gates had been injured in the slightest +manner. When everything had been cast that was available and not a +single weapon of any sort remained at hand, the amazed warriors saw the +boy put his shoulder against the gates and burst asunder the huge +staples that held the bars in place. A thousand of their men could not +have accomplished this feat, yet the small, slight boy did it with +seeming ease. The gates burst open, and Inga advanced into the city +street and called upon King Gos to surrender. +</P> + +<P> +But Gos was now as badly frightened as were his warriors. He and his +men were accustomed to war and pillage and they had carried terror into +many countries, but here was a small boy, a fat man and a goat who +could not be injured by all his skill in warfare, his numerous army and +thousands of death-dealing weapons. Moreover, they not only defied King +Gos's entire army but they had broken in the huge gates of the city—as +easily as if they had been made of paper—and such an exhibition of +enormous strength made the wicked King fear for his life. Like all +bullies and marauders, Gos was a coward at heart, and now a panic +seized him and he turned and fled before the calm advance of Prince +Inga of Pingaree. The warriors were like their master, and having +thrown all their weapons over the wall and being helpless to oppose the +strangers, they all swarmed after Gos, who abandoned his city and +crossed the bridge of boats to the Island of Coregos. There was a +desperate struggle among these cowardly warriors to get over the +bridge, and many were pushed into the water and obliged to swim; but +finally every fighting man of Regos had gained the shore of Coregos and +then they tore away the bridge of boats and drew them up on their own +side, hoping the stretch of open water would prevent the magic invaders +from following them. +</P> + +<P> +The humble citizens and serving people of Regos, who had been terrified +and abused by the rough warriors all their lives, were not only greatly +astonished by this sudden conquest of their masters but greatly +delighted. As the King and his army fled to Coregos, the people +embraced one another and danced for very joy, and then they turned to +see what the conquerors of Regos were like. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Eight +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Rinkitink Makes a Great Mistake +</H3> + +<P> +The fat King rode his goat through the streets of the conquered city +and the boy Prince walked proudly beside him, while all the people bent +their heads humbly to their new masters, whom they were prepared to +serve in the same manner they had King Gos. +</P> + +<P> +Not a warrior remained in all Regos to oppose the triumphant three; the +bridge of boats had been destroyed; Inga and his companions were free +from danger—for a time, at least. +</P> + +<P> +The jolly little King appreciated this fact and rejoiced that he had +escaped all injury during the battle. How it had all happened he could +not tell, nor even guess, but he was content in being safe and free to +take possession of the enemy's city. So, as they passed through the +lines of respectful civilians on their way to the palace, the King +tipped his crown back on his bald head and folded his arms and sang in +his best voice the following lines: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "Oh, here comes the army of King Rinkitink!<BR> + It isn't a big one, perhaps you may think,<BR> + But it scattered the warriors quicker than wink—<BR> + Rink-i-tink, tink-i-tink, tink!<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + Our Bilbil's a hero and so is his King;<BR> + Our foemen have vanished like birds on the wing;<BR> + I guess that as fighters we're quite the real thing—<BR> + Rink-i-tink, tink-i-tink, tink!"<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"Why don't you give a little credit to Inga?" inquired the goat. "If I +remember aright, he did a little of the conquering himself." +</P> + +<P> +"So he did," responded the King, "and that's the reason I'm sounding +our own praise, Bilbil. Those who do the least, often shout the loudest +and so get the most glory. Inga did so much that there is danger of his +becoming more important than we are, and so we'd best say nothing about +him." +</P> + +<P> +When they reached the palace, which was an immense building, furnished +throughout in regal splendor, Inga took formal possession and ordered +the majordomo to show them the finest rooms the building contained. +There were many pleasant apartments, but Rinkitink proposed to Inga +that they share one of the largest bedrooms together. +</P> + +<P> +"For," said he, "we are not sure that old Gos will not return and try +to recapture his city, and you must remember that I have no magic to +protect me. In any danger, were I alone, I might be easily killed or +captured, while if you are by my side you can save me from injury." +</P> + +<P> +The boy realized the wisdom of this plan, and selected a fine big +bedroom on the second floor of the palace, in which he ordered two +golden beds placed and prepared for King Rinkitink and himself. Bilbil +was given a suite of rooms on the other side of the palace, where +servants brought the goat fresh-cut grass to eat and made him a soft +bed to lie upon. +</P> + +<P> +That evening the boy Prince and the fat King dined in great state in +the lofty-domed dining hall of the palace, where forty servants waited +upon them. The royal chef, anxious to win the favor of the conquerors +of Regos, prepared his finest and most savory dishes for them, which +Rinkitink ate with much appetite and found so delicious that he ordered +the royal chef brought into the banquet hall and presented him with a +gilt button which the King cut from his own jacket. +</P> + +<P> +"You are welcome to it," said he to the chef, "because I have eaten so +much that I cannot use that lower button at all." +</P> + +<P> +Rinkitink was mightily pleased to live in a comfortable palace again +and to dine at a well spread table. His joy grew every moment, so that +he came in time to be as merry and cheery as before Pingaree was +despoiled. And, although he had been much frightened during Inga's +defiance of the army of King Gos, he now began to turn the matter into +a joke. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, my boy," said he, "you whipped the big black-bearded King exactly +as if he were a schoolboy, even though you used no warlike weapon at +all upon him. He was cowed through fear of your magic, and that reminds +me to demand from you an explanation. How did you do it, Inga? And +where did the wonderful magic come from?" +</P> + +<P> +Perhaps it would have been wise for the Prince to have explained about +the magic pearls, but at that moment he was not inclined to do so. +Instead, he replied: +</P> + +<P> +"Be patient, Your Majesty. The secret is not my own, so please do not +ask me to divulge it. Is it not enough, for the present, that the magic +saved you from death to-day?" +</P> + +<P> +"Do not think me ungrateful," answered the King earnestly. "A million +spears fell on me from the wall, and several stones as big as +mountains, yet none of them hurt me!" +</P> + +<P> +"The stones were not as big as mountains, sire," said the Prince with a +smile. "They were, indeed, no larger than your head." +</P> + +<P> +"Are you sure about that?" asked Rinkitink. +</P> + +<P> +"Quite sure, Your Majesty." +</P> + +<P> +"How deceptive those things are!" sighed the King. "This argument +reminds me of the story of Tom Tick, which my father used to tell." +</P> + +<P> +"I have never heard that story," Inga answered. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, as he told it, it ran like this: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "When Tom walked out, the sky to spy,<BR> + A naughty gnat flew in his eye;<BR> + But Tom knew not it was a gnat—<BR> + He thought, at first, it was a cat.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "And then, it felt so very big,<BR> + He thought it surely was a pig<BR> + Till, standing still to hear it grunt,<BR> + He cried: 'Why, it's an elephunt!'<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "But—when the gnat flew out again<BR> + And Tom was free from all his pain,<BR> + He said: 'There flew into my eye<BR> + A leetle, teenty-tiny fly.'"<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"Indeed," said Inga, laughing, "the gnat was much like your stones that +seemed as big as mountains." +</P> + +<P> +After their dinner they inspected the palace, which was filled with +valuable goods stolen by King Gos from many nations. But the day's +events had tired them and they retired early to their big sleeping +apartment. +</P> + +<P> +"In the morning," said the boy to Rinkitink, as he was undressing for +bed, "I shall begin the search for my father and mother and the people +of Pingaree. And, when they are found and rescued, we will all go home +again, and be as happy as we were before." +</P> + +<P> +They carefully bolted the door of their room, that no one might enter, +and then got into their beds, where Rinkitink fell asleep in an +instant. The boy lay awake for a while thinking over the day's +adventures, but presently he fell sound asleep also, and so weary was +he that nothing disturbed his slumber until he awakened next morning +with a ray of sunshine in his eyes, which had crept into the room +through the open window by King Rinkitink's bed. +</P> + +<P> +Resolving to begin the search for his parents without any unnecessary +delay, Inga at once got out of bed and began to dress himself, while +Rinkitink, in the other bed, was still sleeping peacefully. But when +the boy had put on both his stockings and began looking for his shoes, +he could find but one of them. The left shoe, that containing the Pink +Pearl, was missing. +</P> + +<P> +Filled with anxiety at this discovery, Inga searched through the entire +room, looking underneath the beds and divans and chairs and behind the +draperies and in the corners and every other possible place a shoe +might be. He tried the door, and found it still bolted; so, with +growing uneasiness, the boy was forced to admit that the precious shoe +was not in the room. +</P> + +<P> +With a throbbing heart he aroused his companion. +</P> + +<P> +"King Rinkitink," said he, "do you know what has become of my left +shoe?" +</P> + +<P> +"Your shoe!" exclaimed the King, giving a wide yawn and rubbing his +eyes to get the sleep out of them. "Have you lost a shoe?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said Inga. "I have searched everywhere in the room, and cannot +find it." +</P> + +<P> +"But why bother me about such a small thing?" inquired Rinkitink. "A +shoe is only a shoe, and you can easily get another one. But, stay! +Perhaps it was your shoe which I threw at the cat last night." +</P> + +<P> +"The cat!" cried Inga. "What do you mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, in the night," explained Rinkitink, sitting up and beginning to +dress himself, "I was wakened by the mewing of a cat that sat upon a +wall of the palace, just outside my window. As the noise disturbed me, +I reached out in the dark and caught up something and threw it at the +cat, to frighten the creature away. I did not know what it was that I +threw, and I was too sleepy to care; but probably it was your shoe, +since it is now missing." +</P> + +<P> +"Then," said the boy, in a despairing tone of voice, "your carelessness +has ruined me, as well as yourself, King Rinkitink, for in that shoe +was concealed the magic power which protected us from danger." +</P> + +<P> +The King's face became very serious when he heard this and he uttered a +low whistle of surprise and regret. +</P> + +<P> +"Why on earth did you not warn me of this?" he demanded. "And why did +you keep such a precious power in an old shoe? And why didn't you put +the shoe under a pillow? You were very wrong, my lad, in not confiding +to me, your faithful friend, the secret, for in that case the shoe +would not now be lost." +</P> + +<P> +To all this Inga had no answer. He sat on the side of his bed, with +hanging head, utterly disconsolate, and seeing this, Rinkitink had pity +for his sorrow. +</P> + +<P> +"Come!" cried the King; "let us go out at once and look for the shoe +which I threw at the cat. It must even now be lying in the yard of the +palace." +</P> + +<P> +This suggestion roused the boy to action. He at once threw open the +door and in his stocking feet rushed down the staircase, closely +followed by Rinkitink. But although they looked on both sides of the +palace wall and in every possible crack and corner where a shoe might +lodge, they failed to find it. +</P> + +<P> +After a half hour's careful search the boy said sorrowfully: +</P> + +<P> +"Someone must have passed by, as we slept, and taken the precious shoe, +not knowing its value. To us, King Rinkitink, this will be a dreadful +misfortune, for we are surrounded by dangers from which we have now no +protection. Luckily I have the other shoe left, within which is the +magic power that gives me strength; so all is not lost." +</P> + +<P> +Then he told Rinkitink, in a few words, the secret of the wonderful +pearls, and how he had recovered them from the ruins and hidden them in +his shoes, and how they had enabled him to drive King Gos and his men +from Regos and to capture the city. The King was much astonished, and +when the story was concluded he said to Inga: +</P> + +<P> +"What did you do with the other shoe?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, I left it in our bedroom," replied the boy. +</P> + +<P> +"Then I advise you to get it at once," continued Rinkitink, "for we can +ill afford to lose the second shoe, as well as the one I threw at the +cat." +</P> + +<P> +"You are right!" cried Inga, and they hastened back to their bedchamber. +</P> + +<P> +On entering the room they found an old woman sweeping and raising a +great deal of dust. +</P> + +<P> +"Where is my shoe?" asked the Prince, anxiously. +</P> + +<P> +The old woman stopped sweeping and looked at him in a stupid way, for +she was not very intelligent. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you mean the one odd shoe that was lying on the floor when I came +in?" she finally asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes—yes!" answered the boy. "Where is it? Tell me where it is!" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, I threw it on the dust-heap, outside the back gate," said she, +"for, it being but a single shoe, with no mate, it can be of no use to +anyone." +</P> + +<P> +"Show us the way to the dust-heap—at once!" commanded the boy, +sternly, for he was greatly frightened by this new misfortune which +threatened him. +</P> + +<P> +The old woman hobbled away and they followed her, constantly urging her +to hasten; but when they reached the dust-heap no shoe was to be seen. +</P> + +<P> +"This is terrible!" wailed the young Prince, ready to weep at his loss. +"We are now absolutely ruined, and at the mercy of our enemies. Nor +shall I be able to liberate my dear father and mother." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," replied Rinkitink, leaning against an old barrel and looking +quite solemn, "the thing is certainly unlucky, any way we look at it. I +suppose someone has passed along here and, seeing the shoe upon the +dust-heap, has carried it away. But no one could know the magic power +the shoe contains and so will not use it against us. I believe, Inga, +we must now depend upon our wits to get us out of the scrape we are in." +</P> + +<P> +With saddened hearts they returned to the palace, and entering a small +room where no one could observe them or overhear them, the boy took the +White Pearl from its silken bag and held it to his ear, asking: +</P> + +<P> +"What shall I do now?" +</P> + +<P> +"Tell no one of your loss," answered the Voice of the Pearl. "If your +enemies do not know that you are powerless, they will fear you as much +as ever. Keep your secret, be patient, and fear not!" +</P> + +<P> +Inga heeded this advice and also warned Rinkitink to say nothing to +anyone of the loss of the shoes and the powers they contained. He sent +for the shoemaker of King Gos, who soon brought him a new pair of red +leather shoes that fitted him quite well. When these had been put upon +his feet, the Prince, accompanied by the King, started to walk through +the city. +</P> + +<P> +Wherever they went the people bowed low to the conqueror, although a +few, remembering Inga's terrible strength, ran away in fear and +trembling. They had been used to severe masters and did not yet know +how they would be treated by King Gos's successor. There being no +occasion for the boy to exercise the powers he had displayed the +previous day, his present helplessness was not suspected by any of the +citizens of Regos, who still considered him a wonderful magician. +</P> + +<P> +Inga did not dare to fight his way to the mines, at present, nor could +he try to conquer the Island of Coregos, where his mother was enslaved; +so he set about the regulation of the City of Regos, and having +established himself with great state in the royal palace he began to +govern the people by kindness, having consideration for the most humble. +</P> + +<P> +The King of Regos and his followers sent spies across to the island +they had abandoned in their flight, and these spies returned with the +news that the terrible boy conqueror was still occupying the city. +Therefore none of them ventured to go back to Regos but continued to +live upon the neighboring island of Coregos, where they passed the days +in fear and trembling and sought to plot and plan ways how they might +overcome the Prince of Pingaree and the fat King of Gilgad. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Nine +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A Present for Zella +</H3> + +<P> +Now it so happened that on the morning of that same day when the Prince +of Pingaree suffered the loss of his priceless shoes, there chanced to +pass along the road that wound beside the royal palace a poor +charcoal-burner named Nikobob, who was about to return to his home in +the forest. +</P> + +<P> +Nikobob carried an ax and a bundle of torches over his shoulder and he +walked with his eyes to the ground, being deep in thought as to the +strange manner in which the powerful King Gos and his city had been +conquered by a boy Prince who had come from Pingaree. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly the charcoal-burner espied a shoe lying upon the ground, just +beyond the high wall of the palace and directly in his path. He picked +it up and, seeing it was a pretty shoe, although much too small for his +own foot, he put it in his pocket. +</P> + +<P> +Soon after, on turning a corner of the wall, Nikobob came to a +dust-heap where, lying amidst a mass of rubbish, was another shoe—the +mate to the one he had before found. This also he placed in his pocket, +saying to himself: +</P> + +<P> +"I have now a fine pair of shoes for my daughter Zella, who will be +much pleased to find I have brought her a present from the city." +</P> + +<P> +And while the charcoal-burner turned into the forest and trudged along +the path toward his home, Inga and Rinkitink were still searching for +the missing shoes. Of course, they could not know that Nikobob had +found them, nor did the honest man think he had taken anything more +than a pair of cast-off shoes which nobody wanted. +</P> + +<P> +Nikobob had several miles to travel through the forest before he could +reach the little log cabin where his wife, as well as his little +daughter Zella, awaited his return, but he was used to long walks and +tramped along the path whistling cheerfully to beguile the time. +</P> + +<P> +Few people, as I said before, ever passed through the dark and tangled +forests of Regos, except to go to the mines in the mountain beyond, for +many dangerous creatures lurked in the wild jungles, and King Gos never +knew, when he sent a messenger to the mines, whether he would reach +there safely or not. +</P> + +<P> +The charcoal-burner, however, knew the wild forest well, and especially +this part of it lying between the city and his home. It was the +favorite haunt of the ferocious beast Choggenmugger, dreaded by every +dweller in the Island of Regos. Choggenmugger was so old that everyone +thought it must have been there since the world was made, and each year +of its life the huge scales that covered its body grew thicker and +harder and its jaws grew wider and its teeth grew sharper and its +appetite grew more keen than ever. +</P> + +<P> +In former ages there had been many dragons in Regos, but Choggenmugger +was so fond of dragons that he had eaten all of them long ago. There +had also been great serpents and crocodiles in the forest marshes, but +all had gone to feed the hunger of Choggenmugger. The people of Regos +knew well there was no use opposing the Great Beast, so when one +unfortunately met with it he gave himself up for lost. +</P> + +<P> +All this Nikobob knew well, but fortune had always favored him in his +journey through the forest, and although he had at times met many +savage beasts and fought them with his sharp ax, he had never to this +day encountered the terrible Choggenmugger. Indeed, he was not thinking +of the Great Beast at all as he walked along, but suddenly he heard a +crashing of broken trees and felt a trembling of the earth and saw the +immense jaws of Choggenmugger opening before him. Then Nikobob gave +himself up for lost and his heart almost ceased to beat. +</P> + +<P> +He believed there was no way of escape. No one ever dared oppose +Choggenmugger. But Nikobob hated to die without showing the monster, in +some way, that he was eaten only under protest. So he raised his ax and +brought it down upon the red, protruding tongue of the monster—and cut +it clean off! +</P> + +<P> +For a moment the charcoal-burner scarcely believed what his eyes saw, +for he knew nothing of the pearls he carried in his pocket or the magic +power they lent his arm. His success, however, encouraged him to strike +again, and this time the huge scaly jaw of Choggenmugger was severed in +twain and the beast howled in terrified rage. +</P> + +<P> +Nikobob took off his coat, to give himself more freedom of action, and +then he earnestly renewed the attack. But now the ax seemed blunted by +the hard scales and made no impression upon them whatever. The creature +advanced with glaring, wicked eyes, and Nikobob seized his coat under +his arm and turned to flee. +</P> + +<P> +That was foolish, for Choggenmugger could run like the wind. In a +moment it overtook the charcoal-burner and snapped its four rows of +sharp teeth together. But they did not touch Nikobob, because he still +held the coat in his grasp, close to his body, and in the coat pocket +were Inga's shoes, and in the points of the shoes were the magic +pearls. Finding himself uninjured, Nikobob put on his coat, again +seized his ax, and in a short time had chopped Choggenmugger into many +small pieces—a task that proved not only easy but very agreeable. +</P> + +<P> +"I must be the strongest man in all the world!" thought the +charcoal-burner, as he proudly resumed his way, "for Choggenmugger has +been the terror of Regos since the world began, and I alone have been +able to destroy the beast. Yet it is singular' that never before did I +discover how powerful a man I am." +</P> + +<P> +He met no further adventure and at midday reached a little clearing in +the forest where stood his humble cabin. +</P> + +<P> +"Great news! I have great news for you," he shouted, as his wife and +little daughter came to greet him. "King Gos has been conquered by a +boy Prince from the far island of Pingaree, and I have this +day—unaided—destroyed Choggenmugger by the might of my strong arm." +</P> + +<P> +This was, indeed, great news. They brought Nikobob into the house and +set him in an easy chair and made him tell everything he knew about the +Prince of Pingaree and the fat King of Gilgad, as well as the details +of his wonderful fight with mighty Choggenmugger. +</P> + +<P> +"And now, my daughter," said the charcoalburner, when all his news had +been related for at least the third time, "here is a pretty present I +have brought you from the city." +</P> + +<P> +With this he drew the shoes from the pocket of his coat and handed them +to Zella, who gave him a dozen kisses in payment and was much pleased +with her gift. The little girl had never worn shoes before, for her +parents were too poor to buy her such luxuries, so now the possession +of these, which were not much worn, filled the child's heart with joy. +She admired the red leather and the graceful curl of the pointed toes. +When she tried them on her feet, they fitted as well as if made for her. +</P> + +<P> +All the afternoon, as she helped her mother with the housework, Zella +thought of her pretty shoes. They seemed more important to her than the +coming to Regos of the conquering Prince of Pingaree, or even the death +of Choggenmugger. +</P> + +<P> +When Zella and her mother were not working in the cabin, cooking or +sewing, they often searched the neighboring forest for honey which the +wild bees cleverly hid in hollow trees. The day after Nikobob's return, +as they were starting out after honey, Zella decided to put on her new +shoes, as they would keep the twigs that covered the ground from +hurting her feet. She was used to the twigs, of course, but what is the +use of having nice, comfortable shoes, if you do not wear them? +</P> + +<P> +So she danced along, very happily, followed by her mother, and +presently they came to a tree in which was a deep hollow. Zella thrust +her hand and arm into the space and found that the tree was full of +honey, so she began to dig it out with a wooden paddle. Her mother, who +held the pail, suddenly cried in warning: +</P> + +<P> +"Look out, Zella; the bees are coming!" and then the good woman ran +fast toward the house to escape. +</P> + +<P> +Zella, however, had no more than time to turn her head when a thick +swarm of bees surrounded her, angry because they had caught her +stealing their honey and intent on stinging the girl as a punishment. +She knew her danger and expected to be badly injured by the multitude +of stinging bees, but to her surprise the little creatures were unable +to fly close enough to her to stick their dart-like stingers into her +flesh. They swarmed about her in a dark cloud, and their angry buzzing +was terrible to hear, yet the little girl remained unharmed. +</P> + +<P> +When she realized this, Zella was no longer afraid but continued to +ladle out the honey until she had secured all that was in the tree. +Then she returned to the cabin, where her mother was weeping and +bemoaning the fate of her darling child, and the good woman was greatly +astonished to find Zella had escaped injury. +</P> + +<P> +Again they went to the woods to search for honey, and although the +mother always ran away whenever the bees came near them, Zella paid no +attention to the creatures but kept at her work, so that before supper +time came the pails were again filled to overflowing with delicious +honey. +</P> + +<P> +"With such good fortune as we have had this day," said her mother, "we +shall soon gather enough honey for you to carry to Queen Cor." For it +seems the wicked Queen was very fond of honey and it had been Zella's +custom to go, once every year, to the City of Coregos, to carry the +Queen a supply of sweet honey for her table. Usually she had but one +pail. +</P> + +<P> +"But now," said Zella, "I shall be able to carry two pailsful to the +Queen, who will, I am sure, give me a good price for it." +</P> + +<P> +"True," answered her mother, "and, as the boy Prince may take it into +his head to conquer Coregos, as well as Regos, I think it best for you +to start on your journey to Queen Cor tomorrow morning. Do you not +agree with me, Nikobob?" she added, turning to her husband, the +charcoal-burner, who was eating his supper. +</P> + +<P> +"I agree with you," he replied. "If Zella must go to the City of +Coregos, she may as well start to-morrow morning." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Ten +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Cunning of Queen Cor +</H3> + +<P> +You may be sure the Queen of Coregos was not well pleased to have King +Gos and all his warriors living in her city after they had fled from +their own. They were savage natured and quarrelsome men at all times, +and their tempers had not improved since their conquest by the Prince +of Pingaree. Moreover, they were eating up Queen Cor's provisions and +crowding the houses of her own people, who grumbled and complained +until their Queen was heartily tired. +</P> + +<P> +"Shame on you!" she said to her husband, King Gos, "to be driven out of +your city by a boy, a roly-poly King and a billy goat! Why do you not +go back and fight them?" +</P> + +<P> +"No human can fight against the powers of magic," returned the King in +a surly voice. "That boy is either a fairy or under the protection of +fairies. We escaped with our lives only because we were quick to run +away; but, should we return to Regos, the same terrible power that +burst open the city gates would crush us all to atoms." +</P> + +<P> +"Bah! you are a coward," cried the Queen, tauntingly. +</P> + +<P> +"I am not a coward," said the big King. "I have killed in battle scores +of my enemies; by the might of my sword and my good right arm I have +conquered many nations; all my life people have feared me. But no one +would dare face the tremendous power of the Prince of Pingaree, boy +though he is. It would not be courage, it would be folly, to attempt +it." +</P> + +<P> +"Then meet his power with cunning," suggested the Queen. "Take my +advice, and steal over to Regos at night, when it is dark, and capture +or destroy the boy while he sleeps." +</P> + +<P> +"No weapon can touch his body," was the answer. "He bears a charmed +life and cannot be injured." +</P> + +<P> +"Does the fat King possess magic powers, or the goat?" inquired Cor. +</P> + +<P> +"I think not," said Gos. "We could not injure them, indeed, any more +than we could the boy, but they did not seem to have any unusual +strength, although the goat's head is harder than a battering-ram." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," mused the Queen, "there is surely some way to conquer that +slight boy. If you are afraid to undertake the job, I shall go myself. +By some stratagem I shall manage to make him my prisoner. He will not +dare to defy a Queen, and no magic can stand against a woman's cunning." +</P> + +<P> +"Go ahead, if you like," replied the King, with an evil grin, "and if +you are hung up by the thumbs or cast into a dungeon, it will serve you +right for thinking you can succeed where a skilled warrior dares not +make the attempt." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not afraid," answered the Queen. "It is only soldiers and bullies +who are cowards." +</P> + +<P> +In spite of this assertion, Queen Cor was not so brave as she was +cunning. For several days she thought over this plan and that, and +tried to decide which was most likely to succeed. She had never seen +the boy Prince but had heard so many tales of him from the defeated +warriors, and especially from Captain Buzzub, that she had learned to +respect his power. +</P> + +<P> +Spurred on by the knowledge that she would never get rid of her +unwelcome guests until Prince Inga was overcome and Regos regained for +King Gos, the Queen of Coregos finally decided to trust to luck and her +native wit to defeat a simple-minded boy, however powerful he might be. +Inga could not suspect what she was going to do, because she did not +know herself. She intended to act boldly and trust to chance to win. +</P> + +<P> +It is evident that had the cunning Queen known that Inga had lost all +his magic, she would not have devoted so much time to the simple matter +of capturing him, but like all others she was impressed by the +marvelous exhibition of power he had shown in capturing Regos, and had +no reason to believe the boy was less powerful now. +</P> + +<P> +One morning Queen Cor boldly entered a boat, and, taking four men with +her as an escort and bodyguard, was rowed across the narrow channel to +Regos. Prince Inga was sitting in the palace playing checkers with King +Rinkitink when a servant came to him, saying that Queen Cor had arrived +and desired an audience with him. +</P> + +<P> +With many misgivings lest the wicked Queen discover that he had now +lost his magic powers, the boy ordered her to be admitted, and she soon +entered the room and bowed low before him, in mock respect. +</P> + +<P> +Cor was a big woman, almost as tall as King Gos. She had flashing black +eyes and the dark complexion you see on gypsies. Her temper, when +irritated, was something dreadful, and her face wore an evil expression +which she tried to cover by smiling sweetly—often when she meant the +most mischief. +</P> + +<P> +"I have come," said she in a low voice, "to render homage to the noble +Prince of Pingaree. I am told that Your Highness is the strongest +person in the world, and invincible in battle, and therefore I wish you +to become my friend, rather than my enemy." +</P> + +<P> +Now Inga did not know how to reply to this speech. He disliked the +appearance of the woman and was afraid of her and he was unused to +deception and did not know how to mask his real feelings. So he took +time to think over his answer, which he finally made in these words: +</P> + +<P> +"I have no quarrel with Your Majesty, and my only reason for coming +here is to liberate my father and mother, and my people, whom you and +your husband have made your slaves, and to recover the goods King Gos +has plundered from the Island of Pingaree. This I hope soon to +accomplish, and if you really wish to be my friend, you can assist me +greatly." +</P> + +<P> +While he was speaking Queen Cor had been studying the boy's face +stealthily, from the corners of her eyes, and she said to herself: "He +is so small and innocent that I believe I can capture him alone, and +with ease. He does not seem very terrible and I suspect that King Gos +and his warriors were frightened at nothing." +</P> + +<P> +Then, aloud, she said to Inga: +</P> + +<P> +"I wish to invite you, mighty Prince, and your friend, the great King +of Gilgad, to visit my poor palace at Coregos, where all my people +shall do you honor. Will you come?" +</P> + +<P> +"At present," replied Inga, uneasily, "I must refuse your kind +invitation." +</P> + +<P> +"There will be feasting, and dancing girls, and games and fireworks," +said the Queen, speaking as if eager to entice him and at each word +coming a step nearer to where he stood. +</P> + +<P> +"I could not enjoy them while my poor parents are slaves," said the +boy, sadly. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you sure of that?" asked Queen Cor, and by that time she was close +beside Inga. Suddenly she leaned forward and threw both of her long +arms around Inga's body, holding him in a grasp that was like a vise. +</P> + +<P> +Now Rinkitink sprang forward to rescue his friend, but Cor kicked out +viciously with her foot and struck the King squarely on his stomach—a +very tender place to be kicked, especially if one is fat. Then, still +hugging Inga tightly, the Queen called aloud: +</P> + +<P> +"I've got him! Bring in the ropes." +</P> + +<P> +Instantly the four men she had brought with her sprang into the room +and bound the boy hand and foot. Next they seized Rinkitink, who was +still rubbing his stomach, and bound him likewise. +</P> + +<P> +With a laugh of wicked triumph, Queen Cor now led her captives down to +the boat and returned with them to Coregos. +</P> + +<P> +Great was the astonishment of King Gos and his warriors when they saw +that the mighty Prince of Pingaree, who had put them all to flight, had +been captured by a woman. Cowards as they were, they now crowded around +the boy and jeered at him, and some of them would have struck him had +not the Queen cried out: +</P> + +<P> +"Hands off! He is my prisoner, remember not yours." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Cor, what are you going to do with him?" inquired King Gos. +</P> + +<P> +"I shall make him my slave, that he may amuse my idle hours. For he is +a pretty boy, and gentle, although he did frighten all of you big +warriors so terribly." +</P> + +<P> +The King scowled at this speech, not liking to be ridiculed, but he +said nothing more. He and his men returned that same day to Regos, +after restoring the bridge of boats. And they held a wild carnival of +rejoicing, both in the King's palace and in the city, although the poor +people of Regos who were not warriors were all sorry that the kind +young Prince had been captured by his enemies and could rule them no +longer. +</P> + +<P> +When her unwelcome guests had all gone back to Regos and the Queen was +alone in her palace, she ordered Inga and Rinkitink brought before her +and their bonds removed. They came sadly enough, knowing they were in +serious straits and at the mercy of a cruel mistress. Inga had taken +counsel of the White Pearl, which had advised him to bear up bravely +under his misfortune, promising a change for the better very soon. With +this promise to comfort him, Inga faced the Queen with a dignified +bearing that indicated both pride and courage. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, youngster," said she, in a cheerful tone because she was pleased +with her success, "you played a clever trick on my poor husband and +frightened him badly, but for that prank I am inclined to forgive you. +Hereafter I intend you to be my page, which means that you must fetch +and carry for me at my will. And let me advise you to obey my every +whim without question or delay, for when I am angry I become ugly, and +when I am ugly someone is sure to feel the lash. Do you understand me?" +</P> + +<P> +Inga bowed, but made no answer. Then she turned to Rinkitink and said: +</P> + +<P> +"As for you, I cannot decide how to make you useful to me, as you are +altogether too fat and awkward to work in the fields. It may be, +however, that I can use you as a pincushion. +</P> + +<P> +"What!" cried Rinkitink in horror, "would you stick pins into the King +of Gilgad?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why not?" returned Queen Cor. "You are as fat as a pincushion, as you +must yourself admit, and whenever I needed a pin I could call you to +me." Then she laughed at his frightened look and asked: "By the way, +are you ticklish?" +</P> + +<P> +This was the question Rinkitink had been dreading. He gave a moan of +despair and shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"I should love to tickle the bottom of your feet with a feather," +continued the cruel woman. "Please take off your shoes." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, your Majesty!" pleaded poor Rinkitink, "I beg you to allow me to +amuse you in some other way. I can dance, or I can sing you a song." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," she answered, shaking with laughter, "you may sing a song—if +it be a merry one. But you do not seem in a merry mood." +</P> + +<P> +"I feel merry—indeed, Your Majesty, I do!" protested Rinkitink, +anxious to escape the tickling. But even as he professed to "feel +merry" his round, red face wore an expression of horror and anxiety +that was really comical. +</P> + +<P> +"Sing, then!" commanded Queen Cor, who was greatly amused. +</P> + +<P> +Rinkitink gave a sigh of relief and after clearing his throat and +trying to repress his sobs he began to sing this song-gently, at first, +but finally roaring it out at the top of his voice: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "Oh!<BR> + There was a Baby Tiger lived in a men-ag-er-ie—<BR> + Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy—they wouldn't set him free;<BR> + And ev'rybody thought that he was gentle as could be—<BR> + Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy—Ba-by Ti-ger!<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "Oh!<BR> + They patted him upon his head and shook him by the paw—<BR> + Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy—he had a bone to gnaw;<BR> + But soon he grew the biggest Tiger that you ever saw—<BR> + Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy—what a Ti-ger!<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "Oh!<BR> + One day they came to pet the brute and he began to fight—<BR> + Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy-how he did scratch and bite!<BR> + He broke the cage and in a rage he darted out of sight—<BR> + Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy was a Ti-ger!"<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"And is there a moral to the song?" asked Queen Cor, when King +Rinkitink had finished his song with great spirit. +</P> + +<P> +"If there is," replied Rinkitink, "it is a warning not to fool with +tigers." +</P> + +<P> +The little Prince could not help smiling at this shrewd answer, but +Queen Cor frowned and gave the King a sharp look. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh," said she; "I think I know the difference between a tiger and a +lapdog. But I'll bear the warning in mind, just the same." +</P> + +<P> +For, after all her success in capturing them, she was a little afraid +of these people who had once displayed such extraordinary powers. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Eleven +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Zella Goes to Coregos +</H3> + +<P> +The forest in which Nikobob lived with his wife and daughter stood +between the mountains and the City of Regos, and a well-beaten path +wound among the trees, leading from the city to the mines. This path +was used by the King's messengers, and captured prisoners were also +sent by this way from Regos to work in the underground caverns. +</P> + +<P> +Nikobob had built his cabin more than a mile away from this path, that +he might not be molested by the wild and lawless soldiers of King Gos, +but the family of the charcoal-burner was surrounded by many creatures +scarcely less dangerous to encounter, and often in the night they could +hear savage animals growling and prowling about the cabin. Because +Nikobob minded his own business and never hunted the wild creatures to +injure them, the beasts had come to regard him as one of the natural +dwellers in the forest and did not molest him or his family. Still +Zella and her mother seldom wandered far from home, except on such +errands as carrying honey to Coregos, and at these times Nikobob +cautioned them to be very careful. +</P> + +<P> +So when Zella set out on her journey to Queen Cor, with the two pails +of honey in her hands, she was undertaking a dangerous adventure and +there was no certainty that she would return safely to her loving +parents. But they were poor, and Queen Cor's money, which they expected +to receive for the honey, would enable them to purchase many things +that were needed; so it was deemed best that Zella should go. She was a +brave little girl and poor people are often obliged to take chances +that rich ones are spared. +</P> + +<P> +A passing woodchopper had brought news to Nikobob's cabin that Queen +Cor had made a prisoner of the conquering Prince of Pingaree and that +Gos and his warriors were again back in their city of Regos; but these +struggles and conquests were matters which, however interesting, did +not concern the poor charcoal-burner or his family. They were more +anxious over the report that the warriors had become more reckless than +ever before, and delighted in annoying all the common people; so Zella +was told to keep away from the beaten path as much as possible, that +she might not encounter any of the King's soldiers. +</P> + +<P> +"When it is necessary to choose between the warriors and the wild +beasts," said Nikobob, "the beasts will be found the more merciful." +</P> + +<P> +The little girl had put on her best attire for the journey and her +mother threw a blue silk shawl over her head and shoulders. Upon her +feet were the pretty red shoes her father had brought her from Regos. +Thus prepared, she kissed her parents good-bye and started out with a +light heart, carrying the pails of honey in either hand. +</P> + +<P> +It was necessary for Zella to cross the path that led from the mines to +the city, but once on the other side she was not likely to meet with +anyone, for she had resolved to cut through the forest and so reach the +bridge of boats without entering the City of Regos, where she might be +interrupted. For an hour or two she found the walking easy enough, but +then the forest, which in this part was unknown to her, became badly +tangled. The trees were thicker and creeping vines intertwined between +them. She had to turn this way and that to get through at all, and +finally she came to a place where a network of vines and branches +effectually barred her farther progress. +</P> + +<P> +Zella was dismayed, at first, when she encountered this obstacle, but +setting down her pails she made an endeavor to push the branches aside. +At her touch they parted as if by magic, breaking asunder like dried +twigs, and she found she could pass freely. At another place a great +log had fallen across her way, but the little girl lifted it easily and +cast it aside, although six ordinary men could scarcely have moved it. +</P> + +<P> +The child was somewhat worried at this evidence of a strength she had +heretofore been ignorant that she possessed. In order to satisfy +herself that it was no delusion, she tested her new-found power in many +ways, finding that nothing was too big nor too heavy for her to lift. +And, naturally enough, the girl gained courage from these experiments +and became confident that she could protect herself in any emergency. +When, presently, a wild boar ran toward her, grunting horribly and +threatening her with its great tusks, she did not climb a tree to +escape, as she had always done before on meeting such creatures, but +stood still and faced the boar. When it had come quite close and Zella +saw that it could not injure her—a fact that astonished both the beast +and the girl—she suddenly reached down and seizing it by one ear threw +the great beast far off amongst the trees, where it fell headlong to +the earth, grunting louder than ever with surprise and fear. +</P> + +<P> +The girl laughed merrily at this incident and, picking up her pails, +resumed her journey through the forest. It is not recorded whether the +wild boar told his adventure to the other beasts or they had happened +to witness his defeat, but certain it is that Zella was not again +molested. A brown bear watched her pass without making any movement in +her direction and a great puma—a beast much dreaded by all men—crept +out of her path as she approached, and disappeared among the trees. +</P> + +<P> +Thus everything favored the girl's journey and she made such good speed +that by noon she emerged from the forest's edge and found she was quite +near to the bridge of boats that led to Coregos. This she crossed +safely and without meeting any of the rude warriors she so greatly +feared, and five minutes later the daughter of the charcoal-burner was +seeking admittance at the back door of Queen Cor's palace. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Twelve +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Excitement of Bilbil the Goat +</H3> + +<P> +Our story must now return to one of our characters whom we have been +forced to neglect. The temper of Bilbil the goat was not sweet under +any circumstances, and whenever he had a grievance he was inclined to +be quite grumpy. So, when his master settled down in the palace of King +Gos for a quiet life with the boy Prince, and passed his time in +playing checkers and eating and otherwise enjoying himself, he had no +use whatever for Bilbil, and shut the goat in an upstairs room to +prevent his wandering through the city and quarreling with the +citizens. But this Bilbil did not like at all. He became very cross and +disagreeable at being left alone and he did not speak nicely to the +servants who came to bring him food; therefore those people decided not +to wait upon him any more, resenting his conversation and not liking to +be scolded by a lean, scraggly goat, even though it belonged to a +conqueror. The servants kept away from the room and Bilbil grew more +hungry and more angry every hour. He tried to eat the rugs and +ornaments, but found them not at all nourishing. There was no grass to +be had unless he escaped from the palace. +</P> + +<P> +When Queen Cor came to capture Inga and Rinkitink, both the prisoners +were so filled with despair at their own misfortune that they gave no +thought whatever to the goat, who was left in his room. Nor did Bilbil +know anything of the changed fortunes of his comrades until he heard +shouts and boisterous laughter in the courtyard below. Looking out of a +window, with the intention of rebuking those who dared thus to disturb +him, Bilbil saw the courtyard quite filled with warriors and knew from +this that the palace had in some way again fallen into the hands of the +enemy. +</P> + +<P> +Now, although Bilbil was often exceedingly disagreeable to King +Rinkitink, as well as to the Prince, and sometimes used harsh words in +addressing them, he was intelligent enough to know them to be his +friends, and to know that King Gos and his people were his foes. In +sudden anger, provoked by the sight of the warriors and the knowledge +that he was in the power of the dangerous men of Regos, Bilbil butted +his head against the door of his room and burst it open. Then he ran to +the head of the staircase and saw King Gos coming up the stairs +followed by a long line of his chief captains and warriors. +</P> + +<P> +The goat lowered his head, trembling with rage and excitement, and just +as the King reached the top stair the animal dashed forward and butted +His Majesty so fiercely that the big and powerful King, who did not +expect an attack, doubled up and tumbled backward. His great weight +knocked over the man just behind him and he in turn struck the next +warrior and upset him, so that in an instant the whole line of Bilbil's +foes was tumbling heels over head to the bottom of the stairs, where +they piled up in a heap, struggling and shouting and in the mixup +hitting one another with their fists, until every man of them was +bruised and sore. +</P> + +<P> +Finally King Gos scrambled out of the heap and rushed up the stairs +again, very angry indeed. Bilbil was ready for him and a second time +butted the King down the stairs; but now the goat also lost his balance +and followed the King, landing full upon the confused heap of soldiers. +Then he kicked out so viciously with his heels that he soon freed +himself and dashed out of the doorway of the palace. +</P> + +<P> +"Stop him!" cried King Gos, running after. +</P> + +<P> +But the goat was now so wild and excited that it was not safe for +anyone to stand in his way. None of the men were armed and when one or +two tried to head off the goat, Bilbil sent them sprawling upon the +ground. Most of the warriors, however, were wise enough not to attempt +to interfere with his flight. +</P> + +<P> +Coursing down the street, Bilbil found himself approaching the bridge +of boats and without pausing to think where it might lead him he +crossed over and proceeded on his way. A few moments later a great +stone building blocked his path. It was the palace of Queen Cor, and +seeing the gates of the courtyard standing wide open, Bilbil rushed +through them without slackening his speed. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Thirteen +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Zella Saves the Prince +</H3> + +<P> +The wicked Queen of Coregos was in a very bad humor this morning, for +one of her slave drivers had come from the fields to say that a number +of slaves had rebelled and would not work. +</P> + +<P> +"Bring them here to me!" she cried savagely. "A good whipping may make +them change their minds." +</P> + +<P> +So the slave driver went to fetch the rebellious ones and Queen Cor sat +down to eat her breakfast, an ugly look on her face. +</P> + +<P> +Prince Inga had been ordered to stand behind his new mistress with a +big fan of peacock's feathers, but he was so unused to such service +that he awkwardly brushed her ear with the fan. At once she flew into a +terrible rage and slapped the Prince twice with her hand-blows that +tingled, too, for her hand was big and hard and she was not inclined to +be gentle. Inga took the blows without shrinking or uttering a cry, +although they stung his pride far more than his body. But King +Rinkitink, who was acting as the queen's butler and had just brought in +her coffee, was so startled at seeing the young Prince punished that he +tipped over the urn and the hot coffee streamed across the lap of the +Queen's best morning gown. +</P> + +<P> +Cor sprang from her seat with a scream of anger and poor Rinkitink +would doubtless have been given a terrible beating had not the slave +driver returned at this moment and attracted the woman's attention. The +overseer had brought with him all of the women slaves from Pingaree, +who had been loaded down with chains and were so weak and ill they +could scarcely walk, much less work in the fields. +</P> + +<P> +Prince Inga's eyes were dimmed with sorrowful tears when he discovered +how his poor people had been abused, but his own plight was so helpless +that he was unable to aid them. Fortunately the boy's mother, Queen +Garee, was not among these slaves, for Queen Cor had placed her in the +royal dairy to make butter. +</P> + +<P> +"Why do you refuse to work?" demanded Cor in a harsh voice, as the +slaves from Pingaree stood before her, trembling and with downcast eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"Because we lack strength to perform the tasks your overseers demand," +answered one of the women. +</P> + +<P> +"Then you shall be whipped until your strength returns!" exclaimed the +Queen, and turning to Inga, she commanded: "Get me the whip with the +seven lashes." +</P> + +<P> +As the boy left the room, wondering how he might manage to save the +unhappy women from their undeserved punishment, he met a girl entering +by the back way, who asked: +</P> + +<P> +"Can you tell me where to find Her Majesty, Queen Cor?" +</P> + +<P> +"She is in the chamber with the red dome, where green dragons are +painted upon the walls," replied Inga; "but she is in an angry and +ungracious mood to-day. Why do you wish to see her?" +</P> + +<P> +"I have honey to sell," answered the girl, who was Zella, just come +from the forest. "The Queen is very fond of my honey." +</P> + +<P> +"You may go to her, if you so desire," said the boy, "but take care not +to anger the cruel Queen, or she may do you a mischief." +</P> + +<P> +"Why should she harm me, who brings her the honey she so dearly loves?" +inquired the child innocently. "But I thank you for your warning; and I +will try not to anger the Queen." +</P> + +<P> +As Zella started to go, Inga's eyes suddenly fell upon her shoes and +instantly he recognized them as his own. For only in Pingaree were +shoes shaped in this manner: high at the heel and pointed at the toes. +</P> + +<P> +"Stop!" he cried in an excited voice, and the girl obeyed, wonderingly. +"Tell me," he continued, more gently, "where did you get those shoes?" +</P> + +<P> +"My father brought them to me from Regos," she answered. +</P> + +<P> +"From Regos!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. Are they not pretty?" asked Zella, looking down at her feet to +admire them. "One of them my father found by the palace wall, and the +other on an ash-heap. So he brought them to me and they fit me +perfectly." +</P> + +<P> +By this time Inga was trembling with eager joy, which of course the +girl could not understand. +</P> + +<P> +"What is your name, little maid?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"I am called Zella, and my father is Nikobob, the charcoal-burner." +</P> + +<P> +"Zella is a pretty name. I am Inga, Prince of Pingaree," said he, "and +the shoes you are now wearing, Zella, belong to me. They were not cast +away, as your father supposed, but were lost. Will you let me have them +again?" +</P> + +<P> +Zella's eyes filled with tears. +</P> + +<P> +"Must I give up my pretty shoes, then?" she asked. "They are the only +ones I have ever owned." +</P> + +<P> +Inga was sorry for the poor child, but he knew how important it was +that he regain possession of the Magic Pearls. So he said, pleadingly: +</P> + +<P> +"Please let me have them, Zella. See! I will exchange for them the +shoes I now have on, which are newer and prettier than the others." +</P> + +<P> +The girl hesitated. She wanted to please the boy Prince, yet she hated +to exchange the shoes which her father had brought her as a present. +</P> + +<P> +"If you will give me the shoes," continued the boy, anxiously, "I will +promise to make you and your father and mother rich and prosperous. +Indeed, I will promise to grant any favors you may ask of me," and he +sat down upon the floor and drew off the shoes he was wearing and held +them toward the girl. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll see if they will fit me," said Zella, taking off her left +shoe—the one that contained the Pink Pearl—and beginning to put on +one of Inga's. +</P> + +<P> +Just then Queen Cor, angry at being made to wait for her whip with the +seven lashes, rushed into the room to find Inga. Seeing the boy sitting +upon the floor beside Zella, the woman sprang toward him to beat him +with her clenched fists; but Inga had now slipped on the shoe and the +Queen's blows could not reach his body. +</P> + +<P> +Then Cor espied the whip lying beside Inga and snatching it up she +tried to lash him with it—all to no avail. +</P> + +<P> +While Zella sat horrified by this scene, the Prince, who realized he +had no time to waste, reached out and pulled the right shoe from the +girl's foot, quickly placing it upon his own. Then he stood up and, +facing the furious but astonished Queen, said to her in a quiet voice: +</P> + +<P> +"Madam, please give me that whip." +</P> + +<P> +"I won't!" answered Cor. "I'm going to lash those Pingaree women with +it." +</P> + +<P> +The boy seized hold of the whip and with irresistible strength drew it +from the Queen's hand. But she drew from her bosom a sharp dagger and +with the swiftness of lightning aimed a blow at Inga's heart. He merely +stood still and smiled, for the blade rebounded and fell clattering to +the floor. +</P> + +<P> +Then, at last, Queen Cor understood the magic power that had terrified +her husband but which she had ridiculed in her ignorance, not believing +in it. She did not know that Inga's power had been lost, and found +again, but she realized the boy was no common foe and that unless she +could still manage to outwit him her reign in the Island of Coregos was +ended. To gain time, she went back to the red-domed chamber and seated +herself in her throne, before which were grouped the weeping slaves +from Pingaree. +</P> + +<P> +Inga had taken Zella's hand and assisted her to put on the shoes he had +given her in exchange for his own. She found them quite comfortable and +did not know she had lost anything by the transfer. +</P> + +<P> +"Come with me," then said the boy Prince, and led her into the presence +of Queen Cor, who was giving Rinkitink a scolding. To the overseer Inga +said. +</P> + +<P> +"Give me the keys which unlock these chains, that I may set these poor +women at liberty." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't you do it!" screamed Queen Cor. +</P> + +<P> +"If you interfere, madam," said the boy, "I will put you into a +dungeon." +</P> + +<P> +By this Rinkitink knew that Inga had recovered his Magic Pearls and the +little fat King was so overjoyed that he danced and capered all around +the room. But the Queen was alarmed at the threat and the slave driver, +fearing the conqueror of Regos, tremblingly gave up the keys. +</P> + +<P> +Inga quickly removed all the shackles from the women of his country and +comforted them, telling them they should work no more but would soon be +restored to their homes in Pingaree. Then he commanded the slave driver +to go and get all the children who had been made slaves, and to bring +them to their mothers. The man obeyed and left at once to perform his +errand, while Queen Cor, growing more and more uneasy, suddenly sprang +from her throne and before Inga could stop her had rushed through the +room and out into the courtyard of the palace, meaning to make her +escape. Rinkitink followed her, running as fast as he could go. +</P> + +<P> +It was at this moment that Bilbil, in his mad dash from Regos, turned +in at the gates of the courtyard, and as he was coming one way and +Queen Cor was going the other they bumped into each other with great +force. The woman sailed through the air, over Bilbil's head, and landed +on the ground outside the gates, where her crown rolled into a ditch +and she picked herself up, half dazed, and continued her flight. Bilbil +was also somewhat dazed by the unexpected encounter, but he continued +his rush rather blindly and so struck poor Rinkitink, who was chasing +after Queen Cor. They rolled over one another a few times and then +Rinkitink sat up and Bilbil sat up and they looked at each other in +amazement. +</P> + +<P> +"Bilbil," said the King, "I'm astonished at you!" +</P> + +<P> +"Your Majesty," said Bilbil, "I expected kinder treatment at your +hands." +</P> + +<P> +"You interrupted me," said Rinkitink. +</P> + +<P> +"There was plenty of room without your taking my path," declared the +goat. +</P> + +<P> +And then Inga came running out and said. "Where is the Queen?" +</P> + +<P> +"Gone," replied Rinkitink, "but she cannot go far, as this is an +island. However, I have found Bilbil, and our party is again reunited. +You have recovered your magic powers, and again we are masters of the +situation. So let us be thankful." +</P> + +<P> +Saying this, the good little King got upon his feet and limped back +into the throne room to help comfort the women. +</P> + +<P> +Presently the children of Pingaree, who had been gathered together by +the overseer, were brought in and restored to their mothers, and there +was great rejoicing among them, you may be sure. +</P> + +<P> +"But where is Queen Garee, my dear mother?" questioned Inga; but the +women did not know and it was some time before the overseer remembered +that one of the slaves from Pingaree had been placed in the royal +dairy. Perhaps this was the woman the boy was seeking. +</P> + +<P> +Inga at once commanded him to lead the way to the butter house, but +when they arrived there Queen Garee was nowhere in the place, although +the boy found a silk scarf which he recognized as one that his mother +used to wear. Then they began a search throughout the island of +Coregos, but could not find Inga's mother anywhere. +</P> + +<P> +When they returned to the palace of Queen Cor, Rinkitink discovered +that the bridge of boats had again been removed, separating them from +Regos, and from this they suspected that Queen Cor had fled to her +husband's island and had taken Queen Garee with her. Inga was much +perplexed what to do and returned with his friends to the palace to +talk the matter over. +</P> + +<P> +Zella was now crying because she had not sold her honey and was unable +to return to her parents on the island of Regos, but the boy prince +comforted her and promised she should be protected until she could be +restored to her home. Rinkitink found Queen Cor's purse, which she had +had no time to take with her, and gave Zella several gold pieces for +the honey. Then Inga ordered the palace servants to prepare a feast for +all the women and children of Pingaree and to prepare for them beds in +the great palace, which was large enough to accommodate them all. +</P> + +<P> +Then the boy and the goat and Rinkitink and Zella went into a private +room to consider what should be done next. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Fourteen +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Escape +</H3> + +<P> +"Our fault," said Rinkitink, "is that we conquer only one of these twin +islands at a time. When we conquered Regos, our foes all came to +Coregos, and now that we have conquered Coregos, the Queen has fled to +Regos. And each time they removed the bridge of boats, so that we could +not follow them." +</P> + +<P> +"What has become of our own boat, in which we came from Pingaree?" +asked Bilbil. +</P> + +<P> +"We left it on the shore of Regos," replied the Prince, "but I wonder +if we could not get it again." +</P> + +<P> +"Why don't you ask the White Pearl?" suggested Rinkitink. +</P> + +<P> +"That is a good idea," returned the boy, and at once he drew the White +Pearl from its silken bag and held it to his ear. Then he asked: "How +may I regain our boat?" +</P> + +<P> +The Voice of the Pearl replied: "Go to the south end of the Island of +Coregos, and clap your hands three times and the boat will come to you. +</P> + +<P> +"Very good!" cried Inga, and then he turned to his companions and said: +"We shall be able to get our boat whenever we please; but what then +shall we do?" +</P> + +<P> +"Take me home in it!" pleaded Zella. +</P> + +<P> +"Come with me to my City of Gilgad," said the King, "where you will be +very welcome to remain forever." +</P> + +<P> +"No," answered Inga, "I must rescue my father and mother, as well as my +people. Already I have the women and children of Pingaree, but the men +are with my father in the mines of Regos, and my dear mother has been +taken away by Queen Cor. Not until all are rescued will I consent to +leave these islands." +</P> + +<P> +"Quite right!" exclaimed Bilbil. +</P> + +<P> +"On second thought," said Rinkitink, "I agree with you. If you are +careful to sleep in your shoes, and never take them off again, I +believe you will be able to perform the task you have undertaken." +</P> + +<P> +They counseled together for a long time as to their mode of action and +it was finally considered best to make the attempt to liberate King +Kitticut first of all, and with him the men from Pingaree. This would +give them an army to assist them and afterward they could march to +Regos and compel Queen Cor to give up the Queen of Pingaree. Zella told +them that they could go in their boat along the shore of Regos to a +point opposite the mines, thus avoiding any conflict with the warriors +of King Gos. +</P> + +<P> +This being considered the best course to pursue, they resolved to start +on the following morning, as night was even now approaching. The +servants being all busy in caring for the women and children, Zella +undertook to get a dinner for Inga and Rinkitink and herself and soon +prepared a fine meal in the palace kitchen, for she was a good little +cook and had often helped her mother. The dinner was served in a small +room overlooking the gardens and Rinkitink thought the best part of it +was the sweet honey, which he spread upon the biscuits that Zella had +made. As for Bilbil, he wandered through the palace grounds and found +some grass that made him a good dinner. +</P> + +<P> +During the evening Inga talked with the women and cheered them, +promising soon to reunite them with their husbands who were working in +the mines and to send them back to their own island of Pingaree. +</P> + +<P> +Next morning the boy rose bright and early and found that Zella had +already prepared a nice breakfast. And after the meal they went to the +most southern point of the island, which was not very far away, +Rinkitink riding upon Bilbil's back and Inga and Zella following behind +them, hand in hand. +</P> + +<P> +When they reached the water's edge the boy advanced and clapped his +hands together three times, as the White Pearl had told him to do. And +in a few moments they saw in the distance the black boat with the +silver lining, coming swiftly toward them from the sea. Presently it +grounded on the beach and they all got into it. +</P> + +<P> +Zella was delighted with the boat, which was the most beautiful she had +ever seen, and the marvel of its coming to them through the water +without anyone to row it, made her a little afraid of the fairy craft. +But Inga picked up the oars and began to row and at once the boat shot +swiftly in the direction of Regos. They rounded the point of that +island where the city was built and noticed that the shore was lined +with warriors who had discovered their boat but seemed undecided +whether to pursue it or not. This was probably because they had +received no commands what to do, or perhaps they had learned to fear +the magic powers of these adventurers from Pingaree and were unwilling +to attack them unless their King ordered them to. +</P> + +<P> +The coast on the western side of the Island of Regos was very uneven +and Zella, who knew fairly well the location of the mines from the +inland forest path, was puzzled to decide which mountain they now +viewed from the sea was the one where the entrance to the underground +caverns was located. First she thought it was this peak, and then she +guessed it was that; so considerable time was lost through her +uncertainty. +</P> + +<P> +They finally decided to land and explore the country, to see where they +were, so Inga ran the boat into a little rocky cove where they all +disembarked. For an hour they searched for the path without finding any +trace of it and now Zella believed they had gone too far to the north +and must return to another mountain that was nearer to the city. +</P> + +<P> +Once again they entered the boat and followed the winding coast south +until they thought they had reached the right place. By this time, +however, it was growing dark, for the entire day had been spent in the +search for the entrance to the mines, and Zella warned them that it +would be safer to spend the night in the boat than on the land, where +wild beasts were sure to disturb them. None of them realized at this +time how fatal this day of search had been to their plans and perhaps +if Inga had realized what was going on he would have landed and fought +all the wild beasts in the forest rather than quietly remain in the +boat until morning. +</P> + +<P> +However, knowing nothing of the cunning plans of Queen Cor and King +Gos, they anchored their boat in a little bay and cheerfully ate their +dinner, finding plenty of food and drink in the boat's lockers. In the +evening the stars came out in the sky and tipped the waves around their +boat with silver. All around them was delightfully still save for the +occasional snarl of a beast on the neighboring shore. +</P> + +<P> +They talked together quietly of their adventures and their future plans +and Zella told them her simple history and how hard her poor father was +obliged to work, burning charcoal to sell for enough money to support +his wife and child. Nikobob might be the humblest man in all Regos, but +Zella declared he was a good man, and honest, and it was not his fault +that his country was ruled by so wicked a King. +</P> + +<P> +Then Rinkitink, to amuse them, offered to sing a song, and although +Bilbil protested in his gruff way, claiming that his master's voice was +cracked and disagreeable, the little King was encouraged by the others +to sing his song, which he did. +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "A red-headed man named Ned was dead;<BR> + Sing fiddle-cum-faddle-cum-fi-do!<BR> + In battle he had lost his head;<BR> + Sing fiddle-cum-faddl-cum-fi-do!<BR> + 'Alas, poor Ned,' to him I said,<BR> + 'How did you lose your head so red?'<BR> + Sing fiddle-cum-faddle-cum-fi-do!<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "Said Ned: 'I for my country bled,'<BR> + Sing fiddle-cum-faddle-cum-fi-do!<BR> + 'Instead of dying safe in bed',<BR> + Sing fiddle-cum-faddle-cum-fi-do!<BR> + 'If I had only fled, instead,<BR> + I then had been a head ahead.'<BR> + Sing fiddle-cum-faddle-cum-fi-do!<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "I said to Ned—"<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"Do stop, Your Majesty!" pleaded Bilbil. "You're making my head ache." +</P> + +<P> +"But the song isn't finished," replied Rinkitink, "and as for your head +aching, think of poor Ned, who hadn't any head at all!" +</P> + +<P> +"I can think of nothing but your dismal singing," retorted Bilbil. "Why +didn't you choose a cheerful subject, instead of telling how a man who +was dead lost his red head? Really, Rinkitink, I'm surprised at you. +</P> + +<P> +"I know a splendid song about a live man, said the King. +</P> + +<P> +"Then don't sing it," begged Bilbil. +</P> + +<P> +Zella was both astonished and grieved by the disrespectful words of the +goat, for she had quite enjoyed Rinkitink's singing and had been taught +a proper respect for Kings and those high in authority. But as it was +now getting late they decided to go to sleep, that they might rise +early the following morning, so they all reclined upon the bottom of +the big boat and covered themselves with blankets which they found +stored underneath the seats for just such occasions. They were not long +in falling asleep and did not waken until daybreak. +</P> + +<P> +After a hurried breakfast, for Inga was eager to liberate his father, +the boy rowed the boat ashore and they all landed and began searching +for the path. Zella found it within the next half hour and declared +they must be very close to the entrance to the mines; so they followed +the path toward the north, Inga going first, and then Zella following +him, while Rinkitink brought up the rear riding upon Bilbil's back. +</P> + +<P> +Before long they saw a great wall of rock towering before them, in +which was a low arched entrance, and on either side of this entrance +stood a guard, armed with a sword and a spear. The guards of the mines +were not so fierce as the warriors of King Gos, their duty being to +make the slaves work at their tasks and guard them from escaping; but +they were as cruel as their cruel master wished them to be, and as +cowardly as they were cruel. +</P> + +<P> +Inga walked up to the two men at the entrance and said: +</P> + +<P> +"Does this opening lead to the mines of King Gos?" +</P> + +<P> +"It does," replied one of the guards, "but no one is allowed to pass +out who once goes in." +</P> + +<P> +"Nevertheless," said the boy, "we intend to go in and we shall come out +whenever it pleases us to do so. I am the Prince of Pingaree, and I +have come to liberate my people, whom King Gos has enslaved." +</P> + +<P> +Now when the two guards heard this speech they looked at one another +and laughed, and one of them said: "The King was right, for he said the +boy was likely to come here and that he would try to set his people +free. Also the King commanded that we must keep the little Prince in +the mines, and set him to work, together with his companions." +</P> + +<P> +"Then let us obey the King," replied the other man. +</P> + +<P> +Inga was surprised at hearing this, and asked: +</P> + +<P> +"When did King Gos give you this order?" +</P> + +<P> +"His Majesty was here in person last night," replied the man, "and went +away again but an hour ago. He suspected you were coming here and told +us to capture you if we could." +</P> + +<P> +This report made the boy very anxious, not for himself but for his +father, for he feared the King was up to some mischief. So he hastened +to enter the mines and the guards did nothing to oppose him or his +companions, their orders being to allow him to go in but not to come +out. +</P> + +<P> +The little group of adventurers passed through a long rocky corridor +and reached a low, wide cavern where they found a dozen guards and a +hundred slaves, the latter being hard at work with picks and shovels +digging for gold, while the guards stood over them with long whips. +</P> + +<P> +Inga found many of the men from Pingaree among these slaves, but King +Kitticut was not in this cavern; so they passed through it and entered +another corridor that led to a second cavern. Here also hundreds of men +were working, but the boy did not find his father amongst them, and so +went on to a third cavern. +</P> + +<P> +The corridors all slanted downward, so that the farther they went the +lower into the earth they descended, and now they found the air hot and +close and difficult to breathe. Flaming torches were stuck into the +walls to give light to the workers, and these added to the oppressive +heat. +</P> + +<P> +The third and lowest cavern was the last in the mines, and here were +many scores of slaves and many guards to keep them at work. So far, +none of the guards had paid any attention to Inga's party, but allowed +them to proceed as they would, and while the slaves cast curious +glances at the boy and girl and man and goat, they dared say nothing. +But now the boy walked up to some of the men of Pingaree and asked news +of his father, telling them not to fear the guards as he would protect +them from the whips. +</P> + +<P> +Then he Teamed that King Kitticut had indeed been working in this very +cavern until the evening before, when King Gos had come and taken him +away—still loaded with chains. +</P> + +<P> +"Seems to me," said King Rinkitink, when he heard this report, "that +Gos has carried your father away to Regos, to prevent us from rescuing +him. He may hide poor Kitticut in a dungeon, where we cannot find him." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps you are right," answered the boy, "but I am determined to find +him, wherever he may be." +</P> + +<P> +Inga spoke firmly and with courage, but he was greatly disappointed to +find that King Gos had been before him at the mines and had taken his +father away. However, he tried not to feel disheartened, believing he +would succeed in the end, in spite of all opposition. Turning to the +guards, he said: +</P> + +<P> +"Remove the chains from these slaves and set them free." +</P> + +<P> +The guards laughed at this order, and one of them brought forward a +handful of chains, saying: "His Majesty has commanded us to make you, +also, a slave, for you are never to leave these caverns again." +</P> + +<P> +Then he attempted to place the chains on Inga, but the boy indignantly +seized them and broke them apart as easily as if they had been cotton +cords. When a dozen or more of the guards made a dash to capture him, +the Prince swung the end of the chain like a whip and drove them into a +corner, where they cowered and begged for mercy. +</P> + +<P> +Stories of the marvelous strength of the boy Prince had already spread +to the mines of Regos, and although King Gos had told them that Inga +had been deprived of all his magic power, the guards now saw this was +not true, so they deemed it wise not to attempt to oppose him. +</P> + +<P> +The chains of the slaves had all been riveted fast to their ankles and +wrists, but Inga broke the bonds of steel with his hands and set the +poor men free—not only those from Pingaree but all who had been +captured in the many wars and raids of King Gos. They were very +grateful, as you may suppose, and agreed to support Prince Inga in +whatever action he commanded. +</P> + +<P> +He led them to the middle cavern, where all the guards and overseers +fled in terror at his approach, and soon he had broken apart the chains +of the slaves who had been working in that part of the mines. Then they +approached the first cavern and liberated all there. +</P> + +<P> +The slaves had been treated so cruelly by the servants of King Gos that +they were eager to pursue and slay them, in revenge; but Inga held them +back and formed them into companies, each company having its own +leader. Then he called the leaders together and instructed them to +march in good order along the path to the City of Regos, where he would +meet them and tell them what to do next. +</P> + +<P> +They readily agreed to obey him, and, arming themselves with iron bars +and pick-axes which they brought from the mines, the slaves began their +march to the city. +</P> + +<P> +Zella at first wished to be left behind, that she might make her way to +her home, but neither Rinkitink nor Inga thought it was safe for her to +wander alone through the forest, so they induced her to return with +them to the city. +</P> + +<P> +The boy beached his boat this time at the same place as when he first +landed at Regos, and while many of the warriors stood on the shore and +before the walls of the city, not one of them attempted to interfere +with the boy in any way. Indeed, they seemed uneasy and anxious, and +when Inga met Captain Buzzub the boy asked if anything had happened in +his absence. +</P> + +<P> +"A great deal has happened," replied Buzzub. "Our King and Queen have +run away and left us, and we don't know what to do." +</P> + +<P> +"Run away!" exclaimed Inga. "Where did they go to?" +</P> + +<P> +"Who knows?" said the man, shaking his head despondently. "They +departed together a few hours ago, in a boat with forty rowers, and +they took with them the King and Queen of Pingaree!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Fifteen +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Flight of the Rulers +</H3> + +<P> +Now it seems that when Queen Cor fled from her island to Regos, she had +wit enough, although greatly frightened, to make a stop at the royal +dairy, which was near to the bridge, and to drag poor Queen Garee from +the butter-house and across to Regos with her. The warriors of King Gos +had never before seen the terrible Queen Cor frightened, and therefore +when she came running across the bridge of boats, dragging the Queen of +Pingaree after her by one arm, the woman's great fright had the effect +of terrifying the waiting warriors. +</P> + +<P> +"Quick!" cried Cor. "Destroy the bridge, or we are lost." +</P> + +<P> +While the men were tearing away the bridge of boats the Queen ran up to +the palace of Gos, where she met her husband. +</P> + +<P> +"That boy is a wizard!" she gasped. "There is no standing against him." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, have you discovered his magic at last?" replied Gos, laughing in +her face. "Who, now, is the coward?" +</P> + +<P> +"Don't laugh!" cried Queen Cor. "It is no laughing matter. Both our +islands are as good as conquered, this very minute. What shall we do, +Gos?" +</P> + +<P> +"Come in," he said, growing serious, "and let us talk it over." +</P> + +<P> +So they went into a room of the palace and talked long and earnestly. +</P> + +<P> +"The boy intends to liberate his father and mother, and all the people +of Pingaree, and to take them back to their island," said Cor. "He may +also destroy our palaces and make us his slaves. I can see but one way, +Gos, to prevent him from doing all this, and whatever else he pleases +to do." +</P> + +<P> +"What way is that?" asked King Gos. +</P> + +<P> +"We must take the boy's parents away from here as quickly as possible. +I have with me the Queen of Pingaree, and you can run up to the mines +and get the King. Then we will carry them away in a boat and hide them +where the boy cannot find them, with all his magic. We will use the +King and Queen of Pingaree as hostages, and send word to the boy wizard +that if he does not go away from our islands and allow us to rule them +undisturbed, in our own way, we will put his father and mother to +death. Also we will say that as long as we are let alone his parents +will be safe, although still safely hidden. I believe, Gos, that in +this way we can compel Prince Ingato obey us, for he seems very fond of +his parents." +</P> + +<P> +"It isn't a bad idea," said Gos, reflectively; "but where can we hide +the King and Queen, so that the boy cannot find them?" +</P> + +<P> +"In the country of the Nome King, on the mainland away at the south," +she replied. "The nomes are our friends, and they possess magic powers +that will enable them to protect the prisoners from discovery. If we +can manage to get the King and Queen of Pingaree to the Nome Kingdom +before the boy knows what we are doing, I am sure our plot will +succeed." +</P> + +<P> +Gos gave the plan considerable thought in the next five minutes, and +the more he thought about it the more clever and reasonable it seemed. +So he agreed to do as Queen Cor suggested and at once hurried away to +the mines, where he arrived before Prince Inga did. The next morning he +carried King Kitticut back to Regos. +</P> + +<P> +While Gos was gone, Queen Cor busied herself in preparing a large and +swift boat for the journey. She placed in it several bags of gold and +jewels with which to bribe the nomes, and selected forty of the +strongest oarsmen in Regos to row the boat. The instant King Gos +returned with his royal prisoner all was ready for departure. They +quickly entered the boat with their two important captives and without +a word of explanation to any of their people they commanded the oarsmen +to start, and were soon out of sight upon the broad expanse of the +Nonestic Ocean. +</P> + +<P> +Inga arrived at the city some hours later and was much distressed when +he learned that his father and mother had been spirited away from the +islands. +</P> + +<P> +"I shall follow them, of course," said the boy to Rinkitink, "and if I +cannot overtake them on the ocean I will search the world over until I +find them. But before I leave here I must arrange to send our people +back to Pingaree." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Sixteen +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Nikobob Refuses a Crown +</H3> + +<P> +Almost the first persons that Zella saw when she landed from the +silver-lined boat at Regos were her father and mother. Nikobob and his +wife had been greatly worried when their little daughter failed to +return from Coregos, so they had set out to discover what had become of +her. When they reached the City of Regos, that very morning, they were +astonished to hear news of all the strange events that had taken place; +still, they found comfort when told that Zella had been seen in the +boat of Prince Inga, which had gone to the north. Then, while they +wondered what this could mean, the silver-lined boat appeared again, +with their daughter in it, and they ran down to the shore to give her a +welcome and many joyful kisses. +</P> + +<P> +Inga invited the good people to the palace of King Gos, where he +conferred with them, as well as with Rinkitink and Bilbil. +</P> + +<P> +"Now that the King and Queen of Regos and Coregos have run away," he +said, "there is no one to rule these islands. So it is my duty to +appoint a new ruler, and as Nikobob, Zella's father, is an honest and +worthy man, I shall make him the King of the Twin Islands." +</P> + +<P> +"Me?" cried Nikobob, astounded by this speech. "I beg Your Highness, on +my bended knees, not to do so cruel a thing as to make me King!" +</P> + +<P> +"Why not?" inquired Rinkitink. "I'm a King, and I know how it feels. I +assure you, good Nikobob, that I quite enjoy my high rank, although a +jeweled crown is rather heavy to wear in hot weather." +</P> + +<P> +"With you, noble sir, it is different," said Nikobob, "for you are far +from your kingdom and its trials and worries and may do as you please. +But to remain in Regos, as King over these fierce and unruly warriors, +would be to live in constant anxiety and peril, and the chances are +that they would murder me within a month. As I have done no harm to +anyone and have tried to be a good and upright man, I do not think that +I should be condemned to such a dreadful fate." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well," replied Inga, "we will say no more about your being King. +I merely wanted to make you rich and prosperous, as I had promised +Zella." +</P> + +<P> +"Please forget that promise," pleaded the charcoal-burner, earnestly; +"I have been safe from molestation for many years, because I was poor +and possessed nothing that anyone else could envy. But if you make me +rich and prosperous I shall at once become the prey of thieves and +marauders and probably will lose my life in the attempt to protect my +fortune." +</P> + +<P> +Inga looked at the man in surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"What, then, can I do to please you?" he inquired. +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing more than to allow me to go home to my poor cabin," said +Nikobob. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps," remarked King Rinkitink, "the charcoal-burner has more +wisdom concealed in that hard head of his than we gave him credit for. +But let us use that wisdom, for the present, to counsel us what to do +in this emergency." +</P> + +<P> +"What you call my wisdom," said Nikobob, "is merely common sense. I +have noticed that some men become rich, and are scorned by some and +robbed by others. Other men become famous, and are mocked at and +derided by their fellows. But the poor and humble man who lives +unnoticed and unknown escapes all these troubles and is the only one +who can appreciate the joy of living." +</P> + +<P> +"If I had a hand, instead of a cloven hoof, I'd like to shake hands +with you, Nikobob," said Bilbil the goat. "But the poor man must not +have a cruel master, or he is undone." +</P> + +<P> +During the council they found, indeed, that the advice of the +charcoal-burner was both shrewd and sensible, and they profited much by +his words. +</P> + +<P> +Inga gave Captain Buzzub the command of the warriors and made him +promise to keep his men quiet and orderly—if he could. Then the boy +allowed all of King Gos's former slaves, except those who came from +Pingaree, to choose what boats they required and to stock them with +provisions and row away to their own countries. When these had +departed, with grateful thanks and many blessings showered upon the boy +Prince who had set them free, Inga made preparations to send his own +people home, where they were told to rebuild their houses and then +erect a new royal palace. They were then to await patiently the coming +of King Kitticut or Prince Inga. +</P> + +<P> +"My greatest worry," said the boy to his friends, "is to know whom to +appoint to take charge of this work of restoring Pingaree to its former +condition. My men are all pearl fishers, and although willing and +honest, have no talent for directing others how to work." +</P> + +<P> +While the preparations for departure were being made, Nikobob offered +to direct the men of Pingaree, and did so in a very capable manner. As +the island had been despoiled of all its valuable furniture and +draperies and rich cloths and paintings and statuary and the like, as +well as gold and silver and ornaments, Inga thought it no more than +just that they be replaced by the spoilers. So he directed his people +to search through the storehouses of King Gos and to regain all their +goods and chattels that could be found. Also he instructed them to take +as much else as they required to make their new homes comfortable, so +that many boats were loaded full of goods that would enable the people +to restore Pingaree to its former state of comfort. +</P> + +<P> +For his father's new palace the boy plundered the palaces of both Queen +Cor and King Gos, sending enough wares away with his people to make +King Kitticut's new residence as handsomely fitted and furnished as had +been the one which the ruthless invaders from Regos had destroyed. +</P> + +<P> +It was a great fleet of boats that set out one bright, sunny morning on +the voyage to Pingaree, carrying all the men, women and children and +all the goods for refitting their homes. As he saw the fleet depart, +Prince Inga felt that he had already successfully accomplished a part +of his mission, but he vowed he would never return to Pingaree in +person until he could take his father and mother there with him; +unless, indeed, King Gos wickedly destroyed his beloved parents, in +which case Inga would become the King of Pingaree and it would be his +duty to go to his people and rule over them. +</P> + +<P> +It was while the last of the boats were preparing to sail for Pingaree +that Nikobob, who had been of great service in getting them ready, came +to Inga in a thoughtful mood and said: +</P> + +<P> +"Your Highness, my wife and my daughter Zella have been urging me to +leave Regos and settle down in your island, in a new home. From what +your people have told me, Pingaree is a better place to live than +Regos, and there are no cruel warriors or savage beasts there to keep +one in constant fear for the safety of those he loves. Therefore, I +have come to ask to go with my family in one of the boats." +</P> + +<P> +Inga was much pleased with this proposal and not only granted Nikobob +permission to go to Pingaree to live, but instructed him to take with +him sufficient goods to furnish his new home in a comfortable manner. +In addition to this, he appointed Nikobob general manager of the +buildings and of the pearl fisheries, until his father or he himself +arrived, and the people approved this order because they liked Nikobob +and knew him to be just and honest. +</P> + +<P> +Soon as the last boat of the great flotilla had disappeared from the +view of those left at Regos, Inga and Rinkitink prepared to leave the +island themselves. The boy was anxious to overtake the boat of King +Gos, if possible, and Rinkitink had no desire to remain in Regos. +</P> + +<P> +Buzzub and the warriors stood silently on the shore and watched the +black boat with its silver lining depart, and I am sure they were as +glad to be rid of their unwelcome visitors as Inga and Rinkitink and +Bilbil were to leave. +</P> + +<P> +The boy asked the White Pearl what direction the boat of King Gos had +taken and then he followed after it, rowing hard and steadily for eight +days without becoming at all weary. But, although the black boat moved +very swiftly, it failed to overtake the barge which was rowed by Queen +Cor's forty picked oarsmen. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Seventeen +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Nome King +</H3> + +<P> +The Kingdom of the Nomes does not border on the Nonestic Ocean, from +which it is separated by the Kingdom of Rinkitink and the Country of +the Wheelers, which is a part of the Land of Ev. Rinkitink's country is +separated from the country of the Nomes by a row of high and steep +mountains, from which it extends to the sea. The Country of the +Wheelers is a sandy waste that is open on one side to the Nonestic +Ocean and on the other side has no barrier to separate it from the Nome +Country, therefore it was on the coast of the Wheelers that King Cos +landed—in a spot quite deserted by any of the curious inhabitants of +that country. +</P> + +<P> +The Nome Country is very large in extent, and is only separated from +the Land of Oz, on its eastern borders, by a Deadly Desert that can not +be crossed by mortals, unless they are aided by the fairies or by magic. +</P> + +<P> +The nomes are a numerous and mischievous people, living in underground +caverns of wide extent, connected one with another by arches and +passages. The word "nome" means "one who knows," and these people are +so called because they know where all the gold and silver and precious +stones are hidden in the earth—a knowledge that no other living +creatures share with them. The nomes are busy people, constantly +digging up gold in one place and taking it to another place, where they +secretly bury it, and perhaps this is the reason they alone know where +to find it. The nomes were ruled, at the time of which I write, by a +King named Kaliko. +</P> + +<P> +King Gos had expected to be pursued by Inga in his magic boat, so he +made all the haste possible, urging his forty rowers to their best +efforts night and day. To his joy he was not overtaken but landed on +the sandy beach of the Wheelers on the morning of the eighth day. +</P> + +<P> +The forty rowers were left with the boat, while Queen Cor and King Cos, +with their royal prisoners, who were still chained, began the journey +to the Nome King. +</P> + +<P> +It was not long before they passed the sands and reached the rocky +country belonging to the nomes, but they were still a long way from the +entrance to the underground caverns in which lived the Nome King. There +was a dim path, winding between stones and boulders, over which the +walking was quite difficult, especially as the path led up hills that +were small mountains, and then down steep and abrupt slopes where any +misstep might mean a broken leg. Therefore it was the second day of +their journey before they climbed halfway up a rugged mountain and +found themselves at the entrance of the Nome King's caverns. +</P> + +<P> +On their arrival, the entrance seemed free and unguarded, but Gos and +Cor had been there before, and they were too wise to attempt to enter +without announcing themselves, for the passage to the caves was full of +traps and pitfalls. So King Gos stood still and shouted, and in an +instant they were surrounded by a group of crooked nomes, who seemed to +have sprung from the ground. +</P> + +<P> +One of these had very long ears and was called The Long-Eared Hearer. +He said: "I heard you coming early this morning." +</P> + +<P> +Another had eyes that looked in different directions at the same time +and were curiously bright and penetrating. He could look over a hill or +around a corner and was called The Lookout. Said he: "I saw you coming +yesterday." +</P> + +<P> +"Then," said King Gos, "perhaps King Kaliko is expecting us." +</P> + +<P> +"It is true," replied another nome, who wore a gold collar around his +neck and carried a bunch of golden keys. "The mighty Nome King expects +you, and bids you follow me to his presence." +</P> + +<P> +With this he led the way into the caverns and Gos and Cor followed, +dragging their weary prisoners with them, for poor King Kitticut and +his gentle Queen had been obliged to carry, all through the tedious +journey, the bags of gold and jewels which were to bribe the Nome King +to accept them as slaves. +</P> + +<P> +Through several long passages the guide led them and at last they +entered a small cavern which was beautifully decorated and set with +rare jewels that flashed from every part of the wall, floor and +ceiling. This was a waiting-room for visitors, and there their guide +left them while he went to inform King Kaliko of their arrival. +</P> + +<P> +Before long they were ushered into a great domed chamber, cut from the +solid rock and so magnificent that all of them—the King and Queen of +Pingaree and the King and Queen of Regos and Coregos—drew long breaths +of astonishment and opened their eyes as wide as they could. +</P> + +<P> +In an ivory throne sat a little round man who had a pointed beard and +hair that rose to a tall curl on top of his head. He was dressed in +silken robes, richly embroidered, which had large buttons of cut +rubies. On his head was a diamond crown and in his hand he held a +golden sceptre with a big jeweled ball at one end of it. This was +Kaliko, the King and ruler of all the nomes. He nodded pleasantly +enough to his visitors and said in a cheery voice: +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Your Majesties, what can I do for you?" +</P> + +<P> +"It is my desire," answered King Gos, respectfully, "to place in your +care two prisoners, whom you now see before you. They must be carefully +guarded, to prevent them from escaping, for they have the cunning of +foxes and are not to be trusted. In return for the favor I am asking +you to grant, I have brought Your Majesty valuable presents of gold and +precious gems." +</P> + +<P> +He then commanded Kitticut and Garee to lay before the Nome King the +bags of gold and jewels, and they obeyed, being helpless. +</P> + +<P> +"Very good," said King Kaliko, nodding approval, for like all the nomes +he loved treasures of gold and jewels. "But who are the prisoners you +have brought here, and why do you place them in my charge instead of +guarding them, yourself? They seem gentle enough, I'm sure." +</P> + +<P> +"The prisoners," returned King Gos, "are the King and Queen of +Pingaree, a small island north of here. They are very evil people and +came to our islands of Regos and Coregos to conquer them and slay our +poor people. Also they intended to plunder us of all our riches, but by +good fortune we were able to defeat and capture them. However, they +have a son who is a terrible wizard and who by magic art is trying to +find this awful King and Queen of Pingaree, and to set them free, that +they may continue their wicked deeds. Therefore, as we have no magic to +defend ourselves with, we have brought the prisoners to you for safe +keeping." +</P> + +<P> +"Your Majesty," spoke up King Kitticut, addressing the Nome King with +great indignation, "do not believe this tale, I implore you. It is all +a lie!" +</P> + +<P> +"I know it," said Kaliko. "I consider it a clever lie, though, because +it is woven without a thread of truth. However, that is none of my +business. The fact remains that my good friend King Gos wishes to put +you in my underground caverns, so that you will be unable to escape. +And why should I not please him in this little matter? Gos is a mighty +King and a great warrior, while your island of Pingaree is desolated +and your people scattered. In my heart, King Kitticut, I sympathize +with you, but as a matter of business policy we powerful Kings must +stand together and trample the weaker ones under our feet." +</P> + +<P> +King Kitticut was surprised to find the King of the nomes so candid and +so well informed, and he tried to argue that he and his gentle wife did +not deserve their cruel fate and that it would be wiser for Kaliko to +side with them than with the evil King of Regos. But Kaliko only shook +his head and smiled, saying: +</P> + +<P> +"The fact that you are a prisoner, my poor Kitticut, is evidence that +you are weaker than King Cos, and I prefer to deal with the strong. By +the way," he added, turning to the King of Regos, "have these prisoners +any connection with the Land of Oz?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why do you ask?" said Gos. +</P> + +<P> +"Because I dare not offend the Oz people," was the reply. "I am very +powerful, as you know, but Ozma of Oz is far more powerful than I; +therefore, if this King and Queen of Pingaree happened to be under +Ozma's protection, I would have nothing to do with them." +</P> + +<P> +"I assure Your Majesty that the prisoners have nothing to do with the +Oz people," Gos hastened to say. And Kitticut, being questioned, +admitted that this was true. +</P> + +<P> +"But how about that wizard you mentioned?" asked the Nome King. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, he is merely a boy; but he is very ferocious and obstinate and he +is assisted by a little fat sorcerer called Rinkitink and a talking +goat." +</P> + +<P> +"Oho! A talking goat, do you say? That certainly sounds like magic; and +it also sounds like the Land of Oz, where all the animals talk," said +Kaliko, with a doubtful expression. +</P> + +<P> +But King Gos assured him the talking goat had never been to Oz. +</P> + +<P> +"As for Rinkitink, whom you call a sorcerer," continued the Nome King, +"he is a neighbor of mine, you must know, but as we are cut off from +each other by high mountains beneath which a powerful river runs, I +have never yet met King Rinkitink. But I have heard of him, and from +all reports he is a jolly rogue, and perfectly harmless. However, in +spite of your false statements and misrepresentations, I will earn the +treasure you have brought me, by keeping your prisoners safe in my +caverns. +</P> + +<P> +"Make them work," advised Queen Cor. "They are rather delicate, and to +make them work will make them suffer delightfully." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll do as I please about that," said the Nome King sternly. "Be +content that I agree to keep them safe." +</P> + +<P> +The bargain being thus made and concluded, Kaliko first examined the +gold and jewels and then sent it away to his royal storehouse, which +was well filled with like treasure. Next the captives were sent away in +charge of the nome with the golden collar and keys, whose name was +Klik, and he escorted them to a small cavern and gave them a good +supper. +</P> + +<P> +"I shall lock your door," said Klik, "so there is no need of your +wearing those heavy chains any longer." He therefore removed the chains +and left King Kitticut and his Queen alone. This was the first time +since the Northmen had carried them away from Pingaree that the good +King and Queen had been alone together and free of all bonds, and as +they embraced lovingly and mingled their tears over their sad fate they +were also grateful that they had passed from the control of the +heartless King Gos into the more considerate care of King Kaliko. They +were still captives but they believed they would be happier in the +underground caverns of the nomes than in Regos and Coregos. +</P> + +<P> +Meantime, in the King's royal cavern a great feast had been spread. +King Gos and Queen Cor, having triumphed in their plot, were so well +pleased that they held high revelry with the jolly Nome King until a +late hour that night. And the next morning, having cautioned Kaliko not +to release the prisoners under any consideration without their orders, +the King and Queen of Regos and Coregos left the caverns of the nomes +to return to the shore of the ocean where they had left their boat. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Eighteen +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Inga Parts with his Pink Pearl +</H3> + +<P> +The White Pearl guided Inga truly in his pursuit of the boat of King +Gos, but the boy had been so delayed in sending his people home to +Pingaree that it was a full day after Gos and Cor landed on the shore +of the Wheeler Country that Inga's boat arrived at the same place. +</P> + +<P> +There he found the forty rowers guarding the barge of Queen Cor, and +although they would not or could not tell the boy where the King and +Queen had taken his father and mother, the White Pearl advised him to +follow the path to the country and the caverns of the nomes. +</P> + +<P> +Rinkitink didn't like to undertake the rocky and mountainous journey, +even with Bilbil to carry him, but he would not desert Inga, even +though his own kingdom lay just beyond a range of mountains which could +be seen towering southwest of them. So the King bravely mounted the +goat, who always grumbled but always obeyed his master, and the three +set off at once for the caverns of the nomes. +</P> + +<P> +They traveled just as slowly as Queen Cor and King Gos had done, so +when they were about halfway they discovered the King and Queen coming +back to their boat. The fact that Gos and Cor were now alone proved +that they had left Inga's father and mother behind them; so, at the +suggestion of Rinkitink, the three hid behind a high rock until the +King of Regos and the Queen of Coregos, who had not observed them, had +passed them by. Then they continued their journey, glad that they had +not again been forced to fight or quarrel with their wicked enemies. +</P> + +<P> +"We might have asked them, however, what they had done with your poor +parents," said Rinkitink. +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind," answered Inga. "I am sure the White Pearl will guide us +aright." +</P> + +<P> +For a time they proceeded in silence and then Rinkitink began to +chuckle with laughter in the pleasant way he was wont to do before his +misfortunes came upon him. +</P> + +<P> +"What amuses Your Majesty?" inquired the boy. +</P> + +<P> +"The thought of how surprised my dear subjects would be if they +realized how near to them I am, and yet how far away. I have always +wanted to visit the Nome Country, which is full of mystery and magic +and all sorts of adventures, but my devoted subjects forbade me to +think of such a thing, fearing I would get hurt or enchanted." +</P> + +<P> +"Are you afraid, now that you are here?" asked Inga. +</P> + +<P> +"A little, but not much, for they say the new Nome King is not as +wicked as the old King used to be. Still, we are undertaking a +dangerous journey and I think you ought to protect me by lending me one +of your pearls." +</P> + +<P> +Inga thought this over and it seemed a reasonable request. +</P> + +<P> +"Which pearl would you like to have?" asked the boy. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, let us see," returned Rinkitink; "you may need strength to +liberate your captive parents, so you must keep the Blue Pearl. And you +will need the advice of the White Pearl, so you had best keep that +also. But in case we should be separated I would have nothing to +protect me from harm, so you ought to lend me the Pink Pearl." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well," agreed Inga, and sitting down upon a rock he removed his +right shoe and after withdrawing the cloth from the pointed toe took +out the Pink Pearl—the one which protected from any harm the person +who carried it. +</P> + +<P> +"Where can you put it, to keep it safely?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"In my vest pocket," replied the King. "The pocket has a flap to it and +I can pin it down in such a way that the pearl cannot get out and +become lost. As for robbery, no one with evil intent can touch my +person while I have the pearl." +</P> + +<P> +So Inga gave Rinkitink the Pink Pearl and the little King placed it in +the pocket of his red-and-green brocaded velvet vest, pinning the flap +of the pocket down tightly. +</P> + +<P> +They now resumed their journey and finally reached the entrance to the +Nome King's caverns. Placing the White Pearl to his ear, Inga asked: +"What shall I do now?" and the Voice of the Pearl replied: "Clap your +hands together four times and call aloud the word 'Klik.' Then allow +yourselves to be conducted to the Nome King, who is now holding your +father and mother captive." +</P> + +<P> +Inga followed these instructions and when Klik appeared in answer to +his summons the boy requested an audience of the Nome King. So Klik led +them into the presence of King Kaliko, who was suffering from a severe +headache, due to his revelry the night before, and therefore was +unusually cross and grumpy. +</P> + +<P> +"I know what you've come for," said he, before Inga could speak. "You +want to get the captives from Regos away from me; but you can't do it, +so you'd best go away again." +</P> + +<P> +"The captives are my father and mother, and I intend to liberate them," +said the boy firmly. +</P> + +<P> +The King stared hard at Inga, wondering at his audacity. Then he turned +to look at King Rinkitink and said: +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose you are the King of Gilgad, which is in the Kingdom of +Rinkitink." +</P> + +<P> +"You've guessed it the first time," replied Rinkitink. +</P> + +<P> +"How round and fat you are!" exclaimed Kaliko. +</P> + +<P> +"I was just thinking how fat and round you are," said Rinkitink. +"Really, King Kaliko, we ought to be friends, we're so much alike in +everything but disposition and intelligence." +</P> + +<P> +Then he began to chuckle, while Kaliko stared hard at him, not knowing +whether to accept his speech as a compliment or not. And now the nome's +eyes wandered to Bilbil, and he asked: +</P> + +<P> +"Is that your talking goat?" +</P> + +<P> +Bilbil met the Nome King's glowering look with a gaze equally surly and +defiant, while Rinkitink answered: "It is, Your Majesty." +</P> + +<P> +"Can he really talk?" asked Kaliko, curiously. +</P> + +<P> +"He can. But the best thing he does is to scold. Talk to His Majesty, +Bilbil." +</P> + +<P> +But Bilbil remained silent and would not speak. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you always ride upon his back?" continued Kaliko, questioning +Rinkitink. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," was the answer, "because it is difficult for a fat man to walk +far, as perhaps you know from experience. +</P> + +<P> +"That is true," said Kaliko. "Get off the goat's back and let me ride +him a while, to see how I like it. Perhaps I'll take him away from you, +to ride through my caverns." +</P> + +<P> +Rinkitink chuckled softly as he heard this, but at once got off +Bilbil's back and let Kaliko get on. The Nome King was a little +awkward, but when he was firmly astride the saddle he called in a loud +voice: "Giddap!" +</P> + +<P> +When Bilbil paid no attention to the command and refused to stir, +Kaliko kicked his heels viciously against the goat's body, and then +Bilbil made a sudden start. He ran swiftly across the great cavern, +until he had almost reached the opposite wall, when he stopped so +abruptly that King Kaliko sailed over his head and bumped against the +jeweled wall. He bumped so hard that the points of his crown were all +mashed out of shape and his head was driven far into the +diamond-studded band of the crown, so that it covered one eye and a +part of his nose. Perhaps this saved Kaliko's head from being cracked +against the rock wall, but it was hard on the crown. +</P> + +<P> +Bilbil was highly pleased at the success of his feat and Rinkitink +laughed merrily at the Nome King's comical appearance; but Kaliko was +muttering and growling as he picked himself up and struggled to pull +the battered crown from his head, and it was evident that he was not in +the least amused. Indeed, Inga could see that the King was very angry, +and the boy knew that the incident was likely to turn Kaliko against +the entire party. +</P> + +<P> +The Nome King sent Klik for another crown and ordered his workmen to +repair the one that was damaged. While he waited for the new crown he +sat regarding his visitors with a scowling face, and this made Inga +more uneasy than ever. Finally, when the new crown was placed upon his +head, King Kaliko said: "Follow me, strangers!" and led the way to a +small door at one end of the cavern. +</P> + +<P> +Inga and Rinkitink followed him through the doorway and found +themselves standing on a balcony that overlooked an enormous domed +cave—so extensive that it seemed miles to the other side of it. All +around this circular cave, which was brilliantly lighted from an +unknown source, were arches connected with other caverns. +</P> + +<P> +Kaliko took a gold whistle from his pocket and blew a shrill note that +echoed through every part of the cave. Instantly nomes began to pour in +through the side arches in great numbers, until the immense space was +packed with them as far as the eye could reach. All were armed with +glittering weapons of polished silver and gold, and Inga was amazed +that any King could command so great an army. +</P> + +<P> +They began marching and countermarching in very orderly array until +another blast of the gold whistle sent them scurrying away as quickly +as they had appeared. And as soon as the great cave was again empty +Kaliko returned with his visitors to his own royal chamber, where he +once more seated himself upon his ivory throne. +</P> + +<P> +"I have shown you," said he to Inga, "a part of my bodyguard. The royal +armies, of which this is only a part, are as numerous as the sands of +the ocean, and live in many thousands of my underground caverns. You +have come here thinking to force me to give up the captives of King Gos +and Queen Cor, and I wanted to convince you that my power is too mighty +for anyone to oppose. I am told that you are a wizard, and depend upon +magic to aid you; but you must know that the nomes are not mortals, and +understand magic pretty well themselves, so if we are obliged to fight +magic with magic the chances are that we are a hundred times more +powerful than you can be. Think this over carefully, my boy, and try to +realize that you are in my power. I do not believe you can force me to +liberate King Kitticut and Queen Garee, and I know that you cannot coax +me to do so, for I have given my promise to King Gos. Therefore, as I +do not wish to hurt you, I ask you to go away peaceably and let me +alone." +</P> + +<P> +"Forgive me if I do not agree with you, King Kaliko," answered the boy. +"However difficult and dangerous my task may be, I cannot leave your +dominions until every effort to release my parents has failed and left +me completely discouraged." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well," said the King, evidently displeased. "I have warned you, +and now if evil overtakes you it is your own fault. I've a headache +to-day, so I cannot entertain you properly, according to your rank; but +Klik will attend you to my guest chambers and to-morrow I will talk +with you again." +</P> + +<P> +This seemed a fair and courteous way to treat one's declared enemies, +so they politely expressed the wish that Kaliko's headache would be +better, and followed their guide, Klik, down a well-lighted passage and +through several archways until they finally reached three nicely +furnished bedchambers which were cut from solid gray rock and well +lighted and aired by some mysterious method known to the nomes. +</P> + +<P> +The first of these rooms was given King Rinkitink, the second was +Inga's and the third was assigned to Bilbil the goat. There was a +swinging rock door between the third and second rooms and another +between the second and first, which also had a door that opened upon +the passage. Rinkitink's room was the largest, so it was here that an +excellent dinner was spread by some of the nome servants, who, in spite +of their crooked shapes, proved to be well trained and competent. +</P> + +<P> +"You are not prisoners, you know," said Klik; "neither are you welcome +guests, having declared your purpose to oppose our mighty King and all +his hosts. But we bear you no ill will, and you are to be well fed and +cared for as long as you remain in our caverns. Eat hearty, sleep +tight, and pleasant dreams to you." +</P> + +<P> +Saying this, he left them alone and at once Rinkitink and Inga began to +counsel together as to the best means to liberate King Kitticut and +Queen Garee. The White Pearl's advice was rather unsatisfactory to the +boy, just now, for all that the Voice said in answer to his questions +was: "Be patient, brave and determined." +</P> + +<P> +Rinkitink suggested that they try to discover in what part of the +series of underground caverns Inga's parents had been confined, as that +knowledge was necessary before they could take any action; so together +they started out, leaving Bilbil asleep in his room, and made their way +unopposed through many corridors and caverns. In some places were great +furnaces, where gold dust was being melted into bricks. In other rooms +workmen were fashioning the gold into various articles and ornaments. +In one cavern immense wheels revolved which polished precious gems, and +they found many caverns used as storerooms, where treasure of every +sort was piled high. Also they came to the barracks of the army and the +great kitchens. +</P> + +<P> +There were nomes everywhere—countless thousands of them—but none paid +the slightest heed to the visitors from the earth's surface. Yet, +although Inga and Rinkitink walked until they were weary, they were +unable to locate the place where the boy's father and mother had been +confined, and when they tried to return to their own rooms they found +that they had hopelessly lost themselves amid the labyrinth of +passages. However, Klik presently came to them, laughing at their +discomfiture, and led them back to their bedchambers. +</P> + +<P> +Before they went to sleep they carefully barred the door from +Rinkitink's room to the corridor, but the doors that connected the +three rooms one with another were left wide open. +</P> + +<P> +In the night Inga was awakened by a soft grating sound that filled him +with anxiety because he could not account for it. It was dark in his +room, the light having disappeared as soon as he got into bed, but he +managed to feel his way to the door that led to Rinkitink's room and +found it tightly closed and immovable. Then he made his way to the +opposite door, leading to Bilbil's room, to discover that also had been +closed and fastened. +</P> + +<P> +The boy had a curious sensation that all of his room—the walls, floor +and ceiling—was slowly whirling as if on a pivot, and it was such an +uncomfortable feeling that he got into bed again, not knowing what else +to do. And as the grating noise had ceased and the room now seemed +stationary, he soon fell asleep again. +</P> + +<P> +When the boy wakened, after many hours, he found the room again light. +So he dressed himself and discovered that a small table, containing a +breakfast that was smoking hot, had suddenly appeared in the center of +his room. He tried the two doors, but finding that he could not open +them he ate some breakfast, thoughtfully wondering who had locked him +in and why he had been made a prisoner. Then he again went to the door +which he thought led to Rinkitink's chamber and to his surprise the +latch lifted easily and the door swung open. +</P> + +<P> +Before him was a rude corridor hewn in the rock and dimly lighted. It +did not look inviting, so Inga closed the door, puzzled to know what +had become of Rinkitink's room and the King, and went to the opposite +door. Opening this, he found a solid wall of rock confronting him, +which effectually prevented his escape in that direction. +</P> + +<P> +The boy now realized that King Kaliko had tricked him, and while +professing to receive him as a guest had plotted to separate him from +his comrades. One way had been left, however, by which he might escape +and he decided to see where it led to. +</P> + +<P> +So, going to the first door, he opened it and ventured slowly into the +dimly lighted corridor. When he had advanced a few steps he heard the +door of his room slam shut behind him. He ran back at once, but the +door of rock fitted so closely into the wall that he found it +impossible to open it again. That did not matter so much, however, for +the room was a prison and the only way of escape seemed ahead of him. +</P> + +<P> +Along the corridor he crept until, turning a corner, he found himself +in a large domed cavern that was empty and deserted. Here also was a +dim light that permitted him to see another corridor at the opposite +side; so he crossed the rocky floor of the cavern and entered a second +corridor. This one twisted and turned in every direction but was not +very long, so soon the boy reached a second cavern, not so large as the +first. This he found vacant also, but it had another corridor leading +out of it, so Inga entered that. It was straight and short and beyond +was a third cavern, which differed little from the others except that +it had a strong iron grating at one side of it. +</P> + +<P> +All three of these caverns had been roughly hewn from the rock and it +seemed they had never been put to use, as had all the other caverns of +the nomes he had visited. Standing in the third cavern, Inga saw what +he thought was still another corridor at its farther side, so he walked +toward it. This opening was dark, and that fact, and the solemn silence +all around him, made him hesitate for a while to enter it. Upon +reflection, however, he realized that unless he explored the place to +the very end he could not hope to escape from it, so he boldly entered +the dark corridor and felt his way cautiously as he moved forward. +</P> + +<P> +Scarcely had he taken two paces when a crash resounded back of him and +a heavy sheet of steel closed the opening into the cavern from which he +had just come. He paused a moment, but it still seemed best to proceed, +and as Inga advanced in the dark, holding his hands outstretched before +him to feel his way, handcuffs fell upon his wrists and locked +themselves with a sharp click, and an instant later he found he was +chained to a stout iron post set firmly in the rock floor. +</P> + +<P> +The chains were long enough to permit him to move a yard or so in any +direction and by feeling the walls he found he was in a small circular +room that had no outlet except the passage by which he had entered, and +that was now closed by the door of steel. This was the end of the +series of caverns and corridors. +</P> + +<P> +It was now that the horror of his situation occurred to the boy with +full force. But he resolved not to submit to his fate without a +struggle, and realizing that he possessed the Blue Pearl, which gave +him marvelous strength, he quickly broke the chains and set himself +free of the handcuffs. Next he twisted the steel door from its hinges, +and creeping along the short passage, found himself in the third cave. +</P> + +<P> +But now the dim light, which had before guided him, had vanished; yet +on peering into the gloom of the cave he saw what appeared to be two +round disks of flame, which cast a subdued glow over the floor and +walls. By this dull glow he made out the form of an enormous man, +seated in the center of the cave, and he saw that the iron grating had +been removed, permitting the man to enter. +</P> + +<P> +The giant was unclothed and its limbs were thickly covered with coarse +red hair. The round disks of flame were its two eyes and when it opened +its mouth to yawn Inga saw that its jaws were wide enough to crush a +dozen men between the great rows of teeth. +</P> + +<P> +Presently the giant looked up and perceived the boy crouching at the +other side of the cavern, so he called out in a hoarse, rude voice: +</P> + +<P> +"Come hither, my pretty one. We will wrestle together, you and I, and +if you succeed in throwing me I will let you pass through my cave." +</P> + +<P> +The boy made no reply to the challenge. He realized he was in dire +peril and regretted that he had lent the Pink Pearl to King Rinkitink. +But it was now too late for vain regrets, although he feared that even +his great strength would avail him little against this hairy monster. +For his arms were not long enough to span a fourth of the giant's huge +body, while the monster's powerful limbs would be likely to crush out +Inga's life before he could gain the mastery. +</P> + +<P> +Therefore the Prince resolved to employ other means to combat this foe, +who had doubtless been placed there to bar his return. Retreating +through the passage he reached the room where he had been chained and +wrenched the iron post from its socket. It was a foot thick and four +feet long, and being of solid iron was so heavy that three ordinary men +would have found it hard to lift. +</P> + +<P> +Returning to the cavern, the boy swung the great bar above his head and +dashed it with mighty force full at the giant. The end of the bar +struck the monster upon its forehead, and with a single groan it fell +full length upon the floor and lay still. +</P> + +<P> +When the giant fell, the glow from its eyes faded away, and all was +dark. Cautiously, for Inga was not sure the giant was dead, the boy +felt his way toward the opening that led to the middle cavern. The +entrance was narrow and the darkness was intense, but, feeling braver +now, the boy stepped boldly forward. Instantly the floor began to sink +beneath him and in great alarm he turned and made a leap that enabled +him to grasp the rocky sides of the wall and regain a footing in the +passage through which he had just come. +</P> + +<P> +Scarcely had he obtained this place of refuge when a mighty crash +resounded throughout the cavern and the sound of a rushing torrent came +from far below. Inga felt in his pocket and found several matches, one +of which he lighted and held before him. While it flickered he saw that +the entire floor of the cavern had fallen away, and knew that had he +not instantly regained his footing in the passage he would have plunged +into the abyss that lay beneath him. +</P> + +<P> +By the light of another match he saw the opening at the other side of +the cave and the thought came to him that possibly he might leap across +the gulf. Of course, this could never be accomplished without the +marvelous strength lent him by the Blue Pearl, but Inga had the feeling +that one powerful spring might carry him over the chasm into safety. He +could not stay where he was, that was certain, so he resolved to make +the attempt. +</P> + +<P> +He took a long run through the first cave and the short corridor; then, +exerting all his strength, he launched himself over the black gulf of +the second cave. Swiftly he flew and, although his heart stood still +with fear, only a few seconds elapsed before his feet touched the ledge +of the opposite passageway and he knew he had safely accomplished the +wonderful feat. +</P> + +<P> +Only pausing to draw one long breath of relief, Inga quickly traversed +the crooked corridor that led to the last cavern of the three. But when +he came in sight of it he paused abruptly, his eyes nearly blinded by a +glare of strong light which burst upon them. Covering his face with his +hands, Inga retreated behind a projecting corner of rock and by +gradually getting his eyes used to the light he was finally able to +gaze without blinking upon the strange glare that had so quickly +changed the condition of the cavern. When he had passed through this +vault it had been entirely empty. Now the flat floor of rock was +covered everywhere with a bed of glowing coals, which shot up little +tongues of red and white flames. Indeed, the entire cave was one +monster furnace and the heat that came from it was fearful. +</P> + +<P> +Inga's heart sank within him as he realized the terrible obstacle +placed by the cunning Nome King between him and the safety of the other +caverns. There was no turning back, for it would be impossible for him +again to leap over the gulf of the second cave, the corridor at this +side being so crooked that he could get no run before he jumped. +Neither could he leap over the glowing coals of the cavern that faced +him, for it was much larger than the middle cavern. In this dilemma he +feared his great strength would avail him nothing and he bitterly +reproached himself for parting with the Pink Pearl, which would have +preserved him from injury. +</P> + +<P> +However, it was not in the nature of Prince Inga to despair for long, +his past adventures having taught him confidence and courage, sharpened +his wits and given him the genius of invention. He sat down and thought +earnestly on the means of escape from his danger and at last a clever +idea came to his mind. This is the way to get ideas: never to let +adverse circumstances discourage you, but to believe there is a way out +of every difficulty, which may be found by earnest thought. +</P> + +<P> +There were many points and projections of rock in the walls of the +crooked corridor in which Inga stood and some of these rocks had become +cracked and loosened, although still clinging to their places. The boy +picked out one large piece, and, exerting all his strength, tore it +away from the wall. He then carried it to the cavern and tossed it upon +the burning coals, about ten feet away from the end of the passage. +Then he returned for another fragment of rock, and wrenching it free +from its place, he threw it ten feet beyond the first one, toward the +opposite side of the cave. The boy continued this work until he had +made a series of stepping-stones reaching straight across the cavern to +the dark passageway beyond, which he hoped would lead him back to +safety if not to liberty. +</P> + +<P> +When his work had been completed, Inga did not long hesitate to take +advantage of his stepping-stones, for he knew his best chance of escape +lay in his crossing the bed of coals before the rocks became so heated +that they would burn his feet. So he leaped to the first rock and from +there began jumping from one to the other in quick succession. A +withering wave of heat at once enveloped him, and for a time he feared +he would suffocate before he could cross the cavern; but he held his +breath, to keep the hot air from his lungs, and maintained his leaps +with desperate resolve. +</P> + +<P> +Then, before he realized it, his feet were pressing the cooler rocks of +the passage beyond and he rolled helpless upon the floor, gasping for +breath. His skin was so red that it resembled the shell of a boiled +lobster, but his swift motion had prevented his being burned, and his +shoes had thick soles, which saved his feet. +</P> + +<P> +After resting a few minutes, the boy felt strong enough to go on. He +went to the end of the passage and found that the rock door by which he +had left his room was still closed, so he returned to about the middle +of the corridor and was thinking what he should do next, when suddenly +the solid rock before him began to move and an opening appeared through +which shone a brilliant light. Shielding his eyes, which were somewhat +dazzled, Inga sprang through the opening and found himself in one of +the Nome King's inhabited caverns, where before him stood King Kaliko, +with a broad grin upon his features, and Klik, the King's chamberlain, +who looked surprised, and King Rinkitink seated astride Bilbil the +goat, both of whom seemed pleased that Inga had rejoined them. