Rinkitink In Oz...................................................................................................................................................1

L. Frank Baum.........................................................................................................................................1

Introducing this Story..............................................................................................................................1

Chapter One. The Prince of Pingaree......................................................................................................2

Chapter Two. The Coming of King Rinkitink .........................................................................................5

Chapter Three. The Warriors from the North..........................................................................................9

Chapter Four. The Deserted Island........................................................................................................12

Chapter Five. The Three Pearls.............................................................................................................16

Chapter Six. The Magic Boat .................................................................................................................23

Chapter Seven. The Twin Islands..........................................................................................................29

Chapter Eight. Rinkitink Makes a Great Mistake ..................................................................................33

Chapter Nine. A Present for Zella ..........................................................................................................38

Chapter Ten. The Cunning of Queen Cor ..............................................................................................41

Chapter Eleven. Zella Goes to Coregos .................................................................................................45

Chapter Twelve. The Excitement of Bilbil the Goat.............................................................................46

Chapter Thirteen. Zella Saves the Prince ...............................................................................................47

Chapter Fourteen. The Escape...............................................................................................................51

Chapter Fifteen. The Flight of the Rulers..............................................................................................56

Chapter Sixteen. Nikobob Refuses a Crown ..........................................................................................57

Chapter Seventeen. The Nome King.....................................................................................................59

Chapter Eighteen. Inga Parts with his Pink Pearl..................................................................................63

Chapter Nineteen. Rinkitink Chuckles..................................................................................................70

Chapter Twenty. Dorothy to the Rescue ................................................................................................72

Chapter TwentyOne. The Wizard Finds an Enchantment ...................................................................74

Chapter Twenty Two. Ozma's Banquet.................................................................................................77

Chapter Twenty Three. The Pearl Kingdom ..........................................................................................79

Chapter TwentyFour. The Captive King.............................................................................................80

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 fairyland. 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

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

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

treetrunks 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 snowwhite 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

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

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 pearlfishers 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,

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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

"What is this, my father!" exclaimed the Prince, amazed; "do you tell me that a pearl can speak? It sounds

"Your doubt is due to your ignorance of fairy powers," returned the King, gravely. "Listen, my son, and you

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

"The powers of the other pearls are even greater," resumed the King. "Were I poor in all else, these gems

"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

"I have often wondered how we managed to win that battle," remarked Inga thoughtfully. "But the pearls will

"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

Then the King returned the pearls to their hiding place and the boy went to his own room to ponder upon the

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 leafladen branches, the Royal Watchman, whose duty it was to patrol the shore, came

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

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

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

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

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

"Heh, heh ho, ho, ho!" he roared. "Didn't expect me, I see. Keekeekeekeek! 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

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

"You are welcome to the Kingdom of Pingaree. Perhaps you will deign to come ashore and at your

"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

"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

"Oh, I suppose so," answered King Rinkitink, with a laugh. "But what else could I do? My subjects would not

"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,

"They're afraid I'll get into mischief. They don't trust me. Keekeekeek Oh, dear me! Don't trust their

"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

"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

"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."

"Exactly; my goat Bilbil. I always ride him wherever I go, for I'm not at all fond of walking, being a trifle

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

"There! I told you so!" cried the voice angrily. "You've rubbed the skin off my left knee. Why on earth didn't

"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

"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

keekeekeekeek! the rascal treats me as if I were a chimney sweep instead of a King. Heh, heh, heh,

keek, eek! A chimney sweephoo, 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.

"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

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

"What! Up that steep hill?" cried the goat. "Get off my back at once, Rinkitink, or I won't budge a step.

"Butconsider, Bilbil," remonstrated the King. "How am I to get up that hill unless I ride?"

"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

"Well, well, well," said the goat, surlily, "keep quiet and I'll carry you. But you make me very tired,

After making this protest Bilbil began walking up the hill, carrying the fat King upon his back with no

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

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

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

"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."