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap19"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Nineteen +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Rinkitink Chuckles +</H3> + +<P> +We will now relate what happened to Rinkitink and Bilbil that morning, +while Inga was undergoing his trying experience in escaping the fearful +dangers of the three caverns. +</P> + +<P> +The King of Gilgad wakened to find the door of Inga's room fast shut +and locked, but he had no trouble in opening his own door into the +corridor, for it seems that the boy's room, which was the middle one, +whirled around on a pivot, while the adjoining rooms occupied by Bilbil +and Rinkitink remained stationary. The little King also found a +breakfast magically served in his room, and while he was eating it, +Klik came to him and stated that His Majesty, King Kaliko, desired his +presence in the royal cavern. +</P> + +<P> +So Rinkitink, having first made sure that the Pink Pearl was still in +his vest pocket, willingly followed Klik, who ran on some distance +ahead. But no sooner had Rinkitink set foot in the passage than a great +rock, weighing at least a ton, became dislodged and dropped from the +roof directly over his head. Of course, it could not harm him, +protected as he was by the Pink Pearl, and it bounded aside and crashed +upon the floor, where it was shattered by its own weight. +</P> + +<P> +"How careless!" exclaimed the little King, and waddled after Klik, who +seemed amazed at his escape. +</P> + +<P> +Presently another rock above Rinkitink plunged downward, and then +another, but none touched his body. Klik seemed much perplexed at these +continued escapes and certainly Kaliko was surprised when Rinkitink, +safe and sound, entered the royal cavern. +</P> + +<P> +"Good morning," said the King of Gilgad. "Your rocks are getting loose, +Kaliko, and you'd better have them glued in place before they hurt +someone." Then he began to chuckle: "Hoo, hoo, hoo-hee, hee-heek, keek, +eek!" and Kaliko sat and frowned because he realized that the little +fat King was poking fun at him. +</P> + +<P> +"I asked Your Majesty to come here," said the Nome King, "to show you a +curious skein of golden thread which my workmen have made. If it +pleases you, I will make you a present of it." +</P> + +<P> +With this he held out a small skein of glittering gold twine, which was +really pretty and curious. Rinkitink took it in his hand and at once +the golden thread began to unwind—so swiftly that the eye could not +follow its motion. And, as it unwound, it coiled itself around +Rinkitink's body, at the same time weaving itself into a net, until it +had enveloped the little King from head to foot and placed him in a +prison of gold. +</P> + +<P> +"Aha!" cried Kaliko; "this magic worked all right, it seems. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, did it?" replied Rinkitink, and stepping forward he walked right +through the golden net, which fell to the floor in a tangled mass. +</P> + +<P> +Kaliko rubbed his chin thoughtfully and stared hard at Rinkitink. +</P> + +<P> +"I understand a good bit of magic," said he, "but Your Majesty has a +sort of magic that greatly puzzles me, because it is unlike anything of +the sort that I ever met with before." +</P> + +<P> +"Now, see here, Kaliko," said Rinkitink; "if you are trying to harm me +or my companions, give it up, for you will never succeed. We're +harm-proof, so to speak, and you are merely wasting your time trying to +injure us. +</P> + +<P> +"You may be right, and I hope I am not so impolite as to argue with a +guest," returned the Nome King. "But you will pardon me if I am not yet +satisfied that you are stronger than my famous magic. However, I beg +you to believe that I bear you no ill will, King Rinkitink; but it is +my duty to destroy you, if possible, because you and that insignificant +boy Prince have openly threatened to take away my captives and have +positively refused to go back to the earth's surface and let me alone. +I'm very tender-hearted, as a matter of fact, and I like you immensely, +and would enjoy having you as a friend, but—" Here he pressed a button +on the arm of his throne chair and the section of the floor where +Rinkitink stood suddenly opened and disclosed a black pit beneath, +which was a part of 'the terrible Bottomless Gulf. +</P> + +<P> +But Rinkitink did not fall into the pit; his body remained suspended in +the air until he put out his foot and stepped to the solid floor, when +the opening suddenly closed again. +</P> + +<P> +"I appreciate Your Majesty's friendship," remarked Rinkitink, as calmly +as if nothing had happened, "but I am getting tired with standing. Will +you kindly send for my goat, Bilbil, that I may sit upon his back to +rest?" +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed I will!" promised Kaliko. "I have not yet completed my test of +your magic, and as I owe that goat a slight grudge for bumping my head +and smashing my second-best crown, I will be glad to discover if the +beast can also escape my delightful little sorceries." +</P> + +<P> +So Klik was sent to fetch Bilbil and presently returned with the goat, +which was very cross this morning because it had not slept well in the +underground caverns. +</P> + +<P> +Rinkitink lost no time in getting upon the red velvet saddle which the +goat constantly wore, for he feared the Nome King would try to destroy +Bilbil and knew that as long as his body touched that of the goat the +Pink Pearl would protect them both; whereas, if Bilbil stood alone, +there was no magic to save him. +</P> + +<P> +Bilbil glared wickedly at King Kaliko, who moved uneasily in his ivory +throne. Then the Nome King whispered a moment in the ear of Klik, who +nodded and left the room. +</P> + +<P> +"Please make yourselves at home here for a few minutes, while I attend +to an errand," said the Nome King, getting up from the throne. "I shall +return pretty soon, when I hope to find you pieceful—ha, ha, +ha!—that's a joke you can't appreciate now but will later. Be +pieceful—that's the idea. Ho, ho, ho! How funny." Then he waddled from +the cavern, closing the door behind him. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, why didn't you laugh when Kaliko laughed?" demanded the goat, +when they were left alone in the cavern. +</P> + +<P> +"Because he means mischief of some sort," replied Rinkitink, "and we'll +laugh after the danger is over, Bilbil. There's an old adage that says: +'He laughs best who laughs last,' and the only way to laugh last is to +give the other fellow a chance. Where did that knife come from, I +wonder." +</P> + +<P> +For a long, sharp knife suddenly appeared in the air near them, +twisting and turning from side to side and darting here and there in a +dangerous manner, without any support whatever. Then another knife +became visible—and another and another—until all the space in the +royal cavern seemed filled with them. Their sharp points and edges +darted toward Rinkitink and Bilbil perpetually and nothing could have +saved them from being cut to pieces except the protecting power of the +Pink Pearl. As it was, not a knife touched them and even Bilbil gave a +gruff laugh at the failure of Kaliko's clever magic. +</P> + +<P> +The goat wandered here and there in the cavern, carrying Rinkitink upon +his back, and neither of them paid the slightest heed to the knives, +although the glitter of the hundreds of polished blades was rather +trying to their eyes. Perhaps for ten minutes the knives darted about +them in bewildering fury; then they disappeared as suddenly as they had +appeared. +</P> + +<P> +Kaliko cautiously stuck his head through the doorway and found the goat +chewing the embroidery of his royal cloak, which he had left lying over +the throne, while Rinkitink was reading his manuscript on "How to be +Good" and chuckling over its advice. The Nome King seemed greatly +disappointed as he came in and resumed his seat on the throne. Said +Rinkitink with a chuckle: +</P> + +<P> +"We've really had a peaceful time, Kaliko, although not the pieceful +time you expected. Forgive me if I indulge in a laugh—hoo, hoo, +hoo-hee, heek-keek-eek! And now, tell me; aren't you getting tired of +trying to injure us?" +</P> + +<P> +"Eh—heh," said the Nome King. "I see now that your magic can protect +you from all my arts. But is the boy Inga as, well protected as Your +Majesty and the goat?' +</P> + +<P> +"Why do you ask?" inquired Rinkitink, uneasy at the question because he +remembered he had not seen the little Prince of Pingaree that morning. +</P> + +<P> +"Because," said Kaliko, "the boy has been undergoing trials far greater +and more dangerous than any you have encountered, and it has been +hundreds of years since anyone has been able to escape alive from the +perils of my Three Trick Caverns." +</P> + +<P> +King Rinkitink was much alarmed at hearing this, for although he knew +that Inga possessed the Blue Pearl, that would only give to him +marvelous strength, and perhaps strength alone would not enable him to +escape from danger. But he would not let Kaliko see the fear he felt +for Inga's safety, so he said in a careless way: +</P> + +<P> +"You're a mighty poor magician, Kaliko, and I'll give you my crown if +Inga hasn't escaped any danger you have threatened him with." +</P> + +<P> +"Your whole crown is not worth one of the valuable diamonds in my +crown," answered the Nome King, "but I'll take it. Let us go at once, +therefore, and see what has become of the boy Prince, for if he is not +destroyed by this time I will admit he cannot be injured by any of the +magic arts which I have at my command." +</P> + +<P> +He left the room, accompanied by Klik, who had now rejoined his master, +and by Rinkitink riding upon Bilbil. After traversing several of the +huge caverns they entered one that was somewhat more bright and +cheerful than the others, where the Nome King paused before a wall of +rock. Then Klik pressed a secret spring and a section of the wall +opened and disclosed the corridor where Prince Inga stood facing them. +</P> + +<P> +"Tarts and tadpoles!" cried Kaliko in surprise. "The boy is still +alive!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap20"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Twenty +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Dorothy to the Rescue +</H3> + +<P> +One day when Princess Dorothy of Oz was visiting Glinda the Good, who +is Ozma's Royal Sorceress, she was looking through Glinda's Great Book +of Records—wherein is inscribed all important events that happen in +every part of the world—when she came upon the record of the +destruction of Pingaree, the capture of King Kitticut and Queen Garee +and all their people, and the curious escape of Inga, the boy Prince, +and of King Rinkitink and the talking goat. Turning over some of the +following pages, Dorothy read how Inga had found the Magic Pearls and +was rowing the silver-lined boat to Regos to try to rescue his parents. +</P> + +<P> +The little girl was much interested to know how well Inga succeeded, +but she returned to the palace of Ozma at the Emerald City of Oz the +next day and other events made her forget the boy Prince of Pingaree +for a time. However, she was one day idly looking at Ozma's Magic +Picture, which shows any scene you may wish to see, when the girl +thought of Inga and commanded the Magic Picture to show what the boy +was doing at that moment. +</P> + +<P> +It was the time when Inga and Rinkitink had followed the King of Regos +and Queen of Coregos to the Nome King's country and she saw them hiding +behind the rock as Cor and Gos passed them by after having placed the +King and Queen of Pingaree in the keeping of the Nome King. From that +time Dorothy followed, by means of the Magic Picture, the adventures of +Inga and his friend in the Nome King's caverns, and the danger and +helplessness of the poor boy aroused the little girl's pity and +indignation. +</P> + +<P> +So she went to Ozma and told the lovely girl Ruler of Oz all about Inga +and Rinkitink. +</P> + +<P> +"I think Kaliko is treating them dreadfully mean," declared Dorothy, +"and I wish you'd let me go to the Nome Country and help them out of +their troubles." +</P> + +<P> +"Go, my dear, if you wish to," replied Ozma, "but I think it would be +best for you to take the Wizard with you." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I'm not afraid of the nomes," said Dorothy, "but I'll be glad to +take the Wizard, for company. And may we use your Magic Carpet, Ozma?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course. Put the Magic Carpet in the Red Wagon and have the Sawhorse +take you and the Wizard to the edge of the desert. While you are gone, +Dorothy, I'll watch you in the Magic Picture, and if any danger +threatens you I'll see you are not harmed." +</P> + +<P> +Dorothy thanked the Ruler of Oz and kissed her good-bye, for she was +determined to start at once. She found the Wizard of Oz, who was +planting shoetrees in the garden, and when she told him Inga's story he +willingly agreed to accompany the little girl to the Nome King's +caverns. They had both been there before and had conquered the nomes +with ease, so they were not at all afraid. +</P> + +<P> +The Wizard, who was a cheery little man with a bald head and a winning +smile, harnessed the Wooden Sawhorse to the Red Wagon and loaded on +Ozma's Magic Carpet. Then he and Dorothy climbed to the seat and the +Sawhorse started off and carried them swiftly through the beautiful +Land of Oz to the edge of the Deadly Desert that separated their +fairyland from the Nome Country. +</P> + +<P> +Even Dorothy and the clever Wizard would not have dared to cross this +desert without the aid of the Magic Carpet, for it would have quickly +destroyed them; but when the roll of carpet had been placed upon the +edge of the sands, leaving just enough lying flat for them to stand +upon, the carpet straightway began to unroll before them and as they +walked on it continued to unroll, until they had safely passed over the +stretch of Deadly Desert and were on the border of the Nome King's +dominions. +</P> + +<P> +This journey had been accomplished in a few minutes, although such a +distance would have required several days travel had they not been +walking on the Magic Carpet. On arriving they at once walked toward the +entrance to the caverns of the nomes. +</P> + +<P> +The Wizard carried a little black bag containing his tools of wizardry, +while Dorothy carried over her arm a covered basket in which she had +placed a dozen eggs, with which to conquer the nomes if she had any +trouble with them. +</P> + +<P> +Eggs may seem to you to be a queer weapon with which to fight, but the +little girl well knew their value. The nomes are immortal; that is, +they do not perish, as mortals do, unless they happen to come in +contact with an egg. If an egg touches them—either the outer shell or +the inside of the egg—the nomes lose their charm of perpetual life and +thereafter are liable to die through accident or old age, just as all +humans are. +</P> + +<P> +For this reason the sight of an egg fills a nome with terror and he +will do anything to prevent an egg from touching him, even for an +instant. So, when Dorothy took her basket of eggs with her, she knew +that she was more powerfully armed than if she had a regiment of +soldiers at her back. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap21"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Twenty-One +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Wizard Finds an Enchantment +</H3> + +<P> +After Kaliko had failed in his attempts to destroy his guests, as has +been related, the Nome King did nothing more to injure them but treated +them in a friendly manner. He refused, however, to permit Inga to see +or to speak with his father and mother, or even to know in what part of +the underground caverns they were confined. +</P> + +<P> +"You are able to protect your lives and persons, I freely admit," said +Kaliko; "but I firmly believe you have no power, either of magic or +otherwise, to take from me the captives I have agreed to keep for King +Gos." +</P> + +<P> +Inga would not agree to this. He determined not to leave the caverns +until he had liberated his father and mother, although he did not then +know how that could be accomplished. As for Rinkitink, the jolly King +was well fed and had a good bed to sleep upon, so he was not worrying +about anything and seemed in no hurry to go away. +</P> + +<P> +Kaliko and Rinkitink were engaged in pitching a game with solid gold +quoits, on the floor of the royal chamber, and Inga and Bilbil were +watching them, when Klik came running in, his hair standing on end with +excitement, and cried out that the Wizard of Oz and Dorothy were +approaching. +</P> + +<P> +Kaliko turned pale on hearing this unwelcome news and, abandoning his +game, went to sit in his ivory throne and try to think what had brought +these fearful visitors to his domain. +</P> + +<P> +"Who is Dorothy?" asked Inga. +</P> + +<P> +"She is a little girl who once lived in Kansas," replied Klik, with a +shudder, "but she now lives in Ozma's palace at the Emerald City and is +a Princess of Oz—which means that she is a terrible foe to deal with." +</P> + +<P> +"Doesn't she like the nomes?" inquired the boy. +</P> + +<P> +"It isn't that," said King Kaliko, with a groan, "but she insists on +the nomes being goody-goody, which is contrary to their natures. +Dorothy gets angry if I do the least thing that is wicked, and tries to +make me stop it, and that naturally makes me downhearted. I can't +imagine why she has come here just now, for I've been behaving very +well lately. As for that Wizard of Oz, he's chock-full of magic that I +can't overcome, for he learned it from Glinda, who is the most powerful +sorceress in the world. Woe is me! Why didn't Dorothy and the Wizard +stay in Oz, where they belong?" +</P> + +<P> +Inga and Rinkitink listened to this with much joy, for at once the idea +came to them both to plead with Dorothy to help them. Even Bilbil +pricked up his ears when he heard the Wizard of Oz mentioned, and the +goat seemed much less surly, and more thoughtful than usual. +</P> + +<P> +A few minutes later a nome came to say that Dorothy and the Wizard had +arrived and demanded admittance, so Klik was sent to usher them into +the royal presence of the Nome King. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as she came in the little girl ran up to the boy Prince and +seized both his hands. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Inga!" she exclaimed, "I'm so glad to find you alive and well." +</P> + +<P> +Inga was astonished at so warm a greeting. Making a low bow he said: +</P> + +<P> +"I don't think we have met before, Princess." +</P> + +<P> +"No, indeed," replied Dorothy, "but I know all about you and I've come +to help you and King Rinkitink out of your troubles." Then she turned +to the Nome King and continued: "You ought to be ashamed of yourself, +King Kaliko, to treat an honest Prince and an honest King so badly." +</P> + +<P> +"I haven't done anything to them," whined Kaliko, trembling as her eyes +flashed upon him. +</P> + +<P> +"No; but you tried to, an' that's just as bad, if not worse," said +Dorothy, who was very indignant. "And now I want you to send for the +King and Queen of Pingaree and have them brought here immejitly!" +</P> + +<P> +"I won't," said Kaliko. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, you will!" cried Dorothy, stamping her foot at him. "I won't have +those poor people made unhappy any longer, or separated from their +little boy. Why, it's dreadful, Kaliko, an' I'm su'prised at you. You +must be more wicked than I thought you were." +</P> + +<P> +"I can't do it, Dorothy," said the Nome King, almost weeping with +despair. "I promised King Gos I'd keep them captives. You wouldn't ask +me to break my promise, would you?" +</P> + +<P> +"King Gos was a robber and an outlaw," she said, "and p'r'aps you don't +know that a storm at sea wrecked his boat, while he was going back to +Regos, and that he and Queen Cor were both drowned." +</P> + +<P> +"Dear me!" exclaimed Kaliko. "Is that so?" +</P> + +<P> +"I saw it in Glinda's Record Book," said Dorothy. "So now you trot out +the King and Queen of Pingaree as quick as you can." +</P> + +<P> +"No," persisted the contrary Nome King, shaking his head. "I won't do +it. Ask me anything else and I'll try to please you, but I can't allow +these friendly enemies to triumph over me. +</P> + +<P> +"In that case," said Dorothy, beginning to remove the cover from her +basket, "I'll show you some eggs." +</P> + +<P> +"Eggs!" screamed the Nome King in horror. "Have you eggs in that +basket?" +</P> + +<P> +"A dozen of 'em," replied Dorothy. +</P> + +<P> +"Then keep them there—I beg—I implore you!—and I'll do anything you +say," pleaded Kaliko, his teeth chattering so that he could hardly +speak. +</P> + +<P> +"Send for the King and Queen of Pingaree," said Dorothy. +</P> + +<P> +"Go, Klik," commanded the Nome King, and Klik ran away in great haste, +for he was almost as much frightened as his master. +</P> + +<P> +It was an affecting scene when the unfortunate King and Queen of +Pingaree entered the chamber and with sobs and tears of joy embraced +their brave and adventurous son. All the others stood silent until +greetings and kisses had been exchanged and Inga had told his parents +in a few words of his vain struggles to rescue them and how Princess +Dorothy had finally come to his assistance. +</P> + +<P> +Then King Kitticut shook the hands of his friend King Rinkitink and +thanked him for so loyally supporting his son Inga, and Queen Garee +kissed little Dorothy's forehead and blessed her for restoring her +husband and herself to freedom. +</P> + +<P> +The Wizard had been standing near Bilbil the goat and now he was +surprised to hear the animal say: +</P> + +<P> +"Joyful reunion, isn't it? But it makes me tired to see grown people +cry like children." +</P> + +<P> +"Oho!" exclaimed the Wizard. "How does it happen, Mr. Goat, that you, +who have never been to the Land of Oz, are able to talk?" +</P> + +<P> +"That's my business," returned Bilbil in a surly tone. +</P> + +<P> +The Wizard stooped down and gazed fixedly into the animal's eyes. Then +he said, with a pitying sigh: "I see; you are under an enchantment. +Indeed, I believe you to be Prince Bobo of Boboland." +</P> + +<P> +Bilbil made no reply but dropped his head as if ashamed. +</P> + +<P> +"This is a great discovery," said the Wizard, addressing Dorothy and +the others of the party. "A good many years ago a cruel magician +transformed the gallant Prince of Boboland into a talking goat, and +this goat, being ashamed of his condition, ran away and was never after +seen in Boboland, which is a country far to the south of here but +bordering on the Deadly Desert, opposite the Land of Oz. I heard of +this story long ago and know that a diligent search has been made for +the enchanted Prince, without result. But I am well assured that, in +the animal you call Bilbil, I have discovered the unhappy Prince of +Boboland." +</P> + +<P> +"Dear me, Bilbil," said Rinkitink, "why have you never told me this?" +</P> + +<P> +"What would be the use?" asked Bilbil in a low voice and still refusing +to look up. +</P> + +<P> +"The use?" repeated Rinkitink, puzzled. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, that's the trouble," said the Wizard. "It is one of the most +powerful enchantments ever accomplished, and the magician is now dead +and the secret of the anti-charm lost. Even I, with all my skill, +cannot restore Prince Bobo to his proper form. But I think Glinda might +be able to do so and if you will all return with Dorothy and me to the +Land of Oz, where Ozma will make you welcome, I will ask Glinda to try +to break this enchantment." +</P> + +<P> +This was willingly agreed to, for they all welcomed the chance to visit +the famous Land of Oz. So they bade good-bye to King Kaliko, whom +Dorothy warned not to be wicked any more if he could help it, and the +entire party returned over the Magic Carpet to the Land of Oz. They +filled the Red Wagon, which was still waiting for them, pretty full; +but the Sawhorse didn't mind that and with wonderful speed carried them +safely to the Emerald City. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap22"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Twenty Two +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Ozma's Banquet +</H3> + +<P> +Ozma had seen in her Magic Picture the liberation of Inga's parents and +the departure of the entire party for the Emerald City, so with her +usual hospitality she ordered a splendid banquet prepared and invited +all her quaint friends who were then in the Emerald City to be present +that evening to meet the strangers who were to become her guests. +</P> + +<P> +Glinda, also, in her wonderful Record Book had learned of the events +that had taken place in the caverns of the Nome King and she became +especially interested in the enchantment of the Prince of Boboland. So +she hastily prepared several of her most powerful charms and then +summoned her flock of sixteen white storks, which swiftly bore her to +Ozma's palace. She arrived there before the Red Wagon did and was +warmly greeted by the girl Ruler. +</P> + +<P> +Realizing that the costume of Queen Garee of Pingaree must have become +sadly worn and frayed, owing to her hardships and adventures, Ozma +ordered a royal outfit prepared for the good Queen and had it laid in +her chamber ready for her to put on as soon as she arrived, so she +would not be shamed at the banquet. New costumes were also provided for +King Kitticut and King Rinkitink and Prince Inga, all cut and made and +embellished in the elaborate and becoming style then prevalent in the +Land of Oz, and as soon as the party arrived at the palace Ozma's +guests were escorted by her servants to their rooms, that they might +bathe and dress themselves. +</P> + +<P> +Glinda the Sorceress and the Wizard of Oz took charge of Bilbil the +goat and went to a private room where they were not likely to be +interrupted. Glinda first questioned Bilbil long and earnestly about +the manner of his enchantment and the ceremony that had been used by +the magician who enchanted him. At first Bilbil protested that he did +not want to be restored to his natural shape, saying that he had been +forever disgraced in the eyes of his people and of the entire world by +being obliged to exist as a scrawny, scraggly goat. But Glinda pointed +out that any person who incurred the enmity of a wicked magician was +liable to suffer a similar fate, and assured him that his misfortune +would make him better beloved by his subjects when he returned to them +freed from his dire enchantment. +</P> + +<P> +Bilbil was finally convinced of the truth of this assertion and agreed +to submit to the experiments of Glinda and the Wizard, who knew they +had a hard task before them and were not at all sure they could +succeed. We know that Glinda is the most complete mistress of magic who +has ever existed, and she was wise enough to guess that the clever but +evil magician who had enchanted Prince Bobo had used a spell that would +puzzle any ordinary wizard or sorcerer to break; therefore she had +given the matter much shrewd thought and hoped she had conceived a plan +that would succeed. But because she was not positive of success she +would have no one present at the incantation except her assistant, the +Wizard of Oz. +</P> + +<P> +First she transformed Bilbil the goat into a lamb, and this was done +quite easily. Next she transformed the lamb into an ostrich, giving it +two legs and feet instead of four. Then she tried to transform the +ostrich into the original Prince Bobo, but this incantation was an +utter failure. Glinda was not discouraged, however, but by a powerful +spell transformed the ostrich into a tottenhot—which is a lower form +of a man. Then the tottenhot was transformed into a mifket, which was a +great step in advance and, finally, Glinda transformed the mifket into +a handsome young man, tall and shapely, who fell on his knees before +the great Sorceress and gratefully kissed her hand, admitting that he +had now recovered his proper shape and was indeed Prince Bobo of +Boboland. +</P> + +<P> +This process of magic, successful though it was in the end, had +required so much time that the banquet was now awaiting their presence. +Bobo was already dressed in princely raiment and although he seemed +very much humbled by his recent lowly condition, they finally persuaded +him to join the festivities. +</P> + +<P> +When Rinkitink saw that his goat had now become a Prince, he did not +know whether to be sorry or glad, for he felt that he would miss the +companionship of the quarrelsome animal he had so long been accustomed +to ride upon, while at the same time he rejoiced that poor Bilbil had +come to his own again. +</P> + +<P> +Prince Bobo humbly begged Rinkitink's forgiveness for having been so +disagreeable to him, at times, saying that the nature of a goat had +influenced him and the surly disposition he had shown was a part of his +enchantment. But the jolly King assured the Prince that he had really +enjoyed Bilbil's grumpy speeches and forgave him readily. Indeed, they +all discovered the young Prince Bobo to be an exceedingly courteous and +pleasant person, although he was somewhat reserved and dignified. +</P> + +<P> +Ah, but it was a great feast that Ozma served in her gorgeous banquet +hall that night and everyone was as happy as could be. The Shaggy Man +was there, and so was Jack Pumpkinhead and the Tin Woodman and Cap'n +Bill. Beside Princess Dorothy sat Tiny Trot and Betsy Bobbin, and the +three little girls were almost as sweet to look upon as was Ozma, who +sat at the head of her table and outshone all her guests in loveliness. +</P> + +<P> +King Rinkitink was delighted with the quaint people of Oz and laughed +and joked with the tin man and the pumpkin-headed man and found Cap'n +Bill a very agreeable companion. But what amused the jolly King most +were the animal guests, which Ozma always invited to her banquets and +seated at a table by themselves, where they talked and chatted together +as people do but were served the sort of food their natures required. +The Hungry Tiger and Cowardly Lion and the Glass Cat were much admired +by Rinkitink, but when he met a mule named Hank, which Betsy Bobbin had +brought to Oz, the King found the creature so comical that he laughed +and chuckled until his friends thought he would choke. Then while the +banquet was still in progress, Rinkitink composed and sang a song to +the mule and they all joined in the chorus, which was something like +this: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "It's very queer how big an ear<BR> + Is worn by Mr. Donkey;<BR> + And yet I fear he could not hear<BR> + If it were on a monkey.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + 'Tis thick and strong and broad and long<BR> + And also very hairy;<BR> + It's quite becoming to our Hank<BR> + But might disgrace a fairy!"<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +This song was received with so much enthusiasm that Rinkitink was +prevailed upon to sing another. They gave him a little time to compose +the rhyme, which he declared would be better if he could devote a month +or two to its composition, but the sentiment he expressed was so +admirable that no one criticized the song or the manner in which the +jolly little King sang it. +</P> + +<P> +Dorothy wrote down the words on a piece of paper, and here they are: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "We're merry comrades all, to-night,<BR> + Because we've won a gallant fight<BR> + And conquered all our foes.<BR> + We're not afraid of anything,<BR> + So let us gayly laugh and sing<BR> + Until we seek repose.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "We've all our grateful hearts can wish;<BR> + King Gos has gone to feed the fish,<BR> + Queen Cor has gone, as well;<BR> + King Kitticut has found his own,<BR> + Prince Bobo soon will have a throne<BR> + Relieved of magic spell.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "So let's forget the horrid strife<BR> + That fell upon our peaceful life<BR> + And caused distress and pain;<BR> + For very soon across the sea<BR> + We'll all be sailing merrily<BR> + To Pingaree again."<BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap23"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Twenty Three +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Pearl Kingdom +</H3> + +<P> +It was unfortunate that the famous Scarecrow—the most popular person +in all Oz, next to Ozma—was absent at the time of the banquet, for he +happened just then to be making one of his trips through the country; +but the Scarecrow had a chance later to meet Rinkitink and Inga and the +King and Queen of Pingaree and Prince Bobo, for the party remained +several weeks at the Emerald City, where they were royally entertained, +and where both the gentle Queen Garee and the noble King Kitticut +recovered much of their good spirits and composure and tried to forget +their dreadful experiences. +</P> + +<P> +At last, however, the King and Queen desired to return to their own +Pingaree, as they longed to be with their people again and see how well +they had rebuilt their homes. Inga also was anxious to return, although +he had been very happy in Oz, and King Rinkitink, who was happy +anywhere except at Gilgad, decided to go with his former friends to +Pingaree. As for prince Bobo, he had become so greatly attached to King +Rinkitink that he was loth to leave him. +</P> + +<P> +On a certain day they all bade good-bye to Ozma and Dorothy and Glinda +and the Wizard and all their good friends in Oz, and were driven in the +Red Wagon to the edge of the Deadly Desert, which they crossed safely +on the Magic Carpet. They then made their way across the Nome Kingdom +and the Wheeler Country, where no one molested them, to the shores of +the Nonestic Ocean. There they found the boat with the silver lining +still lying undisturbed on the beach. +</P> + +<P> +There were no important adventures during the trip and on their arrival +at the pearl kingdom they were amazed at the beautiful appearance of +the island they had left in ruins. All the houses of the people had +been rebuilt and were prettier than before, with green lawns before +them and flower gardens in the back yards. The marble towers of King +Kitticut's new palace were very striking and impressive, while the +palace itself proved far more magnificent than it had been before the +warriors from Regos destroyed it. +</P> + +<P> +Nikobob had been very active and skillful in directing all this work, +and he had also built a pretty cottage for himself, not far from the +King's palace, and there Inga found Zella, who was living very happy +and contented in her new home. Not only had Nikobob accomplished all +this in a comparatively brief space of time, but he had started the +pearl fisheries again and when King Kitticut returned to Pingaree he +found a quantity of fine pearls already in the royal treasury. +</P> + +<P> +So pleased was Kitticut with the good judgment, industry and honesty of +the former charcoal-burner of Regos, that he made Nikobob his Lord High +Chamberlain and put him in charge of the pearl fisheries and all the +business matters of the island kingdom. +</P> + +<P> +They all settled down very comfortably in the new palace and the Queen +gathered her maids about her once more and set them to work +embroidering new draperies for the royal throne. Inga placed the three +Magic Pearls in their silken bag and again deposited them in the secret +cavity under the tiled flooring of the banquet hall, where they could +be quickly secured if danger ever threatened the now prosperous island. +</P> + +<P> +King Rinkitink occupied a royal guest chamber built especially for his +use and seemed in no hurry to leave his friends in Pingaree. The fat +little King had to walk wherever he went and so missed Bilbil more and +more; but he seldom walked far and he was so fond of Prince BoBo that +he never regretted Bilbil's disenchantment. +</P> + +<P> +Indeed, the jolly monarch was welcome to remain forever in Pingaree, if +he wished to, for his merry disposition set smiles on the faces of all +his friends and made everyone near him as jolly as he was himself. When +King Kitticut was not too busy with affairs of state he loved to join +his guest and listen to his brother monarch's songs and stories. For he +found Rinkitink to be, with all his careless disposition, a shrewd +philosopher, and in talking over their adventures one day the King of +Gilgad said: +</P> + +<P> +"The beauty of life is its sudden changes. No one knows what is going +to happen next, and so we are constantly being surprised and +entertained. The many ups and downs should not discourage us, for if we +are down, we know that a change is coming and we will go up again; +while those who are up are almost certain to go down. My grandfather +had a song which well expresses this and if you will listen I will sing +it." +</P> + +<P> +"Of course I will listen to your song," returned Kitticut, "for it +would be impolite not to." +</P> + +<P> +So Rinkitink sang his grandfather's song: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "A mighty King once ruled the land—<BR> + But now he's baking pies.<BR> + A pauper, on the other hand,<BR> + Is ruling, strong and wise.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + A tiger once in jungles raged—<BR> + But now he's in a zoo;<BR> + A lion, captive-born and caged,<BR> + Now roams the forest through.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + A man once slapped a poor boy's pate<BR> + And made him weep and wail.<BR> + The boy became a magistrate<BR> + And put the man in jail.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + A sunny day succeeds the night;<BR> + It's summer—then it snows!<BR> + Right oft goes wrong and wrong comes right,<BR> + As ev'ry wise man knows."<BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap24"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Twenty-Four +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Captive King +</H3> + +<P> +One morning, just as the royal party was finishing breakfast, a servant +came running to say that a great fleet of boats was approaching the +island from the south. King Kitticut sprang up at once, in great alarm, +for he had much cause to fear strange boats. The others quickly +followed him to the shore to see what invasion might be coming upon +them. +</P> + +<P> +Inga was there with the first, and Nikobob and Zella soon joined the +watchers. And presently, while all were gazing eagerly at the +approaching fleet, King Rinkitink suddenly cried out: +</P> + +<P> +"Get your pearls, Prince Inga—get them quick!" +</P> + +<P> +"Are these our enemies, then?" asked the boy, looking with surprise +upon the fat little King, who had begun to tremble violently. +</P> + +<P> +"They are my people of Gilgad!" answered Rinkitink, wiping a tear from +his eye. "I recognize my royal standards flying from the boats. So, +please, dear Inga, get out your pearls to protect me!" +</P> + +<P> +"What can you fear at the hands of your own subjects?" asked Kitticut, +astonished. +</P> + +<P> +But before his frightened guest could answer the question Prince Bobo, +who was standing beside his friend, gave an amused laugh and said: +</P> + +<P> +"You are caught at last, dear Rinkitink. Your people will take you home +again and oblige you to reign as King." +</P> + +<P> +Rinkitink groaned aloud and clasped his hands together with a gesture +of despair, an attitude so comical that the others could scarcely +forbear laughing. +</P> + +<P> +But now the boats were landing upon the beach. They were fifty in +number, beautifully decorated and upholstered and rowed by men clad in +the gay uniforms of the King of Gilgad. One splendid boat had a throne +of gold in the center, over which was draped the King's royal robe of +purple velvet, embroidered with gold buttercups. +</P> + +<P> +Rinkitink shuddered when he saw this throne; but now a tall man, +handsomely dressed, approached and knelt upon the grass before his +King, while all the other occupants of the boats shouted joyfully and +waved their plumed hats in the air. +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks to our good fortune," said the man who kneeled, "we have found +Your Majesty at last!" +</P> + +<P> +"Pinkerbloo," answered Rinkitink sternly, "I must have you hanged, for +thus finding me against my will." +</P> + +<P> +"You think so now, Your Majesty, but you will never do it," returned +Pinkerbloo, rising and kissing the King's hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Why won't I?" asked Rinkitink. +</P> + +<P> +"Because you are much too tender-hearted, Your Majesty." +</P> + +<P> +"It may be—it may be," agreed Rinkitink, sadly. "It is one of my +greatest failings. But what chance brought you here, my Lord +Pinkerbloo?" +</P> + +<P> +"We have searched for you everywhere, sire, and all the people of +Gilgad have been in despair since you so mysteriously disappeared. We +could not appoint a new King, because we did not know but that you +still lived; so we set out to find you, dead or alive. After visiting +many islands of the Nonestic Ocean we at last thought of Pingaree, from +where come the precious pearls; and now our faithful quest has been +rewarded." +</P> + +<P> +"And what now?" asked Rinkitink. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, Your Majesty, you must come home with us, like a good and dutiful +King, and rule over your people," declared the man in a firm voice. +</P> + +<P> +"I will not." +</P> + +<P> +"But you must—begging Your Majesty's pardon for the contradiction." +</P> + +<P> +"Kitticut," cried poor Rinkitink, "you must save me from being captured +by these, my subjects. What! must I return to Gilgad and be forced to +reign in splendid state when I much prefer to eat and sleep and sing in +my own quiet way? They will make me sit in a throne three hours a day +and listen to dry and tedious affairs of state; and I must stand up for +hours at the court receptions, till I get corns on my heels; and +forever must I listen to tiresome speeches and endless petitions and +complaints!" +</P> + +<P> +"But someone must do this, Your Majesty," said Pinkerbloo respectfully, +"and since you were born to be our King you cannot escape your duty." +</P> + +<P> +"'Tis a horrid fate!" moaned Rinkitink. "I would die willingly, rather +than be a King—if it did not hurt so terribly to die." +</P> + +<P> +"You will find it much more comfortable to reign than to die, although +I fully appreciate Your Majesty's difficult position and am truly sorry +for you," said Pinkerbloo. +</P> + +<P> +King Kitticut had listened to this conversation thoughtfully, so now he +said to his friend: +</P> + +<P> +"The man is right, dear Rinkitink. It is your duty to reign, since fate +has made you a King, and I see no honorable escape for you. I shall +grieve to lose your companionship, but I feel the separation cannot be +avoided." +</P> + +<P> +Rinkitink sighed. +</P> + +<P> +"Then," said he, turning to Lord Pinkerbloo, "in three days I will +depart with you for Gilgad; but during those three days I propose to +feast and make merry with my good friend King Kitticut." +</P> + +<P> +Then all the people of Gilgad shouted with delight and eagerly +scrambled ashore to take their part in the festival. +</P> + +<P> +Those three days were long remembered in Pingaree, for never—before +nor since—has such feasting and jollity been known upon that island. +Rinkitink made the most of his time and everyone laughed and sang with +him by day and by night. +</P> + +<P> +Then, at last, the hour of parting arrived and the King of Gilgad and +Ruler of the Dominion of Rinkitink was escorted by a grand procession +to his boat and seated upon his golden throne. The rowers of the fifty +boats paused, with their glittering oars pointed into the air like +gigantic uplifted sabres, while the people of Pingaree—men, women and +children—stood upon the shore shouting a royal farewell to the jolly +King. +</P> + +<P> +Then came a sudden hush, while Rinkitink stood up and, with a bow to +those assembled to witness his departure, sang the following song, +which he had just composed for the occasion. +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "Farewell, dear Isle of Pingaree—<BR> + The fairest land in all the sea!<BR> + No living mortals, kings or churls,<BR> + Would scorn to wear thy precious pearls.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "King Kitticut, 'tis with regret<BR> + I'm forced to say farewell; and yet<BR> + Abroad no longer can I roam<BR> + When fifty boats would drag me home.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "Good-bye, my Prince of Pingaree;<BR> + A noble King some time you'll be<BR> + And long and wisely may you reign<BR> + And never face a foe again!"<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +They cheered him from the shore; they cheered him from the boats; and +then all the oars of the fifty boats swept downward with a single +motion and dipped their blades into the purple-hued waters of the +Nonestic Ocean. +</P> + +<P> +As the boats shot swiftly over the ripples of the sea Rinkitink turned +to Prince Bobo, who had decided not to desert his former master and his +present friend, and asked anxiously: +</P> + +<P> +"How did you like that song, Bilbil—I mean Bobo? Is it a masterpiece, +do you think?" +</P> + +<P> +And Bobo replied with a smile: +</P> + +<P> +"Like all your songs, dear Rinkitink, the sentiment far excels the +poetry." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + +<H4> +The Wonderful Oz Books +<BR> +by L. Frank Baum +</H4> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> + 1 The Wizard of Oz<BR> + 2 The Land of Oz<BR> + 3 Ozma of Oz<BR> + 4 Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz<BR> + 5 The Road to Oz<BR> + 6 The Emerald City of Oz<BR> + 7 The Patchwork Girl of Oz<BR> + 8 Tik-Tok of Oz<BR> + 9 The Scarecrow of Oz<BR> + 10 Rinkitink in Oz<BR> + 11 The Lost Princess of Oz<BR> + 12 The Tin Woodman of Oz<BR> + 13 The Magic of Oz<BR> + 14 Glinda of Oz<BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Rinkitink in Oz, by L. 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Frank Baum + +Posting Date: March 23, 2009 [EBook #958] +Release Date: June, 1997 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RINKITINK IN OZ *** + + + + +Produced by Anthony Matonac + + + + + + + + +RINKITINK IN OZ + + +by + +L. Frank Baum + + + + Wherein is recorded the Perilous Quest of + Prince Inga of Pingaree and King + Rinkitink in the Magical + Isles that lie beyond + the Borderland + of Oz + + By L. Frank Baum + "Royal Historian of Oz" + + + +Introducing this Story + + +Here is a story with a boy hero, and a boy of whom you have never +before heard. There are girls in the story, too, including our old +friend Dorothy, and some of the characters wander a good way from the +Land of Oz before they all assemble in the Emerald City to take part in +Ozma's banquet. Indeed, I think you will find this story quite +different from the other histories of Oz, but I hope you will not like +it the less on that account. + +If I am permitted to write another Oz book it will tell of some +thrilling adventures encountered by Dorothy, Betsy Bobbin, Trot and the +Patchwork Girl right in the Land of Oz, and how they discovered some +amazing creatures that never could have existed outside a fairy-land. I +have an idea that about the time you are reading this story of +Rinkitink I shall be writing that story of Adventures in Oz. + +Don't fail to write me often and give me your advice and suggestions, +which I always appreciate. I get a good many letters from my readers, +but every one is a joy to me and I answer them as soon as I can find +time to do so. + +"OZCOT" + at HOLLYWOOD + in CALIFORNIA, 1916. + +L. FRANK BAUM + Royal Historian of Oz + + + + +LIST OF CHAPTERS + + 1 The Prince of Pingaree + 2 The Coming of King Rinkitink + 3 The Warriors from the North + 4 The Deserted Island + 5 The Three Pearls + 6 The Magic Boat + 7 The Twin Islands + 8 Rinkitink Makes a Great Mistake + 9 A Present for Zella + 10 The Cunning of Queen Cor + 11 Zella Goes to Coregos + 12 The Excitement of Bilbil the Goat + 13 Zella Saves the Prince + 14 The Escape + 15 The Flight of the Rulers + 16 Nikobob Refuses a Crown + 17 The Nome King + 18 Inga Parts With His Pink Pearl + 19 Rinkitink Chuckles + 20 Dorothy to the Rescue + 21 The Wizard Finds an Enchantment + 22 Ozma's Banquet + 23 The Pearl Kingdom + 24 The Captive King + + + + +Chapter One + +The Prince of Pingaree + + +If you have a map of the Land of Oz handy, you will find that the great +Nonestic Ocean washes the shores of the Kingdom of Rinkitink, between +which and the Land of Oz lies a strip of the country of the Nome King +and a Sandy Desert. The Kingdom of Rinkitink isn't very big and lies +close to the ocean, all the houses and the King's palace being built +near the shore. The people live much upon the water, boating and +fishing, and the wealth of Rinkitink is gained from trading along the +coast and with the islands nearest it. + +Four days' journey by boat to the north of Rinkitink is the Island of +Pingaree, and as our story begins here I must tell you something about +this island. At the north end of Pingaree, where it is widest, the land +is a mile from shore to shore, but at the south end it is scarcely half +a mile broad; thus, although Pingaree is four miles long, from north to +south, it cannot be called a very big island. It is exceedingly pretty, +however, and to the gulls who approach it from the sea it must resemble +a huge green wedge lying upon the waters, for its grass and trees give +it the color of an emerald. + +The grass came to the edge of the sloping shores; the beautiful trees +occupied all the central portion of Pingaree, forming a continuous +grove where the branches met high overhead and there was just space +beneath them for the cosy houses of the inhabitants. These houses were +scattered everywhere throughout the island, so that there was no town +or city, unless the whole island might be called a city. The canopy of +leaves, high overhead, formed a shelter from sun and rain, and the +dwellers in the grove could all look past the straight tree-trunks and +across the grassy slopes to the purple waters of the Nonestic Ocean. + +At the big end of the island, at the north, stood the royal palace of +King Kitticut, the lord and ruler of Pingaree. It was a beautiful +palace, built entirely of snow-white marble and capped by domes of +burnished gold, for the King was exceedingly wealthy. All along the +coast of Pingaree were found the largest and finest pearls in the whole +world. + +These pearls grew within the shells of big oysters, and the people +raked the oysters from their watery beds, sought out the milky pearls +and carried them dutifully to their King. Therefore, once every year +His Majesty was able to send six of his boats, with sixty rowers and +many sacks of the valuable pearls, to the Kingdom of Rinkitink, where +there was a city called Gilgad, in which King Rinkitink's palace stood +on a rocky headland and served, with its high towers, as a lighthouse +to guide sailors to the harbor. In Gilgad the pearls from Pingaree were +purchased by the King's treasurer, and the boats went back to the +island laden with stores of rich merchandise and such supplies of food +as the people and the royal family of Pingaree needed. + +The Pingaree people never visited any other land but that of Rinkitink, +and so there were few other lands that knew there was such an island. +To the southwest was an island called the Isle of Phreex, where the +inhabitants had no use for pearls. And far north of Pingaree--six days' +journey by boat, it was said--were twin islands named Regos and +Coregos, inhabited by a fierce and warlike people. + +Many years before this story really begins, ten big boatloads of those +fierce warriors of Regos and Coregos visited Pingaree, landing suddenly +upon the north end of the island. There they began to plunder and +conquer, as was their custom, but the people of Pingaree, although +neither so big nor so strong as their foes, were able to defeat them +and drive them all back to the sea, where a great storm overtook the +raiders from Regos and Coregos and destroyed them and their boats, not +a single warrior returning to his own country. + +This defeat of the enemy seemed the more wonderful because the +pearl-fishers of Pingaree were mild and peaceful in disposition and +seldom quarreled even among themselves. Their only weapons were their +oyster rakes; yet the fact remains that they drove their fierce enemies +from Regos and Coregos from their shores. + +King Kitticut was only a boy when this remarkable battle was fought, +and now his hair was gray; but he remembered the day well and, during +the years that followed, his one constant fear was of another invasion +of his enemies. He feared they might send a more numerous army to his +island, both for conquest and revenge, in which case there could be +little hope of successfully opposing them. + +This anxiety on the part of King Kitticut led him to keep a sharp +lookout for strange boats, one of his men patrolling the beach +constantly, but he was too wise to allow any fear to make him or his +subjects unhappy. He was a good King and lived very contentedly in his +fine palace, with his fair Queen Garee and their one child, Prince Inga. + +The wealth of Pingaree increased year by year; and the happiness of the +people increased, too. Perhaps there was no place, outside the Land of +Oz, where contentment and peace were more manifest than on this pretty +island, hidden in the besom of the Nonestic Ocean. Had these conditions +remained undisturbed, there would have been no need to speak of +Pingaree in this story. + +Prince Inga, the heir to all the riches and the kingship of Pingaree, +grew up surrounded by every luxury; but he was a manly little fellow, +although somewhat too grave and thoughtful, and he could never bear to +be idle a single minute. He knew where the finest oysters lay hidden +along the coast and was as successful in finding pearls as any of the +men of the island, although he was so slight and small. He had a little +boat of his own and a rake for dragging up the oysters and he was very +proud indeed when he could carry a big white pearl to his father. + +There was no school upon the island, as the people of Pingaree were far +removed from the state of civilization that gives our modern children +such advantages as schools and learned professors, but the King owned +several manuscript books, the pages being made of sheepskin. Being a +man of intelligence, he was able to teach his son something of reading, +writing and arithmetic. + +When studying his lessons Prince Inga used to go into the grove near +his father's palace and climb into the branches of a tall tree, where +he had built a platform with a comfortable seat to rest upon, all +hidden by the canopy of leaves. There, with no one to disturb him, he +would pore over the sheepskin on which were written the queer +characters of the Pingarese language. + +King Kitticut was very proud of his little son, as well he might be, +and he soon felt a high respect for Inga's judgment and thought that he +was worthy to be taken into the confidence of his father in many +matters of state. He taught the boy the needs of the people and how to +rule them justly, for some day he knew that Inga would be King in his +place. One day he called his son to his side and said to him: + +"Our island now seems peaceful enough, Inga, and we are happy and +prosperous, but I cannot forget those terrible people of Regos and +Coregos. My constant fear is that they will send a fleet of boats to +search for those of their race whom we defeated many years ago, and +whom the sea afterwards destroyed. If the warriors come in great +numbers we may be unable to oppose them, for my people are little +trained to fighting at best; they surely would cause us much injury and +suffering." + +"Are we, then, less powerful than in my grandfather's day?" asked +Prince Inga. + +The King shook his head thoughtfully. + +"It is not that," said he. "That you may fully understand that +marvelous battle, I must confide to, you a great secret. I have in my +possession three Magic Talismans, which I have ever guarded with utmost +care, keeping the knowledge of their existence from anyone else. But, +lest I should die, and the secret be lost, I have decided to tell you +what these talismans are and where they are hidden. Come with me, my +son." + +He led the way through the rooms of the palace until they came to the +great banquet hall. There, stopping in the center of the room, he +stooped down and touched a hidden spring in the tiled floor. At once +one of the tiles sank downward and the King reached within the cavity +and drew out a silken bag. + +This bag he proceeded to open, showing Inga that it contained three +great pearls, each one as big around as a marble. One had a blue tint +and one was of a delicate rose color, but the third was pure white. + +"These three pearls," said the King, speaking in a solemn, impressive +voice, "are the most wonderful the world has ever known. They were +gifts to one of my ancestors from the Mermaid Queen, a powerful fairy +whom he once had the good fortune to rescue from her enemies. In +gratitude for this favor she presented him with these pearls. Each of +the three possesses an astonishing power, and whoever is their owner +may count himself a fortunate man. This one having the blue tint will +give to the person who carries it a strength so great that no power can +resist him. The one with the pink glow will protect its owner from all +dangers that may threaten him, no matter from what source they may +come. The third pearl--this one of pure white--can speak, and its words +are always wise and helpful." + +"What is this, my father!" exclaimed the Prince, amazed; "do you tell +me that a pearl can speak? It sounds impossible." + +"Your doubt is due to your ignorance of fairy powers," returned the +King, gravely. "Listen, my son, and you will know that I speak the +truth." + +He held the white pearl to Inga's ear and the Prince heard a small +voice say distinctly: "Your father is right. Never question the truth +of what you fail to understand, for the world is filled with wonders." + +"I crave your pardon, dear father," said the Prince, "for clearly I +heard the pearl speak, and its words were full of wisdom." + +"The powers of the other pearls are even greater," resumed the King. +"Were I poor in all else, these gems would make me richer than any +other monarch the world holds." + +"I believe that," replied Inga, looking at the beautiful pearls with +much awe. "But tell me, my father, why do you fear the warriors of +Regos and Coregos when these marvelous powers are yours?" + +"The powers are mine only while I have the pearls upon my person," +answered King Kitticut, "and I dare not carry them constantly for fear +they might be lost. Therefore, I keep them safely hidden in this +recess. My only danger lies in the chance that my watchmen might fail +to discover the approach of our enemies and allow the warrior invaders +to seize me before I could secure the pearls. I should, in that case, +be quite powerless to resist. My father owned the magic pearls at the +time of the Great Fight, of which you have so often heard, and the pink +pearl protected him from harm, while the blue pearl enabled him and his +people to drive away the enemy. Often have I suspected that the +destroying storm was caused by the fairy mermaids, but that is a matter +of which I have no proof." + +"I have often wondered how we managed to win that battle," remarked +Inga thoughtfully. "But the pearls will assist us in case the warriors +come again, will they not?" + +"They are as powerful as ever," declared the King. "Really, my son, I +have little to fear from any foe. But lest I die and the secret be lost +to the next King, I have now given it into your keeping. Remember that +these pearls are the rightful heritage of all Kings of Pingaree. If at +any time I should be taken from you, Inga, guard this treasure well and +do not forget where it is hidden." + +"I shall not forget," said Inga. + +Then the King returned the pearls to their hiding place and the boy +went to his own room to ponder upon the wonderful secret his father had +that day confided to his care. + + + + +Chapter Two + +The Coming of King Rinkitink + + +A few days after this, on a bright and sunny morning when the breeze +blew soft and sweet from the ocean and the trees waved their leaf-laden +branches, the Royal Watchman, whose duty it was to patrol the shore, +came running to the King with news that a strange boat was approaching +the island. + +At first the King was sore afraid and made a step toward the hidden +pearls, but the next moment he reflected that one boat, even if filled +with enemies, would be powerless to injure him, so he curbed his fear +and went down to the beach to discover who the strangers might be. Many +of the men of Pingaree assembled there also, and Prince Inga followed +his father. Arriving at the water's edge, they all stood gazing eagerly +at the oncoming boat. + +It was quite a big boat, they observed, and covered with a canopy of +purple silk, embroidered with gold. It was rowed by twenty men, ten on +each side. As it came nearer, Inga could see that in the stern, seated +upon a high, cushioned chair of state, was a little man who was so very +fat that he was nearly as broad as he was high This man was dressed in +a loose silken robe of purple that fell in folds to his feet, while +upon his head was a cap of white velvet curiously worked with golden +threads and having a circle of diamonds sewn around the band. At the +opposite end of the boat stood an oddly shaped cage, and several large +boxes of sandalwood were piled near the center of the craft. + +As the boat approached the shore the fat little man got upon his feet +and bowed several times in the direction of those who had assembled to +greet him, and as he bowed he flourished his white cap in an energetic +manner. His face was round as an apple and nearly as rosy. When he +stopped bowing he smiled in such a sweet and happy way that Inga +thought he must be a very jolly fellow. + +The prow of the boat grounded on the beach, stopping its speed so +suddenly that the little man was caught unawares and nearly toppled +headlong into the sea. But he managed to catch hold of the chair with +one hand and the hair of one of his rowers with the other, and so +steadied himself. Then, again waving his jeweled cap around his head, +he cried in a merry voice: + +"Well, here I am at last!" + +"So I perceive," responded King Kitticut, bowing with much dignity. + +The fat man glanced at all the sober faces before him and burst into a +rollicking laugh. Perhaps I should say it was half laughter and half a +chuckle of merriment, for the sounds he emitted were quaint and droll +and tempted every hearer to laugh with him. + +"Heh, heh--ho, ho, ho!" he roared. "Didn't expect me, I see. +Keek-eek-eek-eek! This is funny--it's really funny. Didn't know I was +coming, did you? Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo! This is certainly amusing. But I'm +here, just the same." + +"Hush up!" said a deep, growling voice. "You're making yourself +ridiculous." + +Everyone looked to see where this voice came from; but none could guess +who had uttered the words of rebuke. The rowers of the boat were all +solemn and silent and certainly no one on the shore had spoken. But the +little man did not seem astonished in the least, or even annoyed. + +King Kitticut now addressed the stranger, saying courteously: + +"You are welcome to the Kingdom of Pingaree. Perhaps you will deign to +come ashore and at your convenience inform us whom we have the honor of +receiving as a guest." + +"Thanks; I will," returned the little fat man, waddling from his place +in the boat and stepping, with some difficulty, upon the sandy beach. +"I am King Rinkitink, of the City of Gilgad in the Kingdom of +Rinkitink, and I have come to Pingaree to see for myself the monarch +who sends to my city so many beautiful pearls. I have long wished to +visit this island; and so, as I said before, here I am!" + +"I am pleased to welcome you," said King Kitticut. "But why has Your +Majesty so few attendants? Is it not dangerous for the King of a great +country to make distant journeys in one frail boat, and with but twenty +men?" + +"Oh, I suppose so," answered King Rinkitink, with a laugh. "But what +else could I do? My subjects would not allow me to go anywhere at all, +if they knew it. So I just ran away." + +"Ran away!" exclaimed King Kitticut in surprise. + +"Funny, isn't it? Heh, heh, heh--woo, hoo!" laughed Rinkitink, and this +is as near as I can spell with letters the jolly sounds of his +laughter. "Fancy a King running away from his own ple--hoo, hoo--keek, +eek, eek, eek! But I had to, don't you see!" + +"Why?" asked the other King. + +"They're afraid I'll get into mischief. They don't trust me. +Keek-eek-eek--Oh, dear me! Don't trust their own King. Funny, isn't it?" + +"No harm can come to you on this island," said Kitticut, pretending not +to notice the odd ways of his guest. "And, whenever it pleases you to +return to your own country, I will send with you a fitting escort of my +own people. In the meantime, pray accompany me to my palace, where +everything shall be done to make you comfortable and happy." + +"Much obliged," answered Rinkitink, tipping his white cap over his left +ear and heartily shaking the hand of his brother monarch. "I'm sure you +can make me comfortable if you've plenty to eat. And as for being +happy--ha, ha, ha, ha!--why, that's my trouble. I'm too happy. But +stop! I've brought you some presents in those boxes. Please order your +men to carry them up to the palace." + +"Certainly," answered King Kitticut, well pleased, and at once he gave +his men the proper orders. + +"And, by the way," continued the fat little King, "let them also take +my goat from his cage." + +"A goat!" exclaimed the King of Pingaree. + +"Exactly; my goat Bilbil. I always ride him wherever I go, for I'm not +at all fond of walking, being a trifle stout--eh, Kitticut?--a trifle +stout! Hoo, hoo, hoo-keek, eek!" + +The Pingaree people started to lift the big cage out of the boat, but +just then a gruff voice cried: "Be careful, you villains!" and as the +words seemed to come from the goat's mouth the men were so astonished +that they dropped the cage upon the sand with a sudden jar. + +"There! I told you so!" cried the voice angrily. "You've rubbed the +skin off my left knee. Why on earth didn't you handle me gently?" + +"There, there, Bilbil," said King Rinkitink soothingly; "don't scold, +my boy. Remember that these are strangers, and we their guests." Then +he turned to Kitticut and remarked: "You have no talking goats on your +island, I suppose." + +"We have no goats at all," replied the King; "nor have we any animals, +of any sort, who are able to talk." + +"I wish my animal couldn't talk, either," said Rinkitink, winking +comically at Inga and then looking toward the cage. "He is very cross +at times, and indulges in language that is not respectful. I thought, +at first, it would be fine to have a talking goat, with whom I could +converse as I rode about my city on his back; +but--keek-eek-eek-eek!--the rascal treats me as if I were a chimney +sweep instead of a King. Heh, heh, heh, keek, eek! A chimney sweep-hoo, +hoo, hoo!--and me a King! Funny, isn't it?" This last was addressed to +Prince Inga, whom he chucked familiarly under the chin, to the boy's +great embarrassment. + +"Why do you not ride a horse?" asked King Kitticut. + +"I can't climb upon his back, being rather stout; that's why. Kee, kee, +keek, eek!--rather stout--hoo, hoo, hoo!" He paused to wipe the tears +of merriment from his eyes and then added: "But I can get on and off +Bilbil's back with ease." + +He now opened the cage and the goat deliberately walked out and looked +about him in a sulky manner. One of the rowers brought from the boat a +saddle made of red velvet and beautifully embroidered with silver +thistles, which he fastened upon the goat's back. The fat King put his +leg over the saddle and seated himself comfortably, saying: + +"Lead on, my noble host, and we will follow." + +"What! Up that steep hill?" cried the goat. "Get off my back at once, +Rinkitink, or I won't budge a step. + +"But-consider, Bilbil," remonstrated the King. "How am I to get up that +hill unless I ride?" + +"Walk!" growled Bilbil. + +"But I'm too fat. Really, Bilbil, I'm surprised at you. Haven't I +brought you all this distance so you may see something of the world and +enjoy life? And now you are so ungrateful as to refuse to carry me! +Turn about is fair play, my boy. The boat carried you to this shore, +because you can't swim, and now you must carry me up the hill, because +I can't climb. Eh, Bilbil, isn't that reasonable?" + +"Well, well, well," said the goat, surlily, "keep quiet and I'll carry +you. But you make me very tired, Rinkitink, with your ceaseless +chatter." + +After making this protest Bilbil began walking up the hill, carrying +the fat King upon his back with no difficulty whatever. + +Prince Inga and his father and all the men of Pingaree were much +astonished to overhear this dispute between King Rinkitink and his +goat; but they were too polite to make critical remarks in the presence +of their guests. King Kitticut walked beside the goat and the Prince +followed after, the men coming last with the boxes of sandalwood. + +When they neared the palace, the Queen and her maidens came out to meet +them and the royal guest was escorted in state to the splendid throne +room of the palace. Here the boxes were opened and King Rinkitink +displayed all the beautiful silks and laces and jewelry with which they +were filled. Every one of the courtiers and ladies received a handsome +present, and the King and Queen had many rich gifts and Inga not a few. +Thus the time passed pleasantly until the Chamberlain announced that +dinner was served. + +Bilbil the goat declared that he preferred eating of the sweet, rich +grass that grew abundantly in the palace grounds, and Rinkitink said +that the beast could never bear being shut up in a stable; so they +removed the saddle from his back and allowed him to wander wherever he +pleased. + +During the dinner Inga divided his attention between admiring the +pretty gifts he had received and listening to the jolly sayings of the +fat King, who laughed when he was not eating and ate when he was not +laughing and seemed to enjoy himself immensely. + +"For four days I have lived in that narrow boat," said he, "with no +other amusement than to watch the rowers and quarrel with Bilbil; so I +am very glad to be on land again with such friendly and agreeable +people." + +"You do us great honor," said King Kitticut, with a polite bow. + +"Not at all--not at all, my brother. This Pingaree must be a wonderful +island, for its pearls are the admiration of all the world; nor will I +deny the fact that my kingdom would be a poor one without the riches +and glory it derives from the trade in your pearls. So I have wished +for many years to come here to see you, but my people said: 'No! Stay +at home and behave yourself, or we'll know the reason why.'" + +"Will they not miss Your Majesty from your palace at Gilgad?" inquired +Kitticut. + +"I think not," answered Rinkitink. "You see, one of my clever subjects +has written a parchment entitled 'How to be Good,' and I believed it +would benefit me to study it, as I consider the accomplishment of being +good one of the fine arts. I had just scolded severely my Lord High +Chancellor for coming to breakfast without combing his eyebrows, and +was so sad and regretful at having hurt the poor man's feelings that I +decided to shut myself up in my own room and study the scroll until I +knew how to be good--hee, heek, keek, eek, eek!--to be good! Clever +idea, that, wasn't it? Mighty clever! And I issued a decree that no one +should enter my room, under pain of my royal displeasure, until I was +ready to come out. They're awfully afraid of my royal displeasure, +although not a bit afraid of me. Then I put the parchment in my pocket +and escaped through the back door to my boat--and here I am. Oo, +hoo-hoo, keek-eek! Imagine the fuss there would be in Gilgad if my +subjects knew where I am this very minute!" + +"I would like to see that parchment," said the solemn-eyed Prince Inga, +"for if it indeed teaches one to be good it must be worth its weight in +pearls." + +"Oh, it's a fine essay," said Rinkitink, "and beautifully written with +a goosequill. Listen to this: You'll enjoy it--tee, hee, hee!--enjoy +it." + +He took from his pocket a scroll of parchment tied with a black ribbon, +and having carefully unrolled it, he proceeded to read as follows: + +"'A Good Man is One who is Never Bad.' How's that, eh? Fine thought, +what? 'Therefore, in order to be Good, you must avoid those Things +which are Evil.' Oh, hoo-hoo-hoo!--how clever! When I get back I shall +make the man who wrote that a royal hippolorum, for, beyond question, +he is the wisest man in my kingdom--as he has often told me himself." +With this, Rinkitink lay back in his chair and chuckled his queer +chuckle until he coughed, and coughed until he choked and choked until +he sneezed. And he wrinkled his face in such a jolly, droll way that +few could keep from laughing with him, and even the good Queen was +forced to titter behind her fan. + +When Rinkitink had recovered from his fit of laughter and had wiped his +eyes upon a fine lace handkerchief, Prince Inga said to him: + +"The parchment speaks truly." + +"Yes, it is true beyond doubt," answered Rinkitink, "and if I could +persuade Bilbil to read it he would be a much better goat than he is +now. Here is another selection: 'To avoid saying Unpleasant Things, +always Speak Agreeably.' That would hit Bilbil, to a dot. And here is +one that applies to you, my Prince: 'Good Children are seldom punished, +for the reason that they deserve no punishment.' Now, I think that is +neatly put, and shows the author to be a deep thinker. But the advice +that has impressed me the most is in the following paragraph: 'You may +not find it as Pleasant to be Good as it is to be Bad, but Other People +will find it more Pleasant.' Haw-hoo-ho! keek-eek! 'Other people will +find it more pleasant!'--hee, hee, heek, keek!--'more pleasant.' Dear +me--dear me! Therein lies a noble incentive to be good, and whenever I +get time I'm surely going to try it." + +Then he wiped his eyes again with the lace handkerchief and, suddenly +remembering his dinner, seized his knife and fork and began eating. + + + + +Chapter Three + +The Warriors from the North + + +King Rinkitink was so much pleased with the Island of Pingaree that he +continued his stay day after day and week after week, eating good +dinners, talking with King Kitticut and sleeping. Once in a while he +would read from his scroll. "For," said he, "whenever I return home, my +subjects will be anxious to know if I have learned 'How to be Good,' +and I must not disappoint them." + +The twenty rowers lived on the small end of the island, with the pearl +fishers, and seemed not to care whether they ever returned to the +Kingdom of Rinkitink or not. Bilbil the goat wandered over the grassy +slopes, or among the trees, and passed his days exactly as he pleased. +His master seldom cared to ride him. Bilbil was a rare curiosity to the +islanders, but since there was little pleasure in talking with the goat +they kept away from him. This pleased the creature, who seemed well +satisfied to be left to his own devices. + +Once Prince Inga, wishing to be courteous, walked up to the goat and +said: "Good morning, Bilbil." + +"It isn't a good morning," answered Bilbil grumpily. "It is cloudy and +damp, and looks like rain." + +"I hope you are contented in our kingdom," continued the boy, politely +ignoring the other's harsh words. + +"I'm not," said Bilbil. "I'm never contented; so it doesn't matter to +me whether I'm in your kingdom or in some other kingdom. Go away--will +you?" + +"Certainly," answered the Prince, and after this rebuff he did not +again try to make friends with Bilbil. + +Now that the King, his father, was so much occupied with his royal +guest, Inga was often left to amuse himself, for a boy could not be +allowed to take part in the conversation of two great monarchs. He +devoted himself to his studies, therefore, and day after day he climbed +into the branches of his favorite tree and sat for hours in his +"tree-top rest," reading his father's precious manuscripts and thinking +upon what he read. + +You must not think that Inga was a molly-coddle or a prig, because he +was so solemn and studious. Being a King's son and heir to a throne, he +could not play with the other boys of Pingaree, and he lived so much in +the society of the King and Queen, and was so surrounded by the pomp +and dignity of a court, that he missed all the jolly times that boys +usually have. I have no doubt that had he been able to live as other +boys do, he would have been much like other boys; as it was, he was +subdued by his surroundings, and more grave and thoughtful than one of +his years should be. + +Inga was in his tree one morning when, without warning, a great fog +enveloped the Island of Pingaree. The boy could scarcely see the tree +next to that in which he sat, but the leaves above him prevented the +dampness from wetting him, so he curled himself up in his seat and fell +fast asleep. + +All that forenoon the fog continued. King Kitticut, who sat in his +palace talking with his merry visitor, ordered the candles lighted, +that they might be able to see one another. The good Queen, Inga's +mother, found it was too dark to work at her embroidery, so she called +her maidens together and told them wonderful stories of bygone days, in +order to pass away the dreary hours. + +But soon after noon the weather changed. The dense fog rolled away like +a heavy cloud and suddenly the sun shot his bright rays over the island. + +"Very good!" exclaimed King Kitticut. "We shall have a pleasant +afternoon, I am sure," and he blew out the candles. + +Then he stood a moment motionless, as if turned to stone, for a +terrible cry from without the palace reached his ears--a cry so full of +fear and horror that the King's heart almost stopped beating. +Immediately there was a scurrying of feet as every one in the palace, +filled with dismay, rushed outside to see what had happened. Even fat +little Rinkitink sprang from his chair and followed his host and the +others through the arched vestibule. + +After many years the worst fears of King Kitticut were realized. + +Landing upon the beach, which was but a few steps from the palace +itself, were hundreds of boats, every one filled with a throng of +fierce warriors. They sprang upon the land with wild shouts of defiance +and rushed to the King's palace, waving aloft their swords and spears +and battleaxes. + +King Kitticut, so completely surprised that he was bewildered, gazed at +the approaching host with terror and grief. + +"They are the men of Regos and Coregos!" he groaned. "We are, indeed, +lost!" + +Then he bethought himself, for the first time, of his wonderful pearls. +Turning quickly, he ran back into the palace and hastened to the hall +where the treasures were hidden. But the leader of the warriors had +seen the King enter the palace and bounded after him, thinking he meant +to escape. Just as the King had stooped to press the secret spring in +the tiles, the warrior seized him from the rear and threw him backward +upon the floor, at the same time shouting to his men to fetch ropes and +bind the prisoner. This they did very quickly and King Kitticut soon +found himself helplessly bound and in the power of his enemies. In this +sad condition he was lifted by the warriors and carried outside, when +the good King looked upon a sorry sight. + +The Queen and her maidens, the officers and servants of the royal +household and all who had inhabited this end of the Island of Pingaree +had been seized by the invaders and bound with ropes. At once they +began carrying their victims to the boats, tossing them in as +unceremoniously as if they had been bales of merchandise. + +The King looked around for his son Inga, but failed to find the boy +among the prisoners. Nor was the fat King, Rinkitink, to be seen +anywhere about. + +The warriors were swarming over the palace like bees in a hive, seeking +anyone who might be in hiding, and after the search had been prolonged +for some time the leader asked impatiently: "Do you find anyone else?" + +"No," his men told him. "We have captured them all." + +"Then," commanded the leader, "remove everything of value from the +palace and tear down its walls and towers, so that not one stone +remains upon another!" + +While the warriors were busy with this task we will return to the boy +Prince, who, when the fog lifted and the sun came out, wakened from his +sleep and began to climb down from his perch in the tree. But the +terrifying cries of the people, mingled with the shouts of the rude +warriors, caused him to pause and listen eagerly. + +Then he climbed rapidly up the tree, far above his platform, to the +topmost swaying branches. This tree, which Inga called his own, was +somewhat taller than the other trees that surrounded it, and when he +had reached the top he pressed aside the leaves and saw a great fleet +of boats upon the shore--strange boats, with banners that he had never +seen before. Turning to look upon his father's palace, he found it +surrounded by a horde of enemies. Then Inga knew the truth: that the +island had been invaded by the barbaric warriors from the north. He +grew so faint from the terror of it all that he might have fallen had +he not wound his arms around a limb and clung fast until the dizzy +feeling passed away. Then with his sash he bound himself to the limb +and again ventured to look out through the leaves. + +The warriors were now engaged in carrying King Kitticut and Queen Garee +and all their other captives down to the boats, where they were thrown +in and chained one to another. It was a dreadful sight for the Prince +to witness, but he sat very still, concealed from the sight of anyone +below by the bower of leafy branches around him. Inga knew very well +that he could do nothing to help his beloved parents, and that if he +came down he would only be forced to share their cruel fate. + +Now a procession of the Northmen passed between the boats and the +palace, bearing the rich furniture, splendid draperies and rare +ornaments of which the royal palace had been robbed, together with such +food and other plunder as they could lay their hands upon. After this, +the men of Regos and Coregos threw ropes around the marble domes and +towers and hundreds of warriors tugged at these ropes until the domes +and towers toppled and fell in ruins upon the ground. Then the walls +themselves were torn down, till little remained of the beautiful palace +but a vast heap of white marble blocks tumbled and scattered upon the +ground. + +Prince Inga wept bitter tears of grief as he watched the ruin of his +home; yet he was powerless to avert the destruction. When the palace +had been demolished, some of the warriors entered their boats and rowed +along the coast of the island, while the others marched in a great body +down the length of the island itself. They were so numerous that they +formed a line stretching from shore to shore and they destroyed every +house they came to and took every inhabitant prisoner. + +The pearl fishers who lived at the lower end of the island tried to +escape in their boats, but they were soon overtaken and made prisoners, +like the others. Nor was there any attempt to resist the foe, for the +sharp spears and pikes and swords of the invaders terrified the hearts +of the defenseless people of Pingaree, whose sole weapons were their +oyster rakes. + +When night fell the whole of the Island of Pingaree had been conquered +by the men of the North, and all its people were slaves of the +conquerors. Next morning the men of Regos and Coregos, being capable of +no further mischief, departed from the scene of their triumph, carrying +their prisoners with them and taking also every boat to be found upon +the island. Many of the boats they had filled with rich plunder, with +pearls and silks and velvets, with silver and gold ornaments and all +the treasure that had made Pingaree famed as one of the richest +kingdoms in the world. And the hundreds of slaves they had captured +would be set to work in the mines of Regos and the grain fields of +Coregos. + +So complete was the victory of the Northmen that it is no wonder the +warriors sang songs of triumph as they hastened back to their homes. +Great rewards were awaiting them when they showed the haughty King of +Regos and the terrible Queen of Coregos the results of their ocean raid +and conquest. + + + + +Chapter Four + +The Deserted Island + + +All through that terrible night Prince Inga remained hidden in his +tree. In the morning he watched the great fleet of boats depart for +their own country, carrying his parents and his countrymen with them, +as well as everything of value the Island of Pingaree had contained. + +Sad, indeed, were the boy's thoughts when the last of the boats had +become a mere speck in the distance, but Inga did not dare leave his +perch of safety until all of the craft of the invaders had disappeared +beyond the horizon. Then he came down, very slowly and carefully, for +he was weak from hunger and the long and weary watch, as he had been in +the tree for twenty-four hours without food. + +The sun shone upon the beautiful green isle as brilliantly as if no +ruthless invader had passed and laid it in ruins. The birds still +chirped among the trees and the butterflies darted from flower to +flower as happily as when the land was filled with a prosperous and +contented people. + +Inga feared that only he was left of all his nation. Perhaps he might +be obliged to pass his life there alone. He would not starve, for the +sea would give him oysters and fish, and the trees fruit; yet the life +that confronted him was far from enticing. + +The boy's first act was to walk over to where the palace had stood and +search the ruins until he found some scraps of food that had been +overlooked by the enemy. He sat upon a block of marble and ate of this, +and tears filled his eyes as he gazed upon the desolation around him. +But Inga tried to bear up bravely, and having satisfied his hunger he +walked over to the well, intending to draw a bucket of drinking water. + +Fortunately, this well had been overlooked by the invaders and the +bucket was still fastened to the chain that wound around a stout wooden +windlass. Inga took hold of the crank and began letting the bucket down +into the well, when suddenly he was startled by a muffled voice crying +out: + +"Be careful, up there!" + +The sound and the words seemed to indicate that the voice came from the +bottom of the well, so Inga looked down. Nothing could be seen, on +account of the darkness. + +"Who are you?" he shouted. + +"It's I--Rinkitink," came the answer, and the depths of the well +echoed: "Tink-i-tink-i-tink!" in a ghostly manner. + +"Are you in the well?" asked the boy, greatly surprised. + +"Yes, and nearly drowned. I fell in while running from those terrible +warriors, and I've been standing in this damp hole ever since, with my +head just above the water. It's lucky the well was no deeper, for had +my head been under water, instead of above it--hoo, hoo, hoo, keek, +eek!--under instead of over, you know--why, then I wouldn't be talking +to you now! Ha, hoo, hee!" And the well dismally echoed: "Ha, hoo, +hee!" which you must imagine was a laugh half merry and half sad. + +"I'm awfully sorry," cried the boy, in answer. "I wonder you have the +heart to laugh at all. But how am I to get you out?" + +"I've been considering that all night," said Rinkitink, "and I believe +the best plan will be for you to let down the bucket to me, and I'll +hold fast to it while you wind up the chain and so draw me to the top." + +"I will try to do that," replied Inga, and he let the bucket down very +carefully until he heard the King call out: + +"I've got it! Now pull me up--slowly, my boy, slowly--so I won't rub +against the rough sides." + +Inga began winding up the chain, but King Rinkitink was so fat that he +was very heavy and by the time the boy had managed to pull him halfway +up the well his strength was gone. He clung to the crank as long as +possible, but suddenly it slipped from his grasp and the next minute he +heard Rinkitink fall "plump!" into the water again. + +"That's too bad!" called Inga, in real distress; "but you were so heavy +I couldn't help it." + +"Dear me!" gasped the King, from the darkness below, as he spluttered +and coughed to get the water out of his mouth. "Why didn't you tell me +you were going to let go?" + +"I hadn't time," said Inga, sorrowfully. + +"Well, I'm not suffering from thirst," declared the King, "for there's +enough water inside me to float all the boats of Regos and Coregos or +at least it feels that way. But never mind! So long as I'm not actually +drowned, what does it matter?" + +"What shall we do next?" asked the boy anxiously. + +"Call someone to help you," was the reply. + +"There is no one on the island but myself," said the boy; "--excepting +you," he added, as an afterthought. + +"I'm not on it--more's the pity!--but in it," responded Rinkitink. "Are +the warriors all gone?" + +"Yes," said Inga, "and they have taken my father and mother, and all +our people, to be their slaves," he added, trying in vain to repress a +sob. + +"So--so!" said Rinkitink softly; and then he paused a moment, as if in +thought. Finally he said: "There are worse things than slavery, but I +never imagined a well could be one of them. Tell me, Inga, could you +let down some food to me? I'm nearly starved, and if you could manage +to send me down some food I'd be well fed--hoo, hoo, heek, keek, +eek!--well fed. Do you see the joke, Inga?" + +"Do not ask me to enjoy a joke just now, Your Majesty," begged Inga in +a sad voice; "but if you will be patient I will try to find something +for you to eat." + +He ran back to the ruins of the palace and began searching for bits of +food with which to satisfy the hunger of the King, when to his surprise +he observed the goat, Bilbil, wandering among the marble blocks. + +"What!" cried Inga. "Didn't the warriors get you, either?" + +"If they had," calmly replied Bilbil, "I shouldn't be here." + +"But how did you escape?" asked the boy. + +"Easily enough. I kept my mouth shut and stayed away from the rascals," +said the goat. "I knew that the soldiers would not care for a skinny +old beast like me, for to the eye of a stranger I seem good for +nothing. Had they known I could talk, and that my head contained more +wisdom than a hundred of their own noddles, I might not have escaped so +easily." + +"Perhaps you are right," said the boy. + +"I suppose they got the old man?" carelessly remarked Bilbil. + +"What old man?" + +"Rinkitink." + +"Oh, no! His Majesty is at the bottom of the well," said Inga, "and I +don't know how to get him out again." + +"Then let him stay there," suggested the goat. + +"That would be cruel. I am sure, Bilbil, that you are fond of the good +King, your master, and do not mean what you say. Together, let us find +some way to save poor King Rinkitink. He is a very jolly companion, and +has a heart exceedingly kind and gentle." + +"Oh, well; the old boy isn't so bad, taken altogether," admitted +Bilbil, speaking in a more friendly tone. "But his bad jokes and fat +laughter tire me dreadfully, at times." + +Prince Inga now ran back to the well, the goat following more leisurely. + +"Here's Bilbil!" shouted the boy to the King. "The enemy didn't get +him, it seems." + +"That's lucky for the enemy," said Rinkitink. "But it's lucky for me, +too, for perhaps the beast can assist me out of this hole. If you can +let a rope down the well, I am sure that you and Bilbil, pulling +together, will be able to drag me to the earth's surface." + +"Be patient and we will make the attempt," replied Inga encouragingly, +and he ran to search the ruins for a rope. Presently he found one that +had been used by the warriors in toppling over the towers, which in +their haste they had neglected to remove, and with some difficulty he +untied the knots and carried the rope to the mouth of the well. + +Bilbil had lain down to sleep and the refrain of a merry song came in +muffled tones from the well, proving that Rinkitink was making a +patient endeavor to amuse himself. + +"I've found a rope!" Inga called down to him; and then the boy +proceeded to make a loop in one end of the rope, for the King to put +his arms through, and the other end he placed over the drum of the +windlass. He now aroused Bilbil and fastened the rope firmly around the +goat's shoulders. + +"Are you ready?" asked the boy, leaning over the well. + +"I am," replied the King. + +"And I am not," growled the goat, "for I have not yet had my nap out. +Old Rinki will be safe enough in the well until I've slept an hour or +two longer." + +"But it is damp in the well," protested the boy, "and King Rinkitink +may catch the rheumatism, so that he will have to ride upon your back +wherever he goes." + +Hearing this, Bilbil jumped up at once. + +"Let's get him out," he said earnestly. + +"Hold fast!" shouted Inga to the King. Then he seized the rope and +helped Bilbil to pull. They soon found the task more difficult than +they had supposed. Once or twice the King's weight threatened to drag +both the boy and the goat into the well, to keep Rinkitink company. But +they pulled sturdily, being aware of this danger, and at last the King +popped out of the hole and fell sprawling full length upon the ground. + +For a time he lay panting and breathing hard to get his breath back, +while Inga and Bilbil were likewise worn out from their long strain at +the rope; so the three rested quietly upon the grass and looked at one +another in silence. + +Finally Bilbil said to the King: "I'm surprised at you. Why were you so +foolish as to fall down that well? Don't you know it's a dangerous +thing to do? You might have broken your neck in the fall, or been +drowned in the water." + +"Bilbil," replied the King solemnly, "you're a goat. Do you imagine I +fell down the well on purpose?" + +"I imagine nothing," retorted Bilbil. "I only know you were there." + +"There? Heh-heh-heek-keek-eek! To be sure I was there," laughed +Rinkitink. "There in a dark hole, where there was no light; there in a +watery well, where the wetness soaked me through and +through--keek-eek-eek-eek!--through and through!" + +"How did it happen?" inquired Inga. + +"I was running away from the enemy," explained the King, "and I was +carelessly looking over my shoulder at the same time, to see if they +were chasing me. So I did not see the well, but stepped into it and +found myself tumbling down to the bottom. I struck the water very +neatly and began struggling to keep myself from drowning, but presently +I found that when I stood upon my feet on the bottom of the well, that +my chin was just above the water. So I stood still and yelled for help; +but no one heard me." + +"If the warriors had heard you," said Bilbil, "they would have pulled +you out and carried you away to be a slave. Then you would have been +obliged to work for a living, and that would be a new experience." + +"Work!" exclaimed Rinkitink. "Me work? Hoo, hoo, heek-keek-eek! How +absurd! I'm so stout--not to say chubby--not to say fat--that I can +hardly walk, and I couldn't earn my salt at hard work. So I'm glad the +enemy did not find me, Bilbil. How many others escaped?" + +"That I do not know," replied the boy, "for I have not yet had time to +visit the other parts of the island. When you have rested and satisfied +your royal hunger, it might be well for us to look around and see what +the thieving warriors of Regos and Coregos have left us." + +"An excellent idea," declared Rinkitink. "I am somewhat feeble from my +long confinement in the well, but I can ride upon Bilbil's back and we +may as well start at once." + +Hearing this, Bilbil cast a surly glance at his master but said +nothing, since it was really the goat's business to carry King +Rinkitink wherever he desired to go. + +They first searched the ruins of the palace, and where the kitchen had +once been they found a small quantity of food that had been half hidden +by a block of marble. This they carefully placed in a sack to preserve +it for future use, the little fat King having first eaten as much as he +cared for. This consumed some time, for Rinkitink had been exceedingly +hungry and liked to eat in a leisurely manner. When he had finished the +meal he straddled Bilbil's back and set out to explore the island, +Prince Inga walking by his side. + +They found on every hand ruin and desolation. The houses of the people +had been pilfered of all valuables and then torn down or burned. Not a +boat had been left upon the shore, nor was there a single person, man +or woman or child, remaining upon the island, save themselves. The only +inhabitants of Pingaree now consisted of a fat little King, a boy and a +goat. + +Even Rinkitink, merry hearted as he was, found it hard to laugh in the +face of this mighty disaster. Even the goat, contrary to its usual +habit, refrained from saying anything disagreeable. As for the poor boy +whose home was now a wilderness, the tears came often to his eyes as he +marked the ruin of his dearly loved island. + +When, at nightfall, they reached the lower end of Pingaree and found it +swept as bare as the rest, Inga's grief was almost more than he could +bear. Everything had been swept from him--parents, home and country--in +so brief a time that his bewilderment was equal to his sorrow. + +Since no house remained standing, in which they might sleep, the three +wanderers crept beneath the overhanging branches of a cassa tree and +curled themselves up as comfortably as possible. So tired and exhausted +were they by the day's anxieties and griefs that their troubles soon +faded into the mists of dreamland. Beast and King and boy slumbered +peacefully together until wakened by the singing of the birds which +greeted the dawn of a new day. + + + + +Chapter Five + +The Three Pearls + + +When King Rinkitink and Prince Inga had bathed themselves in the sea +and eaten a simple breakfast, they began wondering what they could do +to improve their condition. + +"The poor people of Gilgad," said Rinkitink cheerfully, "are little +likely ever again to behold their King in the flesh, for my boat and my +rowers are gone with everything else. Let us face the fact that we are +imprisoned for life upon this island, and that our lives will be short +unless we can secure more to eat than is in this small sack." + +"I'll not starve, for I can eat grass," remarked the goat in a pleasant +tone--or a tone as pleasant as Bilbil could assume. + +"True, quite true," said the King. Then he seemed thoughtful for a +moment and turning to Inga he asked: "Do you think, Prince, that if the +worst comes, we could eat Bilbil?" + +The goat gave a groan and cast a reproachful look at his master as he +said: + +"Monster! Would you, indeed, eat your old friend and servant?" + +"Not if I can help it, Bilbil," answered the King pleasantly. "You +would make a remarkably tough morsel, and my teeth are not as good as +they once were." + +While this talk was in progress Inga suddenly remembered the three +pearls which his father had hidden under the tiled floor of the banquet +hall. Without doubt King Kitticut had been so suddenly surprised by the +invaders that he had found no opportunity to get the pearls, for +otherwise the fierce warriors would have been defeated and driven out +of Pingaree. So they must still be in their hiding place, and Inga +believed they would prove of great assistance to him and his comrades +in this hour of need. But the palace was a mass of ruins; perhaps he +would be unable now to find the place where the pearls were hidden. + +He said nothing of this to Rinkitink, remembering that his father had +charged him to preserve the secret of the pearls and of their magic +powers. Nevertheless, the thought of securing the wonderful treasures +of his ancestors gave the boy new hope. + +He stood up and said to the King: + +"Let us return to the other end of Pingaree. It is more pleasant than +here in spite of the desolation of my father's palace. And there, if +anywhere, we shall discover a way out of our difficulties." + +This suggestion met with Rinkitink's approval and the little party at +once started upon the return journey. As there was no occasion to delay +upon the way, they reached the big end of the island about the middle +of the day and at once began searching the ruins of the palace. + +They found, to their satisfaction, that one room at the bottom of a +tower was still habitable, although the roof was broken in and the +place was somewhat littered with stones. The King was, as he said, too +fat to do any hard work, so he sat down on a block of marble and +watched Inga clear the room of its rubbish. This done, the boy hunted +through the ruins until he discovered a stool and an armchair that had +not been broken beyond use. Some bedding and a mattress were also +found, so that by nightfall the little room had been made quite +comfortable. + +The following morning, while Rinkitink was still sound asleep and +Bilbil was busily cropping the dewy grass that edged the shore, Prince +Inga began to search the tumbled heaps of marble for the place where +the royal banquet hall had been. After climbing over the ruins for a +time he reached a flat place which he recognized, by means of the tiled +flooring and the broken furniture scattered about, to be the great hall +he was seeking. But in the center of the floor, directly over the spot +where the pearls were hidden, lay several large and heavy blocks of +marble, which had been torn from the dismantled walls. + +This unfortunate discovery for a time discouraged the boy, who realized +how helpless he was to remove such vast obstacles; but it was so +important to secure the pearls that he dared not give way to despair +until every human effort had been made, so he sat him down to think +over the matter with great care. + +Meantime Rinkitink had risen from his bed and walked out upon the lawn, +where he found Bilbil reclining at ease upon the greensward. + +"Where is Inga?" asked Rinkitink, rubbing his eyes with his knuckles +because their vision was blurred with too much sleep. + +"Don't ask me," said the goat, chewing with much satisfaction a cud of +sweet grasses. + +"Bilbil," said the King, squatting down beside the goat and resting his +fat chin upon his hands and his elbows on his knees, "allow me to +confide to you the fact that I am bored, and need amusement. My good +friend Kitticut has been kidnapped by the barbarians and taken from me, +so there is no one to converse with me intelligently. I am the King and +you are the goat. Suppose you tell me a story. + +"Suppose I don't," said Bilbil, with a scowl, for a goat's face is very +expressive. + +"If you refuse, I shall be more unhappy than ever, and I know your +disposition is too sweet to permit that. Tell me a story, Bilbil." + +The goat looked at him with an expression of scorn. Said he: + +"One would think you are but four years old, Rinkitink! But there--I +will do as you command. Listen carefully, and the story may do you some +good--although I doubt if you understand the moral." + +"I am sure the story will do me good," declared the King, whose eyes +were twinkling. + +"Once on a time," began the goat. + +"When was that, Bilbil?" asked the King gently. + +"Don't interrupt; it is impolite. Once on a time there was a King with +a hollow inside his head, where most people have their brains, and--" + +"Is this a true story, Bilbil?" + +"And the King with a hollow head could chatter words, which had no +sense, and laugh in a brainless manner at senseless things. That part +of the story is true enough, Rinkitink." + +"Then proceed with the tale, sweet Bilbil. Yet it is hard to believe +that any King could be brainless--unless, indeed, he proved it by +owning a talking goat." + +Bilbil glared at him a full minute in silence. Then he resumed his +story: + +"This empty-headed man was a King by accident, having been born to that +high station. Also the King was empty-headed by the same chance, being +born without brains." + +"Poor fellow!" quoth the King. "Did he own a talking goat?" + +"He did," answered Bilbil. + +"Then he was wrong to have been born at all. Cheek-eek-eek-eek, oo, +hoo!" chuckled Rinkitink, his fat body shaking with merriment. "But +it's hard to prevent oneself from being born; there's no chance for +protest, eh, Bilbil?" + +"Who is telling this story, I'd like to know," demanded the goat, with +anger. + +"Ask someone with brains, my boy; I'm sure I can't tell," replied the +King, bursting into one of his merry fits of laughter. + +Bilbil rose to his hoofs and walked away in a dignified manner, leaving +Rinkitink chuckling anew at the sour expression of the animal's face. + +"Oh, Bilbil, you'll be the death of me, some day--I'm sure you will!" +gasped the King, taking out his lace handkerchief to wipe his eyes; +for, as he often did, he had laughed till the tears came. + +Bilbil was deeply vexed and would not even turn his head to look at his +master. To escape from Rinkitink he wandered among the ruins of the +palace, where he came upon Prince Inga. + +"Good morning, Bilbil," said the boy. "I was just going to find you, +that I might consult you upon an important matter. If you will kindly +turn back with me I am sure your good judgment will be of great +assistance." + +The angry goat was quite mollified by the respectful tone in which he +was addressed, but he immediately asked: + +"Are you also going to consult that empty-headed King over yonder?" + +"I am sorry to hear you speak of your kind master in such a way," said +the boy gravely. "All men are deserving of respect, being the highest +of living creatures, and Kings deserve respect more than others, for +they are set to rule over many people." + +"Nevertheless," said Bilbil with conviction, "Rinkitink's head is +certainly empty of brains." + +"That I am unwilling to believe," insisted Inga. "But anyway his heart +is kind and gentle and that is better than being wise. He is merry in +spite of misfortunes that would cause others to weep and he never +speaks harsh words that wound the feelings of his friends." + +"Still," growled Bilbil, "he is--" + +"Let us forget everything but his good nature, which puts new heart +into us when we are sad," advised the boy. + +"But he is--" + +"Come with me, please," interrupted Inga, "for the matter of which I +wish to speak is very important." + +Bilbil followed him, although the boy still heard the goat muttering +that the King had no brains. Rinkitink, seeing them turn into the +ruins, also followed, and upon joining them asked for his breakfast. + +Inga opened the sack of food and while he and the King ate of it the +boy said: + +"If I could find a way to remove some of the blocks of marble which +have fallen in the banquet hall, I think I could find means for us to +escape from this barren island." + +"Then," mumbled Rinkitink, with his mouth full, "let us move the blocks +of marble." + +"But how?" inquired Prince Inga. "They are very heavy." + +"Ah, how, indeed?" returned the King, smacking his lips contentedly. +"That is a serious question. But--I have it! Let us see what my famous +parchment says about it." He wiped his fingers upon a napkin and then, +taking the scroll from a pocket inside his embroidered blouse, he +unrolled it and read the following words: 'Never step on another man's +toes.' + +The goat gave a snort of contempt; Inga was silent; the King looked +from one to the other inquiringly. + +"That's the idea, exactly!" declared Rinkitink. + +"To be sure," said Bilbil scornfully, "it tells us exactly how to move +the blocks of marble." + +"Oh, does it?" responded the King, and then for a moment he rubbed the +top of his bald head in a perplexed manner. The next moment he burst +into a peal of joyous laughter. The goat looked at Inga and sighed. + +"What did I tell you?" asked the creature. "Was I right, or was I +wrong?" + +"This scroll," said Rinkitink, "is indeed a masterpiece. Its advice is +of tremendous value. 'Never step on another man's toes.' Let us think +this over. The inference is that we should step upon our own toes, +which were given us for that purpose. Therefore, if I stepped upon +another man's toes, I would be the other man. Hoo, hoo, hoo!