"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, hoohoo, keekeek! Imagine the fuss there would be in

"I would like to see that parchment," said the solemneyed Prince Inga, "for if it indeed teaches one to be

"Oh, it's a fine essay," said Rinkitink, "and beautifully written with a goosequill. Listen to this: You'll enjoy it

He took from his pocket a scroll of parchment tied with a black ribbon, and having carefully unrolled it, he

"'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, hoohoohoo! 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

When Rinkitink had recovered from his fit of laughter and had wiped his eyes upon a fine lace handkerchief,

"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.' Hawhooho! keekeek! '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

Then he wiped his eyes again with the lace handkerchief and, suddenly remembering his dinner, seized his

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

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

"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 "treetop rest," reading his father's precious manuscripts and thinking upon what he read.

You must not think that Inga was a mollycoddle 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

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

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

But soon after noon the weather changed. The dense fog rolled away like a heavy cloud and suddenly the sun

"Very good!" exclaimed King Kitticut. "We shall have a pleasant afternoon, I am sure," and he blew out the

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

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

King Kitticut, so completely surprised that he was bewildered, gazed at the approaching host with terror and

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

The King looked around for his son Inga, but failed to find the boy among the prisoners. Nor was the fat

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?"

"Then," commanded the leader, "remove everything of value from the palace and tear down its walls and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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 sound and the words seemed to indicate that the voice came from the bottom of the well, so Inga looked

"It's I Rinkitink," came the answer, and the depths of the well echoed: "Tinkitinkitink!" in a ghostly

"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!"

"I'm awfully sorry," cried the boy, in answer. "I wonder you have the heart to laugh at all. But how am I to

"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

"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

"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,

"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,

"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

"Do not ask me to enjoy a joke just now, Your Majesty," begged Inga in a sad voice; "but if you will be

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.

"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,

"Oh, no! His Majesty is at the bottom of the well," said Inga, "and I don't know how to get him out again."

"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

"Oh, well; the old boy isn't so bad, taken altogether," admitted Bilbil, speaking in a more friendly tone. "But

"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

"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

Bilbil had lain down to sleep and the refrain of a merry song came in muffled tones from the well, proving

"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

"And I am not," growled the goat, "for I have not yet had my nap out. Old Rinki will be safe enough in the

"But it is damp in the well," protested the boy, "and King Rinkitink may catch the rheumatism, so that he will

"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

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

"Bilbil," replied the King solemnly, "you're a goat. Do you imagine I fell down the well on purpose?"

"There? Hehhehheekkeekeek! 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

"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, heekkeekeek! 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

"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

"An excellent idea," declared Rinkitink. "I am somewhat feeble from my long confinement in the well, but I

Hearing this, Bilbil cast a surly glance at his master but said nothing, since it was really the goat's business to

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

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

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

When King Rinkitink and Prince Inga had bathed themselves in the sea and eaten a simple breakfast, they

"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

"I'll not starve, for I can eat grass," remarked the goat in a pleasant tone or a tone as pleasant as Bilbil

"True, quite true," said the King. Then he seemed thoughtful for a moment and turning to Inga he asked: "Do

"Not if I can help it, Bilbil," answered the King pleasantly. "You would make a remarkably tough morsel, and

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;

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

"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

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

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

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

"Where is Inga?" asked Rinkitink, rubbing his eyes with his knuckles because their vision was blurred with

"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

"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.

"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.

"Don't interrupt; it is impolite. Once on a time there was a King with a hollow inside his head, where most

"And the King with a hollow head could chatter words, which had no sense, and laugh in a brainless manner

"Then proceed with the tale, sweet Bilbil. Yet it is hard to believe that any King could be brainless unless,

"This emptyheaded man was a King by accident, having been born to that high station. Also the King was

"Then he was wrong to have been born at all. Cheek eekeekeek, 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,

"Ask someone with brains, my boy; I'm sure I can't tell," replied the King, bursting into one of his merry fits

Bilbil rose to his hoofs and walked away in a dignified manner, leaving Rinkitink chuckling anew at the sour

"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

"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

The angry goat was quite mollified by the respectful tone in which he was addressed, but he immediately

"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

"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

"Let us forget everything but his good nature, which puts new heart into us when we are sad," advised the

"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.

"If I could find a way to remove some of the blocks of marble which have fallen in the banquet hall, I think I

"Then," mumbled Rinkitink, with his mouth full, "let us move the blocks of marble."

"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:

The goat gave a snort of contempt; Inga was silent; the King looked from one to the other inquiringly.

"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.

"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.

"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

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

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

"Your weight was of considerable help," acknowledged the goat, "but if your head were as well filled as your

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

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

"Ah," said Rinkitink, looking at the fine catch when Inga returned to the shore; "these will taste delicious

"No," was the reply. I have often caught fish, but never cooked them. Perhaps Your Majesty understands

"Cooking and majesty are two different things," laughed the little King. "I could not cook a fish to save me

"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

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

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

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:

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

"I advise you to go to the Islands of Regos and Coregos, where you may liberate your parents from slavery."

"Tonight," spoke the voice of the pearl, "there will be a storm, and in the morning a boat will strand upon

"How can I, a weak boy, pull the boat so far?" he inquired, doubting the possibility.

"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,

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

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

"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

"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

"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

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

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

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

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

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 seabiscuits, cakes, tinned meats and ripe, juicy

Lying upon the bottom of the boat were two shining oars, and overhead, but rolled back now, was a canopy

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

"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."

"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

"I am sorry to differ from Your Majesty's views," said Inga, "but instead of going to Gilgad I consider it of

"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."

"Cheekeekeekeekeek! 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

"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

Inga was a little embarrassed how to reply to these arguments, which he knew King Rinkitink considered

"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;

"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

"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

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

everhungry 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 silverlined craft and the boy came last, pushing off the boat as he sprang

"Well, here we go for Gilgad!" exclaimed the King, picking up the oars and placing them in the rowlocks.

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

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

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

"Not so," insisted Bilbil. "Nothing could make you a member of my superior race."

"We may as well get back to the shore, for the boat is too heavy to row to Gilgad or anywhere else. Indeed, it

"No, indeed," answered Rinkitink. "If you can row us to Regos, or to any other place, I will go with you

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

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

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

"It may be a relief for a short time," said Bilbil, "but you are going to the land of your enemies, who will

"Never mind," said the King calmly, "a man can die but once, you know, and when the enemy kills me I shall

"They may be cannibals, in which case they will roast and eat us," suggested Bilbil, who wished to terrify his

"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

"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:

Sing tooralooralido! She sat upon the Captain's knee And looked around the sea to see What she could

"I don't like it," complained the goat. "It reminds me of the alligator that tried to whistle."

"Ha, ha, ha, ha, heek, keek, eek!" chuckled the King. "He must have whistled most exquisitely, eh, my

"I am yours, however," was the King's cheery reply; "and to prove it I'll sing you another verse."

"The wind blew off the maiden's shoe Sing tooralooralido! 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

"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."

"But this is a jolly quarrel," said the King, "and it is the way Bilbil and I often amuse ourselves. Listen, now,

Sing tooralooralido! Her tears were fried for the Captain's bride Who ate with pride her sobs, beside,

"Worse and worse!" grumbled Bilbil, with much scorn. "I am glad that is the last verse, for another of the

"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?"

"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

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

"I have never tried," was the answer. "In time of danger I have found it much easier to run away than to face

"I might try, if there was no chance to escape by running. Have you a proper weapon for me to fight with?"

"Then let us use argument and persuasion instead of fighting. For instance, if we could persuade the warriors

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

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

"The pearls have guided me aright!" he whispered to himself. "Now, if I am wise, and cautious, and brave, I

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Those people surely mean us no good," said Rinkitink uneasily to the boy. "Without doubt they intend to

"Do not fear, sir," answered Inga, in a calm voice. "Stay quietly in the boat with Bilbil until I have spoken

He stopped the boat a dozen feet from the shore, and standing up in his place made a grave bow to the

"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,

When they heard this bold speech a mighty laugh arose from the band of warriors, and when it had subsided