--the other +man--hee, hee, heek-keek-eek! Funny, isn't it?" + +"Didn't I say--" began Bilbil. + +"No matter what you said, my boy," roared the King. "No fool could have +figured that out as nicely as I did." + +"We have still to decide how to remove the blocks of marble," suggested +Inga anxiously. + + "Fasten a rope to them, and pull," said Bilbil. +"Don't pay any more attention to Rinkitink, for he is no wiser than the +man who wrote that brainless scroll. Just get the rope, and we'll +fasten Rinkitink to one end of it for a weight and I'll help you pull." + +"Thank you, Bilbil," replied the boy. "I'll get the rope at once." + +Bilbil found it difficult to climb over the ruins to the floor of the +banquet hall, but there are few places a goat cannot get to when it +makes the attempt, so Bilbil succeeded at last, and even fat little +Rinkitink finally joined them, though much out of breath. + +Inga fastened one end of the rope around a block of marble and then +made a loop at the other end to go over Bilbil's head. When all was +ready the boy seized the rope and helped the goat to pull; yet, strain +as they might, the huge block would not stir from its place. Seeing +this, King Rinkitink came forward and lent his assistance, the weight +of his body forcing the heavy marble to slide several feet from where +it had lain. + +But it was hard work and all were obliged to take a long rest before +undertaking the removal of the next block. + +"Admit, Bilbil," said the King, "that I am of some use in the world." + +"Your weight was of considerable help," acknowledged the goat, "but if +your head were as well filled as your stomach the task would be still +easier." + +When Inga went to fasten the rope a second time he was rejoiced to +discover that by moving one more block of marble he could uncover the +tile with the secret spring. So the three pulled with renewed energy +and to their joy the block moved and rolled upon its side, leaving Inga +free to remove the treasure when he pleased. + +But the boy had no intention of allowing Bilbil and the King to share +the secret of the royal treasures of Pingaree; so, although both the +goat and its master demanded to know why the marble blocks had been +moved, and how it would benefit them, Inga begged them to wait until +the next morning, when he hoped to be able to satisfy them that their +hard work had not been in vain. + +Having little confidence in this promise of a mere boy, the goat +grumbled and the King laughed; but Inga paid no heed to their ridicule +and set himself to work rigging up a fishing rod, with line and hook. +During the afternoon he waded out to some rocks near the shore and +fished patiently until he had captured enough yellow perch for their +supper and breakfast. + +"Ah," said Rinkitink, looking at the fine catch when Inga returned to +the shore; "these will taste delicious when they are cooked; but do you +know how to cook them?" + +"No," was the reply. "I have often caught fish, but never cooked them. +Perhaps Your Majesty understands cooking." + +"Cooking and majesty are two different things," laughed the little +King. "I could not cook a fish to save me from starvation." + +"For my part," said Bilbil, "I never eat fish, but I can tell you how +to cook them, for I have often watched the palace cooks at their work." +And so, with the goat's assistance, the boy and the King managed to +prepare the fish and cook them, after which they were eaten with good +appetite. + +That night, after Rinkitink and Bilbil were both fast asleep, Inga +stole quietly through the moonlight to the desolate banquet hall. +There, kneeling down, he touched the secret spring as his father had +instructed him to do and to his joy the tile sank downward and +disclosed the opening. You may imagine how the boy's heart throbbed +with excitement as he slowly thrust his hand into the cavity and felt +around to see if the precious pearls were still there. In a moment his +fingers touched the silken bag and, without pausing to close the +recess, he pressed the treasure against his breast and ran out into the +moonlight to examine it. When he reached a bright place he started to +open the bag, but he observed Bilbil lying asleep upon the grass near +by. So, trembling with the fear of discovery, he ran to another place, +and when he paused he heard Rinkitink snoring lustily. Again he fled +and made his way to the seashore, where he squatted under a bank and +began to untie the cords that fastened the mouth of the bag. But now +another fear assailed him. + +"If the pearls should slip from my hand," he thought, "and roll into +the water, they might be lost to me forever. I must find some safer +place." + +Here and there he wandered, still clasping the silken bag in both +hands, and finally he went to the grove and climbed into the tall tree +where he had made his platform and seat. But here it was pitch dark, so +he found he must wait patiently until morning before he dared touch the +pearls. During those hours of waiting he had time for reflection and +reproached himself for being so frightened by the possession of his +father's treasures. + +"These pearls have belonged to our family for generations," he mused, +"yet no one has ever lost them. If I use ordinary care I am sure I need +have no fears for their safety." + +When the dawn came and he could see plainly, Inga opened the bag and +took out the Blue Pearl. There was no possibility of his being observed +by others, so he took time to examine it wonderingly, saying to +himself: "This will give me strength." + +Taking off his right shoe he placed the Blue Pearl within it, far up in +the pointed toe. Then he tore a piece from his handkerchief and stuffed +it into the shoe to hold the pearl in place. Inga's shoes were long and +pointed, as were all the shoes worn in Pingaree, and the points curled +upward, so that there was quite a vacant space beyond the place where +the boy's toes reached when the shoe was upon his foot. + +After he had put on the Shoe and laced it up he opened the bag and took +out the Pink Pearl. "This will protect me from danger," said Inga, and +removing the shoe from his left foot he carefully placed the pearl in +the hollow toe. This, also, he secured in place by means of a strip +torn from his handkerchief. + +Having put on the second shoe and laced it up, the boy drew from the +silken bag the third pearl--that which was pure white--and holding it +to his ear he asked. + +"Will you advise me what to do, in this my hour of misfortune?" + +Clearly the small voice of the pearl made answer: + +"I advise you to go to the Islands of Regos and Coregos, where you may +liberate your parents from slavery." + +"How could I do that?" exclaimed Prince Inga, amazed at receiving such +advice. + +"To-night," spoke the voice of the pearl, "there will be a storm, and +in the morning a boat will strand upon the shore. Take this boat and +row to Regos and Coregos." + +"How can I, a weak boy, pull the boat so far?" he inquired, doubting +the possibility. + +"The Blue Pearl will give you strength," was the reply. + +"But I may be shipwrecked and drowned, before ever I reach Regos and +Coregos," protested the boy. + +"The Pink Pearl will protect you from harm," murmured the voice, soft +and low but very distinct. + +"Then I shall act as you advise me," declared Inga, speaking firmly +because this promise gave him courage, and as he removed the pearl from +his ear it whispered: + +"The wise and fearless are sure to win success." + +Restoring the White Pearl to the depths of the silken bag, Inga +fastened it securely around his neck and buttoned his waist above it to +hide the treasure from all prying eyes. Then he slowly climbed down +from the tree and returned to the room where King Rinkitink still slept. + +The goat was browsing upon the grass but looked cross and surly. When +the boy said good morning as he passed, Bilbil made no response +whatever. As Inga entered the room the King awoke and asked: + +"What is that mysterious secret of yours? I've been dreaming about it, +and I haven't got my breath yet from tugging at those heavy blocks. +Tell me the secret." + +"A secret told is no longer a secret," replied Inga, with a laugh. +"Besides, this is a family secret, which it is proper I should keep to +myself. But I may tell you one thing, at least: We are going to leave +this island to-morrow morning." + +The King seemed puzzled' by this statement. + +"I'm not much of a swimmer," said he, "and, though I'm fat enough to +float upon the surface of the water, I'd only bob around and get +nowhere at all." + +"We shall not swim, but ride comfortably in a boat," promised Inga. + +"There isn't a boat on this island!" declared Rinkitink, looking upon +the boy with wonder. + +"True," said Inga. "But one will come to us in the morning." He spoke +positively, for he had perfect faith in the promise of the White Pearl; +but Rinkitink, knowing nothing of the three marvelous jewels, began to +fear that the little Prince had lost his mind through grief and +misfortune. + +For this reason the King did not question the boy further but tried to +cheer him by telling him witty stories. He laughed at all the stories +himself, in his merry, rollicking way, and Inga joined freely in the +laughter because his heart had been lightened by the prospect of +rescuing his dear parents. Not since the fierce warriors had descended +upon Pingaree had the boy been so hopeful and happy. + +With Rinkitink riding upon Bilbil's back, the three made a tour of the +island and found in the central part some bushes and trees bearing ripe +fruit. They gathered this freely, for--aside from the fish which Inga +caught--it was the only food they now had, and the less they had, the +bigger Rinkitink's appetite seemed to grow. + +"I am never more happy," said he with a sigh, "than when I am eating." + +Toward evening the sky became overcast and soon a great storm began to +rage. Prince Inga and King Rinkitink took refuge within the shelter of +the room they had fitted up and there Bilbil joined them. The goat and +the King were somewhat disturbed by the violence of the storm, but Inga +did not mind it, being pleased at this evidence that the White Pearl +might be relied upon. + +All night the wind shrieked around the island; thunder rolled, +lightning flashed and rain came down in torrents. But with morning the +storm abated and when the sun arose no sign of the tempest remained +save a few fallen trees. + + + + +Chapter Six + +The Magic Boat + + +Prince Inga was up with the sun and, accompanied by Bilbil, began +walking along the shore in search of the boat which the White Pearl had +promised him. Never for an instant did he doubt that he would find it +and before he had walked any great distance a dark object at the +water's edge caught his eye. + +"It is the boat, Bilbil!" he cried joyfully, and running down to it he +found it was, indeed, a large and roomy boat. Although stranded upon +the beach, it was in perfect order and had suffered in no way from the +storm. + +Inga stood for some moments gazing upon the handsome craft and +wondering where it could have come from. Certainly it was unlike any +boat he had ever seen. On the outside it was painted a lustrous black, +without any other color to relieve it; but all the inside of the boat +was lined with pure silver, polished so highly that the surface +resembled a mirror and glinted brilliantly in the rays of the sun. The +seats had white velvet cushions upon them and the cushions were +splendidly embroidered with threads of gold. At one end, beneath the +broad seat, was a small barrel with silver hoops, which the boy found +was filled with fresh, sweet water. A great chest of sandalwood, bound +and ornamented with silver, stood in the other end of the boat. Inga +raised the lid and discovered the chest filled with sea-biscuits, +cakes, tinned meats and ripe, juicy melons; enough good and wholesome +food to last the party a long time. + +Lying upon the bottom of the boat were two shining oars, and overhead, +but rolled back now, was a canopy of silver cloth to ward off the heat +of the sun. + +It is no wonder the boy was delighted with the appearance of this +beautiful boat; but on reflection he feared it was too large for him to +row any great distance. Unless, indeed, the Blue Pearl gave him unusual +strength. + +While he was considering this matter, King Rinkitink came waddling up +to him and said: + +"Well, well, well, my Prince, your words have come true! Here is the +boat, for a certainty, yet how it came here--and how you knew it would +come to us--are puzzles that mystify me. I do not question our good +fortune, however, and my heart is bubbling with joy, for in this boat I +will return at once to my City of Gilgad, from which I have remained +absent altogether too long a time." + +"I do not wish to go to Gilgad," said Inga. + +"That is too bad, my friend, for you would be very welcome. But you may +remain upon this island, if you wish," continued Rinkitink, "and when I +get home I will send some of my people to rescue you." + +"It is my boat, Your Majesty," said Inga quietly. + +"May be, may be," was the careless answer, "but I am King of a great +country, while you are a boy Prince without any kingdom to speak of. +Therefore, being of greater importance than you, it is just and right +that I take, your boat and return to my own country in it." + +"I am sorry to differ from Your Majesty's views," said Inga, "but +instead of going to Gilgad I consider it of greater importance that we +go to the islands of Regos and Coregos." + +"Hey? What!" cried the astounded King. "To Regos and Coregos! To become +slaves of the barbarians, like the King, your father? No, no, my boy! +Your Uncle Rinki may have an empty noddle, as Bilbil claims, but he is +far too wise to put his head in the lion's mouth. It's no fun to be a +slave." + +"The people of Regos and Coregos will not enslave us," declared Inga. +"On the contrary, it is my intention to set free my dear parents, as +well as all my people, and to bring them back again to Pingaree." + +"Cheek-eek-eek-eek-eek! How funny!" chuckled Rinkitink, winking at the +goat, which scowled in return. "Your audacity takes my breath away, +Inga, but the adventure has its charm, I must, confess. Were I not so +fat, I'd agree to your plan at once, and could probably conquer that +horde of fierce warriors without any assistance at all--any at all--eh, +Bilbil? But I grieve to say that I am fat, and not in good fighting +trim. As for your determination to do what I admit I can't do, Inga, I +fear you forget that you are only a boy, and rather small at that." + +"No, I do not forget that," was Inga's reply. + +"Then please consider that you and I and Bilbil are not strong enough, +as an army, to conquer a powerful nation of skilled warriors. We could +attempt it, of course, but you are too young to die, while I am too +old. Come with me to my City of Gilgad, where you will be greatly +honored. I'll have my professors teach you how to be good. Eh? What do +you say?" + +Inga was a little embarrassed how to reply to these arguments, which he +knew King Rinkitink considered were wise; so, after a period of +thought, he said: + +"I will make a bargain with Your Majesty, for I do not wish to fail in +respect to so worthy a man and so great a King as yourself. This boat +is mine, as I have said, and in my father's absence you have become my +guest; therefore I claim that I am entitled to some consideration, as +well as you." + +"No doubt of it," agreed Rinkitink. "What is the bargain you propose, +Inga?" + +"Let us both get into the boat, and you shall first try to row us to +Gilgad. If you succeed, I will accompany you right willingly; but +should you fail, I will then row the boat to Regos, and you must come +with me without further protest." + +"A fair and just bargain!" cried the King, highly pleased. "Yet, +although I am a man of mighty deeds, I do not relish the prospect of +rowing so big a boat all the way to Gilgad. But I will do my best and +abide by the result." + +The matter being thus peaceably settled, they prepared to embark. A +further supply of fruits was placed in the boat and Inga also raked up +a quantity of the delicious oysters that abounded on the coast of +Pingaree but which he had before been unable to reach for lack of a +boat. This was done at the suggestion of the ever-hungry Rinkitink, and +when the oysters had been stowed in their shells behind the water +barrel and a plentiful supply of grass brought aboard for Bilbil, they +decided they were ready to start on their voyage. + +It proved no easy task to get Bilbil into the boat, for he was a +remarkably clumsy goat and once, when Rinkitink gave him a push, he +tumbled into the water and nearly drowned before they could get him out +again. But there was no thought of leaving the quaint animal behind. +His power of speech made him seem almost human in the eyes of the boy, +and the fat King was so accustomed to his surly companion that nothing +could have induced him to part with him. Finally Bilbil fell sprawling +into the bottom of the boat, and Inga helped him to get to the front +end, where there was enough space for him to lie down. + +Rinkitink now took his seat in the silver-lined craft and the boy came +last, pushing off the boat as he sprang aboard, so that it floated +freely upon the water. + +"Well, here we go for Gilgad!" exclaimed the King, picking up the oars +and placing them in the row-locks. Then he began to row as hard as he +could, singing at the same time an odd sort of a song that ran like +this: + + "The way to Gilgad isn't bad + For a stout old King and a brave young lad, + For a cross old goat with a dripping coat, + And a silver boat in which to float. + So our hearts are merry, light and glad + As we speed away to fair Gilgad!" + + +"Don't, Rinkitink; please don't! It makes me seasick," growled Bilbil. + +Rinkitink stopped rowing, for by this time he was all out of breath and +his round face was covered with big drops of perspiration. And when he +looked over his shoulder he found to his dismay that the boat had +scarcely moved a foot from its former position. + +Inga said nothing and appeared not to notice the King's failure. So now +Rinkitink, with a serious look on his fat, red face, took off his +purple robe and rolled up the sleeves of his tunic and tried again. + +However, he succeeded no better than before and when he heard Bilbil +give a gruff laugh and saw a smile upon the boy Prince's face, +Rinkitink suddenly dropped the oars and began shouting with laughter at +his own defeat. As he wiped his brow with a yellow silk handkerchief he +sang in a merry voice: + + "A sailor bold am I, I hold, + But boldness will not row a boat. + So I confess I'm in distress + And just as useless as the goat." + + +"Please leave me out of your verses," said Bilbil with a snort of anger. + +"When I make a fool of myself, Bilbil, I'm a goat," replied Rinkitink. + +"Not so," insisted Bilbil. "Nothing could make you a member of my +superior race." + +"Superior? Why, Bilbil, a goat is but a beast, while I am a King!" + +"I claim that superiority lies in intelligence," said the goat. + +Rinkitink paid no attention to this remark, but turning to Inga he said: + +"We may as well get back to the shore, for the boat is too heavy to row +to Gilgad or anywhere else. Indeed, it will be hard for us to reach +land again." + +"Let me take the oars," suggested Inga. "You must not forget our +bargain." + +"No, indeed," answered Rinkitink. "If you can row us to Regos, or to +any other place, I will go with you without protest." + +So the King took Inga's place at the stern of the boat and the boy +grasped the oars and commenced to row. And now, to the great wonder of +Rinkitink--and even to Inga's surprise--the oars became light as +feathers as soon as the Prince took hold of them. In an instant the +boat began to glide rapidly through the water and, seeing this, the boy +turned its prow toward the north. He did not know exactly where Regos +and Coregos were located, but he did know that the islands lay to the +north of Pingaree, so he decided to trust to luck and the guidance of +the pearls to carry him to them. + +Gradually the Island of Pingaree became smaller to their view as the +boat sped onward, until at the end of an hour they had lost sight of it +altogether and were wholly surrounded by the purple waters of the +Nonestic Ocean. + +Prince Inga did not tire from the labor of rowing; indeed, it seemed to +him no labor at all. Once he stopped long enough to place the poles of +the canopy in the holes that had been made for them, in the edges of +the boat, and to spread the canopy of silver over the poles, for +Rinkitink had complained of the sun's heat. But the canopy shut out the +hot rays and rendered the interior of the boat cool and pleasant. + +"This is a glorious ride!" cried Rinkitink, as he lay back in the +shade. "I find it a decided relief to be away from that dismal island +of Pingaree. + +"It may be a relief for a short time," said Bilbil, "but you are going +to the land of your enemies, who will probably stick your fat body full +of spears and arrows." + +"Oh, I hope not!" exclaimed Inga, distressed at the thought. + +"Never mind," said the King calmly, "a man can die but once, you know, +and when the enemy kills me I shall beg him to kill Bilbil, also, that +we may remain together in death as in life." + +"They may be cannibals, in which case they will roast and eat us," +suggested Bilbil, who wished to terrify his master. + +"Who knows?" answered Rinkitink, with a shudder. "But cheer up, Bilbil; +they may not kill us after all, or even capture us; so let us not +borrow trouble. Do not look so cross, my sprightly quadruped, and I +will sing to amuse you." + +"Your song would make me more cross than ever," grumbled the goat. + +"Quite impossible, dear Bilbil. You couldn't be more surly if you +tried. So here is a famous song for you." + +While the boy rowed steadily on and the boat rushed fast over the +water, the jolly King, who never could be sad or serious for many +minutes at a time, lay back on his embroidered cushions and sang as +follows: + + "A merry maiden went to sea-- + Sing too-ral-oo-ral-i-do! + She sat upon the Captain's knee + And looked around the sea to see + What she could see, but she couldn't see me-- + Sing too-ral-oo-ral-i-do! + + +"How do you like that, Bilbil?" + +"I don't like it," complained the goat. "It reminds me of the alligator +that tried to whistle." + +"Did he succeed, Bilbil?" asked the King. + +"He whistled as well as you sing." + +"Ha, ha, ha, ha, heek, keek, eek!" chuckled the King. "He must have +whistled most exquisitely, eh, my friend?" + +"I am not your friend," returned the goat, wagging his ears in a surly +manner. + +"I am yours, however," was the King's cheery reply; "and to prove it +I'll sing you another verse." + +"Don't, I beg of you!" + +But the King sang as follows: + + "The wind blew off the maiden's shoe-- + Sing too-ral-oo-ral-i-do! + And the shoe flew high to the sky so blue + And the maiden knew 'twas a new shoe, too; + But she couldn't pursue the shoe, 'tis true-- + Sing too-ral-oo-ral-i-do! + + +"Isn't that sweet, my pretty goat?" + +"Sweet, do you ask?" retorted Bilbil. "I consider it as sweet as candy +made from mustard and vinegar." + +"But not as sweet as your disposition, I admit. Ah, Bilbil, your temper +would put honey itself to shame." + +"Do not quarrel, I beg of you," pleaded Inga. "Are we not sad enough +already?" + +"But this is a jolly quarrel," said the King, "and it is the way Bilbil +and I often amuse ourselves. Listen, now, to the last verse of all: + + "The maid who shied her shoe now cried-- + Sing too-ral-oo-ral-i-do! + Her tears were fried for the Captain's bride + Who ate with pride her sobs, beside, + And gently sighed 'I'm satisfied'-- + Sing to-ral-oo-ral-i-do!" + + +"Worse and worse!" grumbled Bilbil, with much scorn. "I am glad that is +the last verse, for another of the same kind might cause me to faint." + +"I fear you have no ear for music," said the King. + +"I have heard no music, as yet," declared the goat. "You must have a +strong imagination, King Rinkitink, if you consider your songs music. +Do you remember the story of the bear that hired out for a nursemaid?" + +"I do not recall it just now," said Rinkitink, with a wink at Inga. + +"Well, the bear tried to sing a lullaby to put the baby to sleep." + +"And then?" said the King. + +"The bear was highly pleased with its own voice, but the baby was +nearly frightened to death." + +"Heh, heb, heh, heh, whoo, hoo, hoo! You are a merry rogue, Bilbil," +laughed the King; "a merry rogue in spite of your gloomy features. +However, if I have not amused you, I have at least pleased myself, for +I am exceedingly fond of a good song. So let us say no more about it." + +All this time the boy Prince was rowing the boat. He was not in the +least tired, for the oars he held seemed to move of their own accord. +He paid little heed to the conversation of Rinkitink and the goat, but +busied his thoughts with plans of what he should do when he reached the +islands of Regos and Coregos and confronted his enemies. When the +others finally became silent, Inga inquired. + +"Can you fight, King Rinkitink?" + +"I have never tried," was the answer. "In time of danger I have found +it much easier to run away than to face the foe." + +"But could you fight?" asked the boy. + +"I might try, if there was no chance to escape by running. Have you a +proper weapon for me to fight with?" + +"I have no weapon at all," confessed Inga. + +"Then let us use argument and persuasion instead of fighting. For +instance, if we could persuade the warriors of Regos to lie down, and +let me step on them, they would be crushed with ease." + +Prince Inga had expected little support from the King, so he was not +discouraged by this answer. After all, he reflected, a conquest by +battle would be out of the question, yet the White Pearl would not have +advised him to go to Regos and Coregos had the mission been a hopeless +one. It seemed to him, on further reflection, that he must rely upon +circumstances to determine his actions when he reached the islands of +the barbarians. + +By this time Inga felt perfect confidence in the Magic Pearls. It was +the White Pearl that had given him the boat, and the Blue Pearl that +had given him strength to row it. He believed that the Pink Pearl would +protect him from any danger that might arise; so his anxiety was not +for himself, but for his companions. King Rinkitink and the goat had no +magic to protect them, so Inga resolved to do all in his power to keep +them from harm. + +For three days and three nights the boat with the silver lining sped +swiftly over the ocean. On the morning of the fourth day, so quickly +had they traveled, Inga saw before him the shores of the two great +islands of Regos and Coregos. + +"The pearls have guided me aright!" he whispered to himself. "Now, if I +am wise, and cautious, and brave, I believe I shall be able to rescue +my father and mother and my people." + + + + +Chapter Seven + +The Twin Islands + + +The Island of Regos was ten miles wide and forty miles long and it was +ruled by a big and powerful King named Gos. Near to the shores were +green and fertile fields, but farther back from the sea were rugged +hills and mountains, so rocky that nothing would grow there. But in +these mountains were mines of gold and silver, which the slaves of the +King were forced to work, being confined in dark underground passages +for that purpose. In the course of time huge caverns had been hollowed +out by the slaves, in which they lived and slept, never seeing the +light of day. Cruel overseers with whips stood over these poor people, +who had been captured in many countries by the raiding parties of King +Cos, and the overseers were quite willing to lash the slaves with their +whips if they faltered a moment in their work. + +Between the green shores and the mountains were forests of thick, +tangled trees, between which narrow paths had been cut to lead up to +the caves of the mines. It was on the level green meadows, not far from +the ocean, that the great City of Regos had been built, wherein was +located the palace of the King. This city was inhabited by thousands of +the fierce warriors of Gos, who frequently took to their boats and +spread over the sea to the neighboring islands to conquer and pillage, +as they had done at Pingaree. When they were not absent on one of these +expeditions, the City of Regos swarmed with them and so became a +dangerous place for any peaceful person to live in, for the warriors +were as lawless as their King. + +The Island of Coregos lay close beside the Island of Regos; so close, +indeed, that one might have thrown a stone from one shore to another. +But Coregos was only half the size of Regos and instead of being +mountainous it was a rich and pleasant country, covered with fields of +grain. The fields of Coregos furnished food for the warriors and +citizens of both countries, while the mines of Regos made them all rich. + +Coregos was ruled by Queen Cor, who was wedded to King Gos; but so +stern and cruel was the nature of this Queen that the people could not +decide which of their sovereigns they dreaded most. + +Queen Cor lived in her own City of Coregos, which lay on that side of +her island facing Regos, and her slaves, who were mostly women, were +made to plow the land and to plant and harvest the grain. + +From Regos to Coregos stretched a bridge of boats, set close together, +with planks laid across their edges for people to walk upon. In this +way it was easy to pass from one island to the other and in times of +danger the bridge could be quickly removed. + +The native inhabitants of Regos and Coregos consisted of the warriors, +who did nothing but fight and ravage, and the trembling servants who +waited on them. King Gos and Queen Cor were at war with all the rest of +the world. Other islanders hated and feared them, for their slaves were +badly treated and absolutely no mercy was shown to the weak or ill. + +When the boats that had gone to Pingaree returned loaded with rich +plunder and a host of captives, there was much rejoicing in Regos and +Coregos and the King and Queen gave a fine feast to the warriors who +had accomplished so great a conquest. This feast was set for the +warriors in the grounds of King Gos's palace, while with them in the +great throne room all the captains and leaders of the fighting men were +assembled with King Gos and Queen Cor, who had come from her island to +attend the ceremony. Then all the goods that had been stolen from the +King of Pingaree were divided according to rank, the King and Queen +taking half, the captains a quarter, and the rest being divided amongst +the warriors. + +The day following the feast King Gos sent King Kitticut and all the men +of Pingaree to work in his mines under the mountains, having first +chained them together so they could not escape. The gentle Queen of +Pingaree and all her women, together with the captured children, were +given to Queen Cor, who set them to work in her grain fields. + +Then the rulers and warriors of these dreadful islands thought they had +done forever with Pingaree. Despoiled of all its wealth, its houses +torn down, its boats captured and all its people enslaved, what +likelihood was there that they might ever again hear of the desolated +island? So the people of Regos and Coregos were surprised and puzzled +when one morning they observed approaching their shores from the +direction of the south a black boat containing a boy, a fat man and a +goat. The warriors asked one another who these could be, and where they +had come from? No one ever came to those islands of their own accord, +that was certain. + +Prince Inga guided his boat to the south end of the Island of Regos, +which was the landing place nearest to the city, and when the warriors +saw this action they went down to the shore to meet him, being led by a +big captain named Buzzub. + +"Those people surely mean us no good," said Rinkitink uneasily to the +boy. "Without doubt they intend to capture us and make us their slaves." + +"Do not fear, sir," answered Inga, in a calm voice. "Stay quietly in +the boat with Bilbil until I have spoken with these men." + +He stopped the boat a dozen feet from the shore, and standing up in his +place made a grave bow to the multitude confronting him. Said the big +Captain Buzzub in a gruff voice: + +"Well, little one, who may you be? And how dare you come, uninvited and +all alone, to the Island of Regos?" + +"I am Inga, Prince of Pingaree," returned the boy, "and I have come +here to free my parents and my people, whom you have wrongfully +enslaved." + +When they heard this bold speech a mighty laugh arose from the band of +warriors, and when it had subsided the captain said: + +"You love to jest, my baby Prince, and the joke is fairly good. But why +did you willingly thrust your head into the lion's mouth? When you were +free, why did you not stay free? We did not know we had left a single +person in Pingaree! But since you managed to escape us then, it is +really kind of you to come here of your own free will, to be our slave. +Who is the funny fat person with you?" + +"It is His Majesty, King Rinkitink, of the great City of Gilgad. He has +accompanied me to see that you render full restitution for all you have +stolen from Pingaree." + +"Better yet!" laughed Buzzub. "He will make a fine slave for Queen Cor, +who loves to tickle fat men, and see them jump." + +King Rinkitink was filled with horror when he heard this, but the +Prince answered as boldly as before, saying: + +"We are not to be frightened by bluster, believe me; nor are we so weak +as you imagine. We have magic powers so great and terrible that no host +of warriors can possibly withstand us, and therefore I call upon you to +surrender your city and your island to us, before we crush you with our +mighty powers." + +The boy spoke very gravely and earnestly, but his words only aroused +another shout of laughter. So while the men of Regos were laughing Inga +drove the boat we'll up onto the sandy beach and leaped out. He also +helped Rinkitink out, and when the goat had unaided sprung to the +sands, the King got upon Bilbil's back, trembling a little internally, +but striving to look as brave as possible. + +There was a bunch of coarse hair between the goat's ears, and this Inga +clutched firmly in his left hand. The boy knew the Pink Pearl would +protect not only himself, but all whom he touched, from any harm, and +as Rinkitink was astride the goat and Inga had his hand upon the +animal, the three could not be injured by anything the warriors could +do. But Captain Buzzub did not know this, and the little group of three +seemed so weak and ridiculous that he believed their capture would be +easy. So he turned to his men and with a wave of his hand said: + +"Seize the intruders!" + +Instantly two or three of the warriors stepped forward to obey, but to +their amazement they could not reach any of the three; their hands were +arrested as if by an invisible wall of iron. Without paying any +attention to these attempts at capture, Inga advanced slowly and the +goat kept pace with him. And when Rinkitink saw that he was safe from +harm he gave one of his big, merry laughs, and it startled the warriors +and made them nervous. Captain Buzzub's eyes grew big with surprise as +the three steadily advanced and forced his men backward; nor was he +free from terror himself at the magic that protected these strange +visitors. As for the warriors, they presently became terror-stricken +and fled in a panic up the slope toward the city, and Buzzub was +obliged to chase after them and shout threats of punishment before he +could halt them and form them into a line of battle. + +All the men of Regos bore spears and bows-and-arrows, and some of the +officers had swords and battle-axes; so Buzzub ordered them to stand +their ground and shoot and slay the strangers as they approached. This +they tried to do. Inga being in advance, the warriors sent a flight of +sharp arrows straight at the boy's breast, while others cast their long +spears at him. + +It seemed to Rinkitink that the little Prince must surely perish as he +stood facing this hail of murderous missiles; but the power of the Pink +Pearl did not desert him, and when the arrows and spears had reached to +within an inch of his body they bounded back again and fell harmlessly +at his feet. Nor were Rinkitink or Bilbil injured in the least, +although they stood close beside Inga. + +Buzzub stood for a moment looking upon the boy in silent wonder. Then, +recovering himself, he shouted in a loud voice: + +"Once again! All together, my men. No one shall ever defy our might and +live!" + +Again a flight of arrows and spears sped toward the three, and since +many more of the warriors of Regos had by this time joined their +fellows, the air was for a moment darkened by the deadly shafts. But +again all fell harmless before the power of the Pink Pearl, and Bilbil, +who had been growing very angry at the attempts to injure him and his +party, suddenly made a bolt forward, casting off Inga's hold, and +butted into the line of warriors, who were standing amazed at their +failure to conquer. + +Taken by surprise at the goat's attack, a dozen big warriors tumbled in +a heap, yelling with fear, and their comrades, not knowing what had +happened but imagining that their foes were attacking them, turned +about and ran to the city as hard as they could go. Bilbil, still +angry, had just time to catch the big captain as he turned to follow +his men, and Buzzub first sprawled headlong upon the ground, then +rolled over two or three times, and finally jumped up and ran yelling +after his defeated warriors. This butting on the part of the goat was +very hard upon King Rinkitink, who nearly fell off Bilbil's back at the +shock of encounter; but the little fat King wound his arms around the +goat's neck and shut his eyes and clung on with all his might. It was +not until he heard Inga say triumphantly, "We have won the fight +without striking a blow!" that Rinkitink dared open his eyes again. +Then he saw the warriors rushing into the City of Regos and barring the +heavy gates, and he was very much relieved at the sight. + +"Without striking a blow!" said Bilbil indignantly. "That is not quite +true, Prince Inga. You did not fight, I admit, but I struck a couple of +times to good purpose, and I claim to have conquered the cowardly +warriors unaided." + +"You and I together, Bilbil," said Rinkitink mildly. "But the next time +you make a charge, please warn me in time, so that I may dismount and +give you all the credit for the attack." + +There being no one now to oppose their advance, the three walked to the +gates of the city, which had been closed against them. The gates were +of iron and heavily barred, and upon the top of the high walls of the +city a host of the warriors now appeared armed with arrows and spears +and other weapons. For Buzzub had gone straight to the palace of King +Cos and reported his defeat, relating the powerful magic of the boy, +the fat King and the goat, and had asked what to do next. + +The big captain still trembled with fear, but King Gos did not believe +in magic, and called Buzzub a coward and a weakling. At once the King +took command of his men personally, and he ordered the walls manned +with warriors and instructed them to shoot to kill if any of the three +strangers approached the gates. + +Of course, neither Rinkitink nor Bilbil knew how they had been +protected from harm and so at first they were inclined to resent the +boy's command that the three must always keep together and touch one +another at all times. But when Inga explained that his magic would not +otherwise save them from injury, they agreed to obey, for they had now +seen enough to convince them that the Prince was really protected by +some invisible power. + +As they came before the gates another shower of arrows and spears +descended upon them, and as before not a single missile touched their +bodies. King Gos, who was upon the wall, was greatly amazed and +somewhat worried, but he depended upon the strength of his gates and +commanded his men to continue shooting until all their weapons were +gone. + +Inga let them shoot as much as they wished, while he stood before the +great gates and examined them carefully. + +"Perhaps Bilbil can batter down the gates, suggested Rinkitink. + +"No," replied the goat; "my head is hard, but not harder than iron." + +"Then," returned the King, "let us stay outside; especially as we can't +get in." + +But Inga was not at all sure they could not get in. The gates opened +inward, and three heavy bars were held in place by means of stout +staples riveted to the sheets of steel. The boy had been told that the +power of the Blue Pearl would enable him to accomplish any feat of +strength, and he believed that this was true. + +The warriors, under the direction of King Gos, continued to hurl arrows +and darts and spears and axes and huge stones upon the invaders, all +without avail. The ground below was thickly covered with weapons, yet +not one of the three before the gates had been injured in the slightest +manner. When everything had been cast that was available and not a +single weapon of any sort remained at hand, the amazed warriors saw the +boy put his shoulder against the gates and burst asunder the huge +staples that held the bars in place. A thousand of their men could not +have accomplished this feat, yet the small, slight boy did it with +seeming ease. The gates burst open, and Inga advanced into the city +street and called upon King Gos to surrender. + +But Gos was now as badly frightened as were his warriors. He and his +men were accustomed to war and pillage and they had carried terror into +many countries, but here was a small boy, a fat man and a goat who +could not be injured by all his skill in warfare, his numerous army and +thousands of death-dealing weapons. Moreover, they not only defied King +Gos's entire army but they had broken in the huge gates of the city--as +easily as if they had been made of paper--and such an exhibition of +enormous strength made the wicked King fear for his life. Like all +bullies and marauders, Gos was a coward at heart, and now a panic +seized him and he turned and fled before the calm advance of Prince +Inga of Pingaree. The warriors were like their master, and having +thrown all their weapons over the wall and being helpless to oppose the +strangers, they all swarmed after Gos, who abandoned his city and +crossed the bridge of boats to the Island of Coregos. There was a +desperate struggle among these cowardly warriors to get over the +bridge, and many were pushed into the water and obliged to swim; but +finally every fighting man of Regos had gained the shore of Coregos and +then they tore away the bridge of boats and drew them up on their own +side, hoping the stretch of open water would prevent the magic invaders +from following them. + +The humble citizens and serving people of Regos, who had been terrified +and abused by the rough warriors all their lives, were not only greatly +astonished by this sudden conquest of their masters but greatly +delighted. As the King and his army fled to Coregos, the people +embraced one another and danced for very joy, and then they turned to +see what the conquerors of Regos were like. + + + + +Chapter Eight + +Rinkitink Makes a Great Mistake + + +The fat King rode his goat through the streets of the conquered city +and the boy Prince walked proudly beside him, while all the people bent +their heads humbly to their new masters, whom they were prepared to +serve in the same manner they had King Gos. + +Not a warrior remained in all Regos to oppose the triumphant three; the +bridge of boats had been destroyed; Inga and his companions were free +from danger--for a time, at least. + +The jolly little King appreciated this fact and rejoiced that he had +escaped all injury during the battle. How it had all happened he could +not tell, nor even guess, but he was content in being safe and free to +take possession of the enemy's city. So, as they passed through the +lines of respectful civilians on their way to the palace, the King +tipped his crown back on his bald head and folded his arms and sang in +his best voice the following lines: + + "Oh, here comes the army of King Rinkitink! + It isn't a big one, perhaps you may think, + But it scattered the warriors quicker than wink-- + Rink-i-tink, tink-i-tink, tink! + + Our Bilbil's a hero and so is his King; + Our foemen have vanished like birds on the wing; + I guess that as fighters we're quite the real thing-- + Rink-i-tink, tink-i-tink, tink!" + + +"Why don't you give a little credit to Inga?" inquired the goat. "If I +remember aright, he did a little of the conquering himself." + +"So he did," responded the King, "and that's the reason I'm sounding +our own praise, Bilbil. Those who do the least, often shout the loudest +and so get the most glory. Inga did so much that there is danger of his +becoming more important than we are, and so we'd best say nothing about +him." + +When they reached the palace, which was an immense building, furnished +throughout in regal splendor, Inga took formal possession and ordered +the majordomo to show them the finest rooms the building contained. +There were many pleasant apartments, but Rinkitink proposed to Inga +that they share one of the largest bedrooms together. + +"For," said he, "we are not sure that old Gos will not return and try +to recapture his city, and you must remember that I have no magic to +protect me. In any danger, were I alone, I might be easily killed or +captured, while if you are by my side you can save me from injury." + +The boy realized the wisdom of this plan, and selected a fine big +bedroom on the second floor of the palace, in which he ordered two +golden beds placed and prepared for King Rinkitink and himself. Bilbil +was given a suite of rooms on the other side of the palace, where +servants brought the goat fresh-cut grass to eat and made him a soft +bed to lie upon. + +That evening the boy Prince and the fat King dined in great state in +the lofty-domed dining hall of the palace, where forty servants waited +upon them. The royal chef, anxious to win the favor of the conquerors +of Regos, prepared his finest and most savory dishes for them, which +Rinkitink ate with much appetite and found so delicious that he ordered +the royal chef brought into the banquet hall and presented him with a +gilt button which the King cut from his own jacket. + +"You are welcome to it," said he to the chef, "because I have eaten so +much that I cannot use that lower button at all." + +Rinkitink was mightily pleased to live in a comfortable palace again +and to dine at a well spread table. His joy grew every moment, so that +he came in time to be as merry and cheery as before Pingaree was +despoiled. And, although he had been much frightened during Inga's +defiance of the army of King Gos, he now began to turn the matter into +a joke. + +"Why, my boy," said he, "you whipped the big black-bearded King exactly +as if he were a schoolboy, even though you used no warlike weapon at +all upon him. He was cowed through fear of your magic, and that reminds +me to demand from you an explanation. How did you do it, Inga? And +where did the wonderful magic come from?" + +Perhaps it would have been wise for the Prince to have explained about +the magic pearls, but at that moment he was not inclined to do so. +Instead, he replied: + +"Be patient, Your Majesty. The secret is not my own, so please do not +ask me to divulge it. Is it not enough, for the present, that the magic +saved you from death to-day?" + +"Do not think me ungrateful," answered the King earnestly. "A million +spears fell on me from the wall, and several stones as big as +mountains, yet none of them hurt me!" + +"The stones were not as big as mountains, sire," said the Prince with a +smile. "They were, indeed, no larger than your head." + +"Are you sure about that?" asked Rinkitink. + +"Quite sure, Your Majesty." + +"How deceptive those things are!" sighed the King. "This argument +reminds me of the story of Tom Tick, which my father used to tell." + +"I have never heard that story," Inga answered. + +"Well, as he told it, it ran like this: + + "When Tom walked out, the sky to spy, + A naughty gnat flew in his eye; + But Tom knew not it was a gnat-- + He thought, at first, it was a cat. + + "And then, it felt so very big, + He thought it surely was a pig + Till, standing still to hear it grunt, + He cried: 'Why, it's an elephunt!' + + "But--when the gnat flew out again + And Tom was free from all his pain, + He said: 'There flew into my eye + A leetle, teenty-tiny fly.'" + + +"Indeed," said Inga, laughing, "the gnat was much like your stones that +seemed as big as mountains." + +After their dinner they inspected the palace, which was filled with +valuable goods stolen by King Gos from many nations. But the day's +events had tired them and they retired early to their big sleeping +apartment. + +"In the morning," said the boy to Rinkitink, as he was undressing for +bed, "I shall begin the search for my father and mother and the people +of Pingaree. And, when they are found and rescued, we will all go home +again, and be as happy as we were before." + +They carefully bolted the door of their room, that no one might enter, +and then got into their beds, where Rinkitink fell asleep in an +instant. The boy lay awake for a while thinking over the day's +adventures, but presently he fell sound asleep also, and so weary was +he that nothing disturbed his slumber until he awakened next morning +with a ray of sunshine in his eyes, which had crept into the room +through the open window by King Rinkitink's bed. + +Resolving to begin the search for his parents without any unnecessary +delay, Inga at once got out of bed and began to dress himself, while +Rinkitink, in the other bed, was still sleeping peacefully. But when +the boy had put on both his stockings and began looking for his shoes, +he could find but one of them. The left shoe, that containing the Pink +Pearl, was missing. + +Filled with anxiety at this discovery, Inga searched through the entire +room, looking underneath the beds and divans and chairs and behind the +draperies and in the corners and every other possible place a shoe +might be. He tried the door, and found it still bolted; so, with +growing uneasiness, the boy was forced to admit that the precious shoe +was not in the room. + +With a throbbing heart he aroused his companion. + +"King Rinkitink," said he, "do you know what has become of my left +shoe?" + +"Your shoe!" exclaimed the King, giving a wide yawn and rubbing his +eyes to get the sleep out of them. "Have you lost a shoe?" + +"Yes," said Inga. "I have searched everywhere in the room, and cannot +find it." + +"But why bother me about such a small thing?" inquired Rinkitink. "A +shoe is only a shoe, and you can easily get another one. But, stay! +Perhaps it was your shoe which I threw at the cat last night." + +"The cat!" cried Inga. "What do you mean?" + +"Why, in the night," explained Rinkitink, sitting up and beginning to +dress himself, "I was wakened by the mewing of a cat that sat upon a +wall of the palace, just outside my window. As the noise disturbed me, +I reached out in the dark and caught up something and threw it at the +cat, to frighten the creature away. I did not know what it was that I +threw, and I was too sleepy to care; but probably it was your shoe, +since it is now missing." + +"Then," said the boy, in a despairing tone of voice, "your carelessness +has ruined me, as well as yourself, King Rinkitink, for in that shoe +was concealed the magic power which protected us from danger." + +The King's face became very serious when he heard this and he uttered a +low whistle of surprise and regret. + +"Why on earth did you not warn me of this?" he demanded. "And why did +you keep such a precious power in an old shoe? And why didn't you put +the shoe under a pillow? You were very wrong, my lad, in not confiding +to me, your faithful friend, the secret, for in that case the shoe +would not now be lost." + +To all this Inga had no answer. He sat on the side of his bed, with +hanging head, utterly disconsolate, and seeing this, Rinkitink had pity +for his sorrow. + +"Come!" cried the King; "let us go out at once and look for the shoe +which I threw at the cat. It must even now be lying in the yard of the +palace." + +This suggestion roused the boy to action. He at once threw open the +door and in his stocking feet rushed down the staircase, closely +followed by Rinkitink. But although they looked on both sides of the +palace wall and in every possible crack and corner where a shoe might +lodge, they failed to find it. + +After a half hour's careful search the boy said sorrowfully: + +"Someone must have passed by, as we slept, and taken the precious shoe, +not knowing its value. To us, King Rinkitink, this will be a dreadful +misfortune, for we are surrounded by dangers from which we have now no +protection. Luckily I have the other shoe left, within which is the +magic power that gives me strength; so all is not lost." + +Then he told Rinkitink, in a few words, the secret of the wonderful +pearls, and how he had recovered them from the ruins and hidden them in +his shoes, and how they had enabled him to drive King Gos and his men +from Regos and to capture the city. The King was much astonished, and +when the story was concluded he said to Inga: + +"What did you do with the other shoe?" + +"Why, I left it in our bedroom," replied the boy. + +"Then I advise you to get it at once," continued Rinkitink, "for we can +ill afford to lose the second shoe, as well as the one I threw at the +cat." + +"You are right!" cried Inga, and they hastened back to their bedchamber. + +On entering the room they found an old woman sweeping and raising a +great deal of dust. + +"Where is my shoe?" asked the Prince, anxiously. + +The old woman stopped sweeping and looked at him in a stupid way, for +she was not very intelligent. + +"Do you mean the one odd shoe that was lying on the floor when I came +in?" she finally asked. + +"Yes--yes!" answered the boy. "Where is it? Tell me where it is!" + +"Why, I threw it on the dust-heap, outside the back gate," said she, +"for, it being but a single shoe, with no mate, it can be of no use to +anyone." + +"Show us the way to the dust-heap--at once!" commanded the boy, +sternly, for he was greatly frightened by this new misfortune which +threatened him. + +The old woman hobbled away and they followed her, constantly urging her +to hasten; but when they reached the dust-heap no shoe was to be seen. + +"This is terrible!" wailed the young Prince, ready to weep at his loss. +"We are now absolutely ruined, and at the mercy of our enemies. Nor +shall I be able to liberate my dear father and mother." + +"Well," replied Rinkitink, leaning against an old barrel and looking +quite solemn, "the thing is certainly unlucky, any way we look at it. I +suppose someone has passed along here and, seeing the shoe upon the +dust-heap, has carried it away. But no one could know the magic power +the shoe contains and so will not use it against us. I believe, Inga, +we must now depend upon our wits to get us out of the scrape we are in." + +With saddened hearts they returned to the palace, and entering a small +room where no one could observe them or overhear them, the boy took the +White Pearl from its silken bag and held it to his ear, asking: + +"What shall I do now?" + +"Tell no one of your loss," answered the Voice of the Pearl. "If your +enemies do not know that you are powerless, they will fear you as much +as ever. Keep your secret, be patient, and fear not!" + +Inga heeded this advice and also warned Rinkitink to say nothing to +anyone of the loss of the shoes and the powers they contained. He sent +for the shoemaker of King Gos, who soon brought him a new pair of red +leather shoes that fitted him quite well. When these had been put upon +his feet, the Prince, accompanied by the King, started to walk through +the city. + +Wherever they went the people bowed low to the conqueror, although a +few, remembering Inga's terrible strength, ran away in fear and +trembling. They had been used to severe masters and did not yet know +how they would be treated by King Gos's successor. There being no +occasion for the boy to exercise the powers he had displayed the +previous day, his present helplessness was not suspected by any of the +citizens of Regos, who still considered him a wonderful magician. + +Inga did not dare to fight his way to the mines, at present, nor could +he try to conquer the Island of Coregos, where his mother was enslaved; +so he set about the regulation of the City of Regos, and having +established himself with great state in the royal palace he began to +govern the people by kindness, having consideration for the most humble. + +The King of Regos and his followers sent spies across to the island +they had abandoned in their flight, and these spies returned with the +news that the terrible boy conqueror was still occupying the city. +Therefore none of them ventured to go back to Regos but continued to +live upon the neighboring island of Coregos, where they passed the days +in fear and trembling and sought to plot and plan ways how they might +overcome the Prince of Pingaree and the fat King of Gilgad. + + + + +Chapter Nine + +A Present for Zella + + +Now it so happened that on the morning of that same day when the Prince +of Pingaree suffered the loss of his priceless shoes, there chanced to +pass along the road that wound beside the royal palace a poor +charcoal-burner named Nikobob, who was about to return to his home in +the forest. + +Nikobob carried an ax and a bundle of torches over his shoulder and he +walked with his eyes to the ground, being deep in thought as to the +strange manner in which the powerful King Gos and his city had been +conquered by a boy Prince who had come from Pingaree. + +Suddenly the charcoal-burner espied a shoe lying upon the ground, just +beyond the high wall of the palace and directly in his path. He picked +it up and, seeing it was a pretty shoe, although much too small for his +own foot, he put it in his pocket. + +Soon after, on turning a corner of the wall, Nikobob came to a +dust-heap where, lying amidst a mass of rubbish, was another shoe--the +mate to the one he had before found. This also he placed in his pocket, +saying to himself: + +"I have now a fine pair of shoes for my daughter Zella, who will be +much pleased to find I have brought her a present from the city." + +And while the charcoal-burner turned into the forest and trudged along +the path toward his home, Inga and Rinkitink were still searching for +the missing shoes. Of course, they could not know that Nikobob had +found them, nor did the honest man think he had taken anything more +than a pair of cast-off shoes which nobody wanted. + +Nikobob had several miles to travel through the forest before he could +reach the little log cabin where his wife, as well as his little +daughter Zella, awaited his return, but he was used to long walks and +tramped along the path whistling cheerfully to beguile the time. + +Few people, as I said before, ever passed through the dark and tangled +forests of Regos, except to go to the mines in the mountain beyond, for +many dangerous creatures lurked in the wild jungles, and King Gos never +knew, when he sent a messenger to the mines, whether he would reach +there safely or not. + +The charcoal-burner, however, knew the wild forest well, and especially +this part of it lying between the city and his home. It was the +favorite haunt of the ferocious beast Choggenmugger, dreaded by every +dweller in the Island of Regos. Choggenmugger was so old that everyone +thought it must have been there since the world was made, and each year +of its life the huge scales that covered its body grew thicker and +harder and its jaws grew wider and its teeth grew sharper and its +appetite grew more keen than ever. + +In former ages there had been many dragons in Regos, but Choggenmugger +was so fond of dragons that he had eaten all of them long ago. There +had also been great serpents and crocodiles in the forest marshes, but +all had gone to feed the hunger of Choggenmugger. The people of Regos +knew well there was no use opposing the Great Beast, so when one +unfortunately met with it he gave himself up for lost. + +All this Nikobob knew well, but fortune had always favored him in his +journey through the forest, and although he had at times met many +savage beasts and fought them with his sharp ax, he had never to this +day encountered the terrible Choggenmugger. Indeed, he was not thinking +of the Great Beast at all as he walked along, but suddenly he heard a +crashing of broken trees and felt a trembling of the earth and saw the +immense jaws of Choggenmugger opening before him. Then Nikobob gave +himself up for lost and his heart almost ceased to beat. + +He believed there was no way of escape. No one ever dared oppose +Choggenmugger. But Nikobob hated to die without showing the monster, in +some way, that he was eaten only under protest. So he raised his ax and +brought it down upon the red, protruding tongue of the monster--and cut +it clean off! + +For a moment the charcoal-burner scarcely believed what his eyes saw, +for he knew nothing of the pearls he carried in his pocket or the magic +power they lent his arm. His success, however, encouraged him to strike +again, and this time the huge scaly jaw of Choggenmugger was severed in +twain and the beast howled in terrified rage. + +Nikobob took off his coat, to give himself more freedom of action, and +then he earnestly renewed the attack. But now the ax seemed blunted by +the hard scales and made no impression upon them whatever. The creature +advanced with glaring, wicked eyes, and Nikobob seized his coat under +his arm and turned to flee. + +That was foolish, for Choggenmugger could run like the wind. In a +moment it overtook the charcoal-burner and snapped its four rows of +sharp teeth together. But they did not touch Nikobob, because he still +held the coat in his grasp, close to his body, and in the coat pocket +were Inga's shoes, and in the points of the shoes were the magic +pearls. Finding himself uninjured, Nikobob put on his coat, again +seized his ax, and in a short time had chopped Choggenmugger into many +small pieces--a task that proved not only easy but very agreeable. + +"I must be the strongest man in all the world!" thought the +charcoal-burner, as he proudly resumed his way, "for Choggenmugger has +been the terror of Regos since the world began, and I alone have been +able to destroy the beast. Yet it is singular' that never before did I +discover how powerful a man I am." + +He met no further adventure and at midday reached a little clearing in +the forest where stood his humble cabin. + +"Great news! I have great news for you," he shouted, as his wife and +little daughter came to greet him. "King Gos has been conquered by a +boy Prince from the far island of Pingaree, and I have this +day--unaided--destroyed Choggenmugger by the might of my strong arm." + +This was, indeed, great news. They brought Nikobob into the house and +set him in an easy chair and made him tell everything he knew about the +Prince of Pingaree and the fat King of Gilgad, as well as the details +of his wonderful fight with mighty Choggenmugger. + +"And now, my daughter," said the charcoalburner, when all his news had +been related for at least the third time, "here is a pretty present I +have brought you from the city." + +With this he drew the shoes from the pocket of his coat and handed them +to Zella, who gave him a dozen kisses in payment and was much pleased +with her gift. The little girl had never worn shoes before, for her +parents were too poor to buy her such luxuries, so now the possession +of these, which were not much worn, filled the child's heart with joy. +She admired the red leather and the graceful curl of the pointed toes. +When she tried them on her feet, they fitted as well as if made for her. + +All the afternoon, as she helped her mother with the housework, Zella +thought of her pretty shoes. They seemed more important to her than the +coming to Regos of the conquering Prince of Pingaree, or even the death +of Choggenmugger. + +When Zella and her mother were not working in the cabin, cooking or +sewing, they often searched the neighboring forest for honey which the +wild bees cleverly hid in hollow trees. The day after Nikobob's return, +as they were starting out after honey, Zella decided to put on her new +shoes, as they would keep the twigs that covered the ground from +hurting her feet. She was used to the twigs, of course, but what is the +use of having nice, comfortable shoes, if you do not wear them? + +So she danced along, very happily, followed by her mother, and +presently they came to a tree in which was a deep hollow. Zella thrust +her hand and arm into the space and found that the tree was full of +honey, so she began to dig it out with a wooden paddle. Her mother, who +held the pail, suddenly cried in warning: + +"Look out, Zella; the bees are coming!" and then the good woman ran +fast toward the house to escape. + +Zella, however, had no more than time to turn her head when a thick +swarm of bees surrounded her, angry because they had caught her +stealing their honey and intent on stinging the girl as a punishment. +She knew her danger and expected to be badly injured by the multitude +of stinging bees, but to her surprise the little creatures were unable +to fly close enough to her to stick their dart-like stingers into her +flesh. They swarmed about her in a dark cloud, and their angry buzzing +was terrible to hear, yet the little girl remained unharmed. + +When she realized this, Zella was no longer afraid but continued to +ladle out the honey until she had secured all that was in the tree. +Then she returned to the cabin, where her mother was weeping and +bemoaning the fate of her darling child, and the good woman was greatly +astonished to find Zella had escaped injury. + +Again they went to the woods to search for honey, and although the +mother always ran away whenever the bees came near them, Zella paid no +attention to the creatures but kept at her work, so that before supper +time came the pails were again filled to overflowing with delicious +honey. + +"With such good fortune as we have had this day," said her mother, "we +shall soon gather enough honey for you to carry to Queen Cor." For it +seems the wicked Queen was very fond of honey and it had been Zella's +custom to go, once every year, to the City of Coregos, to carry the +Queen a supply of sweet honey for her table. Usually she had but one +pail. + +"But now," said Zella, "I shall be able to carry two pailsful to the +Queen, who will, I am sure, give me a good price for it." + +"True," answered her mother, "and, as the boy Prince may take it into +his head to conquer Coregos, as well as Regos, I think it best for you +to start on your journey to Queen Cor tomorrow morning. Do you not +agree with me, Nikobob?" she added, turning to her husband, the +charcoal-burner, who was eating his supper. + +"I agree with you," he replied. "If Zella must go to the City of +Coregos, she may as well start to-morrow morning." + + + + +Chapter Ten + +The Cunning of Queen Cor + + +You may be sure the Queen of Coregos was not well pleased to have King +Gos and all his warriors living in her city after they had fled from +their own. They were savage natured and quarrelsome men at all times, +and their tempers had not improved since their conquest by the Prince +of Pingaree. Moreover, they were eating up Queen Cor's provisions and +crowding the houses of her own people, who grumbled and complained +until their Queen was heartily tired. + +"Shame on you!" she said to her husband, King Gos, "to be driven out of +your city by a boy, a roly-poly King and a billy goat! Why do you not +go back and fight them?" + +"No human can fight against the powers of magic," returned the King in +a surly voice. "That boy is either a fairy or under the protection of +fairies. We escaped with our lives only because we were quick to run +away; but, should we return to Regos, the same terrible power that +burst open the city gates would crush us all to atoms." + +"Bah! you are a coward," cried the Queen, tauntingly. + +"I am not a coward," said the big King. "I have killed in battle scores +of my enemies; by the might of my sword and my good right arm I have +conquered many nations; all my life people have feared me. But no one +would dare face the tremendous power of the Prince of Pingaree, boy +though he is. It would not be courage, it would be folly, to attempt +it." + +"Then meet his power with cunning," suggested the Queen. "Take my +advice, and steal over to Regos at night, when it is dark, and capture +or destroy the boy while he sleeps." + +"No weapon can touch his body," was the answer. "He bears a charmed +life and cannot be injured." + +"Does the fat King possess magic powers, or the goat?" inquired Cor. + +"I think not," said Gos. "We could not injure them, indeed, any more +than we could the boy, but they did not seem to have any unusual +strength, although the goat's head is harder than a battering-ram." + +"Well," mused the Queen, "there is surely some way to conquer that +slight boy. If you are afraid to undertake the job, I shall go myself. +By some stratagem I shall manage to make him my prisoner. He will not +dare to defy a Queen, and no magic can stand against a woman's cunning." + +"Go ahead, if you like," replied the King, with an evil grin, "and if +you are hung up by the thumbs or cast into a dungeon, it will serve you +right for thinking you can succeed where a skilled warrior dares not +make the attempt." + +"I'm not afraid," answered the Queen. "It is only soldiers and bullies +who are cowards." + +In spite of this assertion, Queen Cor was not so brave as she was +cunning. For several days she thought over this plan and that, and +tried to decide which was most likely to succeed. She had never seen +the boy Prince but had heard so many tales of him from the defeated +warriors, and especially from Captain Buzzub, that she had learned to +respect his power. + +Spurred on by the knowledge that she would never get rid of her +unwelcome guests until Prince Inga was overcome and Regos regained for +King Gos, the Queen of Coregos finally decided to trust to luck and her +native wit to defeat a simple-minded boy, however powerful he might be. +Inga could not suspect what she was going to do, because she did not +know herself. She intended to act boldly and trust to chance to win. + +It is evident that had the cunning Queen known that Inga had lost all +his magic, she would not have devoted so much time to the simple matter +of capturing him, but like all others she was impressed by the +marvelous exhibition of power he had shown in capturing Regos, and had +no reason to believe the boy was less powerful now. + +One morning Queen Cor boldly entered a boat, and, taking four men with +her as an escort and bodyguard, was rowed across the narrow channel to +Regos. Prince Inga was sitting in the palace playing checkers with King +Rinkitink when a servant came to him, saying that Queen Cor had arrived +and desired an audience with him. + +With many misgivings lest the wicked Queen discover that he had now +lost his magic powers, the boy ordered her to be admitted, and she soon +entered the room and bowed low before him, in mock respect. + +Cor was a big woman, almost as tall as King Gos. She had flashing black +eyes and the dark complexion you see on gypsies. Her temper, when +irritated, was something dreadful, and her face wore an evil expression +which she tried to cover by smiling sweetly--often when she meant the +most mischief. + +"I have come," said she in a low voice, "to render homage to the noble +Prince of Pingaree. I am told that Your Highness is the strongest +person in the world, and invincible in battle, and therefore I wish you +to become my friend, rather than my enemy." + +Now Inga did not know how to reply to this speech. He disliked the +appearance of the woman and was afraid of her and he was unused to +deception and did not know how to mask his real feelings. So he took +time to think over his answer, which he finally made in these words: + +"I have no quarrel with Your Majesty, and my only reason for coming +here is to liberate my father and mother, and my people, whom you and +your husband have made your slaves, and to recover the goods King Gos +has plundered from the Island of Pingaree. This I hope soon to +accomplish, and if you really wish to be my friend, you can assist me +greatly." + +While he was speaking Queen Cor had been studying the boy's face +stealthily, from the corners of her eyes, and she said to herself: "He +is so small and innocent that I believe I can capture him alone, and +with ease. He does not seem very terrible and I suspect that King Gos +and his warriors were frightened at nothing." + +Then, aloud, she said to Inga: + +"I wish to invite you, mighty Prince, and your friend, the great King +of Gilgad, to visit my poor palace at Coregos, where all my people +shall do you honor. Will you come?" + +"At present," replied Inga, uneasily, "I must refuse your kind +invitation." + +"There will be feasting, and dancing girls, and games and fireworks," +said the Queen, speaking as if eager to entice him and at each word +coming a step nearer to where he stood. + +"I could not enjoy them while my poor parents are slaves," said the +boy, sadly. + +"Are you sure of that?" asked Queen Cor, and by that time she was close +beside Inga. Suddenly she leaned forward and threw both of her long +arms around Inga's body, holding him in a grasp that was like a vise. + +Now Rinkitink sprang forward to rescue his friend, but Cor kicked out +viciously with her foot and struck the King squarely on his stomach--a +very tender place to be kicked, especially if one is fat. Then, still +hugging Inga tightly, the Queen called aloud: + +"I've got him! Bring in the ropes." + +Instantly the four men she had brought with her sprang into the room +and bound the boy hand and foot. Next they seized Rinkitink, who was +still rubbing his stomach, and bound him likewise. + +With a laugh of wicked triumph, Queen Cor now led her captives down to +the boat and returned with them to Coregos. + +Great was the astonishment of King Gos and his warriors when they saw +that the mighty Prince of Pingaree, who had put them all to flight, had +been captured by a woman. Cowards as they were, they now crowded around +the boy and jeered at him, and some of them would have struck him had +not the Queen cried out: + +"Hands off! He is my prisoner, remember not yours." + +"Well, Cor, what are you going to do with him?" inquired King Gos. + +"I shall make him my slave, that he may amuse my idle hours. For he is +a pretty boy, and gentle, although he did frighten all of you big +warriors so terribly." + +The King scowled at this speech, not liking to be ridiculed, but he +said nothing more. He and his men returned that same day to Regos, +after restoring the bridge of boats. And they held a wild carnival of +rejoicing, both in the King's palace and in the city, although the poor +people of Regos who were not warriors were all sorry that the kind +young Prince had been captured by his enemies and could rule them no +longer. + +When her unwelcome guests had all gone back to Regos and the Queen was +alone in her palace, she ordered Inga and Rinkitink brought before her +and their bonds removed. They came sadly enough, knowing they were in +serious straits and at the mercy of a cruel mistress. Inga had taken +counsel of the White Pearl, which had advised him to bear up bravely +under his misfortune, promising a change for the better very soon. With +this promise to comfort him, Inga faced the Queen with a dignified +bearing that indicated both pride and courage. + +"Well, youngster," said she, in a cheerful tone because she was pleased +with her success, "you played a clever trick on my poor husband and +frightened him badly, but for that prank I am inclined to forgive you. +Hereafter I intend you to be my page, which means that you must fetch +and carry for me at my will. And let me advise you to obey my every +whim without question or delay, for when I am angry I become ugly, and +when I am ugly someone is sure to feel the lash. Do you understand me?" + +Inga bowed, but made no answer. Then she turned to Rinkitink and said: + +"As for you, I cannot decide how to make you useful to me, as you are +altogether too fat and awkward to work in the fields. It may be, +however, that I can use you as a pincushion. + +"What!" cried Rinkitink in horror, "would you stick pins into the King +of Gilgad?" + +"Why not?" returned Queen Cor. "You are as fat as a pincushion, as you +must yourself admit, and whenever I needed a pin I could call you to +me." Then she laughed at his frightened look and asked: "By the way, +are you ticklish?" + +This was the question Rinkitink had been dreading. He gave a moan of +despair and shook his head. + +"I should love to tickle the bottom of your feet with a feather," +continued the cruel woman. "Please take off your shoes." + +"Oh, your Majesty!" pleaded poor Rinkitink, "I beg you to allow me to +amuse you in some other way. I can dance, or I can sing you a song." + +"Well," she answered, shaking with laughter, "you may sing a song--if +it be a merry one. But you do not seem in a merry mood." + +"I feel merry--indeed, Your Majesty, I do!" protested Rinkitink, +anxious to escape the tickling. But even as he professed to "feel +merry" his round, red face wore an expression of horror and anxiety +that was really comical. + +"Sing, then!" commanded Queen Cor, who was greatly amused. + +Rinkitink gave a sigh of relief and after clearing his throat and +trying to repress his sobs he began to sing this song-gently, at first, +but finally roaring it out at the top of his voice: + + "Oh! + There was a Baby Tiger lived in a men-ag-er-ie-- + Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy--they wouldn't set him free; + And ev'rybody thought that he was gentle as could be-- + Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy--Ba-by Ti-ger! + + "Oh! + They patted him upon his head and shook him by the paw-- + Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy--he had a bone to gnaw; + But soon he grew the biggest Tiger that you ever saw-- + Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy--what a Ti-ger! + + "Oh! + One day they came to pet the brute and he began to fight-- + Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy-how he did scratch and bite! + He broke the cage and in a rage he darted out of sight-- + Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy was a Ti-ger!" + + +"And is there a moral to the song?" asked Queen Cor, when King +Rinkitink had finished his song with great spirit. + +"If there is," replied Rinkitink, "it is a warning not to fool with +tigers." + +The little Prince could not help smiling at this shrewd answer, but +Queen Cor frowned and gave the King a sharp look. + +"Oh," said she; "I think I know the difference between a tiger and a +lapdog. But I'll bear the warning in mind, just the same." + +For, after all her success in capturing them, she was a little afraid +of these people who had once displayed such extraordinary powers. + + + + +Chapter Eleven + +Zella Goes to Coregos + + +The forest in which Nikobob lived with his wife and daughter stood +between the mountains and the City of Regos, and a well-beaten path +wound among the trees, leading from the city to the mines. This path +was used by the King's messengers, and captured prisoners were also +sent by this way from Regos to work in the underground caverns. + +Nikobob had built his cabin more than a mile away from this path, that +he might not be molested by the wild and lawless soldiers of King Gos, +but the family of the charcoal-burner was surrounded by many creatures +scarcely less dangerous to encounter, and often in the night they could +hear savage animals growling and prowling about the cabin. Because +Nikobob minded his own business and never hunted the wild creatures to +injure them, the beasts had come to regard him as one of the natural +dwellers in the forest and did not molest him or his family. Still +Zella and her mother seldom wandered far from home, except on such +errands as carrying honey to Coregos, and at these times Nikobob +cautioned them to be very careful. + +So when Zella set out on her journey to Queen Cor, with the two pails +of honey in her hands, she was undertaking a dangerous adventure and +there was no certainty that she would return safely to her loving +parents. But they were poor, and Queen Cor's money, which they expected +to receive for the honey, would enable them to purchase many things +that were needed; so it was deemed best that Zella should go. She was a +brave little girl and poor people are often obliged to take chances +that rich ones are spared. + +A passing woodchopper had brought news to Nikobob's cabin that Queen +Cor had made a prisoner of the conquering Prince of Pingaree and that +Gos and his warriors were again back in their city of Regos; but these +struggles and conquests were matters which, however interesting, did +not concern the poor charcoal-burner or his family. They were more +anxious over the report that the warriors had become more reckless than +ever before, and delighted in annoying all the common people; so Zella +was told to keep away from the beaten path as much as possible, that +she might not encounter any of the King's soldiers. + +"When it is necessary to choose between the warriors and the wild +beasts," said Nikobob, "the beasts will be found the more merciful." + +The little girl had put on her best attire for the journey and her +mother threw a blue silk shawl over her head and shoulders. Upon her +feet were the pretty red shoes her father had brought her from Regos. +Thus prepared, she kissed her parents good-bye and started out with a +light heart, carrying the pails of honey in either hand. + +It was necessary for Zella to cross the path that led from the mines to +the city, but once on the other side she was not likely to meet with +anyone, for she had resolved to cut through the forest and so reach the +bridge of boats without entering the City of Regos, where she might be +interrupted. For an hour or two she found the walking easy enough, but +then the forest, which in this part was unknown to her, became badly +tangled. The trees were thicker and creeping vines intertwined between +them. She had to turn this way and that to get through at all, and +finally she came to a place where a network of vines and branches +effectually barred her farther progress. + +Zella was dismayed, at first, when she encountered this obstacle, but +setting down her pails she made an endeavor to push the branches aside. +At her touch they parted as if by magic, breaking asunder like dried +twigs, and she found she could pass freely. At another place a great +log had fallen across her way, but the little girl lifted it easily and +cast it aside, although six ordinary men could scarcely have moved it. + +The child was somewhat worried at this evidence of a strength she had +heretofore been ignorant that she possessed. In order to satisfy +herself that it was no delusion, she tested her new-found power in many +ways, finding that nothing was too big nor too heavy for her to lift. +And, naturally enough, the girl gained courage from these experiments +and became confident that she could protect herself in any emergency. +When, presently, a wild boar ran toward her, grunting horribly and +threatening her with its great tusks, she did not climb a tree to +escape, as she had always done before on meeting such creatures, but +stood still and faced the boar. When it had come quite close and Zella +saw that it could not injure her--a fact that astonished both the beast +and the girl--she suddenly reached down and seizing it by one ear threw +the great beast far off amongst the trees, where it fell headlong to +the earth, grunting louder than ever with surprise and fear. + +The girl laughed merrily at this incident and, picking up her pails, +resumed her journey through the forest. It is not recorded whether the +wild boar told his adventure to the other beasts or they had happened +to witness his defeat, but certain it is that Zella was not again +molested. A brown bear watched her pass without making any movement in +her direction and a great puma--a beast much dreaded by all men--crept +out of her path as she approached, and disappeared among the trees. + +Thus everything favored the girl's journey and she made such good speed +that by noon she emerged from the forest's edge and found she was quite +near to the bridge of boats that led to Coregos. This she crossed +safely and without meeting any of the rude warriors she so greatly +feared, and five minutes later the daughter of the charcoal-burner was +seeking admittance at the back door of Queen Cor's palace. + + + + +Chapter Twelve + +The Excitement of Bilbil the Goat + + +Our story must now return to one of our characters whom we have been +forced to neglect. The temper of Bilbil the goat was not sweet under +any circumstances, and whenever he had a grievance he was inclined to +be quite grumpy. So, when his master settled down in the palace of King +Gos for a quiet life with the boy Prince, and passed his time in +playing checkers and eating and otherwise enjoying himself, he had no +use whatever for Bilbil, and shut the goat in an upstairs room to +prevent his wandering through the city and quarreling with the +citizens. But this Bilbil did not like at all. He became very cross and +disagreeable at being left alone and he did not speak nicely to the +servants who came to bring him food; therefore those people decided not +to wait upon him any more, resenting his conversation and not liking to +be scolded by a lean, scraggly goat, even though it belonged to a +conqueror. The servants kept away from the room and Bilbil grew more +hungry and more angry every hour. He tried to eat the rugs and +ornaments, but found them not at all nourishing. There was no grass to +be had unless he escaped from the palace. + +When Queen Cor came to capture Inga and Rinkitink, both the prisoners +were so filled with despair at their own misfortune that they gave no +thought whatever to the goat, who was left in his room. Nor did Bilbil +know anything of the changed fortunes of his comrades until he heard +shouts and boisterous laughter in the courtyard below. Looking out of a +window, with the intention of rebuking those who dared thus to disturb +him, Bilbil saw the courtyard quite filled with warriors and knew from +this that the palace had in some way again fallen into the hands of the +enemy. + +Now, although Bilbil was often exceedingly disagreeable to King +Rinkitink, as well as to the Prince, and sometimes used harsh words in +addressing them, he was intelligent enough to know them to be his +friends, and to know that King Gos and his people were his foes. In +sudden anger, provoked by the sight of the warriors and the knowledge +that he was in the power of the dangerous men of Regos, Bilbil butted +his head against the door of his room and burst it open. Then he ran to +the head of the staircase and saw King Gos coming up the stairs +followed by a long line of his chief captains and warriors. + +The goat lowered his head, trembling with rage and excitement, and just +as the King reached the top stair the animal dashed forward and butted +His Majesty so fiercely that the big and powerful King, who did not +expect an attack, doubled up and tumbled backward. His great weight +knocked over the man just behind him and he in turn struck the next +warrior and upset him, so that in an instant the whole line of Bilbil's +foes was tumbling heels over head to the bottom of the stairs, where +they piled up in a heap, struggling and shouting and in the mixup +hitting one another with their fists, until every man of them was +bruised and sore. + +Finally King Gos scrambled out of the heap and rushed up the stairs +again, very angry indeed. Bilbil was ready for him and a second time +butted the King down the stairs; but now the goat also lost his balance +and followed the King, landing full upon the confused heap of soldiers. +Then he kicked out so viciously with his heels that he soon freed +himself and dashed out of the doorway of the palace. + +"Stop him!" cried King Gos, running after. + +But the goat was now so wild and excited that it was not safe for +anyone to stand in his way. None of the men were armed and when one or +two tried to head off the goat, Bilbil sent them sprawling upon the +ground. Most of the warriors, however, were wise enough not to attempt +to interfere with his flight. + +Coursing down the street, Bilbil found himself approaching the bridge +of boats and without pausing to think where it might lead him he +crossed over and proceeded on his way. A few moments later a great +stone building blocked his path. It was the palace of Queen Cor, and +seeing the gates of the courtyard standing wide open, Bilbil rushed +through them without slackening his speed. + + + + +Chapter Thirteen + +Zella Saves the Prince + + +The wicked Queen of Coregos was in a very bad humor this morning, for +one of her slave drivers had come from the fields to say that a number +of slaves had rebelled and would not work. + +"Bring them here to me!" she cried savagely. "A good whipping may make +them change their minds." + +So the slave driver went to fetch the rebellious ones and Queen Cor sat +down to eat her breakfast, an ugly look on her face. + +Prince Inga had been ordered to stand behind his new mistress with a +big fan of peacock's feathers, but he was so unused to such service +that he awkwardly brushed her ear with the fan. At once she flew into a +terrible rage and slapped the Prince twice with her hand-blows that +tingled, too, for her hand was big and hard and she was not inclined to +be gentle. Inga took the blows without shrinking or uttering a cry, +although they stung his pride far more than his body. But King +Rinkitink, who was acting as the queen's butler and had just brought in +her coffee, was so startled at seeing the young Prince punished that he +tipped over the urn and the hot coffee streamed across the lap of the +Queen's best morning gown. + +Cor sprang from her seat with a scream of anger and poor Rinkitink +would doubtless have been given a terrible beating had not the slave +driver returned at this moment and attracted the woman's attention. The +overseer had brought with him all of the women slaves from Pingaree, +who had been loaded down with chains and were so weak and ill they +could scarcely walk, much less work in the fields. + +Prince Inga's eyes were dimmed with sorrowful tears when he discovered +how his poor people had been abused, but his own plight was so helpless +that he was unable to aid them. Fortunately the boy's mother, Queen +Garee, was not among these slaves, for Queen Cor had placed her in the +royal dairy to make butter. + +"Why do you refuse to work?" demanded Cor in a harsh voice, as the +slaves from Pingaree stood before her, trembling and with downcast eyes. + +"Because we lack strength to perform the tasks your overseers demand," +answered one of the women. + +"Then you shall be whipped until your strength returns!" exclaimed the +Queen, and turning to Inga, she commanded: "Get me the whip with the +seven lashes." + +As the boy left the room, wondering how he might manage to save the +unhappy women from their undeserved punishment, he met a girl entering +by the back way, who asked: + +"Can you tell me where to find Her Majesty, Queen Cor?" + +"She is in the chamber with the red dome, where green dragons are +painted upon the walls," replied Inga; "but she is in an angry and +ungracious mood to-day. Why do you wish to see her?" + +"I have honey to sell," answered the girl, who was Zella, just come +from the forest. "The Queen is very fond of my honey." + +"You may go to her, if you so desire," said the boy, "but take care not +to anger the cruel Queen, or she may do you a mischief." + +"Why should she harm me, who brings her the honey she so dearly loves?" +inquired the child innocently. "But I thank you for your warning; and I +will try not to anger the Queen." + +As Zella started to go, Inga's eyes suddenly fell upon her shoes and +instantly he recognized them as his own. For only in Pingaree were +shoes shaped in this manner: high at the heel and pointed at the toes. + +"Stop!" he cried in an excited voice, and the girl obeyed, wonderingly. +"Tell me," he continued, more gently, "where did you get those shoes?" + +"My father brought them to me from Regos," she answered. + +"From Regos!" + +"Yes. Are they not pretty?" asked Zella, looking down at her feet to +admire them. "One of them my father found by the palace wall, and the +other on an ash-heap. So he brought them to me and they fit me +perfectly." + +By this time Inga was trembling with eager joy, which of course the +girl could not understand. + +"What is your name, little maid?" he asked. + +"I am called Zella, and my father is Nikobob, the charcoal-burner." + +"Zella is a pretty name. I am Inga, Prince of Pingaree," said he, "and +the shoes you are now wearing, Zella, belong to me. They were not cast +away, as your father supposed, but were lost. Will you let me have them +again?" + +Zella's eyes filled with tears. + +"Must I give up my pretty shoes, then?" she asked. "They are the only +ones I have ever owned." + +Inga was sorry for the poor child, but he knew how important it was +that he regain possession of the Magic Pearls. So he said, pleadingly: + +"Please let me have them, Zella. See! I will exchange for them the +shoes I now have on, which are newer and prettier than the others." + +The girl hesitated. She wanted to please the boy Prince, yet she hated +to exchange the shoes which her father had brought her as a present. + +"If you will give me the shoes," continued the boy, anxiously, "I will +promise to make you and your father and mother rich and prosperous. +Indeed, I will promise to grant any favors you may ask of me," and he +sat down upon the floor and drew off the shoes he was wearing and held +them toward the girl. + +"I'll see if they will fit me," said Zella, taking off her left +shoe--the one that contained the Pink Pearl--and beginning to put on +one of Inga's. + +Just then Queen Cor, angry at being made to wait for her whip with the +seven lashes, rushed into the room to find Inga. Seeing the boy sitting +upon the floor beside Zella, the woman sprang toward him to beat him +with her clenched fists; but Inga had now slipped on the shoe and the +Queen's blows could not reach his body. + +Then Cor espied the whip lying beside Inga and snatching it up she +tried to lash him with it--all to no avail. + +While Zella sat horrified by this scene, the Prince, who realized he +had no time to waste, reached out and pulled the right shoe from the +girl's foot, quickly placing it upon his own. Then he stood up and, +facing the furious but astonished Queen, said to her in a quiet voice: + +"Madam, please give me that whip." + +"I won't!" answered Cor. "I'm going to lash those Pingaree women with +it." + +The boy seized hold of the whip and with irresistible strength drew it +from the Queen's hand. But she drew from her bosom a sharp dagger and +with the swiftness of lightning aimed a blow at Inga's heart. He merely +stood still and smiled, for the blade rebounded and fell clattering to +the floor. + +Then, at last, Queen Cor understood the magic power that had terrified +her husband but which she had ridiculed in her ignorance, not believing +in it. She did not know that Inga's power had been lost, and found +again, but she realized the boy was no common foe and that unless she +could still manage to outwit him her reign in the Island of Coregos was +ended. To gain time, she went back to the red-domed chamber and seated +herself in her throne, before which were grouped the weeping slaves +from Pingaree. + +Inga had taken Zella's hand and assisted her to put on the shoes he had +given her in exchange for his own. She found them quite comfortable and +did not know she had lost anything by the transfer. + +"Come with me," then said the boy Prince, and led her into the presence +of Queen Cor, who was giving Rinkitink a scolding. To the overseer Inga +said. + +"Give me the keys which unlock these chains, that I may set these poor +women at liberty." + +"Don't you do it!" screamed Queen Cor. + +"If you interfere, madam," said the boy, "I will put you into a +dungeon." + +By this Rinkitink knew that Inga had recovered his Magic Pearls and the +little fat King was so overjoyed that he danced and capered all around +the room. But the Queen was alarmed at the threat and the slave driver, +fearing the conqueror of Regos, tremblingly gave up the keys. + +Inga quickly removed all the shackles from the women of his country and +comforted them, telling them they should work no more but would soon be +restored to their homes in Pingaree. Then he commanded the slave driver +to go and get all the children who had been made slaves, and to bring +them to their mothers. The man obeyed and left at once to perform his +errand, while Queen Cor, growing more and more uneasy, suddenly sprang +from her throne and before Inga could stop her had rushed through the +room and out into the courtyard of the palace, meaning to make her +escape. Rinkitink followed her, running as fast as he could go. + +It was at this moment that Bilbil, in his mad dash from Regos, turned +in at the gates of the courtyard, and as he was coming one way and +Queen Cor was going the other they bumped into each other with great +force. The woman sailed through the air, over Bilbil's head, and landed +on the ground outside the gates, where her crown rolled into a ditch +and she picked herself up, half dazed, and continued her flight. Bilbil +was also somewhat dazed by the unexpected encounter, but he continued +his rush rather blindly and so struck poor Rinkitink, who was chasing +after Queen Cor. They rolled over one another a few times and then +Rinkitink sat up and Bilbil sat up and they looked at each other in +amazement. + +"Bilbil," said the King, "I'm astonished at you!" + +"Your Majesty," said Bilbil, "I expected kinder treatment at your +hands." + +"You interrupted me," said Rinkitink. + +"There was plenty of room without your taking my path," declared the +goat. + +And then Inga came running out and said. "Where is the Queen?" + +"Gone," replied Rinkitink, "but she cannot go far, as this is an +island. However, I have found Bilbil, and our party is again reunited. +You have recovered your magic powers, and again we are masters of the +situation. So let us be thankful." + +Saying this, the good little King got upon his feet and limped back +into the throne room to help comfort the women. + +Presently the children of Pingaree, who had been gathered together by +the overseer, were brought in and restored to their mothers, and there +was great rejoicing among them, you may be sure. + +"But where is Queen Garee, my dear mother?" questioned Inga; but the +women did not know and it was some time before the overseer remembered +that one of the slaves from Pingaree had been placed in the royal +dairy. Perhaps this was the woman the boy was seeking. + +Inga at once commanded him to lead the way to the butter house, but +when they arrived there Queen Garee was nowhere in the place, although +the boy found a silk scarf which he recognized as one that his mother +used to wear. Then they began a search throughout the island of +Coregos, but could not find Inga's mother anywhere. + +When they returned to the palace of Queen Cor, Rinkitink discovered +that the bridge of boats had again been removed, separating them from +Regos, and from this they suspected that Queen Cor had fled to her +husband's island and had taken Queen Garee with her. Inga was much +perplexed what to do and returned with his friends to the palace to +talk the matter over. + +Zella was now crying because she had not sold her honey and was unable +to return to her parents on the island of Regos, but the boy prince +comforted her and promised she should be protected until she could be +restored to her home. Rinkitink found Queen Cor's purse, which she had +had no time to take with her, and gave Zella several gold pieces for +the honey. Then Inga ordered the palace servants to prepare a feast for +all the women and children of Pingaree and to prepare for them beds in +the great palace, which was large enough to accommodate them all. + +Then the boy and the goat and Rinkitink and Zella went into a private +room to consider what should be done next. + + + + +Chapter Fourteen + +The Escape + + +"Our fault," said Rinkitink, "is that we conquer only one of these twin +islands at a time. When we conquered Regos, our foes all came to +Coregos, and now that we have conquered Coregos, the Queen has fled to +Regos. And each time they removed the bridge of boats, so that we could +not follow them." + +"What has become of our own boat, in which we came from Pingaree?" +asked Bilbil. + +"We left it on the shore of Regos," replied the Prince, "but I wonder +if we could not get it again." + +"Why don't you ask the White Pearl?" suggested Rinkitink. + +"That is a good idea," returned the boy, and at once he drew the White +Pearl from its silken bag and held it to his ear. Then he asked: "How +may I regain our boat?" + +The Voice of the Pearl replied: "Go to the south end of the Island of +Coregos, and clap your hands three times and the boat will come to you. + +"Very good!" cried Inga, and then he turned to his companions and said: +"We shall be able to get our boat whenever we please; but what then +shall we do?" + +"Take me home in it!" pleaded Zella. + +"Come with me to my City of Gilgad," said the King, "where you will be +very welcome to remain forever." + +"No," answered Inga, "I must rescue my father and mother, as well as my +people. Already I have the women and children of Pingaree, but the men +are with my father in the mines of Regos, and my dear mother has been +taken away by Queen Cor. Not until all are rescued will I consent to +leave these islands." + +"Quite right!" exclaimed Bilbil. + +"On second thought," said Rinkitink, "I agree with you. If you are +careful to sleep in your shoes, and never take them off again, I +believe you will be able to perform the task you have undertaken." + +They counseled together for a long time as to their mode of action and +it was finally considered best to make the attempt to liberate King +Kitticut first of all, and with him the men from Pingaree. This would +give them an army to assist them and afterward they could march to +Regos and compel Queen Cor to give up the Queen of Pingaree. Zella told +them that they could go in their boat along the shore of Regos to a +point opposite the mines, thus avoiding any conflict with the warriors +of King Gos. + +This being considered the best course to pursue, they resolved to start +on the following morning, as night was even now approaching. The +servants being all busy in caring for the women and children, Zella +undertook to get a dinner for Inga and Rinkitink and herself and soon +prepared a fine meal in the palace kitchen, for she was a good little +cook and had often helped her mother. The dinner was served in a small +room overlooking the gardens and Rinkitink thought the best part of it +was the sweet honey, which he spread upon the biscuits that Zella had +made. As for Bilbil, he wandered through the palace grounds and found +some grass that made him a good dinner. + +During the evening Inga talked with the women and cheered them, +promising soon to reunite them with their husbands who were working in +the mines and to send them back to their own island of Pingaree. + +Next morning the boy rose bright and early and found that Zella had +already prepared a nice breakfast. And after the meal they went to the +most southern point of the island, which was not very far away, +Rinkitink riding upon Bilbil's back and Inga and Zella following behind +them, hand in hand. + +When they reached the water's edge the boy advanced and clapped his +hands together three times, as the White Pearl had told him to do. And +in a few moments they saw in the distance the black boat with the +silver lining, coming swiftly toward them from the sea. Presently it +grounded on the beach and they all got into it. + +Zella was delighted with the boat, which was the most beautiful she had +ever seen, and the marvel of its coming to them through the water +without anyone to row it, made her a little afraid of the fairy craft. +But Inga picked up the oars and began to row and at once the boat shot +swiftly in the direction of Regos. They rounded the point of that +island where the city was built and noticed that the shore was lined +with warriors who had discovered their boat but seemed undecided +whether to pursue it or not. This was probably because they had +received no commands what to do, or perhaps they had learned to fear +the magic powers of these adventurers from Pingaree and were unwilling +to attack them unless their King ordered them to. + +The coast on the western side of the Island of Regos was very uneven +and Zella, who knew fairly well the location of the mines from the +inland forest path, was puzzled to decide which mountain they now +viewed from the sea was the one where the entrance to the underground +caverns was located. First she thought it was this peak, and then she +guessed it was that; so considerable time was lost through her +uncertainty. + +They finally decided to land and explore the country, to see where they +were, so Inga ran the boat into a little rocky cove where they all +disembarked. For an hour they searched for the path without finding any +trace of it and now Zella believed they had gone too far to the north +and must return to another mountain that was nearer to the city. + +Once again they entered the boat and followed the winding coast south +until they thought they had reached the right place. By this time, +however, it was growing dark, for the entire day had been spent in the +search for the entrance to the mines, and Zella warned them that it +would be safer to spend the night in the boat than on the land, where +wild beasts were sure to disturb them. None of them realized at this +time how fatal this day of search had been to their plans and perhaps +if Inga had realized what was going on he would have landed and fought +all the wild beasts in the forest rather than quietly remain in the +boat until morning. + +However, knowing nothing of the cunning plans of Queen Cor and King +Gos, they anchored their boat in a little bay and cheerfully ate their +dinner, finding plenty of food and drink in the boat's lockers. In the +evening the stars came out in the sky and tipped the waves around their +boat with silver. All around them was delightfully still save for the +occasional snarl of a beast on the neighboring shore. + +They talked together quietly of their adventures and their future plans +and Zella told them her simple history and how hard her poor father was +obliged to work, burning charcoal to sell for enough money to support +his wife and child. Nikobob might be the humblest man in all Regos, but +Zella declared he was a good man, and honest, and it was not his fault +that his country was ruled by so wicked a King. + +Then Rinkitink, to amuse them, offered to sing a song, and although +Bilbil protested in his gruff way, claiming that his master's voice was +cracked and disagreeable, the little King was encouraged by the others +to sing his song, which he did. + + "A red-headed man named Ned was dead; + Sing fiddle-cum-faddle-cum-fi-do! + In battle he had lost his head; + Sing fiddle-cum-faddl-cum-fi-do! + 'Alas, poor Ned,' to him I said, + 'How did you lose your head so red?' + Sing fiddle-cum-faddle-cum-fi-do! + + "Said Ned: 'I for my country bled,' + Sing fiddle-cum-faddle-cum-fi-do! + 'Instead of dying safe in bed', + Sing fiddle-cum-faddle-cum-fi-do! + 'If I had only fled, instead, + I then had been a head ahead.' + Sing fiddle-cum-faddle-cum-fi-do! + + "I said to Ned--" + + +"Do stop, Your Majesty!" pleaded Bilbil. "You're making my head ache." + +"But the song isn't finished," replied Rinkitink, "and as for your head +aching, think of poor Ned, who hadn't any head at all!" + +"I can think of nothing but your dismal singing," retorted Bilbil. "Why +didn't you choose a cheerful subject, instead of telling how a man who +was dead lost his red head? Really, Rinkitink, I'm surprised at you. + +"I know a splendid song about a live man, said the King. + +"Then don't sing it," begged Bilbil. + +Zella was both astonished and grieved by the disrespectful words of the +goat, for she had quite enjoyed Rinkitink's singing and had been taught +a proper respect for Kings and those high in authority. But as it was +now getting late they decided to go to sleep, that they might rise +early the following morning, so they all reclined upon the bottom of +the big boat and covered themselves with blankets which they found +stored underneath the seats for just such occasions. They were not long +in falling asleep and did not waken until daybreak. + +After a hurried breakfast, for Inga was eager to liberate his father, +the boy rowed the boat ashore and they all landed and began searching +for the path. Zella found it within the next half hour and declared +they must be very close to the entrance to the mines; so they followed +the path toward the north, Inga going first, and then Zella following +him, while Rinkitink brought up the rear riding upon Bilbil's back. + +Before long they saw a great wall of rock towering before them, in +which was a low arched entrance, and on either side of this entrance +stood a guard, armed with a sword and a spear. The guards of the mines +were not so fierce as the warriors of King Gos, their duty being to +make the slaves work at their tasks and guard them from escaping; but +they were as cruel as their cruel master wished them to be, and as +cowardly as they were cruel. + +Inga walked up to the two men at the entrance and said: + +"Does this opening lead to the mines of King Gos?" + +"It does," replied one of the guards, "but no one is allowed to pass +out who once goes in." + +"Nevertheless," said the boy, "we intend to go in and we shall come out +whenever it pleases us to do so. I am the Prince of Pingaree, and I +have come to liberate my people, whom King Gos has enslaved." + +Now when the two guards heard this speech they looked at one another +and laughed, and one of them said: "The King was right, for he said the +boy was likely to come here and that he would try to set his people +free. Also the King commanded that we must keep the little Prince in +the mines, and set him to work, together with his companions." + +"Then let us obey the King," replied the other man. + +Inga was surprised at hearing this, and asked: + +"When did King Gos give you this order?" + +"His Majesty was here in person last night," replied the man, "and went +away again but an hour ago. He suspected you were coming here and told +us to capture you if we could." + +This report made the boy very anxious, not for himself but for his +father, for he feared the King was up to some mischief. So he hastened +to enter the mines and the guards did nothing to oppose him or his +companions, their orders being to allow him to go in but not to come +out. + +The little group of adventurers passed through a long rocky corridor +and reached a low, wide cavern where they found a dozen guards and a +hundred slaves, the latter being hard at work with picks and shovels +digging for gold, while the guards stood over them with long whips. + +Inga found many of the men from Pingaree among these slaves, but King +Kitticut was not in this cavern; so they passed through it and entered +another corridor that led to a second cavern. Here also hundreds of men +were working, but the boy did not find his father amongst them, and so +went on to a third cavern. + +The corridors all slanted downward, so that the farther they went the +lower into the earth they descended, and now they found the air hot and +close and difficult to breathe. Flaming torches were stuck into the +walls to give light to the workers, and these added to the oppressive +heat. + +The third and lowest cavern was the last in the mines, and here were +many scores of slaves and many guards to keep them at work. So far, +none of the guards had paid any attention to Inga's party, but allowed +them to proceed as they would, and while the slaves cast curious +glances at the boy and girl and man and goat, they dared say nothing. +But now the boy walked up to some of the men of Pingaree and asked news +of his father, telling them not to fear the guards as he would protect +them from the whips. + +Then he Teamed that King Kitticut had indeed been working in this very +cavern until the evening before, when King Gos had come and taken him +away--still loaded with chains. + +"Seems to me," said King Rinkitink, when he heard this report, "that +Gos has carried your father away to Regos, to prevent us from rescuing +him. He may hide poor Kitticut in a dungeon, where we cannot find him." + +"Perhaps you are right," answered the boy, "but I am determined to find +him, wherever he may be." + +Inga spoke firmly and with courage, but he was greatly disappointed to +find that King Gos had been before him at the mines and had taken his +father away. However, he tried not to feel disheartened, believing he +would succeed in the end, in spite of all opposition. Turning to the +guards, he said: + +"Remove the chains from these slaves and set them free." + +The guards laughed at this order, and one of them brought forward a +handful of chains, saying: "His Majesty has commanded us to make you, +also, a slave, for you are never to leave these caverns again." + +Then he attempted to place the chains on Inga, but the boy indignantly +seized them and broke them apart as easily as if they had been cotton +cords. When a dozen or more of the guards made a dash to capture him, +the Prince swung the end of the chain like a whip and drove them into a +corner, where they cowered and begged for mercy. + +Stories of the marvelous strength of the boy Prince had already spread +to the mines of Regos, and although King Gos had told them that Inga +had been deprived of all his magic power, the guards now saw this was +not true, so they deemed it wise not to attempt to oppose him. + +The chains of the slaves had all been riveted fast to their ankles and +wrists, but Inga broke the bonds of steel with his hands and set the +poor men free--not only those from Pingaree but all who had been +captured in the many wars and raids of King Gos. They were very +grateful, as you may suppose, and agreed to support Prince Inga in +whatever action he commanded. + +He led them to the middle cavern, where all the guards and overseers +fled in terror at his approach, and soon he had broken apart the chains +of the slaves who had been working in that part of the mines. Then they +approached the first cavern and liberated all there. + +The slaves had been treated so cruelly by the servants of King Gos that +they were eager to pursue and slay them, in revenge; but Inga held them +back and formed them into companies, each company having its own +leader. Then he called the leaders together and instructed them to +march in good order along the path to the City of Regos, where he would +meet them and tell them what to do next. + +They readily agreed to obey him, and, arming themselves with iron bars +and pick-axes which they brought from the mines, the slaves began their +march to the city. + +Zella at first wished to be left behind, that she might make her way to +her home, but neither Rinkitink nor Inga thought it was safe for her to +wander alone through the forest, so they induced her to return with +them to the city. + +The boy beached his boat this time at the same place as when he first +landed at Regos, and while many of the warriors stood on the shore and +before the walls of the city, not one of them attempted to interfere +with the boy in any way. Indeed, they seemed uneasy and anxious, and +when Inga met Captain Buzzub the boy asked if anything had happened in +his absence. + +"A great deal has happened," replied Buzzub. "Our King and Queen have +run away and left us, and we don't know what to do." + +"Run away!" exclaimed Inga. "Where did they go to?" + +"Who knows?" said the man, shaking his head despondently. "They +departed together a few hours ago, in a boat with forty rowers, and +they took with them the King and Queen of Pingaree!" + + + + +Chapter Fifteen + +The Flight of the Rulers + + +Now it seems that when Queen Cor fled from her island to Regos, she had +wit enough, although greatly frightened, to make a stop at the royal +dairy, which was near to the bridge, and to drag poor Queen Garee from +the butter-house and across to Regos with her. The warriors of King Gos +had never before seen the terrible Queen Cor frightened, and therefore +when she came running across the bridge of boats, dragging the Queen of +Pingaree after her by one arm, the woman's great fright had the effect +of terrifying the waiting warriors. + +"Quick!" cried Cor. "Destroy the bridge, or we are lost." + +While the men were tearing away the bridge of boats the Queen ran up to +the palace of Gos, where she met her husband. + +"That boy is a wizard!" she gasped. "There is no standing against him." + +"Oh, have you discovered his magic at last?" replied Gos, laughing in +her face. "Who, now, is the coward?" + +"Don't laugh!" cried Queen Cor. "It is no laughing matter. Both our +islands are as good as conquered, this very minute. What shall we do, +Gos?" + +"Come in," he said, growing serious, "and let us talk it over." + +So they went into a room of the palace and talked long and earnestly. + +"The boy intends to liberate his father and mother, and all the people +of Pingaree, and to take them back to their island," said Cor. "He may +also destroy our palaces and make us his slaves. I can see but one way, +Gos, to prevent him from doing all this, and whatever else he pleases +to do." + +"What way is that?" asked King Gos. + +"We must take the boy's parents away from here as quickly as possible. +I have with me the Queen of Pingaree, and you can run up to the mines +and get the King. Then we will carry them away in a boat and hide them +where the boy cannot find them, with all his magic. We will use the +King and Queen of Pingaree as hostages, and send word to the boy wizard +that if he does not go away from our islands and allow us to rule them +undisturbed, in our own way, we will put his father and mother to +death. Also we will say that as long as we are let alone his parents +will be safe, although still safely hidden. I believe, Gos, that in +this way we can compel Prince Ingato obey us, for he seems very fond of +his parents." + +"It isn't a bad idea," said Gos, reflectively; "but where can we hide +the King and Queen, so that the boy cannot find them?" + +"In the country of the Nome King, on the mainland away at the south," +she replied. "The nomes are our friends, and they possess magic powers +that will enable them to protect the prisoners from discovery. If we +can manage to get the King and Queen of Pingaree to the Nome Kingdom +before the boy knows what we are doing, I am sure our plot will +succeed." + +Gos gave the plan considerable thought in the next five minutes, and +the more he thought about it the more clever and reasonable it seemed. +So he agreed to do as Queen Cor suggested and at once hurried away to +the mines, where he arrived before Prince Inga did. The next morning he +carried King Kitticut back to Regos. + +While Gos was gone, Queen Cor busied herself in preparing a large and +swift boat for the journey. She placed in it several bags of gold and +jewels with which to bribe the nomes, and selected forty of the +strongest oarsmen in Regos to row the boat. The instant King Gos +returned with his royal prisoner all was ready for departure. They +quickly entered the boat with their two important captives and without +a word of explanation to any of their people they commanded the oarsmen +to start, and were soon out of sight upon the broad expanse of the +Nonestic Ocean. + +Inga arrived at the city some hours later and was much distressed when +he learned that his father and mother had been spirited away from the +islands. + +"I shall follow them, of course," said the boy to Rinkitink, "and if I +cannot overtake them on the ocean I will search the world over until I +find them. But before I leave here I must arrange to send our people +back to Pingaree." + + + + +Chapter Sixteen + +Nikobob Refuses a Crown + + +Almost the first persons that Zella saw when she landed from the +silver-lined boat at Regos were her father and mother. Nikobob and his +wife had been greatly worried when their little daughter failed to +return from Coregos, so they had set out to discover what had become of +her. When they reached the City of Regos, that very morning, they were +astonished to hear news of all the strange events that had taken place; +still, they found comfort when told that Zella had been seen in the +boat of Prince Inga, which had gone to the north. Then, while they +wondered what this could mean, the silver-lined boat appeared again, +with their daughter in it, and they ran down to the shore to give her a +welcome and many joyful kisses. + +Inga invited the good people to the palace of King Gos, where he +conferred with them, as well as with Rinkitink and Bilbil. + +"Now that the King and Queen of Regos and Coregos have run away," he +said, "there is no one to rule these islands. So it is my duty to +appoint a new ruler, and as Nikobob, Zella's father, is an honest and +worthy man, I shall make him the King of the Twin Islands." + +"Me?" cried Nikobob, astounded by this speech. "I beg Your Highness, on +my bended knees, not to do so cruel a thing as to make me King!" + +"Why not?" inquired Rinkitink. "I'm a King, and I know how it feels. I +assure you, good Nikobob, that I quite enjoy my high rank, although a +jeweled crown is rather heavy to wear in hot weather." + +"With you, noble sir, it is different," said Nikobob, "for you are far +from your kingdom and its trials and worries and may do as you please. +But to remain in Regos, as King over these fierce and unruly warriors, +would be to live in constant anxiety and peril, and the chances are +that they would murder me within a month. As I have done no harm to +anyone and have tried to be a good and upright man, I do not think that +I should be condemned to such a dreadful fate." + +"Very well," replied Inga, "we will say no more about your being King. +I merely wanted to make you rich and prosperous, as I had promised +Zella." + +"Please forget that promise," pleaded the charcoal-burner, earnestly; +"I have been safe from molestation for many years, because I was poor +and possessed nothing that anyone else could envy. But if you make me +rich and prosperous I shall at once become the prey of thieves and +marauders and probably will lose my life in the attempt to protect my +fortune." + +Inga looked at the man in surprise. + +"What, then, can I do to please you?" he inquired. + +"Nothing more than to allow me to go home to my poor cabin," said +Nikobob. + +"Perhaps," remarked King Rinkitink, "the charcoal-burner has more +wisdom concealed in that hard head of his than we gave him credit for. +But let us use that wisdom, for the present, to counsel us what to do +in this emergency." + +"What you call my wisdom," said Nikobob, "is merely common sense. I +have noticed that some men become rich, and are scorned by some and +robbed by others. Other men become famous, and are mocked at and +derided by their fellows. But the poor and humble man who lives +unnoticed and unknown escapes all these troubles and is the only one +who can appreciate the joy of living." + +"If I had a hand, instead of a cloven hoof, I'd like to shake hands +with you, Nikobob," said Bilbil the goat. "But the poor man must not +have a cruel master, or he is undone." + +During the council they found, indeed, that the advice of the +charcoal-burner was both shrewd and sensible, and they profited much by +his words. + +Inga gave Captain Buzzub the command of the warriors and made him +promise to keep his men quiet and orderly--if he could. Then the boy +allowed all of King Gos's former slaves, except those who came from +Pingaree, to choose what boats they required and to stock them with +provisions and row away to their own countries. When these had +departed, with grateful thanks and many blessings showered upon the boy +Prince who had set them free, Inga made preparations to send his own +people home, where they were told to rebuild their houses and then +erect a new royal palace. They were then to await patiently the coming +of King Kitticut or Prince Inga. + +"My greatest worry," said the boy to his friends, "is to know whom to +appoint to take charge of this work of restoring Pingaree to its former +condition. My men are all pearl fishers, and although willing and +honest, have no talent for directing others how to work." + +While the preparations for departure were being made, Nikobob offered +to direct the men of Pingaree, and did so in a very capable manner. As +the island had been despoiled of all its valuable furniture and +draperies and rich cloths and paintings and statuary and the like, as +well as gold and silver and ornaments, Inga thought it no more than +just that they be replaced by the spoilers. So he directed his people +to search through the storehouses of King Gos and to regain all their +goods and chattels that could be found. Also he instructed them to take +as much else as they required to make their new homes comfortable, so +that many boats were loaded full of goods that would enable the people +to restore Pingaree to its former state of comfort. + +For his father's new palace the boy plundered the palaces of both Queen +Cor and King Gos, sending enough wares away with his people to make +King Kitticut's new residence as handsomely fitted and furnished as had +been the one which the ruthless invaders from Regos had destroyed. + +It was a great fleet of boats that set out one bright, sunny morning on +the voyage to Pingaree, carrying all the men, women and children and +all the goods for refitting their homes. As he saw the fleet depart, +Prince Inga felt that he had already successfully accomplished a part +of his mission, but he vowed he would never return to Pingaree in +person until he could take his father and mother there with him; +unless, indeed, King Gos wickedly destroyed his beloved parents, in +which case Inga would become the King of Pingaree and it would be his +duty to go to his people and rule over them. + +It was while the last of the boats were preparing to sail for Pingaree +that Nikobob, who had been of great service in getting them ready, came +to Inga in a thoughtful mood and said: + +"Your Highness, my wife and my daughter Zella have been urging me to +leave Regos and settle down in your island, in a new home. From what +your people have told me, Pingaree is a better place to live than +Regos, and there are no cruel warriors or savage beasts there to keep +one in constant fear for the safety of those he loves. Therefore, I +have come to ask to go with my family in one of the boats." + +Inga was much pleased with this proposal and not only granted Nikobob +permission to go to Pingaree to live, but instructed him to take with +him sufficient goods to furnish his new home in a comfortable manner. +In addition to this, he appointed Nikobob general manager of the +buildings and of the pearl fisheries, until his father or he himself +arrived, and the people approved this order because they liked Nikobob +and knew him to be just and honest. + +Soon as the last boat of the great flotilla had disappeared from the +view of those left at Regos, Inga and Rinkitink prepared to leave the +island themselves. The boy was anxious to overtake the boat of King +Gos, if possible, and Rinkitink had no desire to remain in Regos. + +Buzzub and the warriors stood silently on the shore and watched the +black boat with its silver lining depart, and I am sure they were as +glad to be rid of their unwelcome visitors as Inga and Rinkitink and +Bilbil were to leave. + +The boy asked the White Pearl what direction the boat of King Gos had +taken and then he followed after it, rowing hard and steadily for eight +days without becoming at all weary. But, although the black boat moved +very swiftly, it failed to overtake the barge which was rowed by Queen +Cor's forty picked oarsmen. + + + + +Chapter Seventeen + +The Nome King + + +The Kingdom of the Nomes does not border on the Nonestic Ocean, from +which it is separated by the Kingdom of Rinkitink and the Country of +the Wheelers, which is a part of the Land of Ev. Rinkitink's country is +separated from the country of the Nomes by a row of high and steep +mountains, from which it extends to the sea. The Country of the +Wheelers is a sandy waste that is open on one side to the Nonestic +Ocean and on the other side has no barrier to separate it from the Nome +Country, therefore it was on the coast of the Wheelers that King Cos +landed--in a spot quite deserted by any of the curious inhabitants of +that country. + +The Nome Country is very large in extent, and is only separated from +the Land of Oz, on its eastern borders, by a Deadly Desert that can not +be crossed by mortals, unless they are aided by the fairies or by magic. + +The nomes are a numerous and mischievous people, living in underground +caverns of wide extent, connected one with another by arches and +passages. The word "nome" means "one who knows," and these people are +so called because they know where all the gold and silver and precious +stones are hidden in the earth--a knowledge that no other living +creatures share with them. The nomes are busy people, constantly +digging up gold in one place and taking it to another place, where they +secretly bury it, and perhaps this is the reason they alone know where +to find it. The nomes were ruled, at the time of which I write, by a +King named Kaliko. + +King Gos had expected to be pursued by Inga in his magic boat, so he +made all the haste possible, urging his forty rowers to their best +efforts night and day. To his joy he was not overtaken but landed on +the sandy beach of the Wheelers on the morning of the eighth day. + +The forty rowers were left with the boat, while Queen Cor and King Cos, +with their royal prisoners, who were still chained, began the journey +to the Nome King. + +It was not long before they passed the sands and reached the rocky +country belonging to the nomes, but they were still a long way from the +entrance to the underground caverns in which lived the Nome King. There +was a dim path, winding between stones and boulders, over which the +walking was quite difficult, especially as the path led up hills that +were small mountains, and then down steep and abrupt slopes where any +misstep might mean a broken leg. Therefore it was the second day of +their journey before they climbed halfway up a rugged mountain and +found themselves at the entrance of the Nome King's caverns. + +On their arrival, the entrance seemed free and unguarded, but Gos and +Cor had been there before, and they were too wise to attempt to enter +without announcing themselves, for the passage to the caves was full of +traps and pitfalls. So King Gos stood still and shouted, and in an +instant they were surrounded by a group of crooked nomes, who seemed to +have sprung from the ground. + +One of these had very long ears and was called The Long-Eared Hearer. +He said: "I heard you coming early this morning." + +Another had eyes that looked in different directions at the same time +and were curiously bright and penetrating. He could look over a hill or +around a corner and was called The Lookout. Said he: "I saw you coming +yesterday." + +"Then," said King Gos, "perhaps King Kaliko is expecting us." + +"It is true," replied another nome, who wore a gold collar around his +neck and carried a bunch of golden keys. "The mighty Nome King expects +you, and bids you follow me to his presence." + +With this he led the way into the caverns and Gos and Cor followed, +dragging their weary prisoners with them, for poor King Kitticut and +his gentle Queen had been obliged to carry, all through the tedious +journey, the bags of gold and jewels which were to bribe the Nome King +to accept them as slaves. + +Through several long passages the guide led them and at last they +entered a small cavern which was beautifully decorated and set with +rare jewels that flashed from every part of the wall, floor and +ceiling. This was a waiting-room for visitors, and there their guide +left them while he went to inform King Kaliko of their arrival. + +Before long they were ushered into a great domed chamber, cut from the +solid rock and so magnificent that all of them--the King and Queen of +Pingaree and the King and Queen of Regos and Coregos--drew long breaths +of astonishment and opened their eyes as wide as they could. + +In an ivory throne sat a little round man who had a pointed beard and +hair that rose to a tall curl on top of his head. He was dressed in +silken robes, richly embroidered, which had large buttons of cut +rubies. On his head was a diamond crown and in his hand he held a +golden sceptre with a big jeweled ball at one end of it. This was +Kaliko, the King and ruler of all the nomes. He nodded pleasantly +enough to his visitors and said in a cheery voice: + +"Well, Your Majesties, what can I do for you?" + +"It is my desire," answered King Gos, respectfully, "to place in your +care two prisoners, whom you now see before you. They must be carefully +guarded, to prevent them from escaping, for they have the cunning of +foxes and are not to be trusted. In return for the favor I am asking +you to grant, I have brought Your Majesty valuable presents of gold and +precious gems." + +He then commanded Kitticut and Garee to lay before the Nome King the +bags of gold and jewels, and they obeyed, being helpless. + +"Very good," said King Kaliko, nodding approval, for like all the nomes +he loved treasures of gold and jewels. "But who are the prisoners you +have brought here, and why do you place them in my charge instead of +guarding them, yourself? They seem gentle enough, I'm sure." + +"The prisoners," returned King Gos, "are the King and Queen of +Pingaree, a small island north of here. They are very evil people and +came to our islands of Regos and Coregos to conquer them and slay our +poor people. Also they intended to plunder us of all our riches, but by +good fortune we were able to defeat and capture them. However, they +have a son who is a terrible wizard and who by magic art is trying to +find this awful King and Queen of Pingaree, and to set them free, that +they may continue their wicked deeds. Therefore, as we have no magic to +defend ourselves with, we have brought the prisoners to you for safe +keeping." + +"Your Majesty," spoke up King Kitticut, addressing the Nome King with +great indignation, "do not believe this tale, I implore you. It is all +a lie!" + +"I know it," said Kaliko. "I consider it a clever lie, though, because +it is woven without a thread of truth. However, that is none of my +business. The fact remains that my good friend King Gos wishes to put +you in my underground caverns, so that you will be unable to escape. +And why should I not please him in this little matter? Gos is a mighty +King and a great warrior, while your island of Pingaree is desolated +and your people scattered. In my heart, King Kitticut, I sympathize +with you, but as a matter of business policy we powerful Kings must +stand together and trample the weaker ones under our feet." + +King Kitticut was surprised to find the King of the nomes so candid and +so well informed, and he tried to argue that he and his gentle wife did +not deserve their cruel fate and that it would be wiser for Kaliko to +side with them than with the evil King of Regos. But Kaliko only shook +his head and smiled, saying: + +"The fact that you are a prisoner, my poor Kitticut, is evidence that +you are weaker than King Cos, and I prefer to deal with the strong. By +the way," he added, turning to the King of Regos, "have these prisoners +any connection with the Land of Oz?" + +"Why do you ask?" said Gos. + +"Because I dare not offend the Oz people," was the reply. "I am very +powerful, as you know, but Ozma of Oz is far more powerful than I; +therefore, if this King and Queen of Pingaree happened to be under +Ozma's protection, I would have nothing to do with them." + +"I assure Your Majesty that the prisoners have nothing to do with the +Oz people," Gos hastened to say. And Kitticut, being questioned, +admitted that this was true. + +"But how about that wizard you mentioned?" asked the Nome King. + +"Oh, he is merely a boy; but he is very ferocious and obstinate and he +is assisted by a little fat sorcerer called Rinkitink and a talking +goat." + +"Oho! A talking goat, do you say? That certainly sounds like magic; and +it also sounds like the Land of Oz, where all the animals talk," said +Kaliko, with a doubtful expression. + +But King Gos assured him the talking goat had never been to Oz. + +"As for Rinkitink, whom you call a sorcerer," continued the Nome King, +"he is a neighbor of mine, you must know, but as we are cut off from +each other by high mountains beneath which a powerful river runs, I +have never yet met King Rinkitink. But I have heard of him, and from +all reports he is a jolly rogue, and perfectly harmless. However, in +spite of your false statements and misrepresentations, I will earn the +treasure you have brought me, by keeping your prisoners safe in my +caverns. + +"Make them work," advised Queen Cor. "They are rather delicate, and to +make them work will make them suffer delightfully." + +"I'll do as I please about that," said the Nome King sternly. "Be +content that I agree to keep them safe." + +The bargain being thus made and concluded, Kaliko first examined the +gold and jewels and then sent it away to his royal storehouse, which +was well filled with like treasure. Next the captives were sent away in +charge of the nome with the golden collar and keys, whose name was +Klik, and he escorted them to a small cavern and gave them a good +supper. + +"I shall lock your door," said Klik, "so there is no need of your +wearing those heavy chains any longer." He therefore removed the chains +and left King Kitticut and his Queen alone. This was the first time +since the Northmen had carried them away from Pingaree that the good +King and Queen had been alone together and free of all bonds, and as +they embraced lovingly and mingled their tears over their sad fate they +were also grateful that they had passed from the control of the +heartless King Gos into the more considerate care of King Kaliko. They +were still captives but they believed they would be happier in the +underground caverns of the nomes than in Regos and Coregos. + +Meantime, in the King's royal cavern a great feast had been spread. +King Gos and Queen Cor, having triumphed in their plot, were so well +pleased that they held high revelry with the jolly Nome King until a +late hour that night. And the next morning, having cautioned Kaliko not +to release the prisoners under any consideration without their orders, +the King and Queen of Regos and Coregos left the caverns of the nomes +to return to the shore of the ocean where they had left their boat. + + + + +Chapter Eighteen + +Inga Parts with his Pink Pearl + + +The White Pearl guided Inga truly in his pursuit of the boat of King +Gos, but the boy had been so delayed in sending his people home to +Pingaree that it was a full day after Gos and Cor landed on the shore +of the Wheeler Country that Inga's boat arrived at the same place. + +There he found the forty rowers guarding the barge of Queen Cor, and +although they would not or could not tell the boy where the King and +Queen had taken his father and mother, the White Pearl advised him to +follow the path to the country and the caverns of the nomes. + +Rinkitink didn't like to undertake the rocky and mountainous journey, +even with Bilbil to carry him, but he would not desert Inga, even +though his own kingdom lay just beyond a range of mountains which could +be seen towering southwest of them. So the King bravely mounted the +goat, who always grumbled but always obeyed his master, and the three +set off at once for the caverns of the nomes. + +They traveled just as slowly as Queen Cor and King Gos had done, so +when they were about halfway they discovered the King and Queen coming +back to their boat. The fact that Gos and Cor were now alone proved +that they had left Inga's father and mother behind them; so, at the +suggestion of Rinkitink, the three hid behind a high rock until the +King of Regos and the Queen of Coregos, who had not observed them, had +passed them by. Then they continued their journey, glad that they had +not again been forced to fight or quarrel with their wicked enemies. + +"We might have asked them, however, what they had done with your poor +parents," said Rinkitink. + +"Never mind," answered Inga. "I am sure the White Pearl will guide us +aright." + +For a time they proceeded in silence and then Rinkitink began to +chuckle with laughter in the pleasant way he was wont to do before his +misfortunes came upon him. + +"What amuses Your Majesty?" inquired the boy. + +"The thought of how surprised my dear subjects would be if they +realized how near to them I am, and yet how far away. I have always +wanted to visit the Nome Country, which is full of mystery and magic +and all sorts of adventures, but my devoted subjects forbade me to +think of such a thing, fearing I would get hurt or enchanted." + +"Are you afraid, now that you are here?" asked Inga. + +"A little, but not much, for they say the new Nome King is not as +wicked as the old King used to be. Still, we are undertaking a +dangerous journey and I think you ought to protect me by lending me one +of your pearls." + +Inga thought this over and it seemed a reasonable request. + +"Which pearl would you like to have?" asked the boy. + +"Well, let us see," returned Rinkitink; "you may need strength to +liberate your captive parents, so you must keep the Blue Pearl. And you +will need the advice of the White Pearl, so you had best keep that +also. But in case we should be separated I would have nothing to +protect me from harm, so you ought to lend me the Pink Pearl." + +"Very well," agreed Inga, and sitting down upon a rock he removed his +right shoe and after withdrawing the cloth from the pointed toe took +out the Pink Pearl--the one which protected from any harm the person +who carried it. + +"Where can you put it, to keep it safely?" he asked. + +"In my vest pocket," replied the King. "The pocket has a flap to it and +I can pin it down in such a way that the pearl cannot get out and +become lost. As for robbery, no one with evil intent can touch my +person while I have the pearl." + +So Inga gave Rinkitink the Pink Pearl and the little King placed it in +the pocket of his red-and-green brocaded velvet vest, pinning the flap +of the pocket down tightly. + +They now resumed their journey and finally reached the entrance to the +Nome King's caverns. Placing the White Pearl to his ear, Inga asked: +"What shall I do now?" and the Voice of the Pearl replied: "Clap your +hands together four times and call aloud the word 'Klik.' Then allow +yourselves to be conducted to the Nome King, who is now holding your +father and mother captive." + +Inga followed these instructions and when Klik appeared in answer to +his summons the boy requested an audience of the Nome King. So Klik led +them into the presence of King Kaliko, who was suffering from a severe +headache, due to his revelry the night before, and therefore was +unusually cross and grumpy. + +"I know what you've come for," said he, before Inga could speak. "You +want to get the captives from Regos away from me; but you can't do it, +so you'd best go away again." + +"The captives are my father and mother, and I intend to liberate them," +said the boy firmly. + +The King stared hard at Inga, wondering at his audacity. Then he turned +to look at King Rinkitink and said: + +"I suppose you are the King of Gilgad, which is in the Kingdom of +Rinkitink." + +"You've guessed it the first time," replied Rinkitink. + +"How round and fat you are!" exclaimed Kaliko. + +"I was just thinking how fat and round you are," said Rinkitink. +"Really, King Kaliko, we ought to be friends, we're so much alike in +everything but disposition and intelligence." + +Then he began to chuckle, while Kaliko stared hard at him, not knowing +whether to accept his speech as a compliment or not. And now the nome's +eyes wandered to Bilbil, and he asked: + +"Is that your talking goat?" + +Bilbil met the Nome King's glowering look with a gaze equally surly and +defiant, while Rinkitink answered: "It is, Your Majesty." + +"Can he really talk?" asked Kaliko, curiously. + +"He can. But the best thing he does is to scold. Talk to His Majesty, +Bilbil." + +But Bilbil remained silent and would not speak. + +"Do you always ride upon his back?" continued Kaliko, questioning +Rinkitink. + +"Yes," was the answer, "because it is difficult for a fat man to walk +far, as perhaps you know from experience. + +"That is true," said Kaliko. "Get off the goat's back and let me ride +him a while, to see how I like it. Perhaps I'll take him away from you, +to ride through my caverns." + +Rinkitink chuckled softly as he heard this, but at once got off +Bilbil's back and let Kaliko get on. The Nome King was a little +awkward, but when he was firmly astride the saddle he called in a loud +voice: "Giddap!" + +When Bilbil paid no attention to the command and refused to stir, +Kaliko kicked his heels viciously against the goat's body, and then +Bilbil made a sudden start. He ran swiftly across the great cavern, +until he had almost reached the opposite wall, when he stopped so +abruptly that King Kaliko sailed over his head and bumped against the +jeweled wall. He bumped so hard that the points of his crown were all +mashed out of shape and his head was driven far into the +diamond-studded band of the crown, so that it covered one eye and a +part of his nose. Perhaps this saved Kaliko's head from being cracked +against the rock wall, but it was hard on the crown. + +Bilbil was highly pleased at the success of his feat and Rinkitink +laughed merrily at the Nome King's comical appearance; but Kaliko was +muttering and growling as he picked himself up and struggled to pull +the battered crown from his head, and it was evident that he was not in +the least amused. Indeed, Inga could see that the King was very angry, +and the boy knew that the incident was likely to turn Kaliko against +the entire party. + +The Nome King sent Klik for another crown and ordered his workmen to +repair the one that was damaged. While he waited for the new crown he +sat regarding his visitors with a scowling face, and this made Inga +more uneasy than ever. Finally, when the new crown was placed upon his +head, King Kaliko said: "Follow me, strangers!" and led the way to a +small door at one end of the cavern. + +Inga and Rinkitink followed him through the doorway and found +themselves standing on a balcony that overlooked an enormous domed +cave--so extensive that it seemed miles to the other side of it. All +around this circular cave, which was brilliantly lighted from an +unknown source, were arches connected with other caverns. + +Kaliko took a gold whistle from his pocket and blew a shrill note that +echoed through every part of the cave. Instantly nomes began to pour in +through the side arches in great numbers, until the immense space was +packed with them as far as the eye could reach. All were armed with +glittering weapons of polished silver and gold, and Inga was amazed +that any King could command so great an army. + +They began marching and countermarching in very orderly array until +another blast of the gold whistle sent them scurrying away as quickly +as they had appeared. And as soon as the great cave was again empty +Kaliko returned with his visitors to his own royal chamber, where he +once more seated himself upon his ivory throne. + +"I have shown you," said he to Inga, "a part of my bodyguard. The royal +armies, of which this is only a part, are as numerous as the sands of +the ocean, and live in many thousands of my underground caverns. You +have come here thinking to force me to give up the captives of King Gos +and Queen Cor, and I wanted to convince you that my power is too mighty +for anyone to oppose. I am told that you are a wizard, and depend upon +magic to aid you; but you must know that the nomes are not mortals, and +understand magic pretty well themselves, so if we are obliged to fight +magic with magic the chances are that we are a hundred times more +powerful than you can be. Think this over carefully, my boy, and try to +realize that you are in my power. I do not believe you can force me to +liberate King Kitticut and Queen Garee, and I know that you cannot coax +me to do so, for I have given my promise to King Gos. Therefore, as I +do not wish to hurt you, I ask you to go away peaceably and let me +alone." + +"Forgive me if I do not agree with you, King Kaliko," answered the boy. +"However difficult and dangerous my task may be, I cannot leave your +dominions until every effort to release my parents has failed and left +me completely discouraged." + +"Very well," said the King, evidently displeased. "I have warned you, +and now if evil overtakes you it is your own fault. I've a headache +to-day, so I cannot entertain you properly, according to your rank; but +Klik will attend you to my guest chambers and to-morrow I will talk +with you again." + +This seemed a fair and courteous way to treat one's declared enemies, +so they politely expressed the wish that Kaliko's headache would be +better, and followed their guide, Klik, down a well-lighted passage and +through several archways until they finally reached three nicely +furnished bedchambers which were cut from solid gray rock and well +lighted and aired by some mysterious method known to the nomes. + +The first of these rooms was given King Rinkitink, the second was +Inga's and the third was assigned to Bilbil the goat. There was a +swinging rock door between the third and second rooms and another +between the second and first, which also had a door that opened upon +the passage. Rinkitink's room was the largest, so it was here that an +excellent dinner was spread by some of the nome servants, who, in spite +of their crooked shapes, proved to be well trained and competent. + +"You are not prisoners, you know," said Klik; "neither are you welcome +guests, having declared your purpose to oppose our mighty King and all +his hosts. But we bear you no ill will, and you are to be well fed and +cared for as long as you remain in our caverns. Eat hearty, sleep +tight, and pleasant dreams to you." + +Saying this, he left them alone and at once Rinkitink and Inga began to +counsel together as to the best means to liberate King Kitticut and +Queen Garee. The White Pearl's advice was rather unsatisfactory to the +boy, just now, for all that the Voice said in answer to his questions +was: "Be patient, brave and determined." + +Rinkitink suggested that they try to discover in what part of the +series of underground caverns Inga's parents had been confined, as that +knowledge was necessary before they could take any action; so together +they started out, leaving Bilbil asleep in his room, and made their way +unopposed through many corridors and caverns. In some places were great +furnaces, where gold dust was being melted into bricks. In other rooms +workmen were fashioning the gold into various articles and ornaments. +In one cavern immense wheels revolved which polished precious gems, and +they found many caverns used as storerooms, where treasure of every +sort was piled high. Also they came to the barracks of the army and the +great kitchens. + +There were nomes everywhere--countless thousands of them--but none paid +the slightest heed to the visitors from the earth's surface. Yet, +although Inga and Rinkitink walked until they were weary, they were +unable to locate the place where the boy's father and mother had been +confined, and when they tried to return to their own rooms they found +that they had hopelessly lost themselves amid the labyrinth of +passages. However, Klik presently came to them, laughing at their +discomfiture, and led them back to their bedchambers. + +Before they went to sleep they carefully barred the door from +Rinkitink's room to the corridor, but the doors that connected the +three rooms one with another were left wide open. + +In the night Inga was awakened by a soft grating sound that filled him +with anxiety because he could not account for it. It was dark in his +room, the light having disappeared as soon as he got into bed, but he +managed to feel his way to the door that led to Rinkitink's room and +found it tightly closed and immovable. Then he made his way to the +opposite door, leading to Bilbil's room, to discover that also had been +closed and fastened. + +The boy had a curious sensation that all of his room--the walls, floor +and ceiling--was slowly whirling as if on a pivot, and it was such an +uncomfortable feeling that he got into bed again, not knowing what else +to do. And as the grating noise had ceased and the room now seemed +stationary, he soon fell asleep again. + +When the boy wakened, after many hours, he found the room again light. +So he dressed himself and discovered that a small table, containing a +breakfast that was smoking hot, had suddenly appeared in the center of +his room. He tried the two doors, but finding that he could not open +them he ate some breakfast, thoughtfully wondering who had locked him +in and why he had been made a prisoner. Then he again went to the door +which he thought led to Rinkitink's chamber and to his surprise the +latch lifted easily and the door swung open. + +Before him was a rude corridor hewn in the rock and dimly lighted. It +did not look inviting, so Inga closed the door, puzzled to know what +had become of Rinkitink's room and the King, and went to the opposite +door. Opening this, he found a solid wall of rock confronting him, +which effectually prevented his escape in that direction. + +The boy now realized that King Kaliko had tricked him, and while +professing to receive him as a guest had plotted to separate him from +his comrades. One way had been left, however, by which he might escape +and he decided to see where it led to. + +So, going to the first door, he opened it and ventured slowly into the +dimly lighted corridor. When he had advanced a few steps he heard the +door of his room slam shut behind him. He ran back at once, but the +door of rock fitted so closely into the wall that he found it +impossible to open it again. That did not matter so much, however, for +the room was a prison and the only way of escape seemed ahead of him. + +Along the corridor he crept until, turning a corner, he found himself +in a large domed cavern that was empty and deserted. Here also was a +dim light that permitted him to see another corridor at the opposite +side; so he crossed the rocky floor of the cavern and entered a second +corridor. This one twisted and turned in every direction but was not +very long, so soon the boy reached a second cavern, not so large as the +first. This he found vacant also, but it had another corridor leading +out of it, so Inga entered that. It was straight and short and beyond +was a third cavern, which differed little from the others except that +it had a strong iron grating at one side of it. + +All three of these caverns had been roughly hewn from the rock and it +seemed they had never been put to use, as had all the other caverns of +the nomes he had visited. Standing in the third cavern, Inga saw what +he thought was still another corridor at its farther side, so he walked +toward it. This opening was dark, and that fact, and the solemn silence +all around him, made him hesitate for a while to enter it. Upon +reflection, however, he realized that unless he explored the place to +the very end he could not hope to escape from it, so he boldly entered +the dark corridor and felt his way cautiously as he moved forward. + +Scarcely had he taken two paces when a crash resounded back of him and +a heavy sheet of steel closed the opening into the cavern from which he +had just come. He paused a moment, but it still seemed best to proceed, +and as Inga advanced in the dark, holding his hands outstretched before +him to feel his way, handcuffs fell upon his wrists and locked +themselves with a sharp click, and an instant later he found he was +chained to a stout iron post set firmly in the rock floor. + +The chains were long enough to permit him to move a yard or so in any +direction and by feeling the walls he found he was in a small circular +room that had no outlet except the passage by which he had entered, and +that was now closed by the door of steel. This was the end of the +series of caverns and corridors. + +It was now that the horror of his situation occurred to the boy with +full force. But he resolved not to submit to his fate without a +struggle, and realizing that he possessed the Blue Pearl, which gave +him marvelous strength, he quickly broke the chains and set himself +free of the handcuffs. Next he twisted the steel door from its hinges, +and creeping along the short passage, found himself in the third cave. + +But now the dim light, which had before guided him, had vanished; yet +on peering into the gloom of the cave he saw what appeared to be two +round disks of flame, which cast a subdued glow over the floor and +walls. By this dull glow he made out the form of an enormous man, +seated in the center of the cave, and he saw that the iron grating had +been removed, permitting the man to enter. + +The giant was unclothed and its limbs were thickly covered with coarse +red hair. The round disks of flame were its two eyes and when it opened +its mouth to yawn Inga saw that its jaws were wide enough to crush a +dozen men between the great rows of teeth. + +Presently the giant looked up and perceived the boy crouching at the +other side of the cavern, so he called out in a hoarse, rude voice: + +"Come hither, my pretty one. We will wrestle together, you and I, and +if you succeed in throwing me I will let you pass through my cave." + +The boy made no reply to the challenge. He realized he was in dire +peril and regretted that he had lent the Pink Pearl to King Rinkitink. +But it was now too late for vain regrets, although he feared that even +his great strength would avail him little against this hairy monster. +For his arms were not long enough to span a fourth of the giant's huge +body, while the monster's powerful limbs would be likely to crush out +Inga's life before he could gain the mastery. + +Therefore the Prince resolved to employ other means to combat this foe, +who had doubtless been placed there to bar his return. Retreating +through the passage he reached the room where he had been chained and +wrenched the iron post from its socket. It was a foot thick and four +feet long, and being of solid iron was so heavy that three ordinary men +would have found it hard to lift. + +Returning to the cavern, the boy swung the great bar above his head and +dashed it with mighty force full at the giant. The end of the bar +struck the monster upon its forehead, and with a single groan it fell +full length upon the floor and lay still. + +When the giant fell, the glow from its eyes faded away, and all was +dark. Cautiously, for Inga was not sure the giant was dead, the boy +felt his way toward the opening that led to the middle cavern. The +entrance was narrow and the darkness was intense, but, feeling braver +now, the boy stepped boldly forward. Instantly the floor began to sink +beneath him and in great alarm he turned and made a leap that enabled +him to grasp the rocky sides of the wall and regain a footing in the +passage through which he had just come. + +Scarcely had he obtained this place of refuge when a mighty crash +resounded throughout the cavern and the sound of a rushing torrent came +from far below. Inga felt in his pocket and found several matches, one +of which he lighted and held before him. While it flickered he saw that +the entire floor of the cavern had fallen away, and knew that had he +not instantly regained his footing in the passage he would have plunged +into the abyss that lay beneath him. + +By the light of another match he saw the opening at the other side of +the cave and the thought came to him that possibly he might leap across +the gulf. Of course, this could never be accomplished without the +marvelous strength lent him by the Blue Pearl, but Inga had the feeling +that one powerful spring might carry him over the chasm into safety. He +could not stay where he was, that was certain, so he resolved to make +the attempt. + +He took a long run through the first cave and the short corridor; then, +exerting all his strength, he launched himself over the black gulf of +the second cave. Swiftly he flew and, although his heart stood still +with fear, only a few seconds elapsed before his feet touched the ledge +of the opposite passageway and he knew he had safely accomplished the +wonderful feat. + +Only pausing to draw one long breath of relief, Inga quickly traversed +the crooked corridor that led to the last cavern of the three. But when +he came in sight of it he paused abruptly, his eyes nearly blinded by a +glare of strong light which burst upon them. Covering his face with his +hands, Inga retreated behind a projecting corner of rock and by +gradually getting his eyes used to the light he was finally able to +gaze without blinking upon the strange glare that had so quickly +changed the condition of the cavern. When he had passed through this +vault it had been entirely empty. Now the flat floor of rock was +covered everywhere with a bed of glowing coals, which shot up little +tongues of red and white flames. Indeed, the entire cave was one +monster furnace and the heat that came from it was fearful. + +Inga's heart sank within him as he realized the terrible obstacle +placed by the cunning Nome King between him and the safety of the other +caverns. There was no turning back, for it would be impossible for him +again to leap over the gulf of the second cave, the corridor at this +side being so crooked that he could get no run before he jumped. +Neither could he leap over the glowing coals of the cavern that faced +him, for it was much larger than the middle cavern. In this dilemma he +feared his great strength would avail him nothing and he bitterly +reproached himself for parting with the Pink Pearl, which would have +preserved him from injury. + +However, it was not in the nature of Prince Inga to despair for long, +his past adventures having taught him confidence and courage, sharpened +his wits and given him the genius of invention. He sat down and thought +earnestly on the means of escape from his danger and at last a clever +idea came to his mind. This is the way to get ideas: never to let +adverse circumstances discourage you, but to believe there is a way out +of every difficulty, which may be found by earnest thought. + +There were many points and projections of rock in the walls of the +crooked corridor in which Inga stood and some of these rocks had become +cracked and loosened, although still clinging to their places. The boy +picked out one large piece, and, exerting all his strength, tore it +away from the wall. He then carried it to the cavern and tossed it upon +the burning coals, about ten feet away from the end of the passage. +Then he returned for another fragment of rock, and wrenching it free +from its place, he threw it ten feet beyond the first one, toward the +opposite side of the cave. The boy continued this work until he had +made a series of stepping-stones reaching straight across the cavern to +the dark passageway beyond, which he hoped would lead him back to +safety if not to liberty. + +When his work had been completed, Inga did not long hesitate to take +advantage of his stepping-stones, for he knew his best chance of escape +lay in his crossing the bed of coals before the rocks became so heated +that they would burn his feet. So he leaped to the first rock and from +there began jumping from one to the other in quick succession. A +withering wave of heat at once enveloped him, and for a time he feared +he would suffocate before he could cross the cavern; but he held his +breath, to keep the hot air from his lungs, and maintained his leaps +with desperate resolve. + +Then, before he realized it, his feet were pressing the cooler rocks of +the passage beyond and he rolled helpless upon the floor, gasping for +breath. His skin was so red that it resembled the shell of a boiled +lobster, but his swift motion had prevented his being burned, and his +shoes had thick soles, which saved his feet. + +After resting a few minutes, the boy felt strong enough to go on. He +went to the end of the passage and found that the rock door by which he +had left his room was still closed, so he returned to about the middle +of the corridor and was thinking what he should do next, when suddenly +the solid rock before him began to move and an opening appeared through +which shone a brilliant light. Shielding his eyes, which were somewhat +dazzled, Inga sprang through the opening and found himself in one of +the Nome King's inhabited caverns, where before him stood King Kaliko, +with a broad grin upon his features, and Klik, the King's chamberlain, +who looked surprised, and King Rinkitink seated astride Bilbil the +goat, both of whom seemed pleased that Inga had rejoined them. + + + + +Chapter Nineteen + +Rinkitink Chuckles + + +We will now relate what happened to Rinkitink and Bilbil that morning, +while Inga was undergoing his trying experience in escaping the fearful +dangers of the three caverns. + +The King of Gilgad wakened to find the door of Inga's room fast shut +and locked, but he had no trouble in opening his own door into the +corridor, for it seems that the boy's room, which was the middle one, +whirled around on a pivot, while the adjoining rooms occupied by Bilbil +and Rinkitink remained stationary. The little King also found a +breakfast magically served in his room, and while he was eating it, +Klik came to him and stated that His Majesty, King Kaliko, desired his +presence in the royal cavern. + +So Rinkitink, having first made sure that the Pink Pearl was still in +his vest pocket, willingly followed Klik, who ran on some distance +ahead. But no sooner had Rinkitink set foot in the passage than a great +rock, weighing at least a ton, became dislodged and dropped from the +roof directly over his head. Of course, it could not harm him, +protected as he was by the Pink Pearl, and it bounded aside and crashed +upon the floor, where it was shattered by its own weight. + +"How careless!" exclaimed the little King, and waddled after Klik, who +seemed amazed at his escape. + +Presently another rock above Rinkitink plunged downward, and then +another, but none touched his body. Klik seemed much perplexed at these +continued escapes and certainly Kaliko was surprised when Rinkitink, +safe and sound, entered the royal cavern. + +"Good morning," said the King of Gilgad. "Your rocks are getting loose, +Kaliko, and you'd better have them glued in place before they hurt +someone." Then he began to chuckle: "Hoo, hoo, hoo-hee, hee-heek, keek, +eek!" and Kaliko sat and frowned because he realized that the little +fat King was poking fun at him. + +"I asked Your Majesty to come here," said the Nome King, "to show you a +curious skein of golden thread which my workmen have made. If it +pleases you, I will make you a present of it." + +With this he held out a small skein of glittering gold twine, which was +really pretty and curious. Rinkitink took it in his hand and at once +the golden thread began to unwind--so swiftly that the eye could not +follow its motion. And, as it unwound, it coiled itself around +Rinkitink's body, at the same time weaving itself into a net, until it +had enveloped the little King from head to foot and placed him in a +prison of gold. + +"Aha!" cried Kaliko; "this magic worked all right, it seems. + +"Oh, did it?" replied Rinkitink, and stepping forward he walked right +through the golden net, which fell to the floor in a tangled mass. + +Kaliko rubbed his chin thoughtfully and stared hard at Rinkitink. + +"I understand a good bit of magic," said he, "but Your Majesty has a +sort of magic that greatly puzzles me, because it is unlike anything of +the sort that I ever met with before." + +"Now, see here, Kaliko," said Rinkitink; "if you are trying to harm me +or my companions, give it up, for you will never succeed. We're +harm-proof, so to speak, and you are merely wasting your time trying to +injure us. + +"You may be right, and I hope I am not so impolite as to argue with a +guest," returned the Nome King. "But you will pardon me if I am not yet +satisfied that you are stronger than my famous magic. However, I beg +you to believe that I bear you no ill will, King Rinkitink; but it is +my duty to destroy you, if possible, because you and that insignificant +boy Prince have openly threatened to take away my captives and have +positively refused to go back to the earth's surface and let me alone. +I'm very tender-hearted, as a matter of fact, and I like you immensely, +and would enjoy having you as a friend, but--" Here he pressed a button +on the arm of his throne chair and the section of the floor where +Rinkitink stood suddenly opened and disclosed a black pit beneath, +which was a part of 'the terrible Bottomless Gulf. + +But Rinkitink did not fall into the pit; his body remained suspended in +the air until he put out his foot and stepped to the solid floor, when +the opening suddenly closed again. + +"I appreciate Your Majesty's friendship," remarked Rinkitink, as calmly +as if nothing had happened, "but I am getting tired with standing. Will +you kindly send for my goat, Bilbil, that I may sit upon his back to +rest?" + +"Indeed I will!" promised Kaliko. "I have not yet completed my test of +your magic, and as I owe that goat a slight grudge for bumping my head +and smashing my second-best crown, I will be glad to discover if the +beast can also escape my delightful little sorceries." + +So Klik was sent to fetch Bilbil and presently returned with the goat, +which was very cross this morning because it had not slept well in the +underground caverns. + +Rinkitink lost no time in getting upon the red velvet saddle which the +goat constantly wore, for he feared the Nome King would try to destroy +Bilbil and knew that as long as his body touched that of the goat the +Pink Pearl would protect them both; whereas, if Bilbil stood alone, +there was no magic to save him. + +Bilbil glared wickedly at King Kaliko, who moved uneasily in his ivory +throne. Then the Nome King whispered a moment in the ear of Klik, who +nodded and left the room. + +"Please make yourselves at home here for a few minutes, while I attend +to an errand," said the Nome King, getting up from the throne. "I shall +return pretty soon, when I hope to find you pieceful--ha, ha, +ha!--that's a joke you can't appreciate now but will later. Be +pieceful--that's the idea. Ho, ho, ho! How funny." Then he waddled from +the cavern, closing the door behind him. + +"Well, why didn't you laugh when Kaliko laughed?" demanded the goat, +when they were left alone in the cavern. + +"Because he means mischief of some sort," replied Rinkitink, "and we'll +laugh after the danger is over, Bilbil. There's an old adage that says: +'He laughs best who laughs last,' and the only way to laugh last is to +give the other fellow a chance. Where did that knife come from, I +wonder." + +For a long, sharp knife suddenly appeared in the air near them, +twisting and turning from side to side and darting here and there in a +dangerous manner, without any support whatever. Then another knife +became visible--and another and another--until all the space in the +royal cavern seemed filled with them. Their sharp points and edges +darted toward Rinkitink and Bilbil perpetually and nothing could have +saved them from being cut to pieces except the protecting power of the +Pink Pearl. As it was, not a knife touched them and even Bilbil gave a +gruff laugh at the failure of Kaliko's clever magic. + +The goat wandered here and there in the cavern, carrying Rinkitink upon +his back, and neither of them paid the slightest heed to the knives, +although the glitter of the hundreds of polished blades was rather +trying to their eyes. Perhaps for ten minutes the knives darted about +them in bewildering fury; then they disappeared as suddenly as they had +appeared. + +Kaliko cautiously stuck his head through the doorway and found the goat +chewing the embroidery of his royal cloak, which he had left lying over +the throne, while Rinkitink was reading his manuscript on "How to be +Good" and chuckling over its advice. The Nome King seemed greatly +disappointed as he came in and resumed his seat on the throne. Said +Rinkitink with a chuckle: + +"We've really had a peaceful time, Kaliko, although not the pieceful +time you expected. Forgive me if I indulge in a laugh--hoo, hoo, +hoo-hee, heek-keek-eek! And now, tell me; aren't you getting tired of +trying to injure us?" + +"Eh--heh," said the Nome King. "I see now that your magic can protect +you from all my arts. But is the boy Inga as, well protected as Your +Majesty and the goat?' + +"Why do you ask?" inquired Rinkitink, uneasy at the question because he +remembered he had not seen the little Prince of Pingaree that morning. + +"Because," said Kaliko, "the boy has been undergoing trials far greater +and more dangerous than any you have encountered, and it has been +hundreds of years since anyone has been able to escape alive from the +perils of my Three Trick Caverns." + +King Rinkitink was much alarmed at hearing this, for although he knew +that Inga possessed the Blue Pearl, that would only give to him +marvelous strength, and perhaps strength alone would not enable him to +escape from danger. But he would not let Kaliko see the fear he felt +for Inga's safety, so he said in a careless way: + +"You're a mighty poor magician, Kaliko, and I'll give you my crown if +Inga hasn't escaped any danger you have threatened him with." + +"Your whole crown is not worth one of the valuable diamonds in my +crown," answered the Nome King, "but I'll take it. Let us go at once, +therefore, and see what has become of the boy Prince, for if he is not +destroyed by this time I will admit he cannot be injured by any of the +magic arts which I have at my command." + +He left the room, accompanied by Klik, who had now rejoined his master, +and by Rinkitink riding upon Bilbil. After traversing several of the +huge caverns they entered one that was somewhat more bright and +cheerful than the others, where the Nome King paused before a wall of +rock. Then Klik pressed a secret spring and a section of the wall +opened and disclosed the corridor where Prince Inga stood facing them. + +"Tarts and tadpoles!" cried Kaliko in surprise. "The boy is still +alive!" + + + + +Chapter Twenty + +Dorothy to the Rescue + + +One day when Princess Dorothy of Oz was visiting Glinda the Good, who +is Ozma's Royal Sorceress, she was looking through Glinda's Great Book +of Records--wherein is inscribed all important events that happen in +every part of the world--when she came upon the record of the +destruction of Pingaree, the capture of King Kitticut and Queen Garee +and all their people, and the curious escape of Inga, the boy Prince, +and of King Rinkitink and the talking goat. Turning over some of the +following pages, Dorothy read how Inga had found the Magic Pearls and +was rowing the silver-lined boat to Regos to try to rescue his parents. + +The little girl was much interested to know how well Inga succeeded, +but she returned to the palace of Ozma at the Emerald City of Oz the +next day and other events made her forget the boy Prince of Pingaree +for a time. However, she was one day idly looking at Ozma's Magic +Picture, which shows any scene you may wish to see, when the girl +thought of Inga and commanded the Magic Picture to show what the boy +was doing at that moment. + +It was the time when Inga and Rinkitink had followed the King of Regos +and Queen of Coregos to the Nome King's country and she saw them hiding +behind the rock as Cor and Gos passed them by after having placed the +King and Queen of Pingaree in the keeping of the Nome King. From that +time Dorothy followed, by means of the Magic Picture, the adventures of +Inga and his friend in the Nome King's caverns, and the danger and +helplessness of the poor boy aroused the little girl's pity and +indignation. + +So she went to Ozma and told the lovely girl Ruler of Oz all about Inga +and Rinkitink. + +"I think Kaliko is treating them dreadfully mean," declared Dorothy, +"and I wish you'd let me go to the Nome Country and help them out of +their troubles." + +"Go, my dear, if you wish to," replied Ozma, "but I think it would be +best for you to take the Wizard with you." + +"Oh, I'm not afraid of the nomes," said Dorothy, "but I'll be glad to +take the Wizard, for company. And may we use your Magic Carpet, Ozma?" + +"Of course. Put the Magic Carpet in the Red Wagon and have the Sawhorse +take you and the Wizard to the edge of the desert. While you are gone, +Dorothy, I'll watch you in the Magic Picture, and if any danger +threatens you I'll see you are not harmed." + +Dorothy thanked the Ruler of Oz and kissed her good-bye, for she was +determined to start at once. She found the Wizard of Oz, who was +planting shoetrees in the garden, and when she told him Inga's story he +willingly agreed to accompany the little girl to the Nome King's +caverns. They had both been there before and had conquered the nomes +with ease, so they were not at all afraid. + +The Wizard, who was a cheery little man with a bald head and a winning +smile, harnessed the Wooden Sawhorse to the Red Wagon and loaded on +Ozma's Magic Carpet. Then he and Dorothy climbed to the seat and the +Sawhorse started off and carried them swiftly through the beautiful +Land of Oz to the edge of the Deadly Desert that separated their +fairyland from the Nome Country. + +Even Dorothy and the clever Wizard would not have dared to cross this +desert without the aid of the Magic Carpet, for it would have quickly +destroyed them; but when the roll of carpet had been placed upon the +edge of the sands, leaving just enough lying flat for them to stand +upon, the carpet straightway began to unroll before them and as they +walked on it continued to unroll, until they had safely passed over the +stretch of Deadly Desert and were on the border of the Nome King's +dominions. + +This journey had been accomplished in a few minutes, although such a +distance would have required several days travel had they not been +walking on the Magic Carpet. On arriving they at once walked toward the +entrance to the caverns of the nomes. + +The Wizard carried a little black bag containing his tools of wizardry, +while Dorothy carried over her arm a covered basket in which she had +placed a dozen eggs, with which to conquer the nomes if she had any +trouble with them. + +Eggs may seem to you to be a queer weapon with which to fight, but the +little girl well knew their value. The nomes are immortal; that is, +they do not perish, as mortals do, unless they happen to come in +contact with an egg. If an egg touches them--either the outer shell or +the inside of the egg--the nomes lose their charm of perpetual life and +thereafter are liable to die through accident or old age, just as all +humans are. + +For this reason the sight of an egg fills a nome with terror and he +will do anything to prevent an egg from touching him, even for an +instant. So, when Dorothy took her basket of eggs with her, she knew +that she was more powerfully armed than if she had a regiment of +soldiers at her back. + + + + +Chapter Twenty-One + +The Wizard Finds an Enchantment + + +After Kaliko had failed in his attempts to destroy his guests, as has +been related, the Nome King did nothing more to injure them but treated +them in a friendly manner. He refused, however, to permit Inga to see +or to speak with his father and mother, or even to know in what part of +the underground caverns they were confined. + +"You are able to protect your lives and persons, I freely admit," said +Kaliko; "but I firmly believe you have no power, either of magic or +otherwise, to take from me the captives I have agreed to keep for King +Gos." + +Inga would not agree to this. He determined not to leave the caverns +until he had liberated his father and mother, although he did not then +know how that could be accomplished. As for Rinkitink, the jolly King +was well fed and had a good bed to sleep upon, so he was not worrying +about anything and seemed in no hurry to go away. + +Kaliko and Rinkitink were engaged in pitching a game with solid gold +quoits, on the floor of the royal chamber, and Inga and Bilbil were +watching them, when Klik came running in, his hair standing on end with +excitement, and cried out that the Wizard of Oz and Dorothy were +approaching. + +Kaliko turned pale on hearing this unwelcome news and, abandoning his +game, went to sit in his ivory throne and try to think what had brought +these fearful visitors to his domain. + +"Who is Dorothy?" asked Inga. + +"She is a little girl who once lived in Kansas," replied Klik, with a +shudder, "but she now lives in Ozma's palace at the Emerald City and is +a Princess of Oz--which means that she is a terrible foe to deal with." + +"Doesn't she like the nomes?" inquired the boy. + +"It isn't that," said King Kaliko, with a groan, "but she insists on +the nomes being goody-goody, which is contrary to their natures. +Dorothy gets angry if I do the least thing that is wicked, and tries to +make me stop it, and that naturally makes me downhearted. I can't +imagine why she has come here just now, for I've been behaving very +well lately. As for that Wizard of Oz, he's chock-full of magic that I +can't overcome, for he learned it from Glinda, who is the most powerful +sorceress in the world. Woe is me! Why didn't Dorothy and the Wizard +stay in Oz, where they belong?" + +Inga and Rinkitink listened to this with much joy, for at once the idea +came to them both to plead with Dorothy to help them. Even Bilbil +pricked up his ears when he heard the Wizard of Oz mentioned, and the +goat seemed much less surly, and more thoughtful than usual. + +A few minutes later a nome came to say that Dorothy and the Wizard had +arrived and demanded admittance, so Klik was sent to usher them into +the royal presence of the Nome King. + +As soon as she came in the little girl ran up to the boy Prince and +seized both his hands. + +"Oh, Inga!" she exclaimed, "I'm so glad to find you alive and well." + +Inga was astonished at so warm a greeting. Making a low bow he said: + +"I don't think we have met before, Princess." + +"No, indeed," replied Dorothy, "but I know all about you and I've come +to help you and King Rinkitink out of your troubles." Then she turned +to the Nome King and continued: "You ought to be ashamed of yourself, +King Kaliko, to treat an honest Prince and an honest King so badly." + +"I haven't done anything to them," whined Kaliko, trembling as her eyes +flashed upon him. + +"No; but you tried to, an' that's just as bad, if not worse," said +Dorothy, who was very indignant. "And now I want you to send for the +King and Queen of Pingaree and have them brought here immejitly!" + +"I won't," said Kaliko. + +"Yes, you will!" cried Dorothy, stamping her foot at him. "I won't have +those poor people made unhappy any longer, or separated from their +little boy. Why, it's dreadful, Kaliko, an' I'm su'prised at you. You +must be more wicked than I thought you were." + +"I can't do it, Dorothy," said the Nome King, almost weeping with +despair. "I promised King Gos I'd keep them captives. You wouldn't ask +me to break my promise, would you?" + +"King Gos was a robber and an outlaw," she said, "and p'r'aps you don't +know that a storm at sea wrecked his boat, while he was going back to +Regos, and that he and Queen Cor were both drowned." + +"Dear me!" exclaimed Kaliko. "Is that so?" + +"I saw it in Glinda's Record Book," said Dorothy. "So now you trot out +the King and Queen of Pingaree as quick as you can." + +"No," persisted the contrary Nome King, shaking his head. "I won't do +it. Ask me anything else and I'll try to please you, but I can't allow +these friendly enemies to triumph over me. + +"In that case," said Dorothy, beginning to remove the cover from her +basket, "I'll show you some eggs." + +"Eggs!" screamed the Nome King in horror. "Have you eggs in that +basket?" + +"A dozen of 'em," replied Dorothy. + +"Then keep them there--I beg--I implore you!--and I'll do anything you +say," pleaded Kaliko, his teeth chattering so that he could hardly +speak. + +"Send for the King and Queen of Pingaree," said Dorothy. + +"Go, Klik," commanded the Nome King, and Klik ran away in great haste, +for he was almost as much frightened as his master. + +It was an affecting scene when the unfortunate King and Queen of +Pingaree entered the chamber and with sobs and tears of joy embraced +their brave and adventurous son. All the others stood silent until +greetings and kisses had been exchanged and Inga had told his parents +in a few words of his vain struggles to rescue them and how Princess +Dorothy had finally come to his assistance. + +Then King Kitticut shook the hands of his friend King Rinkitink and +thanked him for so loyally supporting his son Inga, and Queen Garee +kissed little Dorothy's forehead and blessed her for restoring her +husband and herself to freedom. + +The Wizard had been standing near Bilbil the goat and now he was +surprised to hear the animal say: + +"Joyful reunion, isn't it? But it makes me tired to see grown people +cry like children." + +"Oho!" exclaimed the Wizard. "How does it happen, Mr. Goat, that you, +who have never been to the Land of Oz, are able to talk?" + +"That's my business," returned Bilbil in a surly tone. + +The Wizard stooped down and gazed fixedly into the animal's eyes. Then +he said, with a pitying sigh: "I see; you are under an enchantment. +Indeed, I believe you to be Prince Bobo of Boboland." + +Bilbil made no reply but dropped his head as if ashamed. + +"This is a great discovery," said the Wizard, addressing Dorothy and +the others of the party. "A good many years ago a cruel magician +transformed the gallant Prince of Boboland into a talking goat, and +this goat, being ashamed of his condition, ran away and was never after +seen in Boboland, which is a country far to the south of here but +bordering on the Deadly Desert, opposite the Land of Oz. I heard of +this story long ago and know that a diligent search has been made for +the enchanted Prince, without result. But I am well assured that, in +the animal you call Bilbil, I have discovered the unhappy Prince of +Boboland." + +"Dear me, Bilbil," said Rinkitink, "why have you never told me this?" + +"What would be the use?" asked Bilbil in a low voice and still refusing +to look up. + +"The use?" repeated Rinkitink, puzzled. + +"Yes, that's the trouble," said the Wizard. "It is one of the most +powerful enchantments ever accomplished, and the magician is now dead +and the secret of the anti-charm lost. Even I, with all my skill, +cannot restore Prince Bobo to his proper form. But I think Glinda might +be able to do so and if you will all return with Dorothy and me to the +Land of Oz, where Ozma will make you welcome, I will ask Glinda to try +to break this enchantment." + +This was willingly agreed to, for they all welcomed the chance to visit +the famous Land of Oz. So they bade good-bye to King Kaliko, whom +Dorothy warned not to be wicked any more if he could help it, and the +entire party returned over the Magic Carpet to the Land of Oz. They +filled the Red Wagon, which was still waiting for them, pretty full; +but the Sawhorse didn't mind that and with wonderful speed carried them +safely to the Emerald City. + + + + +Chapter Twenty Two + +Ozma's Banquet + + +Ozma had seen in her Magic Picture the liberation of Inga's parents and +the departure of the entire party for the Emerald City, so with her +usual hospitality she ordered a splendid banquet prepared and invited +all her quaint friends who were then in the Emerald City to be present +that evening to meet the strangers who were to become her guests. + +Glinda, also, in her wonderful Record Book had learned of the events +that had taken place in the caverns of the Nome King and she became +especially interested in the enchantment of the Prince of Boboland. So +she hastily prepared several of her most powerful charms and then +summoned her flock of sixteen white storks, which swiftly bore her to +Ozma's palace. She arrived there before the Red Wagon did and was +warmly greeted by the girl Ruler. + +Realizing that the costume of Queen Garee of Pingaree must have become +sadly worn and frayed, owing to her hardships and adventures, Ozma +ordered a royal outfit prepared for the good Queen and had it laid in +her chamber ready for her to put on as soon as she arrived, so she +would not be shamed at the banquet. New costumes were also provided for +King Kitticut and King Rinkitink and Prince Inga, all cut and made and +embellished in the elaborate and becoming style then prevalent in the +Land of Oz, and as soon as the party arrived at the palace Ozma's +guests were escorted by her servants to their rooms, that they might +bathe and dress themselves. + +Glinda the Sorceress and the Wizard of Oz took charge of Bilbil the +goat and went to a private room where they were not likely to be +interrupted. Glinda first questioned Bilbil long and earnestly about +the manner of his enchantment and the ceremony that had been used by +the magician who enchanted him. At first Bilbil protested that he did +not want to be restored to his natural shape, saying that he had been +forever disgraced in the eyes of his people and of the entire world by +being obliged to exist as a scrawny, scraggly goat. But Glinda pointed +out that any person who incurred the enmity of a wicked magician was +liable to suffer a similar fate, and assured him that his misfortune +would make him better beloved by his subjects when he returned to them +freed from his dire enchantment. + +Bilbil was finally convinced of the truth of this assertion and agreed +to submit to the experiments of Glinda and the Wizard, who knew they +had a hard task before them and were not at all sure they could +succeed. We know that Glinda is the most complete mistress of magic who +has ever existed, and she was wise enough to guess that the clever but +evil magician who had enchanted Prince Bobo had used a spell that would +puzzle any ordinary wizard or sorcerer to break; therefore she had +given the matter much shrewd thought and hoped she had conceived a plan +that would succeed. But because she was not positive of success she +would have no one present at the incantation except her assistant, the +Wizard of Oz. + +First she transformed Bilbil the goat into a lamb, and this was done +quite easily. Next she transformed the lamb into an ostrich, giving it +two legs and feet instead of four. Then she tried to transform the +ostrich into the original Prince Bobo, but this incantation was an +utter failure. Glinda was not discouraged, however, but by a powerful +spell transformed the ostrich into a tottenhot--which is a lower form +of a man. Then the tottenhot was transformed into a mifket, which was a +great step in advance and, finally, Glinda transformed the mifket into +a handsome young man, tall and shapely, who fell on his knees before +the great Sorceress and gratefully kissed her hand, admitting that he +had now recovered his proper shape and was indeed Prince Bobo of +Boboland. + +This process of magic, successful though it was in the end, had +required so much time that the banquet was now awaiting their presence. +Bobo was already dressed in princely raiment and although he seemed +very much humbled by his recent lowly condition, they finally persuaded +him to join the festivities. + +When Rinkitink saw that his goat had now become a Prince, he did not +know whether to be sorry or glad, for he felt that he would miss the +companionship of the quarrelsome animal he had so long been accustomed +to ride upon, while at the same time he rejoiced that poor Bilbil had +come to his own again. + +Prince Bobo humbly begged Rinkitink's forgiveness for having been so +disagreeable to him, at times, saying that the nature of a goat had +influenced him and the surly disposition he had shown was a part of his +enchantment. But the jolly King assured the Prince that he had really +enjoyed Bilbil's grumpy speeches and forgave him readily. Indeed, they +all discovered the young Prince Bobo to be an exceedingly courteous and +pleasant person, although he was somewhat reserved and dignified. + +Ah, but it was a great feast that Ozma served in her gorgeous banquet +hall that night and everyone was as happy as could be. The Shaggy Man +was there, and so was Jack Pumpkinhead and the Tin Woodman and Cap'n +Bill. Beside Princess Dorothy sat Tiny Trot and Betsy Bobbin, and the +three little girls were almost as sweet to look upon as was Ozma, who +sat at the head of her table and outshone all her guests in loveliness. + +King Rinkitink was delighted with the quaint people of Oz and laughed +and joked with the tin man and the pumpkin-headed man and found Cap'n +Bill a very agreeable companion. But what amused the jolly King most +were the animal guests, which Ozma always invited to her banquets and +seated at a table by themselves, where they talked and chatted together +as people do but were served the sort of food their natures required. +The Hungry Tiger and Cowardly Lion and the Glass Cat were much admired +by Rinkitink, but when he met a mule named Hank, which Betsy Bobbin had +brought to Oz, the King found the creature so comical that he laughed +and chuckled until his friends thought he would choke. Then while the +banquet was still in progress, Rinkitink composed and sang a song to +the mule and they all joined in the chorus, which was something like +this: + + "It's very queer how big an ear + Is worn by Mr. Donkey; + And yet I fear he could not hear + If it were on a monkey. + + 'Tis thick and strong and broad and long + And also very hairy; + It's quite becoming to our Hank + But might disgrace a fairy!" + + +This song was received with so much enthusiasm that Rinkitink was +prevailed upon to sing another. They gave him a little time to compose +the rhyme, which he declared would be better if he could devote a month +or two to its composition, but the sentiment he expressed was so +admirable that no one criticized the song or the manner in which the +jolly little King sang it. + +Dorothy wrote down the words on a piece of paper, and here they are: + + "We're merry comrades all, to-night, + Because we've won a gallant fight + And conquered all our foes. + We're not afraid of anything, + So let us gayly laugh and sing + Until we seek repose. + + "We've all our grateful hearts can wish; + King Gos has gone to feed the fish, + Queen Cor has gone, as well; + King Kitticut has found his own, + Prince Bobo soon will have a throne + Relieved of magic spell. + + "So let's forget the horrid strife + That fell upon our peaceful life + And caused distress and pain; + For very soon across the sea + We'll all be sailing merrily + To Pingaree again." + + + + +Chapter Twenty Three + +The Pearl Kingdom + + +It was unfortunate that the famous Scarecrow--the most popular person +in all Oz, next to Ozma--was absent at the time of the banquet, for he +happened just then to be making one of his trips through the country; +but the Scarecrow had a chance later to meet Rinkitink and Inga and the +King and Queen of Pingaree and Prince Bobo, for the party remained +several weeks at the Emerald City, where they were royally entertained, +and where both the gentle Queen Garee and the noble King Kitticut +recovered much of their good spirits and composure and tried to forget +their dreadful experiences. + +At last, however, the King and Queen desired to return to their own +Pingaree, as they longed to be with their people again and see how well +they had rebuilt their homes. Inga also was anxious to return, although +he had been very happy in Oz, and King Rinkitink, who was happy +anywhere except at Gilgad, decided to go with his former friends to +Pingaree. As for prince Bobo, he had become so greatly attached to King +Rinkitink that he was loth to leave him. + +On a certain day they all bade good-bye to Ozma and Dorothy and Glinda +and the Wizard and all their good friends in Oz, and were driven in the +Red Wagon to the edge of the Deadly Desert, which they crossed safely +on the Magic Carpet. They then made their way across the Nome Kingdom +and the Wheeler Country, where no one molested them, to the shores of +the Nonestic Ocean. There they found the boat with the silver lining +still lying undisturbed on the beach. + +There were no important adventures during the trip and on their arrival +at the pearl kingdom they were amazed at the beautiful appearance of +the island they had left in ruins. All the houses of the people had +been rebuilt and were prettier than before, with green lawns before +them and flower gardens in the back yards. The marble towers of King +Kitticut's new palace were very striking and impressive, while the +palace itself proved far more magnificent than it had been before the +warriors from Regos destroyed it. + +Nikobob had been very active and skillful in directing all this work, +and he had also built a pretty cottage for himself, not far from the +King's palace, and there Inga found Zella, who was living very happy +and contented in her new home. Not only had Nikobob accomplished all +this in a comparatively brief space of time, but he had started the +pearl fisheries again and when King Kitticut returned to Pingaree he +found a quantity of fine pearls already in the royal treasury. + +So pleased was Kitticut with the good judgment, industry and honesty of +the former charcoal-burner of Regos, that he made Nikobob his Lord High +Chamberlain and put him in charge of the pearl fisheries and all the +business matters of the island kingdom. + +They all settled down very comfortably in the new palace and the Queen +gathered her maids about her once more and set them to work +embroidering new draperies for the royal throne. Inga placed the three +Magic Pearls in their silken bag and again deposited them in the secret +cavity under the tiled flooring of the banquet hall, where they could +be quickly secured if danger ever threatened the now prosperous island. + +King Rinkitink occupied a royal guest chamber built especially for his +use and seemed in no hurry to leave his friends in Pingaree. The fat +little King had to walk wherever he went and so missed Bilbil more and +more; but he seldom walked far and he was so fond of Prince BoBo that +he never regretted Bilbil's disenchantment. + +Indeed, the jolly monarch was welcome to remain forever in Pingaree, if +he wished to, for his merry disposition set smiles on the faces of all +his friends and made everyone near him as jolly as he was himself. When +King Kitticut was not too busy with affairs of state he loved to join +his guest and listen to his brother monarch's songs and stories. For he +found Rinkitink to be, with all his careless disposition, a shrewd +philosopher, and in talking over their adventures one day the King of +Gilgad said: + +"The beauty of life is its sudden changes. No one knows what is going +to happen next, and so we are constantly being surprised and +entertained. The many ups and downs should not discourage us, for if we +are down, we know that a change is coming and we will go up again; +while those who are up are almost certain to go down. My grandfather +had a song which well expresses this and if you will listen I will sing +it." + +"Of course I will listen to your song," returned Kitticut, "for it +would be impolite not to." + +So Rinkitink sang his grandfather's song: + + "A mighty King once ruled the land-- + But now he's baking pies. + A pauper, on the other hand, + Is ruling, strong and wise. + + A tiger once in jungles raged-- + But now he's in a zoo; + A lion, captive-born and caged, + Now roams the forest through. + + A man once slapped a poor boy's pate + And made him weep and wail. + The boy became a magistrate + And put the man in jail. + + A sunny day succeeds the night; + It's summer--then it snows! + Right oft goes wrong and wrong comes right, + As ev'ry wise man knows." + + + + +Chapter Twenty-Four + +The Captive King + + +One morning, just as the royal party was finishing breakfast, a servant +came running to say that a great fleet of boats was approaching the +island from the south. King Kitticut sprang up at once, in great alarm, +for he had much cause to fear strange boats. The others quickly +followed him to the shore to see what invasion might be coming upon +them. + +Inga was there with the first, and Nikobob and Zella soon joined the +watchers. And presently, while all were gazing eagerly at the +approaching fleet, King Rinkitink suddenly cried out: + +"Get your pearls, Prince Inga--get them quick!" + +"Are these our enemies, then?" asked the boy, looking with surprise +upon the fat little King, who had begun to tremble violently. + +"They are my people of Gilgad!" answered Rinkitink, wiping a tear from +his eye. "I recognize my royal standards flying from the boats. So, +please, dear Inga, get out your pearls to protect me!" + +"What can you fear at the hands of your own subjects?" asked Kitticut, +astonished. + +But before his frightened guest could answer the question Prince Bobo, +who was standing beside his friend, gave an amused laugh and said: + +"You are caught at last, dear Rinkitink. Your people will take you home +again and oblige you to reign as King." + +Rinkitink groaned aloud and clasped his hands together with a gesture +of despair, an attitude so comical that the others could scarcely +forbear laughing. + +But now the boats were landing upon the beach. They were fifty in +number, beautifully decorated and upholstered and rowed by men clad in +the gay uniforms of the King of Gilgad. One splendid boat had a throne +of gold in the center, over which was draped the King's royal robe of +purple velvet, embroidered with gold buttercups. + +Rinkitink shuddered when he saw this throne; but now a tall man, +handsomely dressed, approached and knelt upon the grass before his +King, while all the other occupants of the boats shouted joyfully and +waved their plumed hats in the air. + +"Thanks to our good fortune," said the man who kneeled, "we have found +Your Majesty at last!" + +"Pinkerbloo," answered Rinkitink sternly, "I must have you hanged, for +thus finding me against my will." + +"You think so now, Your Majesty, but you will never do it," returned +Pinkerbloo, rising and kissing the King's hand. + +"Why won't I?" asked Rinkitink. + +"Because you are much too tender-hearted, Your Majesty." + +"It may be--it may be," agreed Rinkitink, sadly. "It is one of my +greatest failings. But what chance brought you here, my Lord +Pinkerbloo?" + +"We have searched for you everywhere, sire, and all the people of +Gilgad have been in despair since you so mysteriously disappeared. We +could not appoint a new King, because we did not know but that you +still lived; so we set out to find you, dead or alive. After visiting +many islands of the Nonestic Ocean we at last thought of Pingaree, from +where come the precious pearls; and now our faithful quest has been +rewarded." + +"And what now?" asked Rinkitink. + +"Now, Your Majesty, you must come home with us, like a good and dutiful +King, and rule over your people," declared the man in a firm voice. + +"I will not." + +"But you must--begging Your Majesty's pardon for the contradiction." + +"Kitticut," cried poor Rinkitink, "you must save me from being captured +by these, my subjects. What! must I return to Gilgad and be forced to +reign in splendid state when I much prefer to eat and sleep and sing in +my own quiet way? They will make me sit in a throne three hours a day +and listen to dry and tedious affairs of state; and I must stand up for +hours at the court receptions, till I get corns on my heels; and +forever must I listen to tiresome speeches and endless petitions and +complaints!" + +"But someone must do this, Your Majesty," said Pinkerbloo respectfully, +"and since you were born to be our King you cannot escape your duty." + +"'Tis a horrid fate!" moaned Rinkitink. "I would die willingly, rather +than be a King--if it did not hurt so terribly to die." + +"You will find it much more comfortable to reign than to die, although +I fully appreciate Your Majesty's difficult position and am truly sorry +for you," said Pinkerbloo. + +King Kitticut had listened to this conversation thoughtfully, so now he +said to his friend: + +"The man is right, dear Rinkitink. It is your duty to reign, since fate +has made you a King, and I see no honorable escape for you. I shall +grieve to lose your companionship, but I feel the separation cannot be +avoided." + +Rinkitink sighed. + +"Then," said he, turning to Lord Pinkerbloo, "in three days I will +depart with you for Gilgad; but during those three days I propose to +feast and make merry with my good friend King Kitticut." + +Then all the people of Gilgad shouted with delight and eagerly +scrambled ashore to take their part in the festival. + +Those three days were long remembered in Pingaree, for never--before +nor since--has such feasting and jollity been known upon that island. +Rinkitink made the most of his time and everyone laughed and sang with +him by day and by night. + +Then, at last, the hour of parting arrived and the King of Gilgad and +Ruler of the Dominion of Rinkitink was escorted by a grand procession +to his boat and seated upon his golden throne. The rowers of the fifty +boats paused, with their glittering oars pointed into the air like +gigantic uplifted sabres, while the people of Pingaree--men, women and +children--stood upon the shore shouting a royal farewell to the jolly +King. + +Then came a sudden hush, while Rinkitink stood up and, with a bow to +those assembled to witness his departure, sang the following song, +which he had just composed for the occasion. + + "Farewell, dear Isle of Pingaree-- + The fairest land in all the sea! + No living mortals, kings or churls, + Would scorn to wear thy precious pearls. + + "King Kitticut, 'tis with regret + I'm forced to say farewell; and yet + Abroad no longer can I roam + When fifty boats would drag me home. + + "Good-bye, my Prince of Pingaree; + A noble King some time you'll be + And long and wisely may you reign + And never face a foe again!" + + +They cheered him from the shore; they cheered him from the boats; and +then all the oars of the fifty boats swept downward with a single +motion and dipped their blades into the purple-hued waters of the +Nonestic Ocean. + +As the boats shot swiftly over the ripples of the sea Rinkitink turned +to Prince Bobo, who had decided not to desert his former master and his +present friend, and asked anxiously: + +"How did you like that song, Bilbil--I mean Bobo? Is it a masterpiece, +do you think?" + +And Bobo replied with a smile: + +"Like all your songs, dear Rinkitink, the sentiment far excels the +poetry." + + + + + +The Wonderful Oz Books + +by L. Frank Baum + + 1 The Wizard of Oz + 2 The Land of Oz + 3 Ozma of Oz + 4 Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz + 5 The Road to Oz + 6 The Emerald City of Oz + 7 The Patchwork Girl of Oz + 8 Tik-Tok of Oz + 9 The Scarecrow of Oz + 10 Rinkitink in Oz + 11 The Lost Princess of Oz + 12 The Tin Woodman of Oz + 13 The Magic of Oz + 14 Glinda of Oz + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Rinkitink in Oz, by L. Frank Baum + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RINKITINK IN OZ *** + +***** This file should be named 958.txt or 958.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/9/5/958/ + +Produced by Anthony Matonac + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. 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Frank Baum + "Royal Historian of Oz" + + +Introducing this Story + + +Here is a story with a boy hero, and a boy of whom +you have never before heard. There are girls in the +story, too, including our old friend Dorothy, and some +of the characters wander a good way from the Land of Oz +before they all assemble in the Emerald City to take +part in Ozma's banquet. Indeed, I think you will find +this story quite different from the other histories +of Oz, but I hope you will not like it the less on that +account. + +If I am permitted to write another Oz book it will +tell of some thrilling adventures encountered by +Dorothy, Betsy Bobbin, Trot and the Patchwork Girl +right in the Land of Oz, and how they discovered some +amazing creatures that never could have existed outside +a fairy-land. I have an idea that about the time you +are reading this story of Rinkitink I shall be writing +that story of Adventures in Oz. + +Don't fail to write me often and give me your advice +and suggestions, which I always appreciate. I get a +good many letters from my readers, but every one is a +joy to me and I answer them as soon as I can find time +to do so. + +"OZCOT" +at HOLLYWOOD +in CALIFORNIA, 1916. + +L. FRANK BAUM +Royal Historian of Oz + + + + +LIST OF CHAPTERS + 1 The Prince of Pingaree + 2 The Coming of King Rinkitink + 3 The Warriors from the North + 4 The Deserted Island + 5 The Three Pearls + 6 The Magic Boat + 7 The Twin Islands + 8 Rinkitink Makes a Great Mistake + 9 A Present for Zella +10 The Cunning of Queen Cor +11 Zella Goes to Coregos +12 The Excitement of Bilbil the Goat +13 Zella Saves the Prince +14 The Escape +15 The Flight of the Rulers +16 Nikobob Refuses a Crown +17 The Nome King +18 Inga Parts With His Pink Pearl +19 Rinkitink Chuckles +20 Dorothy to the Rescue +21 The Wizard Finds an Enchantment +22 Ozma's Banquet +23 The Pearl Kingdom +24 The Captive King + + + + + +Chapter One + +The Prince of Pingaree + + +If you have a map of the Land of Oz handy, you will +find that the great Nonestic Ocean washes the shores of +the Kingdom of Rinkitink, between which and the Land of +Oz lies a strip of the country of the Nome King and a +Sandy Desert. The Kingdom of Rinkitink isn't very big +and lies close to the ocean, all the houses and the +King's palace being built near the shore. The people +live much upon the water, boating and fishing, and the +wealth of Rinkitink is gained from trading along the +coast and with the islands nearest it. + +Four days' journey by boat to the north of Rinkitink +is the Island of Pingaree, and as our story begins here +I must tell you something about this island. At the +north end of Pingaree, where it is widest, the land is +a mile from shore to shore, but at the south end it is +scarcely half a mile broad; thus, although Pingaree is +four miles long, from north to south, it cannot be +called a very big island. It is exceedingly pretty, +however, and to the gulls who approach it from the sea +it must resemble a huge green wedge lying upon the +waters, for its grass and trees give it the color of +an emerald. + +The grass came to the edge of the sloping shores; the +beautiful trees occupied all the central portion of +Pingaree, forming a continuous grove where the branches +met high overhead and there was just space beneath +them for the cosy houses of the inhabitants. These +houses were scattered everywhere throughout the +island, so that there was no town or city, unless the +whole island might be called a city. The canopy of +leaves, high overhead, formed a shelter from sun and +rain, and the dwellers in the grove could all look past +the straight tree-trunks and across the grassy slopes +to the purple waters of the Nonestic Ocean. + +At the big end of the island, at the north, stood the +royal palace of King Kitticut, the lord and ruler of +Pingaree. It was a beautiful palace, built entirely of +snow-white marble and capped by domes of burnished +gold, for the King was exceedingly wealthy. All along +the coast of Pingaree were found the largest and finest +pearls in the whole world. + +These pearls grew within the shells of big oysters, +and the people raked the oysters from their watery +beds, sought out the milky pearls and carried them +dutifully to their King. Therefore, once every year His +Majesty was able to send six of his boats, with sixty +rowers and many sacks of the valuable pearls, to the +Kingdom of Rinkitink, where there was a city called +Gilgad, in which King Rinkitink's palace stood on a +rocky headland and served, with its high towers, as a +lighthouse to guide sailors to the harbor. In Gilgad +the pearls from Pingaree were purchased by the King's +treasurer, and the boats went back to the island laden +with stores of rich merchandise and such supplies of +food as the people and the royal family of Pingaree +needed. + +The Pingaree people never visited any other land but +that of Rinkitink, and so there were few other lands +that knew there was such an island. To the southwest +was an island called the Isle of Phreex, where the +inhabitants had no use for pearls. And far north of +Pingaree -- six days' journey by boat, it was said -- +were twin islands named Regos and Coregos, inhabited by +a fierce and warlike people. + +Many years before this story really begins, ten big +boatloads of those fierce warriors of Regos and Coregos +visited Pingaree, landing suddenly upon the north end +of the island. There they began to plunder and conquer, +as was their custom, but the people of Pingaree, +although neither so big nor so strong as their foes, +were able to defeat them and drive them all back to the +sea, where a great storm overtook the raiders from +Regos and Coregos and destroyed them and their boats, +not a single warrior returning to his own country. + +This defeat of the enemy seemed the more wonderful +because the pearl-fishers of Pingaree were mild and +peaceful in disposition and seldom quarreled even among +themselves. Their only weapons were their oyster rakes; +yet the fact remains that they drove their fierce +enemies from Regos and Coregos from their shores. + +King Kitticut was only a boy when this remarkable +battle was fought, and now his hair was gray; but he +remembered the day well and, during the years that +followed, his one constant fear was of another invasion +of his enemies. He feared they might send a more +numerous army to his island, both for conquest and +revenge, in which case there could be little hope of +successfully opposing them. + +This anxiety on the part of King Kitticut led him to +keep a sharp lookout for strange boats, one of his men +patrolling the beach constantly, but he was too wise to +allow any fear to make him or his subjects unhappy. He +was a good King and lived very contentedly in his fine +palace, with his fair Queen Garee and their one child, +Prince Inga. + +The wealth of Pingaree increased year by year; and +the happiness of the people increased, too. Perhaps +there was no place, outside the Land of Oz, where +contentment and peace were more manifest than on this +pretty island, hidden in the besom of the Nonestic +Ocean. Had these conditions remained undisturbed, there +would have been no need to speak of Pingaree in this +story. + +Prince Inga, the heir to all the riches and the +kingship of Pingaree, grew up surrounded by every +luxury; but he was a manly little fellow, although +somewhat too grave and thoughtful, and he could never +bear to be idle a single minute. He knew where the +finest oysters lay hidden along the coast and was as +successful in finding pearls as any of the men of the +island, although he was so slight and small. He had a +little boat of his own and a rake for dragging up the +oysters and he was very proud indeed when he could +carry a big white pearl to his father. + +There was no school upon the island, as the people of +Pingaree were far removed from the state of +civilization that gives our modern children such +advantages as schools and learned professors, but the +King owned several manuscript books, the pages being +made of sheepskin. Being a man of intelligence, he was +able to teach his son something of reading, writing and +arithmetic. + +When studying his lessons Prince Inga used to go into +the grove near his father's palace and climb into the +branches of a tall tree, where he had built a platform +with a comfortable seat to rest upon, all hidden by the +canopy of leaves. There, with no one to disturb him, he +would pore over the sheepskin on which were written the +queer characters of the Pingarese language. + +King Kitticut was very proud of his little son, as +well he might be, and he soon felt a high respect for +Inga's judgment and thought that he was worthy to be +taken into the confidence of his father in many matters +of state. He taught the boy the needs of the people and +how to rule them justly, for some day he knew that Inga +would be King in his place. One day he called his son +to his side and said to him: + +"Our island now seems peaceful enough, Inga, and we +are happy and prosperous, but I cannot forget those +terrible people of Regos and Coregos. My constant fear +is that they will send a fleet of boats to search for +those of their race whom we defeated many years ago, +and whom the sea afterwards destroyed. If the warriors +come in great numbers we may be unable to oppose them, +for my people are little trained to fighting at best; +they surely would cause us much injury and suffering." + +"Are we, then, less powerful than in my grandfather's +day?" asked Prince Inga. + +The King shook his head thoughtfully. + +"It is not that," said he. "That you may fully +understand that marvelous battle, I must confide to, +you a great secret. I have in my possession three Magic +Talismans, which I have ever guarded with utmost care, +keeping the knowledge of their existence from anyone +else. But, lest I should die, and the secret be lost, I +have decided to tell you what these talismans are and +where they are hidden. Come with me, my son. + +He led the way through the rooms of the palace until +they came to the great banquet hall. There, stopping in +the center of the room, he stooped down and touched a +hidden spring in the tiled floor. At once one of the +tiles sank downward and the King reached within the +cavity and drew out a silken bag. + +This bag he proceeded to open, showing Inga that it +contained three great pearls, each one as big around as +a marble. One had a blue tint and one was of a delicate +rose color, but the third was pure white. + +"These three pearls," said the King, speaking in a +solemn, impressive voice, "are the most wonderful the +world has ever known. They were gifts to one of my +ancestors from the Mermaid Queen, a powerful fairy whom +he once had the good fortune to rescue from her +enemies. In gratitude for this favor she presented him +with these pearls. Each of the three possesses an +astonishing power, and whoever is their owner may count +himself a fortunate man. This one having the blue tint +will give to the person who carries it a strength so +great that no power can resist him. The one with the +pink glow will protect its owner from all dangers that +may threaten him, no matter from what source they may +come. The third pearl -- this one of pure white -- can +speak, and its words are always wise and helpful." + +"What is this, my father!" exclaimed the Prince, +amazed; "do you tell me that a pearl can speak? It +sounds impossible." + +"Your doubt is due to your ignorance of fairy +powers," returned the King, gravely. "Listen, my son, +and you will know that I speak the truth." + +He held the white pearl to Inga's ear and the Prince +heard a small voice say distinctly: "Your father is +right. Never question the truth of what you fail to +understand, for the world is filled with wonders." + +"I crave your pardon, dear father," said the Prince, +"for clearly I heard the pearl speak, and its words +were full of wisdom." + +"The powers of the other pearls are even greater," +resumed the King. "Were I poor in all else, these gems +would make me richer than any other monarch the world +holds." + +"I believe that," replied Inga, looking at the +beautiful pearls with much awe. "But tell me, my +father, why do you fear the warriors of Regos and +Coregos when these marvelous powers are yours?" + +"The powers are mine only while I have the pearls +upon my person," answered King Kitticut, "and I dare +not carry them constantly for fear they might be lost. +Therefore, I keep them safely hidden in this recess. My +only danger lies in the chance that my watchmen might +fail to discover the approach of our enemies and allow +the warrior invaders to seize me before I could secure +the pearls. I should, in that case, be quite powerless +to resist. My father owned the magic pearls at the time +of the Great Fight, of which you have so often heard, +and the pink pearl protected him from harm, while the +blue pearl enabled him and his people to drive away the +enemy. Often have I suspected that the destroying storm +was caused by the fairy mermaids, but that is a matter +of which I have no proof." + +"I have often wondered how we managed to win that +battle," remarked Inga thoughtfully. "But the pearls +will assist us in case the warriors come again, will +they not?" + +"They are as powerful as ever," declared the King. +"Really, my son, I have little to fear from any foe. +But lest I die and the secret be lost to the next King, +I have now given it into your keeping. Remember that +these pearls are the rightful heritage of all Kings of +Pingaree. If at any time I should be taken from you, +Inga, guard this treasure well and do not forget where +it is hidden." + +"I shall not forget," said Inga. + +Then the King returned the pearls to their hiding +place and the boy went to his own room to ponder upon +the wonderful secret his father had that day confided +to his care. + + + + + +Chapter Two + +The Coming of King Rinkitink + + +A few days after this, on a bright and sunny morning +when the breeze blew soft and sweet from the ocean and +the trees waved their leaf-laden branches, the Royal +Watchman, whose duty it was to patrol the shore, came +running to the King with news that a strange boat was +approaching the island. + +At first the King was sore afraid and made a step +toward the hidden pearls, but the next moment he +reflected that one boat, even if filled with enemies, +would be powerless to injure him, so he curbed his fear +and went down to the beach to discover who the +strangers might be. Many of the men of Pingaree +assembled there also, and Prince Inga followed his +father. Arriving at the water's edge, they all stood +gazing eagerly at the oncoming boat. + +It was quite a big boat, they observed, and covered +with a canopy of purple silk, embroidered with gold. It +was rowed by twenty men, ten on each side. As it came +nearer, Inga could see that in the stern, seated upon a +high, cushioned chair of state, was a little man who +was so very fat that he was nearly as broad as he was +high This man was dressed in a loose silken robe of +purple that fell in folds to his feet, while upon his +head was a cap of white velvet curiously worked with +golden threads and having a circle of diamonds sewn +around the band. At the opposite end of the boat stood +an oddly shaped cage, and several large boxes of +sandalwood were piled near the center of the craft. + +As the boat approached the shore the fat little man +got upon his feet and bowed several times in the +direction of those who had assembled to greet him, and +as he bowed he flourished his white cap in an energetic +manner. His face was round as an apple and nearly as +rosy. When he stopped bowing he smiled in such a sweet +and happy way that Inga thought he must be a very jolly +fellow. + +The prow of the boat grounded on the beach, stopping +its speed so suddenly that the little man was caught +unawares and nearly toppled headlong into the sea. But +he managed to catch hold of the chair with one hand and +the hair of one of his rowers with the other, and so +steadied himself. Then, again waving his jeweled cap +around his head, he cried in a merry voice: + +"Well, here I am at last!" + +"So I perceive," responded King Kitticut, bowing with +much dignity. + +The fat man glanced at all the sober faces before him +and burst into a rollicking laugh. Perhaps I should say +it was half laughter and half a chuckle of merriment, +for the sounds he emitted were quaint and droll and +tempted every hearer to laugh with him. + +"Heh, heh -- ho, ho, ho!" he roared. "Didn't expect +me, I see. Keek-eek-eek-eek! This is funny -- it's +really funny. Didn't know I was coming, did you? Hoo, +hoo, hoo, hoo! This is certainly amusing. But I'm here, +just the same." + +"Hush up!" said a deep, growling voice. "You're +making yourself ridiculous." + +Everyone looked to see where this voice came from; +but none could guess who had uttered the words of +rebuke. The rowers of the boat were all solemn and +silent and certainly no one on the shore had spoken. +But the little man did not seem astonished in the +least, or even annoyed. + +King Kitticut now addressed the stranger, saying +courteously: + +"You are welcome to the Kingdom of Pingaree. Perhaps +you will deign to come ashore and at your convenience +inform us whom we have the honor of receiving as a +guest." + +"Thanks; I will," returned the little fat man, +waddling from his place in the boat and stepping, with +some difficulty, upon the sandy beach. "I am King +Rinkitink, of the City of Gilgad in the Kingdom of +Rinkitink, and I have come to Pingaree to see for +myself the monarch who sends to my city so many +beautiful pearls. I have long wished to visit this +island; and so, as I said before, here I am!" + +"I am pleased to welcome you," said King Kitticut. +"But why has Your Majesty so few attendants? Is it not +dangerous for the King of a great country to make +distant journeys in one frail boat, and with but twenty +men?" + +"Oh, I suppose so," answered King Rinkitink, with a +laugh. "But what else could I do? My subjects would not +allow me to go anywhere at all, if they knew it. So I +just ran away." + +"Ran away!" exclaimed King Kitticut in surprise. + +"Funny, isn't it? Heh, heh, heh -- woo, hoo!" laughed +Rinkitink, and this is as near as I can spell with +letters the jolly sounds of his laughter. "Fancy a King +running away from his own ple -- hoo, hoo -- keek, eek, +eek, eek! But I had to, don't you see!" + +"Why?" asked the other King. + +"They're afraid I'll get into mischief. They don't +trust me. Keek-eek-eek -- Oh, dear me! Don't trust +their own King. Funny, isn't it?" + +"No harm can come to you on this island," said +Kitticut, pretending not to notice the odd ways of his +guest. "And, whenever it pleases you to return to your +own country, I will send with you a fitting escort of +my own people. In the meantime, pray accompany me to my +palace, where everything shall be done to make you +comfortable and happy." + +"Much obliged," answered Rinkitink, tipping his white +cap over his left ear and heartily shaking the hand of +his brother monarch. "I'm sure you can make me +comfortable if you've plenty to eat. And as for being +happy -- ha, ha, ha, ha! -- why, that's my trouble. I'm +too happy. But stop! I've brought you some presents in +those boxes. Please order your men to carry them up to +the palace." + +"Certainly," answered King Kitticut, well pleased, +and at once he gave his men the proper orders. + +"And, by the way," continued the fat little King, +"let them also take my goat from his cage." + +"A goat!" exclaimed the King of Pingaree. + +"Exactly; my goat Bilbil. I always ride him wherever +I go, for I'm not at all fond of walking, being a +trifle stout -- eh, Kitticut? -- a trifle stout! Hoo, +hoo, hoo-keek, eek!" + +The Pingaree people started to lift the big cage out +of the boat, but just then a gruff voice cried: "Be +careful, you villains!" and as the words seemed to come +from the goat's mouth the men were so astonished that +they dropped the cage upon the sand with a sudden jar. + +"There! I told you so!" cried the voice angrily. +"You've rubbed the skin off my left knee. Why on earth +didn't you handle me gently?" + +"There, there, Bilbil," said King Rinkitink +soothingly; "don't scold, my boy. Remember that these +are strangers, and we their guests." Then he turned to +Kitticut and remarked: "You have no talking goats on +your island, I suppose." + +"We have no goats at all," replied the King; "nor +have we any animals, of any sort, who are able to +talk." + +"I wish my animal couldn't talk, either," said +Rinkitink, winking comically at Inga and then looking +toward the cage. "He is very cross at times, and +indulges in language that is not respectful. I thought, +at first, it would be fine to have a talking goat, with +whom I could converse as I rode about my city on his +back; but -- keek-eek-eek-eek! -- the rascal treats me +as if I were a chimney sweep instead of a King. Heh, +heh, heh, keek, eek! A chimney sweep-hoo, hoo, hoo! -- +and me a King! Funny, isn't it?" This last was +addressed to Prince Inga, whom he chucked familiarly +under the chin, to the boy's great embarrassment. + +"Why do you not ride a horse?" asked King Kitticut. + +"I can't climb upon his back, being rather stout; +that's why. Kee, kee, keek, eek! -- rather stout -- +hoo, hoo, hoo!" He paused to wipe the tears of +merriment from his eyes and then added: "But I can get +on and off Bilbil's back with ease." + +He now opened the cage and the goat deliberately +walked out and looked about him in a sulky manner. One +of the rowers brought from the boat a saddle made of +red velvet and beautifully embroidered with silver +thistles, which he fastened upon the goat's back. The +fat King put his leg over the saddle and seated himself +comfortably, saying: + +"Lead on, my noble host, and we will follow." + +"What! Up that steep hill?" cried the goat. "Get off +my back at once, Rinkitink, or I won't budge a step. + +"But-consider, Bilbil," remonstrated the King. "How +am I to get up that hill unless I ride?" + +"Walk!" growled Bilbil. + +"But I'm too fat. Really, Bilbil, I'm surprised at +you. Haven't I brought you all this distance so you may +see something of the world and enjoy life? And now you +are so ungrateful as to refuse to carry me! Turn about +is fair play, my boy. The boat carried you to this +shore, because you can't swim, and now you must carry +me up the hill, because I can't climb. Eh, Bilbil, +isn't that reasonable?" + +"Well, well, well," said the goat, surlily, "keep +quiet and I'll carry you. But you make me very tired, +Rinkitink, with your ceaseless chatter." + +After making this protest Bilbil began walking +up the hill, carrying the fat King upon his back +with no difficulty whatever. + +Prince Inga and his father and all the men of +Pingaree were much astonished to overhear this dispute +between King Rinkitink and his goat; but they were too +polite to make critical remarks in the presence of +their guests. King Kitticut walked beside the goat and +the Prince followed after, the men coming last with the +boxes of sandalwood. + +When they neared the palace, the Queen and her +maidens came out to meet them and the royal guest was +escorted in state to the splendid throne room of the +palace. Here the boxes were opened and King Rinkitink +displayed all the beautiful silks and laces and jewelry +with which they were filled. Every one of the courtiers +and ladies received a handsome present, and the King +and Queen had many rich gifts and Inga not a few. Thus +the time passed pleasantly until the Chamberlain +announced that dinner was served. + +Bilbil the goat declared that he preferred eating of +the sweet, rich grass that grew abundantly in the +palace grounds, and Rinkitink said that the beast could +never bear being shut up in a stable; so they removed +the saddle from his back and allowed him to wander +wherever he pleased. + +During the dinner Inga divided his attention between +admiring the pretty gifts he had received and listening +to the jolly sayings of the fat King, who laughed when +he was not eating and ate when he was not laughing and +seemed to enjoy himself immensely. + +"For four days I have lived in that narrow boat," +said he, "with no other amusement than to watch the +rowers and quarrel with Bilbil; so I am very glad to be +on land again with such friendly and agreeable people." + +"You do us great honor," said King Kitticut, with a +polite bow. + +"Not at all -- not at all, my brother. This Pingaree +must be a wonderful island, for its pearls are the +admiration of all the world; nor will I deny the fact +that my kingdom would be a poor one without the riches +and glory it derives from the trade in your pearls. So +I have wished for many years to come here to see you, +but my people said: 'No! Stay at home and behave +yourself, or we'll know the reason why.'" + +"Will they not miss Your Majesty from your +palace at Gilgad?" inquired Kitticut. + +"I think not," answered Rinkitink. "You see, one of +my clever subjects has written a parchment entitled +'How to be Good,' and I believed it would benefit me to +study it, as I consider the accomplishment of being +good one of the fine arts. I had just scolded severely +my Lord High Chancellor for coming to breakfast without +combing his eyebrows, and was so sad and regretful at +having hurt the poor man's feelings that I decided to +shut myself up in my own room and study the scroll +until I knew how to be good -- hee, heek, keek, eek, +eek! --to be good! Clever idea, that, wasn't it? Mighty +clever! And I issued a decree that no one should enter +my room, under pain of my royal displeasure, until I +was ready to come out. They're awfully afraid of my +royal displeasure, although not a bit afraid of me. +Then I put the parchment in my pocket and escaped +through the back door to my boat -- and here I am. Oo, +hoo-hoo, keek-eek! Imagine the fuss there would be in +Gilgad if my subjects knew where I am this very +minute!" + +"I would like to see that parchment," said the +solemn-eyed Prince Inga, "for if it indeed teaches one +to be good it must be worth its weight in pearls." + +"Oh, it's a fine essay," said Rinkitink, "and +beautifully written with a goosequill. Listen to this: +You'll enjoy it -- tee, hee, hee! -- enjoy it." + +He took from his pocket a scroll of parchment tied +with a black ribbon, and having carefully unrolled it, +he proceeded to read as follows: + +"'A Good Man is One who is Never Bad.' How's that, +eh? Fine thought, what? 'Therefore, in order to be +Good, you must avoid those Things which are Evil.' Oh, +hoo-hoo-hoo! -- how clever! When I get back I shall +make the man who wrote that a royal hippolorum, for, +beyond question, he is the wisest man in my kingdom -as +he has often told me himself." With this, Rinkitink lay +back in his chair and chuckled his queer chuckle until +he coughed, and coughed until he choked and choked +until he sneezed. And he wrinkled his face in such a +jolly, droll way that few could keep from laughing with +him, and even the good Queen was forced to titter +behind her fan. + +When Rinkitink had recovered from his fit of laughter +and had wiped his eyes upon a fine lace handkerchief, +Prince Inga said to him: + +"The parchment speaks truly." + +"Yes, it is true beyond doubt," answered Rinkitink, +"and if I could persuade Bilbil to read it he would be +a much better goat than he is now. Here is another +selection: 'To avoid saying Unpleasant Things, always +Speak Agreeably.' That would hit Bilbil, to a dot. And +here is one that applies to you, my Prince: 'Good +Children are seldom punished, for the reason that they +deserve no punishment.' Now, I think that is neatly +put, and shows the author to be a deep thinker. But the +advice that has impressed me the most is in the +following paragraph: 'You may not find it as Pleasant +to be Good as it is to be Bad, but Other People will +find it more Pleasant.' Haw-hoo-ho! keek-eek! 'Other +people will find it more pleasant!' -- hee, hee, heek, +keek! -- 'more pleasant.' Dear me -- dear me! Therein +lies a noble incentive to be good, and whenever I get +time I'm surely going to try it." + +Then he wiped his eyes again with the lace +handkerchief and, suddenly remembering his dinner, +seized his knife and fork and began eating. + + + + + +Chapter Three + +The Warriors from the North + + +King Rinkitink was so much pleased with the Island of +Pingaree that he continued his stay day after day and +week after week, eating good dinners, talking with King +Kitticut and sleeping. Once in a while he would read +from his scroll. "For," said he, "whenever I return +home, my subjects will be anxious to know if I have +learned 'How to be Good,' and I must not disappoint +them." + +The twenty rowers lived on the small end of the +island, with the pearl fishers, and seemed not to care +whether they ever returned to the Kingdom of Rinkitink +or not. Bilbil the goat wandered over the grassy +slopes, or among the trees, and passed his days exactly +as he pleased. His master seldom cared to ride him. +Bilbil was a rare curiosity to the islanders, but since +there was little pleasure in talking with the goat they +kept away from him. This pleased the creature, who +seemed well satisfied to be left to his own devices. + +Once Prince Inga, wishing to be courteous, walked up +to the goat and said: "Good morning, Bilbil." + +"It isn't a good morning," answered Bilbil grumpily. +"It is cloudy and damp, and looks like rain." + +"I hope you are contented in our kingdom," continued +the boy, politely ignoring the other's harsh words. + +"I'm not," said Bilbil. "I'm never contented; so it +doesn't matter to me whether I'm in your kingdom or in +some other kingdom. Go away -- will you?" + +"Certainly," answered the Prince, and after this +rebuff he did not again try to make friends with +Bilbil. + +Now that the King, his father, was so much occupied +with his royal guest, Inga was often left to amuse +himself, for a boy could not be allowed to take part in +the conversation of two great monarchs. He devoted +himself to his studies, therefore, and day after day he +climbed into the branches of his favorite tree and sat +for hours in his "tree-top rest," reading his father's +precious manuscripts and thinking upon what he read. + +You must not think that Inga was a molly-coddle or a +prig, because he was so solemn and studious. Being a +King's son and heir to a throne, he could not play with +the other boys of Pingaree, and he lived so much in the +society of the King and Queen, and was so surrounded by +the pomp and dignity of a court, that he missed all the +jolly times that boys usually have. I have no doubt +that had he been able to live as other boys do, he +would have been much like other boys; as it was, he was +subdued by his surroundings, and more grave and +thoughtful than one of his years should be. + +Inga was in his tree one morning when, without +warning, a great fog enveloped the Island of Pingaree. +The boy could scarcely see the tree next to that in +which he sat, but the leaves above him prevented the +dampness from wetting him, so he curled himself up in +his seat and fell fast asleep. + +All that forenoon the fog continued. King Kitticut, +who sat in his palace talking with his merry visitor, +ordered the candles lighted, that they might be able to +see one another. The good Queen, Inga's mother, found +it was too dark to work at her embroidery, so she +called her maidens together and told them wonderful +stories of bygone days, in order to pass away the +dreary hours. + +But soon after noon the weather changed. The dense +fog rolled away like a heavy cloud and suddenly the sun +shot his bright rays over the island. + +"Very good!" exclaimed King Kitticut. "We shall have +a pleasant afternoon, I am sure," and he blew out the +candles. + +Then he stood a moment motionless, as if turned to +stone, for a terrible cry from without the palace +reached his ears -- a cry so full of fear and horror +that the King's heart almost stopped beating. +Immediately there was a scurrying of feet as every one +in the palace, filled with dismay, rushed outside to +see what had happened. even fat little Rinkitink sprang +from his chair and followed his host and the others +through the arched vestibule. + +After many years the worst fears of King Kitticut +were realized. + +Landing upon the beach, which was but a few steps +from the palace itself, were hundreds of boats, every +one filled with a throng of fierce warriors. They +sprang upon the land with wild shouts of defiance and +rushed to the King's palace, waving aloft their swords +and spears and battleaxes. + +King Kitticut, so completely surprised that he was +bewildered, gazed at the approaching host with terror +and grief. + +"They are the men of Regos and Coregos!" he groaned. +"We are, indeed, lost!" + +Then he bethought himself, for the first time, of his +wonderful pearls. Turning quickly, he ran back into the +palace and hastened to the hall where the treasures +were hidden. But the leader of the warriors had seen +the King enter the palace and bounded after him, +thinking he meant to escape. Just as the King had +stooped to press the secret spring in the tiles, the +warrior seized him from the rear and threw him backward +upon the floor, at the same time shouting to his men to +fetch ropes and bind the prisoner. This they did very +quickly and King Kitticut soon found himself helplessly +bound and in the power of his enemies. In this sad +condition he was lifted by the warriors and carried +outside, when the good King looked upon a sorry sight. + +The Queen and her maidens, the officers and servants +of the royal household and all who had inhabited this +end of the Island of Pingaree had been seized by the +invaders and bound with ropes. At once they began +carrying their victims to the boats, tossing them in as +unceremoniously as if they had been bales of +merchandise. + +The King looked around for his son Inga, but failed +to find the boy among the prisoners. Nor was the fat +King, Rinkitink, to be seen anywhere about. + +The warriors were swarming over the palace like bees +in a hive, seeking anyone who might be in hiding, and +after the search had been prolonged for some time the +leader asked impatiently: "Do you find anyone else?" + +"No," his men told him. "We have captured them all." + +"Then," commanded the leader, "remove everything of +value from the palace and tear down its walls and +towers, so that not one stone remains upon another!" + +While the warriors were busy with this task we will +return to the boy Prince, who, when the fog lifted and +the sun came out, wakened from his sleep and began to +climb down from his perch in the tree. But the +terrifying cries of the people, mingled with the shouts +of the rude warriors, caused him to pause and listen +eagerly. + +Then he climbed rapidly up the tree, far above his +platform, to the topmost swaying branches. This tree, +which Inga called his own, was somewhat taller than the +other trees that surrounded it, and when he had reached +the top he pressed aside the leaves and saw a great +fleet of boats upon the shore -- strange boats, with +banners that he had never seen before. Turning to look +upon his father's palace, he found it surrounded by a +horde of enemies. Then Inga knew the truth: that tile +island had been invaded by the barbaric warriors from +the north. He grew so faint from the terror of it all +that he might have fallen had he not wound his arms +around a limb and clung fast until the dizzy feeling +passed away. Then with his sash he bound himself to the +limb and again ventured to look out through the leaves. + +The warriors were now engaged in carrying King +Kitticut and Queen Garee and all their other captives +down to the boats, where they were thrown in and +chained one to another. It was a dreadful sight for the +Prince to witness, but he sat very still, concealed +from the sight of anyone below by the bower of leafy +branches around him. Inga knew very well that he could +do nothing to help his beloved parents, and that if he +came down he would only be forced to share their cruel +fate. + +Now a procession of the Northmen passed between the +boats and the palace, bearing the rich furniture, +splendid draperies and rare ornaments of which the +royal palace had been robbed, together with such food +and other plunder as they could lay their hands upon. +After this, the men of Regos and Coregos threw ropes +around the marble domes and towers and hundreds of +warriors tugged at these ropes until the domes and +towers toppled and fell in ruins upon the ground. Then +the walls themselves were torn down, till little +remained of the beautiful palace but a vast heap of +white marble blocks tumbled and scattered upon the +ground. + +Prince Inga wept bitter tears of grief as he watched +the ruin of his home; yet he was powerless to avert the +destruction. When the palace had been demolished, some +of the warriors entered their boats and rowed along the +coast of the island, while the others marched in a +great body down the length of the island itself. They +were so numerous that they formed a line stretching +from shore to shore and they destroyed every house they +came to and took every inhabitant prisoner. + +The pearl fishers who lived at the lower end of the +island tried to escape in their boats, but they were +soon overtaken and made prisoners, like the others. Nor +was there any attempt to resist the foe, for the sharp +spears and pikes and swords of the invaders terrified +the hearts of the defenseless people of Pingaree, whose +sole weapons were their oyster rakes. + +When night fell the whole of the Island of Pingaree +had been conquered by the men of the North, and all its +people were slaves of the conquerors. Next morning the +men of Regos and Coregos, being capable of no further +mischief, departed from the scene of their triumph, +carrying their prisoners with them and taking also +every boat to be found upon the island. Many of the +boats they had filled with rich plunder, with pearls +and silks and velvets, with silver and gold ornaments +and all the treasure that had made Pingaree famed as +one of the richest kingdoms in the world. And the +hundreds of slaves they had captured would be set to +work in the mines of Regos and the grain fields of +Coregos. + +So complete was the victory of the Northmen that it +is no wonder the warriors sang songs of triumph as they +hastened back to their homes. Great rewards were +awaiting them when they showed the haughty King of +Regos and the terrible Queen of Coregos the results of +their ocean raid and conquest. + + + + +Chapter Four + +The Deserted Island + + +All through that terrible night Prince Inga remained +hidden in his tree. In the morning he watched the great +fleet of boats depart for their own country, carrying +his parents and his countrymen with them, as well as +everything of value the Island of Pingaree had +contained. + +Sad, indeed, were the boy's thoughts when the last of +the boats had become a mere speck in the distance, but +Inga did not dare leave his perch of safety until all +of the craft of the invaders had disappeared beyond the +horizon. Then he came down, very slowly and carefully, +for he was weak from hunger and the long and weary +watch, as he had been in the tree for twenty-four hours +without food. + +The sun shone upon the beautiful green isle as +brilliantly as if no ruthless invader had passed and +laid it in ruins. The birds still chirped among the +trees and the butterflies darted from flower to flower +as happily as when the land was filled with a +prosperous and contented people. + +Inga feared that only he was left of all his nation. +Perhaps he might be obliged to pass his life there +alone. He would not starve, for the sea would give him +oysters and fish, and the trees fruit; yet the life +that confronted him was far from enticing. + +The boy's first act was to walk over to where the +palace had stood and search the ruins until he found +some scraps of food that had been overlooked by the +enemy. He sat upon a block of marble and ate of this, +and tears filled his eyes as he gazed upon the +desolation around him. But Inga tried to bear up +bravely, and having satisfied his hunger he walked over +to the well, intending to draw a bucket of drinking +water. + +Fortunately, this well had been overlooked by the +invaders and the bucket was still fastened to the chain +that wound around a stout wooden windlass. Inga took +hold of the crank and began letting the bucket down +into the well, when suddenly he was startled by a +muffled voice crying out: + +"Be careful, up there!" + +The sound and the words seemed to indicate that the +voice came from the bottom of the well, so Inga looked +down. Nothing could be seen, on account of the +darkness. + +"Who are you?" he shouted. + +"It's I -- Rinkitink," came the answer, and the +depths of the well echoed: "Tink-i-tink-i-tink!" in a +ghostly manner. + +"Are you in the well?" asked the boy, greatly +surprised. + +"Yes, and nearly drowned. I fell in while running +from those terrible warriors, and I've been standing in +this damp hole ever since, with my head just above the +water. It's lucky the well was no deeper, for had my +head been under water, instead of above it -- hoo, hoo, +hoo, keek, eek! -- under instead of over, you know -- +why, then I wouldn't be talking to you now! Ha, hoo, +hee!" And the well dismally echoed: "Ha, hoo, hee!" +which you must imagine was a laugh half merry and half +sad. + +"I'm awfully sorry," cried the boy, in answer. "I +wonder you have the heart to laugh at all. But how am I +to get you out?" + +"I've been considering that all night," said +Rinkitink, "and I believe the best plan will be for you +to let down the bucket to me, and I'll hold fast to it +while you wind up the chain and so draw me to the top." + +"I will try to do that," replied Inga, and he let the +bucket down very carefully until he heard the King call +out: + +"I've got it! Now pull me up -- slowly, my boy, +slowly -- so I won't rub against the rough sides." + +Inga began winding up the chain, but King Rinkitink +was so fat that he was very heavy and by the time the +boy had managed to pull him halfway up the well his +strength was gone. He clung to the crank as long as +possible, but suddenly it slipped from his grasp and +the next minute he heard Rinkitink fall "plump!" into +the water again. + +"That's too bad!" called Inga, in real distress; "but +you were so heavy I couldn't help it." + +"Dear me!" gasped the King, from the darkness below, +as he spluttered and coughed to get the water out of +his mouth. "Why didn't you tell me you were going to +let go?" + +"I hadn't time," said Inga, sorrowfully. + +"Well, I'm not suffering from thirst," declared the +King, "for there's enough water inside me to float all +the boats of Regos and Coregos or at least it feels +that way. But never mind! So long as I'm not actually +drowned, what does it matter?" + +"What shall we do next?" asked the boy anxiously. + +"Call someone to help you," was the reply. + +"There is no one on the island but myself," said the +boy; "-- excepting you," he added, as an afterthought. + +"I'm not on it -- more's the pity! -- but in it," +responded Rinkitink. "Are the warriors all gone?" + +"Yes," said Inga, "and they have taken my father and +mother, and all our people, to be their slaves," he +added, trying in vain to repress a sob. + +"So -- so!" said Rinkitink softly; and then he paused +a moment, as if in thought. Finally he said: "There are +worse things than slavery, but I never imagined a well +could be one of them. Tell me, Inga, could you let down +some food to me? I'm nearly starved, and if you could +manage to send me down some food I'd be well fed -- +hoo, hoo, heek, keek, eek! -- well fed. Do you see the +joke, Inga?" + +"Do not ask me to enjoy a joke just now, Your +Majesty," begged Inga in a sad voice; "but if you will +be patient I will try to find something for you to +eat." + +He ran back to the ruins of the palace and began +searching for bits of food with which to satisfy the +hunger of the King, when to his surprise he observed +the goat, Bilbil, wandering among the marble blocks. + +"What!" cried Inga. "Didn't the warriors get you, +either?" + +"If they had," calmly replied Bilbil, "I shouldn't be +here." + +"But how did you escape?" asked the boy. + +"Easily enough. I kept my mouth shut and stayed away +from the rascals," said the goat. "I knew that the +soldiers would not care for a skinny old beast like me, +for to the eye of a stranger I seem good for nothing. +Had they known I could talk, and that my head contained +more wisdom than a hundred of their own noddles, I +might not have escaped so easily." + +"Perhaps you are right," said the boy. + +"I suppose they got the old man?" carelessly remarked +Bilbil. + +"What old man?" + +"Rinkitink." + +"Oh, no! His Majesty is at the bottom of the well," +said Inga, "and I don't know how to get him out again." + +"Then let him stay there," suggested the goat. + +"That would be cruel. I am sure, Bilbil, that you are +fond of the good King, your master, and do not mean +what you say. Together, let us find some way to save +poor King Rinkitink. He is a very jolly companion, and +has a heart exceedingly kind and gentle." + +"Oh, well; the old boy isn't so bad, taken +altogether," admitted Bilbil, speaking in a more +friendly tone. "But his bad jokes and fat laughter tire +me dreadfully, at times." + +Prince Inga now ran back to the well, the goat +following more leisurely. + +"Here's Bilbil!" shouted the boy to the King. "The +enemy didn't get him, it seems." + +"That's lucky for the enemy," said Rinkitink. "But +it's lucky for me, too, for perhaps the beast can +assist me out of this hole. If you can let a rope down +the well, I am sure that you and Bilbil, pulling +together, will be able to drag me to the earth's +surface." + +"Be patient and we will make the attempt," replied +Inga encouragingly, and he ran to search. the ruins for +a rope. Presently he found one that had been used by +the warriors in toppling over the towers, which in +their haste they had neglected to remove, and with some +difficulty he untied the knots and carried the rope to +the mouth of the well. + +Bilbil had lain down to sleep and the refrain of a +merry song came in muffled tones from the well, proving +that Rinkitink was making a patient endeavor to amuse +himself. + +"I've found a rope!" Inga called down to him; and +then the boy proceeded to make a loop in one end of the +rope, for the King to put his arms through, and the +other end he placed over the drum of the windlass. He +now aroused Bilbil and fastened the rope firmly around +the goat's shoulders. + +"Are you ready?" asked the boy, leaning over the +well. + +"I am," replied the King. + +"And I am not," growled the goat, "for I have not yet +had my nap out. Old Rinki will be safe enough in the +well until I've slept an hour or two longer." + +"But it is damp in the well," protested the boy, "and +King Rinkitink may catch the rheumatism, so that he +will have to ride upon your back wherever he goes." + +Hearing this, Bilbil jumped up at once. + +"Let's get him out," he said earnestly. + +"Hold fast!" shouted Inga to the King. Then he seized +the rope and helped Bilbil to pull. They soon found the +task more difficult than they had supposed. Once or +twice the King's weight threatened to drag both the boy +and the goat into the well, to keep Rinkitink company. +But they pulled sturdily, being aware of this danger, +and at last the King popped out of the hole and fell +sprawling full length upon the ground. + +For a time he lay panting and breathing hard to get +his breath back, while Inga and Bilbil were likewise +worn out from their long strain at the rope; so the +three rested quietly upon the grass and looked at one +another in silence. + +Finally Bilbil said to the King: "I'm surprised at +you. Why were you so foolish as to fall down that well? +Don't you know it's a dangerous thing to do? You might +have broken your neck in the fall, or been drowned in +the water." + +"Bilbil," replied the King solemnly, "you're a goat. +Do you imagine I fell down the well on purpose?" + +"I imagine nothing," retorted Bilbil. "I only know +you were there." + +"There? Heh-heh-heek-keek-eek! To be sure I was +there," laughed Rinkitink. "There in a dark hole, where +there was no light; there in a watery well, where the +wetness soaked me through and through -- keek-eek-eek- +eek! -- through and through!" + +"How did it happen?" inquired Inga. + +"I was running away from the enemy," explained the +King, "and I was carelessly looking over my shoulder at +the same time, to see if they were chasing me. So I did +not see the well, but stepped into it and found myself +tumbling down to the bottom. I struck the water very +neatly and began struggling to keep myself from +drowning, but presently I found that when I stood upon +my feet on the bottom of the well, that my chin was +just above the water. So I stood still and yelled for +help; but no one heard me." + +"If the warriors had heard you," said Bilbil, "they +would have pulled you out and carried you away to be a +slave. Then you would have been obliged to work for a +living, and that would be a new experience." + +"Work!" exclaimed Rinkitink. "Me work? Hoo, hoo, +heek-keek-eek! How absurd! I'm so stout -- not to say +chubby -- not to say fat -- that I can hardly walk, and +I couldn't earn my salt at hard work. So I'm glad the +enemy did not find me, Bilbil. How many others +escaped?" + +"That I do not know," replied the boy, "for I +have not yet had time to visit the other parts of +the island. When you have rested and satisfied +your royal hunger, it might be well for us to +look around and see what the thieving warriors +of Regos and Coregos have left us." + +"An excellent idea," declared Rinkitink. "I am +somewhat feeble from my long confinement in the well, +but I can ride upon Bilbil's back and we may as well +start at once." + +Hearing this, Bilbil cast a surly glance at his +master but said nothing, since it was really the goat's +business to carry King Rinkitink wherever he desired to +go. + +They first searched the ruins of the palace, and +where the kitchen had once been they found a small +quantity of food that had been half hidden by a block +of marble. This they carefully placed in a sack to +preserve it for future use, the little fat King having +first eaten as much as he cared for. This consumed some +time, for Rinkitink had been exceedingly hungry and +liked to eat in a leisurely manner. When he had +finished the meal he straddled Bilbil's back and set +out to explore the island, Prince Inga walking by his +side. + +They found on every hand ruin and desolation. The +houses of the people had been pilfered of all valuables +and then torn down or burned. Not a boat had been left +upon the shore, nor was there a single person, man or +woman or child, remaining upon the island, save +themselves. The only inhabitants of Pingaree now +consisted of a fat little King, a boy and a goat. + +Even Rinkitink, merry hearted as he was, found it +hard to laugh in the face of this mighty disaster. Even +the goat, contrary to its usual habit, refrained from +saying anything disagreeable. As for the poor boy whose +home was now a wilderness, the tears came often to his +eyes as he marked the ruin of his dearly loved island. + +When, at nightfall, they reached the lower end of +Pingaree and found it swept as bare as the rest, Inga's +grief was almost more than he could bear. Everything +had been swept from him -- parents, home and country -- +in so brief a time that his bewilderment was equal to +his sorrow. + +Since no house remained standing, in which they might +sleep, the three wanderers crept beneath the +overhanging branches of a cassa tree and curled +themselves up as comfortably as possible. So tired and +exhausted were they by the day's anxieties and griefs +that their troubles soon faded into the mists of +dreamland. Beast and King and boy slumbered peacefully +together until wakened by the singing of the birds +which greeted the dawn of a new day. + + + + +Chapter Five + +The Three Pearls + + +When King Rinkitink and Prince Inga had bathed +themselves in the sea and eaten a simple breakfast, +they began wondering what they could do to improve +their condition. + +"The poor people of Gilgad," said Rinkitink +cheerfully, "are little likely ever again to behold +their King in the flesh, for my boat and my rowers are +gone with everything else. Let us face the fact that we +are imprisoned for life upon this island, and that our +lives will be short unless we can secure more to eat +than is in this small sack." + +"I'll not starve, for I can eat grass," remarked the +goat in a pleasant tone -- or a tone as pleasant as +Bilbil could assume. + +"True, quite true," said the King. Then he seemed +thoughtful for a moment and turning to Inga he asked: +"Do you think, Prince, that if the worst comes, we +could eat Bilbil?" + +The goat gave a groan and cast a reproachful look at +his master as he said: + +"Monster! Would you, indeed, eat your old friend and +servant?" + +"Not if I can help it, Bilbil," answered the King +pleasantly. "You would make a remarkably tough morsel, +and my teeth are not as good as they once were. + +While this talk was in progress Inga suddenly +remembered the three pearls which his father had hidden +under the tiled floor of the banquet hall. Without +doubt King Kitticut had been so suddenly surprised by +the invaders that he had found no opportunity to get +the pearls, for otherwise the fierce warriors would +have been defeated and driven out of Pingaree. So they +must still be in their hiding place, and Inga believed +they would prove of great assistance to him and his +comrades in this hour of need. But the palace was a +mass of ruins; perhaps he would be unable now to find +the place where the pearls were hidden. + +He said nothing of this to Rinkitink, remembering +that his father had charged him to preserve the secret +of the pearls and of their magic powers. Nevertheless, +the thought of securing the wonderful treasures of his +ancestors gave the boy new hope. + +He stood up and said to the King: + +"Let us return to the other end of Pingaree. It is +more pleasant than here in spite of the desolation of +my father's palace. And there, if anywhere, we shall +discover a way out of our difficulties." + +This suggestion met with Rinkitink's approval and the +little party at once started upon the return journey. +As there was no occasion to delay upon the way, they +reached the big end of the island about the middle of +the day and at once began searching the ruins of the +palace. + +They found, to their satisfaction, that one room at +the bottom of a tower was still habitable, although the +roof was broken in and the place was somewhat littered +with stones. The King was, as he said, too fat to do +any hard work, so he sat down on a block of marble and +watched Inga clear the room of its rubbish. This done, +the boy hunted through the ruins until he discovered a +stool and an armchair that had not been broken beyond +use. Some bedding and a mattress were also found, so +that by nightfall the little room had been made quite +comfortable + +The following morning, while Rinkitink was still +sound asleep and Bilbil was busily cropping the dewy +grass that edged the shore, Prince Inga began to search +the tumbled heaps of marble for the place where the +royal banquet hall had been. After climbing over the +ruins for a time he reached a flat place which he +recognized, by means of the tiled flooring and the +broken furniture scattered about, to be the great hall +he was seeking. But in the center of the floor, +directly over the spot where the pearls were hidden, +lay several large and heavy blocks of marble, which had +been torn from the dismantled walls. + +This unfortunate discovery for a time discouraged the +boy, who realized how helpless he was to remove such +vast obstacles; but it was so important to secure the +pearls that he dared not give way to despair until +every human effort had been made, so he sat him down to +think over the matter with great care. + +Meantime Rinkitink had risen from his bed and walked +out upon the lawn, where he found Bilbil reclining at +ease upon the greensward. + +"Where is Inga?" asked Rinkitink, rubbing his eyes +with his knuckles because their vision was blurred with +too much sleep. + +"Don't ask me," said the goat, chewing with much +satisfaction a cud of sweet grasses. + +"Bilbil," said the King, squatting down beside the +goat and resting his fat chin upon his hands and his +elbows on his knees, "allow me to confide to you the +fact that I am bored, and need amusement. My good +friend Kitticut has been kidnapped by the barbarians +and taken from me, so there is no one to converse with +me intelligently. I am the King and you are the goat. +Suppose you tell me a story. + +"Suppose I don't," said Bilbil, with a scowl, for a +goat's face is very expressive. + +"If you refuse, I shall be more unhappy than ever, +and I know your disposition is too sweet to permit +that. Tell me a story, Bilbil." + +The goat looked at him with an expression of scorn. +Said he: + +"One would think you are but four years old, +Rinkitink! But there -- I will do as you command. +Listen carefully, and the story may do you some good -- +although I doubt if you understand the moral." + +"I am sure the story will do me good," declared the +King, whose eyes were twinkling. + +"Once on a time," began the goat. + +"When was that, Bilbil?" asked the King gently. + +"Don't interrupt; it is impolite. Once on a time +there was a King with a hollow inside his head, where +most people have their brains, and --" + +"Is this a true story, Bilbil?" + +"And the King with a hollow head could chatter words, +which had no sense, and laugh in a brainless manner at +senseless things. That part of the story is true +enough, Rinkitink." + +"Then proceed with the tale, sweet Bilbil. Yet it is +hard to believe that any King could be brainless -- +unless, indeed, he proved it by owning a talking goat." + +Bilbil glared at him a full minute in silence. +Then he resumed his story: + +"This empty-headed man was a King by accident, having +been born to that high station. Also the King was +empty-headed by the same chance, being born without +brains." + +"Poor fellow!" quoth the King. "Did he own a talking +goat?" + +"He did," answered Bilbil. + +"Then he was wrong to have been born at all. Cheek- +eek-eek-eek, oo, hoo!" chuckled Rinkitink, his fat body +shaking with merriment. "But it's hard to prevent +oneself from being born; there's no chance for protest, +eh, Bilbil?" + +"Who is telling this story, I'd like to know," +demanded the goat, with anger. + +"Ask someone with brains, my boy; I'm sure I can't +tell," replied the King, bursting into one of his merry +fits of laughter. + +Bilbil rose to his hoofs and walked away in a +dignified manner, leaving Rinkitink chuckling anew at +the sour expression of the animal's face. + +"Oh, Bilbil, you'll be the death of me, some day -- +I'm sure you will!" gasped the King, taking out his +lace handkerchief to wipe his eyes; for, as he often +did, he had laughed till the tears came. + +Bilbil was deeply vexed and would not even turn his +head to look at his master. To escape from Rinkitink he +wandered among the ruins of the palace, where he came +upon Prince Inga. + +"Good morning, Bilbil," said the boy. "I was just +going to find you, that I might consult you upon an +important matter. If you will kindly turn back with me +I am sure your good judgment will be of great +assistance." + +The angry goat was quite mollified by the respectful +tone in which he was addressed, but he immediately +asked: + +"Are you also going to consult that empty-headed King +over yonder?" + +"I am sorry to hear you speak of your kind master in +such a way," said the boy gravely. "All men are +deserving of respect, being the highest of living +creatures, and Kings deserve respect more than others, +for they are set to rule over many people." + +"Nevertheless," said Bilbil with conviction, +"Rinkitink's head is certainly empty of brains." + +"That I am unwilling to believe," insisted Inga. "But +anyway his heart is kind and gentle and that is better +than being wise. He is merry in spite of misfortunes +that would cause others to weep and he never speaks +harsh words that wound the feelings of his friends." + +"Still," growled Bilbil, "he is --" + +"Let us forget everything but his good nature, which +puts new heart into us when we are sad," advised the +boy." + +"But he is --" + +"Come with me, please," interrupted Inga, "for the +matter of which I wish to speak is very important." + +Bilbil followed him, although the boy still heard the +goat muttering that the King had no brains. Rinkitink, +seeing them turn into the ruins, also followed, and +upon joining them asked for his breakfast. + +Inga opened the sack of food and while he and the +King ate of it the boy said: + +"If I could find a way to remove some of the blocks +of marble which have fallen in the banquet hall, I +think I could find means for us to escape from this +barren island." + +"Then," mumbled Rinkitink, with his mouth full, "let +us move the blocks of marble." + +"But how?" inquired Prince Inga. "They are very +heavy." + +"Ah, how, indeed?" returned the King, smacking his +lips contentedly. "That is a serious question. But -- I +have it! Let us see what my famous parchment says about +it." He wiped his fingers upon a napkin and then, +taking the scroll from a pocket inside his embroidered +blouse, he unrolled it and read the following words: +'Never step on another man's toes.' + +The goat gave a snort of contempt; Inga was silent; +the King looked from one to the other inquiringly. + +"That's the idea, exactly!" declared Rinkitink. + +"To be sure," said Bilbil scornfully, "it tells us +exactly how to move the blocks of marble." + +"Oh, does it?" responded the King, and then for a +moment he rubbed the top of his bald head in a +perplexed manner. The next moment he burst into a peal +of joyous laughter. The goat looked at Inga and sighed. + +"What did I tell you?" asked the creature. "Was I +right, or was I wrong?" + +"This scroll," said Rinkitink, "is indeed a +masterpiece. Its advice is of tremendous value. 