"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

"It is His Majesty, King Rinkitink, of the great City of Gilgad. He has accompanied me to see that you render

"Better yet!" laughed Buzzub. "He will make a fine slave for Queen Cor, who loves to tickle fat men, and see

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,

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

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 terrorstricken 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

All the men of Regos bore spears and bowsandarrows, and some of the officers had swords and

battleaxes; 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

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

Buzzub stood for a moment looking upon the boy in silent wonder. Then, recovering himself, he shouted in a

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

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

"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

"You and I together, Bilbil," said Rinkitink mildly. "But the next time you make a charge, please warn me in

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

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

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

Inga let them shoot as much as they wished, while he stood before the great gates and examined them

"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

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

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

Not a warrior remained in all Regos to oppose the triumphant three; the bridge of boats had been destroyed;

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

"Oh, here comes the army of King Rinkitink! It isn't a big one, perhaps you may think, But it scattered the

Rinkitink, tinkitink, tink! Our Bilbil's a hero and so is his King; Our foemen have vanished like birds on

"Why don't you give a little credit to Inga?" inquired the goat. "If I remember aright, he did a little of the

"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

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

"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

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 freshcut grass to eat and

That evening the boy Prince and the fat King dined in great state in the loftydomed 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

"You are welcome to it," said he to the chef, "because I have eaten so much that I cannot use that lower

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

"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

Perhaps it would have been wise for the Prince to have explained about the magic pearls, but at that moment

"Be patient, Your Majesty. The secret is not my own, so please do not ask me to divulge it. Is it not enough,

"Do not think me ungrateful," answered the King earnestly. "A million spears fell on me from the wall, and

"The stones were not as big as mountains, sire," said the Prince with a smile. "They were, indeed, no larger

"How deceptive those things are!" sighed the King. "This argument reminds me of the story of Tom Tick,

"When Tom walked out, the sky to spy, A naughty gnat flew in his eye; But Tom knew not it was a gnat

"And then, it felt so very big, He thought it surely was a pig Till, standing still to hear it grunt, He cried:

"But when the gnat flew out again And Tom was free from all his pain, He said: 'There flew into my eye

"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

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

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

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

"Your shoe!" exclaimed the King, giving a wide yawn and rubbing his eyes to get the sleep out of them.

"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."

"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

"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

"Come!" cried the King; "let us go out at once and look for the shoe which I threw at the cat. It must even

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.

"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

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

"Then I advise you to get it at once," continued Rinkitink, "for we can ill afford to lose the second shoe, as

On entering the room they found an old woman sweeping and raising a great deal of dust.

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.

"Why, I threw it on the dustheap, outside the back gate," said she, "for, it being but a single shoe, with no

"Show us the way to the dustheap at once!" commanded the boy, sternly, for he was greatly frightened

The old woman hobbled away and they followed her, constantly urging her to hasten; but when they reached

"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

dustheap, 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:

"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

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,

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

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

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

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

Suddenly the charcoalburner 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

Soon after, on turning a corner of the wall, Nikobob came to a dustheap 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,

"I have now a fine pair of shoes for my daughter Zella, who will be much pleased to find I have brought her a

And while the charcoalburner 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 castoff shoes which nobody

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

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 charcoalburner, 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

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 charcoalburner 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

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 charcoalburner

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

"I must be the strongest man in all the world!" thought the charcoalburner, 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

"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

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

"And now, my daughter," said the charcoalburner, when all his news had been related for at least the third

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

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

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

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 dartlike 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

"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

"But now," said Zella, "I shall be able to carry two pailsful to the Queen, who will, I am sure, give me a good

"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 charcoalburner, 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 tomorrow

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

"Shame on you!" she said to her husband, King Gos, "to be driven out of your city by a boy, a rolypoly

"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

"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

"Then meet his power with cunning," suggested the Queen. "Take my advice, and steal over to Regos at

"No weapon can touch his body," was the answer. "He bears a charmed life and cannot be injured."

"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 batteringram."

"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

"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

"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

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 simpleminded 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

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

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

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

"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

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."