'Never +step on another man's toes.' Let us think this over. +The inference is that we should step upon our own toes, +which were given us for that purpose. Therefore, if I +stepped upon another man's toes, I would be the other +man. Hoo, hoo, hoo! -- the other man -- hee, hee, heek- +keek-eek! Funny, isn't it?" + +"Didn't I say --" began Bilbil. + +"No matter what you said, my boy," roared the King. +"No fool could have figured that out as nicely as I +did." + +"We have still to decide how to remove the blocks of +marble," suggested Inga anxiously. + + "Fasten a rope to them, and pull," said Bilbil. +"Don't pay any more attention to Rinkitink, for he is +no wiser than the man who wrote that brainless scroll. +Just get the rope, and we'll fasten Rinkitink to one +end of it for a weight and I'll help you pull." + +"Thank you, Bilbil," replied the boy. "I'll get the +rope at once. + +Bilbil found it difficult to climb over the ruins to +the floor of the banquet hall, but there are few places +a goat cannot get to when it makes the attempt, so +Bilbil succeeded at last, and even fat little Rinkitink +finally joined them, though much out of breath. + +Inga fastened one end of the rope around a block of +marble and then made a loop at the other end to go over +Bilbil's head. When all was ready the boy seized the +rope and helped the goat to pull; yet, strain as they +might, the huge block would not stir from its place. +Seeing this, King Rinkitink came forward and lent his +assistance, the weight of his body forcing the heavy +marble to slide several feet from where it had lain. + +But it was hard work and all were obliged to take a +long rest before undertaking the removal of the next +block. + +"Admit, Bilbil," said the King, "that I am of some +use in the world." + +"Your weight was of considerable help," acknowledged +the goat, "but if your head were as well filled as +your stomach the task would be still easier." + +When Inga went to fasten the rope a second time he +was rejoiced to discover that by moving one more block +of marble he could uncover the tile with the secret +spring. So the three pulled with renewed energy and to +their joy the block moved and rolled upon its side, +leaving Inga free to remove the treasure when he +pleased. + +But the boy had no intention of allowing Bilbil and +the King to share the secret of the royal treasures of +Pingaree; so, although both the goat and its master +demanded to know why the marble blocks had been moved, +and how it would benefit them, Inga begged them to wait +until the next morning, when he hoped to be able to +satisfy them that their hard work had not been in vain. + +Having little confidence in this promise of a mere +boy, the goat grumbled and the King laughed; but Inga +paid no heed to their ridicule and set himself to work +rigging up a fishing rod, with line and hook. During +the afternoon he waded out to some rocks near the shore +and fished patiently until he had captured enough +yellow perch for their supper and breakfast. + +"Ah," said Rinkitink, looking at the fine catch when +Inga returned to the shore; "these will taste delicious +when they are cooked; but do you know how to cook +them?" + +"No," was the reply. I have often caught fish, but +never cooked them. Perhaps Your Majesty understands +cooking." + +"Cooking and majesty are two different things," +laughed the little King. "I could not cook a fish to +save me from starvation." + +"For my part," said Bilbil, "I never eat fish, but I +can tell you how to cook them, for I have often watched +the palace cooks at their work." And so, with the +goat's assistance, the boy and the King managed to +prepare the fish and cook them, after which they were +eaten with good appetite. + +That night, after Rinkitink and Bilbil were both fast +asleep, Inga stole quietly through the moonlight to the +desolate banquet hall. There, kneeling down, he touched +the secret spring as his father had instructed him to +do and to his joy the tile sank downward and disclosed +the opening. You may imagine how the boy's heart +throbbed with excitement as he slowly thrust his hand +into the cavity and felt around to see if the precious +pearls were still there. In a moment his fingers +touched the silken bag and, without pausing to close +the recess, he pressed the treasure against his breast +and ran out into the moonlight to examine it. When he +reached a bright place he started to open the bag, but +he observed Bilbil lying asleep upon the grass near by. +So, trembling with the fear of discovery, he ran to +another place, and when he paused he heard Rinkitink +snoring lustily. Again he fled and made his way to the +seashore, where he squatted under a bank and began to +untie the cords that fastened the mouth of the bag. But +now another fear assailed him. + +"If the pearls should slip from my hand," he thought, +"and roll into the water, they might be lost to me +forever. I must find some safer place." + +Here and there he wandered, still clasping the silken +bag in both hands, and finally he went to the grove and +climbed into the tall tree where he had made his +platform and seat. But here it was pitch dark, so he +found he must wait patiently until morning before he +dared touch the pearls. During those hours of waiting +he had time for reflection and reproached himself for +being so frightened by the possession of his father's +treasures. + +"These pearls have belonged to our family for +generations," he mused, "yet no one has ever lost them. +If I use ordinary care I am sure I need have no fears +for their safety." + +When the dawn came and he could see plainly, Inga +opened the bag and took out the Blue Pearl. There was +no possibility of his being observed by others, so he +took time to examine it wonderingly, saying to himself: +"This will give me strength." + +Taking off his right shoe he placed the Blue Pearl +within it, far up in the pointed toe. Then he tore a +piece from his handkerchief and stuffed it into the +shoe to hold the pearl in place. Inga's shoes were long +and pointed, as were all the shoes worn in Pingaree, +and the points curled upward, so that there was quite a +vacant space beyond the place where the boy's toes +reached when the shoe was upon his foot. + +After he had put on the Shoe and laced it up he +opened the bag and took out the Pink Pearl. "This will +protect me from danger," said Inga, and removing the +shoe from his left foot he carefully placed the pearl +in the hollow toe. This, also, he secured in place by +means of a strip torn from his handkerchief. + +Having put on the second shoe and laced it up, the +boy drew from the silken bag the third pearl -- that +which was pure white -- and holding it to his ear he +asked. + +"Will you advise me what to do, in this my hour of +misfortune?" + +Clearly the small voice of the pearl made answer: + +"I advise you to go to the Islands of Regos and +Coregos, where you may liberate your parents from +slavery." + +"How could I do that?" exclaimed Prince Inga, amazed +at receiving such advice. + +"To-night," spoke the voice of the pearl, "there will +be a storm, and in the morning a boat will strand upon +the shore. Take this boat and row to Regos and +Coregos." + +"How can I, a weak boy, pull the boat so far?" he +inquired, doubting the possibility. + +"The Blue Pearl will give you strength," was the +reply. + +"But I may be shipwrecked and drowned, before ever I +reach Regos and Coregos," protested the boy. + +"The Pink Pearl will protect you from harm," murmured +the voice, soft and low but very distinct. + +"Then I shall act as you advise me," declared Inga, +speaking firmly because this promise gave him courage, +and as he removed the pearl from his ear it whispered: + +"The wise and fearless are sure to win success." + +Restoring the White Pearl to the depths of the silken +bag, Inga fastened it securely around his neck and +buttoned his waist above it to hide the treasure from +all prying eyes. Then he slowly climbed down from the +tree and returned to the room where King Rinkitink +still slept. + +The goat was browsing upon the grass but looked cross +and surly. When the boy said good morning as he passed, +Bilbil made no response whatever. As Inga entered the +room the King awoke and asked: + +"What is that mysterious secret of yours? I've been +dreaming about it, and I haven't got my breath yet from +tugging at those heavy blocks. Tell me the secret." + +"A secret told is no longer a secret," replied Inga, +with a laugh. "Besides, this is a family secret, which +it is proper I should keep to myself. But I may tell +you one thing, at least: We are going to leave this +island to-morrow morning." + +The King seemed puzzled' by this statement. + +"I'm not much of a swimmer," said he, "and, though +I'm fat enough to float upon the surface of the water, +I'd only bob around and get nowhere at all." + +"We shall not swim, but ride comfortably in a boat," +promised Inga. + +"There isn't a boat on this island!" declared +Rinkitink, looking upon the boy with wonder. + +"True," said Inga. "But one will come to us in the +morning." He spoke positively, for he had perfect faith +in the promise of the White Pearl; but Rinkitink, +knowing nothing of the three marvelous jewels, began to +fear that the little Prince had lost his mind through +grief and misfortune. + +For this reason the King did not question the boy +further but tried to cheer him by telling him witty +stories. He laughed at all the stories himself, in his +merry, rollicking way, and Inga joined freely in the +laughter because his heart had been lightened by the +prospect of rescuing his dear parents. Not since the +fierce warriors had descended upon Pingaree had the boy +been so hopeful and happy. + +With Rinkitink riding upon Bilbil's back, the three +made a tour of the island and found in the central part +some bushes and trees bearing ripe fruit. They gathered +this freely, for -- aside from the fish which Inga +caught -- it was the only food they now had, and the +less they had, the bigger Rinkitink's appetite seemed +to grow. + +"I am never more happy," said he with a sigh, "than +when I am eating." + +Toward evening the sky became overcast and soon a +great storm began to rage. Prince Inga and King +Rinkitink took refuge within the shelter of the room +they had fitted up and there Bilbil joined them. The +goat and the King were somewhat disturbed by the +violence of the storm, but Inga did not mind it, being +pleased at this evidence that the White Pearl might be +relied upon. + +All night the wind shrieked around the island; +thunder rolled, lightning flashed and rain came down in +torrents. But with morning the storm abated and when +the sun arose no sign of the tempest remained save a +few fallen trees. + + + + +Chapter Six + +The Magic Boat + + +Prince Inga was up with the sun and, accompanied by +Bilbil, began walking along the shore in search of the +boat which the White Pearl had promised him. Never for +an instant did he doubt that he would find it and +before he had walked any great distance a dark object +at the water's edge caught his eye. + +"It is the boat, Bilbil!" he cried joyfully, and +running down to it he found it was, indeed, a large and +roomy boat. Although stranded upon the beach, it was in +perfect order and had suffered in no way from the +storm. + +Inga stood for some moments gazing upon the handsome +craft and wondering where it could have come from. +Certainly it was unlike any boat he had ever seen. On +the outside it was painted a lustrous black, without +any other color to relieve it; but all the inside of +the boat was lined with pure silver, polished so highly +that the surface resembled a mirror and glinted +brilliantly in the rays of the sun. The seats had white +velvet cushions upon them and the cushions were +splendidly embroidered with threads of gold. At one +end, beneath the broad seat, was a small barrel with +silver hoops, which the boy found was filled with +fresh, sweet water. A great chest of sandalwood, bound +and ornamented with silver, stood in the other end of +the boat. Inga raised the lid and discovered the chest +filled with sea-biscuits, cakes, tinned meats and ripe, +juicy melons; enough good and wholesome food to last +the party a long time. + +Lying upon the bottom of the boat were two shining +oars, and overhead, but rolled back now, was a canopy +of silver cloth to ward off the heat of the sun. + +It is no wonder the boy was delighted with the +appearance of this beautiful boat; but on reflection he +feared it was too large for him to row any great +distance. Unless, indeed, the Blue Pearl gave him +unusual strength. + +While he was considering this matter, King Rinkitink +came waddling up to him and said: + +"Well, well, well, my Prince, your words have come +true! Here is the boat, for a certainty, yet how it +came here -- and how you knew it would come to us -- +are puzzles that mystify me. I do not question our good +fortune, however, and my heart is bubbling with joy, +for in this boat I will return at once to my City of +Gilgad, from which I have remained absent altogether +too long a time." + +"I do not wish to go to Gilgad," said Inga. + +"That is too bad, my friend, for you would be very +welcome. But you may remain upon this island, if you +wish," continued Rinkitink, "and when I get home I will +send some of my people to rescue you." + +"It is my boat, Your Majesty," said Inga quietly. + +"May be, may be," was the careless answer, "but I am +King of a great country, while you are a boy Prince +without any kingdom to speak of. Therefore, being of +greater importance than you, it is just and right that +I take, your boat and return to my own country in it." + +"I am sorry to differ from Your Majesty's views," +said Inga, "but instead of going to Gilgad I consider +it of greater importance that we go to the islands of +Regos and Coregos." + +"Hey? What!" cried the astounded King. "To Regos and +Coregos! To become slaves of the barbarians, like the +King, your father? No, no, my boy! Your Uncle Rinki may +have an empty noddle, as Bilbil claims, but he is far +too wise to put his head in the lion's mouth. It's no +fun to be a slave." + +"The people of Regos and Coregos will not enslave +us," declared Inga. "On the contrary, it is my +intention to set free my dear parents, as well as all +my people, and to bring them back again to Pingaree." + +"Cheek-eek-eek-eek-eek! How funny!" chuckled +Rinkitink, winking at the goat, which scowled in +return. "Your audacity takes my breath away, Inga, but +the adventure has its charm, I must, confess. Were I +not so fat, I'd agree to your plan at once, and could +probably conquer that horde of fierce warriors without +any assistance at all -- any at all -- eh, Bilbil? But +I grieve to say that I am fat, and not in good fighting +trim. As for your determination to do what I admit I +can't do, Inga, I fear you forget that you are only a +boy, and rather small at that." + +"No, I do not forget that," was Inga's reply. + +"Then please consider that you and I and Bilbil are +not strong enough, as an army, to conquer a powerful +nation of skilled warriors. We could attempt it, of +course, but you are too young to die, while I am too +old. Come with me to my City of Gilgad, where you will +be greatly honored. I'll have my professors teach you +how to be good. Eh? What do you say?" + +Inga was a little embarrassed how to reply to these +arguments, which he knew King Rinkitink considered were +wise; so, after a period of thought, he said: + +"I will make a bargain with Your Majesty, for I do +not wish to fail in respect to so worthy a man and so +great a King as yourself. This boat is mine, as I have +said, and in my father's absence you have become my +guest; therefore I claim that I am entitled to some +consideration, as well as you." + +"No doubt of it," agreed Rinkitink. "What is the +bargain you propose, Inga?" + +"Let us both get into the boat, and you shall first +try to row us to Gilgad. If you succeed, I will +accompany you right willingly; but should you fail, I +will then row the boat to Regos, and you must come with +me without further protest." + +"A fair and just bargain!" cried the King, highly +pleased. "Yet, although I am a man of mighty deeds, I +do not relish the prospect of rowing so big a boat all +the way to Gilgad. But I will do my best and abide by +the result." + +The matter being thus peaceably settled, they +prepared to embark. A further supply of fruits was +placed in the boat and Inga also raked up a quantity of +the delicious oysters that abounded on the coast of +Pingaree but which he had before been unable to reach +for lack of a boat. This was done at the suggestion of +the ever-hungry Rinkitink, and when the oysters had +been stowed in their shells behind the water barrel and +a plentiful supply of grass brought aboard for Bilbil, +they decided they were ready to start on their voyage. + +It proved no easy task to get Bilbil into the boat, +for he was a remarkably clumsy goat and once, when +Rinkitink gave him a push, he tumbled into the water +and nearly drowned before they could get him out again. +But there was no thought of leaving the quaint animal +behind. His power of speech made him seem almost human +in the eyes of the boy, and the fat King was so +accustomed to his surly companion that nothing could +have induced him to part with him. Finally Bilbil fell +sprawling into the bottom of the boat, and Inga helped +him to get to the front end, where there was enough +space for him to lie down. + +Rinkitink now took his seat in the silver-lined craft +and the boy came last, pushing off the boat as he +sprang aboard, so that it floated freely upon the +water. + +"Well, here we go for Gilgad!" exclaimed the King, +picking up the oars and placing them in the row-locks. +Then he began to row as hard as he could, singing at +the same time an odd sort of a song that ran like this + +"The way to Gilgad isn't bad +For a stout old King and a brave young lad, +For a cross old goat with a dripping coat, +And a silver boat in which to float. +So our hearts are merry, light and glad +As we speed away to fair Gilgad!" + +"Don't, Rinkitink; please don't! It makes me +seasick," growled Bilbil. + +Rinkitink stopped rowing, for by this time he was all +out of breath and his round face was covered with big +drops of perspiration. And when he looked over his +shoulder he found to his dismay that the boat had +scarcely moved a foot from its former position. + +Inga said nothing and appeared not to notice the +King's failure. So now Rinkitink, with a serious look +on his fat, red face, took off his purple robe and +rolled up the sleeves of his tunic and tried again. + +However, he succeeded no better than before and when +he heard Bilbil give a gruff laugh and saw a smile upon +the boy Prince's face, Rinkitink suddenly dropped the +oars and began shouting with laughter at his own +defeat. As he wiped his brow with a yellow silk +handkerchief he sang in a merry voice: + +"A sailor bold am I, I hold, +But boldness will not row a boat. +So I confess I'm in distress +And just as useless as the goat." + + +"Please leave me out of your verses," said Bilbil +with a snort of anger. + +"When I make a fool of myself, Bilbil, I'm a goat," +replied Rinkitink. + +"Not so," insisted Bilbil. "Nothing could make you a +member of my superior race." + +"Superior? Why, Bilbil, a goat is but a beast, while +I am a King!" + +"I claim that superiority lies in intelligence," said +the goat. + +Rinkitink paid no attention to this remark, but +turning to Inga he said: + +"We may as well get back to the shore, for the boat +is too heavy to row to Gilgad or anywhere else. Indeed, +it will be hard for us to reach land again." + +"Let me take the oars," suggested Inga. "You must not +forget our bargain." + +"No, indeed," answered Rinkitink. "If you can row us +to Regos, or to any other place, I will go with you +without protest." + +So the King took Inga's place at the stern of the +boat and the boy grasped the oars and commenced to row. +And now, to the great wonder of Rinkitink -- and even +to Inga's surprise -- the oars became light as feathers +as soon as the Prince took hold of them. In an instant +the boat began to glide rapidly through the water and, +seeing this, the boy turned its prow toward the north. +He did not know exactly where Regos and Coregos were +located, but he did know that the islands lay to the +north of Pingaree, so he decided to trust to luck and +the guidance of the pearls to carry him to them. + +Gradually the Island of Pingaree became smaller to +their view as the boat sped onward, until at the end of +an hour they had lost sight of it altogether and were +wholly surrounded by the purple waters of the Nonestic +Ocean. + +Prince Inga did not tire from the labor of rowing; +indeed, it seemed to him no labor at all. Once he +stopped long enough to place the poles of the canopy in +the holes that had been made for them, in the edges of +the boat, and to spread the canopy of silver over the +poles, for Rinkitink had complained of the sun's heat. +But the canopy shut out the hot rays and rendered the +interior of the boat cool and pleasant. + +"This is a glorious ride!" cried Rinkitink, as he lay +back in the shade. "I find it a decided relief to be +away from that dismal island of Pingaree. + +"It may be a relief for a short time," said Bilbil, +"but you are going to the land of your enemies, who +will probably stick your fat body full of spears and +arrows." + +"Oh, I hope not!" exclaimed Inga, distressed at the +thought. + +"Never mind," said the King calmly, "a man can die +but once, you know, and when the enemy kills me I shall +beg him to kill Bilbil, also, that we may remain +together in death as in life." + +"They may be cannibals, in which case they will roast +and eat us," suggested Bilbil, who wished to terrify +his master. + +"Who knows?" answered Rinkitink, with a shudder. "But +cheer up, Bilbil; they may not kill us after all, or +even capture us; so let us not borrow trouble. Do not +look so cross, my sprightly quadruped, and I will sing +to amuse you." + +"Your song would make me more cross than ever," +grumbled the goat. + +"Quite impossible, dear Bilbil. You couldn't be more +surly if you tried. So here is a famous song for you." + +While the boy rowed steadily on and the boat rushed +fast over the water, the jolly King, who never could be +sad or serious for many minutes at a time, lay back on +his embroidered cushions and sang as follows: + +"A merry maiden went to sea -- + +Sing too-ral-oo-ral-i-do! +She sat upon the Captain's knee +And looked around the sea to see +What she could see, but she couldn't see me -- + +Sing too-ral-oo-ral-i-do! + + +"How do you like that, Bilbil?" + +"I don't like it," complained the goat. "It reminds +me of the alligator that tried to whistle." + +"Did he succeed, Bilbil?" asked the King. + +"He whistled as well as you sing." + +"Ha, ha, ha, ha, heek, keek, eek!" chuckled the King. +"He must have whistled most exquisitely, eh, my +friend?" + +"I am not your friend," returned the goat, wagging +his ears in a surly manner. + +"I am yours, however," was the King's cheery reply; +"and to prove it I'll sing you another verse." + +"Don't, I beg of you!" + +But the King sang as follows: + + +"The wind blew off the maiden's shoe -- + Sing too-ral-oo-ral-i-do! +And the shoe flew high to the sky so blue +And the maiden knew 'twas a new shoe, too; +But she couldn't pursue the shoe, 'tis true- + Sing too-ral-oo-ral-i-do! + + +"Isn't that sweet, my pretty goat?" + +"Sweet, do you ask?" retorted Bilbil. "I consider it +as sweet as candy made from mustard and vinegar." + +"But not as sweet as your disposition, I admit. Ah, +Bilbil, your temper would put honey itself to shame." + +"Do not quarrel, I beg of you," pleaded Inga. "Are we +not sad enough already?" + +"But this is a jolly quarrel," said the King, "and it +is the way Bilbil and I often amuse ourselves. Listen, +now, to the last verse of all: + +"The maid who shied her shoe now cried -- + +Sing too-ral-oo-ral-i-do! +Her tears were fried for the Captain's bride +Who ate with pride her sobs, beside, +And gently sighed 'I'm satisfied' -- + +Sing to-ral-oo-ral-i-do!" + + +"Worse and worse!" grumbled Bilbil, with much scorn. +"I am glad that is the last verse, for another of the +same kind might cause me to faint." + +"I fear you have no ear for music," said the King. + +"I have heard no music, as yet," declared the goat. +"You must have a strong imagination, King Rinkitink, if +you consider your songs music. Do you remember the +story of the bear that hired out for a nursemaid?" + +"I do not recall it just now," said Rinkitink, with a +wink at Inga. + +"Well, the bear tried to sing a lullaby to put the +baby to sleep." + +"And then?" said the King. + +"The bear was highly pleased with its own voice, but +the baby was nearly frightened to death." + +"Heh, heb, heh, heh, whoo, hoo, hoo! You are a merry +rogue, Bilbil," laughed the King; "a merry rogue in +spite of your gloomy features. However, if I have not +amused you, I have at least pleased myself, for I am +exceedingly fond of a good song. So let us say no more +about it." + +All this time the boy Prince was rowing. the boat. He +was not in the least tired, for the oars he held seemed +to move of their own accord. He paid little heed to the +conversation of Rinkitink and the goat, but busied his +thoughts with plans of what he should do when he +reached the islands of Regos and Coregos and confronted +his enemies. When the others finally became silent, +Inga inquired. + +"Can you fight, King Rinkitink?" + +"I have never tried," was the answer. "In time of +danger I have found it much easier to run away than to +face the foe." + +"But could you fight?" asked the boy. + +"I might try, if there was no chance to escape by +running. Have you a proper weapon for me to fight +with?" + +"I have no weapon at all," confessed Inga. + +"Then let us use argument and persuasion instead of +fighting. For instance, if we could persuade the +warriors of Regos to lie down, and let me step on them, +they would be crushed with ease. + +Prince Inga had expected little support from the +King, so he was not discouraged by this answer. After +all, he reflected, a conquest by battle would be out of +the question, yet the White Pearl would not have +advised him to go to Regos and Coregos had the mission +been a hopeless one. It seemed to him, on further +reflection, that he must rely upon circumstances to +determine his actions when he reached the islands of +the barbarians. + +By this time Inga felt perfect confidence in the +Magic Pearls. It was the White Pearl that had given him +the boat, and the Blue Pearl that had given him +strength to row it. He believed that the Pink Pearl +would protect him from any danger that might arise; so +his anxiety was not for himself, but for his +companions. King Rinkitink and the goat had no magic to +protect them, so Inga resolved to do all in his power +to keep them from harm. + +For three days and three nights the boat with the +silver lining sped swiftly over the ocean. On the +morning of the fourth day, so quickly had they +traveled, Inga saw before him the shores of the two +great islands of Regos and Coregos. + +"The pearls have guided me aright!" he whispered to +himself. "Now, if I am wise, and cautious, and brave, I +believe I shall be able to rescue my father and mother +and my people." + + + + +Chapter Seven + +The Twin Islands + + +The Island of Regos was ten miles wide and forty miles +long and it was ruled by a big and powerful King named +Gos. Near to the shores were green and fertile fields, +but farther back from the sea were rugged hills and +mountains, so rocky that nothing would grow there. But +in these mountains were mines of gold and silver, which +the slaves of the King were forced to work, being +confined in dark underground passages for that purpose. +In the course of time huge caverns had been hollowed +out by the slaves, in which they lived and slept, never +seeing the light of day. Cruel overseers with whips +stood over these poor people, who had been captured in +many countries by the raiding parties of King Cos, and +the overseers were quite willing to lash the slaves +with their whips if they faltered a moment in their +work. + +Between the green shores and the mountains were +forests of thick, tangled trees, between which narrow +paths had been cut to lead up to the caves of the +mines. It was on the level green meadows, not far from +the ocean, that the great City of Regos had been built, +wherein was located the palace of the King. This city +was inhabited by thousands of the fierce warriors of +Gos, who frequently took to their boats and spread over +the sea to the neighboring islands to conquer and +pillage, as they had done at Pingaree. When they were +not absent on one of these expeditions, the City of +Regos swarmed with them and so became a dangerous place +for any peaceful person to live in, for the warriors +were as lawless as their King. + +The Island of Coregos lay close beside the Island of +Regos; so close, indeed, that one might have thrown a +stone from one shore to another. But Coregos was only +half the size of Regos and instead of being mountainous +it was a rich and pleasant country, covered with fields +of grain. The fields of Coregos furnished food for the +warriors and citizens of both countries, while the +mines of Regos made them all rich. + +Coregos was ruled by Queen Cor, who was wedded to +King Gos; but so stern and cruel was the nature of this +Queen that the people could not decide which of their +sovereigns they dreaded most. + +Queen Cor lived in her own City of Coregos, which lay +on that side of her island facing Regos, and her +slaves, who were mostly women, were made to plow the +land and to plant and harvest the grain. + +From Regos to Coregos stretched a bridge of boats, +set close together, with planks laid across their edges +for people to walk upon. In this way it was easy to +pass from one island to the other and in times of +danger the bridge could be quickly removed. + +The native inhabitants of Regos and Coregos consisted +of the warriors, who did nothing but fight and ravage, +and the trembling servants who waited on them. King Gos +and Queen Cor were at war with all the rest of the +world. Other islanders hated and feared them, for their +slaves were badly treated and absolutely no mercy was +shown to the weak or ill. + +When the boats that had gone to Pingaree returned +loaded with rich plunder and a host of captives, there +was much rejoicing in Regos and Coregos and the King +and Queen gave a fine feast to the warriors who had +accomplished so great a conquest. This feast was set +for the warriors in the grounds of King Gos's palace, +while with them in the great throne room all the +captains and leaders of the fighting men were assembled +with King Gos and Queen Cor, who had come from her +island to attend the ceremony. Then all the goods that +had been stolen from the King of Pingaree were divided +according to rank, the King and Queen taking half, the +captains a quarter, and the rest being divided amongst +the warriors. + +The day following the feast King Gos sent King +Kitticut and all the men of Pingaree to work in his +mines under the mountains, having first chained them +together so they could not escape. The gentle Queen of +Pingaree and all her women, together with the captured +children, were given to Queen Cor, who set them to work +in her grain fields. + +Then the rulers and warriors of these dreadful +islands thought they had done forever with Pingaree. +Despoiled of all its wealth, its houses torn down, its +boats captured and all its people enslaved, what +likelihood was there that they might ever again hear of +the desolated island? So the people of Regos and +Coregos were surprised and puzzled when one morning +they observed approaching their shores from the +direction of the south a black boat containing a boy, a +fat man and a goat. The warriors asked one another who +these could be, and where they had come from? No one +ever came to those islands of their own accord, that +was certain. + +Prince Inga guided his boat to the south end of the +Island of Regos, which was the landing place nearest to +the city, and when the warriors saw this action they +went down to the shore to meet him, being led by a big +captain named Buzzub. + +"Those people surely mean us no good," said Rinkitink +uneasily to the boy. "Without doubt they intend to +capture us and make us their slaves." + +"Do not fear, sir," answered Inga, in a calm voice. +"Stay quietly in the boat with Bilbil until I have +spoken with these men." + +He stopped the boat a dozen feet from the shore, and +standing up in his place made a grave bow to the +multitude confronting him. Said the big Captain Buzzub +in a gruff voice: + +"Well, little one, who may you be? And how dare you +come, uninvited and all alone, to the Island of Regos?" + +"I am Inga, Prince of Pingaree," returned the boy, +"and I have come here to free my parents and my people, +whom you have wrongfully enslaved." + +When they heard this bold speech a mighty laugh arose +from the band of warriors, and when it had subsided the +captain said: + +"You love to jest, my baby Prince, and the joke is +fairly good. But why did you willingly thrust your head +into the lion's mouth? When you were free, why did you +not stay free? We did not know we had left a single +person in Pingaree! But since you managed to escape us +then, it is really kind of you to come here of your own +free will, to be our slave. Who is the funny fat person +with you?" + +"It is His Majesty, King Rinkitink, of the great City +of Gilgad. He has accompanied me to see that you render +full restitution for all you have stolen from +Pingaree." + +"Better yet!" laughed Buzzub. "He will make a fine +slave for Queen Cor, who loves to tickle fat men, and +see them jump." + +King Rinkitink was filled with horror when he heard +this, but the Prince answered as boldly as before, +saying: + +"We are not to be frightened by bluster, believe me; +nor are we so weak as you imagine. We have magic powers +so great and terrible that no host of warriors can +possibly withstand us, and therefore I call upon you to +surrender your city and your island to us, before we +crush you with our mighty powers." + +The boy spoke very gravely and earnestly, but his +words only aroused another shout of laughter. So while +the men of Regos were laughing Inga drove the boat +we'll up onto the sandy beach and leaped out. He also +helped Rinkitink out, and when the goat had unaided +sprung to the sands, the King got upon Bilbil's back, +trembling a little internally, but striving to look as +brave as possible. + +There was a bunch of coarse hair between the goat's +ears, and this Inga clutched firmly in his left hand. +The boy knew the Pink Pearl would protect not only +himself, but all whom he touched, from any harm, and as +Rinkitink was astride the goat and Inga had his hand +upon the animal, the three could not be injured by +anything the warriors could do. But Captain Buzzub did +not know this, and the little group of three seemed so +weak and ridiculous that he believed their capture +would be easy. So he turned to his men and with a wave +of his hand said: + +"Seize the intruders!" + +Instantly two or three of the warriors stepped +forward to obey, but to their amazement they could not +reach any of the three; their hands were arrested as if +by an invisible wall of iron. Without paying any +attention to these attempts at capture, Inga advanced +slowly and the goat kept pace with him. And when +Rinkitink saw that he was safe from harm he gave one of +his big, merry laughs, and it startled the warriors and +made them nervous. Captain Buzzub's eyes grew big with +surprise as the three steadily advanced and forced his +men backward; nor was he free from terror himself at +the magic that protected these strange visitors. As for +the warriors, they presently became terror-stricken and +fled in a panic up the slope toward the city, and +Buzzub was obliged to chase after them and shout +threats of punishment before he could halt them and +form them into a line of battle. + +All the men of Regos bore spears and bows-and-arrows, +and some of the officers had swords and battle-axes; so +Buzzub ordered them to stand their ground and shoot and +slay the strangers as they approached. This they tried +to do. Inga being in advance, the warriors sent a +flight of sharp arrows straight at the boy's breast, +while others cast their long spears at him. + +It seemed to Rinkitink that the little Prince must +surely perish as he stood facing this hail of murderous +missiles; but the power of the Pink Pearl did not +desert him, and when the arrows and spears had reached +to within an inch of his body they bounded back again +and fell harmlessly at his feet. Nor were Rinkitink or +Bilbil injured in the least, although they stood close +beside Inga. + +Buzzub stood for a moment looking upon the boy in +silent wonder. Then, recovering himself, he shouted in +a loud voice: + +"Once again! All together, my men. No one shall ever +defy our might and live!" + +Again a flight of arrows and spears sped toward the +three, and since many more of the warriors of Regos had +by this time joined their fellows, the air was for a +moment darkened by the deadly shafts. But again all +fell harmless before the power of the Pink Pearl, and +Bilbil, who had been growing very angry at the attempts +to injure him and his party, suddenly made a bolt +forward, casting off Inga's hold, and butted into the +line of warriors, who were standing amazed at their +failure to conquer. + +Taken by surprise at the goat's attack, a dozen big +warriors tumbled in a heap, yelling with fear, and +their comrades, not knowing what had happened but +imagining that their foes were attacking them, turned +about and ran to the city as hard as they could go. +Bilbil, still angry, had just time to catch the big +captain as he turned to follow his men, and Buzzub +first sprawled headlong upon the ground, then rolled +over two or three times, and finally jumped up and ran +yelling after his defeated warriors. This butting on +the part of the goat was very hard upon King Rinkitink, +who nearly fell off Bilbil's back at the shock of +encounter; but the little fat King wound his arms +around the goat's neck and shut his eyes and clung on +with all his might. It was not until he heard Inga say +triumphantly, "We have won the fight without striking a +blow!" that Rinkitink dared open his eyes again. Then +he saw the warriors rushing into the City of Regos and +barring the heavy gates, and he was very much relieved +at the sight. + +"Without striking a blow!" said Bilbil indignantly. +"That is not quite true, Prince Inga. You did not +fight, I admit, but I struck a couple of times to good +purpose, and I claim to have conquered the cowardly +warriors unaided." + +"You and I together, Bilbil," said Rinkitink mildly. +"But the next time you make a charge, please warn me in +time, so that I may dismount and give you all the +credit for the attack." + +There being no one now to oppose their advance, the +three walked to the gates of the city, which had been +closed against them. The gates were of iron and heavily +barred, and upon the top of the high walls of the city +a host of the warriors now appeared armed with arrows +and spears and other weapons. For Buzzub had gone +straight to the palace of King Cos and reported his +defeat, relating the powerful magic of the boy, the fat +King and the goat, and had asked what to do next. + +The big captain still trembled with fear, but King +Gos did not helieve in magic, and called Buzzub a +coward and a weakling. At once the King took command of +his men personally, and he ordered the walls manned +with warriors and instructed them to shoot to kill if +any of the three strangers approached the gates. + +Of course, neither Rinkitink nor Bilbil knew how they +had been protected from harm and so at first they were +inclined to resent the boy's command that the three +must always keep together and touch one another at all +times. But when Inga explained that his magic would not +otherwise save them from injury, they agreed to obey, +for they had now seen enough to convince them that the +Prince was really protected by some invisible power. + +As they came before the gates another shower of +arrows and spears descended upon them, and as before +not a single missile touched their bodies. King Gos, +who was upon the wall, was greatly amazed and somewhat +worried, but he depended upon the strength of his gates +and commanded his men to continue shooting until all +their weapons were gone. + +Inga let them shoot as much as they wished, while he +stood before the great gates and examined them +carefully. + +"Perhaps Bilbil can batter down the gates, suggested +Rinkitink. + +"No," replied the goat; "my head is hard, but not +harder than iron." + +"Then," returned the King, "let us stay outside; +especially as we can't get in." + +But Inga was not at all sure they could not get in. +The gates opened inward, and three heavy bars were held +in place by means of stout staples riveted to the +sheets of steel. The boy had been told that the power +of the Blue Pearl would enable him to accomplish any +feat of strength, and he believed that this was true. + +The warriors, under the direction of King Gos, +continued to hurl arrows and darts and spears and axes +and huge stones upon the invaders, all without avail. +The ground below was thickly covered with weapons, yet +not one of the three before the gates had been injured +in the slightest manner. When everything had been cast +that was available and not a single weapon of any sort +remained at hand, the amazed warriors saw the boy put +his shoulder against the gates and burst asunder the +huge staples that held the bars in place. A thousand of +their men could not have accomplished this feat, yet +the small, slight boy did it with seeming ease. The +gates burst open, and Inga advanced into the city +street and called upon King Gos to surrender. + +But Gos was now as badly frightened as were his +warriors. He and his men were accustomed to war and +pillage and they had carried terror into many +countries, but here was a small boy, a fat man and a +goat who could not be injured by all his skill in +warfare, his numerous army and thousands of death- +dealing weapons. Moreover, they not only defied King +Gos's entire army but they had broken in the huge gates +of the city -- as easily as if they had been made of +paper -- and such an exhibition of enormous strength +made the wicked King fear for his life. Like all +bullies and marauders, Gos was a coward at heart, and +now a panic seized him and he turned and fled before +the calm advance of Prince Inga of Pingaree. The +warriors were like their master, and having thrown all +their weapons over the wall and being helpless to +oppose the strangers, they all swarmed after Gos, who +abandoned his city and crossed the bridge of boats to +the Island of Coregos. There was a desperate struggle +among these cowardly warriors to get over the bridge, +and many were pushed into the water and obliged to +swim; but finally every fighting man of Regos had +gained the shore of Coregos and then they tore away the +bridge of boats and drew them up on their own side, +hoping the stretch of open water would prevent the +magic invaders from following them. + +The humble citizens and serving people of Regos, who +had been terrified and abused by the rough warriors all +their lives, were not only greatly astonished by this +sudden conquest of their masters but greatly delighted. +As the King and his army fled to Coregos, the people +embraced one another and danced for very joy, and then +they turned to see what the conquerors of Regos were +like. + + + + +Chapter Eight + +Rinkitink Makes a Great Mistake + + +The fat King rode his goat through the streets of the +conquered city and the boy Prince walked proudly beside +him, while all the people bent their heads humbly to +their new masters, whom they were prepared to serve in +the same manner they had King Gos. + +Not a warrior remained in all Regos to oppose the +triumphant three; the bridge of boats had been +destroyed; Inga and his companions were free from +danger -- for a time, at least. + +The jolly little King appreciated this fact and +rejoiced that he had escaped all injury during the +battle. How it had all happened he could not tell, nor +even guess, but he was content in being safe and free +to take possession of the enemy's city. So, as they +passed through the lines of respectful civilians on +their way to the palace, the King tipped his crown back +on his bald head and folded his arms and sang in his +best voice the following lines: + +"Oh, here comes the army of King Rinkitink! +It isn't a big one, perhaps you may think, +But it scattered the warriors quicker than wink -- + +Rink-i-tink, tink-i-tink, tink! +Our Bilbil's a hero and so is his King; +Our foemen have vanished like birds on the wing; +I guess that as fighters we're quite the real thing -- + +Rink-i-tink, tink-i-tink, tink!" + + +"Why don't you give a little credit to Inga?" +inquired the goat. "If I remember aright, he did a +little of the conquering himself." + +"So he did," responded the King, "and that's the +reason I'm sounding our own praise, Bilbil. Those who +do the least, often shout the loudest and so get the +most glory. Inga did so much that there is danger of +his becoming more important than we are, and so we'd +best say nothing about him." + +When they reached the palace, which was an immense +building, furnished throughout in regal splendor, Inga +took formal possession and ordered the majordomo to +show them the finest rooms the building contained. +There were many pleasant apartments, but Rinkitink +proposed to Inga that they share one of the largest +bedrooms together. + +"For," said he, "we are not sure that old Gos will +not return and try to recapture his city, and you must +remember that I have no magic to protect me. In any +danger, were I alone, I might be easily killed or +captured, while if you are by my side you can save me +from injury." + +The boy realized the wisdom of this plan, and +selected a fine big bedroom on the second floor of the +palace, in which he ordered two golden beds placed and +prepared for King Rinkitink and himself. Bilbil was +given a suite of rooms on the other side of the palace, +where servants brought the goat fresh-cut grass to eat +and made him a soft bed to lie upon. + +That evening the boy Prince and the fat King dined in +great state in the lofty-domed dining hall of the +palace, where forty servants waited upon them. The +royal chef, anxious to win the favor of the conquerors +of Regos, prepared his finest and most savory dishes +for them, which Rinkitink ate with much appetite and +found so delicious that he ordered the royal chef +brought into the banquet hall and presented him with a +gilt button which the King cut from his own jacket. + +"You are welcome to it," said he to the chef, +"because I have eaten so much that I cannot use that +lower button at all." + +Rinkitink was mightily pleased to live in a +comfortable palace again and to dine at a well spread +table. His joy grew every moment, so that he came in +time to be as merry and cheery as before Pingaree was +despoiled. And, although he had been much frightened +during Inga's defiance of the army of King Gos, he now +began to turn the matter into a joke. + +"Why, my boy," said he, "you whipped the big black- +bearded King exactly as if he were a schoolboy, even +though you used no warlike weapon at all upon him. He +was cowed through fear of your magic, and that reminds +me to demand from you an explanation. How did you do +it, Inga? And where did the wonderful magic come from?" + +Perhaps it would have been wise for the Prince to +have explained about the magic pearls, but at that +moment he was not inclined to do so. Instead, he +replied: + +"Be patient, Your Majesty. The secret is not my own, +so please do not ask me to divulge it. Is it not +enough, for the present, that the magic saved you from +death to-day?" + +"Do not think me ungrateful," answered the King +earnestly. "A million spears fell on me from the wall, +and several stones as big as mountains, yet none of +them hurt me!" + +"The stones were not as big as mountains, sire," said +the Prince with a smile. "They were, indeed, no larger +than your head." + +"Are you sure about that?" asked Rinkitink. + +"Quite sure, Your Majesty." + +"How deceptive those things are!" sighed the King. +"This argument reminds me of the story of Tom Tick, +which my father used to tell." + +"I have never heard that story," Inga answered. + +"Well, as he told it, it ran like this: + + +"When Tom walked out, the sky to spy, +A naughty gnat flew in his eye; +But Tom knew not it was a gnat -- +He thought, at first, it was a cat. + +"And then, it felt so very big, +He thought it surely was a pig +Till, standing still to hear it grunt, +He cried: 'Why, it's an elephunt!' + +"But -- when the gnat flew out again +And Tom was free from all his pain, +He said: 'There flew into my eye +A leetle, teenty-tiny fly.'" + + +"Indeed," said Inga, laughing, "the gnat was much +like your stones that seemed as big as mountains." + +After their dinner they inspected the palace, which +was filled with valuable goods stolen by King Gos from +many nations. But the day's events had tired them and +they retired early to their big sleeping apartment. + +"In the morning," said the boy to Rinkitink, as he +was undressing for bed, "I shall begin the search for +my father and mother and the people of Pingaree. And, +when they are found and rescued, we will all go home +again, and be as happy as we were before." + +They carefully bolted the door of their room, that no +one might enter, and then got into their beds, where +Rinkitink fell asleep in an instant. The boy lay awake +for a while thinking over the day's adventures, but +presently he fell sound asleep also, and so weary was +he that nothing disturbed his slumber until he awakened +next morning with a ray of sunshine in his eyes, which +had crept into the room through the open window by King +Rinkitink's bed. + +Resolving to begin the search for his parents without +any unnecessary delay, Inga at once got out of bed and +began to dress himself, while Rinkitink, in the other +bed, was still sleeping peacefully. But when the boy +had put on both his stockings and began looking for his +shoes, he could find but one of them. The left shoe, +that containing the Pink Pearl, was missing. + +Filled with anxiety at this discovery, Inga searched +through the entire room, looking underneath the beds +and divans and chairs and behind the draperies and in +the corners and every other possible place a shoe might +be. He tried the door, and found it still bolted; so, +with growing uneasiness, the boy was forced to admit +that the precious shoe was not in the room. + +With a throbbing heart he aroused his companion. + +"King Rinkitink," said he, "do you know what has +become of my left shoe?" + +"Your shoe!" exclaimed the King, giving a wide yawn +and rubbing his eyes to get the sleep out of them. +"Have you lost a shoe?" + +"Yes," said Inga. "I have searched everywhere in the +room, and cannot find it." + +"But why bother me about such a small thing?" +inquired Rinkitink. "A shoe is only a shoe, and you can +easily get another one. But, stay! Perhaps it was your +shoe which I threw at the cat last night." + +"The cat!" cried Inga. "What do you mean?" + +"Why, in the night," explained Rinkitink, sitting up +and beginning to dress himself, "I was wakened by the +mewing of a cat that sat upon a wall of the palace, +just outside my window. As the noise disturbed me, I +reached out in the dark and caught up something and +threw it at the cat, to frighten the creature away. I +did not know what it was that I threw, and I was too +sleepy to care; but probably it was your shoe, since it +is now missing." + +"Then," said the boy, in a despairing tone of voice, +"your carelessness has ruined me, as well as yourself, +King Rinkitink, for in that shoe was concealed the +magic power which protected us from danger." + +The King's face became very serious when he heard +this and he uttered a low whistle of surprise and +regret. + +"Why on earth did you not warn me of this?" he +demanded. "And why did you keep such a precious power +in an old shoe? And why didn't you put the shoe under a +pillow? You were very wrong, my lad, in not confiding +to me, your faithful friend, the secret, for in that +case the shoe would not now be lost." + +To all this Inga had no answer. He sat on the side of +his bed, with hanging head, utterly disconsolate, and +seeing this, Rinkitink had pity for his sorrow. + +"Come!" cried the King; "let us go out at once and +look for the shoe which I threw at the cat. It must +even now be lying in the yard of the palace." + +This suggestion roused the boy to action. He at once +threw open the door and in his stocking feet rushed +down the staircase, closely followed by Rinkitink. But +although they looked on both sides of the palace wall +and in every possible crack and corner where a shoe +might lodge, they failed to find it. + +After a half hour's careful search the boy said +sorrowfully: + +"Someone must have passed by, as we slept, and taken +the precious shoe, not knowing its value. To us, King +Rinkitink, this will be a dreadful misfortune, for we +are surrounded by dangers from which we have now no +protection. Luckily I have the other shoe left, within +which is the magic power that gives me strength; so all +is not lost." + +Then he told Rinkitink, in a few words, the secret of +the wonderful pearls, and how he had recovered them +from the ruins and hidden them in his shoes, and how +they had enabled him to drive King Gos and his men from +Regos and to capture the city. The King was much +astonished, and when the story was concluded he said to +Inga: + +"What did you do with the other shoe?" + +"Why, I left it in our bedroom," replied the boy. + +"Then I advise you to get it at once," continued +Rinkitink, "for we can ill afford to lose the second +shoe, as well as the one I threw at the cat." + +"You are right!" cried Inga, and they hastened back +to their bedchamber. + +On entering the room they found an old woman sweeping +and raising a great deal of dust. + +"Where is my shoe?" asked the Prince, anxiously. + +The old woman stopped sweeping and looked at him in a +stupid way, for she was not very intelligent. + +"Do you mean the one odd shoe that was lying on the +floor when I came in?" she finally asked. + +"Yes -- yes!" answered the boy. "Where is it? Tell me +where it is!" + +"Why, I threw it on the dust-heap, outside the back +gate," said she, "for, it being but a single shoe, with +no mate, it can be of no use to anyone." + +"Show us the way to the dust-heap -- at once!" +commanded the boy, sternly, for he was greatly +frightened by this new misfortune which threatened him. + +The old woman hobbled away and they followed her, +constantly urging her to hasten; but when they reached +the dust-heap no shoe was to be seen. + +"This is terrible!" wailed the young Prince, ready to +weep at his loss. "We are now absolutely ruined, and at +the mercy of our enemies. Nor shall I be able to +liberate my dear father and mother." + +"Well," replied Rinkitink, leaning against an old +barrel and looking quite solemn, "the thing is +certainly unlucky, any way we look at it. I suppose +someone has passed along here and, seeing the shoe upon +the dust-heap, has carried it away. But no one could +know the magic power the shoe contains and so will not +use it against us. I believe, Inga, we must now depend +upon our wits to get us out of the scrape we are in. + +With saddened hearts they returned to the palace, and +entering a small room where no one could observe them +or overhear them, the boy took the White Pearl from its +silken bag and held it to his ear, asking: + +"What shall I do now?" + +"Tell no one of your loss," answered the Voice of the +Pearl. "If your enemies do not know that you are +powerless, they will fear you as much as ever. Keep +your secret, be patient, and fear not!" + +Inga heeded this advice and also warned Rinkitink to +say nothing to anyone of the loss of the shoes and the +powers they contained. He sent for the shoemaker of +King Gos, who soon brought him a new pair of red +leather shoes that fitted him quite well. When these +had been put upon his feet, the Prince, accompanied by +the King, started to walk through the city. + +Wherever they went the people bowed low to the +conqueror, although a few, remembering Inga's terrible +strength, ran away in fear and trembling. They had been +used to severe masters and did not yet know how they +would be treated by King Gos's successor. There being +no occasion for the boy to exercise the powers he had +displayed the previous day, his present helplessness +was not suspected by any of the citizens of Regos, who +still considered him a wonderful magician. + +Inga did not dare to fight his way to the mines, at +present, nor could he try to conquer the Island of +Coregos, where his mother was enslaved; so he set about +the regulation of the City of Regos, and having +established himself with great state in the royal +palace he began to govern the people by kindness, +having consideration for the most humble. + +The King of Regos and his followers sent spies across +to the island they had abandoned in their flight, and +these spies returned with the news that the terrible +boy conqueror was still occupying the city. Therefore +none of them ventured to go back to Regos but continued +to live upon the neighboring island of Coregos, where +they passed the days in fear and trembling and sought +to plot and plan ways how they might overcome the +Prince of Pingaree and the fat King of Gilgad. + + + + +Chapter Nine + +A Present for Zella + + +Now it so happened that on the morning of that same day +when the Prince of Pingaree suffered the loss of his +priceless shoes, there chanced to pass along the road +that wound beside the royal palace a poor charcoal- +burner named Nikobob, who was about to return to his +home in the forest. + +Nikobob carried an ax and a bundle of torches over +his shoulder and he walked with his eyes to the ground, +being deep in thought as to the strange manner in which +the powerful King Gos and his city had been conquered +by a boy Prince who had come from Pingaree. + +Suddenly the charcoal-burner espied a shoe lying upon +the ground, just beyond the high wall of the palace and +directly in his path. He picked it up and, seeing it +was a pretty shoe, although much too small for his own +foot, he put it in his pocket. + +Soon after, on turning a corner of the wall, Nikobob +came to a dust-heap where, lying amidst a mass of +rubbish, was another shoe -- the mate to the one he had +before found. This also he placed in his pocket, saying +to himself: + +"I have now a fine pair of shoes for my daughter +Zella, who will be much pleased to find I have brought +her a present from the city." + +And while the charcoal-burner turned into the forest +and trudged along the path toward his home, Inga and +Rinkitink were still searching for the missing shoes. +Of course, they could not know that Nikobob had found +them, nor did the honest man think he had taken +anything more than a pair of cast-off shoes which +nobody wanted. + +Nikobob had several miles to travel through the +forest before he could reach the little log cabin where +his wife, as well as his little daughter Zella, awaited +his return, but he was used to long walks and tramped +along the path whistling cheerfully to beguile the +time. + +Few people, as I said before, ever passed through the +dark and tangled forests of Regos, except to go to the +mines in the mountain beyond, for many dangerous +creatures lurked in the wild jungles, and King Gos +never knew, when he sent a messenger to the mines, +whether he would reach there safely or not. + +The charcoal-burner, however, knew the wild forest +well, and especially this part of it lying between the +city and his home. It was the favorite haunt of the +ferocious beast Choggenmugger, dreaded by every dweller +in the Island of Regos. Choggenmugger was so old that +everyone thought it must have been there since the +world was made, and each year of its life the huge +scales that covered its body grew thicker and harder +and its jaws grew wider and its teeth grew sharper and +its appetite grew more keen than ever. + +In former ages there had been many dragons in Regos, +but Choggenmugger was so fond of dragons that he had +eaten all of them long ago. There had also been great +serpents and crocodiles in the forest marshes, but all +had gone to feed the hunger of Choggenmugger. The +people of Regos knew well there was no use opposing the +Great Beast, so when one unfortunately met with it he +gave himself up for lost. + +All this Nikobob knew well, but fortune had always +favored him in his journey through the forest, and +although he had at times met many savage beasts and +fought them with his sharp ax, he had never to this day +encountered the terrible Choggenmugger. Indeed, he was +not thinking of the Great Beast at all as he walked +along, but suddenly he heard a crashing of broken trees +and felt a trembling of the earth and saw the immense +jaws of Choggenmugger opening before him. Then Nikobob +gave himself up for lost and his heart almost ceased to +beat. + +He believed there was no way of escape. No one ever +dared oppose Choggenmugger. But Nikobob hated to die +without showing the monster, in some way, that he was +eaten only under protest. So he raised his ax and +brought it down upon the red, protruding tongue of the +monster -- and cut it clean off! + +For a moment the charcoal-burner scarcely believed +what his eyes saw, for he knew nothing of the pearls he +carried in his pocket or the magic power they lent his +arm. His success, however, encouraged him to strike +again, and this time the huge scaly jaw of +Choggenmugger was severed in twain and the beast howled +in terrified rage. + +Nikobob took off his coat, to give himself more +freedom of action, and then he earnestly renewed the +attack. But now the ax seemed blunted by the hard +scales and made no impression upon them whatever. The +creature advanced with glaring, wicked eyes, and +Nikobob seized his coat under his arm and turned to +flee. + +That was foolish, for Choggenmugger could run like +the wind. In a moment it overtook the charcoal-burner +and snapped its four rows of sharp teeth together. But +they did not touch Nikobob, because he still held the +coat in his grasp, close to his body, and in the coat +pocket were Inga's shoes, and in the points of the +shoes were the magic pearls. Finding himself uninjured, +Nikobob put on his coat, again seized his ax, and in a +short time had chopped Choggenmugger into many small +pieces -- a task that proved not only easy but very +agreeable. + +"I must be the strongest man in all the world!" +thought the charcoal-burner, as he proudly resumed his +way, "for Choggenmugger has been the terror of Regos +since the world began, and I alone have been able to +destroy the beast. Yet it is singular' that never +before did I discover how powerful a man I am." + +He met no further adventure and at midday reached a +little clearing in the forest where stood his humble +cabin. + +"Great news! I have great news for you," he shouted, +as his wife and little daughter came to greet him. +"King Gos has been conquered by a boy Prince from the +far island of Pingaree, and I have this day -- unaided +-- destroyed Choggenmugger by the might of my strong +arm. + +This was, indeed, great news. They brought Nikobob +into the house and set him in an easy chair and made +him tell everything he knew about the Prince of +Pingaree and the fat King of Gilgad, as well as the +details of his wonderful fight with mighty +Choggenmugger. + +"And now, my daughter," said the charcoalburner, when +all his news had been related for at least the third +time, "here is a pretty present I have brought you +from the city." + +With this he drew the shoes from the pocket of his +coat and handed them to Zella, who gave him a dozen +kisses in payment and was much pleased with her gift. +The little girl had never worn shoes before, for her +parents were too poor to buy her such luxuries, so now +the possession of these, which were not much worn, +filled the child's heart with joy. She admired the red +leather and the graceful curl of the pointed toes. When +she tried them on her feet, they fitted as well as if +made for her. + +All the afternoon, as she helped her mother with the +housework, Zella thought of her pretty shoes. They +seemed more important to her than the coming to Regos +of the conquering Prince of Pingaree, or even the death +of Choggenmugger. + +When Zella and her mother were not working in the +cabin, cooking or sewing, they often searched the +neighboring forest for honey which the wild bees +cleverly hid in hollow trees. The day after Nikobob's +return, as they were starting out after honey, Zella +decided to put on her new shoes, as they would keep the +twigs that covered the ground from hurting her feet. +She was used to the twigs, of course, but what is the +use of having nice, comfortable shoes, if you do not +wear them? + +So she danced along, very happily, followed by her +mother, and presently they came to a tree in which was +a deep hollow. Zella thrust her hand and arm into the +space and found that the tree was full of honey, so she +began to dig it out with a wooden paddle. Her mother, +who held the pail, suddenly cried in warning: + +"Look out, Zella; the bees are coming!" and then the +good woman ran fast toward the house to escape. + +Zella, however, had no more than time to turn her +head when a thick swarm of bees surrounded her, angry +because they had caught her stealing their honey and +intent on stinging the girl as a punishment. She knew +her danger and expected to be badly injured by the +multitude of stinging bees, but to her surprise the +little creatures were unable to fly close enough to her +to stick their dart-like stingers into her flesh. They +swarmed about her in a dark cloud, and their angry +buzzing was terrible to hear, yet the little girl +remained unharmed. + +When she realized this, Zella was no longer afraid +but continued to ladle out the honey until she had +secured all that was in the tree. Then she returned to +the cabin, where her mother was weeping and bemoaning +the fate of her darling child, and the good woman was +greatly astonished to find Zella had escaped injury. + +Again they went to the woods to search for honey, and +although the mother always ran away whenever the bees +came near them, Zella paid no attention to the +creatures but kept at her work, so that before supper +time came the pails were again filled to overflowing +with delicious honey. + +"With such good fortune as we have had this day," +said her mother, "we shall soon gather enough honey for +you to carry to Queen Cor." For it seems the wicked +Queen was very fond of honey and it had been Zella's +custom to go, once every year, to the City of Coregos, +to carry the Queen a supply of sweet honey for her +table. Usually she had but one pail. + +"But now," said Zella, "I shall be able to carry two +pailsful to the Queen, who will, I am sure, give me a +good price for it." + +"True," answered her mother, "and, as the boy Prince +may take it into his head to conquer Coregos, as well +as Regos, I think it best for you to start on your +journey to Queen Cor tomorrow morning. Do you not agree +with me, Nikobob?" she added, turning to her husband, +the charcoal-burner, who was eating his supper. + +"I agree with you," he replied. "If Zella must go to +the City of Coregos, she may as well start to-morrow +morning." + + + + +Chapter Ten + +The Cunning of Queen Cor + + +You may be sure the Queen of Coregos was not well +pleased to have King Gos and all his warriors living in +her city after they had fled from their own. They were +savage natured and quarrelsome men at all times, and +their tempers had not improved since their conquest by +the Prince of Pingaree. Moreover, they were eating up +Queen Cor's provisions and crowding the houses of her +own people, who grumbled and complained until their +Queen was heartily tired. + +"Shame on you!" she said to her husband, King Gos, +"to be driven out of your city by a boy, a roly-poly +King and a billy goat! Why do you not go back and fight +them?" + +"No human can fight against the powers of magic," +returned the King in a surly voice. "That boy is either +a fairy or under the protection of fairies. We escaped +with our lives only because we were quick to run away; +but, should we return to Regos, the same terrible power +that burst open the city gates would crush us all to +atoms." + +"Bah! you are a coward," cried the Queen, tauntingly. + +"I am not a coward," said the big King. "I have +killed in battle scores of my enemies; by the might of +my sword and my good right arm I have conquered many +nations; all my life people have feared me. But no one +would dare face the tremendous power of the Prince of +Pingaree, boy though he is. It would not be courage, it +would be folly, to attempt it." + +"Then meet his power with cunning," suggested the +Queen. "Take my advice, and steal over to Regos at +night, when it is dark, and capture or destroy the boy +while he sleeps." + +"No weapon can touch his body," was the answer. "He +bears a charmed life and cannot be injured." + +"Does the fat King possess magic powers, or the +goat?" inquired Cor. + +"I think not," said Gos. "We could not injure them, +indeed, any more than we could the boy, but they did +not seem to have any unusual strength, although the +goat's head is harder than a battering-ram." + +"Well," mused the Queen, "there is surely some way to +conquer that slight boy. If you are afraid to undertake +the job, I shall go myself. By some stratagem I shall +manage to make him my prisoner. He will not dare to +defy a Queen, and no magic can stand against a woman's +cunning." + +"Go ahead, if you like," replied the King, with an +evil grin, "and if you are hung up by the thumbs or +cast into a dungeon, it will serve you right for +thinking you can succeed where a skilled warrior dares +not make the attempt." + +"I'm not afraid," answered the Queen. "It is only +soldiers and bullies who are cowards." + +In spite of this assertion, Queen Cor was not so +brave as she was cunning. For several days she thought +over this plan and that, and tried to decide which was +most likely to succeed. She had never seen the boy +Prince but had heard so many tales of him from the +defeated warriors, and especially from Captain Buzzub, +that she had learned to respect his power. + +Spurred on by the knowledge that she would never get +rid of her unwelcome guests until Prince Inga was +overcome and Regos regained for King Gos, the Queen of +Coregos finally decided to trust to luck and her native +wit to defeat a simple-minded boy, however powerful he +might be. Inga could not suspect what she was going to +do, because she did not know herself. She intended to +act boldly and trust to chance to win. + +It is evident that had the cunning Queen known that +Inga had lost all his magic, she would not have devoted +so much time to the simple matter of capturing him, but +like all others she was impressed by the marvelous +exhibition of power he had shown in capturing Regos, +and had no reason to believe the boy was less powerful +now. + +One morning Queen Cor boldly entered a boat, and, +taking four men with her as an escort and bodyguard, +was rowed across the narrow channel to Regos. Prince +Inga was sitting in the palace playing checkers with +King Rinkitink when a servant came to him, saying that +Queen Cor had arrived and desired an audience with him. + +With many misgivings lest the wicked Queen discover +that he had now lost his magic powers, the boy ordered +her to be admitted, and she soon entered the room and +bowed low before him, in mock respect. + +Cor was a big woman, almost as tall as King Gos. She +had flashing black eyes and the dark complexion you see +on gypsies. Her temper, when irritated, was something +dreadful, and her face wore an evil expression which +she tried to cover by smiling sweetly -- often when she +meant the most mischief. + +"I have come," said she in a low voice, "to render +homage to the noble Prince of Pingaree. I am told that +Your Highness is the strongest person in the world, and +invincible in battle, and therefore I wish you to +become my friend, rather than my enemy." + +Now Inga did not know how to reply to this speech. He +disliked the appearance of the woman and was afraid of +her and he was unused to deception and did not know how +to mask his real feelings. So he took time to think +over his answer, which he finally made in these words: + +"I have no quarrel with Your Majesty, and my only +reason for coming here is to liberate my father and +mother, and my people, whom you and your husband have +made your slaves, and to recover the goods King Gos has +plundered from the Island of Pingaree. This I hope soon +to accomplish, and if you really wish to be my friend, +you can assist me greatly." + +While he was speaking Queen Cor had been studying the +boy's face stealthily, from the corners of her eyes, +and she said to herself: "He is so small and innocent +that I believe I can capture him alone, and with ease. +He does not seem very terrible and I suspect that King +Gos and his warriors were frightened at nothing." + +Then, aloud, she said to Inga: + +"I wish to invite you, mighty Prince, and your +friend, the great King of Gilgad, to visit my poor +palace at Coregos, where all my people shall do you +honor. Will you come?" + +"At present," replied Inga, uneasily, "I must refuse +your kind invitation." + +"There will be feasting, and dancing girls, and games +and fireworks," said the Queen, speaking as if eager to +entice him and at each word coming a step nearer to +where he stood. + +"I could not enjoy them while my poor parents are +slaves," said the boy, sadly. + +"Are you sure of that?" asked Queen Cor, and by that +time she was close beside Inga. Suddenly she leaned +forward and threw both of her long arms around Inga's +body, holding him in a grasp that was like a vise. + +Now Rinkitink sprang forward to rescue his friend, +but Cor kicked out viciously with her foot and struck +the King squarely on his stomach -- a very tender place +to be kicked, especially if one is fat. Then, still +hugging Inga tightly, the Queen called aloud: + +"I've got him! Bring in the ropes." + +Instantly the four men she had brought with her +sprang into the room and bound the boy hand and foot. +Next they seized Rinkitink, who was still rubbing his +stomach, and bound him likewise. + +With a laugh of wicked triumph, Queen Cor now led her +captives down to the boat and returned with them to +Coregos. + +Great was the astonishment of King Gos and his +warriors when they saw that the mighty Prince of +Pingaree, who had put them all to flight, had been +captured by a woman. Cowards as they were, they now +crowded around the boy and jeered at him, and some of +them would have struck him had not the Queen cried out: + +"Hands off! He is my prisoner, remember not yours." + +"Well, Cor, what are you going to do with him?" +inquired King Gos. + +"I shall make him my slave, that he may amuse my idle +hours. For he is a pretty boy, and gentle, although he +did frighten all of you big warriors so terribly." + +The King scowled at this speech, not liking to be +ridiculed, but he said nothing more. He and his men +returned that same day to Regos, after restoring the +bridge of boats. And they held a wild carnival of +rejoicing, both in the King's palace and in the city, +although the poor people of Regos who were not warriors +were all sorry that the kind young Prince had been +captured by his enemies and could rule them no longer. + +When her unwelcome guests had all gone back to Regos +and the Queen was alone in her palace, she ordered Inga +and Rinkitink brought before her and their bonds +removed. They came sadly enough, knowing they were in +serious straits and at the mercy of a cruel mistress. +Inga had taken counsel of the White Pearl, which had +advised him to bear up bravely under his misfortune, +promising a change for the better very soon. With this +promise to comfort him, Inga faced the Queen with a +dignified bearing that indicated both pride and +courage. + +"Well, youngster," said she, in a cheerful tone +because she was pleased with her success, "you played a +clever trick on my poor husband and frightened him +badly, but for that prank I am inclined to forgive you. +Hereafter I intend you to be my page, which means that +you must fetch and carry for me at my will. And let me +advise you to obey my every whim without question or +delay, for when I am angry I become ugly, and when I am +ugly someone is sure to feel the lash. Do you +understand me?" + +Inga bowed, but made no answer. Then she turned to +Rinkitink and said: + +"As for you, I cannot decide how to make you useful +to me, as you are altogether too fat and awkward to +work in the fields. It may be, however, that I can use +you as a pincushion. + +"What!" cried Rinkitink in horror, "would you stick +pins into the King of Gilgad?" + +"Why not?" returned Queen Cor. "You are as fat as a +pincushion, as you must yourself admit, and whenever I +needed a pin I could call you to me." Then she laughed +at his frightened look and asked: "By the way, are you +ticklish?" + +This was the question Rinkitink had been dreading. He +gave a moan of despair and shook his head. + +"I should love to tickle the bottom of your feet with +a feather," continued the cruel woman. "Please take off +your shoes." + +"Oh, your Majesty!" pleaded poor Rinkitink, "I beg +you to allow me to amuse you in some other way. I can +dance, or I can sing you a song." + +"Well," she answered, shaking with laughter, "you may +sing a song -- if it be a merry one. But you do not +seem in a merry mood." + +"I feel merry -- indeed, Your Majesty, I do!" +protested Rinkitink, anxious to escape the tickling. +But even as he professed to "feel merry" his round, red +face wore an expression of horror and anxiety that was +realty comical. + +"Sing, then!" commanded Queen Cor, who was greatly +amused. + +Rinkitink gave a sigh of relief and after clearing +his throat and trying to repress his sobs he began to +sing this song-gently, at first, but finally roaring it +out at the top of his voice: + +"Oh! +There was a Baby Tiger lived in a men-ag-er-ie -- + +Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy -- they wouldn't set him free; +And ev'rybody thought that he was gentle as could be -- + +Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy -- Ba-by Ti-ger! + +"Oh! +They patted him upon his head and shook him by the paw -- + +Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy -- he had a bone to gnaw; +But soon he grew the biggest Tiger that you ever saw -- + +Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy -- what a Ti-ger! + +"Oh! +One day they came to pet the brute and he began to fight -- + +Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy-how he did scratch and bite! +He broke the cage and in a rage he darted out of sight -- + +Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy was a Ti-ger!" + +"And is there a moral to the song?" asked Queen Cor, +when King Rinkitink had finished his song with great +spirit. + +"If there is," replied Rinkitink, "it is a warning +not to fool with tigers." + +The little Prince could not help smiling at this +shrewd answer, but Queen Cor frowned and gave the King +a sharp look. + +"Oh," said she; "I think I know the difference +between a tiger and a lapdog. But I'll bear the warning +in mind, just the same." + +For, after all her success in capturing them, she was +a little afraid of these people who had once displayed +such extraordinary powers. + + + + +Chapter Eleven + +Zella Goes to Coregos + + +The forest in which Nikobob lived with his wife and +daughter stood between the mountains and the City of +Regos, and a well-beaten path wound among the trees, +leading from the city to the mines. This path was used +by the King's messengers, and captured prisoners were +also sent by this way from Regos to work in the +underground caverns. + +Nikobob had built his cabin more than a mile away +from this path, that he might not be molested by the +wild and lawless soldiers of King Gos, but the family +of the charcoal-burner was surrounded by many creatures +scarcely less dangerous to encounter, and often in the +night they could hear savage animals growling and +prowling about the cabin. Because Nikobob minded his +own business and never hunted the wild creatures to +injure them, the beasts had come to regard him as one +of the natural dwellers in the forest and did not +molest him or his family. Still Zella and her mother +seldom wandered far from home, except on such errands +as carrying honey to Coregos, and at these times +Nikobob cautioned them to be very careful. + +So when Zella set out on her journey to Queen Cor, +with the two pails of honey in her hands, she was +undertaking a dangerous adventure and there was no +certainty that she would return safely to her loving +parents. But they were poor, and Queen Cor's money, +which they expected to receive for the honey, would +enable them to purchase many things that were needed; +so it was deemed best that Zella should go. She was a +brave little girl and poor people are often obliged to +take chances that rich ones are spared. + +A passing woodchopper had brought news to Nikobob's +cabin that Queen Cor had made a prisoner of the +conquering Prince of Pingaree and that Gos and his +warriors were again back in their city of Regos; but +these struggles and conquests were matters which, +however interesting, did not concern the poor charcoal- +burner or his family. They were more anxious over the +report that the warriors had become more reckless than +ever before, and delighted in annoying all the common +people; so Zella was told to keep away from the beaten +path as much as possible, that she might not encounter +any of the King's soldiers. + +"When it is necessary to choose between the warriors +and the wild beasts," said Nikobob, "the beasts will be +found the more merciful." + +The little girl had put on her best attire for the +journey and her mother threw a blue silk shawl over her +head and shoulders. Upon her feet were the pretty red +shoes her father had brought her from Regos. Thus +prepared, she kissed her parents good-bye and started +out with a light heart, carrying the pails of honey in +either hand. + +It was necessary for Zella to cross the path +that led from the mines to the city, but once on +the other side she was not likely to meet with +anyone, for she had resolved to cut through the +forest and so reach the bridge of boats without +entering the City of Regos, where she might be +interrupted. For an hour or two she found the +walking easy enough, but then the forest, which +in this part was unknown to her, became badly +tangled. The trees were thicker and creeping +vines intertwined between them. She had to +turn this way and that to get through at all, and +finally she came to a place where a network of +vines and branches effectually barred her farther +progress. + +Zella was dismayed, at first, when she encountered +this obstacle, but setting down her pails she made an +endeavor to push the branches aside. At her touch they +parted as if by magic, breaking asunder like dried +twigs, and she found she could pass freely. At another +place a great log had fallen across her way, but the +little girl lifted it easily and cast it aside, +although six ordinary men could scarcely have moved it. + +The child was somewhat worried at this evidence of a +strength she had heretofore been ignorant that she +possessed. In order to satisfy herself that it was no +delusion, she tested her new-found power in many ways, +finding that nothing was too big nor too heavy for her +to lift. And, naturally enough, the girl gained courage +from these experiments and became confident that she +could protect herself in any emergency. When, +presently, a wild boar ran toward her, grunting +horribly and threatening her with its great tusks, she +did not climb a tree to escape, as she had always done +before on meeting such creatures, but stood still and +faced the boar. When it had come quite close and Zella +saw that it could not injure her -- a fact that +astonished both the beast and the girl -- she suddenly +reached down and seizing it by one ear threw the great +beast far off amongst the trees, where it fell headlong +to the earth, grunting louder than ever with surprise +and fear. + +The girl laughed merrily at this incident and, +picking up her pails, resumed her journey through the +forest. It is not recorded whether the wild boar told +his adventure to the other beasts or they had happened +to witness his defeat, but certain it is that Zella was +not again molested. A brown bear watched her pass +without making any movement in her direction and a +great puma -- a beast much dreaded by all men -- crept +out of her path as she approached, and disappeared +among the trees. + +Thus everything favored the girl's journey and she +made such good speed that by noon she emerged from the +forest's edge and found she was quite near to the +bridge of boats that led to Coregos. This she crossed +safely and without meeting any of the rude warriors she +so greatly feared, and five minutes later the daughter +of the charcoal-burner was seeking admittance at the +back door of Queen Cor's palace. + + + + +Chapter Twelve + +The Excitement of Bilbil the Goat + + +Our story must now return to one of our characters +whom we have been forced to neglect. The temper of +Bilbil the goat was not sweet under any circumstances, +and whenever he had a grievance he was inclined to be +quite grumpy. So, when his master settled down in the +palace of King Gos for a quiet life with the boy +Prince, and passed his time in playing checkers and +eating and otherwise enjoying himself, he had no use +whatever for Bilbil, and shut the goat in an upstairs +room to prevent his wandering through the city and +quarreling with the citizens. But this Bilbil did not +like at all. He became very cross and disagreeable at +being left alone and he did not speak nicely to the +servants who came to bring him food; therefore those +people decided not to wait upon him any more, resenting +his conversation and not liking to be scolded by a +lean, scraggly goat, even though it belonged to a +conqueror. The servants kept away from the room and +Bilbil grew more hungry and more angry every hour. He +tried to eat the rugs and ornaments, but found them not +at all nourishing. There was no grass to be had unless +he escaped from the palace. + +When Queen Cor came to capture Inga and Rinkitink, +both the prisoners were so filled with despair at their +own misfortune that they gave no thought whatever to +the goat, who was left in his room. Nor did Bilbil know +anything of the changed fortunes of his comrades until +he heard shouts and boisterous laughter in the +courtyard below. Looking out of a window, with the +intention of rebuking those who dared thus to disturb +him, Bilbil saw the courtyard quite filled with +warriors and knew from this that the palace had in some +way again fallen into the hands of the enemy. + +Now, although Bilbil was often exceedingly +disagreeable to King Rinkitink, as well as to the +Prince, and sometimes used harsh words in addressing +them, he was intelligent enough to know them to be his +friends, and to know that King Gos and his people were +his foes. In sudden anger, provoked by the sight of the +warriors and the knowledge that he was in the power of +the dangerous men of Regos, Bilbil butted his head +against the door of his room and burst it open. Then he +ran to the head of the staircase and saw King Gos +coming up the stairs followed by a long line of his +chief captains and warriors. + +The goat lowered his head, trembling with rage and +excitement, and just as the King reached the top stair +the animal dashed forward and butted His Majesty so +fiercely that the big and powerful King, who did not +expect an attack, doubled up and tumbled backward. His +great weight knocked over the man just behind him and +he in turn struck the next warrior and upset him, so +that in an instant the whole line of Bilbil's foes was +tumbling heels over head to the bottom of the stairs, +where they piled up in a heap, struggling and shouting +and in the mixup hitting one another with their fists, +until every man of them was bruised and sore. + +Finally King Gos scrambled out of the heap and rushed +up the stairs again, very angry indeed. Bilbil was +ready for him and a second time butted the King down +the stairs; but now the goat also lost his balance and +followed the King, landing full upon the confused heap +of soldiers. Then he kicked out so viciously with his +heels that he soon freed himself and dashed out of the +doorway of the palace. + +"Stop him!" cried King Gos, running after. + +But the goat was now so wild and excited that it was +not safe for anyone to stand in his way. None of the +men were armed and when one or two tried to head off +the goat, Bilbil sent them sprawling upon the ground. +Most of the warriors, however, were wise enough not to +attempt to interfere with his flight. + +Coursing down the street, Bilbil found himself +approaching the bridge of boats and without pausing to +think where it might lead him he crossed over and +proceeded on his way. A few moments later a great stone +building blocked his path. It was the palace of Queen +Cor, and seeing the gates of the courtyard standing +wide open, Bilbil rushed through them without +slackening his speed. + + + + +Chapter Thirteen + +Zella Saves the Prince + + +The wicked Queen of Coregos was in a very bad humor +this morning, for one of her slave drivers had come +from the fields to say that a number of slaves had +rebelled and would not work. + +"Bring them here to me!" she cried savagely. "A good +whipping may make them change their minds." + +So the slave driver went to fetch the rebellious ones +and Queen Cor sat down to eat her breakfast, an ugly +look on her face. + +Prince Inga had been ordered to stand behind his new +mistress with a big fan of peacock's feathers, but he +was so unused to such service that he awkwardly brushed +her ear with the fan. At once she flew into a terrible +rage and slapped the Prince twice with her hand-blows +that tingled, too, for her hand was big and hard and +she was not inclined to be gentle. Inga took the blows +without shrinking or uttering a cry, although they +stung his pride far more than his body. But King +Rinkitink, who was acting as the queen's butler and had +just brought in her coffee, was so startled at seeing +the young Prince punished that he tipped over the urn +and the hot coffee streamed across the lap of the +Queen's best morning gown. + +Cor sprang from her seat with a scream of anger and +poor Rinkitink would doubtless have been given a +terrible beating had not the slave driver returned at +this moment and attracted the woman's attention. The +overseer had brought with him all of the women slaves +from Pingaree, who had been loaded down with chains and +were so weak and ill they could scarcely walk, much +less work in the fields. + +Prince Inga's eyes were dimmed with sorrowful tears +when he discovered how his poor people had been abused, +but his own plight was so helpless that he was unable +to aid them. Fortunately the boy's mother, Queen Garee, +was not among these slaves, for Queen Cor had placed +her in the royal dairy to make butter. + +"Why do you refuse to work?" demanded Cor in a harsh +voice, as the slaves from Pingaree stood before her, +trembling and with downcast eyes. + +"Because we lack strength to perform the tasks your +overseers demand," answered one of the women. + +"Then you shall be whipped until your strength +returns!" exclaimed the Queen, and turning to Inga, she +commanded: "Get me the whip with the seven lashes." + +As the boy left the room, wondering how he might +manage to save the unhappy women from their undeserved +punishment, he met a girl entering by the back way, who +asked: + +"Can you tell me where to find Her Majesty, Queen +Cor?" + +"She is in the chamber with the red dome, where green +dragons are painted upon the walls," replied Inga; "but +she is in an angry and ungracious mood to-day. Why do +you wish to see her?" + +"I have honey to sell," answered the girl, who was +Zella, just come from the forest. "The Queen is very +fond of my honey." + +"You may go to her, if you so desire," said the boy, +"but take care not to anger the cruel Queen, or she may +do you a mischief." + +"Why should she harm me, who brings her the honey she +so dearly loves?" inquired the child innocently. "But I +thank you for your warning; and I will try not to anger +the Queen." + +As Zella started to go, Inga's eyes suddenly fell +upon her shoes and instantly he recognized them as his +own. For only in Pingaree were shoes shaped in this +manner: high at the heel and pointed at the toes. + +"Stop!" he cried in an excited voice, and the girl +obeyed, wonderingly. "Tell me," he continued, more +gently, "where did you get those shoes?" + +"My father brought them to me from Regos," she +answered. + +"From Regos!" + +"Yes. Are they not pretty?" asked Zella, looking down +at her feet to admire them. "One of them my father +found by the palace wall, and the other on an ash-heap. +So he brought them to me and they fit me perfectly." + +By this time Inga was trembling with eager joy, which +of course the girl could not understand. + +"What is your name, little maid?" he asked. + +"I am called Zella, and my father is Nikobob, the +charcoal-burner." + +"Zella is a pretty name. I am Inga, Prince of +Pingaree," said he, "and the shoes you are now wearing, +Zella, belong to me. They were not cast away, as your +father supposed, but were lost. Will you let me have +them again?" + +Zella's eyes filled with tears. + +"Must I give up my pretty shoes, then?" she asked. +"They are the only ones I have ever owned." + +Inga was sorry for the poor child, but he knew how +important it was that he regain possession of the Magic +Pearls. So he said, pleadingly: + +"Please let me have them, Zella. See! I will exchange +for them the shoes I now have on, which are newer and +prettier than the others." + +The girl hesitated. She wanted to please the boy +Prince, yet she hated to exchange the shoes which her +father had brought her as a present. + +"If you will give me the shoes," continued the boy, +anxiously, "I will promise to make you and your father +and mother rich and prosperous. Indeed, I will promise +to grant any favors you may ask of me," and he sat down +upon the floor and drew off the shoes he was wearing +and held them toward the girl. + +"I'll see if they will fit me," said Zella, taking +off her left shoe -- the one that contained the Pink +Pearl -- and beginning to put on one of Inga's. + +Just then Queen Cor, angry at being made to +wait for her whip with the seven lashes, rushed +into the room to find Inga. Seeing the boy sitting +upon the floor beside Zella, the woman sprang +toward him to beat him with her clenched fists; +but Inga had now slipped on the shoe and the +Queen's blows could not reach his body. + +Then Cor espied the whip lying beside Inga and +snatching it up she tried to lash him with it -- all to +no avail. + +While Zella sat horrified by this scene, the Prince, +who realized he had no time to waste, reached out and +pulled the right shoe from the girl's foot, quickly +placing it upon his own. Then he stood up and, facing +the furious but astonished Queen, said to her in a +quiet voice: + +"Madam, please give me that whip." + +"I won't!" answered Cor. "I'm going to lash those +Pingaree women with it." + +The boy seized hold of the whip and with irresistible +strength drew it from the Queen's hand. But she drew +from her bosom a sharp dagger and with the swiftness of +lightning aimed a blow at Inga's heart. He merely stood +still and smiled, for the blade rebounded and fell +clattering to the floor. + +Then, at last, Queen Cor understood the magic power +that had terrified her husband but which she had +ridiculed in her ignorance, not believing in it. She +did not know that Inga's power had been lost, and found +again, but she realized the boy was no common foe and +that unless she could still manage to outwit him her +reign in the Island of Coregos was ended. To gain time, +she went back to the red-domed chamber and seated +herself in her throne, before which were grouped the +weeping slaves from Pingaree. + +Inga had taken Zella's hand and assisted her to put +on the shoes he had given her in exchange for his own. +She found them quite comfortable and did not know she +had lost anything by the transfer. + +"Come with me," then said the boy Prince, and led her +into the presence of Queen Cor, who was giving +Rinkitink a scolding. To the overseer Inga said. + +"Give me the keys which unlock these chains, that I +may set these poor women at liberty." + +"Don't you do it!" screamed Queen Cor. + +"If you interfere, madam," said the boy, "I will put +you into a dungeon." + +By this Rinkitink knew that Inga had recovered his +Magic Pearls and the little fat King was so overjoyed +that he danced and capered all around the room. But the +Queen was alarmed at the threat and the slave driver, +fearing the conqueror of Regos, tremblingly gave up the +keys. + +Inga quickly removed all the shackles from the women +of his country and comforted them, telling them they +should work no more but would soon be restored to their +homes in Pingaree. Then he commanded the slave driver +to go and get all the children who had been made +slaves, and to bring them to their mothers. The man +obeyed and left at once to perform his errand, while +Queen Cor, growing more and more uneasy, suddenly +sprang from her throne and before Inga could stop her +had rushed through the room and out into the courtyard +of the palace, meaning to make her escape. Rinkitink +followed her, running as fast as he could go. + +It was at this moment that Bilbil, in his mad dash +from Regos, turned in at the gates of the courtyard, +and as he was coming one way and Queen Cor was going +the other they bumped into each other with great force. +The woman sailed through the air, over Bilbil's head, +and landed on the ground outside the gates, where her +crown rolled into a ditch and she picked herself up, +half dazed, and continued her flight. Bilbil was also +somewhat dazed by the unexpected encounter, but he +continued his rush rather blindly and so struck poor +Rinkitink, who was chasing after Queen Cor. They rolled +over one another a few times and then Rinkitink sat up +and Bilbil sat up and they looked at each other in +amazement. + +"Bilbil," said the King, "I'm astonished at you!" + +"Your Majesty," said Bilbil, "I expected kinder +treatment at your hands." + +"You interrupted me," said Rinkitink. + +"There was plenty of room without your taking my +path," declared the goat. + +And then Inga came running out and said. "Where is +the Queen?" + +"Gone," replied Rinkitink, "but she cannot go far, as +this is an island. However, I have found Bilbil, and +our party is again reunited. You have recovered your +magic powers, and again we are masters of the +situation. So let us be thankful." + +Saying this, the good little King got upon his feet +and limped back into the throne room to help comfort +the women. + +Presently the children of Pingaree, who had been +gathered together by the overseer, were brought in and +restored to their mothers, and there was great +rejoicing among them, you may be sure. + +"But where is Queen Garee, my dear mother?" +questioned Inga; but the women did not know and it was +some time before the overseer remembered that one of +the slaves from Pingaree had been placed in the royal +dairy. Perhaps this was the woman the boy was seeking. + +Inga at once commanded him to lead the way to the +butter house, but when they arrived there Queen Garee +was nowhere in the place, although the boy found a silk +scarf which he recognized as one that his mother used +to wear. Then they began a search throughout the island +of Coregos, but could not find Inga's mother anywhere. + +When they returned to the palace of Queen Cor, +Rinkitink discovered that the bridge of boats had again +been removed, separating them from Regos, and from this +they suspected that Queen Cor had fled to her husband's +island and had taken Queen Garee with her. Inga was +much perplexed what to do and returned with his friends +to the palace to talk the matter over. + +Zella was now crying because she had not sold her +honey and was unable to return to her parents on the +island of Regos, but the boy prince comforted her and +promised she should be protected until she could be +restored to her home. Rinkitink found Queen Cor's +purse, which she had had no time to take with her, and +gave Zella several gold pieces for the honey. Then Inga +ordered the palace servants to prepare a feast for all +the women and children of Pingaree and to prepare for +them beds in the great palace, which was large enough +to accommodate them all. + +Then the boy and the goat and Rinkitink and Zella +went into a private room to consider what should be +done next. + + + + +Chapter Fourteen + +The Escape + + +"Our fault," said Rinkitink, "is that we conquer only +one of these twin islands at a time. When we +conquered Regos, our foes all came to Coregos, and now +that we have conquered Coregos, the Queen has fled to +Regos. And each time they removed the bridge of boats, +so that we could not follow them." + +"What has become of our own boat, in which we came +from Pingaree?" asked Bilbil. + +"We left it on the shore of Regos," replied the +Prince, "but I wonder if we could not get it again." + +"Why don't you ask the White Pearl?" suggested +Rinkitink. + +"That is a good idea," returned the boy, and at once +he drew the White Pearl from its silken bag and held it +to his ear. Then he asked: "How may I regain our boat?" + +The Voice of the Pearl replied: "Go to the south end +of the Island of Coregos, and clap your hands three +times and the boat will come to you. + +"Very good!" cried Inga, and then he turned to his +companions and said: "We shall be able to get our boat +whenever we please; but what then shall we do?" + +"Take me home in it!" pleaded Zella. + +"Come with me to my City of Gilgad," said the King, +"where you will be very welcome to remain forever." + +"No," answered Inga, "I must rescue my father and +mother, as well as my people. Already I have the women +and children of Pingaree, but the men are with my +father in the mines of Regos, and my dear mother has +been taken away by Queen Cor. Not until all are rescued +will I consent to leave these islands." + +"Quite right!" exclaimed Bilbil. + +"On second thought," said Rinkitink, "I agree with +you. If you are careful to sleep in your shoes, and +never take them off again, I believe you will be able +to perform the task you have undertaken." + +They counseled together for a long time as to their +mode of action and it was finally considered best to +make the attempt to liberate King Kitticut first of +all, and with him the men from Pingaree. This would +give them an army to assist them and afterward they +could march to Regos and compel Queen Cor to give up +the Queen of Pingaree. Zella told them that they could +go in their boat along the shore of Regos to a point +opposite the mines, thus avoiding any conflict with the +warriors of King Gos. + +This being considered the best course to pursue, they +resolved to start on the following morning, as night +was even now approaching. The servants being all busy +in caring for the women and children, Zella undertook +to get a dinner for Inga and Rinkitink and herself and +soon prepared a fine meal in the palace kitchen, for +she was a good little cook and had often helped her +mother. The dinner was served in a small room +overlooking the gardens and Rinkitink thought the best +part of it was the sweet honey, which he spread upon +the biscuits that Zella had made. As for Bilbil, he +wandered through the palace grounds and found some +grass that made him a good dinner. + +During the evening Inga talked with the women and +cheered them, promising soon to reunite them with their +husbands who were working in the mines and to send them +back to their own island of Pingaree. + +Next morning the boy rose bright and early and found +that Zella had already prepared a nice breakfast. And +after the meal they went to the most southern point of +the island, which was not very far away, Rinkitink +riding upon Bilbil's back and Inga and Zella following +behind them, hand in hand. + +When they reached the water's edge the boy advanced +and clapped his hands together three times, as the +White Pearl had told him to do. And in a few moments +they saw in the distance the black boat with the silver +lining, coming swiftly toward them from the sea. +Presently it grounded on the beach and they all got +into it. + +Zella was delighted with the boat, which was the most +beautiful she had ever seen, and the marvel of its +coming to them through the water without anyone to row +it, made her a little afraid of the fairy craft. But +Inga picked up the oars and began to row and at once +the boat shot swiftly in the direction of Regos. They +rounded the point of that island where the city was +built and noticed that the shore was lined with +warriors who had discovered their boat but seemed +undecided whether to pursue it or not. This was +probably because they had received no commands what to +do, or perhaps they had learned to fear the magic +powers of these adventurers from Pingaree and were +unwilling to attack them unless their King ordered them +to. + +The coast on the western side of the Island of Regos +was very uneven and Zella, who knew fairly well the +location of the mines from the inland forest path, was +puzzled to decide which mountain they now viewed from +the sea was the one where the entrance to the +underground caverns was located. First she thought it +was this peak, and then she guessed it was that; so +considerable time was lost through her uncertainty. + +They finally decided to land and explore the country, +to see where they were, so Inga ran the boat into a +little rocky cove where they all disembarked. For an +hour they searched for the path without finding any +trace of it and now Zella believed they had gone too +far to the north and must return to another mountain +that was nearer to the city. + +Once again they entered the boat and followed the +winding coast south until they thought they had reached +the right place. By this time, however, it was growing +dark, for the entire day had been spent in the search +for the entrance to the mines, and Zella warned them +that it would be safer to spend the night in the boat +than on the land, where wild beasts were sure to +disturb them. None of them realized at this time how +fatal this day of search had been to their plans and +perhaps if Inga had realized what was going on he would +have landed and fought all the wild beasts in the +forest rather than quietly remain in the boat until +morning. + +However, knowing nothing of the cunning plans of +Queen Cor and King Gos, they anchored their boat in a +little bay and cheerfully ate their dinner, finding +plenty of food and drink in the boat's lockers. In the +evening the stars came out in the sky and tipped the +waves around their boat with silver. All around them +was delightfully still save for the occasional snarl of +a beast on the neighboring shore. + +They talked together quietly of their adventures and +their future plans and Zella told them her simple +history and how hard her poor father was obliged to +work, burning charcoal to sell for enough money to +support his wife and child. Nikobob might be the +humblest man in all Regos, but Zella declared he was a +good man, and honest, and it was not his fault that his +country was ruled by so wicked a King. + +Then Rinkitink, to amuse them, offered to sing a +song, and although Bilbil protested in his gruff way, +claiming that his master's voice was cracked and +disagreeable, the little King was encouraged by the +others to sing his song, which he did. + +"A red-headed man named Ned was dead; + +Sing fiddle-cum-faddle-cum-fi-do! +In battle he had lost his head; + +Sing fiddle-cum-faddl-cum-fi-do! +'Alas, poor Ned,' to him I said, +'How did you lose your head so red?' + +Sing fiddle-cum-faddle-cum-fi-do! + +"Said Ned: 'I for my country bled,' + +Sing fiddle-cum-faddle-cum-fi-do! +'Instead of dying safe in bed', + +Sing fiddle-cum-faddle-cum-fi-do! +'If I had only fled, instead, +I then had been a head ahead.' + +Sing fiddle-cum-faddle-cum-fi-do! + +"I said to Ned --" + + +"Do stop, Your Majesty!" pleaded Bilbil. "You're +making my head ache." + +"But the song isn't finished," replied Rinkitink, +"and as for your head aching, think of poor Ned, who +hadn't any head at all!" + +"I can think of nothing but your dismal singing," +retorted Bilbil. "Why didn't you choose a cheerful +subject, instead of telling how a man who was dead lost +his red head? Really, Rinkitink, I'm surprised at you. + +"I know a splendid song about a live man, said the +King. + +"Then don't sing it," begged Bilbil. + +Zella was both astonished and grieved by the +disrespectful words of the goat, for she had quite +enjoyed Rinkitink's singing and had been taught a +proper respect for Kings and those high in authority. +But as it was now getting late they decided to go to +sleep, that they might rise early the following +morning, so they all reclined upon the bottom of the +big boat and covered themselves with blankets which +they found stored underneath the seats for just such +occasions. They were not long in falling asleep and did +not waken until daybreak. + +After a hurried breakfast, for Inga was eager to +liberate his father, the boy rowed the boat ashore and +they all landed and began searching for the path. Zella +found it within the next half hour and declared they +must be very close to the entrance to the mines; so +they followed the path toward the north, Inga going +first, and then Zella following him, while Rinkitink +brought up the rear riding upon Bilbil's back. + +Before long they saw a great wall of rock towering +before them, in which was a low arched entrance, and on +either side of this entrance stood a guard, armed with +a sword and a spear. The guards of the mines were not +so fierce as the warriors of King Gos, their duty being +to make the slaves work at their tasks and guard them +from escaping; but they were as cruel as their cruel +master wished them to be, and as cowardly as they were +cruel. + +Inga walked up to the two men at the entrance and +said: + +"Does this opening lead to the mines of King Gos?" + +"It does," replied one of the guards, "but no one is +allowed to pass out who once goes in." + +"Nevertheless," said the boy, we intend to go in and +we shall come out whenever it pleases us to do so. I am +the Prince of Pingaree, and I have come to liberate my +people, whom King Gos has enslaved." + +Now when the two guards heard this speech they looked +at one another and laughed, and one of them said: "The +King was right, for he said the boy was likely to come +here and that he would try to set his people free. Also +the King commanded that we must keep the little Prince +in the mines, and set him to work, together with his +companions." + +"Then let us obey the King," replied the other man. + +Inga was surprised at hearing this, and asked: + +"When did King Gos give you this order?" + +"His Majesty was here in person last night," replied +the man, "and went away again but an hour ago. He +suspected you were coming here and told us to capture +you if we could." + +This report made the boy very anxious, not for +himself but for his father, for he feared the King was +up to some mischief. So he hastened to enter the mines +and the guards did nothing to oppose him or his +companions, their orders being to allow him to go in +but not to come out. + +The little group of adventurers passed through a long +rocky corridor and reached a low, wide cavern where +they found a dozen guards and a hundred slaves, the +latter being hard at work with picks and shovels +digging for gold, while the guards stood over them with +long whips. + +Inga found many of the men from Pingaree among these +slaves, but King Kitticut was not in this cavern; so +they passed through it and entered another corridor +that led to a second cavern. Here also hundreds of men +were working, but the boy did not find his father +amongst them, and so went on to a third cavern. + +The corridors all slanted downward, so that the +farther they went the lower into the earth they +descended, and now they found the air hot and close and +difficult to breathe. Flaming torches were stuck into +the walls to give light to the workers, and these added +to the oppressive heat. + +The third and lowest cavern was the last in the +mines, and here were many scores of slaves and many +guards to keep them at work. So far, none of the guards +had paid any attention to Inga's party, but allowed +them to proceed as they would, and while the slaves +cast curious glances at the boy and girl and man and +goat, they dared say nothing. But now the boy walked up +to some of the men of Pingaree and asked news of his +father, telling them not to fear the guards as he would +protect them from the whips. + +Then he Teamed that King Kitticut had indeed been +working in this very cavern until the evening before, +when King Gos had come and taken him away -- still +loaded with chains. + +"Seems to me," said King Rinkitink, when he heard +this report, "that Gos has carried your father away to +Regos, to prevent us from rescuing him. He may hide +poor Kitticut in a dungeon, where we cannot find him." + +"Perhaps you are right," answered the boy, "but I am +determined to find him, wherever he may be." + +Inga spoke firmly and with courage, but he was +greatly disappointed to find that King Gos had been +before him at the mines and had taken his father away. +However, he tried not to feel disheartened, believing +he would succeed in the end, in spite of all +opposition. Turning to the guards, he said: + +"Remove the chains from these slaves and set them +free." + +The guards laughed at this order, and one of them +brought forward a handful of chains, saying: "His +Majesty has commanded us to make you, also, a slave, +for you are never to leave these caverns again." + +Then he attempted to place the chains on Inga, but +the boy indignantly seized them and broke them apart as +easily as if they had been cotton cords. When a dozen +or more of the guards made a dash to capture him, the +Prince swung the end of the chain like a whip and drove +them into a corner, where they cowered and begged for +mercy. + +Stories of the marvelous strength of the boy Prince +had already spread to the mines of Regos, and although +King Gos had told them that Inga had been deprived of +all his magic power, the guards now saw this was not +true, so they deemed it wise not to attempt to oppose +him. + +The chains of the slaves had all been riveted fast to +their ankles and wrists, but Inga broke the bonds of +steel with his hands and set the poor men free -- not +only those from Pingaree but all who had been captured +in the many wars and raids of King Gos. They were very +grateful, as you may suppose, and agreed to support +Prince Inga in whatever action he commanded. + +He led them to the middle cavern, where all the +guards and overseers fled in terror at his approach, +and soon he had broken apart the chains of the slaves +who had been working in that part of the mines. Then +they approached the first cavern and liberated all +there. + +The slaves had been treated so cruelly by the +servants of King Gos that they were eager to pursue and +slay them, in revenge; but Inga held them back and +formed them into companies, each company having its own +leader. Then he called the leaders together and +instructed them to march in good order along the path +to the City of Regos, where he would meet them and +tell them what to do next. + +They readily agreed to obey him, and, arming +themselves with iron bars and pick-axes which they +brought from the mines, the slaves began their march to +the city. + +Zella at first wished to be left behind, that she +might make her way to her home, but neither Rinkitink +nor Inga thought it was safe for her to wander alone +through the forest, so they induced her to return with +them to the city. + +The boy beached his boat this time at the same place +as when he first landed at Regos, and while many of the +warriors stood on the shore and before the walls of the +city, not one of them attempted to interfere with the +boy in any way. Indeed, they seemed uneasy and anxious, +and when Inga met Captain Buzzub the boy asked if +anything had happened in his absence. + +"A great deal has happened," replied Buzzub. "Our +King and Queen have run away and left us, and we don't +know what to do." + +"Run away!" exclaimed Inga. "Where did they go to?" + +"Who knows?" said the man, shaking his head +despondently. "They departed together a few hours ago, +in a boat with forty rowers, and they took with them +the King and Queen of Pingaree!" + + + + +Chapter Fifteen + +The Flight of the Rulers + + +Now it seems that when Queen Cor fled from her island +to Regos, she had wit enough, although greatly frightened, +to make a stop at the royal dairy, which was near +to the bridge, and to drag poor Queen Garee from the +butter-house and across to Regos with her. The warriors +of King Gos had never before seen the terrible Queen +Cor frightened, and therefore when she came running +across the bridge of boats, dragging the Queen of +Pingaree after her by one arm, the woman's great fright +had the effect of terrifying the waiting warriors. + +"Quick!" cried Cor. "Destroy the bridge, or we are +lost." + +While the men were tearing away the bridge of boats +the Queen ran up to the palace of Gos, where she met +her husband. + +"That boy is a wizard!" she gasped. "There is no +standing against him." + +"Oh, have you discovered his magic at last?" replied +Gos, laughing in her face. "Who, now, is the coward?" + +"Don't laugh!" cried Queen Cor. "It is no laughing +matter. Both our islands are as good as conquered, this +very minute. What shall we do, Gos?" + +"Come in," he said, growing serious, "and let us talk +it over." + +So they went into a room of the palace and talked +long and earnestly. + +"The boy intends to liberate his father and mother, +and all the people of Pingaree, and to take them back +to their island," said Cor. "He may also destroy our +palaces and make us his slaves. I can see but one way, +Gos, to prevent him from doing all this, and whatever +else he pleases to do." + +"What way is that?" asked King Gos. + +"We must take the boy's parents away from here as +quickly as possible. I have with me the Queen of +Pingaree, and you can run up to the mines and get the +King. Then we will carry them away in a boat and hide +them where the boy cannot find them, with all his +magic. We will use the King and Queen of Pingaree as +hostages, and send word to the boy wizard that if he +does not go away from our islands and allow us to rule +them undisturbed, in our own way, we will put his +father and mother to death. Also we will say that as +long as we are let alone his parents will be safe, +although still safely hidden. I believe, Gos, that in +this way we can compel Prince Ingato obey us, for he +seems very fond of his parents." + +"It isn't a bad idea," said Gos, reflectively; "but +where can we hide the King and Queen, so that the boy +cannot find them?" + +"In the country of the Nome King, on the mainland +away at the south," she replied. "The nomes are our +friends, and they possess magic powers that will enable +them to protect the prisoners from discovery. If we can +manage to get the King and Queen of Pingaree to the +Nome Kingdom before the boy knows what we are doing, I +am sure our plot will succeed." + +Gos gave the plan considerable thought in the next +five minutes, and the more he thought about it the more +clever and reasonable it seemed. So he agreed to do as +Queen Cor suggested and at once hurried away to the +mines, where he arrived before Prince Inga did. The +next morning he carried King Kitticut back to Regos. + +While Gos was gone, Queen Cor busied herself in +preparing a large and swift boat for the journey. She +placed in it several bags of gold and jewels with which +to bribe the nomes, and selected forty of the strongest +oarsmen in Regos to row the boat. The instant King Gos +returned with his royal prisoner all was ready for +departure. They quickly entered the boat with their two +important captives and without a word of explanation to +any of their people they commanded the oarsmen to +start, and were soon out of sight upon the broad +expanse of the Nonestic Ocean. + +Inga arrived at the city some hours later and was +much distressed when he learned that his father and +mother had been spirited away from the islands. + +"I shall follow them, of course," said the boy to +Rinkitink, "and if I cannot overtake them on the ocean +I will search the world over until I find them. But +before I leave here I must arrange to send our people +back to Pingaree." + + + + +Chapter Sixteen + +Nikobob Refuses a Crown + + +Almost the first persons that Zella saw when she landed +from the silver-lined boat at Regos were her father and +mother. Nikobob and his wife had been greatly worried +when their little daughter failed to return from +Coregos, so they had set out to discover what had +become of her. When they reached the City of Regos, +that very morning, they were astonished to hear news of +all the strange events that had taken place; still, +they found comfort when told that Zella had been seen +in the boat of Prince Inga, which had gone to the +north. Then, while they wondered what this could mean, +the silver-lined boat appeared again, with their +daughter in it, and they ran down to the shore to give +her a welcome and many joyful kisses. + +Inga invited the good people to the palace of King +Gos, where he conferred with them, as well as with +Rinkitink and Bilbil. + +"Now that the King and Queen of Regos and Coregos +have run away," he said, "there is no one to rule these +islands. So it is my duty to appoint a new ruler, and +as Nikobob, Zella's father, is an honest and worthy +man, I shall make him the King of the Twin Islands." + +"Me?" cried Nikobob, astounded by this speech. "I beg +Your Highness, on my bended knees, not to do so cruel a +thing as to make me King!" + +"Why not?" inquired Rinkitink. "I'm a King, and I +know how it feels. I assure you, good Nikobob, that I +quite enjoy my high rank, although a jeweled crown is +rather heavy to wear in hot weather." + +"With you, noble sir, it is different," said Nikobob, +"for you are far from your kingdom and its trials and +worries and may do as you please. But to remain in +Regos, as King over these fierce and unruly warriors, +would be to live in constant anxiety and peril, and the +chances are that they would murder me within a month. +As I have done no harm to anyone and have tried to be a +good and upright man, I do not think that I should be +condemned to such a dreadful fate." + +"Very well," replied Inga, "we will say no more about +your being King. I merely wanted to make you rich and +prosperous, as I had promised Zella." + +"Please forget that promise," pleaded the charcoal- +burner, earnestly; "I have been safe from molestation +for many years, because I was poor and