"I wish to invite you, mighty Prince, and your friend, the great King of Gilgad, to visit my poor palace at

"There will be feasting, and dancing girls, and games and fireworks," said the Queen, speaking as if eager to

"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

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

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:

"I shall make him my slave, that he may amuse my idle hours. For he is a pretty boy, and gentle, although he

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

"As for you, I cannot decide how to make you useful to me, as you are altogether too fat and awkward to

"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

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

"Oh, your Majesty!" pleaded poor Rinkitink, "I beg you to allow me to amuse you in some other way. I can

"Well," she answered, shaking with laughter, "you may sing a song if it be a merry one. But you do not

"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

Rinkitink gave a sigh of relief and after clearing his throat and trying to repress his sobs he began to sing this

Fizzyfezzyfuzzy they wouldn't set him free; And ev'rybody thought that he was gentle as could be

Fizzyfezzyfuzzy he had a bone to gnaw; But soon he grew the biggest Tiger that you ever saw

Fizzyfezzyfuzzyhow he did scratch and bite! He broke the cage and in a rage he darted out of sight

"And is there a moral to the song?" asked Queen Cor, when King Rinkitink had finished his song with great

The little Prince could not help smiling at this shrewd answer, but Queen Cor frowned and gave the King a

"Oh," said she; "I think I know the difference between a tiger and a lapdog. But I'll bear the warning in mind,

For, after all her success in capturing them, she was a little afraid of these people who had once displayed

The forest in which Nikobob lived with his wife and daughter stood between the mountains and the City of

Regos, and a wellbeaten 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

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 charcoalburner 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

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 goodbye 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

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 newfound 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

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

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

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

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

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

The wicked Queen of Coregos was in a very bad humor this morning, for one of her slave drivers had come

"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

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 handblows 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

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,

"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

As the boy left the room, wondering how he might manage to save the unhappy women from their

"She is in the chamber with the red dome, where green dragons are painted upon the walls," replied Inga; "but

"I have honey to sell," answered the girl, who was Zella, just come from the forest. "The Queen is very fond

"You may go to her, if you so desire," said the boy, "but take care not to anger the cruel Queen, or she may

"Why should she harm me, who brings her the honey she so dearly loves?" inquired the child innocently.

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,

"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 ashheap. 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.

"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

"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

"Please let me have them, Zella. See! I will exchange for them the shoes I now have on, which are newer and

The girl hesitated. She wanted to please the boy Prince, yet she hated to exchange the shoes which her father

"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

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

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 reddomed 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

"Give me the keys which unlock these chains, that I may set these poor women at liberty."

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,

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

"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

Saying this, the good little King got upon his feet and limped back into the throne room to help comfort the

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.

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

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

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

Then the boy and the goat and Rinkitink and Zella went into a private room to consider what should be done

"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."

"That is a good idea," returned the boy, and at once he drew the White Pearl from its silken bag and held it to

The Voice of the Pearl replied: "Go to the south end of the Island of Coregos, and clap your hands three times

"Very good!" cried Inga, and then he turned to his companions and said: "We shall be able to get our boat

"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."

"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

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

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

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 fiddlecumfaddlcumfido! 'Alas, poor Ned,' to him I said, 'How did you lose your head so red?'

Sing fiddlecumfaddlecumfido! 'If I had only fled, instead, I then had been a head ahead.'

"But the song isn't finished," replied Rinkitink, "and as for your head aching, think of poor Ned, who hadn't

"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.

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

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

"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 Majesty was here in person last night," replied the man, "and went away again but an hour ago. He

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

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

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

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,

Then he Teamed that King Kitticut had indeed been working in this very cavern until the evening before,

"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:

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

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

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

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

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

They readily agreed to obey him, and, arming themselves with iron bars and pickaxes which they brought

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 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

"A great deal has happened," replied Buzzub. "Our King and Queen have run away and left us, and we don't

"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!"

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 butterhouse 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

While the men were tearing away the bridge of boats the Queen ran up to the palace of Gos, where she met

"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

"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,

"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

"It isn't a bad idea," said Gos, reflectively; "but where can we hide the King and Queen, so that the boy

"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

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

Inga arrived at the city some hours later and was much distressed when he learned that his father and mother

"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

Almost the first persons that Zella saw when she landed from the silverlined 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 silverlined 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

"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

"Me?" cried Nikobob, astounded by this speech. "I beg Your Highness, on my bended knees, not to do so

"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

"Very well," replied Inga, "we will say no more about your being King. I merely wanted to make you rich

"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

"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

"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

"If I had a hand, instead of a cloven hoof, I'd like to shake hands with you, Nikobob," said Bilbil the goat.

During the council they found, indeed, that the advice of the charcoalburner was both shrewd and sensible,

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

"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

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

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

It was while the last of the boats were preparing to sail for Pingaree that Nikobob, who had been of great

"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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

The forty rowers were left with the boat, while Queen Cor and King Cos, with their royal prisoners, who

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

One of these had very long ears and was called The LongEared Hearer. He said: "I heard you coming early

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

"It is true," replied another nome, who wore a gold collar around his neck and carried a bunch of golden keys.

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 waitingroom for visitors, and there their guide left them while he went to inform King Kaliko of their

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

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

"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

He then commanded Kitticut and Garee to lay before the Nome King the bags of gold and jewels, and they

"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

"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

"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

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

"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

"I assure Your Majesty that the prisoners have nothing to do with the Oz people," Gos hastened to say. And

"Oh, he is merely a boy; but he is very ferocious and obstinate and he is assisted by a little fat sorcerer called

"Oho! A talking goat, do you say? That certainly sounds like magic; and it also sounds like the Land of 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

"Make them work," advised Queen Cor. "They are rather delicate, and to make them work will make them

"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

"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

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

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

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

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

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

"We might have asked them, however, what they had done with your poor parents," said Rinkitink.

For a time they proceeded in silence and then Rinkitink began to chuckle with laughter in the pleasant way he

"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

"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."

"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

"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

"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

So Inga gave Rinkitink the Pink Pearl and the little King placed it in the pocket of his redandgreen

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

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

"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 was just thinking how fat and round you are," said Rinkitink. "Really, King Kaliko, we ought to be friends,

Then he began to chuckle, while Kaliko stared hard at him, not knowing whether to accept his speech as a

Bilbil met the Nome King's glowering look with a gaze equally surly and defiant, while Rinkitink answered:

"Yes," was the answer, "because it is difficult for a fat man to walk far, as perhaps you know from

"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

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 diamondstudded 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

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

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

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

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

"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

"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

"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 today, so I cannot entertain you properly, according to your rank; but Klik will

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 welllighted 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

"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

Before they went to sleep they carefully barred the door from Rinkitink's room to the corridor, but the doors

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Presently the giant looked up and perceived the boy crouching at the other side of the cavern, so he called out

"Come hither, my pretty one. We will wrestle together, you and I, and if you succeed in throwing me I will

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

steppingstones reaching straight across the cavern to the dark passageway beyond, which he hoped would

When his work had been completed, Inga did not long hesitate to take advantage of his steppingstones, 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

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

We will now relate what happened to Rinkitink and Bilbil that morning, while Inga was undergoing his trying

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

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,

"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,

"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, hoohee, heeheek, 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.

"Oh, did it?" replied Rinkitink, and stepping forward he walked right through the golden net, which fell to the

"I understand a good bit of magic," said ,he, "but Your Majesty has a sort of magic that greatly puzzles me,

"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 harmproof, 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 tenderhearted, 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

But Rinkitink did not fall into the pit; his body remained suspended in the air until he put out his foot and

"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 secondbest crown, I will be glad to discover if the

So Klik was sent to fetch Bilbil and presently returned with the goat, which was very cross this morning

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

"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."

"Well, why didn't you laugh when Kaliko laughed?" demanded the goat, when they were left alone in the

"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

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

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

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

"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, hoohee, heekkeekeek! And now, tell me; aren't you getting tired of trying

"Eh heh," said the Nome King. "I see now that your magic can protect you from all my arts. But is the boy

"Why do you ask?" inquired Rinkitink, uneasy at the question because he remembered he had not seen the

"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

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

"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.