possessed +nothing that anyone else could envy. But if you make me +rich and prosperous I shall at once become the prey of +thieves and marauders and probably will lose my life in +the attempt to protect my fortune." + +Inga looked at the man in surprise. + +"What, then, can I do to please you?" he inquired. + +"Nothing more than to allow me to go home to my poor +cabin," said Nikobob. + +"Perhaps," remarked King Rinkitink, "the charcoal- +burner has more wisdom concealed in that hard head of +his than we gave him credit for. But let us use that +wisdom, for the present, to counsel us what to do in +this emergency." + +"What you call my wisdom," said Nikobob, "is merely +common sense. I have noticed that some men become rich, +and are scorned by some and robbed by others. Other men +become famous, and are mocked at and derided by their +fellows. But the poor and humble man who lives +unnoticed and unknown escapes all these troubles and is +the only one who can appreciate the joy of living." + +"If I had a hand, instead of a cloven hoof, I'd like +to shake hands with you, Nikobob," said Bilbil the +goat. "But the poor man must not have a cruel master, +or he is undone." + +During the council they found, indeed, that the +advice of the charcoal-burner was both shrewd and +sensible, and they profited much by his words. + +Inga gave Captain Buzzub the command of the warriors +and made him promise to keep his men quiet and orderly +-- if he could. Then the boy allowed all of King Gos's +former slaves, except those who came from Pingaree, to +choose what boats they required and to stock them with +provisions and row away to their own countries. When +these had departed, with grateful thanks and many +blessings showered upon the boy Prince who had set them +free, Inga made preparations to send his own people +home, where they were told to rebuild their houses and +then erect a new royal palace. They were then to await +patiently the coming of King Kitticut or Prince Inga. + +"My greatest worry," said the boy to his friends, "is +to know whom to appoint to take charge of this work of +restoring Pingaree to its former condition. My men are +all pearl fishers, and although willing and honest, +have no talent for directing others how to work." + +While the preparations for departure were being made, +Nikobob offered to direct the men of Pingaree, and did +so in a very capable manner. As the island had been +despoiled of all its valuable furniture and draperies +and rich cloths and paintings and statuary and the +like, as well as gold and silver and ornaments, Inga +thought it no more than just that they be replaced by +the spoilers. So he directed his people to search +through the storehouses of King Gos and to regain all +their goods and chattels that could be found. Also he +instructed them to take as much else as they required +to make their new homes comfortable, so that many boats +were loaded full of goods that would enable the people +to restore Pingaree to its former state of comfort. + +For his father's new palace the boy plundered the +palaces of both Queen Cor and King Gos, sending enough +wares away with his people to make King Kitticut's new +residence as handsomely fitted and furnished as had +been the one which the ruthless invaders from Regos had +destroyed. + +It was a great fleet of boats that set out one +bright, sunny morning on the voyage to Pingaree, +carrying all the men, women and children and all the +goods for refitting their homes. As he saw the fleet +depart, Prince Inga felt that he had already +successfully accomplished a part of his mission, but he +vowed he would never return to Pingaree in person until +he could take his father and mother there with him; +unless, indeed, King Gos wickedly destroyed his beloved +parents, in which case Inga would become the King of +Pingaree and it would be his duty to go to his people +and rule over them. + +It was while the last of the boats were preparing to +sail for Pingaree that Nikobob, who had been of great +service in getting them ready, came to Inga in a +thoughtful mood and said: + +"Your Highness, my wife and my daughter Zella have +been urging me to leave Regos and settle down in your +island, in a new home. From what your people have told +me, Pingaree is a better place to live than Regos, and +there are no cruel warriors or savage beasts there to +keep one in constant fear for the safety of those he +loves. Therefore, I have come to ask to go with my +family in one of the boats." + +Inga was much pleased with this proposal and not only +granted Nikobob permission to go to Pingaree to live, +but instructed him to take with him sufficient goods to +furnish his new home in a comfortable manner. In +addition to this, he appointed Nikobob general manager +of the buildings and of the pearl fisheries, until his +father or he himself arrived, and the people approved +this order because they liked Nikobob and knew him to +be just and honest. + +Soon as the last boat of the great flotilla had +disappeared from the view of those left at Regos, Inga +and Rinkitink prepared to leave the island themselves. +The boy was anxious to overtake the boat of King Gos, +if possible, and Rinkitink had no desire to remain in +Regos. + +Buzzub and the warriors stood silently on the shore +and watched the black boat with its silver lining +depart, and I am sure they were as glad to be rid of +their unwelcome visitors as Inga and Rinkitink and +Bilbil were to leave. + +The boy asked the White Pearl what direction the boat +of King Gos had taken and then he followed after it, +rowing hard and steadily for eight days without +becoming at all weary. But, although the black boat +moved very swiftly, it failed to overtake the barge +which was rowed by Queen Cor's forty picked oarsmen. + + + + +Chapter Seventeen + +The Nome King + + +The Kingdom of the Nomes does not border on the +Nonestic Ocean, from which it is separated by the +Kingdom of Rinkitink and the Country of the Wheelers, +which is a part of the Land of Ev. Rinkitink's country +is separated from the country of the Nomes by a row of +high and steep mountains, from which it extends to the +sea. The Country of the Wheelers is a sandy waste that +is open on one side to the Nonestic Ocean and on the +other side has no barrier to separate it from the Nome +Country, therefore it was on the coast of the Wheelers +that King Cos landed -- in a spot quite deserted by any +of the curious inhabitants of that country. + +The Nome Country is very large in extent, and is only +separated from the Land of Oz, on its eastern borders, +by a Deadly Desert that can not be crossed by mortals, +unless they are aided by the fairies or by magic. + +The nomes are a numerous and mischievous people, +living in underground caverns of wide extent, connected +one with another by arches and passages. The word +"nome" means "one who knows," and these people are so +called because they know where all the gold and silver +and precious stones are hidden in the earth -- a +knowledge that no other living creatures share with +them. The nomes are busy people, constantly digging up +gold in one place and taking it to another place, where +they secretly bury it, and perhaps this is the reason +they alone know where to find it. The nomes were ruled, +at the time of which I write, by a King named Kaliko. + +King Gos had expected to be pursued by Inga in his +magic boat, so he made all the haste possible, urging +his forty rowers to their best efforts night and day. +To his joy he was not overtaken but landed on the sandy +beach of the Wheelers on the morning of the eighth day. + +The forty rowers were left with the boat, while Queen +Cor and King Cos, with their royal prisoners, who were +still chained, began the journey to the Nome King. + +It was not long before they passed the sands and +reached the rocky country belonging to the nomes, but +they were still a long way from the entrance to the +underground caverns in which lived the Nome King. There +was a dim path, winding between stones and boulders, +over which the walking was quite difficult, especially +as the path led up hills that were small mountains, and +then down steep and abrupt slopes where any misstep +might mean a broken leg. Therefore it was the second +day of their journey before they climbed halfway up a +rugged mountain and found themselves at the entrance of +the Nome King's caverns. + +On their arrival, the entrance seemed free and +unguarded, but Gos and Cor had been there before, and +they were too wise to attempt to enter without +announcing themselves, for the passage to the caves was +full of traps and pitfalls. So King Gos stood still and +shouted, and in an instant they were surrounded by a +group of crooked nomes, who seemed to have sprung from +the ground. + +One of these had very long ears and was called The +Long-Eared Hearer. He said: "I heard you coming early +this morning." + +Another had eyes that looked in different directions +at the same time and were curiously bright and +penetrating. He could look over a hill or around a +corner and was called The Lookout. Said he: "I saw you +coming yesterday." + +"Then," said King Gos, "perhaps King Kaliko is +expecting us." + +"It is true," replied another nome, who wore a gold +collar around his neck and carried a bunch of golden +keys. "The mighty Nome King expects you, and bids you +follow me to his presence." + +With this he led the way into the caverns and Gos and +Cor followed, dragging their weary prisoners with them, +for poor King Kitticut and his gentle Queen had been +obliged to carry, all through the tedious journey, the +bags of gold and jewels which were to bribe the Nome +King to accept them as slaves. + +Through several long passages the guide led them and +at last they entered a small cavern which was +beautifully decorated and set with rare jewels that +flashed from every part of the wall, floor and ceiling. +This was a waiting-room for visitors, and there their +guide left them while he went to inform King Kaliko of +their arrival. + +Before long they were ushered into a great domed +chamber, cut from the solid rock and so magnificent +that all of them -- the King and Queen of Pingaree and +the King and Queen of Regos and Coregos -- drew long +breaths of astonishment and opened their eyes as wide +as they could. + +In an ivory throne sat a little round man who had a +pointed beard and hair that rose to a tall curl on top +of his head. He was dressed in silken robes, richly +embroidered, which had large buttons of cut rubies. On +his head was a diamond crown and in his hand he held a +golden sceptre with a big jeweled ball at one end of +it. This was Kaliko, the King and ruler of all the +nomes. He nodded pleasantly enough to his visitors and +said in a cheery voice: + +"Well, Your Majesties, what can I do for you?" + +"It is my desire," answered King Gos, respectfully, +"to place in your care two prisoners, whom you now see +before you. They must be carefully guarded, to prevent +them from escaping, for they have the cunning of foxes +and are not to be trusted. In return for the favor I am +asking you to grant, I have brought Your Majesty +valuable presents of gold and precious gems. + +He then commanded Kitticut and Garee to lay before +the Nome King the bags of gold and jewels, and they +obeyed, being helpless. + +"Very good," said King Kaliko, nodding approval, for +like all the nomes he loved treasures of gold and +jewels. "But who are the prisoners you have brought +here, and why do you place them in my charge instead of +guarding them, yourself? They seem gentle enough, I'm +sure." + +"The prisoners," returned King Gos, "are the King and +Queen of Pingaree, a small island north of here. They +are very evil people and came to our islands of Regos +and Coregos to conquer them and slay our poor people. +Also they intended to plunder us of all our riches, but +by good fortune we were able to defeat and capture +them. However, they have a son who is a terrible wizard +and who by magic art is trying to find this awful King +and Queen of Pingaree, and to set them free, that they +may continue their wicked deeds. Therefore, as we have +no magic to defend ourselves with, we have brought the +prisoners to you for safe keeping." + +"Your Majesty," spoke up King Kitticut, addressing +the Nome King with great indignation, "do not believe +this tale, I implore you. It is all a lie!" + +"I know it," said Kaliko. "I consider it a clever +lie, though, because it is woven without a thread of +truth. However, that is none of my business. The fact +remains that my good friend King Gos wishes to put you +in my underground caverns, so that you will be unable +to escape. And why should I not please him in this +little matter? Gos is a mighty King and a great +warrior, while your island of Pingaree is desolated and +your people scattered. In my heart, King Kitticut, I +sympathize with you, but as a matter of business policy +we powerful Kings must stand together and trample the +weaker ones under our feet." + +King Kitticut was surprised to find the King of the +nomes so candid and so well informed, and he tried to +argue that he and his gentle wife did not deserve their +cruel fate and that it would be wiser for Kaliko to +side with them than with the evil King of Regos. But +Kaliko only shook his head and smiled, saying: + +"The fact that you are a prisoner, my poor Kitticut, +is evidence that you are weaker than King Cos, and I +prefer to deal with the strong. By the way," he added, +turning to the King of Regos, "have these prisoners any +connection with the Land of Oz?" + +"Why do you ask?" said Gos. + +"Because I dare not offend the Oz people," was the +reply. "I am very powerful, as you know, but Ozma of Oz +is far more powerful than I; therefore, if this King +and Queen of Pingaree happened to be under Ozma's +protection, I would have nothing to do with them." + +"I assure Your Majesty that the prisoners have +nothing to do with the Oz people," Gos hastened to say. +And Kitticut, being questioned, admitted that this was +true. + +"But how about that wizard you mentioned?" asked the +Nome King. + +"Oh, he is merely a boy; but he is very ferocious and +obstinate and he is assisted by a little fat sorcerer +called Rinkitink and a talking goat." + +"Oho! A talking goat, do you say? That certainly +sounds like magic; and it also sounds like the Land of +Oz, where all the animals talk," said Kaliko, with a +doubtful expression. + +But King Gos assured him the talking goat had never +been to Oz. + +"As for Rinkitink, whom you call a sorcerer," +continued the Nome King, "he is a neighbor of mine, you +must know, but as we are cut off from each other by +high mountains beneath which a powerful river runs, I +have never yet met King Rinkitink. But I have heard of +him, and from all reports he is a jolly rogue, and +perfectly harmless. However, in spite of your false +statements and misrepresentations, I will earn the +treasure you have brought me, by keeping your prisoners +safe in my caverns. + +"Make them work," advised Queen Cor. "They are rather +delicate, and to make them work will make them suffer +delightfully." + +"I'll do as I please about that," said the Nome King +sternly. "Be content that I agree to keep them safe." + +The bargain being thus made and concluded, Kaliko +first examined the gold and jewels and then sent it +away to his royal storehouse, which was well filled +with like treasure. Next the captives were sent away in +charge of the nome with the golden collar and keys, +whose name was Klik, and he escorted them to a small +cavern and gave them a good supper. + +"I shall lock your door," said Klik, "so there is no +need of your wearing those heavy chains any longer." He +therefore removed the chains and left King Kitticut and +his Queen alone. This was the first time since the +Northmen had carried them away from Pingaree that the +good King and Queen had been alone together and free of +all bonds, and as they embraced lovingly and mingled +their tears over their sad fate they were also grateful +that they had passed from the control of the heartless +King Gos into the more considerate care of King Kaliko. +They were still captives but they believed they would +be happier in the underground caverns of the nomes than +in Regos and Coregos. + +Meantime, in the King's royal cavern a great feast +had been spread. King Gos and Queen Cor, having +triumphed in their plot, were so well pleased that they +held high revelry with the jolly Nome King until a late +hour that night. And the next morning, having cautioned +Kaliko not to release the prisoners under any +consideration without their orders, the King and Queen +of Regos and Coregos left the caverns of the nomes to +return to the shore of the ocean where they had left +their boat. + + + + +Chapter Eighteen + +Inga Parts with his Pink Pearl + + +The White Pearl guided Inga truly in his pursuit of the +boat of King Gos, but the boy had been so delayed in +sending his people home to Pingaree that it was a full +day after Gos and Cor landed on the shore of the +Wheeler Country that Inga's boat arrived at the same +place. + +There he found the forty rowers guarding the barge of +Queen Cor, and although they would not or could not +tell the boy where the King and Queen had taken his +father and mother, the White Pearl advised him to +follow the path to the country and the caverns of the +nomes. + +Rinkitink didn't like to undertake the rocky and +mountainous journey, even with Bilbil to carry him, but +he would not desert Inga, even though his own kingdom +lay just beyond a range of mountains which could be +seen towering southwest of them. So the King bravely +mounted the goat, who always grumbled but always obeyed +his master, and the three set off at once for the +caverns of the nomes. + +They traveled just as slowly as Queen Cor and King +Gos had done, so when they were about halfway they +discovered the King and Queen coming back to their +boat. The fact that Gos and Cor were now alone proved +that they had left Inga's father and mother behind +them; so, at the suggestion of Rinkitink, the three hid +behind a high rock until the King of Regos and the +Queen of Coregos, who had not observed them, had passed +them by. Then they continued their journey, glad that +they had not again been forced to fight or quarrel with +their wicked enemies. + +"We might have asked them, however, what they had +done with your poor parents," said Rinkitink. + +"Never mind," answered Inga. "I am sure the White +Pearl will guide us aright." + +For a time they proceeded in silence and then +Rinkitink began to chuckle with laughter in the +pleasant way he was wont to do before his misfortunes +came upon him. + +"What amuses Your Majesty?" inquired the boy. + +"The thought of how surprised my dear subjects would +be if they realized how near to them I am, and yet how +far away. I have always wanted to visit the Nome +Country, which is full of mystery and magic and all +sorts of adventures, but my devoted subjects forbade me +to think of such a thing, fearing I would get hurt or +enchanted." + +"Are you afraid, now that you are here?" asked Inga. + +"A little, but not much, for they say the new Nome +King is not as wicked as the old King used to be. +Still, we are undertaking a dangerous journey and I +think you ought to protect me by lending me one of your +pearls." + +Inga thought this over and it seemed a reasonable +request. + +"Which pearl would you like to have?" asked the boy. + +"Well, let us see," returned Rinkitink; "you may need +strength to liberate your captive parents, so you must +keep the Blue Pearl. And you will need the advice of +the White Pearl, so you had best keep that also. But in +case we should be separated I would have nothing to +protect me from harm, so you ought to lend me the Pink +Pearl." + +"Very well," agreed Inga, and sitting down upon a +rock he removed his right shoe and after withdrawing +the cloth from the pointed toe took out the Pink Pearl +-- the one which protected from any harm the person who +carried it. + +"Where can you put it, to keep it safely?" he asked. + +"In my vest pocket," replied the King. "The pocket +has a flap to it and I can pin it down in such a way +that the pearl cannot get out and become lost. As for +robbery, no one with evil intent can touch my person +while I have the pearl." + +So Inga gave Rinkitink the Pink Pearl and the little +King placed it in the pocket of his red-and-green +brocaded velvet vest, pinning the flap of the pocket +down tightly. + +They now resumed their journey and finally reached +the entrance to the Nome King's caverns. Placing the +White Pearl to his ear, Inga asked: "What shall I do +now?" and the Voice of the Pearl replied: "Clap your +hands together four times and call aloud the word +'Klik.' Then allow yourselves to be conducted to the +Nome King, who is now holding your father and mother +captive." + +Inga followed these instructions and when Klik +appeared in answer to his summons the boy requested an +audience of the Nome King. So Klik led them into the +presence of King Kaliko, who was suffering from a +severe headache, due to his revelry the night before, +and therefore was unusually cross and grumpy. + +"I know what you've come for," said he, before Inga +could speak. "You want to get the captives from Regos +away from me; but you can't do it, so you'd best go away +again." + +"The captives are my father and mother, and I intend +to liberate them," said the boy firmly. + +The King stared hard at Inga, wondering at his +audacity. Then he turned to look at King Rinkitink and +said: + +"I suppose you are the King of Gilgad, which is in +the Kingdom of Rinkitink." + +"You've guessed it the first time," replied +Rinkitink. + +"How round and fat you are!" exclaimed Kaliko. + +"I was just thinking how fat and round you are," said +Rinkitink. "Really, King Kaliko, we ought to be +friends, we're so much alike in everything but +disposition and intelligence." + +Then he began to chuckle, while Kaliko stared hard at +him, not knowing whether to accept his speech as a +compliment or not. And now the nome's eyes wandered to +Bilbil, and he asked: + +"Is that your talking goat?" + +Bilbil met the Nome King's glowering look with a gaze +equally surly and defiant, while Rinkitink answered: +"It is, Your Majesty." + +"Can he really talk?" asked Kaliko, curiously. + +"He can. But the best thing he does is to scold. Talk +to His Majesty, Bilbil." + +But Bilbil remained silent and would not speak. + +"Do you always ride upon his back?" continued Kaliko, +questioning Rinkitink. + +"Yes," was the answer, "because it is difficult for a +fat man to walk far, as perhaps you know from +experience. + +"That is true," said Kaliko. "Get off the goat's back +and let me ride him a while, to see how I like it. +Perhaps I'll take him away from you, to ride through my +caverns." + +Rinkitink chuckled softly as he heard this, but at +once got off Bilbil's back and let Kaliko get on. The +Nome King was a little awkward, but when he was firmly +astride the saddle he called in a loud voice: "Giddap!" + +When Bilbil paid no attention to the command and +refused to stir, Kaliko kicked his heels viciously +against the goat's body, and then Bilbil made a sudden +start. He ran swiftly across the great cavern, until he +had almost reached the opposite wall, when he stopped +so abruptly that King Kaliko sailed over his head and +bumped against the jeweled wall. He bumped so hard that +the points of his crown were all mashed out of shape +and his head was driven far into the diamond-studded +band of the crown, so that it covered one eye and a +part of his nose. Perhaps this saved Kaliko's head from +being cracked against the rock wall, but it was hard on +the crown. + +Bilbil was highly pleased at the success of his feat +and Rinkitink laughed merrily at the Nome King's +comical appearance; but Kaliko was muttering and +growling as he picked himself up and struggled to pull +the battered crown from his head, and it was evident +that he was not in the least amused. Indeed, Inga could +see that the King was very angry, and the boy knew that +the incident was likely to turn Kaliko against the +entire party. + +The Nome King sent Klik for another crown and ordered +his workmen to repair the one that was damaged. While +he waited for the new crown he sat regarding his +visitors with a scowling face, and this made Inga more +uneasy than ever. Finally, when the new crown was +placed upon his head, King Kaliko said: "Follow me, +strangers!" and led the way to a small door at one end +of the cavern. + +Inga and Rinkitink followed him through the doorway +and found themselves standing on a balcony that +overlooked an enormous domed cave -- so extensive that +it seemed miles to the other side of it. All around +this circular cave, which was brilliantly lighted from +an unknown source, were arches connected with other +caverns. + +Kaliko took a gold whistle from his pocket and blew a +shrill note that echoed through every part of the cave. +Instantly nomes began to pour in through the side +arches in great numbers, until the immense space was +packed with them as far as the eye could reach. All +were armed with glittering weapons of polished silver +and gold, and Inga was amazed that any King could +command so great an army. + +They began marching and countermarching in very +orderly array until another blast of the gold whistle +sent them scurrying away as quickly as they had +appeared. And as soon as the great cave was again empty +Kaliko returned with his visitors to his own royal +chamber, where he once more seated himself upon his +ivory throne. + +"I have shown you," said he to Inga, "a part of my +bodyguard. The royal armies, of which this is only a +part, are as numerous as the sands of the ocean, and +live in many thousands of my underground caverns. You +have come here thinking to force me to give up the +captives of King Gos and Queen Cor, and I wanted to +convince you that my power is too mighty for anyone to +oppose. I am told that you are a wizard, and depend +upon magic to aid you; but you must know that the nomes +are not mortals, and understand magic pretty well +themselves, so if we are obliged to fight magic with +magic the chances are that we are a hundred times more +powerful than you can be. Think this over carefully, my +boy, and try to realize that you are in my power. I do +not believe you can force me to liberate King Kitticut +and Queen Garee, and I know that you cannot coax me to +do so, for I have given my promise to King Gos. +Therefore, as I do not wish to hurt you, I ask you to +go away peaceably and let me alone." + +"Forgive me if I do not agree with you, King Kaliko," +answered the boy. "However difficult and dangerous my +task may be, I cannot leave your dominions until every +effort to release my parents has failed and left me +completely discouraged." + +"Very well," said the King, evidently displeased. "I +have warned you, and now if evil overtakes you it is +your own fault. I've a headache to-day, so I cannot +entertain you properly, according to your rank; but +Klik will attend you to my guest chambers and to-morrow +I will talk with you again." + +This seemed a fair and courteous way to treat one's +declared enemies, so they politely expressed the wish +that Kaliko's headache would be better, and followed +their guide, Klik, down a well-lighted passage and +through several archways until they finally reached +three nicely furnished bedchambers which were cut from +solid gray rock and well lighted and aired by some +mysterious method known to the nomes. + +The first of these rooms was given King Rinkitink, +the second was Inga's and the third was assigned to +Bilbil the goat. There was a swinging rock door +between the third and second rooms and another between +the second and first, which also had a door that opened +upon the passage. Rinkitink's room was the largest, so +it was here that an excellent dinner was spread by some +of the nome servants, who, in spite of their crooked +shapes, proved to be well trained and competent. + +"You are not prisoners, you know," said Klik; neither +are you welcome guests, having declared your purpose to +oppose our mighty King and all his hosts. But we bear +you no ill will, and you are to be well fed and cared +for as long as you remain in our caverns. Eat hearty, +sleep tight, and pleasant dreams to you." + +Saying this, he left them alone and at once Rinkitink +and Inga began to counsel together as to the best means +to liberate King Kitticut and Queen Garee. The White +Pearl's advice was rather unsatisfactory to the boy, +just now, for all that the Voice said in answer to his +questions was: "Be patient, brave and determined." + +Rinkitink suggested that they try to discover in what +part of the series of underground caverns Inga's +parents had been confined, as that knowledge was +necessary before they could take any action; so +together they started out, leaving Bilbil asleep in his +room, and made their way unopposed through many +corridors and caverns. In some places were great +furnaces, where gold dust was being melted into bricks. +In other rooms workmen were fashioning the gold into +various articles and ornaments. In one cavern immense +wheels revolved which polished precious gems, and they +found many caverns used as storerooms, where treasure +of every sort was piled high. Also they came to the +barracks of the army and the great kitchens. + +There were nomes everywhere -- countless thousands of +them -- but none paid the slightest heed to the +visitors from the earth's surface. Yet, although Inga +and Rinkitink walked until they were weary, they were +unable to locate the place where the boy's father and +mother had been confined, and when they tried to return +to their own rooms they found that they had hopelessly +lost themselves amid the labyrinth of passages. +However, Klik presently came to them, laughing at their +discomfiture, and led them back to their bedchambers. + +Before they went to sleep they carefully barred the +door from Rinkitink's room to the corridor, but the +doors that connected the three rooms one with another +were left wide open. + +In the night Inga was awakened by a soft grating +sound that filled him with anxiety because he could not +account for it. It was dark in his room, the light +having disappeared as soon as he got into bed, but he +managed to feel his way to the door that led to +Rinkitink's room and found it tightly closed and +immovable. Then he made his way to the opposite door, +leading to Bilbil's room, to discover that also had +been closed and fastened. + +The boy had a curious sensation that all of his room +-- the walls, floor and ceiling -- was slowly whirling +as if on a pivot, and it was such an uncomfortable +feeling that he got into bed again, not knowing what +else to do. And as the grating noise had ceased and the +room now seemed stationary, he soon fell asleep again. + +When the boy wakened, after many hours, he found the +room again light. So he dressed himself and discovered +that a small table, containing a breakfast that was +smoking hot, had suddenly appeared in the center of +his room. He tried the two doors, but finding that he +could not open them he ate some breakfast, thoughtfully +wondering who had locked him in and why he had been +made a prisoner. Then he again went to the door which +he thought led to Rinkitink's chamber and to his +surprise the latch lifted easily and the door swung +open. + +Before him was a rude corridor hewn in the rock and +dimly lighted. It did not look inviting, so Inga closed +the door, puzzled to know what had become of +Rinkitink's room and the King, and went to the opposite +door. Opening this, he found a solid wall of rock +confronting him, which effectually prevented his escape +in that direction. + +The boy now realized that King Kaliko had tricked +him, and while professing to receive him as a guest had +plotted to separate him from his comrades. One way had +been left, however, by which he might escape and he +decided to see where it led to. + +So, going to the first door, he opened it and +ventured slowly into the dimly lighted corridor. When +he had advanced a few steps he heard the door of his +room slam shut behind him. He ran back at once, but the +door of rock fitted so closely into the wall that he +found it impossible to open it again. That did not +matter so much, however, for the room was a prison and +the only way of escape seemed ahead of him. + +Along the corridor he crept until, turning a +corner, he found himself in a large domed cavern that +was empty and deserted. Here also was a dim light that +permitted him to see another corridor at the opposite +side; so he crossed the rocky floor of the cavern and +entered a second corridor. This one twisted and turned +in every direction but was not very long, so soon the +boy reached a second cavern, not so large as the first. +This he found vacant also, but it had another corridor +leading out of it, so Inga entered that. It was +straight and short and beyond was a third cavern, which +differed little from the others except that it had a +strong iron grating at one side of it. + +All three of these caverns had been roughly hewn from +the rock and it seemed they had never been put to use, +as had all the other caverns of the nomes he had +visited. Standing in the third cavern, Inga saw what he +thought was still another corridor at its farther side, +so he walked toward it. This opening was dark, and that +fact, and the solemn silence all around him, made him +hesitate for a while to enter it. Upon reflection, +however, he realized that unless he explored the place +to the very end he could not hope to escape from it, so +he boldly entered the dark corridor and felt his way +cautiously as he moved forward. + +Scarcely had he taken two paces when a crash +resounded back of him and a heavy sheet of steel closed +the opening into the cavern from which he had just +come. He paused a moment, but it still seemed best to +proceed, and as Inga advanced in the dark, holding his +hands outstretched before him to feel his way, +handcuffs fell upon his wrists and locked themselves +with a sharp click, and an instant later he found he +was chained to a stout iron post set firmly in the rock +floor. + +The chains were long enough to permit him to move a +yard or so in any direction and by feeling the walls he +found he was in a small circular room that had no +outlet except the passage by which he had entered, and +that was now closed by the door of steel. This was the +end of the series of caverns and corridors. + +It was now that the horror of his situation occurred +to the boy with full force. But he resolved not to +submit to his fate without a struggle, and realizing +that he possessed the Blue Pearl, which gave him +marvelous strength, he quickly broke the chains and set +himself free of the handcuffs. Next he twisted the +steel door from its hinges, and creeping along the +short passage, found himself in the third cave. + +But now the dim light, which had before guided him, +had vanished; yet on peering into the gloom of the cave +he saw what appeared to be two round disks of flame, +which cast a subdued glow over the floor and walls. By +this dull glow he made out the form of an enormous man, +seated in the center of the cave, and he saw that the +iron grating had been removed, permitting the man to +enter. + +The giant was unclothed and its limbs were thickly +covered with coarse red hair. The round disks of flame +were its two eyes and when it opened its mouth to yawn +Inga saw that its jaws were wide enough to crush a +dozen men between the great rows of teeth. + +Presently the giant looked up and perceived the boy +crouching at the other side of the cavern, so he called +out in a hoarse, rude voice: + +"Come hither, my pretty one. We will wrestle +together, you and I, and if you succeed in throwing me +I will let you pass through my cave." + +The boy made no reply to the challenge. He realized +he was in dire peril and regretted that he had lent the +Pink Pearl to King Rinkitink. But it was now too late +for vain regrets, although he feared that even his +great strength would avail him little against this +hairy monster. For his arms were not long enough to +span a fourth of the giant's huge body, while the +monster's powerful limbs would be likely to crush out +Inga's life before he could gain the mastery. + +Therefore the Prince resolved to employ other means +to combat this foe, who had doubtless been placed there +to bar his return. Retreating through the passage he +reached the room where he had been chained and wrenched +the iron post from its socket. It was a foot thick and +four feet long, and being of solid iron was so heavy +that three ordinary men would have found it hard to +lift. + +Returning to the cavern, the boy swung the great bar +above his head and dashed it with mighty force full at +the giant. The end of the bar struck the monster upon +its forehead, and with a single groan it fell full +length upon the floor and lay still. + +When the giant fell, the glow from its eyes faded +away, and all was dark. Cautiously, for Inga was not +sure the giant was dead, the boy felt his way toward +the opening that led to the middle cavern. The entrance +was narrow and the darkness was intense, but, feeling +braver now, the boy stepped boldly forward. Instantly +the floor began to sink beneath him and in great alarm +he turned and made a leap that enabled him to grasp the +rocky sides of the wall and regain a footing in the +passage through which he had just come. + +Scarcely had he obtained this place of refuge when a +mighty crash resounded throughout the cavern and the +sound of a rushing torrent came from far below. Inga +felt in his pocket and found several matches, one of +which he lighted and held before him. While it +flickered he saw that the entire floor of the cavern +had fallen away, and knew that had he not instantly +regained his footing in the passage he would have +plunged into the abyss that lay beneath him. + +By the light of another match he saw the opening at +the other side of the cave and the thought came to him +that possibly he might leap across the gulf. Of course, +this could never be accomplished without the marvelous +strength lent him by the Blue Pearl, but Inga had the +feeling that one powerful spring might carry him over +the chasm into safety. He could not stay where he was, +that was certain, so he resolved to make the attempt. + +He took a long run through the first cave and the +short corridor; then, exerting all his strength, he +launched himself over the black gulf of the second +cave. Swiftly he flew and, although his heart stood +still with fear, only a few seconds elapsed before his +feet touched the ledge of the opposite passageway and +he knew he had safely accomplished the wonderful feat. + +Only pausing to draw one long breath of relief, Inga +quickly traversed the crooked corridor that led to the +last cavern of the three. But when he came in sight of +it he paused abruptly, his eyes nearly blinded by a +glare of strong light which burst upon them. Covering +his face with his hands, Inga retreated behind a +projecting corner of rock and by gradually getting his +eyes used to the light he was finally able to gaze +without blinking upon the strange glare that had so +quickly changed the condition of the cavern. When he +had passed through this vault it had been entirely +empty. Now the flat floor of rock was covered +everywhere with a bed of glowing coals, which shot up +little tongues of red and white flames. Indeed, the +entire cave was one monster furnace and the heat that +came from it was fearful. + +Inga's heart sank within him as he realized the +terrible obstacle placed by the cunning Nome King +between him and the safety of the other caverns. There +was no turning back, for it would be impossible for him +again to leap over the gulf of the second cave, the +corridor at this side being so crooked that he could +get no run before he jumped. Neither could he leap over +the glowing coals of the cavern that faced him, for it +was much larger than the middle cavern. In this dilemma +he feared his great strength would avail him nothing +and he bitterly reproached himself for parting with the +Pink Pearl, which would have preserved him from injury. + +However, it was not in the nature of Prince Inga to +despair for long, his past adventures having taught him +confidence and courage, sharpened his wits and given +him the genius of invention. He sat down and thought +earnestly on the means of escape from his danger and at +last a clever idea came to his mind. This is the way to +get ideas: never to let adverse circumstances +discourage you, but to believe there is a way out of +every difficulty, which may be found by earnest +thought. + +There were many points and projections of rock in the +walls of the crooked corridor in which Inga stood and +some of these rocks had become cracked and loosened, +although still clinging to their places. The boy picked +out one large piece, and, exerting all his strength, +tore it away from the wall. He then carried it to the +cavern and tossed it upon the burning coals, about ten +feet away from the end of the passage. Then he returned +for another fragment of rock, and wrenching it free +from its place, he threw it ten feet beyond the first +one, toward the opposite side of the cave. The boy +continued this work until he had made a series of +stepping-stones reaching straight across the cavern to +the dark passageway beyond, which he hoped would lead +him back to safety if not to liberty. + +When his work had been completed, Inga did not long +hesitate to take advantage of his stepping-stones, for +he knew his best chance of escape lay in his crossing +the bed of coals before the rocks became so heated that +they would burn his feet. So he leaped to the first +rock and from there began jumping from one to the other +in quick succession. A withering wave of heat at once +enveloped him, and for a time he feared he would +suffocate before he could cross the cavern; but he held +his breath, to keep the hot air from his lungs, and +maintained his leaps with desperate resolve. + +Then, before he realized it, his feet were pressing +the cooler rocks of the passage beyond and he rolled +helpless upon the floor, gasping for breath. His skin +was so red that it resembled the shell of a boiled +lobster, but his swift motion had prevented his being +burned, and his shoes had thick soles, which saved his +feet. + +After resting a few minutes, the boy felt strong +enough to go on. He went to the end of the passage and +found that the rock door by which he had left his room +was still closed, so he returned to about the middle of +the corridor and was thinking what he should do next, +when suddenly the solid rock before him began to move +and an opening appeared through which shone a brilliant +light. Shielding his eyes, which were somewhat dazzled, +Inga sprang through the opening and found himself in +one of the Nome King's inhabited caverns, where before +him stood King Kaliko, with a broad grin upon his +features, and Klik, the King's chamberlain, who looked +surprised, and King Rinkitink seated astride Bilbil the +goat, both of whom seemed pleased that Inga had +rejoined them. + + + + +Chapter Nineteen + +Rinkitink Chuckles + + +We will now relate what happened to Rinkitink and +Bilbil that morning, while Inga was undergoing his +trying experience in escaping the fearful dangers of +the three caverns. + +The King of Gilgad wakened to find the door of Inga's +room fast shut and locked, but he had no trouble in +opening his own door into the corridor, for it seems +that the boy's room, which was the middle one, whirled +around on a pivot, while the adjoining rooms occupied +by Bilbil and Rinkitink remained stationary. The little +King also found a breakfast magically served in his +room, and while he was eating it, Klik came to him and +stated that His Majesty, King Kaliko, desired his +presence in the royal cavern. + +So Rinkitink, having first made sure that the Pink +Pearl was still in his vest pocket, willingly followed +Klik, who ran on some distance ahead. But no sooner had +Rinkitink set foot in the passage than a great rock, +weighing at least a ton, became dislodged and dropped +from the roof directly over his head. Of course, it +could not harm him, protected as he was by the Pink +Pearl, and it bounded aside and crashed upon the floor, +where it was shattered by its own weight. + +"How careless!" exclaimed the little King, and +waddled after Klik, who seemed amazed at his escape. + +Presently another rock above Rinkitink plunged +downward, and then another, but none touched his body. +Klik seemed much perplexed at these continued escapes +and certainly Kaliko was surprised when Rinkitink, safe +and sound, entered the royal cavern. + +"Good morning," said the King of Gilgad. "Your rocks +are getting loose, Kaliko, and you'd better have them +glued in place before they hurt someone." Then he began +to chuckle: "Hoo, hoo, hoo-hee, hee-heek, keek, eek!" +and Kaliko sat and frowned because he realized that the +little fat King was poking fun at him. + +"I asked Your Majesty to come here," said the Nome +King, "to show you a curious skein of golden thread +which my workmen have made. If it pleases you, I will +make you a present of it." + +With this he held out a small skein of glittering +gold twine, which was really pretty and curious. +Rinkitink took it in his hand and at once the golden +thread began to unwind -- so swiftly that the eye could +not follow its motion. And, as it unwound, it coiled +itself around Rinkitink's body, at the same time +weaving itself into a net, until it had enveloped the +little King from head to foot and placed him in a +prison of gold. + +"Aha!" cried Kaliko; "this magic worked all right, it +seems. + +"Oh, did it?" replied Rinkitink, and stepping forward +he walked right through the golden net, which fell to +the floor in a tangled mass + +Kaliko rubbed his chin thoughtfully and stared hard +at Rinkitink. + +"I understand a good bit of magic," said ,he, "but +Your Majesty has a sort of magic that greatly puzzles +me, because it is unlike anything of the sort that I +ever met with before." + +"Now, see here, Kaliko," said Rinkitink; "if you are +trying to harm me or my companions, give it up, for you +will never succeed. We're harm-proof, so to speak, and +you are merely wasting your time trying to injure us. + +"You may be right, and I hope I am not so impolite as +to argue with a guest," returned the Nome King. "But +you will pardon me if I am not yet satisfied that you +are stronger than my famous magic. However, I beg you +to believe that I bear you no ill will, King Rinkitink; +but it is my duty to destroy you, if possible, because +you and that insignificant boy Prince have openly +threatened to take away my captives and have positively +refused to go back to the earth's surface and let me +alone. I'm very tender-hearted, as a matter of fact, +and I like you immensely, and would enjoy having you as +a friend, but --" Here he pressed a button on the arm +of his throne chair and the section of the floor where +Rinkitink stood suddenly opened and disclosed a black +pit beneath, which was a part of 'the terrible +Bottomless Gulf. + +But Rinkitink did not fall into the pit; his body +remained suspended in the air until he put out his foot +and stepped to the solid floor, when the opening +suddenly closed again. + +"I appreciate Your Majesty's friendship," remarked +Rinkitink, as calmly as if nothing had happened, "but I +am getting tired with standing. Will you kindly send +for my goat, Bilbil, that I may sit upon his back to +rest?" + +"Indeed I will!" promised Kaliko. "I have not yet +completed my test of your magic, and as I owe that goat +a slight grudge for bumping my head and smashing my +second-best crown, I will be glad to discover if the +beast can also escape my delightful little sorceries." + +So Klik was sent to fetch Bilbil and presently +returned with the goat, which was very cross this +morning because it had not slept well in the +underground caverns. + +Rinkitink lost no time in getting upon the red velvet +saddle which the goat constantly wore, for he feared +the Nome King would try to destroy Bilbil and knew that +as long as his body touched that of the goat the Pink +Pearl would protect them both; whereas, if Bilbil stood +alone, there was no magic to save him. + +Bilbil glared wickedly at King Kaliko, who moved +uneasily in his ivory throne. Then the Nome King +whispered a moment in the ear of Klik, who nodded and +left the room. + +"Please make yourselves at home here for a few +minutes, while I attend to an errand," said the Nome +King, getting up from the throne. "I shall return +pretty soon, when I hope to find you pieceful -- ha, +ha, ha! -- that's a joke you can't appreciate now but +will later. Be pieceful -- that's the idea. Ho, ho, ho! +How funny." Then he waddled from the cavern, closing +the door behind him. + +"Well, why didn't you laugh when Kaliko laughed?" +demanded the goat, when they were left alone in the +cavern. + +"Because he means mischief of some sort," replied +Rinkitink, "and we'll laugh after the danger is over, +Bilbil. There's an old adage that says: 'He laughs best +who laughs last,' and the only way to laugh last is to +give the other fellow a chance. Where did that knife +come from, I wonder." + +For a long, sharp knife suddenly appeared in the air +near them, twisting and turning from side to side and +darting here and there in a dangerous manner, without +any support whatever. Then another knife became visible +-- and another and another -- until all the space in +the royal cavern seemed filled with them. Their sharp +points and edges darted toward Rinkitink and Bilbil +perpetually and nothing could have saved them from +being cut to pieces except the protecting power of the +Pink Pearl. As it was, not a knife touched them and +even Bilbil gave a gruff laugh at the failure of +Kaliko's clever magic. + +The goat wandered here and there in the cavern, +carrying Rinkitink upon his back, and neither of them +paid the slightest heed to the knives, although the +glitter of the hundreds of polished blades was rather +trying. to their eyes. Perhaps for ten minutes the +knives darted about them in bewildering fury; then they +disappeared as suddenly as they had appeared. + +Kaliko cautiously stuck his head through the doorway +and found the goat chewing the embroidery of his royal +cloak, which he had left lying over the throne, while +Rinkitink was reading his manuscript on "How to be +Good" and chuckling over its advice. The Nome King +seemed greatly disappointed as he came in and resumed +his seat on the throne. Said Rinkitink with a chuckle: + +"We've really had a peaceful time, Kaliko, although +not the pieceful time you expected. Forgive me if I +indulge in a laugh -- hoo, hoo, hoo-hee, heek-keek-eek! +And now, tell me; aren't you getting tired of trying to +injure us?" + +"Eh -- heh," said the Nome King. "I see now that your +magic can protect you from all my arts. But is the boy +Inga as, well protected as Your Majesty and the goat?' + +"Why do you ask?" inquired Rinkitink, uneasy at the +question because he remembered he had not seen the +little Prince of Pingaree that morning. + +"Because," said Kaliko, "the boy has been undergoing +trials far greater and more dangerous than any you have +encountered, and it has been hundreds of years since +anyone has been able to escape alive from the perils of +my Three Trick Caverns." + +King Rinkitink was much alarmed at hearing this, for +although he knew that Inga possessed the Blue Pearl, +that would only give to him marvelous strength, and +perhaps strength alone would not enable him to escape +from danger. But he would not let Kaliko see the fear +he felt for Inga's safety, so he said in a careless +way: + +"You're a mighty poor magician, Kaliko, and I'll give +you my crown if Inga hasn't escaped any danger you have +threatened him with." + +"Your whole crown is not worth one of the valuable +diamonds in my crown," answered the Nome King, "but +I'll take it. Let us go at once, therefore, and see +what has become of the boy Prince, for if he is not +destroyed by this time I will admit he cannot be +injured by any of the magic arts which I have at my +command." + +He left the room, accompanied by Klik, who had now +rejoined his master, and by Rinkitink riding upon +Bilbil. After traversing several of the huge caverns +they entered one that was somewhat more bright and +cheerful than the others, where the Nome King paused +before a wall of rock. Then Klik pressed a secret +spring and a section of the wall opened and disclosed +the corridor where Prince Inga stood facing them. + +"Tarts and tadpoles!" cried Kaliko in surprise. "The +boy is still alive!" + + + + +Chapter Twenty + +Dorothy to the Rescue + + +One day when Princess Dorothy of Oz was visiting Glinda +the Good, who is Ozma's Royal Sorceress, she was +looking through Glinda's Great Book of Records -- +wherein is inscribed all important events that happen +in every part of the world -- when she came upon the +record of the destruction of Pingaree, the capture of +King Kitticut and Queen Garee and all their people, and +the curious escape of Inga, the boy Prince, and of King +Rinkitink and the talking goat. Turning over some of +the following pages, Dorothy read how Inga had found +the Magic Pearls and was rowing the silver-lined boat +to Regos to try to rescue his parents. + +The little girl was much interested to know how well +Inga succeeded, but she returned to the palace of Ozma +at the Emerald City of Oz the next day and other events +made her forget the boy Prince of Pingaree for a time. +However, she was one day idly looking at Ozma's Magic +Picture, which shows any scene you may wish to see, +when the girl thought of Inga and commanded the Magic +Picture to show what the boy was doing at that moment. + +It was the time when Inga and Rinkitink had followed +the King of Regos and Queen of Coregos to the Nome +King's country and she saw them hiding behind the rock +as Cor and Gos passed them by after having placed the +King and Queen of Pingaree in the keeping of the Nome +King. From that time Dorothy followed, by means of the +Magic Picture, the adventures of Inga and his friend in +the Nome King's caverns, and the danger and +helplessness of the poor boy aroused the little girl's +pity and indignation. + +So she went to Ozma and told the lovely girl Ruler of +Oz all about Inga and Rinkitink. + +"I think Kaliko is treating them dreadfully mean," +declared Dorothy, "and I wish you'd let me go to the +Nome Country and help them out of their troubles." + +"Go, my dear, if you wish to," replied Ozma, "but I +think it would be best for you to take the Wizard with +you." + +"Oh, I'm not afraid of the nomes," said Dorothy, "but +I'll be glad to take the Wizard, for company. And may +we use your Magic Carpet, Ozma?" + +"Of course. Put the Magic Carpet in the Red Wagon and +have the Sawhorse take you and the Wizard to the edge +of the desert. While you are gone, Dorothy, I'll watch +you in the Magic Picture, and if any danger threatens +you I'll see you are not harmed." + +Dorothy thanked the Ruler of Oz and kissed her good- +bye, for she was determined to start at once. She found +the Wizard of Oz, who was planting shoetrees in the +garden, and when she told him Inga's story he willingly +agreed to accompany the little girl to the Nome King's +caverns. They had both been there before and had +conquered the nomes with ease, so they were not at all +afraid. + +The Wizard, who was a cheery little man with a bald +head and a winning smile, harnessed the Wooden Sawhorse +to the Red Wagon and loaded on Ozma's Magic Carpet. +Then he and Dorothy climbed to the seat and the +Sawhorse started off and carried them swiftly through +the beautiful Land of Oz to the edge of the Deadly +Desert that separated their fairyland from the Nome +Country. + +Even Dorothy and the clever Wizard would not have +dared to cross this desert without the aid of the Magic +Carpet, for it would have quickly destroyed them; but +when the roll of carpet had been placed upon the edge +of the sands, leaving just enough lying flat for them +to stand upon, the carpet straightway began to unroll +before them and as they walked on it continued to +unroll, until they had safely passed over the stretch +of Deadly Desert and were on the border of the Nome +King's dominions. + +This journey had been accomplished in a few minutes, +although such a distance would have required several +days travel had they not been walking on the Magic +Carpet. On arriving they at once walked toward the +entrance to the caverns of the nomes. + +The Wizard carried a little black bag containing his +tools of wizardry, while Dorothy carried over her arm a +covered basket in which she had placed a dozen eggs, +with which to conquer the nomes if she had any trouble +with them. + +Eggs may seem to you to be a queer weapon with which +to fight, but the little girl well knew their value. +The nomes are immortal; that is, they do not perish, as +mortals do, unless they happen to come in contact with +an egg. If an egg touches them -- either the outer +shell or the inside of the egg -- the nomes lose their +charm of perpetual life and thereafter are liable to +die through accident or old age, just as all humans +are. + +For this reason the sight of an egg fills a nome with +terror and he will do anything to prevent an egg from +touching him, even for an instant. So, when Dorothy +took her basket of eggs with her, she knew that she was +more powerfully armed than if she had a regiment of +soldiers at her back. + + + + +Chapter Twenty-One + +The Wizard Finds an Enchantment + + +After Kaliko had failed in his attempts to destroy his +guests, as has been related, the Nome King did nothing +more to injure them but treated them in a friendly +manner. He refused, however, to permit Inga to see or +to speak with his father and mother, or even to know in +what part of the underground caverns they were +confined. + +"You are able to protect your lives and persons, I +freely admit," said Kaliko; "but I firmly believe you +have no power, either of magic or otherwise, to take +from me the captives I have agreed to keep for King +Gos." + +Inga would not agree to this. He determined not to +leave the caverns until he had liberated his father and +mother, although he did not then know how that could be +accomplished. As for Rinkitink, the jolly King was well +fed and had a good bed to sleep upon, so he was not +worrying about anything and seemed in no hurry to go +away. + +Kaliko and Rinkitink were engaged in pitching a game +with solid gold quoits, on the floor of the royal +chamber, and Inga and Bilbil were watching them, when +Klik came running in, his hair standing on end with +excitement, and cried out that the Wizard of Oz and +Dorothy were approaching. + +Kaliko turned pale on hearing this unwelcome news +and, abandoning his game, went to sit in his ivory +throne and try to think what had brought these fearful +visitors to his domain. + +"Who is Dorothy?" asked Inga. + +"She is a little girl who once lived in Kansas," +replied Klik, with a shudder, "but she now lives in +Ozma's palace at the Emerald City and is a Princess of +Oz -- which means that she is a terrible foe to deal +with." + +"Doesn't she like the nomes?" inquired the boy. + +"It isn't that," said King Kaliko, with a groan, "but +she insists on the nomes being goody-goody, which is +contrary to their natures. Dorothy gets angry if I do +the least thing that is wicked, and tries to make me +stop it, and that naturally makes me downhearted. I +can't imagine why she has come here just now, for I've +been behaving very well lately. As for that Wizard of +Oz, he's chock-full of magic that I can't overcome, for +he learned it from Glinda, who is the most powerful +sorceress in the world. Woe is me! Why didn't Dorothy +and the Wizard stay in Oz, where they belong?" + +Inga and Rinkitink listened to this with much joy, +for at once the idea came to them both to plead with +Dorothy to help them. Even Bilbil pricked up his ears +when he heard the Wizard of Oz mentioned, and the goat +seemed much less surly, and more thoughtful than usual. + +A few minutes later a nome came to say that Dorothy +and the Wizard had arrived and demanded admittance, so +Klik was sent to usher them into the royal presence of +the Nome King. + +As soon as she came in the little girl ran up to the +boy Prince and seized both his hands. + +"Oh, Inga!" she exclaimed, "I'm so glad to find you +alive and well." + +Inga was astonished at so warm a greeting. Making a +low bow he said: + +"I don't think we have met before, Princess." + +"No, indeed," replied Dorothy, "but I know all about +you and I've come to help you and King Rinkitink out of +your troubles." Then she turned to the Nome King and +continued: "You ought to be ashamed of yourself, King +Kaliko, to treat an honest Prince and an honest King so +badly." + +"I haven't done anything to them," whined Kaliko, +trembling as her eyes flashed upon him. + +"No; but you tried to, an' that's just as bad, if not +worse," said Dorothy, who was very indignant. "And now +I want you to send for the King and Queen of Pingaree +and have them brought here immejitly!" + +"I won't," said Kaliko. + +"Yes, you will!" cried Dorothy, stamping her foot at +him. "I won't have those poor people made unhappy any +longer, or separated from their little boy. Why, it's +dreadful, Kaliko, an' I'm su'prised at you. You must be +more wicked than I thought you were." + +"I can't do it, Dorothy," said the Nome King, almost +weeping with despair. "I promised King Gos I'd keep +them captives. You wouldn't ask me to break my promise, +would you?" + +"King Gos was a robber and an outlaw," she said, "and +p'r'aps you don't know that a storm at sea wrecked his +boat, while he was going back to Regos, and that he and +Queen Cor were both drowned." + +"Dear me!" exclaimed Kaliko. "Is that so?" + +"I saw it in Glinda's Record Book," said Dorothy. "So +now you trot out the King and Queen of Pingaree as +quick as you can." + +"No," persisted the contrary Nome King, shaking his +head. "I won't do it. Ask me anything else and I'll try +to please you, but I can't allow these friendly enemies +to triumph over me. + +"In that case," said Dorothy, beginning to remove the +cover from her basket, "I'll show you some eggs." + +"Eggs!" screamed the Nome King in horror. "Have you +eggs in that basket?" + +"A dozen of 'em," replied Dorothy. + +"Then keep them there -- I beg -- I implore you! -- +and I'll do anything you say," pleaded Kaliko, his +teeth chattering so that he could hardly speak. + +"Send for the King and Queen of Pingaree," said +Dorothy. + +"Go, Klik," commanded the Nome King, and Klik ran +away in great haste, for he was almost as much +frightened as his master. + +It was an affecting scene when the unfortunate King +and Queen of Pingaree entered the chamber and with sobs +and tears of joy embraced their brave and adventurous +son. All the others stood silent until greetings and +kisses had been exchanged and Inga had told his parents +in a few words of his vain struggles to rescue them and +how Princess Dorothy had finally come to his +assistance. + +Then King Kitticut shook the hands of his friend King +Rinkitink and thanked him for so loyally supporting his +son Inga, and Queen Garee kissed little Dorothy's +forehead and blessed her for restoring her husband and +herself to freedom. + +The Wizard had been standing near Bilbil the goat and +now he was surprised to hear the animal say: + +"Joyful reunion, isn't it? But it makes me tired to +see grown people cry like children." + +"Oho!" exclaimed the Wizard. "How does it happen, Mr. +Goat, that you, who have never been to the Land of Oz, +are able to talk?" + +"That's my business," returned Bilbil in a surly +tone. + +The Wizard stooped down and gazed fixedly into the +animal's eyes. Then he said, with a pitying sigh: "I +see; you are under an enchantment. Indeed, I believe +you to be Prince Bobo of Boboland." + +Bilbil made no reply but dropped his head as if +ashamed. + +"This is a great discovery," said the Wizard, +addressing Dorothy and the others of the party. "A good +many years ago a cruel magician transformed the gallant +Prince of Boboland into a talking goat, and this goat, +being ashamed of his condition, ran away and was never +after seen in Boboland, which is a country far to the +south of here but bordering on the Deadly Desert, +opposite the Land of Oz. I heard of this story long ago +and know that a diligent search has been made for the +enchanted Prince, without result. But I am well assured +that, in the animal you call Bilbil, I have discovered +the unhappy Prince of Boboland." + +"Dear me, Bilbil," said Rinkitink, "why have you +never told me this?" + +"What would be the use?" asked Bilbil in a low voice +and still refusing to look up. + +"The use?" repeated Rinkitink, puzzled. + +"Yes, that's the trouble," said the Wizard. "It is +one of the most powerful enchantments ever +accomplished, and the magician is now dead and the +secret of the anti-charm lost. Even I, with all my +skill, cannot restore Prince Bobo to his proper form. +But I think Glinda might be able to do so and if you +will all return with Dorothy and me to the Land of Oz, +where Ozma will make you welcome, I will ask Glinda to +try to break this enchantment." + +This was willingly agreed to, for they all welcomed +the chance to visit the famous Land of Oz. So they bade +good-bye to King Kaliko, whom Dorothy warned not to be +wicked any more if he could help it, and the entire +party returned over the Magic Carpet to the Land of Oz. +They filled the Red Wagon, which was still waiting for +them, pretty full; but the Sawhorse didn't mind that +and with wonderful speed carried them safely to the +Emerald City. + + + + +Chapter Twenty Two + +Ozma's Banquet + + +Ozma had seen in her Magic Picture the liberation of +Inga's parents and the departure of the entire party +for the Emerald City, so with her usual hospitality +she ordered a splendid banquet prepared and invited +all her quaint friends who were then in the Emerald +City to be present that evening to meet the strangers +who were to become her guests. + +Glinda, also, in her wonderful Record Book had +learned of the events that had taken place in the +caverns of the Nome King and she became especially +interested in the enchantment of the Prince of +Boboland. So she hastily prepared several of her most +powerful charms and then summoned her flock of sixteen +white storks, which swiftly bore her to Ozma's palace. +She arrived there before the Red Wagon did and was +warmly greeted by the girl Ruler. + +Realizing that the costume of Queen Garee of Pingaree +must have become sadly worn and frayed, owing to her +hardships and adventures, Ozma ordered a royal outfit +prepared for the good Queen and had it laid in her +chamber ready for her to put on as soon as she arrived, +so she would not be shamed at the banquet. New costumes +were also provided for King Kitticut and King Rinkitink +and Prince Inga, all cut and made and embellished in +the elaborate and becoming style then prevalent in the +Land of Oz, and as soon as the party arrived at the +palace Ozma's guests were escorted by her servants to +their rooms, that they might bathe and dress +themselves. + +Glinda the Sorceress and the Wizard of Oz took charge +of Bilbil the goat and went to a private room where +they were not likely to be interrupted. Glinda first +questioned Bilbil long and earnestly about the manner +of his enchantment and the ceremony that had been used +by the magician who enchanted him. At first Bilbil +protested that he did not want to be restored to his +natural shape, saying that he had been forever +disgraced in the eyes of his people and of the entire +world by being obliged to exist as a scrawny, scraggly +goat. But Glinda pointed out that any person who +incurred the enmity of a wicked magician was liable to +suffer a similar fate, and assured him that his +misfortune would make him better beloved by his +subjects when he returned to them freed from his dire +enchantment. + +Bilbil was finally convinced of the truth of this +assertion and agreed to submit to the experiments of +Glinda and the Wizard, who knew they had a hard task +before them and were not at all sure they could +succeed. We know that Glinda is the most complete +mistress of magic who has ever existed, and she was +wise enough to guess that the clever but evil magician +who had enchanted Prince Bobo had used a spell that +would puzzle any ordinary wizard or sorcerer to break; +therefore she had given the matter much shrewd thought +and hoped she had conceived a plan that would succeed. +But because she was not positive of success she would +have no one present at the incantation except her +assistant, the Wizard of Oz. + +First she transformed Bilbil the goat into a lamb, +and this was done quite easily. Next she transformed +the lamb into an ostrich, giving it two legs and feet +instead of four. Then she tried to transform the +ostrich into the original Prince Bobo, but this +incantation was an utter failure. Glinda was not +discouraged, however, but by a powerful spell +transformed the ostrich into a tottenhot -- which is a +lower form of a man. Then the tottenhot was transformed +into a mifket, which was a great step in advance and, +finally, Glinda transformed the mifket into a handsome +young man, tall and shapely, who fell on his knees +before the great Sorceress and gratefully kissed her +hand, admitting that he had now recovered his proper +shape and was indeed Prince Bobo of Boboland. + +This process of magic, successful though it was in +the end, had required so much time that the banquet was +now awaiting their presence. Bobo was already dressed +in princely raiment and although he seemed very much +humbled by his recent lowly condition, they finally +persuaded him to join the festivities. + +When Rinkitink saw that his goat had now become a +Prince, he did not know whether to be sorry or glad, +for he felt that he would miss the companionship of the +quarrelsome animal he had so long been accustomed to +ride upon, while at the same time he rejoiced that poor +Bilbil had come to his own again. + +Prince Bobo humbly begged Rinkitink's forgiveness for +having been so disagreeable to him, at times, saying +that the nature of a goat had influenced him and the +surly disposition he had shown was a part of his +enchantment. But the jolly King assured the Prince that +he had really enjoyed Bilbil's grumpy speeches and +forgave him readily. Indeed, they all discovered the +young Prince Bobo to be an exceedingly courteous and +pleasant person, although he was somewhat reserved and +dignified. + +Ah, but it was a great feast that Ozma served in her +gorgeous banquet hall that night and everyone was as +happy as could be. The Shaggy Man was there, and so was +Jack Pumpkinhead and the Tin Woodman and Cap'n Bill. +Beside Princess Dorothy sat Tiny Trot and Betsy Bobbin, +and the three little girls were almost as sweet to look +upon as was Ozma, who sat at the head of her table and +outshone all her guests in loveliness. + +King Rinkitink was delighted with the quaint people +of Oz and laughed and joked with the tin man and the +pumpkin-headed man and found Cap'n Bill a very +agreeable companion. But what amused the jolly King +most were the animal guests, which Ozma always invited +to her banquets and seated at a table by themselves, +where they talked and chatted together as people do but +were served the sort of food their natures required. +The Hungry Tiger and Cowardly Lion and the Glass Cat +were much admired by Rinkitink, but when he met a mule +named Hank, which Betsy Bobbin had brought to Oz, the +King found the creature so comical that he laughed and +chuckled until his friends thought he would choke. Then +while the banquet was still in progress, Rinkitink +composed and sang a song to the mule and they all +joined in the chorus, which was something like this: + + +"It's very queer how big an ear + Is worn by Mr. Donkey; +And yet I fear he could not hear + If it were on a monkey. + +'Tis thick and strong and broad and long + And also very hairy; +It's quite becoming to our Hank + But might disgrace a fairy!" + + +This song was received with so much enthusiasm that +Rinkitink was prevailed upon to sing another. They gave +him a little time to compose the rhyme, which he +declared would be better if he could devote a month or +two to its composition, hut the sentiment he expressed +was so admirable that no one criticized the song or the +manner in which the jolly little King sang it. + +Dorothy wrote down the words on a piece of paper, and +here they are: + + +"We're merry comrades all, to-night, +Because we've won a gallant fight + And conquered all our foes. +We're not afraid of anything, +So let us gayly laugh and sing + Until we seek repose. + +"We've all our grateful hearts can wish; +King Gos has gone to feed the fish, + Queen Cor has gone, as well; +King Kitticut has found his own, +Prince Bobo soon will have a throne + Relieved of magic spell. + +"So let's forget the horrid strife +That fell upon our peaceful life + And caused distress and pain; +For very soon across the sea +We'll all be sailing merrily +To Pingaree again." + + + + +Chapter Twenty Three + +The Pearl Kingdom + + +It was unfortunate that the famous Scarecrow - the most +popular person in all Oz, next to Ozma -- was absent at +the time of the banquet, for he happened just then to +be making one of his trips through the country; but the +Scarecrow had a chance later to meet Rinkitink and Inga +and the King and Queen of Pingaree and Prince Bobo, for +the party remained several weeks at the Emerald City, +where they were royally entertained, and where both the +gentle Queen Garee and the noble King Kitticut +recovered much of their good spirits and composure and +tried to forget their dreadful experiences. + +At last, however, the King and Queen desired to +return to their own Pingaree, as they longed to be with +their people again and see how well they had rebuilt +their homes. Inga also was anxious to return, although +he had been very happy in Oz, and King Rinkitink, who +was happy anywhere except at Gilgad, decided to go with +his former friends to Pingaree. As for prince Bobo, he +had become so greatly attached to King Rinkitink that +he was loth to leave him. + +On a certain day they all bade good-bye to Ozma and +Dorothy and Glinda and the Wizard and all their good +friends in Oz, and were driven in the Red Wagon to the +edge of the Deadly Desert, which they crossed safely on +the Magic Carpet. They then made their way across the +Nome Kingdom and the Wheeler Country, where no one +molested them, to the shores of the Nonestic Ocean. +There they found the boat with the silver lining still +lying undisturbed on the beach. + +There were no important adventures during the trip +and on their arrival at the pearl kingdom they were +amazed at the beautiful appearance of the island they +had left in ruins. All the houses of the people had +been rebuilt and were prettier than before, with green +lawns before them and flower gardens in the back yards. +The marble towers of King Kitticut's new palace were +very striking and impressive, while the palace itself +proved far more magnificent than it had been before the +warriors from Regos destroyed it. + +Nikobob had been very active and skillful in +directing all this work, and he had also built a pretty +cottage for himself, not far from the King's palace, +and there Inga found Zella, who was living very happy +and contented in her new home. Not only had Nikobob +accomplished all this in a comparatively brief space of +time, but he had started the pearl fisheries again and +when King Kitticut returned to Pingaree he found a +quantity of fine pearls already in the royal treasury. + +So pleased was Kitticut with the good judgment, +industry and honesty of the former charcoal-burner of +Regos, that he made Nikobob his Lord High Chamberlain +and put him in charge of the pearl fisheries and all +the business matters of the island kingdom. + +They all settled down very comfortably in the new +palace and the Queen gathered her maids about her once +more and set them to work embroidering new draperies +for the royal throne. Inga placed the three Magic +Pearls in their silken bag and again deposited them in +the secret cavity under the tiled flooring of the +banquet hall, where they could be quickly secured if +danger ever threatened the now prosperous island. + +King Rinkitink occupied a royal guest chamber built +especially for his use and seemed in no hurry to leave +his friends in Pingaree. The fat little King had to +walk wherever he went and so missed Bilbil more and +more; but he seldom walked far and he was so fond of +Prince BoBo that he never regretted Bilbil's +disenchantment. + +Indeed, the jolly monarch was welcome to remain +forever in Pingaree, if he wished to, for his merry +disposition set smiles on the faces of all his friends +and made everyone near him as jolly as he was himself. +When King Kitticut was not too busy with affairs of +state he loved to join his guest and listen to his +brother monarch's songs and stories. For he found +Rinkitink to be, with all his careless disposition, a +shrewd philosopher, and in talking over their +adventures one day the King of Gilgad said: + +"The beauty of life is its sudden changes. No one +knows what is going to happen next, and so we are +constantly being surprised and entertained. The many +ups and downs should not discourage us, for if we are +down, we know that a change is coming and we will go up +again; while those who are up are almost certain to go +down. My grandfather had a song which well expresses +this and if you will listen I will sing it." + +"Of course I will listen to your song," returned +Kitticut, "for it would be impolite not to." + +So Rinkitink sang his grandfather's song: + + +"A mighty King once ruled the land -- + But now he's baking pies. +A pauper, on the other hand, + Is ruling, strong and wise. + +A tiger once in jungles raged -- + But now he's in a zoo; +A lion, captive-born and caged, + Now roams the forest through. + +A man once slapped a poor boy's pate + And made him weep and wail. +The boy became a magistrate + And put the man in jail. + +A sunny day succeeds the night; + It's summer -- then it snows! +Right oft goes wrong and wrong comes right, + As ev'ry wise man knows." + + + + +Chapter Twenty-Four + +The Captive King + + +One morning, just as the royal party was finishing +breakfast, a servant came running to say that a great +fleet of boats was approaching the island from the +south. King Kitticut sprang up at once, in great alarm, +for he had much cause to fear strange boats. The others +quickly followed him to the shore to see what invasion +might be coming upon them. + +Inga was there with the first, and Nikobob and Zella +soon joined the watchers. And presently, while all were +gazing eagerly at the approaching fleet, King Rinkitink +suddenly cried out: + +"Get your pearls, Prince Inga -- get them quick!" + +"Are these our enemies, then?" asked the boy, looking +with surprise upon the fat little King, who had begun +to tremble violently. + +"They are my people of Gilgad!" answered Rinkitink, +wiping a tear from his eye. "I recognize my royal +standards flying from the boats. So, please, dear Inga, +get out your pearls to protect me!" + +"What can you fear at the hands of your own +subjects?" asked Kitticut, astonished. + +But before his frightened guest could answer the +question Prince Bobo, who was standing beside his +friend, gave an amused laugh and said: + +"You are caught at last, dear Rinkitink. Your people +will take you home again and oblige you to reign as +King." + +Rinkitink groaned aloud and clasped his hands +together with a gesture of despair, an attitude so +comical that the others could scarcely forbear +laughing. + +But now the boats were landing upon the beach. They +were fifty in number, beautifully decorated and +upholstered and rowed by men clad in the gay uniforms +of the King of Gilgad. One splended boat had a throne +of gold in the center, over which was draped the King's +royal robe of purple velvet, embroidered with gold +buttercups. + +Rinkitink shuddered when he saw this throne; but now +a tall man, handsomely dressed, approached and knelt +upon the grass before his King, while all the other +occupants of the boats shouted joyfully and waved their +plumed hats in the air. + +"Thanks to our good fortune," said the man who +kneeled, "we have found Your Majesty at last!" + +"Pinkerbloo," answered Rinkitink sternly, "I must +have you hanged, for thus finding me against my will." + +"You think so now, Your Majesty, but you will never +do it," returned Pinkerbloo, rising and kissing the +King's hand. + +"Why won't I?" asked Rinkitink. + +"Because you are much too tender-hearted, Your +Majesty." + +"It may be -- it may be," agreed Rinkitink, sadly. +"It is one of my greatest failings. But what chance +brought you here, my Lord Pinkerbloo?" + +"We have searched for you everywhere, sire, and all +the people of Gilgad have been in despair since you so +mysteriously disappeared. We could not appoint a new +King, because we did not know but that you still lived; +so we set out to find you, dead or alive. After +visiting many islands of the Nonestic Ocean we at last +thought of Pingaree, from where come the precious +pearls; and now our faithful quest has been rewarded." + +"And what now?" asked Rinkitink. + +"Now, Your Majesty, you must come home with us, like +a good and dutiful King, and rule over your people," +declared the man in a firm voice. + +"I will not." + +"But you must -- begging Your Majesty's pardon for +the contradiction." + +"Kitticut," cried poor Rinkitink, "you must save me +from being captured by these, my subjects. What! must I +return to Gilgad and be forced to reign in splendid +state when I much prefer to eat and sleep and sing in +my own quiet way? They will make me sit in a throne +three hours a day and listen to dry and tedious affairs +of state; and I must stand up for hours at the court +receptions, till I get corns on my heels; and forever +must I listen to tiresome speeches and endless +petitions and complaints!" + +"But someone must do this, Your Majesty," said +Pinkerbloo respectfully, "and since you were born to be +our King you cannot escape your duty." + +"'Tis a horrid fate!" moaned Rinkitink. "I would die +willingly, rather than be a King -- if it did not hurt +so terribly to die." + +"You will find it much more comfortable to reign than +to die, although I fully appreciate Your Majesty's +difficult position and am truly sorry for you," said +Pinkerbloo. + +King Kitticut had listened to this conversation +thoughtfully, so now he said to his friend: + +"The man is right, dear Rinkitink. It is your duty to +reign, since fate has made you a King, and I see no +honorable escape for you. I shall grieve to lose your +companionship, but I feel the separation cannot be +avoided." + +Rinkitink sighed. + +"Then," said he, turning to Lord Pinkerbloo, "in +three days I will depart with you for Gilgad; but +during those three days I propose to feast and make +merry with my good friend King Kitticut." + +Then all the people of Gilgad shouted with delight +and eagerly scrambled ashore to take their part in the +festival. + +Those three days were long remembered in Pingaree, +for never -- before nor since -- has such feasting and +jollity been known upon that island. Rinkitink made the +most of his time and everyone laughed and sang with him +by day and by night. + +Then, at last, the hour of parting arrived and the +King of Gilgad and Ruler of the Dominion of Rinkitink +was escorted by a grand procession to his boat and +seated upon his golden throne. The rowers of the fifty +boats paused, with their glittering oars pointed into +the air like gigantic uplifted sabres, while the people +of Pingaree -- men, women and children -- stood upon +the shore shouting a royal farewell to the jolly King. + +Then came a sudden hush, while Rinkitink stood up +and, with a bow to those assembled to witness his +departure, sang the following song, which he had just +composed for the occasion. + +"Farewell, dear Isle of Pingaree -- +The fairest land in all the sea! +No living mortals, kings or churls, +Would scorn to wear thy precious pearls. + +"King Kitticut, 'tis with regret +I'm forced to say farewell; and yet +Abroad no longer can I roam +When fifty boats would drag me home. + +"Good-bye, my Prince of Pingaree; +A noble King some time you'll be +And long and wisely may you reign +And never face a foe again!" + + +They cheered him from the shore; they cheered him +from the boats; and then all the oars of the fifty +boats swept downward with a single motion and dipped +their blades into the purple-hued waters of the +Nonestic Ocean. + +As the boats shot swiftly over the ripples of the sea +Rinkitink turned to Prince Bobo, who had decided not to +desert his former master and his present friend, and +asked anxiously: + +"How did you like that song, Bilbil -- I mean Bobo? +Is it a masterpiece, do you think?" + +And Bobo replied with a smile: + +"Like all your songs, dear Rinkitink, the sentiment +far excels the poetry." + + + + + +The Wonderful Oz Books +by L. Frank Baum + + 1 The Wizard of Oz + 2 The Land of Oz + 3 Ozma of Oz + 4 Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz + 5 The Road to Oz + 6 The Emerald City of Oz + 7 The Patchwork Girl of Oz + 8 Tik-Tok of Oz + 9 The Scarecrow of Oz +10 Rinkitink in Oz +11 The Lost Princess of Oz +12 The Tin Woodman of Oz +13 The Magic of Oz +14 Glinda of Oz + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Etext of Rinkitink In Oz by L. Frank Baum + diff --git a/old/10woz10.zip b/old/10woz10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b47dbb2 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10woz10.zip diff --git a/old/10woz10h.htm b/old/10woz10h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..17ffb3c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10woz10h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7255 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= + "text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Rinkitink In Oz, by L. Frank Baum. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + P { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + } + HR { width: 33%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + BODY{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .note {margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} /* footnote */ + .blkquot {margin-left: 4em; margin-right: 4em;} /* block indent */ + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding-left: 1em; font-size: smaller; float: right; clear: right;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + .poem .caesura {vertical-align: -200%;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> +<pre> + +*Project Gutenberg's Etext of Rinkitink In Oz by L. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + +</pre> + +<a href='#LIST_OF_CHAPTERS'><b>LIST OF CHAPTERS</b></a><br /> + <a href='#Chapter_One'><b>Chapter One</b></a><br /> + <a href='#Chapter_Two'><b>Chapter Two</b></a><br /> + <a href='#Chapter_Three'><b>Chapter Three</b></a><br /> + <a href='#Chapter_Four'><b>Chapter Four</b></a><br /> + <a href='#Chapter_Five'><b>Chapter Five</b></a><br /> + <a href='#Chapter_Six'><b>Chapter Six</b></a><br /> + <a href='#Chapter_Seven'><b>Chapter Seven</b></a><br /> + <a href='#Chapter_Eight'><b>Chapter Eight</b></a><br /> + <a href='#Chapter_Nine'><b>Chapter Nine</b></a><br /> + <a href='#Chapter_Ten'><b>Chapter Ten</b></a><br /> + <a href='#Chapter_Eleven'><b>Chapter Eleven</b></a><br /> + <a href='#Chapter_Twelve'><b>Chapter Twelve</b></a><br /> + <a href='#Chapter_Thirteen'><b>Chapter Thirteen</b></a><br /> + <a href='#Chapter_Fourteen'><b>Chapter Fourteen</b></a><br /> + <a href='#Chapter_Fifteen'><b>Chapter Fifteen</b></a><br /> + <a href='#Chapter_Sixteen'><b>Chapter Sixteen</b></a><br /> + <a href='#Chapter_Seventeen'><b>Chapter Seventeen</b></a><br /> + <a href='#Chapter_Eighteen'><b>Chapter Eighteen</b></a><br /> + <a href='#Chapter_Nineteen'><b>Chapter Nineteen</b></a><br /> + <a href='#Chapter_Twenty'><b>Chapter Twenty</b></a><br /> + <a href='#Chapter_Twenty_One'><b>Chapter Twenty-One</b></a><br /> + <a href='#Chapter_Twenty_Two'><b>Chapter Twenty Two</b></a><br /> + <a href='#Chapter_Twenty_Three'><b>Chapter Twenty Three</b></a><br /> + <a href='#Chapter_Twenty_Four'><b>Chapter Twenty-Four</b></a><br /> + + + + +<h1> RINKITINK IN OZ</h1> + +<h5> +Wherein is recorded the Perilous Quest of<br /> +Prince Inga of Pingaree and King<br /> +Rinkitink in the Magical<br /> +Isles that lie beyond<br /> +the Borderland<br /> +of Oz<br /> + +By L. Frank Baum<br /> +"Royal Historian of Oz"<br /> +</h5> +<br /> + +<h3>Introducing this Story</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Here is a story with a boy hero, and a boy of whom +you have never before heard. There are girls in the +story, too, including our old friend Dorothy, and some +of the characters wander a good way from the Land of Oz +before they all assemble in the Emerald City to take +part in Ozma's banquet. Indeed, I think you will find +this story quite different from the other histories +of Oz, but I hope you will not like it the less on that +account.</p> + +<p>If I am permitted to write another Oz book it will +tell of some thrilling adventures encountered by +Dorothy, Betsy Bobbin, Trot and the Patchwork Girl +right in the Land of Oz, and how they discovered some +amazing creatures that never could have existed outside +a fairy-land. I have an idea that about the time you +are reading this story of Rinkitink I shall be writing +that story of Adventures in Oz.</p> + +<p>Don't fail to write me often and give me your advice +and suggestions, which I always appreciate. I get a +good many letters from my readers, but every one is a +joy to me and I answer them as soon as I can find time +to do so.</p> + +<p>"OZCOT" +at HOLLYWOOD +in CALIFORNIA, 1916.</p> + +<p>L. FRANK BAUM +Royal Historian of Oz</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<p> +<b>LIST OF CHAPTERS</b><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5em;'>1 The Prince of Pingaree</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5em;'>2 The Coming of King Rinkitink</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5em;'>3 The Warriors from the North</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5em;'>4 The Deserted Island</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5em;'>5 The Three Pearls</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5em;'>6 The Magic Boat</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5em;'>7 The Twin Islands</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5em;'>8 Rinkitink Makes a Great Mistake</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5em;'>9 A Present for Zella</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5em;'>10 The Cunning of Queen Cor</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5em;'>11 Zella Goes to Coregos</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5em;'>12 The Excitement of Bilbil the Goat</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5em;'>13 Zella Saves the Prince</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5em;'>14 The Escape</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5em;'>15 The Flight of the Rulers</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5em;'>16 Nikobob Refuses a Crown</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5em;'>17 The Nome King</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5em;'>18 Inga Parts With His Pink Pearl</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5em;'>19 Rinkitink Chuckles</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5em;'>20 Dorothy to the Rescue</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5em;'>21 The Wizard Finds an Enchantment</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5em;'>22 Ozma's Banquet</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5em;'>23 The Pearl Kingdom</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5em;'>24 The Captive King</span><br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='Chapter_One'></a><h2>Chapter One</h2> + +<h3>The Prince of Pingaree</h3> +<br /> + +<p>If you have a map of the Land of Oz handy, you will +find that the great Nonestic Ocean washes the shores of +the Kingdom of Rinkitink, between which and the Land of +Oz lies a strip of the country of the Nome King and a +Sandy Desert. The Kingdom of Rinkitink isn't very big +and lies close to the ocean, all the houses and the +King's palace being built near the shore. The people +live much upon the water, boating and fishing, and the +wealth of Rinkitink is gained from trading along the +coast and with the islands nearest it.</p> + +<p>Four days' journey by boat to the north of Rinkitink +is the Island of Pingaree, and as our story begins here +I must tell you something about this island. At the +north end of Pingaree, where it is widest, the land is +a mile from shore to shore, but at the south end it is +scarcely half a mile broad; thus, although Pingaree is +four miles long, from north to south, it cannot be +called a very big island. It is exceedingly pretty, +however, and to the gulls who approach it from the sea +it must resemble a huge green wedge lying upon the +waters, for its grass and trees give it the color of +an emerald.</p> + +<p>The grass came to the edge of the sloping shores; the +beautiful trees occupied all the central portion of +Pingaree, forming a continuous grove where the branches +met high overhead and there was just space beneath +them for the cosy houses of the inhabitants. These +houses were scattered everywhere throughout the +island, so that there was no town or city, unless the +whole island might be called a city. The canopy of +leaves, high overhead, formed a shelter from sun and +rain, and the dwellers in the grove could all look past +the straight tree-trunks and across the grassy slopes +to the purple waters of the Nonestic Ocean.</p> + +<p>At the big end of the island, at the north, stood the +royal palace of King Kitticut, the lord and ruler of +Pingaree. It was a beautiful palace, built entirely of +snow-white marble and capped by domes of burnished +gold, for the King was exceedingly wealthy. All along +the coast of Pingaree were found the largest and finest +pearls in the whole world.</p> + +<p>These pearls grew within the shells of big oysters, +and the people raked the oysters from their watery +beds, sought out the milky pearls and carried them +dutifully to their King. Therefore, once every year His +Majesty was able to send six of his boats, with sixty +rowers and many sacks of the valuable pearls, to the +Kingdom of Rinkitink, where there was a city called +Gilgad, in which King Rinkitink's palace stood on a +rocky headland and served, with its high towers, as a +lighthouse to guide sailors to the harbor. In Gilgad +the pearls from Pingaree were purchased by the King's +treasurer, and the boats went back to the island laden +with stores of rich merchandise and such supplies of +food as the people and the royal family of Pingaree +needed.</p> + +<p>The Pingaree people never visited any other land but +that of Rinkitink, and so there were few other lands +that knew there was such an island. To the southwest +was an island called the Isle of Phreex, where the +inhabitants had no use for pearls. And far north of +Pingaree — six days' journey by boat, it was said — +were twin islands named Regos and Coregos, inhabited by +a fierce and warlike people.</p> + +<p>Many years before this story really begins, ten big +boatloads of those fierce warriors of Regos and Coregos +visited Pingaree, landing suddenly upon the north end +of the island. There they began to plunder and conquer, +as was their custom, but the people of Pingaree, +although neither so big nor so strong as their foes, +were able to defeat them and drive them all back to the +sea, where a great storm overtook the raiders from +Regos and Coregos and destroyed them and their boats, +not a single warrior returning to his own country.</p> + +<p>This defeat of the enemy seemed the more wonderful +because the pearl-fishers of Pingaree were mild and +peaceful in disposition and seldom quarreled even among +themselves. Their only weapons were their oyster rakes; +yet the fact remains that they drove their fierce +enemies from Regos and Coregos from their shores.</p> + +<p>King Kitticut was only a boy when this remarkable +battle was fought, and now his hair was gray; but he +remembered the day well and, during the years that +followed, his one constant fear was of another invasion +of his enemies. He feared they might send a more +numerous army to his island, both for conquest and +revenge, in which case there could be little hope of +successfully opposing them.</p> + +<p>This anxiety on the part of King Kitticut led him to +keep a sharp lookout for strange boats, one of his men +patrolling the beach constantly, but he was too wise to +allow any fear to make him or his subjects unhappy. He +was a good King and lived very contentedly in his fine +palace, with his fair Queen Garee and their one child, +Prince Inga.</p> + +<p>The wealth of Pingaree increased year by year; and +the happiness of the people increased, too. Perhaps +there was no place, outside the Land of Oz, where +contentment and peace were more manifest than on this +pretty island, hidden in the besom of the Nonestic +Ocean. Had these conditions remained undisturbed, there +would have been no need to speak of Pingaree in this +story.</p> + +<p>Prince Inga, the heir to all the riches and the +kingship of Pingaree, grew up surrounded by every +luxury; but he was a manly little fellow, although +somewhat too grave and thoughtful, and he could never +bear to be idle a single minute. He knew where the +finest oysters lay hidden along the coast and was as +successful in finding pearls as any of the men of the +island, although he was so slight and small. He had a +little boat of his own and a rake for dragging up the +oysters and he was very proud indeed when he could +carry a big white pearl to his father.</p> + +<p>There was no school upon the island, as the people of +Pingaree were far removed from the state of +civilization that gives our modern children such +advantages as schools and learned professors, but the +King owned several manuscript books, the pages being +made of sheepskin. Being a man of intelligence, he was +able to teach his son something of reading, writing and +arithmetic.</p> + +<p>When studying his lessons Prince Inga used to go into +the grove near his father's palace and climb into the +branches of a tall tree, where he had built a platform +with a comfortable seat to rest upon, all hidden by the +canopy of leaves. There, with no one to disturb him, he +would pore over the sheepskin on which were written the +queer characters of the Pingarese language.</p> + +<p>King Kitticut was very proud of his little son, as +well he might be, and he soon felt a high respect for +Inga's judgment and thought that he was worthy to be +taken into the confidence of his father in many matters +of state. He taught the boy the needs of the people and +how to rule them justly, for some day he knew that Inga +would be King in his place. One day he called his son +to his side and said to him:</p> + +<p>"Our island now seems peaceful enough, Inga, and we +are happy and prosperous, but I cannot forget those +terrible people of Regos and Coregos. My constant fear +is that they will send a fleet of boats to search for +those of their race whom we defeated many years ago, +and whom the sea afterwards destroyed. If the warriors +come in great numbers we may be unable to oppose them, +for my people are little trained to fighting at best; +they surely would cause us much injury and suffering."</p> + +<p>"Are we, then, less powerful than in my grandfather's +day?" asked Prince Inga.</p> + +<p>The King shook his head thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"It is not that," said he. "That you may fully +understand that marvelous battle, I must confide to, +you a great secret. I have in my possession three Magic +Talismans, which I have ever guarded with utmost care, +keeping the knowledge of their existence from anyone +else. But, lest I should die, and the secret be lost, I +have decided to tell you what these talismans are and +where they are hidden. Come with me, my son."</p> + +<p>He led the way through the rooms of the palace until +they came to the great banquet hall. There, stopping in +the center of the room, he stooped down and touched a +hidden spring in the tiled floor. At once one of the +tiles sank downward and the King reached within the +cavity and drew out a silken bag.</p> + +<p>This bag he proceeded to open, showing Inga that it +contained three great pearls, each one as big around as +a marble. One had a blue tint and one was of a delicate +rose color, but the third was pure white.</p> + +<p>"These three pearls," said the King, speaking in a +solemn, impressive voice, "are the most wonderful the +world has ever known. They were gifts to one of my +ancestors from the Mermaid Queen, a powerful fairy whom +he once had the good fortune to rescue from her +enemies. In gratitude for this favor she presented him +with these pearls. Each of the three possesses an +astonishing power, and whoever is their owner may count +himself a fortunate man. This one having the blue tint +will give to the person who carries it a strength so +great that no power can resist him. The one with the +pink glow will protect its owner from all dangers that +may threaten him, no matter from what source they may +come. The third pearl — this one of pure white — can +speak, and its words are always wise and helpful."</p> + +<p>"What is this, my father!" exclaimed the Prince, +amazed; "do you tell me that a pearl can speak? It +sounds impossible."</p> + +<p>"Your doubt is due to your ignorance of fairy +powers," returned the King, gravely. "Listen, my son, +and you will know that I speak the truth."</p> + +<p>He held the white pearl to Inga's ear and the Prince +heard a small voice say distinctly: "Your father is +right. Never question the truth of what you fail to +understand, for the world is filled with wonders."</p> + +<p>"I crave your pardon, dear father," said the Prince, +"for clearly I heard the pearl speak, and its words +were full of wisdom."</p> + +<p>"The powers of the other pearls are even greater," +resumed the King. "Were I poor in all else, these gems +would make me richer than any other monarch the world +holds."</p> + +<p>"I believe that," replied Inga, looking at the +beautiful pearls with much awe. "But tell me, my +father, why do you fear the warriors of Regos and +Coregos when these marvelous powers are yours?"</p> + +<p>"The powers are mine only while I have the pearls +upon my person," answered King Kitticut, "and I dare +not carry them constantly for fear they might be lost. +Therefore, I keep them safely hidden in this recess. My +only danger lies in the chance that my watchmen might +fail to discover the approach of our enemies and allow +the warrior invaders to seize me before I could secure +the pearls. I should, in that case, be quite powerless +to resist. My father owned the magic pearls at the time +of the Great Fight, of which you have so often heard, +and the pink pearl protected him from harm, while the +blue pearl enabled him and his people to drive away the +enemy. Often have I suspected that the destroying storm +was caused by the fairy mermaids, but that is a matter +of which I have no proof."</p> + +<p>"I have often wondered how we managed to win that +battle," remarked Inga thoughtfully. "But the pearls +will assist us in case the warriors come again, will +they not?"</p> + +<p>"They are as powerful as ever," declared the King. +"Really, my son, I have little to fear from any foe. +But lest I die and the secret be lost to the next King, +I have now given it into your keeping. Remember that +these pearls are the rightful heritage of all Kings of +Pingaree. If at any time I should be taken from you, +Inga, guard this treasure well and do not forget where +it is hidden."</p> + +<p>"I shall not forget," said Inga.</p> + +<p>Then the King returned the pearls to their hiding +place and the boy went to his own room to ponder upon +the wonderful secret his father had that day confided +to his care.</p> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='Chapter_Two'></a><h2>Chapter Two</h2> + +<h3>The Coming of King Rinkitink</h3> +<br /> + +<p>A few days after this, on a bright and sunny morning +when the breeze blew soft and sweet from the ocean and +the trees waved their leaf-laden branches, the Royal +Watchman, whose duty it was to patrol the shore, came +running to the King with news that a strange boat was +approaching the island.</p> + +<p>At first the King was sore afraid and made a step +toward the hidden pearls, but the next moment he +reflected that one boat, even if filled with enemies, +would be powerless to injure him, so he curbed his fear +and went down to the beach to discover who the +strangers might be. Many of the men of Pingaree +assembled there also, and Prince Inga followed his +father. Arriving at the water's edge, they all stood +gazing eagerly at the oncoming boat.</p> + +<p>It was quite a big boat, they observed, and covered +with a canopy of purple silk, embroidered with gold. It +was rowed by twenty men, ten on each side. As it came +nearer, Inga could see that in the stern, seated upon a +high, cushioned chair of state, was a little man who +was so very fat that he was nearly as broad as he was +high This man was dressed in a loose silken robe of +purple that fell in folds to his feet, while upon his +head was a cap of white velvet curiously worked with +golden threads and having a circle of diamonds sewn +around the band. At the opposite end of the boat stood +an oddly shaped cage, and several large boxes of +sandalwood were piled near the center of the craft.</p> + +<p>As the boat approached the shore the fat little man +got upon his feet and bowed several times in the +direction of those who had assembled to greet him, and +as he bowed he flourished his white cap in an energetic +manner. His face was round as an apple and nearly as +rosy. When he stopped bowing he smiled in such a sweet +and happy way that Inga thought he must be a very jolly +fellow.</p> + +<p>The prow of the boat grounded on the beach, stopping +its speed so suddenly that the little man was caught +unawares and nearly toppled headlong into the sea. But +he managed to catch hold of the chair with one hand and +the hair of one of his rowers with the other, and so +steadied himself. Then, again waving his jeweled cap +around his head, he cried in a merry voice:</p> + +<p>"Well, here I am at last!"</p> + +<p>"So I perceive," responded King Kitticut, bowing with +much dignity.</p> + +<p>The fat man glanced at all the sober faces before him +and burst into a rollicking laugh. Perhaps I should say +it was half laughter and half a chuckle of merriment, +for the sounds he emitted were quaint and droll and +tempted every hearer to laugh with him.</p> + +<p>"Heh, heh — ho, ho, ho!" he roared. "Didn't expect +me, I see. Keek-eek-eek-eek! This is funny — it's +really funny. Didn't know I was coming, did you? Hoo, +hoo, hoo, hoo! This is certainly amusing. But I'm here, +just the same."</p> + +<p>"Hush up!" said a deep, growling voice. "You're +making yourself ridiculous."</p> + +<p>Everyone looked to see where this voice came from; +but none could guess who had uttered the words of +rebuke. The rowers of the boat were all solemn and +silent and certainly no one on the shore had spoken. +But the little man did not seem astonished in the +least, or even annoyed.</p> + +<p>King Kitticut now addressed the stranger, saying +courteously:</p> + +<p>"You are welcome to the Kingdom of Pingaree. Perhaps +you will deign to come ashore and at your convenience +inform us whom we have the honor of receiving as a +guest."</p> + +<p>"Thanks; I will," returned the little fat man, +waddling from his place in the boat and stepping, with +some difficulty, upon the sandy beach. "I am King +Rinkitink, of the City of Gilgad in the Kingdom of +Rinkitink, and I have come to Pingaree to see for +myself the monarch who sends to my city so many +beautiful pearls. I have long wished to visit this +island; and so, as I said before, here I am!"</p> + +<p>"I am pleased to welcome you," said King Kitticut. +"But why has Your Majesty so few attendants? Is it not +dangerous for the King of a great country to make +distant journeys in one frail boat, and with but twenty +men?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I suppose so," answered King Rinkitink, with a +laugh. "But what else could I do? My subjects would not +allow me to go anywhere at all, if they knew it. So I +just ran away."</p> + +<p>"Ran away!" exclaimed King Kitticut in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Funny, isn't it? Heh, heh, heh — woo, hoo!" laughed +Rinkitink, and this is as near as I can spell with +letters the jolly sounds of his laughter. "Fancy a King +running away from his own ple — hoo, hoo — keek, eek, +eek, eek! But I had to, don't you see!"</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked the other King.</p> + +<p>"They're afraid I'll get into mischief. They don't +trust me. Keek-eek-eek — Oh, dear me! Don't trust +their own King. Funny, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"No harm can come to you on this island," said +Kitticut, pretending not to notice the odd ways of his +guest. "And, whenever it pleases you to return to your +own country, I will send with you a fitting escort of +my own people. In the meantime, pray accompany me to my +palace, where everything shall be done to make you +comfortable and happy."</p> + +<p>"Much obliged," answered Rinkitink, tipping his white +cap over his left ear and heartily shaking the hand of +his brother monarch. "I'm sure you can make me +comfortable if you've plenty to eat. And as for being +happy — ha, ha, ha, ha! — why, that's my trouble. I'm +too happy. But stop! I've brought you some presents in +those boxes. Please order your men to carry them up to +the palace."</p> + +<p>"Certainly," answered King Kitticut, well pleased, +and at once he gave his men the proper orders.</p> + +<p>"And, by the way," continued the fat little King, +"let them also take my goat from his cage."</p> + +<p>"A goat!" exclaimed the King of Pingaree.</p> + +<p>"Exactly; my goat Bilbil. I always ride him wherever +I go, for I'm not at all fond of walking, being a +trifle stout — eh, Kitticut? — a trifle stout! Hoo, +hoo, hoo-keek, eek!"</p> + +<p>The Pingaree people started to lift the big cage out +of the boat, but just then a gruff voice cried: "Be +careful, you villains!" and as the words seemed to come +from the goat's mouth the men were so astonished that +they dropped the cage upon the sand with a sudden jar.</p> + +<p>"There! I told you so!" cried the voice angrily. +"You've rubbed the skin off my left knee. Why on earth +didn't you handle me gently?"</p> + +<p>"There, there, Bilbil," said King Rinkitink +soothingly; "don't scold, my boy. Remember that these +are strangers, and we their guests." Then he turned to +Kitticut and remarked: "You have no talking goats on +your island, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"We have no goats at all," replied the King; "nor +have we any animals, of any sort, who are able to +talk."</p> + +<p>"I wish my animal couldn't talk, either," said +Rinkitink, winking comically at Inga and then looking +toward the cage. "He is very cross at times, and +indulges in language that is not respectful. I thought, +at first, it would be fine to have a talking goat, with +whom I could converse as I rode about my city on his +back; but — keek-eek-eek-eek! — the rascal treats me +as if I were a chimney sweep instead of a King. Heh, +heh, heh, keek, eek! A chimney sweep-hoo, hoo, hoo! — +and me a King! Funny, isn't it?" This last was +addressed to Prince Inga, whom he chucked familiarly +under the chin, to the boy's great embarrassment.</p> + +<p>"Why do you not ride a horse?" asked King Kitticut.</p> + +<p>"I can't climb upon his back, being rather stout; +that's why. Kee, kee, keek, eek! — rather stout — +hoo, hoo, hoo!" He paused to wipe the tears of +merriment from his eyes and then added: "But I can get +on and off Bilbil's back with ease."</p> + +<p>He now opened the cage and the goat deliberately +walked out and looked about him in a sulky manner. One +of the rowers brought from the boat a saddle made of +red velvet and beautifully embroidered with silver +thistles, which he fastened upon the goat's back. The +fat King put his leg over the saddle and seated himself +comfortably, saying:</p> + +<p>"Lead on, my noble host, and we will follow."</p> + +<p>"What! Up that steep hill?" cried the goat. "Get off +my back at once, Rinkitink, or I won't budge a step."</p> + +<p>"But—consider, Bilbil," remonstrated the King. "How +am I to get up that hill unless I ride?"</p> + +<p>"Walk!" growled Bilbil.</p> + +<p>"But I'm too fat. Really, Bilbil, I'm surprised at +you. Haven't I brought you all this distance so you may +see something of the world and enjoy life? And now you +are so ungrateful as to refuse to carry me! Turn about +is fair play, my boy. The boat carried you to this +shore, because you can't swim, and now you must carry +me up the hill, because I can't climb. Eh, Bilbil, +isn't that reasonable?"</p> + +<p>"Well, well, well," said the goat, surlily, "keep +quiet and I'll carry you. But you make me very tired, +Rinkitink, with your ceaseless chatter."</p> + +<p>After making this protest Bilbil began walking +up the hill, carrying the fat King upon his back +with no difficulty whatever.</p> + +<p>Prince Inga and his father and all the men of +Pingaree were much astonished to overhear this dispute +between King Rinkitink and his goat; but they were too +polite to make critical remarks in the presence of +their guests. King Kitticut walked beside the goat and +the Prince followed after, the men coming last with the +boxes of sandalwood.</p> + +<p>When they neared the palace, the Queen and her +maidens came out to meet them and the royal guest was +escorted in state to the splendid throne room of the +palace. Here the boxes were opened and King Rinkitink +displayed all the beautiful silks and laces and jewelry +with which they were filled. Every one of the courtiers +and ladies received a handsome present, and the King +and Queen had many rich gifts and Inga not a few. Thus +the time passed pleasantly until the Chamberlain +announced that dinner was served.</p> + +<p>Bilbil the goat declared that he preferred eating of +the sweet, rich grass that grew abundantly in the +palace grounds, and Rinkitink said that the beast could +never bear being shut up in a stable; so they removed +the saddle from his back and allowed him to wander +wherever he pleased.</p> + +<p>During the dinner Inga divided his attention between +admiring the pretty gifts he had received and listening +to the jolly sayings of the fat King, who laughed when +he was not eating and ate when he was not laughing and +seemed to enjoy himself immensely.</p> + +<p>"For four days I have lived in that narrow boat," +said he, "with no other amusement than to watch the +rowers and quarrel with Bilbil; so I am very glad to be +on land again with such friendly and agreeable people."</p> + +<p>"You do us great honor," said King Kitticut, with a +polite bow.</p> + +<p>"Not at all — not at all, my brother. This Pingaree +must be a wonderful island, for its pearls are the +admiration of all the world; nor will I deny the fact +that my kingdom would be a poor one without the riches +and glory it derives from the trade in your pearls. So +I have wished for many years to come here to see you, +but my people said: 'No! Stay at home and behave +yourself, or we'll know the reason why.'"</p> + +<p>"Will they not miss Your Majesty from your +palace at Gilgad?" inquired Kitticut.</p> + +<p>"I think not," answered Rinkitink. "You see, one of +my clever subjects has written a parchment entitled +'How to be Good,' and I believed it would benefit me to +study it, as I consider the accomplishment of being +good one of the fine arts. I had just scolded severely +my Lord High Chancellor for coming to breakfast without +combing his eyebrows, and was so sad and regretful at +having hurt the poor man's feelings that I decided to +shut myself up in my own room and study the scroll +until I knew how to be good — hee, heek, keek, eek, +eek! —to be good! Clever idea, that, wasn't it? Mighty +clever! And I issued a decree that no one should enter +my room, under pain of my royal displeasure, until I +was ready to come out. They're awfully afraid of my +royal displeasure, although not a bit afraid of me. +Then I put the parchment in my pocket and escaped +through the back door to my boat — and here I am. Oo, +hoo-hoo, keek-eek! Imagine the fuss there would be in +Gilgad if my subjects knew where I am this very +minute!"</p> + +<p>"I would like to see that parchment," said the +solemn-eyed Prince Inga, "for if it indeed teaches one +to be good it must be worth its weight in pearls."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's a fine essay," said Rinkitink, "and +beautifully written with a goosequill. Listen to this: +You'll enjoy it — tee, hee, hee! — enjoy it."</p> + +<p>He took from his pocket a scroll of parchment tied +with a black ribbon, and having carefully unrolled it, +he proceeded to read as follows:</p> + +<p>"'A Good Man is One who is Never Bad.' How's that, +eh? Fine thought, what? 'Therefore, in order to be +Good, you must avoid those Things which are Evil.' Oh, +hoo-hoo-hoo! — how clever! When I get back I shall +make the man who wrote that a royal hippolorum, for, +beyond question, he is the wisest man in my kingdom -as +he has often told me himself." With this, Rinkitink lay +back in his chair and chuckled his queer chuckle until +he coughed, and coughed until he choked and choked +until he sneezed. And he wrinkled his face in such a +jolly, droll way that few could keep from laughing with +him, and even the good Queen was forced to titter +behind her fan.</p> + +<p>When Rinkitink had recovered from his fit of laughter +and had wiped his eyes upon a fine lace handkerchief, +Prince Inga said to him:</p> + +<p>"The parchment speaks truly."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is true beyond doubt," answered Rinkitink, +"and if I could persuade Bilbil to read it he would be +a much better goat than he is now. Here is another +selection: 'To avoid saying Unpleasant Things, always +Speak Agreeably.' That would hit Bilbil, to a dot. And +here is one that applies to you, my Prince: 'Good +Children are seldom punished, for the reason that they +deserve no punishment.' Now, I think that is neatly +put, and shows the author to be a deep thinker. But the +advice that has impressed me the most is in the +following paragraph: 'You may not find it as Pleasant +to be Good as it is to be Bad, but Other People will +find it more Pleasant.' Haw-hoo-ho! keek-eek! 'Other +people will find it more pleasant!' — hee, hee, heek, +keek! — 'more pleasant.' Dear me — dear me! Therein +lies a noble incentive to be good, and whenever I get +time I'm surely going to try it."</p> + +<p>Then he wiped his eyes again with the lace +handkerchief and, suddenly remembering his dinner, +seized his knife and fork and began eating.</p> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='Chapter_Three'></a><h2>Chapter Three</h2> + +<h3>The Warriors from the North</h3> +<br /> + +<p>King Rinkitink was so much pleased with the Island of +Pingaree that he continued his stay day after day and +week after week, eating good dinners, talking with King +Kitticut and sleeping. Once in a while he would read +from his scroll. "For," said he, "whenever I return +home, my subjects will be anxious to know if I have +learned 'How to be Good,' and I must not disappoint +them."</p> + +<p>The twenty rowers lived on the small end of the +island, with the pearl fishers, and seemed not to care +whether they ever returned to the Kingdom of Rinkitink +or not. Bilbil the goat wandered over the grassy +slopes, or among the trees, and passed his days exactly +as he pleased. His master seldom cared to ride him. +Bilbil was a rare curiosity to the islanders, but since +there was little pleasure in talking with the goat they +kept away from him. This pleased the creature, who +seemed well satisfied to be left to his own devices.</p> + +<p>Once Prince Inga, wishing to be courteous, walked up +to the goat and said: "Good morning, Bilbil."</p> + +<p>"It isn't a good morning," answered Bilbil grumpily. +"It is cloudy and damp, and looks like rain."</p> + +<p>"I hope you are contented in our kingdom," continued +the boy, politely ignoring the other's harsh words.</p> + +<p>"I'm not," said Bilbil. "I'm never contented; so it +doesn't matter to me whether I'm in your kingdom or in +some other kingdom. Go away — will you?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," answered the Prince, and after this +rebuff he did not again try to make friends with +Bilbil.</p> + +<p>Now that the King, his father, was so much occupied +with his royal guest, Inga was often left to amuse +himself, for a boy could not be allowed to take part in +the conversation of two great monarchs. He devoted +himself to his studies, therefore, and day after day he +climbed into the branches of his favorite tree and sat +for hours in his "tree-top rest," reading his father's +precious manuscripts and thinking upon what he read.</p> + +<p>You must not think that Inga was a molly-coddle or a +prig, because he was so solemn and studious. Being a +King's son and heir to a throne, he could not play with +the other boys of Pingaree, and he lived so much in the +society of the King and Queen, and was so surrounded by +the pomp and dignity of a court, that he missed all the +jolly times that boys usually have. I have no doubt +that had he been able to live as other boys do, he +would have been much like other boys; as it was, he was +subdued by his surroundings, and more grave and +thoughtful than one of his years should be.</p> + +<p>Inga was in his tree one morning when, without +warning, a great fog enveloped the Island of Pingaree. +The boy could scarcely see the tree next to that in +which he sat, but the leaves above him prevented the +dampness from wetting him, so he curled himself up in +his seat and fell fast asleep.</p> + +<p>All that forenoon the fog continued. King Kitticut, +who sat in his palace talking with his merry visitor, +ordered the candles lighted, that they might be able to +see one another. The good Queen, Inga's mother, found +it was too dark to work at her embroidery, so she +called her maidens together and told them wonderful +stories of bygone days, in order to pass away the +dreary hours.</p> + +<p>But soon after noon the weather changed. The dense +fog rolled away like a heavy cloud and suddenly the sun +shot his bright rays over the island.</p> + +<p>"Very good!" exclaimed King Kitticut. "We shall have +a pleasant afternoon, I am sure," and he blew out the +candles.</p> + +<p>Then he stood a moment motionless, as if turned to +stone, for a terrible cry from without the palace +reached his ears — a cry so full of fear and horror +that the King's heart almost stopped beating. +Immediately there was a scurrying of feet as every one +in the palace, filled with dismay, rushed outside to +see what had happened. Even fat little Rinkitink sprang +from his chair and followed his host and the others +through the arched vestibule.</p> + +<p>After many years the worst fears of King Kitticut +were realized.</p> + +<p>Landing upon the beach, which was but a few steps +from the palace itself, were hundreds of boats, every +one filled with a throng of fierce warriors. They +sprang upon the land with wild shouts of defiance and +rushed to the King's palace, waving aloft their swords +and spears and battleaxes.</p> + +<p>King Kitticut, so completely surprised that he was +bewildered, gazed at the approaching host with terror +and grief.</p> + +<p>"They are the men of Regos and Coregos!" he groaned. +"We are, indeed, lost!"</p> + +<p>Then he bethought himself, for the first time, of his +wonderful pearls. Turning quickly, he ran back into the +palace and hastened to the hall where the treasures +were hidden. But the leader of the warriors had seen +the King enter the palace and bounded after him, +thinking he meant to escape. Just as the King had +stooped to press the secret spring in the tiles, the +warrior seized him from the rear and threw him backward +upon the floor, at the same time shouting to his men to +fetch ropes and bind the prisoner. This they did very +quickly and King Kitticut soon found himself helplessly +bound and in the power of his enemies. In this sad +condition he was lifted by the warriors and carried +outside, when the good King looked upon a sorry sight.</p> + +<p>The Queen and her maidens, the officers and servants +of the royal household and all who had inhabited this +end of the Island of Pingaree had been seized by the +invaders and bound with ropes. At once they began +carrying their victims to the boats, tossing them in as +unceremoniously as if they had been bales of +merchandise.</p> + +<p>The King looked around for his son Inga, but failed +to find the boy among the prisoners. Nor was the fat +King, Rinkitink, to be seen anywhere about.</p> + +<p>The warriors were swarming over the palace like bees +in a hive, seeking anyone who might be in hiding, and +after the search had been prolonged for some time the +leader asked impatiently: "Do you find anyone else?"</p> + +<p>"No," his men told him. "We have captured them all."</p> + +<p>"Then," commanded the leader, "remove everything of +value from the palace and tear down its walls and +towers, so that not one stone remains upon another!"</p> + +<p>While the warriors were busy with this task we will +return to the boy Prince, who, when the fog lifted and +the sun came out, wakened from his sleep and began to +climb down from his perch in the tree. But the +terrifying cries of the people, mingled with the shouts +of the rude warriors, caused him to pause and listen +eagerly.</p> + +<p>Then he climbed rapidly up the tree, far above his +platform, to the topmost swaying branches. This tree, +which Inga called his own, was somewhat taller than the +other trees that surrounded it, and when he had reached +the top he pressed aside the leaves and saw a great +fleet of boats upon the shore — strange boats, with +banners that he had never seen before. Turning to look +upon his father's palace, he found it surrounded by a +horde of enemies. Then Inga knew the truth: that the +island had been invaded by the barbaric warriors from +the north. He grew so faint from the terror of it all +that he might have fallen had he not wound his arms +around a limb and clung fast until the dizzy feeling +passed away. Then with his sash he bound himself to the +limb and again ventured to look out through the leaves.</p> + +<p>The warriors were now engaged in carrying King +Kitticut and Queen Garee and all their other captives +down to the boats, where they were thrown in and +chained one to another. It was a dreadful sight for the +Prince to witness, but he sat very still, concealed +from the sight of anyone below by the bower of leafy +branches around him. Inga knew very well that he could +do nothing to help his beloved parents, and that if he +came down he would only be forced to share their cruel +fate.</p> + +<p>Now a procession of the Northmen passed between the +boats and the palace, bearing the rich furniture, +splendid draperies and rare ornaments of which the +royal palace had been robbed, together with such food +and other plunder as they could lay their hands upon. +After this, the men of Regos and Coregos threw ropes +around the marble domes and towers and hundreds of +warriors tugged at these ropes until the domes and +towers toppled and fell in ruins upon the ground. Then +the walls themselves were torn down, till little +remained of the beautiful palace but a vast heap of +white marble blocks tumbled and scattered upon the +ground.</p> + +<p>Prince Inga wept bitter tears of grief as he watched +the ruin of his home; yet he was powerless to avert the +destruction. When the palace had been demolished, some +of the warriors entered their boats and rowed along the +coast of the island, while the others marched in a +great body down the length of the island itself. They +were so numerous that they formed a line stretching +from shore to shore and they destroyed every house they +came to and took every inhabitant prisoner.</p> + +<p>The pearl fishers who lived at the lower end of the +island tried to escape in their boats, but they were +soon overtaken and made prisoners, like the others. Nor +was there any attempt to resist the foe, for the sharp +spears and pikes and swords of the invaders terrified +the hearts of the defenseless people of Pingaree, whose +sole weapons were their oyster rakes.</p> + +<p>When night fell the whole of the Island of Pingaree +had been conquered by the men of the North, and all its +people were slaves of the conquerors. Next morning the +men of Regos and Coregos, being capable of no further +mischief, departed from the scene of their triumph, +carrying their prisoners with them and taking also +every boat to be found upon the island. Many of the +boats they had filled with rich plunder, with pearls +and silks and velvets, with silver and gold ornaments +and all the treasure that had made Pingaree famed as +one of the richest kingdoms in the world. And the +hundreds of slaves they had captured would be set to +work in the mines of Regos and the grain fields of +Coregos.</p> + +<p>So complete was the victory of the Northmen that it +is no wonder the warriors sang songs of triumph as they +hastened back to their homes. Great rewards were +awaiting them when they showed the haughty King of +Regos and the terrible Queen of Coregos the results of +their ocean raid and conquest.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='Chapter_Four'></a><h2>Chapter Four</h2> + +<h3>The Deserted Island</h3> +<br /> + +<p>All through that terrible night Prince Inga remained +hidden in his tree. In the morning he watched the great +fleet of boats depart for their own country, carrying +his parents and his countrymen with them, as well as +everything of value the Island of Pingaree had +contained.</p> + +<p>Sad, indeed, were the boy's thoughts when the last of +the boats had become a mere speck in the distance, but +Inga did not dare leave his perch of safety until all +of the craft of the invaders had disappeared beyond the +horizon. Then he came down, very slowly and carefully, +for he was weak from hunger and the long and weary +watch, as he had been in the tree for twenty-four hours +without food.</p> + +<p>The sun shone upon the beautiful green isle as +brilliantly as if no ruthless invader had passed and +laid it in ruins. The birds still chirped among the +trees and the butterflies darted from flower to flower +as happily as when the land was filled with a +prosperous and contented people.</p> + +<p>Inga feared that only he was left of all his nation. +Perhaps he might be obliged to pass his life there +alone. He would not starve, for the sea would give him +oysters and fish, and the trees fruit; yet the life +that confronted him was far from enticing.</p> + +<p>The boy's first act was to walk over to where the +palace had stood and search the ruins until he found +some scraps of food that had been overlooked by the +enemy. He sat upon a block of marble and ate of this, +and tears filled his eyes as he gazed upon the +desolation around him. But Inga tried to bear up +bravely, and having satisfied his hunger he walked over +to the well, intending to draw a bucket of drinking +water.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, this well had been overlooked by the +invaders and the bucket was still fastened to the chain +that wound around a stout wooden windlass. Inga took +hold of the crank and began letting the bucket down +into the well, when suddenly he was startled by a +muffled voice crying out:</p> + +<p>"Be careful, up there!"</p> + +<p>The sound and the words seemed to indicate that the +voice came from the bottom of the well, so Inga looked +down. Nothing could be seen, on account of the +darkness.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" he shouted.</p> + +<p>"It's I — Rinkitink," came the answer, and the +depths of the well echoed: "Tink-i-tink-i-tink!" in a +ghostly manner.</p> + +<p>"Are you in the well?" asked the boy, greatly +surprised.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and nearly drowned. I fell in while running +from those terrible warriors, and I've been standing in +this damp hole ever since, with my head just above the +water. It's lucky the well was no deeper, for had my +head been under water, instead of above it — hoo, hoo, +hoo, keek, eek! — under instead of over, you know — +why, then I wouldn't be talking to you now! Ha, hoo, +hee!" And the well dismally echoed: "Ha, hoo, hee!" +which you must imagine was a laugh half merry and half +sad.</p> + +<p>"I'm awfully sorry," cried the boy, in answer. "I +wonder you have the heart to laugh at all. But how am I +to get you out?"</p> + +<p>"I've been considering that all night," said +Rinkitink, "and I believe the best plan will be for you +to let down the bucket to me, and I'll hold fast to it +while you wind up the chain and so draw me to the top."</p> + +<p>"I will try to do that," replied Inga, and he let the +bucket down very carefully until he heard the King call +out:</p> + +<p>"I've got it! Now pull me up — slowly, my boy, +slowly — so I won't rub against the rough sides."</p> + +<p>Inga began winding up the chain, but King Rinkitink +was so fat that he was very heavy and by the time the +boy had managed to pull him halfway up the well his +strength was gone. He clung to the crank as long as +possible, but suddenly it slipped from his grasp and +the next minute he heard Rinkitink fall "plump!" into +the water again.</p> + +<p>"That's too bad!" called Inga, in real distress; "but +you were so heavy I couldn't help it."</p> + +<p>"Dear me!" gasped the King, from the darkness below, +as he spluttered and coughed to get the water out of +his mouth. "Why didn't you tell me you were going to +let go?"</p> + +<p>"I hadn't time," said Inga, sorrowfully.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm not suffering from thirst," declared the +King, "for there's enough water inside me to float all +the boats of Regos and Coregos or at least it feels +that way. But never mind! So long as I'm not actually +drowned, what does it matter?"</p> + +<p>"What shall we do next?" asked the boy anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Call someone to help you," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"There is no one on the island but myself," said the +boy; "— excepting you," he added, as an afterthought.</p> + +<p>"I'm not on it — more's the pity! — but in it," +responded Rinkitink. "Are the warriors all gone?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Inga, "and they have taken my father and +mother, and all our people, to be their slaves," he +added, trying in vain to repress a sob.</p> + +<p>"So — so!" said Rinkitink softly; and then he paused +a moment, as if in thought. Finally he said: "There are +worse things than slavery, but I never imagined a well +could be one of them. Tell me, Inga, could you let down +some food to me? I'm nearly starved, and if you could +manage to send me down some food I'd be well fed — +hoo, hoo, heek, keek, eek! — well fed. Do you see the +joke, Inga?"</p> + +<p>"Do not ask me to enjoy a joke just now, Your +Majesty," begged Inga in a sad voice; "but if you will +be patient I will try to find something for you to +eat."</p> + +<p>He ran back to the ruins of the palace and began +searching for bits of food with which to satisfy the +hunger of the King, when to his surprise he observed +the goat, Bilbil, wandering among the marble blocks.</p> + +<p>"What!" cried Inga. "Didn't the warriors get you, +either?"</p> + +<p>"If they had," calmly replied Bilbil, "I shouldn't be +here."</p> + +<p>"But how did you escape?" asked the boy.</p> + +<p>"Easily enough. I kept my mouth shut and stayed away +from the rascals," said the goat. "I knew that the +soldiers would not care for a skinny old beast like me, +for to the eye of a stranger I seem good for nothing. +Had they known I could talk, and that my head contained +more wisdom than a hundred of their own noddles, I +might not have escaped so easily."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you are right," said the boy.</p> + +<p>"I suppose they got the old man?" carelessly remarked +Bilbil.</p> + +<p>"What old man?"</p> + +<p>"Rinkitink."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no! His Majesty is at the bottom of the well," +said Inga, "and I don't know how to get him out again."</p> + +<p>"Then let him stay there," suggested the goat.</p> + +<p>"That would be cruel. I am sure, Bilbil, that you are +fond of the good King, your master, and do not mean +what you say. Together, let us find some way to save +poor King Rinkitink. He is a very jolly companion, and +has a heart exceedingly kind and gentle."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well; the old boy isn't so bad, taken +altogether," admitted Bilbil, speaking in a more +friendly tone. "But his bad jokes and fat laughter tire +me dreadfully, at times."</p> + +<p>Prince Inga now ran back to the well, the goat +following more leisurely.</p> + +<p>"Here's Bilbil!" shouted the boy to the King. "The +enemy didn't get him, it seems."</p> + +<p>"That's lucky for the enemy," said Rinkitink. "But +it's lucky for me, too, for perhaps the beast can +assist me out of this hole. If you can let a rope down +the well, I am sure that you and Bilbil, pulling +together, will be able to drag me to the earth's +surface."</p> + +<p>"Be patient and we will make the attempt," replied +Inga encouragingly, and he ran to search the ruins for +a rope. Presently he found one that had been used by +the warriors in toppling over the towers, which in +their haste they had neglected to remove, and with some +difficulty he untied the knots and carried the rope to +the mouth of the well.</p> + +<p>Bilbil had lain down to sleep and the refrain of a +merry song came in muffled tones from the well, proving +that Rinkitink was making a patient endeavor to amuse +himself.</p> + +<p>"I've found a rope!" Inga called down to him; and +then the boy proceeded to make a loop in one end of the +rope, for the King to put his arms through, and the +other end he placed over the drum of the windlass. He +now aroused Bilbil and fastened the rope firmly around +the goat's shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Are you ready?" asked the boy, leaning over the +well.</p> + +<p>"I am," replied the King.</p> + +<p>"And I am not," growled the goat, "for I have not yet +had my nap out. Old Rinki will be safe enough in the +well until I've slept an hour or two longer."</p> + +<p>"But it is damp in the well," protested the boy, "and +King Rinkitink may catch the rheumatism, so that he +will have to ride upon your back wherever he goes."</p> + +<p>Hearing this, Bilbil jumped up at once.</p> + +<p>"Let's get him out," he said earnestly.</p> + +<p>"Hold fast!" shouted Inga to the King. Then he seized +the rope and helped Bilbil to pull. They soon found the +task more difficult than they had supposed. Once or +twice the King's weight threatened to drag both the boy +and the goat into the well, to keep Rinkitink company. +But they pulled sturdily, being aware of this danger, +and at last the King popped out of the hole and fell +sprawling full length upon the ground.</p> + +<p>For a time he lay panting and breathing hard to get +his breath back, while Inga and Bilbil were likewise +worn out from their long strain at the rope; so the +three rested quietly upon the grass and looked at one +another in silence.</p> + +<p>Finally Bilbil said to the King: "I'm surprised at +you. Why were you so foolish as to fall down that well? +Don't you know it's a dangerous thing to do? You might +have broken your neck in the fall, or been drowned in +the water."</p> + +<p>"Bilbil," replied the King solemnly, "you're a goat. +Do you imagine I fell down the well on purpose?"</p> + +<p>"I imagine nothing," retorted Bilbil. "I only know +you were there."</p> + +<p>"There? Heh-heh-heek-keek-eek! To be sure I was +there," laughed Rinkitink. "There in a dark hole, where +there was no light; there in a watery well, where the +wetness soaked me through and through — keek-eek-eek- +eek! — through and through!"</p> + +<p>"How did it happen?" inquired Inga.</p> + +<p>"I was running away from the enemy," explained the +King, "and I was carelessly looking over my shoulder at +the same time, to see if they were chasing me. So I did +not see the well, but stepped into it and found myself +tumbling down to the bottom. I struck the water very +neatly and began struggling to keep myself from +drowning, but presently I found that when I stood upon +my feet on the bottom of the well, that my chin was +just above the water. So I stood still and yelled for +help; but no one heard me."</p> + +<p>"If the warriors had heard you," said Bilbil, "they +would have pulled you out and carried you away to be a +slave. Then you would have been obliged to work for a +living, and that would be a new experience."</p> + +<p>"Work!" exclaimed Rinkitink. "Me work? Hoo, hoo, +heek-keek-eek! How absurd! I'm so stout — not to say +chubby — not to say fat — that I can hardly walk, and +I couldn't earn my salt at hard work. So I'm glad the +enemy did not find me, Bilbil. How many others +escaped?"</p> + +<p>"That I do not know," replied the boy, "for I +have not yet had time to visit the other parts of +the island. When you have rested and satisfied +your royal hunger, it might be well for us to +look around and see what the thieving warriors +of Regos and Coregos have left us."</p> + +<p>"An excellent idea," declared Rinkitink. "I am +somewhat feeble from my long confinement in the well, +but I can ride upon Bilbil's back and we may as well +start at once."</p> + +<p>Hearing this, Bilbil cast a surly glance at his +master but said nothing, since it was really the goat's +business to carry King Rinkitink wherever he desired to +go.</p> + +<p>They first searched the ruins of the palace, and +where the kitchen had once been they found a small +quantity of food that had been half hidden by a block +of marble. This they carefully placed in a sack to +preserve it for future use, the little fat King having +first eaten as much as he cared for. This consumed some +time, for Rinkitink had been exceedingly hungry and +liked to eat in a leisurely manner. When he had +finished the meal he straddled Bilbil's back and set +out to explore the island, Prince Inga walking by his +side.</p> + +<p>They found on every hand ruin and desolation. The +houses of the people had been pilfered of all valuables +and then torn down or burned. Not a boat had been left +upon the shore, nor was there a single person, man or +woman or child, remaining upon the island, save +themselves. The only inhabitants of Pingaree now +consisted of a fat little King, a boy and a goat.</p> + +<p>Even Rinkitink, merry hearted as he was, found it +hard to laugh in the face of this mighty disaster. Even +the goat, contrary to its usual habit, refrained from +saying anything disagreeable. As for the poor boy whose +home was now a wilderness, the tears came often to his +eyes as he marked the ruin of his dearly loved island.</p> + +<p>When, at nightfall, they reached the lower end of +Pingaree and found it swept as bare as the rest, Inga's +grief was almost more than he could bear. Everything +had been swept from him — parents, home and country — +in so brief a time that his bewilderment was equal to +his sorrow.</p> + +<p>Since no house remained standing, in which they might +sleep, the three wanderers crept beneath the +overhanging branches of a cassa tree and curled +themselves up as comfortably as possible. So tired and +exhausted were they by the day's anxieties and griefs +that their troubles soon faded into the mists of +dreamland. Beast and King and boy slumbered peacefully +together until wakened by the singing of the birds +which greeted the dawn of a new day.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='Chapter_Five'></a><h2>Chapter Five</h2> + +<h3>The Three Pearls</h3> +<br /> + +<p>When King Rinkitink and Prince Inga had bathed +themselves in the sea and eaten a simple breakfast, +they began wondering what they could do to improve +their condition.</p> + +<p>"The poor people of Gilgad," said Rinkitink +cheerfully, "are little likely ever again to behold +their King in the flesh, for my boat and my rowers are +gone with everything else. Let us face the fact that we +are imprisoned for life upon this island, and that our +lives will be short unless we can secure more to eat +than is in this small sack."</p> + +<p>"I'll not starve, for I can eat grass," remarked the +goat in a pleasant tone — or a tone as pleasant as +Bilbil could assume.</p> + +<p>"True, quite true," said the King. Then he seemed +thoughtful for a moment and turning to Inga he asked: +"Do you think, Prince, that if the worst comes, we +could eat Bilbil?"</p> + +<p>The goat gave a groan and cast a reproachful look at +his master as he said:</p> + +<p>"Monster! Would you, indeed, eat your old friend and +servant?"</p> + +<p>"Not if I can help it, Bilbil," answered the King +pleasantly. "You would make a remarkably tough morsel, +and my teeth are not as good as they once were."</p> + +<p>While this talk was in progress Inga suddenly +remembered the three pearls which his father had hidden +under the tiled floor of the banquet hall. Without +doubt King Kitticut had been so suddenly surprised by +the invaders that he had found no opportunity to get +the pearls, for otherwise the fierce warriors would +have been defeated and driven out of Pingaree. So they +must still be in their hiding place, and Inga believed +they would prove of great assistance to him and his +comrades in this hour of need. But the palace was a +mass of ruins; perhaps he would be unable now to find +the place where the pearls were hidden.</p> + +<p>He said nothing of this to Rinkitink, remembering +that his father had charged him to preserve the secret +of the pearls and of their magic powers. Nevertheless, +the thought of securing the wonderful treasures of his +ancestors gave the boy new hope.</p> + +<p>He stood up and said to the King:</p> + +<p>"Let us return to the other end of Pingaree. It is +more pleasant than here in spite of the desolation of +my father's palace. And there, if anywhere, we shall +discover a way out of our difficulties."</p> + +<p>This suggestion met with Rinkitink's approval and the +little party at once started upon the return journey. +As there was no occasion to delay upon the way, they +reached the big end of the island about the middle of +the day and at once began searching the ruins of the +palace.</p> + +<p>They found, to their satisfaction, that one room at +the bottom of a tower was still habitable, although the +roof was broken in and the place was somewhat littered +with stones. The King was, as he said, too fat to do +any hard work, so he sat down on a block of marble and +watched Inga clear the room of its rubbish. This done, +the boy hunted through the ruins until he discovered a +stool and an armchair that had not been broken beyond +use. Some bedding and a mattress were also found, so +that by nightfall the little room had been made quite +comfortable</p> + +<p>The following morning, while Rinkitink was still +sound asleep and Bilbil was busily cropping the dewy +grass that edged the shore, Prince Inga began to search +the tumbled heaps of marble for the place where the +royal banquet hall had been. After climbing over the +ruins for a time he reached a flat place which he +recognized, by means of the tiled flooring and the +broken furniture scattered about, to be the great hall +he was seeking. But in the center of the floor, +directly over the spot where the pearls were hidden, +lay several large and heavy blocks of marble, which had +been torn from the dismantled walls.</p> + +<p>This unfortunate discovery for a time discouraged the +boy, who realized how helpless he was to remove such +vast obstacles; but it was so important to secure the +pearls that he dared not give way to despair until +every human effort had been made, so he sat him down to +think over the matter with great care.</p> + +<p>Meantime Rinkitink had risen from his bed and walked +out upon the lawn, where he found Bilbil reclining at +ease upon the greensward.</p> + +<p>"Where is Inga?" asked Rinkitink, rubbing his eyes +with his knuckles because their vision was blurred with +too much sleep.</p> + +<p>"Don't ask me," said the goat, chewing with much +satisfaction a cud of sweet grasses.</p> + +<p>"Bilbil," said the King, squatting down beside the +goat and resting his fat chin upon his hands and his +elbows on his knees, "allow me to confide to you the +fact that I am bored, and need amusement. My good +friend Kitticut has been kidnapped by the barbarians +and taken from me, so there is no one to converse with +me intelligently. I am the King and you are the goat. +Suppose you tell me a story.</p> + +<p>"Suppose I don't," said Bilbil, with a scowl, for a +goat's face is very expressive.</p> + +<p>"If you refuse, I shall be more unhappy than ever, +and I know your disposition is too sweet to permit +that. Tell me a story, Bilbil."</p> + +<p>The goat looked at him with an expression of scorn. +Said he:</p> + +<p>"One would think you are but four years old, +Rinkitink! But there — I will do as you command. +Listen carefully, and the story may do you some good — +although I doubt if you understand the moral."</p> + +<p>"I am sure the story will do me good," declared the +King, whose eyes were twinkling.</p> + +<p>"Once on a time," began the goat.</p> + +<p>"When was that, Bilbil?" asked the King gently.</p> + +<p>"Don't interrupt; it is impolite. Once on a time +there was a King with a hollow inside his head, where +most people have their brains, and —"</p> + +<p>"Is this a true story, Bilbil?"</p> + +<p>"And the King with a hollow head could chatter words, +which had no sense, and laugh in a brainless manner at +senseless things. That part of the story is true +enough, Rinkitink."</p> + +<p>"Then proceed with the tale, sweet Bilbil. Yet it is +hard to believe that any King could be brainless — +unless, indeed, he proved it by owning a talking goat."</p> + +<p>Bilbil glared at him a full minute in silence. +Then he resumed his story:</p> + +<p>"This empty-headed man was a King by accident, having +been born to that high station. Also the King was +empty-headed by the same chance, being born without +brains."</p> + +<p>"Poor fellow!" quoth the King. "Did he own a talking +goat?"</p> + +<p>"He did," answered Bilbil.</p> + +<p>"Then he was wrong to have been born at all. Cheek- +eek-eek-eek, oo, hoo!" chuckled Rinkitink, his fat body +shaking with merriment. "But it's hard to prevent +oneself from being born; there's no chance for protest, +eh, Bilbil?"</p> + +<p>"Who is telling this story, I'd like to know," +demanded the goat, with anger.</p> + +<p>"Ask someone with brains, my boy; I'm sure I can't +tell," replied the King, bursting into one of his merry +fits of laughter.</p> + +<p>Bilbil rose to his hoofs and walked away in a +dignified manner, leaving Rinkitink chuckling anew at +the sour expression of the animal's face.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Bilbil, you'll be the death of me, some day — +I'm sure you will!" gasped the King, taking out his +lace handkerchief to wipe his eyes; for, as he often +did, he had laughed till the tears came.</p> + +<p>Bilbil was deeply vexed and would not even turn his +head to look at his master. To escape from Rinkitink he +wandered among the ruins of the palace, where he came +upon Prince Inga.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Bilbil," said the boy. "I was just +going to find you, that I might consult you upon an +important matter. If you will kindly turn back with me +I am sure your good judgment will be of great +assistance."</p> + +<p>The angry goat was quite mollified by the respectful +tone in which he was addressed, but he immediately +asked:</p> + +<p>"Are you also going to consult that empty-headed King +over yonder?"</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to hear you speak of your kind master in +such a way," said the boy gravely. "All men are +deserving of respect, being the highest of living +creatures, and Kings deserve respect more than others, +for they are set to rule over many people."</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless," said Bilbil with conviction, +"Rinkitink's head is certainly empty of brains."</p> + +<p>"That I am unwilling to believe," insisted Inga. "But +anyway his heart is kind and gentle and that is better +than being wise. He is merry in spite of misfortunes +that would cause others to weep and he never speaks +harsh words that wound the feelings of his friends."</p> + +<p>"Still," growled Bilbil, "he is —"</p> + +<p>"Let us forget everything but his good nature, which +puts new heart into us when we are sad," advised the +boy.</p> + +<p>"But he is —"</p> + +<p>"Come with me, please," interrupted Inga, "for the +matter of which I wish to speak is very important."</p> + +<p>Bilbil followed him, although the boy still heard the +goat muttering that the King had no brains. Rinkitink, +seeing them turn into the ruins, also followed, and +upon joining them asked for his breakfast.</p> + +<p>Inga opened the sack of food and while he and the +King ate of it the boy said:</p> + +<p>"If I could find a way to remove some of the blocks +of marble which have fallen in the banquet hall, I +think I could find means for us to escape from this +barren island."</p> + +<p>"Then," mumbled Rinkitink, with his mouth full, "let +us move the blocks of marble."</p> + +<p>"But how?" inquired Prince Inga. "They are very +heavy."</p> + +<p>"Ah, how, indeed?" returned the King, smacking his +lips contentedly. "That is a serious question. But — I +have it! Let us see what my famous parchment says about +it." He wiped his fingers upon a napkin and then, +taking the scroll from a pocket inside his embroidered +blouse, he unrolled it and read the following words: +'Never step on another man's toes.'</p> + +<p>The goat gave a snort of contempt; Inga was silent; +the King looked from one to the other inquiringly.</p> + +<p>"That's the idea, exactly!" declared Rinkitink.</p> + +<p>"To be sure," said Bilbil scornfully, "it tells us +exactly how to move the blocks of marble."</p> + +<p>"Oh, does it?" responded the King, and then for a +moment he rubbed the top of his bald head in a +perplexed manner. The next moment he burst into a peal +of joyous laughter. The goat looked at Inga and sighed.</p> + +<p>"What did I tell you?" asked the creature. "Was I +right, or was I wrong?"</p> + +<p>"This scroll," said Rinkitink, "is indeed a +masterpiece. Its advice is of tremendous value. 'Never +step on another man's toes.' Let us think this over. +The inference is that we should step upon our own toes, +which were given us for that purpose. Therefore, if I +stepped upon another man's toes, I would be the other +man. Hoo, hoo, hoo! — the other man — hee, hee, heek- +keek-eek! Funny, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Didn't I say —" began Bilbil.</p> + +<p>"No matter what you said, my boy," roared the King. +"No fool could have figured that out as nicely as I +did."</p> + +<p>"We have still to decide how to remove the blocks of +marble," suggested Inga anxiously.</p> + +<span style='margin-left: 0.5em;'>"Fasten a rope to them, and pull," said Bilbil.</span><br /> +"Don't pay any more attention to Rinkitink, for he is +no wiser than the man who wrote that brainless scroll. +Just get the rope, and we'll fasten Rinkitink to one +end of it for a weight and I'll help you pull."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Bilbil," replied the boy. "I'll get the +rope at once."</p> + +<p>Bilbil found it difficult to climb over the ruins to +the floor of the banquet hall, but there are few places +a goat cannot get to when it makes the attempt, so +Bilbil succeeded at last, and even fat little Rinkitink +finally joined them, though much out of breath.</p> + +<p>Inga fastened one end of the rope around a block of +marble and then made a loop at the other end to go over +Bilbil's head. When all was ready the boy seized the +rope and helped the goat to pull; yet, strain as they +might, the huge block would not stir from its place. +Seeing this, King Rinkitink came forward and lent his +assistance, the weight of his body forcing the heavy +marble to slide several feet from where it had lain.</p> + +<p>But it was hard work and all were obliged to take a +long rest before undertaking the removal of the next +block.</p> + +<p>"Admit, Bilbil," said the King, "that I am of some +use in the world."</p> + +<p>"Your weight was of considerable help," acknowledged +the goat, "but if your head were as well filled as +your stomach the task would be still easier."</p> + +<p>When Inga went to fasten the rope a second time he +was rejoiced to discover that by moving one more block +of marble he could uncover the tile with the secret +spring. So the three pulled with renewed energy and to +their joy the block moved and rolled upon its side, +leaving Inga free to remove the treasure when he +pleased.</p> + +<p>But the boy had no intention of allowing Bilbil and +the King to share the secret of the royal treasures of +Pingaree; so, although both the goat and its master +demanded to know why the marble blocks had been moved, +and how it would benefit them, Inga begged them to wait +until the next morning, when he hoped to be able to +satisfy them that their hard work had not been in vain.</p> + +<p>Having little confidence in this promise of a mere +boy, the goat grumbled and the King laughed; but Inga +paid no heed to their ridicule and set himself to work +rigging up a fishing rod, with line and hook. During +the afternoon he waded out to some rocks near the shore +and fished patiently until he had captured enough +yellow perch for their supper and breakfast.</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Rinkitink, looking at the fine catch when +Inga returned to the shore; "these will taste delicious +when they are cooked; but do you know how to cook +them?"</p> + +<p>"No," was the reply. "I have often caught fish, but +never cooked them. Perhaps Your Majesty understands +cooking."</p> + +<p>"Cooking and majesty are two different things," +laughed the little King. "I could not cook a fish to +save me from starvation."</p> + +<p>"For my part," said Bilbil, "I never eat fish, but I +can tell you how to cook them, for I have often watched +the palace cooks at their work." And so, with the +goat's assistance, the boy and the King managed to +prepare the fish and cook them, after which they were +eaten with good appetite.</p> + +<p>That night, after Rinkitink and Bilbil were both fast +asleep, Inga stole quietly through the moonlight to the +desolate banquet hall. There, kneeling down, he touched +the secret spring as his father had instructed him to +do and to his joy the tile sank downward and disclosed +the opening. You may imagine how the boy's heart +throbbed with excitement as he slowly thrust his hand +into the cavity and felt around to see if the precious +pearls were still there. In a moment his fingers +touched the silken bag and, without pausing to close +the recess, he pressed the treasure against his breast +and ran out into the moonlight to examine it. When he +reached a bright place he started to open the bag, but +he observed Bilbil lying asleep upon the grass near by. +So, trembling with the fear of discovery, he ran to +another place, and when he paused he heard Rinkitink +snoring lustily. Again he fled and made his way to the +seashore, where he squatted under a bank and began to +untie the cords that fastened the mouth of the bag. But +now another fear assailed him.</p> + +<p>"If the pearls should slip from my hand," he thought, +"and roll into the water, they might be lost to me +forever. I must find some safer place."</p> + +<p>Here and there he wandered, still clasping the silken +bag in both hands, and finally he went to the grove and +climbed into the tall tree where he had made his +platform and seat. But here it was pitch dark, so he +found he must wait patiently until morning before he +dared touch the pearls. During those hours of waiting +he had time for reflection and reproached himself for +being so frightened by the possession of his father's +treasures.</p> + +<p>"These pearls have belonged to our family for +generations," he mused, "yet no one has ever lost them. +If I use ordinary care I am sure I need have no fears +for their safety."</p> + +<p>When the dawn came and he could see plainly, Inga +opened the bag and took out the Blue Pearl. There was +no possibility of his being observed by others, so he +took time to examine it wonderingly, saying to himself: +"This will give me strength."</p> + +<p>Taking off his right shoe he placed the Blue Pearl +within it, far up in the pointed toe. Then he tore a +piece from his handkerchief and stuffed it into the +shoe to hold the pearl in place. Inga's shoes were long +and pointed, as were all the shoes worn in Pingaree, +and the points curled upward, so that there was quite a +vacant space beyond the place where the boy's toes +reached when the shoe was upon his foot.</p> + +<p>After he had put on the Shoe and laced it up he +opened the bag and took out the Pink Pearl. "This will +protect me from danger," said Inga, and removing the +shoe from his left foot he carefully placed the pearl +in the hollow toe. This, also, he secured in place by +means of a strip torn from his handkerchief.</p> + +<p>Having put on the second shoe and laced it up, the +boy drew from the silken bag the third pearl — that +which was pure white — and holding it to his ear he +asked.</p> + +<p>"Will you advise me what to do, in this my hour of +misfortune?"</p> + +<p>Clearly the small voice of the pearl made answer:</p> + +<p>"I advise you to go to the Islands of Regos and +Coregos, where you may liberate your parents from +slavery."</p> + +<p>"How could I do that?" exclaimed Prince Inga, amazed +at receiving such advice.</p> + +<p>"To-night," spoke the voice of the pearl, "there will +be a storm, and in the morning a boat will strand upon +the shore. Take this boat and row to Regos and +Coregos."</p> + +<p>"How can I, a weak boy, pull the boat so far?" he +inquired, doubting the possibility.</p> + +<p>"The Blue Pearl will give you strength," was the +reply.</p> + +<p>"But I may be shipwrecked and drowned, before ever I +reach Regos and Coregos," protested the boy.</p> + +<p>"The Pink Pearl will protect you from harm," murmured +the voice, soft and low but very distinct.</p> + +<p>"Then I shall act as you advise me," declared Inga, +speaking firmly because this promise gave him courage, +and as he removed the pearl from his ear it whispered:</p> + +<p>"The wise and fearless are sure to win success."</p> + +<p>Restoring the White Pearl to the depths of the silken +bag, Inga fastened it securely around his neck and +buttoned his waist above it to hide the treasure from +all prying eyes. Then he slowly climbed down from the +tree and returned to the room where King Rinkitink +still slept.</p> + +<p>The goat was browsing upon the grass but looked cross +and surly. When the boy said good morning as he passed, +Bilbil made no response whatever. As Inga entered the +room the King awoke and asked:</p> + +<p>"What is that mysterious secret of yours? I've been +dreaming about it, and I haven't got my breath yet from +tugging at those heavy blocks. Tell me the secret."</p> + +<p>"A secret told is no longer a secret," replied Inga, +with a laugh. "Besides, this is a family secret, which +it is proper I should keep to myself. But I may tell +you one thing, at least: We are going to leave this +island to-morrow morning."</p> + +<p>The King seemed puzzled' by this statement.</p> + +<p>"I'm not much of a swimmer," said he, "and, though +I'm fat enough to float upon the surface of the water, +I'd only bob around and get nowhere at all."</p> + +<p>"We shall not swim, but ride comfortably in a boat," +promised Inga.</p> + +<p>"There isn't a boat on this island!" declared +Rinkitink, looking upon the boy with wonder.</p> + +<p>"True," said Inga. "But one will come to us in the +morning." He spoke positively, for he had perfect faith +in the promise of the White Pearl; but Rinkitink, +knowing nothing of the three marvelous jewels, began to +fear that the little Prince had lost his mind through +grief and misfortune.</p> + +<p>For this reason the King did not question the boy +further but tried to cheer him by telling him witty +stories. He laughed at all the stories himself, in his +merry, rollicking way, and Inga joined freely in the +laughter because his heart had been lightened by the +prospect of rescuing his dear parents. Not since the +fierce warriors had descended upon Pingaree had the boy +been so hopeful and happy.</p> + +<p>With Rinkitink riding upon Bilbil's back, the three +made a tour of the island and found in the central part +some bushes and trees bearing ripe fruit. They gathered +this freely, for — aside from the fish which Inga +caught — it was the only food they now had, and the +less they had, the bigger Rinkitink's appetite seemed +to grow.</p> + +<p>"I am never more happy," said he with a sigh, "than +when I am eating."</p> + +<p>Toward evening the sky became overcast and soon a +great storm began to rage. Prince Inga and King +Rinkitink took refuge within the shelter of the room +they had fitted up and there Bilbil joined them. The +goat and the King were somewhat disturbed by the +violence of the storm, but Inga did not mind it, being +pleased at this evidence that the White Pearl might be +relied upon.</p> + +<p>All night the wind shrieked around the island; +thunder rolled, lightning flashed and rain came down in +torrents. But with morning the storm abated and when +the sun arose no sign of the tempest remained save a +few fallen trees.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='Chapter_Six'></a><h2>Chapter Six</h2> + +<h3>The Magic Boat</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Prince Inga was up with the sun and, accompanied by +Bilbil, began walking along the shore in search of the +boat which the White Pearl had promised him. Never for +an instant did he doubt that he would find it and +before he had walked any great distance a dark object +at the water's edge caught his eye.</p> + +<p>"It is the boat, Bilbil!" he cried joyfully, and +running down to it he found it was, indeed, a large and +roomy boat. Although stranded upon the beach, it was in +perfect order and had suffered in no way from the +storm.</p> + +<p>Inga stood for some moments gazing upon the handsome +craft and wondering where it could have come from. +Certainly it was unlike any boat he had ever seen. On +the outside it was painted a lustrous black, without +any other color to relieve it; but all the inside of +the boat was lined with pure silver, polished so highly +that the surface resembled a mirror and glinted +brilliantly in the rays of the sun. The seats had white +velvet cushions upon them and the cushions were +splendidly embroidered with threads of gold. At one +end, beneath the broad seat, was a small barrel with +silver hoops, which the boy found was filled with +fresh, sweet water. A great chest of sandalwood, bound +and ornamented with silver, stood in the other end of +the boat. Inga raised the lid and discovered the chest +filled with sea-biscuits, cakes, tinned meats and ripe, +juicy melons; enough good and wholesome food to last +the party a long time.</p> + +<p>Lying upon the bottom of the boat were two shining +oars, and overhead, but rolled back now, was a canopy +of silver cloth to ward off the heat of the sun.</p> + +<p>It is no wonder the boy was delighted with the +appearance of this beautiful boat; but on reflection he +feared it was too large for him to row any great +distance. Unless, indeed, the Blue Pearl gave him +unusual strength.</p> + +<p>While he was considering this matter, King Rinkitink +came waddling up to him and said:</p> + +<p>"Well, well, well, my Prince, your words have come +true! Here is the boat, for a certainty, yet how it +came here — and how you knew it would come to us — +are puzzles that mystify me. I do not question our good +fortune, however, and my heart is bubbling with joy, +for in this boat I will return at once to my City of +Gilgad, from which I have remained absent altogether +too long a time."</p> + +<p>"I do not wish to go to Gilgad," said Inga.</p> + +<p>"That is too bad, my friend, for you would be very +welcome. But you may remain upon this island, if you +wish," continued Rinkitink, "and when I get home I will +send some of my people to rescue you."</p> + +<p>"It is my boat, Your Majesty," said Inga quietly.</p> + +<p>"May be, may be," was the careless answer, "but I am +King of a great country, while you are a boy Prince +without any kingdom to speak of. Therefore, being of +greater importance than you, it is just and right that +I take, your boat and return to my own country in it."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to differ from Your Majesty's views," +said Inga, "but instead of going to Gilgad I consider +it of greater importance that we go to the islands of +Regos and Coregos."</p> + +<p>"Hey? What!" cried the astounded King. "To Regos and +Coregos! To become slaves of the barbarians, like the +King, your father? No, no, my boy! Your Uncle Rinki may +have an empty noddle, as Bilbil claims, but he is far +too wise to put his head in the lion's mouth. It's no +fun to be a slave."</p> + +<p>"The people of Regos and Coregos will not enslave +us," declared Inga. "On the contrary, it is my +intention to set free my dear parents, as well as all +my people, and to bring them back again to Pingaree."</p> + +<p>"Cheek-eek-eek-eek-eek! How funny!" chuckled +Rinkitink, winking at the goat, which scowled in +return. "Your audacity takes my breath away, Inga, but +the adventure has its charm, I must, confess. Were I +not so fat, I'd agree to your plan at once, and could +probably conquer that horde of fierce warriors without +any assistance at all — any at all — eh, Bilbil? But +I grieve to say that I am fat, and not in good fighting +trim. As for your determination to do what I admit I +can't do, Inga, I fear you forget that you are only a +boy, and rather small at that."</p> + +<p>"No, I do not forget that," was Inga's reply.</p> + +<p>"Then please consider that you and I and Bilbil are +not strong enough, as an army, to conquer a powerful +nation of skilled warriors. We could attempt it, of +course, but you are too young to die, while I am too +old. Come with me to my City of Gilgad, where you will +be greatly honored. I'll have my professors teach you +how to be good. Eh? What do you say?"</p> + +<p>Inga was a little embarrassed how to reply to these +arguments, which he knew King Rinkitink considered were +wise; so, after a period of thought, he said:</p> + +<p>"I will make a bargain with Your Majesty, for I do +not wish to fail in respect to so worthy a man and so +great a King as yourself. This boat is mine, as I have +said, and in my father's absence you have become my +guest; therefore I claim that I am entitled to some +consideration, as well as you."</p> + +<p>"No doubt of it," agreed Rinkitink. "What is the +bargain you propose, Inga?"</p> + +<p>"Let us both get into the boat, and you shall first +try to row us to Gilgad. If you succeed, I will +accompany you right willingly; but should you fail, I +will then row the boat to Regos, and you must come with +me without further protest."</p> + +<p>"A fair and just bargain!" cried the King, highly +pleased. "Yet, although I am a man of mighty deeds, I +do not relish the prospect of rowing so big a boat all +the way to Gilgad. But I will do my best and abide by +the result."</p> + +<p>The matter being thus peaceably settled, they +prepared to embark. A further supply of fruits was +placed in the boat and Inga also raked up a quantity of +the delicious oysters that abounded on the coast of +Pingaree but which he had before been unable to reach +for lack of a boat. This was done at the suggestion of +the ever-hungry Rinkitink, and when the oysters had +been stowed in their shells behind the water barrel and +a plentiful supply of grass brought aboard for Bilbil, +they decided they were ready to start on their voyage.</p> + +<p>It proved no easy task to get Bilbil into the boat, +for he was a remarkably clumsy goat and once, when +Rinkitink gave him a push, he tumbled into the water +and nearly drowned before they could get him out again. +But there was no thought of leaving the quaint animal +behind. His power of speech made him seem almost human +in the eyes of the boy, and the fat King was so +accustomed to his surly companion that nothing could +have induced him to part with him. Finally Bilbil fell +sprawling into the bottom of the boat, and Inga helped +him to get to the front end, where there was enough +space for him to lie down.</p> + +<p>Rinkitink now took his seat in the silver-lined craft +and the boy came last, pushing off the boat as he +sprang aboard, so that it floated freely upon the +water.</p> + +<p>"Well, here we go for Gilgad!" exclaimed the King, +picking up the oars and placing them in the row-locks. +Then he began to row as hard as he could, singing at +the same time an odd sort of a song that ran like this</p> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"The way to Gilgad isn't bad</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>For a stout old King and a brave young lad,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>For a cross old goat with a dripping coat,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>And a silver boat in which to float.</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>So our hearts are merry, light and glad</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>As we speed away to fair Gilgad!"</span><br /> + +<p>"Don't, Rinkitink; please don't! It makes me +seasick," growled Bilbil.</p> + +<p>Rinkitink stopped rowing, for by this time he was all +out of breath and his round face was covered with big +drops of perspiration. And when he looked over his +shoulder he found to his dismay that the boat had +scarcely moved a foot from its former position.</p> + +<p>Inga said nothing and appeared not to notice the +King's failure. So now Rinkitink, with a serious look +on his fat, red face, took off his purple robe and +rolled up the sleeves of his tunic and tried again.</p> + +<p>However, he succeeded no better than before and when +he heard Bilbil give a gruff laugh and saw a smile upon +the boy Prince's face, Rinkitink suddenly dropped the +oars and began shouting with laughter at his own +defeat. As he wiped his brow with a yellow silk +handkerchief he sang in a merry voice:</p> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"A sailor bold am I, I hold,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>But boldness will not row a boat.</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>So I confess I'm in distress</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>And just as useless as the goat."</span><br /> +<br /> + +<p>"Please leave me out of your verses," said Bilbil +with a snort of anger.</p> + +<p>"When I make a fool of myself, Bilbil, I'm a goat," +replied Rinkitink.</p> + +<p>"Not so," insisted Bilbil. "Nothing could make you a +member of my superior race."</p> + +<p>"Superior? Why, Bilbil, a goat is but a beast, while +I am a King!"</p> + +<p>"I claim that superiority lies in intelligence," said +the goat.</p> + +<p>Rinkitink paid no attention to this remark, but +turning to Inga he said:</p> + +<p>"We may as well get back to the shore, for the boat +is too heavy to row to Gilgad or anywhere else. Indeed, +it will be hard for us to reach land again."</p> + +<p>"Let me take the oars," suggested Inga. "You must not +forget our bargain."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," answered Rinkitink. "If you can row us +to Regos, or to any other place, I will go with you +without protest."</p> + +<p>So the King took Inga's place at the stern of the +boat and the boy grasped the oars and commenced to row. +And now, to the great wonder of Rinkitink — and even +to Inga's surprise — the oars became light as feathers +as soon as the Prince took hold of them. In an instant +the boat began to glide rapidly through the water and, +seeing this, the boy turned its prow toward the north. +He did not know exactly where Regos and Coregos were +located, but he did know that the islands lay to the +north of Pingaree, so he decided to trust to luck and +the guidance of the pearls to carry him to them.</p> + +<p>Gradually the Island of Pingaree became smaller to +their view as the boat sped onward, until at the end of +an hour they had lost sight of it altogether and were +wholly surrounded by the purple waters of the Nonestic +Ocean.</p> + +<p>Prince Inga did not tire from the labor of rowing; +indeed, it seemed to him no labor at all. Once he +stopped long enough to place the poles of the canopy in +the holes that had been made for them, in the edges of +the boat, and to spread the canopy of silver over the +poles, for Rinkitink had complained of the sun's heat. +But the canopy shut out the hot rays and rendered the +interior of the boat cool and pleasant.</p> + +<p>"This is a glorious ride!" cried Rinkitink, as he lay +back in the shade. "I find it a decided relief to be +away from that dismal island of Pingaree."</p> + +<p>"It may be a relief for a short time," said Bilbil, +"but you are going to the land of your enemies, who +will probably stick your fat body full of spears and +arrows."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I hope not!" exclaimed Inga, distressed at the +thought.</p> + +<p>"Never mind," said the King calmly, "a man can die +but once, you know, and when the enemy kills me I shall +beg him to kill Bilbil, also, that we may remain +together in death as in life."</p> + +<p>"They may be cannibals, in which case they will roast +and eat us," suggested Bilbil, who wished to terrify +his master.</p> + +<p>"Who knows?" answered Rinkitink, with a shudder. "But +cheer up, Bilbil; they may not kill us after all, or +even capture us; so let us not borrow trouble. Do not +look so cross, my sprightly quadruped, and I will sing +to amuse you."</p> + +<p>"Your song would make me more cross than ever," +grumbled the goat.</p> + +<p>"Quite impossible, dear Bilbil. You couldn't be more +surly if you tried. So here is a famous song for you."</p> + +<p>While the boy rowed steadily on and the boat rushed +fast over the water, the jolly King, who never could be +sad or serious for many minutes at a time, lay back on +his embroidered cushions and sang as follows:</p> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"A merry maiden went to sea —</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Sing too-ral-oo-ral-i-do!</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>She sat upon the Captain's knee</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>And looked around the sea to see</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>What she could see, but she couldn't see me —</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Sing too-ral-oo-ral-i-do!</span><br /> +<br /> + +<p>"How do you like that, Bilbil?"</p> + +<p>"I don't like it," complained the goat. "It reminds +me of the alligator that tried to whistle."</p> + +<p>"Did he succeed, Bilbil?" asked the King.</p> + +<p>"He whistled as well as you sing."</p> + +<p>"Ha, ha, ha, ha, heek, keek, eek!" chuckled the King. +"He must have whistled most exquisitely, eh, my +friend?"</p> + +<p>"I am not your friend," returned the goat, wagging +his ears in a surly manner.</p> + +<p>"I am yours, however," was the King's cheery reply; +"and to prove it I'll sing you another verse."</p> + +<p>"Don't, I beg of you!"</p> + +<p>But the King sang as follows:</p> + + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"The wind blew off the maiden's shoe —</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 3em;'>Sing too-ral-oo-ral-i-do!</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>And the shoe flew high to the sky so blue</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>And the maiden knew 'twas a new shoe, too;</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>But she couldn't pursue the shoe, 'tis true —</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 3em;'>Sing too-ral-oo-ral-i-do!</span><br /> +<br /> + +<p>"Isn't that sweet, my pretty goat?"</p> + +<p>"Sweet, do you ask?" retorted Bilbil. "I consider it +as sweet as candy made from mustard and vinegar."</p> + +<p>"But not as sweet as your disposition, I admit. Ah, +Bilbil, your temper would put honey itself to shame."</p> + +<p>"Do not quarrel, I beg of you," pleaded Inga. "Are we +not sad enough already?"</p> + +<p>"But this is a jolly quarrel," said the King, "and it +is the way Bilbil and I often amuse ourselves. Listen, +now, to the last verse of all:</p> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"The maid who shied her shoe now cried —</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Sing too-ral-oo-ral-i-do!</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Her tears were fried for the Captain's bride</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Who ate with pride her sobs, beside,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>And gently sighed 'I'm satisfied' —</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Sing to-ral-oo-ral-i-do!"</span><br /> +<br /> + +<p>"Worse and worse!" grumbled Bilbil, with much scorn. +"I am glad that is the last verse, for another of the +same kind might cause me to faint."</p> + +<p>"I fear you have no ear for music," said the King.</p> + +<p>"I have heard no music, as yet," declared the goat. +"You must have a strong imagination, King Rinkitink, if +you consider your songs music. Do you remember the +story of the bear that hired out for a nursemaid?"</p> + +<p>"I do not recall it just now," said Rinkitink, with a +wink at Inga.</p> + +<p>"Well, the bear tried to sing a lullaby to put the +baby to sleep."</p> + +<p>"And then?" said the King.</p> + +<p>"The bear was highly pleased with its own voice, but +the baby was nearly frightened to death."</p> + +<p>"Heh, heb, heh, heh, whoo, hoo, hoo! You are a merry +rogue, Bilbil," laughed the King; "a merry rogue in +spite of your gloomy features. However, if I have not +amused you, I have at least pleased myself, for I am +exceedingly fond of a good song. So let us say no more +about it."</p> + +<p>All this time the boy Prince was rowing the boat. He +was not in the least tired, for the oars he held seemed +to move of their own accord. He paid little heed to the +conversation of Rinkitink and the goat, but busied his +thoughts with plans of what he should do when he +reached the islands of Regos and Coregos and confronted +his enemies. When the others finally became silent, +Inga inquired.</p> + +<p>"Can you fight, King Rinkitink?"</p> + +<p>"I have never tried," was the answer. "In time of +danger I have found it much easier to run away than to +face the foe."</p> + +<p>"But could you fight?" asked the boy.</p> + +<p>"I might try, if there was no chance to escape by +running. Have you a proper weapon for me to fight +with?"</p> + +<p>"I have no weapon at all," confessed Inga.</p> + +<p>"Then let us use argument and persuasion instead of +fighting. For instance, if we could persuade the +warriors of Regos to lie down, and let me step on them, +they would be crushed with ease."</p> + +<p>Prince Inga had expected little support from the +King, so he was not discouraged by this answer. After +all, he reflected, a conquest by battle would be out of +the question, yet the White Pearl would not have +advised him to go to Regos and Coregos had the mission +been a hopeless one. It seemed to him, on further +reflection, that he must rely upon circumstances to +determine his actions when he reached the islands of +the barbarians.</p> + +<p>By this time Inga felt perfect confidence in the +Magic Pearls. It was the White Pearl that had given him +the boat, and the Blue Pearl that had given him +strength to row it. He believed that the Pink Pearl +would protect him from any danger that might arise; so +his anxiety was not for himself, but for his +companions. King Rinkitink and the goat had no magic to +protect them, so Inga resolved to do all in his power +to keep them from harm.</p> + +<p>For three days and three nights the boat with the +silver lining sped swiftly over the ocean. On the +morning of the fourth day, so quickly had they +traveled, Inga saw before him the shores of the two +great islands of Regos and Coregos.</p> + +<p>"The pearls have guided me aright!" he whispered to +himself. "Now, if I am wise, and cautious, and brave, I +believe I shall be able to rescue my father and mother +and my people."</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='Chapter_Seven'></a><h2>Chapter Seven</h2> + +<h3>The Twin Islands</h3> +<br /> + +<p>The Island of Regos was ten miles wide and forty miles +long and it was ruled by a big and powerful King named +Gos. Near to the shores were green and fertile fields, +but farther back from the sea were rugged hills and +mountains, so rocky that nothing would grow there. But +in these mountains were mines of gold and silver, which +the slaves of the King were forced to work, being +confined in dark underground passages for that purpose. +In the course of time huge caverns had been hollowed +out by the slaves, in which they lived and slept, never +seeing the light of day. Cruel overseers with whips +stood over these poor people, who had been captured in +many countries by the raiding parties of King Cos, and +the overseers were quite willing to lash the slaves +with their whips if they faltered a moment in their +work.</p> + +<p>Between the green shores and the mountains were +forests of thick, tangled trees, between which narrow +paths had been cut to lead up to the caves of the +mines. It was on the level green meadows, not far from +the ocean, that the great City of Regos had been built, +wherein was located the palace of the King. This city +was inhabited by thousands of the fierce warriors of +Gos, who frequently took to their boats and spread over +the sea to the neighboring islands to conquer and +pillage, as they had done at Pingaree. When they were +not absent on one of these expeditions, the City of +Regos swarmed with them and so became a dangerous place +for any peaceful person to live in, for the warriors +were as lawless as their King.</p> + +<p>The Island of Coregos lay close beside the Island of +Regos; so close, indeed, that one might have thrown a +stone from one shore to another. But Coregos was only +half the size of Regos and instead of being mountainous +it was a rich and pleasant country, covered with fields +of grain. The fields of Coregos furnished food for the +warriors and citizens of both countries, while the +mines of Regos made them all rich.</p> + +<p>Coregos was ruled by Queen Cor, who was wedded to +King Gos; but so stern and cruel was the nature of this +Queen that the people could not decide which of their +sovereigns they dreaded most.</p> + +<p>Queen Cor lived in her own City of Coregos, which lay +on that side of her island facing Regos, and her +slaves, who were mostly women, were made to plow the +land and to plant and harvest the grain.</p> + +<p>From Regos to Coregos stretched a bridge of boats, +set close together, with planks laid across their edges +for people to walk upon. In this way it was easy to +pass from one island to the other and in times of +danger the bridge could be quickly removed.</p> + +<p>The native inhabitants of Regos and Coregos consisted +of the warriors, who did nothing but fight and ravage, +and the trembling servants who waited on them. King Gos +and Queen Cor were at war with all the rest of the +world. Other islanders hated and feared them, for their +slaves were badly treated and absolutely no mercy was +shown to the weak or ill.</p> + +<p>When the boats that had gone to Pingaree returned +loaded with rich plunder and a host of captives, there +was much rejoicing in Regos and Coregos and the King +and Queen gave a fine feast to the warriors who had +accomplished so great a conquest. This feast was set +for the warriors in the grounds of King Gos's palace, +while with them in the great throne room all the +captains and leaders of the fighting men were assembled +with King Gos and Queen Cor, who had come from her +island to attend the ceremony. Then all the goods that +had been stolen from the King of Pingaree were divided +according to rank, the King and Queen taking half, the +captains a quarter, and the rest being divided amongst +the warriors.</p> + +<p>The day following the feast King Gos sent King +Kitticut and all the men of Pingaree to work in his +mines under the mountains, having first chained them +together so they could not escape. The gentle Queen of +Pingaree and all her women, together with the captured +children, were given to Queen Cor, who set them to work +in her grain fields.</p> + +<p>Then the rulers and warriors of these dreadful +islands thought they had done forever with Pingaree. +Despoiled of all its wealth, its houses torn down, its +boats captured and all its people enslaved, what +likelihood was there that they might ever again hear of +the desolated island? So the people of Regos and +Coregos were surprised and puzzled when one morning +they observed approaching their shores from the +direction of the south a black boat containing a boy, a +fat man and a goat. The warriors asked one another who +these could be, and where they had come from? No one +ever came to those islands of their own accord, that +was certain.</p> + +<p>Prince Inga guided his boat to the south end of the +Island of Regos, which was the landing place nearest to +the city, and when the warriors saw this action they +went down to the shore to meet him, being led by a big +captain named Buzzub.</p> + +<p>"Those people surely mean us no good," said Rinkitink +uneasily to the boy. "Without doubt they intend to +capture us and make us their slaves."</p> + +<p>"Do not fear, sir," answered Inga, in a calm voice. +"Stay quietly in the boat with Bilbil until I have +spoken with these men."</p> + +<p>He stopped the boat a dozen feet from the shore, and +standing up in his place made a grave bow to the +multitude confronting him. Said the big Captain Buzzub +in a gruff voice:</p> + +<p>"Well, little one, who may you be? And how dare you +come, uninvited and all alone, to the Island of Regos?"</p> + +<p>"I am Inga, Prince of Pingaree," returned the boy, +"and I have come here to free my parents and my people, +whom you have wrongfully enslaved."</p> + +<p>When they heard this bold speech a mighty laugh arose +from the band of warriors, and when it had subsided the +captain said:</p> + +<p>"You love to jest, my baby Prince, and the joke is +fairly good. But why did you willingly thrust your head +into the lion's mouth? When you were free, why did you +not stay free? We did not know we had left a single +person in Pingaree! But since you managed to escape us +then, it is really kind of you to come here of your own +free will, to be our slave. Who is the funny fat person +with you?"</p> + +<p>"It is His Majesty, King Rinkitink, of the great City +of Gilgad. He has accompanied me to see that you render +full restitution for all you have stolen from +Pingaree."</p> + +<p>"Better yet!" laughed Buzzub. "He will make a fine +slave for Queen Cor, who loves to tickle fat men, and +see them jump."</p> + +<p>King Rinkitink was filled with horror when he heard +this, but the Prince answered as boldly as before, +saying:</p> + +<p>"We are not to be frightened by bluster, believe me; +nor are we so weak as you imagine. We have magic powers +so great and terrible that no host of warriors can +possibly withstand us, and therefore I call upon you to +surrender your city and your island to us, before we +crush you with our mighty powers."</p> + +<p>The boy spoke very gravely and earnestly, but his +words only aroused another shout of laughter. So while +the men of Regos were laughing Inga drove the boat +we'll up onto the sandy beach and leaped out. He also +helped Rinkitink out, and when the goat had unaided +sprung to the sands, the King got upon Bilbil's back, +trembling a little internally, but striving to look as +brave as possible.</p> + +<p>There was a bunch of coarse hair between the goat's +ears, and this Inga clutched firmly in his left hand. +The boy knew the Pink Pearl would protect not only +himself, but all whom he touched, from any harm, and as +Rinkitink was astride the goat and Inga had his hand +upon the animal, the three could not be injured by +anything the warriors could do. But Captain Buzzub did +not know this, and the little group of three seemed so +weak and ridiculous that he believed their capture +would be easy. So he turned to his men and with a wave +of his hand said:</p> + +<p>"Seize the intruders!"</p> + +<p>Instantly two or three of the warriors stepped +forward to obey, but to their amazement they could not +reach any of the three; their hands were arrested as if +by an invisible wall of iron. Without paying any +attention to these attempts at capture, Inga advanced +slowly and the goat kept pace with him. And when +Rinkitink saw that he was safe from harm he gave one of +his big, merry laughs, and it startled the warriors and +made them nervous. Captain Buzzub's eyes grew big with +surprise as the three steadily advanced and forced his +men backward; nor was he free from terror himself at +the magic that protected these strange visitors. As for +the warriors, they presently became terror-stricken and +fled in a panic up the slope toward the city, and +Buzzub was obliged to chase after them and shout +threats of punishment before he could halt them and +form them into a line of battle.</p> + +<p>All the men of Regos bore spears and bows-and-arrows, +and some of the officers had swords and battle-axes; so +Buzzub ordered them to stand their ground and shoot and +slay the strangers as they approached. This they tried +to do. Inga being in advance, the warriors sent a +flight of sharp arrows straight at the boy's breast, +while others cast their long spears at him.</p> + +<p>It seemed to Rinkitink that the little Prince must +surely perish as he stood facing this hail of murderous +missiles; but the power of the Pink Pearl did not +desert him, and when the arrows and spears had reached +to within an inch of his body they bounded back again +and fell harmlessly at his feet. Nor were Rinkitink or +Bilbil injured in the least, although they stood close +beside Inga.</p> + +<p>Buzzub stood for a moment looking upon the boy in +silent wonder. Then, recovering himself, he shouted in +a loud voice:</p> + +<p>"Once again! All together, my men. No one shall ever +defy our might and live!"</p> + +<p>Again a flight of arrows and spears sped toward the +three, and since many more of the warriors of Regos had +by this time joined their fellows, the air was for a +moment darkened by the deadly shafts. But again all +fell harmless before the power of the Pink Pearl, and +Bilbil, who had been growing very angry at the attempts +to injure him and his party, suddenly made a bolt +forward, casting off Inga's hold, and butted into the +line of warriors, who were standing amazed at their +failure to conquer.</p> + +<p>Taken by surprise at the goat's attack, a dozen big +warriors tumbled in a heap, yelling with fear, and +their comrades, not knowing what had happened but +imagining that their foes were attacking them, turned +about and ran to the city as hard as they could go. +Bilbil, still angry, had just time to catch the big +captain as he turned to follow his men, and Buzzub +first sprawled headlong upon the ground, then rolled +over two or three times, and finally jumped up and ran +yelling after his defeated warriors. This butting on +the part of the goat was very hard upon King Rinkitink, +who nearly fell off Bilbil's back at the shock of +encounter; but the little fat King wound his arms +around the goat's neck and shut his eyes and clung on +with all his might. It was not until he heard Inga say +triumphantly, "We have won the fight without striking a +blow!" that Rinkitink dared open his eyes again. Then +he saw the warriors rushing into the City of Regos and +barring the heavy gates, and he was very much relieved +at the sight.</p> + +<p>"Without striking a blow!" said Bilbil indignantly. +"That is not quite true, Prince Inga. You did not +fight, I admit, but I struck a couple of times to good +purpose, and I claim to have conquered the cowardly +warriors unaided."</p> + +<p>"You and I together, Bilbil," said Rinkitink mildly. +"But the next time you make a charge, please warn me in +time, so that I may dismount and give you all the +credit for the attack."</p> + +<p>There being no one now to oppose their advance, the +three walked to the gates of the city, which had been +closed against them. The gates were of iron and heavily +barred, and upon the top of the high walls of the city +a host of the warriors now appeared armed with arrows +and spears and other weapons. For Buzzub had gone +straight to the palace of King Cos and reported his +defeat, relating the powerful magic of the boy, the fat +King and the goat, and had asked what to do next.</p> + +<p>The big captain still trembled with fear, but King +Gos did not believe in magic, and called Buzzub a +coward and a weakling. At once the King took command of +his men personally, and he ordered the walls manned +with warriors and instructed them to shoot to kill if +any of the three strangers approached the gates.</p> + +<p>Of course, neither Rinkitink nor Bilbil knew how they +had been protected from harm and so at first they were +inclined to resent the boy's command that the three +must always keep together and touch one another at all +times. But when Inga explained that his magic would not +otherwise save them from injury, they agreed to obey, +for they had now seen enough to convince them that the +Prince was really protected by some invisible power.</p> + +<p>As they came before the gates another shower of +arrows and spears descended upon them, and as before +not a single missile touched their bodies. King Gos, +who was upon the wall, was greatly amazed and somewhat +worried, but he depended upon the strength of his gates +and commanded his men to continue shooting until all +their weapons were gone.</p> + +<p>Inga let them shoot as much as they wished, while he +stood before the great gates and examined them +carefully.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps Bilbil can batter down the gates," suggested +Rinkitink.</p> + +<p>"No," replied the goat; "my head is hard, but not +harder than iron."</p> + +<p>"Then," returned the King, "let us stay outside; +especially as we can't get in."</p> + +<p>But Inga was not at all sure they could not get in. +The gates opened inward, and three heavy bars were held +in place by means of stout staples riveted to the +sheets of steel. The boy had been told that the power +of the Blue Pearl would enable him to accomplish any +feat of strength, and he believed that this was true.</p> + +<p>The warriors, under the direction of King Gos, +continued to hurl arrows and darts and spears and axes +and huge stones upon the invaders, all without avail. +The ground below was thickly covered with weapons, yet +not one of the three before the gates had been injured +in the slightest manner. When everything had been cast +that was available and not a single weapon of any sort +remained at hand, the amazed warriors saw the boy put +his shoulder against the gates and burst asunder the +huge staples that held the bars in place. A thousand of +their men could not have accomplished this feat, yet +the small, slight boy did it with seeming ease. The +gates burst open, and Inga advanced into the city +street and called upon King Gos to surrender.</p> + +<p>But Gos was now as badly frightened as were his +warriors. He and his men were accustomed to war and +pillage and they had carried terror into many +countries, but here was a small boy, a fat man and a +goat who could not be injured by all his skill in +warfare, his numerous army and thousands of death- +dealing weapons. Moreover, they not only defied King +Gos's entire army but they had broken in the huge gates +of the city — as easily as if they had been made of +paper — and such an exhibition of enormous strength +made the wicked King fear for his life. Like all +bullies and marauders, Gos was a coward at heart, and +now a panic seized him and he turned and fled before +the calm advance of Prince Inga of Pingaree. The +warriors were like their master, and having thrown all +their weapons over the wall and being helpless to +oppose the strangers, they all swarmed after Gos, who +abandoned his city and crossed the bridge of boats to +the Island of Coregos. There was a desperate struggle +among these cowardly warriors to get over the bridge, +and many were pushed into the water and obliged to +swim; but finally every fighting man of Regos had +gained the shore of Coregos and then they tore away the +bridge of boats and drew them up on their own side, +hoping the stretch of open water would prevent the +magic invaders from following them.</p> + +<p>The humble citizens and serving people of Regos, who +had been terrified and abused by the rough warriors all +their lives, were not only greatly astonished by this +sudden conquest of their masters but greatly delighted. +As the King and his army fled to Coregos, the people +embraced one another and danced for very joy, and then +they turned to see what the conquerors of Regos were +like.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='Chapter_Eight'></a><h2>Chapter Eight</h2> + +<h3>Rinkitink Makes a Great Mistake</h3> +<br /> + +<p>The fat King rode his goat through the streets of the +conquered city and the boy Prince walked proudly beside +him, while all the people bent their heads humbly to +their new masters, whom they were prepared to serve in +the same manner they had King Gos.</p> + +<p>Not a warrior remained in all Regos to oppose the +triumphant three; the bridge of boats had been +destroyed; Inga and his companions were free from +danger — for a time, at least.</p> + +<p>The jolly little King appreciated this fact and +rejoiced that he had escaped all injury during the +battle. How it had all happened he could not tell, nor +even guess, but he was content in being safe and free +to take possession of the enemy's city. So, as they +passed through the lines of respectful civilians on +their way to the palace, the King tipped his crown back +on his bald head and folded his arms and sang in his +best voice the following lines:</p> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"Oh, here comes the army of King Rinkitink!</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>It isn't a big one, perhaps you may think,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>But it scattered the warriors quicker than wink —</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Rink-i-tink, tink-i-tink, tink!</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Our Bilbil's a hero and so is his King;</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Our foemen have vanished like birds on the wing;</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>I guess that as fighters we're quite the real thing —</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Rink-i-tink, tink-i-tink, tink!"</span><br /> +<br /> + +<p>"Why don't you give a little credit to Inga?" +inquired the goat. "If I remember aright, he did a +little of the conquering himself."</p> + +<p>"So he did," responded the King, "and that's the +reason I'm sounding our own praise, Bilbil. Those who +do the least, often shout the loudest and so get the +most glory. Inga did so much that there is danger of +his becoming more important than we are, and so we'd +best say nothing about him."</p> + +<p>When they reached the palace, which was an immense +building, furnished throughout in regal splendor, Inga +took formal possession and ordered the majordomo to +show them the finest rooms the building contained. +There were many pleasant apartments, but Rinkitink +proposed to Inga that they share one of the largest +bedrooms together.</p> + +<p>"For," said he, "we are not sure that old Gos will +not return and try to recapture his city, and you must +remember that I have no magic to protect me. In any +danger, were I alone, I might be easily killed or +captured, while if you are by my side you can save me +from injury."</p> + +<p>The boy realized the wisdom of this plan, and +selected a fine big bedroom on the second floor of the +palace, in which he ordered two golden beds placed and +prepared for King Rinkitink and himself. Bilbil was +given a suite of rooms on the other side of the palace, +where servants brought the goat fresh-cut grass to eat +and made him a soft bed to lie upon.</p> + +<p>That evening the boy Prince and the fat King dined in +great state in the lofty-domed dining hall of the +palace, where forty servants waited upon them. The +royal chef, anxious to win the favor of the conquerors +of Regos, prepared his finest and most savory dishes +for them, which Rinkitink ate with much appetite and +found so delicious that he ordered the royal chef +brought into the banquet hall and presented him with a +gilt button which the King cut from his own jacket.</p> + +<p>"You are welcome to it," said he to the chef, +"because I have eaten so much that I cannot use that +lower button at all."</p> + +<p>Rinkitink was mightily pleased to live in a +comfortable palace again and to dine at a well spread +table. His joy grew every moment, so that he came in +time to be as merry and cheery as before Pingaree was +despoiled. And, although he had been much frightened +during Inga's defiance of the army of King Gos, he now +began to turn the matter into a joke.</p> + +<p>"Why, my boy," said he, "you whipped the big black- +bearded King exactly as if he were a schoolboy, even +though you used no warlike weapon at all upon him. He +was cowed through fear of your magic, and that reminds +me to demand from you an explanation. How did you do +it, Inga? And where did the wonderful magic come from?"</p> + +<p>Perhaps it would have been wise for the Prince to +have explained about the magic pearls, but at that +moment he was not inclined to do so. Instead, he +replied:</p> + +<p>"Be patient, Your Majesty. The secret is not my own, +so please do not ask me to divulge it. Is it not +enough, for the present, that the magic saved you from +death to-day?"</p> + +<p>"Do not think me ungrateful," answered the King +earnestly. "A million spears fell on me from the wall, +and several stones as big as mountains, yet none of +them hurt me!"</p> + +<p>"The stones were not as big as mountains, sire," said +the Prince with a smile. "They were, indeed, no larger +than your head."</p> + +<p>"Are you sure about that?" asked Rinkitink.</p> + +<p>"Quite sure, Your Majesty."</p> + +<p>"How deceptive those things are!" sighed the King. +"This argument reminds me of the story of Tom Tick, +which my father used to tell."</p> + +<p>"I have never heard that story," Inga answered.</p> + +<p>"Well, as he told it, it ran like this:</p> + + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"When Tom walked out, the sky to spy,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>A naughty gnat flew in his eye;</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>But Tom knew not it was a gnat —</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>He thought, at first, it was a cat.</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"And then, it felt so very big,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>He thought it surely was a pig</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Till, standing still to hear it grunt,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>He cried: 'Why, it's an elephunt!'</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"But — when the gnat flew out again</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>And Tom was free from all his pain,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>He said: 'There flew into my eye</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>A leetle, teenty-tiny fly.'"</span><br /> +<br /> + +<p>"Indeed," said Inga, laughing, "the gnat was much +like your stones that seemed as big as mountains."</p> + +<p>After their dinner they inspected the palace, which +was filled with valuable goods stolen by King Gos from +many nations. But the day's events had tired them and +they retired early to their big sleeping apartment.</p> + +<p>"In the morning," said the boy to Rinkitink, as he +was undressing for bed, "I shall begin the search for +my father and mother and the people of Pingaree. And, +when they are found and rescued, we will all go home +again, and be as happy as we were before."</p> + +<p>They carefully bolted the door of their room, that no +one might enter, and then got into their beds, where +Rinkitink fell asleep in an instant. The boy lay awake +for a while thinking over the day's adventures, but +presently he fell sound asleep also, and so weary was +he that nothing disturbed his slumber until he awakened +next morning with a ray of sunshine in his eyes, which +had crept into the room through the open window by King +Rinkitink's bed.</p> + +<p>Resolving to begin the search for his parents without +any unnecessary delay, Inga at once got out of bed and +began to dress himself, while Rinkitink, in the other +bed, was still sleeping peacefully. But when the boy +had put on both his stockings and began looking for his +shoes, he could find but one of them. The left shoe, +that containing the Pink Pearl, was missing.</p> + +<p>Filled with anxiety at this discovery, Inga searched +through the entire room, looking underneath the beds +and divans and chairs and behind the draperies and in +the corners and every other possible place a shoe might +be. He tried the door, and found it still bolted; so, +with growing uneasiness, the boy was forced to admit +that the precious shoe was not in the room.</p> + +<p>With a throbbing heart he aroused his companion.</p> + +<p>"King Rinkitink," said he, "do you know what has +become of my left shoe?"</p> + +<p>"Your shoe!" exclaimed the King, giving a wide yawn +and rubbing his eyes to get the sleep out of them. +"Have you lost a shoe?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Inga. "I have searched everywhere in the +room, and cannot find it."</p> + +<p>"But why bother me about such a small thing?" +inquired Rinkitink. "A shoe is only a shoe, and you can +easily get another one. But, stay! Perhaps it was your +shoe which I threw at the cat last night."</p> + +<p>"The cat!" cried Inga. "What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Why, in the night," explained Rinkitink, sitting up +and beginning to dress himself, "I was wakened by the +mewing of a cat that sat upon a wall of the palace, +just outside my window. As the noise disturbed me, I +reached out in the dark and caught up something and +threw it at the cat, to frighten the creature away. I +did not know what it was that I threw, and I was too +sleepy to care; but probably it was your shoe, since it +is now missing."</p> + +<p>"Then," said the boy, in a despairing tone of voice, +"your carelessness has ruined me, as well as yourself, +King Rinkitink, for in that shoe was concealed the +magic power which protected us from danger."</p> + +<p>The King's face became very serious when he heard +this and he uttered a low whistle of surprise and +regret.</p> + +<p>"Why on earth did you not warn me of this?" he +demanded. "And why did you keep such a precious power +in an old shoe? And why didn't you put the shoe under a +pillow? You were very wrong, my lad, in not confiding +to me, your faithful friend, the secret, for in that +case the shoe would not now be lost."</p> + +<p>To all this Inga had no answer. He sat on the side of +his bed, with hanging head, utterly disconsolate, and +seeing this, Rinkitink had pity for his sorrow.</p> + +<p>"Come!" cried the King; "let us go out at once and +look for the shoe which I threw at the cat. It must +even now be lying in the yard of the palace."</p> + +<p>This suggestion roused the boy to action. He at once +threw open the door and in his stocking feet rushed +down the staircase, closely followed by Rinkitink. But +although they looked on both sides of the palace wall +and in every possible crack and corner where a shoe +might lodge, they failed to find it.</p> + +<p>After a half hour's careful search the boy said +sorrowfully:</p> + +<p>"Someone must have passed by, as we slept, and taken +the precious shoe, not knowing its value. To us, King +Rinkitink, this will be a dreadful misfortune, for we +are surrounded by dangers from which we have now no +protection. Luckily I have the other shoe left, within +which is the magic power that gives me strength; so all +is not lost."</p> + +<p>Then he told Rinkitink, in a few words, the secret of +the wonderful pearls, and how he had recovered them +from the ruins and hidden them in his shoes, and how +they had enabled him to drive King Gos and his men from +Regos and to capture the city. The King was much +astonished, and when the story was concluded he said to +Inga:</p> + +<p>"What did you do with the other shoe?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I left it in our bedroom," replied the boy.</p> + +<p>"Then I advise you to get it at once," continued +Rinkitink, "for we can ill afford to lose the second +shoe, as well as the one I threw at the cat."</p> + +<p>"You are right!" cried Inga, and they hastened back +to their bedchamber.</p> + +<p>On entering the room they found an old woman sweeping +and raising a great deal of dust.</p> + +<p>"Where is my shoe?" asked the Prince, anxiously.</p> + +<p>The old woman stopped sweeping and looked at him in a +stupid way, for she was not very intelligent.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean the one odd shoe that was lying on the +floor when I came in?" she finally asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes — yes!" answered the boy. "Where is it? Tell me +where it is!"</p> + +<p>"Why, I threw it on the dust-heap, outside the back +gate," said she, "for, it being but a single shoe, with +no mate, it can be of no use to anyone."</p> + +<p>"Show us the way to the dust-heap — at once!" +commanded the boy, sternly, for he was greatly +frightened by this new misfortune which threatened him.</p> + +<p>The old woman hobbled away and they followed her, +constantly urging her to hasten; but when they reached +the dust-heap no shoe was to be seen.</p> + +<p>"This is terrible!" wailed the young Prince, ready to +weep at his loss. "We are now absolutely ruined, and at +the mercy of our enemies. Nor shall I be able to +liberate my dear father and mother."</p> + +<p>"Well," replied Rinkitink, leaning against an old +barrel and looking quite solemn, "the thing is +certainly unlucky, any way we look at it. I suppose +someone has passed along here and, seeing the shoe upon +the dust-heap, has carried it away. But no one could +know the magic power the shoe contains and so will not +use it against us. I believe, Inga, we must now depend +upon our wits to get us out of the scrape we are in."</p> + +<p>With saddened hearts they returned to the palace, and +entering a small room where no one could observe them +or overhear them, the boy took the White Pearl from its +silken bag and held it to his ear, asking:</p> + +<p>"What shall I do now?"</p> + +<p>"Tell no one of your loss," answered the Voice of the +Pearl. "If your enemies do not know that you are +powerless, they will fear you as much as ever. Keep +your secret, be patient, and fear not!"</p> + +<p>Inga heeded this advice and also warned Rinkitink to +say nothing to anyone of the loss of the shoes and the +powers they contained. He sent for the shoemaker of +King Gos, who soon brought him a new pair of red +leather shoes that fitted him quite well. When these +had been put upon his feet, the Prince, accompanied by +the King, started to walk through the city.</p> + +<p>Wherever they went the people bowed low to the +conqueror, although a few, remembering Inga's terrible +strength, ran away in fear and trembling. They had been +used to severe masters and did not yet know how they +would be treated by King Gos's successor. There being +no occasion for the boy to exercise the powers he had +displayed the previous day, his present helplessness +was not suspected by any of the citizens of Regos, who +still considered him a wonderful magician.</p> + +<p>Inga did not dare to fight his way to the mines, at +present, nor could he try to conquer the Island of +Coregos, where his mother was enslaved; so he set about +the regulation of the City of Regos, and having +established himself with great state in the royal +palace he began to govern the people by kindness, +having consideration for the most humble.</p> + +<p>The King of Regos and his followers sent spies across +to the island they had abandoned in their flight, and +these spies returned with the news that the terrible +boy conqueror was still occupying the city. Therefore +none of them ventured to go back to Regos but continued +to live upon the neighboring island of Coregos, where +they passed the days in fear and trembling and sought +to plot and plan ways how they might overcome the +Prince of Pingaree and the fat King of Gilgad.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='Chapter_Nine'></a><h2>Chapter Nine</h2> + +<h3>A Present for Zella</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Now it so happened that on the morning of that same day +when the Prince of Pingaree suffered the loss of his +priceless shoes, there chanced to pass along the road +that wound beside the royal palace a poor charcoal- +burner named Nikobob, who was about to return to his +home in the forest.</p> + +<p>Nikobob carried an ax and a bundle of torches over +his shoulder and he walked with his eyes to the ground, +being deep in thought as to the strange manner in which +the powerful King Gos and his city had been conquered +by a boy Prince who had come from Pingaree.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the charcoal-burner espied a shoe lying upon +the ground, just beyond the high wall of the palace and +directly in his path. He picked it up and, seeing it +was a pretty shoe, although much too small for his own +foot, he put it in his pocket.</p> + +<p>Soon after, on turning a corner of the wall, Nikobob +came to a dust-heap where, lying amidst a mass of +rubbish, was another shoe — the mate to the one he had +before found. This also he placed in his pocket, saying +to himself:</p> + +<p>"I have now a fine pair of shoes for my daughter +Zella, who will be much pleased to find I have brought +her a present from the city."</p> + +<p>And while the charcoal-burner turned into the forest +and trudged along the path toward his home, Inga and +Rinkitink were still searching for the missing shoes. +Of course, they could not know that Nikobob had found +them, nor did the honest man think he had taken +anything more than a pair of cast-off shoes which +nobody wanted.</p> + +<p>Nikobob had several miles to travel through the +forest before he could reach the little log cabin where +his wife, as well as his little daughter Zella, awaited +his return, but he was used to long walks and tramped +along the path whistling cheerfully to beguile the +time.</p> + +<p>Few people, as I said before, ever passed through the +dark and tangled forests of Regos, except to go to the +mines in the mountain beyond, for many dangerous +creatures lurked in the wild jungles, and King Gos +never knew, when he sent a messenger to the mines, +whether he would reach there safely or not.</p> + +<p>The charcoal-burner, however, knew the wild forest +well, and especially this part of it lying between the +city and his home. It was the favorite haunt of the +ferocious beast Choggenmugger, dreaded by every dweller +in the Island of Regos. Choggenmugger was so old that +everyone thought it must have been there since the +world was made, and each year of its life the huge +scales that covered its body grew thicker and harder +and its jaws grew wider and its teeth grew sharper and +its appetite grew more keen than ever.</p> + +<p>In former ages there had been many dragons in Regos, +but Choggenmugger was so fond of dragons that he had +eaten all of them long ago. There had also been great +serpents and crocodiles in the forest marshes, but all +had gone to feed the hunger of Choggenmugger. The +people of Regos knew well there was no use opposing the +Great Beast, so when one unfortunately met with it he +gave himself up for lost.</p> + +<p>All this Nikobob knew well, but fortune had always +favored him in his journey through the forest, and +although he had at times met many savage beasts and +fought them with his sharp ax, he had never to this day +encountered the terrible Choggenmugger. Indeed, he was +not thinking of the Great Beast at all as he walked +along, but suddenly he heard a crashing of broken trees +and felt a trembling of the earth and saw the immense +jaws of Choggenmugger opening before him. Then Nikobob +gave himself up for lost and his heart almost ceased to +beat.</p> + +<p>He believed there was no way of escape. No one ever +dared oppose Choggenmugger. But Nikobob hated to die +without showing the monster, in some way, that he was +eaten only under protest. So he raised his ax and +brought it down upon the red, protruding tongue of the +monster — and cut it clean off!</p> + +<p>For a moment the charcoal-burner scarcely believed +what his eyes saw, for he knew nothing of the pearls he +carried in his pocket or the magic power they lent his +arm. His success, however, encouraged him to strike +again, and this time the huge scaly jaw of +Choggenmugger was severed in twain and the beast howled +in terrified rage.</p> + +<p>Nikobob took off his coat, to give himself more +freedom of action, and then he earnestly renewed the +attack. But now the ax seemed blunted by the hard +scales and made no impression upon them whatever. The +creature advanced with glaring, wicked eyes, and +Nikobob seized his coat under his arm and turned to +flee.</p> + +<p>That was foolish, for Choggenmugger could run like +the wind. In a moment it overtook the charcoal-burner +and snapped its four rows of sharp teeth together. But +they did not touch Nikobob, because he still held the +coat in his grasp, close to his body, and in the coat +pocket were Inga's shoes, and in the points of the +shoes were the magic pearls. Finding himself uninjured, +Nikobob put on his coat, again seized his ax, and in a +short time had chopped Choggenmugger into many small +pieces — a task that proved not only easy but very +agreeable.</p> + +<p>"I must be the strongest man in all the world!" +thought the charcoal-burner, as he proudly resumed his +way, "for Choggenmugger has been the terror of Regos +since the world began, and I alone have been able to +destroy the beast. Yet it is singular' that never +before did I discover how powerful a man I am."</p> + +<p>He met no further adventure and at midday reached a +little clearing in the forest where stood his humble +cabin.</p> + +<p>"Great news! I have great news for you," he shouted, +as his wife and little daughter came to greet him. +"King Gos has been conquered by a boy Prince from the +far island of Pingaree, and I have this day — unaided +— destroyed Choggenmugger by the might of my strong +arm."</p> + +<p>This was, indeed, great news. They brought Nikobob +into the house and set him in an easy chair and made +him tell everything he knew about the Prince of +Pingaree and the fat King of Gilgad, as well as the +details of his wonderful fight with mighty +Choggenmugger.</p> + +<p>"And now, my daughter," said the charcoalburner, when +all his news had been related for at least the third +time, "here is a pretty present I have brought you +from the city."</p> + +<p>With this he drew the shoes from the pocket of his +coat and handed them to Zella, who gave him a dozen +kisses in payment and was much pleased with her gift. +The little girl had never worn shoes before, for her +parents were too poor to buy her such luxuries, so now +the possession of these, which were not much worn, +filled the child's heart with joy. She admired the red +leather and the graceful curl of the pointed toes. When +she tried them on her feet, they fitted as well as if +made for her.</p> + +<p>All the afternoon, as she helped her mother with the +housework, Zella thought of her pretty shoes. They +seemed more important to her than the coming to Regos +of the conquering Prince of Pingaree, or even the death +of Choggenmugger.</p> + +<p>When Zella and her mother were not working in the +cabin, cooking or sewing, they often searched the +neighboring forest for honey which the wild bees +cleverly hid in hollow trees. The day after Nikobob's +return, as they were starting out after honey, Zella +decided to put on her new shoes, as they would keep the +twigs that covered the ground from hurting her feet. +She was used to the twigs, of course, but what is the +use of having nice, comfortable shoes, if you do not +wear them?</p> + +<p>So she danced along, very happily, followed by her +mother, and presently they came to a tree in which was +a deep hollow. Zella thrust her hand and arm into the +space and found that the tree was full of honey, so she +began to dig it out with a wooden paddle. Her mother, +who held the pail, suddenly cried in warning:</p> + +<p>"Look out, Zella; the bees are coming!" and then the +good woman ran fast toward the house to escape.</p> + +<p>Zella, however, had no more than time to turn her +head when a thick swarm of bees surrounded her, angry +because they had caught her stealing their honey and +intent on stinging the girl as a punishment. She knew +her danger and expected to be badly injured by the +multitude of stinging bees, but to her surprise the +little creatures were unable to fly close enough to her +to stick their dart-like stingers into her flesh. They +swarmed about her in a dark cloud, and their angry +buzzing was terrible to hear, yet the little girl +remained unharmed.</p> + +<p>When she realized this, Zella was no longer afraid +but continued to ladle out the honey until she had +secured all that was in the tree. Then she returned to +the cabin, where her mother was weeping and bemoaning +the fate of her darling child, and the good woman was +greatly astonished to find Zella had escaped injury.</p> + +<p>Again they went to the woods to search for honey, and +although the mother always ran away whenever the bees +came near them, Zella paid no attention to the +creatures but kept at her work, so that before supper +time came the pails were again filled to overflowing +with delicious honey.</p> + +<p>"With such good fortune as we have had this day," +said her mother, "we shall soon gather enough honey for +you to carry to Queen Cor." For it seems the wicked +Queen was very fond of honey and it had been Zella's +custom to go, once every year, to the City of Coregos, +to carry the Queen a supply of sweet honey for her +table. Usually she had but one pail.</p> + +<p>"But now," said Zella, "I shall be able to carry two +pailsful to the Queen, who will, I am sure, give me a +good price for it."</p> + +<p>"True," answered her mother, "and, as the boy Prince +may take it into his head to conquer Coregos, as well +as Regos, I think it best for you to start on your +journey to Queen Cor tomorrow morning. Do you not agree +with me, Nikobob?" she added, turning to her husband, +the charcoal-burner, who was eating his supper.</p> + +<p>"I agree with you," he replied. "If Zella must go to +the City of Coregos, she may as well start to-morrow +morning."</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='Chapter_Ten'></a><h2>Chapter Ten</h2> + +<h3>The Cunning of Queen Cor</h3> +<br /> + +<p>You may be sure the Queen of Coregos was not well +pleased to have King Gos and all his warriors living in +her city after they had fled from their own. They were +savage natured and quarrelsome men at all times, and +their tempers had not improved since their conquest by +the Prince of Pingaree. Moreover, they were eating up +Queen Cor's provisions and crowding the houses of her +own people, who grumbled and complained until their +Queen was heartily tired.</p> + +<p>"Shame on you!" she said to her husband, King Gos, +"to be driven out of your city by a boy, a roly-poly +King and a billy goat! Why do you not go back and fight +them?"</p> + +<p>"No human can fight against the powers of magic," +returned the King in a surly voice. "That boy is either +a fairy or under the protection of fairies. We escaped +with our lives only because we were quick to run away; +but, should we return to Regos, the same terrible power +that burst open the city gates would crush us all to +atoms."</p> + +<p>"Bah! you are a coward," cried the Queen, tauntingly.</p> + +<p>"I am not a coward," said the big King. "I have +killed in battle scores of my enemies; by the might of +my sword and my good right arm I have conquered many +nations; all my life people have feared me. But no one +would dare face the tremendous power of the Prince of +Pingaree, boy though he is. It would not be courage, it +would be folly, to attempt it."</p> + +<p>"Then meet his power with cunning," suggested the +Queen. "Take my advice, and steal over to Regos at +night, when it is dark, and capture or destroy the boy +while he sleeps."</p> + +<p>"No weapon can touch his body," was the answer. "He +bears a charmed life and cannot be injured."</p> + +<p>"Does the fat King possess magic powers, or the +goat?" inquired Cor.</p> + +<p>"I think not," said Gos. "We could not injure them, +indeed, any more than we could the boy, but they did +not seem to have any unusual strength, although the +goat's head is harder than a battering-ram."</p> + +<p>"Well," mused the Queen, "there is surely some way to +conquer that slight boy. If you are afraid to undertake +the job, I shall go myself. By some stratagem I shall +manage to make him my prisoner. He will not dare to +defy a Queen, and no magic can stand against a woman's +cunning."</p> + +<p>"Go ahead, if you like," replied the King, with an +evil grin, "and if you are hung up by the thumbs or +cast into a dungeon, it will serve you right for +thinking you can succeed where a skilled warrior dares +not make the attempt."</p> + +<p>"I'm not afraid," answered the Queen. "It is only +soldiers and bullies who are cowards."</p> + +<p>In spite of this assertion, Queen Cor was not so +brave as she was cunning. For several days she thought +over this plan and that, and tried to decide which was +most likely to succeed. She had never seen the boy +Prince but had heard so many tales of him from the +defeated warriors, and especially from Captain Buzzub, +that she had learned to respect his power.</p> + +<p>Spurred on by the knowledge that she would never get +rid of her unwelcome guests until Prince Inga was +overcome and Regos regained for King Gos, the Queen of +Coregos finally decided to trust to luck and her native +wit to defeat a simple-minded boy, however powerful he +might be. Inga could not suspect what she was going to +do, because she did not know herself. She intended to +act boldly and trust to chance to win.</p> + +<p>It is evident that had the cunning Queen known that +Inga had lost all his magic, she would not have devoted +so much time to the simple matter of capturing him, but +like all others she was impressed by the marvelous +exhibition of power he had shown in capturing Regos, +and had no reason to believe the boy was less powerful +now.</p> + +<p>One morning Queen Cor boldly entered a boat, and, +taking four men with her as an escort and bodyguard, +was rowed across the narrow channel to Regos. Prince +Inga was sitting in the palace playing checkers with +King Rinkitink when a servant came to him, saying that +Queen Cor had arrived and desired an audience with him.</p> + +<p>With many misgivings lest the wicked Queen discover +that he had now lost his magic powers, the boy ordered +her to be admitted, and she soon entered the room and +bowed low before him, in mock respect.</p> + +<p>Cor was a big woman, almost as tall as King Gos. She +had flashing black eyes and the dark complexion you see +on gypsies. Her temper, when irritated, was something +dreadful, and her face wore an evil expression which +she tried to cover by smiling sweetly — often when she +meant the most mischief.</p> + +<p>"I have come," said she in a low voice, "to render +homage to the noble Prince of Pingaree. I am told that +Your Highness is the strongest person in the world, and +invincible in battle, and therefore I wish you to +become my friend, rather than my enemy."</p> + +<p>Now Inga did not know how to reply to this speech. He +disliked the appearance of the woman and was afraid of +her and he was unused to deception and did not know how +to mask his real feelings. So he took time to think +over his answer, which he finally made in these words:</p> + +<p>"I have no quarrel with Your Majesty, and my only +reason for coming here is to liberate my father and +mother, and my people, whom you and your husband have +made your slaves, and to recover the goods King Gos has +plundered from the Island of Pingaree. This I hope soon +to accomplish, and if you really wish to be my friend, +you can assist me greatly."</p> + +<p>While he was speaking Queen Cor had been studying the +boy's face stealthily, from the corners of her eyes, +and she said to herself: "He is so small and innocent +that I believe I can capture him alone, and with ease. +He does not seem very terrible and I suspect that King +Gos and his warriors were frightened at nothing."</p> + +<p>Then, aloud, she said to Inga:</p> + +<p>"I wish to invite you, mighty Prince, and your +friend, the great King of Gilgad, to visit my poor +palace at Coregos, where all my people shall do you +honor. Will you come?"</p> + +<p>"At present," replied Inga, uneasily, "I must refuse +your kind invitation."</p> + +<p>"There will be feasting, and dancing girls, and games +and fireworks," said the Queen, speaking as if eager to +entice him and at each word coming a step nearer to +where he stood.</p> + +<p>"I could not enjoy them while my poor parents are +slaves," said the boy, sadly.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure of that?" asked Queen Cor, and by that +time she was close beside Inga. Suddenly she leaned +forward and threw both of her long arms around Inga's +body, holding him in a grasp that was like a vise.</p> + +<p>Now Rinkitink sprang forward to rescue his friend, +but Cor kicked out viciously with her foot and struck +the King squarely on his stomach — a very tender place +to be kicked, especially if one is fat. Then, still +hugging Inga tightly, the Queen called aloud:</p> + +<p>"I've got him! Bring in the ropes."</p> + +<p>Instantly the four men she had brought with her +sprang into the room and bound the boy hand and foot. +Next they seized Rinkitink, who was still rubbing his +stomach, and bound him likewise.</p> + +<p>With a laugh of wicked triumph, Queen Cor now led her +captives down to the boat and returned with them to +Coregos.</p> + +<p>Great was the astonishment of King Gos and his +warriors when they saw that the mighty Prince of +Pingaree, who had put them all to flight, had been +captured by a woman. Cowards as they were, they now +crowded around the boy and jeered at him, and some of +them would have struck him had not the Queen cried out:</p> + +<p>"Hands off! He is my prisoner, remember not yours."</p> + +<p>"Well, Cor, what are you going to do with him?" +inquired King Gos.</p> + +<p>"I shall make him my slave, that he may amuse my idle +hours. For he is a pretty boy, and gentle, although he +did frighten all of you big warriors so terribly."</p> + +<p>The King scowled at this speech, not liking to be +ridiculed, but he said nothing more. He and his men +returned that same day to Regos, after restoring the +bridge of boats. And they held a wild carnival of +rejoicing, both in the King's palace and in the city, +although the poor people of Regos who were not warriors +were all sorry that the kind young Prince had been +captured by his enemies and could rule them no longer.</p> + +<p>When her unwelcome guests had all gone back to Regos +and the Queen was alone in her palace, she ordered Inga +and Rinkitink brought before her and their bonds +removed. They came sadly enough, knowing they were in +serious straits and at the mercy of a cruel mistress. +Inga had taken counsel of the White Pearl, which had +advised him to bear up bravely under his misfortune, +promising a change for the better very soon. With this +promise to comfort him, Inga faced the Queen with a +dignified bearing that indicated both pride and +courage.</p> + +<p>"Well, youngster," said she, in a cheerful tone +because she was pleased with her success, "you played a +clever trick on my poor husband and frightened him +badly, but for that prank I am inclined to forgive you. +Hereafter I intend you to be my page, which means that +you must fetch and carry for me at my will. And let me +advise you to obey my every whim without question or +delay, for when I am angry I become ugly, and when I am +ugly someone is sure to feel the lash. Do you +understand me?"</p> + +<p>Inga bowed, but made no answer. Then she turned to +Rinkitink and said:</p> + +<p>"As for you, I cannot decide how to make you useful +to me, as you are altogether too fat and awkward to +work in the fields. It may be, however, that I can use +you as a pincushion."</p> + +<p>"What!" cried Rinkitink in horror, "would you stick +pins into the King of Gilgad?"</p> + +<p>"Why not?" returned Queen Cor. "You are as fat as a +pincushion, as you must yourself admit, and whenever I +needed a pin I could call you to me." Then she laughed +at his frightened look and asked: "By the way, are you +ticklish?"</p> + +<p>This was the question Rinkitink had been dreading. He +gave a moan of despair and shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I should love to tickle the bottom of your feet with +a feather," continued the cruel woman. "Please take off +your shoes."</p> + +<p>"Oh, your Majesty!" pleaded poor Rinkitink, "I beg +you to allow me to amuse you in some other way. I can +dance, or I can sing you a song."</p> + +<p>"Well," she answered, shaking with laughter, "you may +sing a song — if it be a merry one. But you do not +seem in a merry mood."</p> + +<p>"I feel merry — indeed, Your Majesty, I do!" +protested Rinkitink, anxious to escape the tickling. +But even as he professed to "feel merry" his round, red +face wore an expression of horror and anxiety that was +realty comical.</p> + +<p>"Sing, then!" commanded Queen Cor, who was greatly +amused.</p> + +<p>Rinkitink gave a sigh of relief and after clearing +his throat and trying to repress his sobs he began to +sing this song-gently, at first, but finally roaring it +out at the top of his voice:</p> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"Oh!</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>There was a Baby Tiger lived in a men-ag-er-ie —</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy — they wouldn't set him free;</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>And ev'rybody thought that he was gentle as could be —</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy — Ba-by Ti-ger!</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"Oh!</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>They patted him upon his head and shook him by the paw —</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy — he had a bone to gnaw;</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>But soon he grew the biggest Tiger that you ever saw —</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy — what a Ti-ger!</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"Oh!</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>One day they came to pet the brute and he began to fight —</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy-how he did scratch and bite!</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>He broke the cage and in a rage he darted out of sight —</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy was a Ti-ger!"</span><br /> + +<p>"And is there a moral to the song?" asked Queen Cor, +when King Rinkitink had finished his song with great +spirit.</p> + +<p>"If there is," replied Rinkitink, "it is a warning +not to fool with tigers."</p> + +<p>The little Prince could not help smiling at this +shrewd answer, but Queen Cor frowned and gave the King +a sharp look.</p> + +<p>"Oh," said she; "I think I know the difference +between a tiger and a lapdog. But I'll bear the warning +in mind, just the same."</p> + +<p>For, after all her success in capturing them, she was +a little afraid of these people who had once displayed +such extraordinary powers.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='Chapter_Eleven'></a><h2>Chapter Eleven</h2> + +<h3>Zella Goes to Coregos</h3> +<br /> + +<p>The forest in which Nikobob lived with his wife and +daughter stood between the mountains and the City of +Regos, and a well-beaten path wound among the trees, +leading from the city to the mines. This path was used +by the King's messengers, and captured prisoners were +also sent by this way from Regos to work in the +underground caverns.</p> + +<p>Nikobob had built his cabin more than a mile away +from this path, that he might not be molested by the +wild and lawless soldiers of King Gos, but the family +of the charcoal-burner was surrounded by many creatures +scarcely less dangerous to encounter, and often in the +night they could hear savage animals growling and +prowling about the cabin. Because Nikobob minded his +own business and never hunted the wild creatures to +injure them, the beasts had come to regard him as one +of the natural dwellers in the forest and did not +molest him or his family. Still Zella and her mother +seldom wandered far from home, except on such errands +as carrying honey to Coregos, and at these times +Nikobob cautioned them to be very careful.</p> + +<p>So when Zella set out on her journey to Queen Cor, +with the two pails of honey in her hands, she was +undertaking a dangerous adventure and there was no +certainty that she would return safely to her loving +parents. But they were poor, and Queen Cor's money, +which they expected to receive for the honey, would +enable them to purchase many things that were needed; +so it was deemed best that Zella should go. She was a +brave little girl and poor people are often obliged to +take chances that rich ones are spared.</p> + +<p>A passing woodchopper had brought news to Nikobob's +cabin that Queen Cor had made a prisoner of the +conquering Prince of Pingaree and that Gos and his +warriors were again back in their city of Regos; but +these struggles and conquests were matters which, +however interesting, did not concern the poor charcoal- +burner or his family. They were more anxious over the +report that the warriors had become more reckless than +ever before, and delighted in annoying all the common +people; so Zella was told to keep away from the beaten +path as much as possible, that she might not encounter +any of the King's soldiers.</p> + +<p>"When it is necessary to choose between the warriors +and the wild beasts," said Nikobob, "the beasts will be +found the more merciful."</p> + +<p>The little girl had put on her best attire for the +journey and her mother threw a blue silk shawl over her +head and shoulders. Upon her feet were the pretty red +shoes her father had brought her from Regos. Thus +prepared, she kissed her parents good-bye and started +out with a light heart, carrying the pails of honey in +either hand.</p> + +<p>It was necessary for Zella to cross the path +that led from the mines to the city, but once on +the other side she was not likely to meet with +anyone, for she had resolved to cut through the +forest and so reach the bridge of boats without +entering the City of Regos, where she might be +interrupted. For an hour or two she found the +walking easy enough, but then the forest, which +in this part was unknown to her, became badly +tangled. The trees were thicker and creeping +vines intertwined between them. She had to +turn this way and that to get through at all, and +finally she came to a place where a network of +vines and branches effectually barred her farther +progress.</p> + +<p>Zella was dismayed, at first, when she encountered +this obstacle, but setting down her pails she made an +endeavor to push the branches aside. At her touch they +parted as if by magic, breaking asunder like dried +twigs, and she found she could pass freely. At another +place a great log had fallen across her way, but the +little girl lifted it easily and cast it aside, +although six ordinary men could scarcely have moved it.</p> + +<p>The child was somewhat worried at this evidence of a +strength she had heretofore been ignorant that she +possessed. In order to satisfy herself that it was no +delusion, she tested her new-found power in many ways, +finding that nothing was too big nor too heavy for her +to lift. And, naturally enough, the girl gained courage +from these experiments and became confident that she +could protect herself in any emergency. When, +presently, a wild boar ran toward her, grunting +horribly and threatening her with its great tusks, she +did not climb a tree to escape, as she had always done +before on meeting such creatures, but stood still and +faced the boar. When it had come quite close and Zella +saw that it could not injure her — a fact that +astonished both the beast and the girl — she suddenly +reached down and seizing it by one ear threw the great +beast far off amongst the trees, where it fell headlong +to the earth, grunting louder than ever with surprise +and fear.</p> + +<p>The girl laughed merrily at this incident and, +picking up her pails, resumed her journey through the +forest. It is not recorded whether the wild boar told +his adventure to the other beasts or they had happened +to witness his defeat, but certain it is that Zella was +not again molested. A brown bear watched her pass +without making any movement in her direction and a +great puma — a beast much dreaded by all men — crept +out of her path as she approached, and disappeared +among the trees.</p> + +<p>Thus everything favored the girl's journey and she +made such good speed that by noon she emerged from the +forest's edge and found she was quite near to the +bridge of boats that led to Coregos. This she crossed +safely and without meeting any of the rude warriors she +so greatly feared, and five minutes later the daughter +of the charcoal-burner was seeking admittance at the +back door of Queen Cor's palace.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='Chapter_Twelve'></a><h2>Chapter Twelve</h2> + +<h3>The Excitement of Bilbil the Goat</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Our story must now return to one of our characters +whom we have been forced to neglect. The temper of +Bilbil the goat was not sweet under any circumstances, +and whenever he had a grievance he was inclined to be +quite grumpy. So, when his master settled down in the +palace of King Gos for a quiet life with the boy +Prince, and passed his time in playing checkers and +eating and otherwise enjoying himself, he had no use +whatever for Bilbil, and shut the goat in an upstairs +room to prevent his wandering through the city and +quarreling with the citizens. But this Bilbil did not +like at all. He became very cross and disagreeable at +being left alone and he did not speak nicely to the +servants who came to bring him food; therefore those +people decided not to wait upon him any more, resenting +his conversation and not liking to be scolded by a +lean, scraggly goat, even though it belonged to a +conqueror. The servants kept away from the room and +Bilbil grew more hungry and more angry every hour. He +tried to eat the rugs and ornaments, but found them not +at all nourishing. There was no grass to be had unless +he escaped from the palace.</p> + +<p>When Queen Cor came to capture Inga and Rinkitink, +both the prisoners were so filled with despair at their +own misfortune that they gave no thought whatever to +the goat, who was left in his room. Nor did Bilbil know +anything of the changed fortunes of his comrades until +he heard shouts and boisterous laughter in the +courtyard below. Looking out of a window, with the +intention of rebuking those who dared thus to disturb +him, Bilbil saw the courtyard quite filled with +warriors and knew from this that the palace had in some +way again fallen into the hands of the enemy.</p> + +<p>Now, although Bilbil was often exceedingly +disagreeable to King Rinkitink, as well as to the +Prince, and sometimes used harsh words in addressing +them, he was intelligent enough to know them to be his +friends, and to know that King Gos and his people were +his foes. In sudden anger, provoked by the sight of the +warriors and the knowledge that he was in the power of +the dangerous men of Regos, Bilbil butted his head +against the door of his room and burst it open. Then he +ran to the head of the staircase and saw King Gos +coming up the stairs followed by a long line of his +chief captains and warriors.</p> + +<p>The goat lowered his head, trembling with rage and +excitement, and just as the King reached the top stair +the animal dashed forward and butted His Majesty so +fiercely that the big and powerful King, who did not +expect an attack, doubled up and tumbled backward. His +great weight knocked over the man just behind him and +he in turn struck the next warrior and upset him, so +that in an instant the whole line of Bilbil's foes was +tumbling heels over head to the bottom of the stairs, +where they piled up in a heap, struggling and shouting +and in the mixup hitting one another with their fists, +until every man of them was bruised and sore.</p> + +<p>Finally King Gos scrambled out of the heap and rushed +up the stairs again, very angry indeed. Bilbil was +ready for him and a second time butted the King down +the stairs; but now the goat also lost his balance and +followed the King, landing full upon the confused heap +of soldiers. Then he kicked out so viciously with his +heels that he soon freed himself and dashed out of the +doorway of the palace.</p> + +<p>"Stop him!" cried King Gos, running after.</p> + +<p>But the goat was now so wild and excited that it was +not safe for anyone to stand in his way. None of the +men were armed and when one or two tried to head off +the goat, Bilbil sent them sprawling upon the ground. +Most of the warriors, however, were wise enough not to +attempt to interfere with his flight.</p> + +<p>Coursing down the street, Bilbil found himself +approaching the bridge of boats and without pausing to +think where it might lead him he crossed over and +proceeded on his way. A few moments later a great stone +building blocked his path. It was the palace of Queen +Cor, and seeing the gates of the courtyard standing +wide open, Bilbil rushed through them without +slackening his speed.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='Chapter_Thirteen'></a><h2>Chapter Thirteen</h2> + +<h3>Zella Saves the Prince</h3> +<br /> + +<p>The wicked Queen of Coregos was in a very bad humor +this morning, for one of her slave drivers had come +from the fields to say that a number of slaves had +rebelled and would not work.</p> + +<p>"Bring them here to me!" she cried savagely. "A good +whipping may make them change their minds."</p> + +<p>So the slave driver went to fetch the rebellious ones +and Queen Cor sat down to eat her breakfast, an ugly +look on her face.</p> + +<p>Prince Inga had been ordered to stand behind his new +mistress with a big fan of peacock's feathers, but he +was so unused to such service that he awkwardly brushed +her ear with the fan. At once she flew into a terrible +rage and slapped the Prince twice with her hand-blows +that tingled, too, for her hand was big and hard and +she was not inclined to be gentle. Inga took the blows +without shrinking or uttering a cry, although they +stung his pride far more than his body. But King +Rinkitink, who was acting as the queen's butler and had +just brought in her coffee, was so startled at seeing +the young Prince punished that he tipped over the urn +and the hot coffee streamed across the lap of the +Queen's best morning gown.</p> + +<p>Cor sprang from her seat with a scream of anger and +poor Rinkitink would doubtless have been given a +terrible beating had not the slave driver returned at +this moment and attracted the woman's attention. The +overseer had brought with him all of the women slaves +from Pingaree, who had been loaded down with chains and +were so weak and ill they could scarcely walk, much +less work in the fields.</p> + +<p>Prince Inga's eyes were dimmed with sorrowful tears +when he discovered how his poor people had been abused, +but his own plight was so helpless that he was unable +to aid them. Fortunately the boy's mother, Queen Garee, +was not among these slaves, for Queen Cor had placed +her in the royal dairy to make butter.</p> + +<p>"Why do you refuse to work?" demanded Cor in a harsh +voice, as the slaves from Pingaree stood before her, +trembling and with downcast eyes.</p> + +<p>"Because we lack strength to perform the tasks your +overseers demand," answered one of the women.</p> + +<p>"Then you shall be whipped until your strength +returns!" exclaimed the Queen, and turning to Inga, she +commanded: "Get me the whip with the seven lashes."</p> + +<p>As the boy left the room, wondering how he might +manage to save the unhappy women from their undeserved +punishment, he met a girl entering by the back way, who +asked:</p> + +<p>"Can you tell me where to find Her Majesty, Queen +Cor?"