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 silverlined 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

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

"Go, my dear, if you wish to," replied Ozma, "but I think it would be best for you to take the Wizard with

"Oh, I'm not afraid of the nomes," said Dorothy, "but I'll be glad to take the Wizard, for company. And may

"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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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

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

Kaliko turned pale on hearing this unwelcome news and, abandoning his game, went to sit in his ivory throne

"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."

"It isn't that," said King Kaliko, with a groan, "but she insists on the nomes being goodygoody, 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 chockfull 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

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

A few minutes later a nome came to say that Dorothy and the Wizard had arrived and demanded admittance,

As soon as she came in the little girl ran up to the boy Prince and seized both his hands.

"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,

"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!"

"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

"I can't do it, Dorothy," said the Nome King, almost weeping with despair. "I promised King Gos I'd keep

"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."

"I saw it in Glinda's Record Book," said Dorothy. "So now you trot out the King and Queen of Pingaree as

"No," persisted the contrary Nome King, shaking his head. "I won't do it. Ask me anything else and I'll try to

"In that case," said Dorothy, beginning to remove the cover from her basket, "I'll show you some eggs."

"Then keep them there I beg I implore you! and I'll do anything you say," pleaded Kaliko, his teeth

"Go, Klik," commanded the Nome King, and Klik ran away in great haste, for he was almost as much

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

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

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

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."

"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."

"What would be the use?" asked Bilbil in a low voice and still refusing to look up.

"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 anticharm 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

This was willingly agreed to, for they all welcomed the chance to visit the famous Land of Oz. So they bade

goodbye 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

pumpkinheaded 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

"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

'Tis thick and strong and broad and long And also very hairy; It's quite becoming to our Hank But might

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

"We're merry comrades all, tonight, Because we've won a gallant fight And conquered all our foes. We're

"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

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

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

On a certain day they all bade goodbye 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

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

So pleased was Kitticut with the good judgment, industry and honesty of the former charcoalburner of

Regos, that he made Nikobob his Lord High Chamberlain and put him in charge of the pearl fisheries and all

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."

"A mighty King once ruled the land But now he's baking pies. A pauper, on the other hand, Is ruling,

A tiger once in jungles raged But now he's in a zoo; A lion, captiveborn and caged, Now roams the

A man once slapped a poor boy's pate And made him weep and wail. The boy became a magistrate And put

A sunny day succeeds the night; It's summer then it snows! Right oft goes wrong and wrong comes right,

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

Inga was there with the first, and Nikobob and Zella soon joined the watchers. And presently, while all were

"Are these our enemies, then?" asked the boy, looking with surprise upon the fat little King, who had begun

"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,

"You are caught at last, dear Rinkitink. Your people will take you home again and oblige you to reign as

Rinkitink groaned aloud and clasped his hands together with a gesture of despair, an attitude so comical that

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

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

"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

"It may be it may be," agreed Rinkitink, sadly. "It is one of my greatest failings. But what chance brought

"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."

"Now, Your Majesty, you must come home with us, like a good and dutiful King, and rule over your people,"

"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

"But someone must do this, Your Majesty," said Pinkerbloo respectfully, "and since you were born to be our

"'Tis a horrid fate!" moaned Rinkitink. "I would die willingly, rather than be a King if it did not hurt so

"You will find it much more comfortable to reign than to die, although I fully appreciate Your Majesty's

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

"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

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

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

"King Kitticut, 'tis with regret I'm forced to say farewell; and yet Abroad no longer can I roam When fifty

"Goodbye, my Prince of Pingaree; A noble King some time you'll be And long and wisely may you reign

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 purplehued waters of the Nonestic

As the boats shot swiftly over the ripples of the sea Rinkitink turned to Prince Bobo, who had decided not to

"How did you like that song, Bilbil I mean Bobo? Is it a masterpiece, do you think?"