</p> + +<p>"She is in the chamber with the red dome, where green +dragons are painted upon the walls," replied Inga; "but +she is in an angry and ungracious mood to-day. Why do +you wish to see her?"</p> + +<p>"I have honey to sell," answered the girl, who was +Zella, just come from the forest. "The Queen is very +fond of my honey."</p> + +<p>"You may go to her, if you so desire," said the boy, +"but take care not to anger the cruel Queen, or she may +do you a mischief."</p> + +<p>"Why should she harm me, who brings her the honey she +so dearly loves?" inquired the child innocently. "But I +thank you for your warning; and I will try not to anger +the Queen."</p> + +<p>As Zella started to go, Inga's eyes suddenly fell +upon her shoes and instantly he recognized them as his +own. For only in Pingaree were shoes shaped in this +manner: high at the heel and pointed at the toes.</p> + +<p>"Stop!" he cried in an excited voice, and the girl +obeyed, wonderingly. "Tell me," he continued, more +gently, "where did you get those shoes?"</p> + +<p>"My father brought them to me from Regos," she +answered.</p> + +<p>"From Regos!"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Are they not pretty?" asked Zella, looking down +at her feet to admire them. "One of them my father +found by the palace wall, and the other on an ash-heap. +So he brought them to me and they fit me perfectly."</p> + +<p>By this time Inga was trembling with eager joy, which +of course the girl could not understand.</p> + +<p>"What is your name, little maid?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I am called Zella, and my father is Nikobob, the +charcoal-burner."</p> + +<p>"Zella is a pretty name. I am Inga, Prince of +Pingaree," said he, "and the shoes you are now wearing, +Zella, belong to me. They were not cast away, as your +father supposed, but were lost. Will you let me have +them again?"</p> + +<p>Zella's eyes filled with tears.</p> + +<p>"Must I give up my pretty shoes, then?" she asked. +"They are the only ones I have ever owned."</p> + +<p>Inga was sorry for the poor child, but he knew how +important it was that he regain possession of the Magic +Pearls. So he said, pleadingly:</p> + +<p>"Please let me have them, Zella. See! I will exchange +for them the shoes I now have on, which are newer and +prettier than the others."</p> + +<p>The girl hesitated. She wanted to please the boy +Prince, yet she hated to exchange the shoes which her +father had brought her as a present.</p> + +<p>"If you will give me the shoes," continued the boy, +anxiously, "I will promise to make you and your father +and mother rich and prosperous. Indeed, I will promise +to grant any favors you may ask of me," and he sat down +upon the floor and drew off the shoes he was wearing +and held them toward the girl.</p> + +<p>"I'll see if they will fit me," said Zella, taking +off her left shoe — the one that contained the Pink +Pearl — and beginning to put on one of Inga's.</p> + +<p>Just then Queen Cor, angry at being made to +wait for her whip with the seven lashes, rushed +into the room to find Inga. Seeing the boy sitting +upon the floor beside Zella, the woman sprang +toward him to beat him with her clenched fists; +but Inga had now slipped on the shoe and the +Queen's blows could not reach his body.</p> + +<p>Then Cor espied the whip lying beside Inga and +snatching it up she tried to lash him with it — all to +no avail.</p> + +<p>While Zella sat horrified by this scene, the Prince, +who realized he had no time to waste, reached out and +pulled the right shoe from the girl's foot, quickly +placing it upon his own. Then he stood up and, facing +the furious but astonished Queen, said to her in a +quiet voice:</p> + +<p>"Madam, please give me that whip."</p> + +<p>"I won't!" answered Cor. "I'm going to lash those +Pingaree women with it."</p> + +<p>The boy seized hold of the whip and with irresistible +strength drew it from the Queen's hand. But she drew +from her bosom a sharp dagger and with the swiftness of +lightning aimed a blow at Inga's heart. He merely stood +still and smiled, for the blade rebounded and fell +clattering to the floor.</p> + +<p>Then, at last, Queen Cor understood the magic power +that had terrified her husband but which she had +ridiculed in her ignorance, not believing in it. She +did not know that Inga's power had been lost, and found +again, but she realized the boy was no common foe and +that unless she could still manage to outwit him her +reign in the Island of Coregos was ended. To gain time, +she went back to the red-domed chamber and seated +herself in her throne, before which were grouped the +weeping slaves from Pingaree.</p> + +<p>Inga had taken Zella's hand and assisted her to put +on the shoes he had given her in exchange for his own. +She found them quite comfortable and did not know she +had lost anything by the transfer.</p> + +<p>"Come with me," then said the boy Prince, and led her +into the presence of Queen Cor, who was giving +Rinkitink a scolding. To the overseer Inga said.</p> + +<p>"Give me the keys which unlock these chains, that I +may set these poor women at liberty."</p> + +<p>"Don't you do it!" screamed Queen Cor.</p> + +<p>"If you interfere, madam," said the boy, "I will put +you into a dungeon."</p> + +<p>By this Rinkitink knew that Inga had recovered his +Magic Pearls and the little fat King was so overjoyed +that he danced and capered all around the room. But the +Queen was alarmed at the threat and the slave driver, +fearing the conqueror of Regos, tremblingly gave up the +keys.</p> + +<p>Inga quickly removed all the shackles from the women +of his country and comforted them, telling them they +should work no more but would soon be restored to their +homes in Pingaree. Then he commanded the slave driver +to go and get all the children who had been made +slaves, and to bring them to their mothers. The man +obeyed and left at once to perform his errand, while +Queen Cor, growing more and more uneasy, suddenly +sprang from her throne and before Inga could stop her +had rushed through the room and out into the courtyard +of the palace, meaning to make her escape. Rinkitink +followed her, running as fast as he could go.</p> + +<p>It was at this moment that Bilbil, in his mad dash +from Regos, turned in at the gates of the courtyard, +and as he was coming one way and Queen Cor was going +the other they bumped into each other with great force. +The woman sailed through the air, over Bilbil's head, +and landed on the ground outside the gates, where her +crown rolled into a ditch and she picked herself up, +half dazed, and continued her flight. Bilbil was also +somewhat dazed by the unexpected encounter, but he +continued his rush rather blindly and so struck poor +Rinkitink, who was chasing after Queen Cor. They rolled +over one another a few times and then Rinkitink sat up +and Bilbil sat up and they looked at each other in +amazement.</p> + +<p>"Bilbil," said the King, "I'm astonished at you!"</p> + +<p>"Your Majesty," said Bilbil, "I expected kinder +treatment at your hands."</p> + +<p>"You interrupted me," said Rinkitink.</p> + +<p>"There was plenty of room without your taking my +path," declared the goat.</p> + +<p>And then Inga came running out and said. "Where is +the Queen?"</p> + +<p>"Gone," replied Rinkitink, "but she cannot go far, as +this is an island. However, I have found Bilbil, and +our party is again reunited. You have recovered your +magic powers, and again we are masters of the +situation. So let us be thankful."</p> + +<p>Saying this, the good little King got upon his feet +and limped back into the throne room to help comfort +the women.</p> + +<p>Presently the children of Pingaree, who had been +gathered together by the overseer, were brought in and +restored to their mothers, and there was great +rejoicing among them, you may be sure.</p> + +<p>"But where is Queen Garee, my dear mother?" +questioned Inga; but the women did not know and it was +some time before the overseer remembered that one of +the slaves from Pingaree had been placed in the royal +dairy. Perhaps this was the woman the boy was seeking.</p> + +<p>Inga at once commanded him to lead the way to the +butter house, but when they arrived there Queen Garee +was nowhere in the place, although the boy found a silk +scarf which he recognized as one that his mother used +to wear. Then they began a search throughout the island +of Coregos, but could not find Inga's mother anywhere.</p> + +<p>When they returned to the palace of Queen Cor, +Rinkitink discovered that the bridge of boats had again +been removed, separating them from Regos, and from this +they suspected that Queen Cor had fled to her husband's +island and had taken Queen Garee with her. Inga was +much perplexed what to do and returned with his friends +to the palace to talk the matter over.</p> + +<p>Zella was now crying because she had not sold her +honey and was unable to return to her parents on the +island of Regos, but the boy prince comforted her and +promised she should be protected until she could be +restored to her home. Rinkitink found Queen Cor's +purse, which she had had no time to take with her, and +gave Zella several gold pieces for the honey. Then Inga +ordered the palace servants to prepare a feast for all +the women and children of Pingaree and to prepare for +them beds in the great palace, which was large enough +to accommodate them all.</p> + +<p>Then the boy and the goat and Rinkitink and Zella +went into a private room to consider what should be +done next.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='Chapter_Fourteen'></a><h2>Chapter Fourteen</h2> + +<h3>The Escape</h3> +<br /> + +<p>"Our fault," said Rinkitink, "is that we conquer only +one of these twin islands at a time. When we +conquered Regos, our foes all came to Coregos, and now +that we have conquered Coregos, the Queen has fled to +Regos. And each time they removed the bridge of boats, +so that we could not follow them."</p> + +<p>"What has become of our own boat, in which we came +from Pingaree?" asked Bilbil.</p> + +<p>"We left it on the shore of Regos," replied the +Prince, "but I wonder if we could not get it again."</p> + +<p>"Why don't you ask the White Pearl?" suggested +Rinkitink.</p> + +<p>"That is a good idea," returned the boy, and at once +he drew the White Pearl from its silken bag and held it +to his ear. Then he asked: "How may I regain our boat?"</p> + +<p>The Voice of the Pearl replied: "Go to the south end +of the Island of Coregos, and clap your hands three +times and the boat will come to you."</p> + +<p>"Very good!" cried Inga, and then he turned to his +companions and said: "We shall be able to get our boat +whenever we please; but what then shall we do?"</p> + +<p>"Take me home in it!" pleaded Zella.</p> + +<p>"Come with me to my City of Gilgad," said the King, +"where you will be very welcome to remain forever."</p> + +<p>"No," answered Inga, "I must rescue my father and +mother, as well as my people. Already I have the women +and children of Pingaree, but the men are with my +father in the mines of Regos, and my dear mother has +been taken away by Queen Cor. Not until all are rescued +will I consent to leave these islands."</p> + +<p>"Quite right!" exclaimed Bilbil.</p> + +<p>"On second thought," said Rinkitink, "I agree with +you. If you are careful to sleep in your shoes, and +never take them off again, I believe you will be able +to perform the task you have undertaken."</p> + +<p>They counseled together for a long time as to their +mode of action and it was finally considered best to +make the attempt to liberate King Kitticut first of +all, and with him the men from Pingaree. This would +give them an army to assist them and afterward they +could march to Regos and compel Queen Cor to give up +the Queen of Pingaree. Zella told them that they could +go in their boat along the shore of Regos to a point +opposite the mines, thus avoiding any conflict with the +warriors of King Gos.</p> + +<p>This being considered the best course to pursue, they +resolved to start on the following morning, as night +was even now approaching. The servants being all busy +in caring for the women and children, Zella undertook +to get a dinner for Inga and Rinkitink and herself and +soon prepared a fine meal in the palace kitchen, for +she was a good little cook and had often helped her +mother. The dinner was served in a small room +overlooking the gardens and Rinkitink thought the best +part of it was the sweet honey, which he spread upon +the biscuits that Zella had made. As for Bilbil, he +wandered through the palace grounds and found some +grass that made him a good dinner.</p> + +<p>During the evening Inga talked with the women and +cheered them, promising soon to reunite them with their +husbands who were working in the mines and to send them +back to their own island of Pingaree.</p> + +<p>Next morning the boy rose bright and early and found +that Zella had already prepared a nice breakfast. And +after the meal they went to the most southern point of +the island, which was not very far away, Rinkitink +riding upon Bilbil's back and Inga and Zella following +behind them, hand in hand.</p> + +<p>When they reached the water's edge the boy advanced +and clapped his hands together three times, as the +White Pearl had told him to do. And in a few moments +they saw in the distance the black boat with the silver +lining, coming swiftly toward them from the sea. +Presently it grounded on the beach and they all got +into it.</p> + +<p>Zella was delighted with the boat, which was the most +beautiful she had ever seen, and the marvel of its +coming to them through the water without anyone to row +it, made her a little afraid of the fairy craft. But +Inga picked up the oars and began to row and at once +the boat shot swiftly in the direction of Regos. They +rounded the point of that island where the city was +built and noticed that the shore was lined with +warriors who had discovered their boat but seemed +undecided whether to pursue it or not. This was +probably because they had received no commands what to +do, or perhaps they had learned to fear the magic +powers of these adventurers from Pingaree and were +unwilling to attack them unless their King ordered them +to.</p> + +<p>The coast on the western side of the Island of Regos +was very uneven and Zella, who knew fairly well the +location of the mines from the inland forest path, was +puzzled to decide which mountain they now viewed from +the sea was the one where the entrance to the +underground caverns was located. First she thought it +was this peak, and then she guessed it was that; so +considerable time was lost through her uncertainty.</p> + +<p>They finally decided to land and explore the country, +to see where they were, so Inga ran the boat into a +little rocky cove where they all disembarked. For an +hour they searched for the path without finding any +trace of it and now Zella believed they had gone too +far to the north and must return to another mountain +that was nearer to the city.</p> + +<p>Once again they entered the boat and followed the +winding coast south until they thought they had reached +the right place. By this time, however, it was growing +dark, for the entire day had been spent in the search +for the entrance to the mines, and Zella warned them +that it would be safer to spend the night in the boat +than on the land, where wild beasts were sure to +disturb them. None of them realized at this time how +fatal this day of search had been to their plans and +perhaps if Inga had realized what was going on he would +have landed and fought all the wild beasts in the +forest rather than quietly remain in the boat until +morning.</p> + +<p>However, knowing nothing of the cunning plans of +Queen Cor and King Gos, they anchored their boat in a +little bay and cheerfully ate their dinner, finding +plenty of food and drink in the boat's lockers. In the +evening the stars came out in the sky and tipped the +waves around their boat with silver. All around them +was delightfully still save for the occasional snarl of +a beast on the neighboring shore.</p> + +<p>They talked together quietly of their adventures and +their future plans and Zella told them her simple +history and how hard her poor father was obliged to +work, burning charcoal to sell for enough money to +support his wife and child. Nikobob might be the +humblest man in all Regos, but Zella declared he was a +good man, and honest, and it was not his fault that his +country was ruled by so wicked a King.</p> + +<p>Then Rinkitink, to amuse them, offered to sing a +song, and although Bilbil protested in his gruff way, +claiming that his master's voice was cracked and +disagreeable, the little King was encouraged by the +others to sing his song, which he did.</p> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"A red-headed man named Ned was dead;</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Sing fiddle-cum-faddle-cum-fi-do!</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>In battle he had lost his head;</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Sing fiddle-cum-faddl-cum-fi-do!</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>'Alas, poor Ned,' to him I said,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>'How did you lose your head so red?'</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Sing fiddle-cum-faddle-cum-fi-do!</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"Said Ned: 'I for my country bled,'</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Sing fiddle-cum-faddle-cum-fi-do!</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>'Instead of dying safe in bed',</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Sing fiddle-cum-faddle-cum-fi-do!</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>'If I had only fled, instead,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>I then had been a head ahead.'</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Sing fiddle-cum-faddle-cum-fi-do!</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"I said to Ned —"</span><br /> +<br /> + +<p>"Do stop, Your Majesty!" pleaded Bilbil. "You're +making my head ache."</p> + +<p>"But the song isn't finished," replied Rinkitink, +"and as for your head aching, think of poor Ned, who +hadn't any head at all!"</p> + +<p>"I can think of nothing but your dismal singing," +retorted Bilbil. "Why didn't you choose a cheerful +subject, instead of telling how a man who was dead lost +his red head? Really, Rinkitink, I'm surprised at you."</p> + +<p>"I know a splendid song about a live man," said the +King.</p> + +<p>"Then don't sing it," begged Bilbil.</p> + +<p>Zella was both astonished and grieved by the +disrespectful words of the goat, for she had quite +enjoyed Rinkitink's singing and had been taught a +proper respect for Kings and those high in authority. +But as it was now getting late they decided to go to +sleep, that they might rise early the following +morning, so they all reclined upon the bottom of the +big boat and covered themselves with blankets which +they found stored underneath the seats for just such +occasions. They were not long in falling asleep and did +not waken until daybreak.</p> + +<p>After a hurried breakfast, for Inga was eager to +liberate his father, the boy rowed the boat ashore and +they all landed and began searching for the path. Zella +found it within the next half hour and declared they +must be very close to the entrance to the mines; so +they followed the path toward the north, Inga going +first, and then Zella following him, while Rinkitink +brought up the rear riding upon Bilbil's back.</p> + +<p>Before long they saw a great wall of rock towering +before them, in which was a low arched entrance, and on +either side of this entrance stood a guard, armed with +a sword and a spear. The guards of the mines were not +so fierce as the warriors of King Gos, their duty being +to make the slaves work at their tasks and guard them +from escaping; but they were as cruel as their cruel +master wished them to be, and as cowardly as they were +cruel.</p> + +<p>Inga walked up to the two men at the entrance and +said:</p> + +<p>"Does this opening lead to the mines of King Gos?"</p> + +<p>"It does," replied one of the guards, "but no one is +allowed to pass out who once goes in."</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless," said the boy, "we intend to go in and +we shall come out whenever it pleases us to do so. I am +the Prince of Pingaree, and I have come to liberate my +people, whom King Gos has enslaved."</p> + +<p>Now when the two guards heard this speech they looked +at one another and laughed, and one of them said: "The +King was right, for he said the boy was likely to come +here and that he would try to set his people free. Also +the King commanded that we must keep the little Prince +in the mines, and set him to work, together with his +companions."</p> + +<p>"Then let us obey the King," replied the other man.</p> + +<p>Inga was surprised at hearing this, and asked:</p> + +<p>"When did King Gos give you this order?"</p> + +<p>"His Majesty was here in person last night," replied +the man, "and went away again but an hour ago. He +suspected you were coming here and told us to capture +you if we could."</p> + +<p>This report made the boy very anxious, not for +himself but for his father, for he feared the King was +up to some mischief. So he hastened to enter the mines +and the guards did nothing to oppose him or his +companions, their orders being to allow him to go in +but not to come out.</p> + +<p>The little group of adventurers passed through a long +rocky corridor and reached a low, wide cavern where +they found a dozen guards and a hundred slaves, the +latter being hard at work with picks and shovels +digging for gold, while the guards stood over them with +long whips.</p> + +<p>Inga found many of the men from Pingaree among these +slaves, but King Kitticut was not in this cavern; so +they passed through it and entered another corridor +that led to a second cavern. Here also hundreds of men +were working, but the boy did not find his father +amongst them, and so went on to a third cavern.</p> + +<p>The corridors all slanted downward, so that the +farther they went the lower into the earth they +descended, and now they found the air hot and close and +difficult to breathe. Flaming torches were stuck into +the walls to give light to the workers, and these added +to the oppressive heat.</p> + +<p>The third and lowest cavern was the last in the +mines, and here were many scores of slaves and many +guards to keep them at work. So far, none of the guards +had paid any attention to Inga's party, but allowed +them to proceed as they would, and while the slaves +cast curious glances at the boy and girl and man and +goat, they dared say nothing. But now the boy walked up +to some of the men of Pingaree and asked news of his +father, telling them not to fear the guards as he would +protect them from the whips.</p> + +<p>Then he Teamed that King Kitticut had indeed been +working in this very cavern until the evening before, +when King Gos had come and taken him away — still +loaded with chains.</p> + +<p>"Seems to me," said King Rinkitink, when he heard +this report, "that Gos has carried your father away to +Regos, to prevent us from rescuing him. He may hide +poor Kitticut in a dungeon, where we cannot find him."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you are right," answered the boy, "but I am +determined to find him, wherever he may be."</p> + +<p>Inga spoke firmly and with courage, but he was +greatly disappointed to find that King Gos had been +before him at the mines and had taken his father away. +However, he tried not to feel disheartened, believing +he would succeed in the end, in spite of all +opposition. Turning to the guards, he said:</p> + +<p>"Remove the chains from these slaves and set them +free."</p> + +<p>The guards laughed at this order, and one of them +brought forward a handful of chains, saying: "His +Majesty has commanded us to make you, also, a slave, +for you are never to leave these caverns again."</p> + +<p>Then he attempted to place the chains on Inga, but +the boy indignantly seized them and broke them apart as +easily as if they had been cotton cords. When a dozen +or more of the guards made a dash to capture him, the +Prince swung the end of the chain like a whip and drove +them into a corner, where they cowered and begged for +mercy.</p> + +<p>Stories of the marvelous strength of the boy Prince +had already spread to the mines of Regos, and although +King Gos had told them that Inga had been deprived of +all his magic power, the guards now saw this was not +true, so they deemed it wise not to attempt to oppose +him.</p> + +<p>The chains of the slaves had all been riveted fast to +their ankles and wrists, but Inga broke the bonds of +steel with his hands and set the poor men free — not +only those from Pingaree but all who had been captured +in the many wars and raids of King Gos. They were very +grateful, as you may suppose, and agreed to support +Prince Inga in whatever action he commanded.</p> + +<p>He led them to the middle cavern, where all the +guards and overseers fled in terror at his approach, +and soon he had broken apart the chains of the slaves +who had been working in that part of the mines. Then +they approached the first cavern and liberated all +there.</p> + +<p>The slaves had been treated so cruelly by the +servants of King Gos that they were eager to pursue and +slay them, in revenge; but Inga held them back and +formed them into companies, each company having its own +leader. Then he called the leaders together and +instructed them to march in good order along the path +to the City of Regos, where he would meet them and +tell them what to do next.</p> + +<p>They readily agreed to obey him, and, arming +themselves with iron bars and pick-axes which they +brought from the mines, the slaves began their march to +the city.</p> + +<p>Zella at first wished to be left behind, that she +might make her way to her home, but neither Rinkitink +nor Inga thought it was safe for her to wander alone +through the forest, so they induced her to return with +them to the city.</p> + +<p>The boy beached his boat this time at the same place +as when he first landed at Regos, and while many of the +warriors stood on the shore and before the walls of the +city, not one of them attempted to interfere with the +boy in any way. Indeed, they seemed uneasy and anxious, +and when Inga met Captain Buzzub the boy asked if +anything had happened in his absence.</p> + +<p>"A great deal has happened," replied Buzzub. "Our +King and Queen have run away and left us, and we don't +know what to do."</p> + +<p>"Run away!" exclaimed Inga. "Where did they go to?"</p> + +<p>"Who knows?" said the man, shaking his head +despondently. "They departed together a few hours ago, +in a boat with forty rowers, and they took with them +the King and Queen of Pingaree!"</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='Chapter_Fifteen'></a><h2>Chapter Fifteen</h2> + +<h3>The Flight of the Rulers</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Now it seems that when Queen Cor fled from her island +to Regos, she had wit enough, although greatly frightened, +to make a stop at the royal dairy, which was near +to the bridge, and to drag poor Queen Garee from the +butter-house and across to Regos with her. The warriors +of King Gos had never before seen the terrible Queen +Cor frightened, and therefore when she came running +across the bridge of boats, dragging the Queen of +Pingaree after her by one arm, the woman's great fright +had the effect of terrifying the waiting warriors.</p> + +<p>"Quick!" cried Cor. "Destroy the bridge, or we are +lost."</p> + +<p>While the men were tearing away the bridge of boats +the Queen ran up to the palace of Gos, where she met +her husband.</p> + +<p>"That boy is a wizard!" she gasped. "There is no +standing against him."</p> + +<p>"Oh, have you discovered his magic at last?" replied +Gos, laughing in her face. "Who, now, is the coward?"</p> + +<p>"Don't laugh!" cried Queen Cor. "It is no laughing +matter. Both our islands are as good as conquered, this +very minute. What shall we do, Gos?"</p> + +<p>"Come in," he said, growing serious, "and let us talk +it over."</p> + +<p>So they went into a room of the palace and talked +long and earnestly.</p> + +<p>"The boy intends to liberate his father and mother, +and all the people of Pingaree, and to take them back +to their island," said Cor. "He may also destroy our +palaces and make us his slaves. I can see but one way, +Gos, to prevent him from doing all this, and whatever +else he pleases to do."</p> + +<p>"What way is that?" asked King Gos.</p> + +<p>"We must take the boy's parents away from here as +quickly as possible. I have with me the Queen of +Pingaree, and you can run up to the mines and get the +King. Then we will carry them away in a boat and hide +them where the boy cannot find them, with all his +magic. We will use the King and Queen of Pingaree as +hostages, and send word to the boy wizard that if he +does not go away from our islands and allow us to rule +them undisturbed, in our own way, we will put his +father and mother to death. Also we will say that as +long as we are let alone his parents will be safe, +although still safely hidden. I believe, Gos, that in +this way we can compel Prince Ingato obey us, for he +seems very fond of his parents."</p> + +<p>"It isn't a bad idea," said Gos, reflectively; "but +where can we hide the King and Queen, so that the boy +cannot find them?"</p> + +<p>"In the country of the Nome King, on the mainland +away at the south," she replied. "The nomes are our +friends, and they possess magic powers that will enable +them to protect the prisoners from discovery. If we can +manage to get the King and Queen of Pingaree to the +Nome Kingdom before the boy knows what we are doing, I +am sure our plot will succeed."</p> + +<p>Gos gave the plan considerable thought in the next +five minutes, and the more he thought about it the more +clever and reasonable it seemed. So he agreed to do as +Queen Cor suggested and at once hurried away to the +mines, where he arrived before Prince Inga did. The +next morning he carried King Kitticut back to Regos.</p> + +<p>While Gos was gone, Queen Cor busied herself in +preparing a large and swift boat for the journey. She +placed in it several bags of gold and jewels with which +to bribe the nomes, and selected forty of the strongest +oarsmen in Regos to row the boat. The instant King Gos +returned with his royal prisoner all was ready for +departure. They quickly entered the boat with their two +important captives and without a word of explanation to +any of their people they commanded the oarsmen to +start, and were soon out of sight upon the broad +expanse of the Nonestic Ocean.</p> + +<p>Inga arrived at the city some hours later and was +much distressed when he learned that his father and +mother had been spirited away from the islands.</p> + +<p>"I shall follow them, of course," said the boy to +Rinkitink, "and if I cannot overtake them on the ocean +I will search the world over until I find them. But +before I leave here I must arrange to send our people +back to Pingaree."</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='Chapter_Sixteen'></a><h2>Chapter Sixteen</h2> + +<h3>Nikobob Refuses a Crown</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Almost the first persons that Zella saw when she landed +from the silver-lined boat at Regos were her father and +mother. Nikobob and his wife had been greatly worried +when their little daughter failed to return from +Coregos, so they had set out to discover what had +become of her. When they reached the City of Regos, +that very morning, they were astonished to hear news of +all the strange events that had taken place; still, +they found comfort when told that Zella had been seen +in the boat of Prince Inga, which had gone to the +north. Then, while they wondered what this could mean, +the silver-lined boat appeared again, with their +daughter in it, and they ran down to the shore to give +her a welcome and many joyful kisses.</p> + +<p>Inga invited the good people to the palace of King +Gos, where he conferred with them, as well as with +Rinkitink and Bilbil.</p> + +<p>"Now that the King and Queen of Regos and Coregos +have run away," he said, "there is no one to rule these +islands. So it is my duty to appoint a new ruler, and +as Nikobob, Zella's father, is an honest and worthy +man, I shall make him the King of the Twin Islands."</p> + +<p>"Me?" cried Nikobob, astounded by this speech. "I beg +Your Highness, on my bended knees, not to do so cruel a +thing as to make me King!"</p> + +<p>"Why not?" inquired Rinkitink. "I'm a King, and I +know how it feels. I assure you, good Nikobob, that I +quite enjoy my high rank, although a jeweled crown is +rather heavy to wear in hot weather."</p> + +<p>"With you, noble sir, it is different," said Nikobob, +"for you are far from your kingdom and its trials and +worries and may do as you please. But to remain in +Regos, as King over these fierce and unruly warriors, +would be to live in constant anxiety and peril, and the +chances are that they would murder me within a month. +As I have done no harm to anyone and have tried to be a +good and upright man, I do not think that I should be +condemned to such a dreadful fate."</p> + +<p>"Very well," replied Inga, "we will say no more about +your being King. I merely wanted to make you rich and +prosperous, as I had promised Zella."</p> + +<p>"Please forget that promise," pleaded the charcoal- +burner, earnestly; "I have been safe from molestation +for many years, because I was poor and possessed +nothing that anyone else could envy. But if you make me +rich and prosperous I shall at once become the prey of +thieves and marauders and probably will lose my life in +the attempt to protect my fortune."</p> + +<p>Inga looked at the man in surprise.</p> + +<p>"What, then, can I do to please you?" he inquired.</p> + +<p>"Nothing more than to allow me to go home to my poor +cabin," said Nikobob.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," remarked King Rinkitink, "the charcoal- +burner has more wisdom concealed in that hard head of +his than we gave him credit for. But let us use that +wisdom, for the present, to counsel us what to do in +this emergency."</p> + +<p>"What you call my wisdom," said Nikobob, "is merely +common sense. I have noticed that some men become rich, +and are scorned by some and robbed by others. Other men +become famous, and are mocked at and derided by their +fellows. But the poor and humble man who lives +unnoticed and unknown escapes all these troubles and is +the only one who can appreciate the joy of living."</p> + +<p>"If I had a hand, instead of a cloven hoof, I'd like +to shake hands with you, Nikobob," said Bilbil the +goat. "But the poor man must not have a cruel master, +or he is undone."</p> + +<p>During the council they found, indeed, that the +advice of the charcoal-burner was both shrewd and +sensible, and they profited much by his words.</p> + +<p>Inga gave Captain Buzzub the command of the warriors +and made him promise to keep his men quiet and orderly +— if he could. Then the boy allowed all of King Gos's +former slaves, except those who came from Pingaree, to +choose what boats they required and to stock them with +provisions and row away to their own countries. When +these had departed, with grateful thanks and many +blessings showered upon the boy Prince who had set them +free, Inga made preparations to send his own people +home, where they were told to rebuild their houses and +then erect a new royal palace. They were then to await +patiently the coming of King Kitticut or Prince Inga.</p> + +<p>"My greatest worry," said the boy to his friends, "is +to know whom to appoint to take charge of this work of +restoring Pingaree to its former condition. My men are +all pearl fishers, and although willing and honest, +have no talent for directing others how to work."</p> + +<p>While the preparations for departure were being made, +Nikobob offered to direct the men of Pingaree, and did +so in a very capable manner. As the island had been +despoiled of all its valuable furniture and draperies +and rich cloths and paintings and statuary and the +like, as well as gold and silver and ornaments, Inga +thought it no more than just that they be replaced by +the spoilers. So he directed his people to search +through the storehouses of King Gos and to regain all +their goods and chattels that could be found. Also he +instructed them to take as much else as they required +to make their new homes comfortable, so that many boats +were loaded full of goods that would enable the people +to restore Pingaree to its former state of comfort.</p> + +<p>For his father's new palace the boy plundered the +palaces of both Queen Cor and King Gos, sending enough +wares away with his people to make King Kitticut's new +residence as handsomely fitted and furnished as had +been the one which the ruthless invaders from Regos had +destroyed.</p> + +<p>It was a great fleet of boats that set out one +bright, sunny morning on the voyage to Pingaree, +carrying all the men, women and children and all the +goods for refitting their homes. As he saw the fleet +depart, Prince Inga felt that he had already +successfully accomplished a part of his mission, but he +vowed he would never return to Pingaree in person until +he could take his father and mother there with him; +unless, indeed, King Gos wickedly destroyed his beloved +parents, in which case Inga would become the King of +Pingaree and it would be his duty to go to his people +and rule over them.</p> + +<p>It was while the last of the boats were preparing to +sail for Pingaree that Nikobob, who had been of great +service in getting them ready, came to Inga in a +thoughtful mood and said:</p> + +<p>"Your Highness, my wife and my daughter Zella have +been urging me to leave Regos and settle down in your +island, in a new home. From what your people have told +me, Pingaree is a better place to live than Regos, and +there are no cruel warriors or savage beasts there to +keep one in constant fear for the safety of those he +loves. Therefore, I have come to ask to go with my +family in one of the boats."</p> + +<p>Inga was much pleased with this proposal and not only +granted Nikobob permission to go to Pingaree to live, +but instructed him to take with him sufficient goods to +furnish his new home in a comfortable manner. In +addition to this, he appointed Nikobob general manager +of the buildings and of the pearl fisheries, until his +father or he himself arrived, and the people approved +this order because they liked Nikobob and knew him to +be just and honest.</p> + +<p>Soon as the last boat of the great flotilla had +disappeared from the view of those left at Regos, Inga +and Rinkitink prepared to leave the island themselves. +The boy was anxious to overtake the boat of King Gos, +if possible, and Rinkitink had no desire to remain in +Regos.</p> + +<p>Buzzub and the warriors stood silently on the shore +and watched the black boat with its silver lining +depart, and I am sure they were as glad to be rid of +their unwelcome visitors as Inga and Rinkitink and +Bilbil were to leave.</p> + +<p>The boy asked the White Pearl what direction the boat +of King Gos had taken and then he followed after it, +rowing hard and steadily for eight days without +becoming at all weary. But, although the black boat +moved very swiftly, it failed to overtake the barge +which was rowed by Queen Cor's forty picked oarsmen.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='Chapter_Seventeen'></a><h2>Chapter Seventeen</h2> + +<h3>The Nome King</h3> +<br /> + +<p>The Kingdom of the Nomes does not border on the +Nonestic Ocean, from which it is separated by the +Kingdom of Rinkitink and the Country of the Wheelers, +which is a part of the Land of Ev. Rinkitink's country +is separated from the country of the Nomes by a row of +high and steep mountains, from which it extends to the +sea. The Country of the Wheelers is a sandy waste that +is open on one side to the Nonestic Ocean and on the +other side has no barrier to separate it from the Nome +Country, therefore it was on the coast of the Wheelers +that King Cos landed — in a spot quite deserted by any +of the curious inhabitants of that country.</p> + +<p>The Nome Country is very large in extent, and is only +separated from the Land of Oz, on its eastern borders, +by a Deadly Desert that can not be crossed by mortals, +unless they are aided by the fairies or by magic.</p> + +<p>The nomes are a numerous and mischievous people, +living in underground caverns of wide extent, connected +one with another by arches and passages. The word +"nome" means "one who knows," and these people are so +called because they know where all the gold and silver +and precious stones are hidden in the earth — a +knowledge that no other living creatures share with +them. The nomes are busy people, constantly digging up +gold in one place and taking it to another place, where +they secretly bury it, and perhaps this is the reason +they alone know where to find it. The nomes were ruled, +at the time of which I write, by a King named Kaliko.</p> + +<p>King Gos had expected to be pursued by Inga in his +magic boat, so he made all the haste possible, urging +his forty rowers to their best efforts night and day. +To his joy he was not overtaken but landed on the sandy +beach of the Wheelers on the morning of the eighth day.</p> + +<p>The forty rowers were left with the boat, while Queen +Cor and King Cos, with their royal prisoners, who were +still chained, began the journey to the Nome King.</p> + +<p>It was not long before they passed the sands and +reached the rocky country belonging to the nomes, but +they were still a long way from the entrance to the +underground caverns in which lived the Nome King. There +was a dim path, winding between stones and boulders, +over which the walking was quite difficult, especially +as the path led up hills that were small mountains, and +then down steep and abrupt slopes where any misstep +might mean a broken leg. Therefore it was the second +day of their journey before they climbed halfway up a +rugged mountain and found themselves at the entrance of +the Nome King's caverns.</p> + +<p>On their arrival, the entrance seemed free and +unguarded, but Gos and Cor had been there before, and +they were too wise to attempt to enter without +announcing themselves, for the passage to the caves was +full of traps and pitfalls. So King Gos stood still and +shouted, and in an instant they were surrounded by a +group of crooked nomes, who seemed to have sprung from +the ground.</p> + +<p>One of these had very long ears and was called The +Long-Eared Hearer. He said: "I heard you coming early +this morning."</p> + +<p>Another had eyes that looked in different directions +at the same time and were curiously bright and +penetrating. He could look over a hill or around a +corner and was called The Lookout. Said he: "I saw you +coming yesterday."</p> + +<p>"Then," said King Gos, "perhaps King Kaliko is +expecting us."</p> + +<p>"It is true," replied another nome, who wore a gold +collar around his neck and carried a bunch of golden +keys. "The mighty Nome King expects you, and bids you +follow me to his presence."</p> + +<p>With this he led the way into the caverns and Gos and +Cor followed, dragging their weary prisoners with them, +for poor King Kitticut and his gentle Queen had been +obliged to carry, all through the tedious journey, the +bags of gold and jewels which were to bribe the Nome +King to accept them as slaves.</p> + +<p>Through several long passages the guide led them and +at last they entered a small cavern which was +beautifully decorated and set with rare jewels that +flashed from every part of the wall, floor and ceiling. +This was a waiting-room for visitors, and there their +guide left them while he went to inform King Kaliko of +their arrival.</p> + +<p>Before long they were ushered into a great domed +chamber, cut from the solid rock and so magnificent +that all of them — the King and Queen of Pingaree and +the King and Queen of Regos and Coregos — drew long +breaths of astonishment and opened their eyes as wide +as they could.</p> + +<p>In an ivory throne sat a little round man who had a +pointed beard and hair that rose to a tall curl on top +of his head. He was dressed in silken robes, richly +embroidered, which had large buttons of cut rubies. On +his head was a diamond crown and in his hand he held a +golden sceptre with a big jeweled ball at one end of +it. This was Kaliko, the King and ruler of all the +nomes. He nodded pleasantly enough to his visitors and +said in a cheery voice:</p> + +<p>"Well, Your Majesties, what can I do for you?"</p> + +<p>"It is my desire," answered King Gos, respectfully, +"to place in your care two prisoners, whom you now see +before you. They must be carefully guarded, to prevent +them from escaping, for they have the cunning of foxes +and are not to be trusted. In return for the favor I am +asking you to grant, I have brought Your Majesty +valuable presents of gold and precious gems."</p> + +<p>He then commanded Kitticut and Garee to lay before +the Nome King the bags of gold and jewels, and they +obeyed, being helpless.</p> + +<p>"Very good," said King Kaliko, nodding approval, for +like all the nomes he loved treasures of gold and +jewels. "But who are the prisoners you have brought +here, and why do you place them in my charge instead of +guarding them, yourself? They seem gentle enough, I'm +sure."</p> + +<p>"The prisoners," returned King Gos, "are the King and +Queen of Pingaree, a small island north of here. They +are very evil people and came to our islands of Regos +and Coregos to conquer them and slay our poor people. +Also they intended to plunder us of all our riches, but +by good fortune we were able to defeat and capture +them. However, they have a son who is a terrible wizard +and who by magic art is trying to find this awful King +and Queen of Pingaree, and to set them free, that they +may continue their wicked deeds. Therefore, as we have +no magic to defend ourselves with, we have brought the +prisoners to you for safe keeping."</p> + +<p>"Your Majesty," spoke up King Kitticut, addressing +the Nome King with great indignation, "do not believe +this tale, I implore you. It is all a lie!"</p> + +<p>"I know it," said Kaliko. "I consider it a clever +lie, though, because it is woven without a thread of +truth. However, that is none of my business. The fact +remains that my good friend King Gos wishes to put you +in my underground caverns, so that you will be unable +to escape. And why should I not please him in this +little matter? Gos is a mighty King and a great +warrior, while your island of Pingaree is desolated and +your people scattered. In my heart, King Kitticut, I +sympathize with you, but as a matter of business policy +we powerful Kings must stand together and trample the +weaker ones under our feet."</p> + +<p>King Kitticut was surprised to find the King of the +nomes so candid and so well informed, and he tried to +argue that he and his gentle wife did not deserve their +cruel fate and that it would be wiser for Kaliko to +side with them than with the evil King of Regos. But +Kaliko only shook his head and smiled, saying:</p> + +<p>"The fact that you are a prisoner, my poor Kitticut, +is evidence that you are weaker than King Cos, and I +prefer to deal with the strong. By the way," he added, +turning to the King of Regos, "have these prisoners any +connection with the Land of Oz?"</p> + +<p>"Why do you ask?" said Gos.</p> + +<p>"Because I dare not offend the Oz people," was the +reply. "I am very powerful, as you know, but Ozma of Oz +is far more powerful than I; therefore, if this King +and Queen of Pingaree happened to be under Ozma's +protection, I would have nothing to do with them."</p> + +<p>"I assure Your Majesty that the prisoners have +nothing to do with the Oz people," Gos hastened to say. +And Kitticut, being questioned, admitted that this was +true.</p> + +<p>"But how about that wizard you mentioned?" asked the +Nome King.</p> + +<p>"Oh, he is merely a boy; but he is very ferocious and +obstinate and he is assisted by a little fat sorcerer +called Rinkitink and a talking goat."</p> + +<p>"Oho! A talking goat, do you say? That certainly +sounds like magic; and it also sounds like the Land of +Oz, where all the animals talk," said Kaliko, with a +doubtful expression.</p> + +<p>But King Gos assured him the talking goat had never +been to Oz.</p> + +<p>"As for Rinkitink, whom you call a sorcerer," +continued the Nome King, "he is a neighbor of mine, you +must know, but as we are cut off from each other by +high mountains beneath which a powerful river runs, I +have never yet met King Rinkitink. But I have heard of +him, and from all reports he is a jolly rogue, and +perfectly harmless. However, in spite of your false +statements and misrepresentations, I will earn the +treasure you have brought me, by keeping your prisoners +safe in my caverns."</p> + +<p>"Make them work," advised Queen Cor. "They are rather +delicate, and to make them work will make them suffer +delightfully."</p> + +<p>"I'll do as I please about that," said the Nome King +sternly. "Be content that I agree to keep them safe."</p> + +<p>The bargain being thus made and concluded, Kaliko +first examined the gold and jewels and then sent it +away to his royal storehouse, which was well filled +with like treasure. Next the captives were sent away in +charge of the nome with the golden collar and keys, +whose name was Klik, and he escorted them to a small +cavern and gave them a good supper.</p> + +<p>"I shall lock your door," said Klik, "so there is no +need of your wearing those heavy chains any longer." He +therefore removed the chains and left King Kitticut and +his Queen alone. This was the first time since the +Northmen had carried them away from Pingaree that the +good King and Queen had been alone together and free of +all bonds, and as they embraced lovingly and mingled +their tears over their sad fate they were also grateful +that they had passed from the control of the heartless +King Gos into the more considerate care of King Kaliko. +They were still captives but they believed they would +be happier in the underground caverns of the nomes than +in Regos and Coregos.</p> + +<p>Meantime, in the King's royal cavern a great feast +had been spread. King Gos and Queen Cor, having +triumphed in their plot, were so well pleased that they +held high revelry with the jolly Nome King until a late +hour that night. And the next morning, having cautioned +Kaliko not to release the prisoners under any +consideration without their orders, the King and Queen +of Regos and Coregos left the caverns of the nomes to +return to the shore of the ocean where they had left +their boat.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='Chapter_Eighteen'></a><h2>Chapter Eighteen</h2> + +<h3>Inga Parts with his Pink Pearl</h3> +<br /> + +<p>The White Pearl guided Inga truly in his pursuit of the +boat of King Gos, but the boy had been so delayed in +sending his people home to Pingaree that it was a full +day after Gos and Cor landed on the shore of the +Wheeler Country that Inga's boat arrived at the same +place.</p> + +<p>There he found the forty rowers guarding the barge of +Queen Cor, and although they would not or could not +tell the boy where the King and Queen had taken his +father and mother, the White Pearl advised him to +follow the path to the country and the caverns of the +nomes.</p> + +<p>Rinkitink didn't like to undertake the rocky and +mountainous journey, even with Bilbil to carry him, but +he would not desert Inga, even though his own kingdom +lay just beyond a range of mountains which could be +seen towering southwest of them. So the King bravely +mounted the goat, who always grumbled but always obeyed +his master, and the three set off at once for the +caverns of the nomes.</p> + +<p>They traveled just as slowly as Queen Cor and King +Gos had done, so when they were about halfway they +discovered the King and Queen coming back to their +boat. The fact that Gos and Cor were now alone proved +that they had left Inga's father and mother behind +them; so, at the suggestion of Rinkitink, the three hid +behind a high rock until the King of Regos and the +Queen of Coregos, who had not observed them, had passed +them by. Then they continued their journey, glad that +they had not again been forced to fight or quarrel with +their wicked enemies.</p> + +<p>"We might have asked them, however, what they had +done with your poor parents," said Rinkitink.</p> + +<p>"Never mind," answered Inga. "I am sure the White +Pearl will guide us aright."</p> + +<p>For a time they proceeded in silence and then +Rinkitink began to chuckle with laughter in the +pleasant way he was wont to do before his misfortunes +came upon him.</p> + +<p>"What amuses Your Majesty?" inquired the boy.</p> + +<p>"The thought of how surprised my dear subjects would +be if they realized how near to them I am, and yet how +far away. I have always wanted to visit the Nome +Country, which is full of mystery and magic and all +sorts of adventures, but my devoted subjects forbade me +to think of such a thing, fearing I would get hurt or +enchanted."</p> + +<p>"Are you afraid, now that you are here?" asked Inga.</p> + +<p>"A little, but not much, for they say the new Nome +King is not as wicked as the old King used to be. +Still, we are undertaking a dangerous journey and I +think you ought to protect me by lending me one of your +pearls."</p> + +<p>Inga thought this over and it seemed a reasonable +request.</p> + +<p>"Which pearl would you like to have?" asked the boy.</p> + +<p>"Well, let us see," returned Rinkitink; "you may need +strength to liberate your captive parents, so you must +keep the Blue Pearl. And you will need the advice of +the White Pearl, so you had best keep that also. But in +case we should be separated I would have nothing to +protect me from harm, so you ought to lend me the Pink +Pearl."</p> + +<p>"Very well," agreed Inga, and sitting down upon a +rock he removed his right shoe and after withdrawing +the cloth from the pointed toe took out the Pink Pearl +— the one which protected from any harm the person who +carried it.</p> + +<p>"Where can you put it, to keep it safely?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"In my vest pocket," replied the King. "The pocket +has a flap to it and I can pin it down in such a way +that the pearl cannot get out and become lost. As for +robbery, no one with evil intent can touch my person +while I have the pearl."</p> + +<p>So Inga gave Rinkitink the Pink Pearl and the little +King placed it in the pocket of his red-and-green +brocaded velvet vest, pinning the flap of the pocket +down tightly.</p> + +<p>They now resumed their journey and finally reached +the entrance to the Nome King's caverns. Placing the +White Pearl to his ear, Inga asked: "What shall I do +now?" and the Voice of the Pearl replied: "Clap your +hands together four times and call aloud the word +'Klik.' Then allow yourselves to be conducted to the +Nome King, who is now holding your father and mother +captive."</p> + +<p>Inga followed these instructions and when Klik +appeared in answer to his summons the boy requested an +audience of the Nome King. So Klik led them into the +presence of King Kaliko, who was suffering from a +severe headache, due to his revelry the night before, +and therefore was unusually cross and grumpy.</p> + +<p>"I know what you've come for," said he, before Inga +could speak. "You want to get the captives from Regos +away from me; but you can't do it, so you'd best go away +again."</p> + +<p>"The captives are my father and mother, and I intend +to liberate them," said the boy firmly.</p> + +<p>The King stared hard at Inga, wondering at his +audacity. Then he turned to look at King Rinkitink and +said:</p> + +<p>"I suppose you are the King of Gilgad, which is in +the Kingdom of Rinkitink."</p> + +<p>"You've guessed it the first time," replied +Rinkitink.</p> + +<p>"How round and fat you are!" exclaimed Kaliko.</p> + +<p>"I was just thinking how fat and round you are," said +Rinkitink. "Really, King Kaliko, we ought to be +friends, we're so much alike in everything but +disposition and intelligence."</p> + +<p>Then he began to chuckle, while Kaliko stared hard at +him, not knowing whether to accept his speech as a +compliment or not. And now the nome's eyes wandered to +Bilbil, and he asked:</p> + +<p>"Is that your talking goat?"</p> + +<p>Bilbil met the Nome King's glowering look with a gaze +equally surly and defiant, while Rinkitink answered: +"It is, Your Majesty."</p> + +<p>"Can he really talk?" asked Kaliko, curiously.</p> + +<p>"He can. But the best thing he does is to scold. Talk +to His Majesty, Bilbil."</p> + +<p>But Bilbil remained silent and would not speak.</p> + +<p>"Do you always ride upon his back?" continued Kaliko, +questioning Rinkitink.</p> + +<p>"Yes," was the answer, "because it is difficult for a +fat man to walk far, as perhaps you know from +experience."</p> + +<p>"That is true," said Kaliko. "Get off the goat's back +and let me ride him a while, to see how I like it. +Perhaps I'll take him away from you, to ride through my +caverns."</p> + +<p>Rinkitink chuckled softly as he heard this, but at +once got off Bilbil's back and let Kaliko get on. The +Nome King was a little awkward, but when he was firmly +astride the saddle he called in a loud voice: "Giddap!"</p> + +<p>When Bilbil paid no attention to the command and +refused to stir, Kaliko kicked his heels viciously +against the goat's body, and then Bilbil made a sudden +start. He ran swiftly across the great cavern, until he +had almost reached the opposite wall, when he stopped +so abruptly that King Kaliko sailed over his head and +bumped against the jeweled wall. He bumped so hard that +the points of his crown were all mashed out of shape +and his head was driven far into the diamond-studded +band of the crown, so that it covered one eye and a +part of his nose. Perhaps this saved Kaliko's head from +being cracked against the rock wall, but it was hard on +the crown.</p> + +<p>Bilbil was highly pleased at the success of his feat +and Rinkitink laughed merrily at the Nome King's +comical appearance; but Kaliko was muttering and +growling as he picked himself up and struggled to pull +the battered crown from his head, and it was evident +that he was not in the least amused. Indeed, Inga could +see that the King was very angry, and the boy knew that +the incident was likely to turn Kaliko against the +entire party.</p> + +<p>The Nome King sent Klik for another crown and ordered +his workmen to repair the one that was damaged. While +he waited for the new crown he sat regarding his +visitors with a scowling face, and this made Inga more +uneasy than ever. Finally, when the new crown was +placed upon his head, King Kaliko said: "Follow me, +strangers!" and led the way to a small door at one end +of the cavern.</p> + +<p>Inga and Rinkitink followed him through the doorway +and found themselves standing on a balcony that +overlooked an enormous domed cave — so extensive that +it seemed miles to the other side of it. All around +this circular cave, which was brilliantly lighted from +an unknown source, were arches connected with other +caverns.</p> + +<p>Kaliko took a gold whistle from his pocket and blew a +shrill note that echoed through every part of the cave. +Instantly nomes began to pour in through the side +arches in great numbers, until the immense space was +packed with them as far as the eye could reach. All +were armed with glittering weapons of polished silver +and gold, and Inga was amazed that any King could +command so great an army.</p> + +<p>They began marching and countermarching in very +orderly array until another blast of the gold whistle +sent them scurrying away as quickly as they had +appeared. And as soon as the great cave was again empty +Kaliko returned with his visitors to his own royal +chamber, where he once more seated himself upon his +ivory throne.</p> + +<p>"I have shown you," said he to Inga, "a part of my +bodyguard. The royal armies, of which this is only a +part, are as numerous as the sands of the ocean, and +live in many thousands of my underground caverns. You +have come here thinking to force me to give up the +captives of King Gos and Queen Cor, and I wanted to +convince you that my power is too mighty for anyone to +oppose. I am told that you are a wizard, and depend +upon magic to aid you; but you must know that the nomes +are not mortals, and understand magic pretty well +themselves, so if we are obliged to fight magic with +magic the chances are that we are a hundred times more +powerful than you can be. Think this over carefully, my +boy, and try to realize that you are in my power. I do +not believe you can force me to liberate King Kitticut +and Queen Garee, and I know that you cannot coax me to +do so, for I have given my promise to King Gos. +Therefore, as I do not wish to hurt you, I ask you to +go away peaceably and let me alone."</p> + +<p>"Forgive me if I do not agree with you, King Kaliko," +answered the boy. "However difficult and dangerous my +task may be, I cannot leave your dominions until every +effort to release my parents has failed and left me +completely discouraged."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said the King, evidently displeased. "I +have warned you, and now if evil overtakes you it is +your own fault. I've a headache to-day, so I cannot +entertain you properly, according to your rank; but +Klik will attend you to my guest chambers and to-morrow +I will talk with you again."</p> + +<p>This seemed a fair and courteous way to treat one's +declared enemies, so they politely expressed the wish +that Kaliko's headache would be better, and followed +their guide, Klik, down a well-lighted passage and +through several archways until they finally reached +three nicely furnished bedchambers which were cut from +solid gray rock and well lighted and aired by some +mysterious method known to the nomes.</p> + +<p>The first of these rooms was given King Rinkitink, +the second was Inga's and the third was assigned to +Bilbil the goat. There was a swinging rock door +between the third and second rooms and another between +the second and first, which also had a door that opened +upon the passage. Rinkitink's room was the largest, so +it was here that an excellent dinner was spread by some +of the nome servants, who, in spite of their crooked +shapes, proved to be well trained and competent.</p> + +<p>"You are not prisoners, you know," said Klik; "neither +are you welcome guests, having declared your purpose to +oppose our mighty King and all his hosts. But we bear +you no ill will, and you are to be well fed and cared +for as long as you remain in our caverns. Eat hearty, +sleep tight, and pleasant dreams to you."</p> + +<p>Saying this, he left them alone and at once Rinkitink +and Inga began to counsel together as to the best means +to liberate King Kitticut and Queen Garee. The White +Pearl's advice was rather unsatisfactory to the boy, +just now, for all that the Voice said in answer to his +questions was: "Be patient, brave and determined."</p> + +<p>Rinkitink suggested that they try to discover in what +part of the series of underground caverns Inga's +parents had been confined, as that knowledge was +necessary before they could take any action; so +together they started out, leaving Bilbil asleep in his +room, and made their way unopposed through many +corridors and caverns. In some places were great +furnaces, where gold dust was being melted into bricks. +In other rooms workmen were fashioning the gold into +various articles and ornaments. In one cavern immense +wheels revolved which polished precious gems, and they +found many caverns used as storerooms, where treasure +of every sort was piled high. Also they came to the +barracks of the army and the great kitchens.</p> + +<p>There were nomes everywhere — countless thousands of +them — but none paid the slightest heed to the +visitors from the earth's surface. Yet, although Inga +and Rinkitink walked until they were weary, they were +unable to locate the place where the boy's father and +mother had been confined, and when they tried to return +to their own rooms they found that they had hopelessly +lost themselves amid the labyrinth of passages. +However, Klik presently came to them, laughing at their +discomfiture, and led them back to their bedchambers.</p> + +<p>Before they went to sleep they carefully barred the +door from Rinkitink's room to the corridor, but the +doors that connected the three rooms one with another +were left wide open.</p> + +<p>In the night Inga was awakened by a soft grating +sound that filled him with anxiety because he could not +account for it. It was dark in his room, the light +having disappeared as soon as he got into bed, but he +managed to feel his way to the door that led to +Rinkitink's room and found it tightly closed and +immovable. Then he made his way to the opposite door, +leading to Bilbil's room, to discover that also had +been closed and fastened.</p> + +<p>The boy had a curious sensation that all of his room +— the walls, floor and ceiling — was slowly whirling +as if on a pivot, and it was such an uncomfortable +feeling that he got into bed again, not knowing what +else to do. And as the grating noise had ceased and the +room now seemed stationary, he soon fell asleep again.</p> + +<p>When the boy wakened, after many hours, he found the +room again light. So he dressed himself and discovered +that a small table, containing a breakfast that was +smoking hot, had suddenly appeared in the center of +his room. He tried the two doors, but finding that he +could not open them he ate some breakfast, thoughtfully +wondering who had locked him in and why he had been +made a prisoner. Then he again went to the door which +he thought led to Rinkitink's chamber and to his +surprise the latch lifted easily and the door swung +open.</p> + +<p>Before him was a rude corridor hewn in the rock and +dimly lighted. It did not look inviting, so Inga closed +the door, puzzled to know what had become of +Rinkitink's room and the King, and went to the opposite +door. Opening this, he found a solid wall of rock +confronting him, which effectually prevented his escape +in that direction.</p> + +<p>The boy now realized that King Kaliko had tricked +him, and while professing to receive him as a guest had +plotted to separate him from his comrades. One way had +been left, however, by which he might escape and he +decided to see where it led to.</p> + +<p>So, going to the first door, he opened it and +ventured slowly into the dimly lighted corridor. When +he had advanced a few steps he heard the door of his +room slam shut behind him. He ran back at once, but the +door of rock fitted so closely into the wall that he +found it impossible to open it again. That did not +matter so much, however, for the room was a prison and +the only way of escape seemed ahead of him.</p> + +<p>Along the corridor he crept until, turning a +corner, he found himself in a large domed cavern that +was empty and deserted. Here also was a dim light that +permitted him to see another corridor at the opposite +side; so he crossed the rocky floor of the cavern and +entered a second corridor. This one twisted and turned +in every direction but was not very long, so soon the +boy reached a second cavern, not so large as the first. +This he found vacant also, but it had another corridor +leading out of it, so Inga entered that. It was +straight and short and beyond was a third cavern, which +differed little from the others except that it had a +strong iron grating at one side of it.</p> + +<p>All three of these caverns had been roughly hewn from +the rock and it seemed they had never been put to use, +as had all the other caverns of the nomes he had +visited. Standing in the third cavern, Inga saw what he +thought was still another corridor at its farther side, +so he walked toward it. This opening was dark, and that +fact, and the solemn silence all around him, made him +hesitate for a while to enter it. Upon reflection, +however, he realized that unless he explored the place +to the very end he could not hope to escape from it, so +he boldly entered the dark corridor and felt his way +cautiously as he moved forward.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had he taken two paces when a crash +resounded back of him and a heavy sheet of steel closed +the opening into the cavern from which he had just +come. He paused a moment, but it still seemed best to +proceed, and as Inga advanced in the dark, holding his +hands outstretched before him to feel his way, +handcuffs fell upon his wrists and locked themselves +with a sharp click, and an instant later he found he +was chained to a stout iron post set firmly in the rock +floor.</p> + +<p>The chains were long enough to permit him to move a +yard or so in any direction and by feeling the walls he +found he was in a small circular room that had no +outlet except the passage by which he had entered, and +that was now closed by the door of steel. This was the +end of the series of caverns and corridors.</p> + +<p>It was now that the horror of his situation occurred +to the boy with full force. But he resolved not to +submit to his fate without a struggle, and realizing +that he possessed the Blue Pearl, which gave him +marvelous strength, he quickly broke the chains and set +himself free of the handcuffs. Next he twisted the +steel door from its hinges, and creeping along the +short passage, found himself in the third cave.</p> + +<p>But now the dim light, which had before guided him, +had vanished; yet on peering into the gloom of the cave +he saw what appeared to be two round disks of flame, +which cast a subdued glow over the floor and walls. By +this dull glow he made out the form of an enormous man, +seated in the center of the cave, and he saw that the +iron grating had been removed, permitting the man to +enter.</p> + +<p>The giant was unclothed and its limbs were thickly +covered with coarse red hair. The round disks of flame +were its two eyes and when it opened its mouth to yawn +Inga saw that its jaws were wide enough to crush a +dozen men between the great rows of teeth.</p> + +<p>Presently the giant looked up and perceived the boy +crouching at the other side of the cavern, so he called +out in a hoarse, rude voice:</p> + +<p>"Come hither, my pretty one. We will wrestle +together, you and I, and if you succeed in throwing me +I will let you pass through my cave."</p> + +<p>The boy made no reply to the challenge. He realized +he was in dire peril and regretted that he had lent the +Pink Pearl to King Rinkitink. But it was now too late +for vain regrets, although he feared that even his +great strength would avail him little against this +hairy monster. For his arms were not long enough to +span a fourth of the giant's huge body, while the +monster's powerful limbs would be likely to crush out +Inga's life before he could gain the mastery.</p> + +<p>Therefore the Prince resolved to employ other means +to combat this foe, who had doubtless been placed there +to bar his return. Retreating through the passage he +reached the room where he had been chained and wrenched +the iron post from its socket. It was a foot thick and +four feet long, and being of solid iron was so heavy +that three ordinary men would have found it hard to +lift.</p> + +<p>Returning to the cavern, the boy swung the great bar +above his head and dashed it with mighty force full at +the giant. The end of the bar struck the monster upon +its forehead, and with a single groan it fell full +length upon the floor and lay still.</p> + +<p>When the giant fell, the glow from its eyes faded +away, and all was dark. Cautiously, for Inga was not +sure the giant was dead, the boy felt his way toward +the opening that led to the middle cavern. The entrance +was narrow and the darkness was intense, but, feeling +braver now, the boy stepped boldly forward. Instantly +the floor began to sink beneath him and in great alarm +he turned and made a leap that enabled him to grasp the +rocky sides of the wall and regain a footing in the +passage through which he had just come.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had he obtained this place of refuge when a +mighty crash resounded throughout the cavern and the +sound of a rushing torrent came from far below. Inga +felt in his pocket and found several matches, one of +which he lighted and held before him. While it +flickered he saw that the entire floor of the cavern +had fallen away, and knew that had he not instantly +regained his footing in the passage he would have +plunged into the abyss that lay beneath him.</p> + +<p>By the light of another match he saw the opening at +the other side of the cave and the thought came to him +that possibly he might leap across the gulf. Of course, +this could never be accomplished without the marvelous +strength lent him by the Blue Pearl, but Inga had the +feeling that one powerful spring might carry him over +the chasm into safety. He could not stay where he was, +that was certain, so he resolved to make the attempt.</p> + +<p>He took a long run through the first cave and the +short corridor; then, exerting all his strength, he +launched himself over the black gulf of the second +cave. Swiftly he flew and, although his heart stood +still with fear, only a few seconds elapsed before his +feet touched the ledge of the opposite passageway and +he knew he had safely accomplished the wonderful feat.</p> + +<p>Only pausing to draw one long breath of relief, Inga +quickly traversed the crooked corridor that led to the +last cavern of the three. But when he came in sight of +it he paused abruptly, his eyes nearly blinded by a +glare of strong light which burst upon them. Covering +his face with his hands, Inga retreated behind a +projecting corner of rock and by gradually getting his +eyes used to the light he was finally able to gaze +without blinking upon the strange glare that had so +quickly changed the condition of the cavern. When he +had passed through this vault it had been entirely +empty. Now the flat floor of rock was covered +everywhere with a bed of glowing coals, which shot up +little tongues of red and white flames. Indeed, the +entire cave was one monster furnace and the heat that +came from it was fearful.</p> + +<p>Inga's heart sank within him as he realized the +terrible obstacle placed by the cunning Nome King +between him and the safety of the other caverns. There +was no turning back, for it would be impossible for him +again to leap over the gulf of the second cave, the +corridor at this side being so crooked that he could +get no run before he jumped. Neither could he leap over +the glowing coals of the cavern that faced him, for it +was much larger than the middle cavern. In this dilemma +he feared his great strength would avail him nothing +and he bitterly reproached himself for parting with the +Pink Pearl, which would have preserved him from injury.</p> + +<p>However, it was not in the nature of Prince Inga to +despair for long, his past adventures having taught him +confidence and courage, sharpened his wits and given +him the genius of invention. He sat down and thought +earnestly on the means of escape from his danger and at +last a clever idea came to his mind. This is the way to +get ideas: never to let adverse circumstances +discourage you, but to believe there is a way out of +every difficulty, which may be found by earnest +thought.</p> + +<p>There were many points and projections of rock in the +walls of the crooked corridor in which Inga stood and +some of these rocks had become cracked and loosened, +although still clinging to their places. The boy picked +out one large piece, and, exerting all his strength, +tore it away from the wall. He then carried it to the +cavern and tossed it upon the burning coals, about ten +feet away from the end of the passage. Then he returned +for another fragment of rock, and wrenching it free +from its place, he threw it ten feet beyond the first +one, toward the opposite side of the cave. The boy +continued this work until he had made a series of +stepping-stones reaching straight across the cavern to +the dark passageway beyond, which he hoped would lead +him back to safety if not to liberty.</p> + +<p>When his work had been completed, Inga did not long +hesitate to take advantage of his stepping-stones, for +he knew his best chance of escape lay in his crossing +the bed of coals before the rocks became so heated that +they would burn his feet. So he leaped to the first +rock and from there began jumping from one to the other +in quick succession. A withering wave of heat at once +enveloped him, and for a time he feared he would +suffocate before he could cross the cavern; but he held +his breath, to keep the hot air from his lungs, and +maintained his leaps with desperate resolve.</p> + +<p>Then, before he realized it, his feet were pressing +the cooler rocks of the passage beyond and he rolled +helpless upon the floor, gasping for breath. His skin +was so red that it resembled the shell of a boiled +lobster, but his swift motion had prevented his being +burned, and his shoes had thick soles, which saved his +feet.</p> + +<p>After resting a few minutes, the boy felt strong +enough to go on. He went to the end of the passage and +found that the rock door by which he had left his room +was still closed, so he returned to about the middle of +the corridor and was thinking what he should do next, +when suddenly the solid rock before him began to move +and an opening appeared through which shone a brilliant +light. Shielding his eyes, which were somewhat dazzled, +Inga sprang through the opening and found himself in +one of the Nome King's inhabited caverns, where before +him stood King Kaliko, with a broad grin upon his +features, and Klik, the King's chamberlain, who looked +surprised, and King Rinkitink seated astride Bilbil the +goat, both of whom seemed pleased that Inga had +rejoined them.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='Chapter_Nineteen'></a><h2>Chapter Nineteen</h2> + +<h3>Rinkitink Chuckles</h3> +<br /> + +<p>We will now relate what happened to Rinkitink and +Bilbil that morning, while Inga was undergoing his +trying experience in escaping the fearful dangers of +the three caverns.</p> + +<p>The King of Gilgad wakened to find the door of Inga's +room fast shut and locked, but he had no trouble in +opening his own door into the corridor, for it seems +that the boy's room, which was the middle one, whirled +around on a pivot, while the adjoining rooms occupied +by Bilbil and Rinkitink remained stationary. The little +King also found a breakfast magically served in his +room, and while he was eating it, Klik came to him and +stated that His Majesty, King Kaliko, desired his +presence in the royal cavern.</p> + +<p>So Rinkitink, having first made sure that the Pink +Pearl was still in his vest pocket, willingly followed +Klik, who ran on some distance ahead. But no sooner had +Rinkitink set foot in the passage than a great rock, +weighing at least a ton, became dislodged and dropped +from the roof directly over his head. Of course, it +could not harm him, protected as he was by the Pink +Pearl, and it bounded aside and crashed upon the floor, +where it was shattered by its own weight.</p> + +<p>"How careless!" exclaimed the little King, and +waddled after Klik, who seemed amazed at his escape.</p> + +<p>Presently another rock above Rinkitink plunged +downward, and then another, but none touched his body. +Klik seemed much perplexed at these continued escapes +and certainly Kaliko was surprised when Rinkitink, safe +and sound, entered the royal cavern.</p> + +<p>"Good morning," said the King of Gilgad. "Your rocks +are getting loose, Kaliko, and you'd better have them +glued in place before they hurt someone." Then he began +to chuckle: "Hoo, hoo, hoo-hee, hee-heek, keek, eek!" +and Kaliko sat and frowned because he realized that the +little fat King was poking fun at him.</p> + +<p>"I asked Your Majesty to come here," said the Nome +King, "to show you a curious skein of golden thread +which my workmen have made. If it pleases you, I will +make you a present of it."</p> + +<p>With this he held out a small skein of glittering +gold twine, which was really pretty and curious. +Rinkitink took it in his hand and at once the golden +thread began to unwind — so swiftly that the eye could +not follow its motion. And, as it unwound, it coiled +itself around Rinkitink's body, at the same time +weaving itself into a net, until it had enveloped the +little King from head to foot and placed him in a +prison of gold.</p> + +<p>"Aha!" cried Kaliko; "this magic worked all right, it +seems."</p> + +<p>"Oh, did it?" replied Rinkitink, and stepping forward +he walked right through the golden net, which fell to +the floor in a tangled mass.</p> + +<p>Kaliko rubbed his chin thoughtfully and stared hard +at Rinkitink.</p> + +<p>"I understand a good bit of magic," said he, "but +Your Majesty has a sort of magic that greatly puzzles +me, because it is unlike anything of the sort that I +ever met with before."</p> + +<p>"Now, see here, Kaliko," said Rinkitink; "if you are +trying to harm me or my companions, give it up, for you +will never succeed. We're harm-proof, so to speak, and +you are merely wasting your time trying to injure us."</p> + +<p>"You may be right, and I hope I am not so impolite as +to argue with a guest," returned the Nome King. "But +you will pardon me if I am not yet satisfied that you +are stronger than my famous magic. However, I beg you +to believe that I bear you no ill will, King Rinkitink; +but it is my duty to destroy you, if possible, because +you and that insignificant boy Prince have openly +threatened to take away my captives and have positively +refused to go back to the earth's surface and let me +alone. I'm very tender-hearted, as a matter of fact, +and I like you immensely, and would enjoy having you as +a friend, but —" Here he pressed a button on the arm +of his throne chair and the section of the floor where +Rinkitink stood suddenly opened and disclosed a black +pit beneath, which was a part of the terrible +Bottomless Gulf.</p> + +<p>But Rinkitink did not fall into the pit; his body +remained suspended in the air until he put out his foot +and stepped to the solid floor, when the opening +suddenly closed again.</p> + +<p>"I appreciate Your Majesty's friendship," remarked +Rinkitink, as calmly as if nothing had happened, "but I +am getting tired with standing. Will you kindly send +for my goat, Bilbil, that I may sit upon his back to +rest?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed I will!" promised Kaliko. "I have not yet +completed my test of your magic, and as I owe that goat +a slight grudge for bumping my head and smashing my +second-best crown, I will be glad to discover if the +beast can also escape my delightful little sorceries."</p> + +<p>So Klik was sent to fetch Bilbil and presently +returned with the goat, which was very cross this +morning because it had not slept well in the +underground caverns.</p> + +<p>Rinkitink lost no time in getting upon the red velvet +saddle which the goat constantly wore, for he feared +the Nome King would try to destroy Bilbil and knew that +as long as his body touched that of the goat the Pink +Pearl would protect them both; whereas, if Bilbil stood +alone, there was no magic to save him.</p> + +<p>Bilbil glared wickedly at King Kaliko, who moved +uneasily in his ivory throne. Then the Nome King +whispered a moment in the ear of Klik, who nodded and +left the room.</p> + +<p>"Please make yourselves at home here for a few +minutes, while I attend to an errand," said the Nome +King, getting up from the throne. "I shall return +pretty soon, when I hope to find you pieceful — ha, +ha, ha! — that's a joke you can't appreciate now but +will later. Be pieceful — that's the idea. Ho, ho, ho! +How funny." Then he waddled from the cavern, closing +the door behind him.</p> + +<p>"Well, why didn't you laugh when Kaliko laughed?" +demanded the goat, when they were left alone in the +cavern.</p> + +<p>"Because he means mischief of some sort," replied +Rinkitink, "and we'll laugh after the danger is over, +Bilbil. There's an old adage that says: 'He laughs best +who laughs last,' and the only way to laugh last is to +give the other fellow a chance. Where did that knife +come from, I wonder."</p> + +<p>For a long, sharp knife suddenly appeared in the air +near them, twisting and turning from side to side and +darting here and there in a dangerous manner, without +any support whatever. Then another knife became visible +— and another and another — until all the space in +the royal cavern seemed filled with them. Their sharp +points and edges darted toward Rinkitink and Bilbil +perpetually and nothing could have saved them from +being cut to pieces except the protecting power of the +Pink Pearl. As it was, not a knife touched them and +even Bilbil gave a gruff laugh at the failure of +Kaliko's clever magic.</p> + +<p>The goat wandered here and there in the cavern, +carrying Rinkitink upon his back, and neither of them +paid the slightest heed to the knives, although the +glitter of the hundreds of polished blades was rather +trying to their eyes. Perhaps for ten minutes the +knives darted about them in bewildering fury; then they +disappeared as suddenly as they had appeared.</p> + +<p>Kaliko cautiously stuck his head through the doorway +and found the goat chewing the embroidery of his royal +cloak, which he had left lying over the throne, while +Rinkitink was reading his manuscript on "How to be +Good" and chuckling over its advice. The Nome King +seemed greatly disappointed as he came in and resumed +his seat on the throne. Said Rinkitink with a chuckle:</p> + +<p>"We've really had a peaceful time, Kaliko, although +not the pieceful time you expected. Forgive me if I +indulge in a laugh — hoo, hoo, hoo-hee, heek-keek-eek! +And now, tell me; aren't you getting tired of trying to +injure us?"</p> + +<p>"Eh — heh," said the Nome King. "I see now that your +magic can protect you from all my arts. But is the boy +Inga as well protected as Your Majesty and the goat?"</p> + +<p>"Why do you ask?" inquired Rinkitink, uneasy at the +question because he remembered he had not seen the +little Prince of Pingaree that morning.</p> + +<p>"Because," said Kaliko, "the boy has been undergoing +trials far greater and more dangerous than any you have +encountered, and it has been hundreds of years since +anyone has been able to escape alive from the perils of +my Three Trick Caverns."</p> + +<p>King Rinkitink was much alarmed at hearing this, for +although he knew that Inga possessed the Blue Pearl, +that would only give to him marvelous strength, and +perhaps strength alone would not enable him to escape +from danger. But he would not let Kaliko see the fear +he felt for Inga's safety, so he said in a careless +way:</p> + +<p>"You're a mighty poor magician, Kaliko, and I'll give +you my crown if Inga hasn't escaped any danger you have +threatened him with."</p> + +<p>"Your whole crown is not worth one of the valuable +diamonds in my crown," answered the Nome King, "but +I'll take it. Let us go at once, therefore, and see +what has become of the boy Prince, for if he is not +destroyed by this time I will admit he cannot be +injured by any of the magic arts which I have at my +command."</p> + +<p>He left the room, accompanied by Klik, who had now +rejoined his master, and by Rinkitink riding upon +Bilbil. After traversing several of the huge caverns +they entered one that was somewhat more bright and +cheerful than the others, where the Nome King paused +before a wall of rock. Then Klik pressed a secret +spring and a section of the wall opened and disclosed +the corridor where Prince Inga stood facing them.</p> + +<p>"Tarts and tadpoles!" cried Kaliko in surprise. "The +boy is still alive!"</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='Chapter_Twenty'></a><h2>Chapter Twenty</h2> + +<h3>Dorothy to the Rescue</h3> +<br /> + +<p>One day when Princess Dorothy of Oz was visiting Glinda +the Good, who is Ozma's Royal Sorceress, she was +looking through Glinda's Great Book of Records — +wherein is inscribed all important events that happen +in every part of the world — when she came upon the +record of the destruction of Pingaree, the capture of +King Kitticut and Queen Garee and all their people, and +the curious escape of Inga, the boy Prince, and of King +Rinkitink and the talking goat. Turning over some of +the following pages, Dorothy read how Inga had found +the Magic Pearls and was rowing the silver-lined boat +to Regos to try to rescue his parents.</p> + +<p>The little girl was much interested to know how well +Inga succeeded, but she returned to the palace of Ozma +at the Emerald City of Oz the next day and other events +made her forget the boy Prince of Pingaree for a time. +However, she was one day idly looking at Ozma's Magic +Picture, which shows any scene you may wish to see, +when the girl thought of Inga and commanded the Magic +Picture to show what the boy was doing at that moment.</p> + +<p>It was the time when Inga and Rinkitink had followed +the King of Regos and Queen of Coregos to the Nome +King's country and she saw them hiding behind the rock +as Cor and Gos passed them by after having placed the +King and Queen of Pingaree in the keeping of the Nome +King. From that time Dorothy followed, by means of the +Magic Picture, the adventures of Inga and his friend in +the Nome King's caverns, and the danger and +helplessness of the poor boy aroused the little girl's +pity and indignation.</p> + +<p>So she went to Ozma and told the lovely girl Ruler of +Oz all about Inga and Rinkitink.</p> + +<p>"I think Kaliko is treating them dreadfully mean," +declared Dorothy, "and I wish you'd let me go to the +Nome Country and help them out of their troubles."</p> + +<p>"Go, my dear, if you wish to," replied Ozma, "but I +think it would be best for you to take the Wizard with +you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm not afraid of the nomes," said Dorothy, "but +I'll be glad to take the Wizard, for company. And may +we use your Magic Carpet, Ozma?"</p> + +<p>"Of course. Put the Magic Carpet in the Red Wagon and +have the Sawhorse take you and the Wizard to the edge +of the desert. While you are gone, Dorothy, I'll watch +you in the Magic Picture, and if any danger threatens +you I'll see you are not harmed."</p> + +<p>Dorothy thanked the Ruler of Oz and kissed her good- +bye, for she was determined to start at once. She found +the Wizard of Oz, who was planting shoetrees in the +garden, and when she told him Inga's story he willingly +agreed to accompany the little girl to the Nome King's +caverns. They had both been there before and had +conquered the nomes with ease, so they were not at all +afraid.</p> + +<p>The Wizard, who was a cheery little man with a bald +head and a winning smile, harnessed the Wooden Sawhorse +to the Red Wagon and loaded on Ozma's Magic Carpet. +Then he and Dorothy climbed to the seat and the +Sawhorse started off and carried them swiftly through +the beautiful Land of Oz to the edge of the Deadly +Desert that separated their fairyland from the Nome +Country.</p> + +<p>Even Dorothy and the clever Wizard would not have +dared to cross this desert without the aid of the Magic +Carpet, for it would have quickly destroyed them; but +when the roll of carpet had been placed upon the edge +of the sands, leaving just enough lying flat for them +to stand upon, the carpet straightway began to unroll +before them and as they walked on it continued to +unroll, until they had safely passed over the stretch +of Deadly Desert and were on the border of the Nome +King's dominions.</p> + +<p>This journey had been accomplished in a few minutes, +although such a distance would have required several +days travel had they not been walking on the Magic +Carpet. On arriving they at once walked toward the +entrance to the caverns of the nomes.</p> + +<p>The Wizard carried a little black bag containing his +tools of wizardry, while Dorothy carried over her arm a +covered basket in which she had placed a dozen eggs, +with which to conquer the nomes if she had any trouble +with them.</p> + +<p>Eggs may seem to you to be a queer weapon with which +to fight, but the little girl well knew their value. +The nomes are immortal; that is, they do not perish, as +mortals do, unless they happen to come in contact with +an egg. If an egg touches them — either the outer +shell or the inside of the egg — the nomes lose their +charm of perpetual life and thereafter are liable to +die through accident or old age, just as all humans +are.</p> + +<p>For this reason the sight of an egg fills a nome with +terror and he will do anything to prevent an egg from +touching him, even for an instant. So, when Dorothy +took her basket of eggs with her, she knew that she was +more powerfully armed than if she had a regiment of +soldiers at her back.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='Chapter_Twenty_One'></a><h2>Chapter Twenty-One</h2> + +<h3>The Wizard Finds an Enchantment</h3> +<br /> + +<p>After Kaliko had failed in his attempts to destroy his +guests, as has been related, the Nome King did nothing +more to injure them but treated them in a friendly +manner. He refused, however, to permit Inga to see or +to speak with his father and mother, or even to know in +what part of the underground caverns they were +confined.</p> + +<p>"You are able to protect your lives and persons, I +freely admit," said Kaliko; "but I firmly believe you +have no power, either of magic or otherwise, to take +from me the captives I have agreed to keep for King +Gos."</p> + +<p>Inga would not agree to this. He determined not to +leave the caverns until he had liberated his father and +mother, although he did not then know how that could be +accomplished. As for Rinkitink, the jolly King was well +fed and had a good bed to sleep upon, so he was not +worrying about anything and seemed in no hurry to go +away.</p> + +<p>Kaliko and Rinkitink were engaged in pitching a game +with solid gold quoits, on the floor of the royal +chamber, and Inga and Bilbil were watching them, when +Klik came running in, his hair standing on end with +excitement, and cried out that the Wizard of Oz and +Dorothy were approaching.</p> + +<p>Kaliko turned pale on hearing this unwelcome news +and, abandoning his game, went to sit in his ivory +throne and try to think what had brought these fearful +visitors to his domain.</p> + +<p>"Who is Dorothy?" asked Inga.</p> + +<p>"She is a little girl who once lived in Kansas," +replied Klik, with a shudder, "but she now lives in +Ozma's palace at the Emerald City and is a Princess of +Oz — which means that she is a terrible foe to deal +with."</p> + +<p>"Doesn't she like the nomes?" inquired the boy.</p> + +<p>"It isn't that," said King Kaliko, with a groan, "but +she insists on the nomes being goody-goody, which is +contrary to their natures. Dorothy gets angry if I do +the least thing that is wicked, and tries to make me +stop it, and that naturally makes me downhearted. I +can't imagine why she has come here just now, for I've +been behaving very well lately. As for that Wizard of +Oz, he's chock-full of magic that I can't overcome, for +he learned it from Glinda, who is the most powerful +sorceress in the world. Woe is me! Why didn't Dorothy +and the Wizard stay in Oz, where they belong?"</p> + +<p>Inga and Rinkitink listened to this with much joy, +for at once the idea came to them both to plead with +Dorothy to help them. Even Bilbil pricked up his ears +when he heard the Wizard of Oz mentioned, and the goat +seemed much less surly, and more thoughtful than usual.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later a nome came to say that Dorothy +and the Wizard had arrived and demanded admittance, so +Klik was sent to usher them into the royal presence of +the Nome King.</p> + +<p>As soon as she came in the little girl ran up to the +boy Prince and seized both his hands.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Inga!" she exclaimed, "I'm so glad to find you +alive and well."</p> + +<p>Inga was astonished at so warm a greeting. Making a +low bow he said:</p> + +<p>"I don't think we have met before, Princess."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," replied Dorothy, "but I know all about +you and I've come to help you and King Rinkitink out of +your troubles." Then she turned to the Nome King and +continued: "You ought to be ashamed of yourself, King +Kaliko, to treat an honest Prince and an honest King so +badly."</p> + +<p>"I haven't done anything to them," whined Kaliko, +trembling as her eyes flashed upon him.</p> + +<p>"No; but you tried to, an' that's just as bad, if not +worse," said Dorothy, who was very indignant. "And now +I want you to send for the King and Queen of Pingaree +and have them brought here immejitly!"</p> + +<p>"I won't," said Kaliko.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you will!" cried Dorothy, stamping her foot at +him. "I won't have those poor people made unhappy any +longer, or separated from their little boy. Why, it's +dreadful, Kaliko, an' I'm su'prised at you. You must be +more wicked than I thought you were."</p> + +<p>"I can't do it, Dorothy," said the Nome King, almost +weeping with despair. "I promised King Gos I'd keep +them captives. You wouldn't ask me to break my promise, +would you?"</p> + +<p>"King Gos was a robber and an outlaw," she said, "and +p'r'aps you don't know that a storm at sea wrecked his +boat, while he was going back to Regos, and that he and +Queen Cor were both drowned."</p> + +<p>"Dear me!" exclaimed Kaliko. "Is that so?"</p> + +<p>"I saw it in Glinda's Record Book," said Dorothy. "So +now you trot out the King and Queen of Pingaree as +quick as you can."</p> + +<p>"No," persisted the contrary Nome King, shaking his +head. "I won't do it. Ask me anything else and I'll try +to please you, but I can't allow these friendly enemies +to triumph over me."</p> + +<p>"In that case," said Dorothy, beginning to remove the +cover from her basket, "I'll show you some eggs."</p> + +<p>"Eggs!" screamed the Nome King in horror. "Have you +eggs in that basket?"</p> + +<p>"A dozen of 'em," replied Dorothy.</p> + +<p>"Then keep them there — I beg — I implore you! — +and I'll do anything you say," pleaded Kaliko, his +teeth chattering so that he could hardly speak.</p> + +<p>"Send for the King and Queen of Pingaree," said +Dorothy.</p> + +<p>"Go, Klik," commanded the Nome King, and Klik ran +away in great haste, for he was almost as much +frightened as his master.</p> + +<p>It was an affecting scene when the unfortunate King +and Queen of Pingaree entered the chamber and with sobs +and tears of joy embraced their brave and adventurous +son. All the others stood silent until greetings and +kisses had been exchanged and Inga had told his parents +in a few words of his vain struggles to rescue them and +how Princess Dorothy had finally come to his +assistance.</p> + +<p>Then King Kitticut shook the hands of his friend King +Rinkitink and thanked him for so loyally supporting his +son Inga, and Queen Garee kissed little Dorothy's +forehead and blessed her for restoring her husband and +herself to freedom.</p> + +<p>The Wizard had been standing near Bilbil the goat and +now he was surprised to hear the animal say:</p> + +<p>"Joyful reunion, isn't it? But it makes me tired to +see grown people cry like children."</p> + +<p>"Oho!" exclaimed the Wizard. "How does it happen, Mr. +Goat, that you, who have never been to the Land of Oz, +are able to talk?"</p> + +<p>"That's my business," returned Bilbil in a surly +tone.</p> + +<p>The Wizard stooped down and gazed fixedly into the +animal's eyes. Then he said, with a pitying sigh: "I +see; you are under an enchantment. Indeed, I believe +you to be Prince Bobo of Boboland."</p> + +<p>Bilbil made no reply but dropped his head as if +ashamed.</p> + +<p>"This is a great discovery," said the Wizard, +addressing Dorothy and the others of the party. "A good +many years ago a cruel magician transformed the gallant +Prince of Boboland into a talking goat, and this goat, +being ashamed of his condition, ran away and was never +after seen in Boboland, which is a country far to the +south of here but bordering on the Deadly Desert, +opposite the Land of Oz. I heard of this story long ago +and know that a diligent search has been made for the +enchanted Prince, without result. But I am well assured +that, in the animal you call Bilbil, I have discovered +the unhappy Prince of Boboland."</p> + +<p>"Dear me, Bilbil," said Rinkitink, "why have you +never told me this?"</p> + +<p>"What would be the use?" asked Bilbil in a low voice +and still refusing to look up.</p> + +<p>"The use?" repeated Rinkitink, puzzled.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's the trouble," said the Wizard. "It is +one of the most powerful enchantments ever +accomplished, and the magician is now dead and the +secret of the anti-charm lost. Even I, with all my +skill, cannot restore Prince Bobo to his proper form. +But I think Glinda might be able to do so and if you +will all return with Dorothy and me to the Land of Oz, +where Ozma will make you welcome, I will ask Glinda to +try to break this enchantment."</p> + +<p>This was willingly agreed to, for they all welcomed +the chance to visit the famous Land of Oz. So they bade +good-bye to King Kaliko, whom Dorothy warned not to be +wicked any more if he could help it, and the entire +party returned over the Magic Carpet to the Land of Oz. +They filled the Red Wagon, which was still waiting for +them, pretty full; but the Sawhorse didn't mind that +and with wonderful speed carried them safely to the +Emerald City.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='Chapter_Twenty_Two'></a><h2>Chapter Twenty Two</h2> + +<h3>Ozma's Banquet</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Ozma had seen in her Magic Picture the liberation of +Inga's parents and the departure of the entire party +for the Emerald City, so with her usual hospitality +she ordered a splendid banquet prepared and invited +all her quaint friends who were then in the Emerald +City to be present that evening to meet the strangers +who were to become her guests.</p> + +<p>Glinda, also, in her wonderful Record Book had +learned of the events that had taken place in the +caverns of the Nome King and she became especially +interested in the enchantment of the Prince of +Boboland. So she hastily prepared several of her most +powerful charms and then summoned her flock of sixteen +white storks, which swiftly bore her to Ozma's palace. +She arrived there before the Red Wagon did and was +warmly greeted by the girl Ruler.</p> + +<p>Realizing that the costume of Queen Garee of Pingaree +must have become sadly worn and frayed, owing to her +hardships and adventures, Ozma ordered a royal outfit +prepared for the good Queen and had it laid in her +chamber ready for her to put on as soon as she arrived, +so she would not be shamed at the banquet. New costumes +were also provided for King Kitticut and King Rinkitink +and Prince Inga, all cut and made and embellished in +the elaborate and becoming style then prevalent in the +Land of Oz, and as soon as the party arrived at the +palace Ozma's guests were escorted by her servants to +their rooms, that they might bathe and dress +themselves.</p> + +<p>Glinda the Sorceress and the Wizard of Oz took charge +of Bilbil the goat and went to a private room where +they were not likely to be interrupted. Glinda first +questioned Bilbil long and earnestly about the manner +of his enchantment and the ceremony that had been used +by the magician who enchanted him. At first Bilbil +protested that he did not want to be restored to his +natural shape, saying that he had been forever +disgraced in the eyes of his people and of the entire +world by being obliged to exist as a scrawny, scraggly +goat. But Glinda pointed out that any person who +incurred the enmity of a wicked magician was liable to +suffer a similar fate, and assured him that his +misfortune would make him better beloved by his +subjects when he returned to them freed from his dire +enchantment.</p> + +<p>Bilbil was finally convinced of the truth of this +assertion and agreed to submit to the experiments of +Glinda and the Wizard, who knew they had a hard task +before them and were not at all sure they could +succeed. We know that Glinda is the most complete +mistress of magic who has ever existed, and she was +wise enough to guess that the clever but evil magician +who had enchanted Prince Bobo had used a spell that +would puzzle any ordinary wizard or sorcerer to break; +therefore she had given the matter much shrewd thought +and hoped she had conceived a plan that would succeed. +But because she was not positive of success she would +have no one present at the incantation except her +assistant, the Wizard of Oz.</p> + +<p>First she transformed Bilbil the goat into a lamb, +and this was done quite easily. Next she transformed +the lamb into an ostrich, giving it two legs and feet +instead of four. Then she tried to transform the +ostrich into the original Prince Bobo, but this +incantation was an utter failure. Glinda was not +discouraged, however, but by a powerful spell +transformed the ostrich into a tottenhot — which is a +lower form of a man. Then the tottenhot was transformed +into a mifket, which was a great step in advance and, +finally, Glinda transformed the mifket into a handsome +young man, tall and shapely, who fell on his knees +before the great Sorceress and gratefully kissed her +hand, admitting that he had now recovered his proper +shape and was indeed Prince Bobo of Boboland.</p> + +<p>This process of magic, successful though it was in +the end, had required so much time that the banquet was +now awaiting their presence. Bobo was already dressed +in princely raiment and although he seemed very much +humbled by his recent lowly condition, they finally +persuaded him to join the festivities.</p> + +<p>When Rinkitink saw that his goat had now become a +Prince, he did not know whether to be sorry or glad, +for he felt that he would miss the companionship of the +quarrelsome animal he had so long been accustomed to +ride upon, while at the same time he rejoiced that poor +Bilbil had come to his own again.</p> + +<p>Prince Bobo humbly begged Rinkitink's forgiveness for +having been so disagreeable to him, at times, saying +that the nature of a goat had influenced him and the +surly disposition he had shown was a part of his +enchantment. But the jolly King assured the Prince that +he had really enjoyed Bilbil's grumpy speeches and +forgave him readily. Indeed, they all discovered the +young Prince Bobo to be an exceedingly courteous and +pleasant person, although he was somewhat reserved and +dignified.</p> + +<p>Ah, but it was a great feast that Ozma served in her +gorgeous banquet hall that night and everyone was as +happy as could be. The Shaggy Man was there, and so was +Jack Pumpkinhead and the Tin Woodman and Cap'n Bill. +Beside Princess Dorothy sat Tiny Trot and Betsy Bobbin, +and the three little girls were almost as sweet to look +upon as was Ozma, who sat at the head of her table and +outshone all her guests in loveliness.</p> + +<p>King Rinkitink was delighted with the quaint people +of Oz and laughed and joked with the tin man and the +pumpkin-headed man and found Cap'n Bill a very +agreeable companion. But what amused the jolly King +most were the animal guests, which Ozma always invited +to her banquets and seated at a table by themselves, +where they talked and chatted together as people do but +were served the sort of food their natures required. +The Hungry Tiger and Cowardly Lion and the Glass Cat +were much admired by Rinkitink, but when he met a mule +named Hank, which Betsy Bobbin had brought to Oz, the +King found the creature so comical that he laughed and +chuckled until his friends thought he would choke. Then +while the banquet was still in progress, Rinkitink +composed and sang a song to the mule and they all +joined in the chorus, which was something like this:</p> + + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"It's very queer how big an ear</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 3em;'>Is worn by Mr. Donkey;</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>And yet I fear he could not hear</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 3em;'>If it were on a monkey.</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>'Tis thick and strong and broad and long</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 3em;'>And also very hairy;</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>It's quite becoming to our Hank</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 3em;'>But might disgrace a fairy!"</span><br /> +<br /> + +<p>This song was received with so much enthusiasm that +Rinkitink was prevailed upon to sing another. They gave +him a little time to compose the rhyme, which he +declared would be better if he could devote a month or +two to its composition, but the sentiment he expressed +was so admirable that no one criticized the song or the +manner in which the jolly little King sang it.</p> + +<p>Dorothy wrote down the words on a piece of paper, and +here they are:</p> + + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"We're merry comrades all, to-night,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Because we've won a gallant fight</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 3em;'>And conquered all our foes.</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>We're not afraid of anything,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>So let us gayly laugh and sing</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 3em;'>Until we seek repose.</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"We've all our grateful hearts can wish;</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>King Gos has gone to feed the fish,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 3em;'>Queen Cor has gone, as well;</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>King Kitticut has found his own,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Prince Bobo soon will have a throne</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 3em;'>Relieved of magic spell.</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"So let's forget the horrid strife</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>That fell upon our peaceful life</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 3em;'>And caused distress and pain;</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>For very soon across the sea</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>We'll all be sailing merrily</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>To Pingaree again."</span><br /> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='Chapter_Twenty_Three'></a><h2>Chapter Twenty Three</h2> + +<h3>The Pearl Kingdom</h3> +<br /> + +<p>It was unfortunate that the famous Scarecrow - the most +popular person in all Oz, next to Ozma — was absent at +the time of the banquet, for he happened just then to +be making one of his trips through the country; but the +Scarecrow had a chance later to meet Rinkitink and Inga +and the King and Queen of Pingaree and Prince Bobo, for +the party remained several weeks at the Emerald City, +where they were royally entertained, and where both the +gentle Queen Garee and the noble King Kitticut +recovered much of their good spirits and composure and +tried to forget their dreadful experiences.</p> + +<p>At last, however, the King and Queen desired to +return to their own Pingaree, as they longed to be with +their people again and see how well they had rebuilt +their homes. Inga also was anxious to return, although +he had been very happy in Oz, and King Rinkitink, who +was happy anywhere except at Gilgad, decided to go with +his former friends to Pingaree. As for prince Bobo, he +had become so greatly attached to King Rinkitink that +he was loth to leave him.</p> + +<p>On a certain day they all bade good-bye to Ozma and +Dorothy and Glinda and the Wizard and all their good +friends in Oz, and were driven in the Red Wagon to the +edge of the Deadly Desert, which they crossed safely on +the Magic Carpet. They then made their way across the +Nome Kingdom and the Wheeler Country, where no one +molested them, to the shores of the Nonestic Ocean. +There they found the boat with the silver lining still +lying undisturbed on the beach.</p> + +<p>There were no important adventures during the trip +and on their arrival at the pearl kingdom they were +amazed at the beautiful appearance of the island they +had left in ruins. All the houses of the people had +been rebuilt and were prettier than before, with green +lawns before them and flower gardens in the back yards. +The marble towers of King Kitticut's new palace were +very striking and impressive, while the palace itself +proved far more magnificent than it had been before the +warriors from Regos destroyed it.</p> + +<p>Nikobob had been very active and skillful in +directing all this work, and he had also built a pretty +cottage for himself, not far from the King's palace, +and there Inga found Zella, who was living very happy +and contented in her new home. Not only had Nikobob +accomplished all this in a comparatively brief space of +time, but he had started the pearl fisheries again and +when King Kitticut returned to Pingaree he found a +quantity of fine pearls already in the royal treasury.</p> + +<p>So pleased was Kitticut with the good judgment, +industry and honesty of the former charcoal-burner of +Regos, that he made Nikobob his Lord High Chamberlain +and put him in charge of the pearl fisheries and all +the business matters of the island kingdom.</p> + +<p>They all settled down very comfortably in the new +palace and the Queen gathered her maids about her once +more and set them to work embroidering new draperies +for the royal throne. Inga placed the three Magic +Pearls in their silken bag and again deposited them in +the secret cavity under the tiled flooring of the +banquet hall, where they could be quickly secured if +danger ever threatened the now prosperous island.</p> + +<p>King Rinkitink occupied a royal guest chamber built +especially for his use and seemed in no hurry to leave +his friends in Pingaree. The fat little King had to +walk wherever he went and so missed Bilbil more and +more; but he seldom walked far and he was so fond of +Prince BoBo that he never regretted Bilbil's +disenchantment.</p> + +<p>Indeed, the jolly monarch was welcome to remain +forever in Pingaree, if he wished to, for his merry +disposition set smiles on the faces of all his friends +and made everyone near him as jolly as he was himself. +When King Kitticut was not too busy with affairs of +state he loved to join his guest and listen to his +brother monarch's songs and stories. For he found +Rinkitink to be, with all his careless disposition, a +shrewd philosopher, and in talking over their +adventures one day the King of Gilgad said:</p> + +<p>"The beauty of life is its sudden changes. No one +knows what is going to happen next, and so we are +constantly being surprised and entertained. The many +ups and downs should not discourage us, for if we are +down, we know that a change is coming and we will go up +again; while those who are up are almost certain to go +down. My grandfather had a song which well expresses +this and if you will listen I will sing it."</p> + +<p>"Of course I will listen to your song," returned +Kitticut, "for it would be impolite not to."</p> + +<p>So Rinkitink sang his grandfather's song:</p> + + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"A mighty King once ruled the land —</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 3em;'>But now he's baking pies.</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>A pauper, on the other hand,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 3em;'>Is ruling, strong and wise.</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>A tiger once in jungles raged —</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 3em;'>But now he's in a zoo;</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>A lion, captive-born and caged,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 3em;'>Now roams the forest through.</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>A man once slapped a poor boy's pate</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 3em;'>And made him weep and wail.</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>The boy became a magistrate</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 3em;'>And put the man in jail.</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>A sunny day succeeds the night;</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 3em;'>It's summer — then it snows!</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Right oft goes wrong and wrong comes right,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 3em;'>As ev'ry wise man knows."</span><br /> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='Chapter_Twenty_Four'></a><h2>Chapter Twenty-Four</h2> + +<h3>The Captive King</h3> +<br /> + +<p>One morning, just as the royal party was finishing +breakfast, a servant came running to say that a great +fleet of boats was approaching the island from the +south. King Kitticut sprang up at once, in great alarm, +for he had much cause to fear strange boats. The others +quickly followed him to the shore to see what invasion +might be coming upon them.</p> + +<p>Inga was there with the first, and Nikobob and Zella +soon joined the watchers. And presently, while all were +gazing eagerly at the approaching fleet, King Rinkitink +suddenly cried out:</p> + +<p>"Get your pearls, Prince Inga — get them quick!"</p> + +<p>"Are these our enemies, then?" asked the boy, looking +with surprise upon the fat little King, who had begun +to tremble violently.</p> + +<p>"They are my people of Gilgad!" answered Rinkitink, +wiping a tear from his eye. "I recognize my royal +standards flying from the boats. So, please, dear Inga, +get out your pearls to protect me!"</p> + +<p>"What can you fear at the hands of your own +subjects?" asked Kitticut, astonished.</p> + +<p>But before his frightened guest could answer the +question Prince Bobo, who was standing beside his +friend, gave an amused laugh and said:</p> + +<p>"You are caught at last, dear Rinkitink. Your people +will take you home again and oblige you to reign as +King."</p> + +<p>Rinkitink groaned aloud and clasped his hands +together with a gesture of despair, an attitude so +comical that the others could scarcely forbear +laughing.</p> + +<p>But now the boats were landing upon the beach. They +were fifty in number, beautifully decorated and +upholstered and rowed by men clad in the gay uniforms +of the King of Gilgad. One splended boat had a throne +of gold in the center, over which was draped the King's +royal robe of purple velvet, embroidered with gold +buttercups.</p> + +<p>Rinkitink shuddered when he saw this throne; but now +a tall man, handsomely dressed, approached and knelt +upon the grass before his King, while all the other +occupants of the boats shouted joyfully and waved their +plumed hats in the air.</p> + +<p>"Thanks to our good fortune," said the man who +kneeled, "we have found Your Majesty at last!"</p> + +<p>"Pinkerbloo," answered Rinkitink sternly, "I must +have you hanged, for thus finding me against my will."</p> + +<p>"You think so now, Your Majesty, but you will never +do it," returned Pinkerbloo, rising and kissing the +King's hand.</p> + +<p>"Why won't I?" asked Rinkitink.</p> + +<p>"Because you are much too tender-hearted, Your +Majesty."</p> + +<p>"It may be — it may be," agreed Rinkitink, sadly. +"It is one of my greatest failings. But what chance +brought you here, my Lord Pinkerbloo?"</p> + +<p>"We have searched for you everywhere, sire, and all +the people of Gilgad have been in despair since you so +mysteriously disappeared. We could not appoint a new +King, because we did not know but that you still lived; +so we set out to find you, dead or alive. After +visiting many islands of the Nonestic Ocean we at last +thought of Pingaree, from where come the precious +pearls; and now our faithful quest has been rewarded."</p> + +<p>"And what now?" asked Rinkitink.</p> + +<p>"Now, Your Majesty, you must come home with us, like +a good and dutiful King, and rule over your people," +declared the man in a firm voice.</p> + +<p>"I will not."</p> + +<p>"But you must — begging Your Majesty's pardon for +the contradiction."</p> + +<p>"Kitticut," cried poor Rinkitink, "you must save me +from being captured by these, my subjects. What! must I +return to Gilgad and be forced to reign in splendid +state when I much prefer to eat and sleep and sing in +my own quiet way? They will make me sit in a throne +three hours a day and listen to dry and tedious affairs +of state; and I must stand up for hours at the court +receptions, till I get corns on my heels; and forever +must I listen to tiresome speeches and endless +petitions and complaints!"</p> + +<p>"But someone must do this, Your Majesty," said +Pinkerbloo respectfully, "and since you were born to be +our King you cannot escape your duty."</p> + +<p>"'Tis a horrid fate!" moaned Rinkitink. "I would die +willingly, rather than be a King — if it did not hurt +so terribly to die."</p> + +<p>"You will find it much more comfortable to reign than +to die, although I fully appreciate Your Majesty's +difficult position and am truly sorry for you," said +Pinkerbloo.</p> + +<p>King Kitticut had listened to this conversation +thoughtfully, so now he said to his friend:</p> + +<p>"The man is right, dear Rinkitink. It is your duty to +reign, since fate has made you a King, and I see no +honorable escape for you. I shall grieve to lose your +companionship, but I feel the separation cannot be +avoided."</p> + +<p>Rinkitink sighed.</p> + +<p>"Then," said he, turning to Lord Pinkerbloo, "in +three days I will depart with you for Gilgad; but +during those three days I propose to feast and make +merry with my good friend King Kitticut."</p> + +<p>Then all the people of Gilgad shouted with delight +and eagerly scrambled ashore to take their part in the +festival.</p> + +<p>Those three days were long remembered in Pingaree, +for never — before nor since — has such feasting and +jollity been known upon that island. Rinkitink made the +most of his time and everyone laughed and sang with him +by day and by night.</p> + +<p>Then, at last, the hour of parting arrived and the +King of Gilgad and Ruler of the Dominion of Rinkitink +was escorted by a grand procession to his boat and +seated upon his golden throne. The rowers of the fifty +boats paused, with their glittering oars pointed into +the air like gigantic uplifted sabres, while the people +of Pingaree — men, women and children — stood upon +the shore shouting a royal farewell to the jolly King.</p> + +<p>Then came a sudden hush, while Rinkitink stood up +and, with a bow to those assembled to witness his +departure, sang the following song, which he had just +composed for the occasion.</p> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"Farewell, dear Isle of Pingaree —</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>The fairest land in all the sea!</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>No living mortals, kings or churls,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Would scorn to wear thy precious pearls.</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"King Kitticut, 'tis with regret</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>I'm forced to say farewell; and yet</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Abroad no longer can I roam</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>When fifty boats would drag me home.</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"Good-bye, my Prince of Pingaree;</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>A noble King some time you'll be</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>And long and wisely may you reign</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>And never face a foe again!"</span><br /> +<br /> + +<p>They cheered him from the shore; they cheered him +from the boats; and then all the oars of the fifty +boats swept downward with a single motion and dipped +their blades into the purple-hued waters of the +Nonestic Ocean.</p> + +<p>As the boats shot swiftly over the ripples of the sea +Rinkitink turned to Prince Bobo, who had decided not to +desert his former master and his present friend, and +asked anxiously:</p> + +<p>"How did you like that song, Bilbil — I mean Bobo? +Is it a masterpiece, do you think?"</p> + +<p>And Bobo replied with a smile:</p> + +<p>"Like all your songs, dear Rinkitink, the sentiment +far excels the poetry."</p> + +<p> </p> +<h4>THE END</h4> +<p> </p> + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> + + + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'><b>The Wonderful Oz Books</b></span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'><b>by L. Frank Baum</b></span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2.5em;'>1 The Wizard of Oz</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2.5em;'>2 The Land of Oz</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2.5em;'>3 Ozma of Oz</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2.5em;'>4 Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2.5em;'>5 The Road to Oz</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2.5em;'>6 The Emerald City of Oz</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2.5em;'>7 The Patchwork Girl of Oz</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2.5em;'>8 Tik-Tok of Oz</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2.5em;'>9 The Scarecrow of Oz</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>10 Rinkitink in Oz</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>11 The Lost Princess of Oz</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>12 The Tin Woodman of Oz</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>13 The Magic of Oz</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>14 Glinda of Oz</span><br /> + + + + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/old/10woz10h.zip b/old/10woz10h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cd448bf --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10woz10h.zip diff --git a/old/10woz10l.lit b/old/10woz10l.lit Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4705058 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10woz10l.lit diff --git a/old/10woz10l.zip b/old/10woz10l.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c7fa44f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10woz10l.zip diff --git a/old/10woz10p.prc b/old/10woz10p.prc Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f631543 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10woz10p.prc diff --git a/old/10woz10p.zip b/old/10woz10p.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bc31d1b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10woz10p.zip |