Oz 10: Rinkitink in Oz by L. Frank Baum
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the Coming of king Rinkitink

a few_days after_this, on a bright and sunny morning when_the breeze blew soft and sweet from_the ocean and_the trees waved their leaf- laden branches, the royal watchman, whose duty it_was to patrol the shore, came running to_the king with news that a strange boat was approaching the island .

at first the king was sore afraid and made a step toward the hidden pearls, but the next moment he reflected that one boat, even if filled with enemies, would_be powerless to injure him, so he curbed his fear and went down to_the beach to discover who the strangers might_be . many_of_the men of Pingaree assembled there also, and prince Inga followed his father .Arriving at_the water's edge, they all stood gazing eagerly at_the oncoming boat .

it_was quite a big boat, they observed, and covered with a canopy of purple silk, embroidered with gold . it_was rowed by twenty men, ten on each side . as it came nearer, Inga could_see that in_the stern, seated upon a high, cushioned chair of state, was a little man who was so very fat that he_was nearly as broad as he_was high this man was dressed in a loose silken robe of purple that fell in folds to_his feet, while upon his head was acap of white velvet curiously worked with golden threads and having a circle of diamonds sewn around the band . at_the opposite end of_the boat stood an oddly shaped cage, and several large boxes of sandalwood were piled near the center of_the craft .

as_the boat approached the shore the fat little man got upon his feet and bowed several_times in_the direction of_those who had assembled to greet him, and as he bowed he flourished his white cap in an energetic manner . his face was round as an apple and nearly as rosy . when he stopped bowing he smiled in_such a sweet and happy way that Inga thought he_must_be a very jolly fellow .

the prow of_the boat grounded on_the beach, stopping its speed so suddenly that_the little man was caught unawares and nearly toppled headlong into_the sea . but he managed to catch hold of_the chair with one hand and_the hair of one of_his rowers with_the other, and so steadied himself . then, again waving his jeweled cap around his head, he cried in a merry voice:

" well, here I_am at last ! "

" so I perceive," responded king Kitticut, bowing with much dignity .

the fat man glanced at all the sober faces before him and burst into arollicking laugh . perhaps i_should say it_was half laughter and half a chuckle of merriment, for_the sounds he emitted were quaint and droll and tempted every hearer to laugh with_him .

"Heh, heh -- ho, ho, ho ! " he roared ."Didn't expect me, I_see .Keek-eek-eek-eek ! this_is funny -- it's really funny .Didn't know i_was coming, did you ? Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo ! this_is certainly amusing . but I'm here, just the same ."

" hush up ! " said a deep, growling voice ." you're making yourself ridiculous ."

everyone looked to_see where this voice came from; but none could guess who had uttered the words of rebuke . the rowers of_the boat were all solemn and silent and certainly no one on_the shore had spoken . but the little man did_not seem astonished in_the least, or even annoyed .

king Kitticut now addressed the stranger, saying courteously:

" you_are welcome to_the kingdom of Pingaree . perhaps you_will deign to_come ashore and at your convenience inform us whom we_have the honor of receiving as a guest ."

" thanks; i_will," returned the little fat man, waddling from_his place in_the boat and stepping, with some difficulty, upon_the sandy beach ." I_am king Rinkitink, of_the city of Gilgad in_the kingdom of Rinkitink, and I_have come to Pingaree to_see for_myself the monarch who sends to my city so_many beautiful pearls . I_have long wished to visit this island; and so, as I_said before, here I_am ! "

" I_am pleased to welcome you," said king Kitticut ." but why has your majesty so few attendants ? is_it not dangerous for_the king of a great country to_make distant journeys in one frail boat, and with but twenty men ? "

"Oh, I suppose so," answered king Rinkitink, with a laugh ." but what else could I_do ? my subjects would_not allow me to_go anywhere at all, if_they knew it . so I just ran away ."

"Ran away ! " exclaimed king Kitticut in surprise .

" funny, isn't it ? Heh, heh, heh -- woo, hoo ! " laughed Rinkitink, and this_is as near as I_can spell with letters the jolly sounds of_his laughter ." fancy a king running away from_his own ple -- hoo, hoo -- keek, eek, eek, eek ! but I had to, don't you_see ! "

" why ? " asked the other king .

" they're afraid I'll get into mischief . they don't trust me .Keek-eek-eek -- Oh, dear me ! Don't trust their own king . funny, isn't it ? "

" no harm can come to_you on_this island," said Kitticut, pretending not to notice the odd ways of_his guest ." and, whenever it pleases you to return to your own country, i_will send with_you afitting escort of_my own people . in_the meantime, pray accompany me to my palace, where everything shall be_done to_make you comfortable and happy ."

" much obliged," answered Rinkitink, tipping his white cap over his left ear and heartily shaking the hand of_his brother monarch ."I'm sure you_can_make me comfortable if_you've plenty to eat . and as for being happy -- ha, ha, ha, ha ! -- why, that's my trouble .I'm too happy . but stop ! I've brought you some presents in those boxes . please order your men to carry them up_to_the palace ."

" certainly," answered king Kitticut, well pleased, and at once he_gave his men the proper orders .

" and, by_the_way," continued the fat little king, " let them also take my goat from_his cage ."

"A goat ! " exclaimed the king of Pingaree .

" exactly; my goat Bilbil .I always ride him wherever I go, for I'm not at all fond of walking, being a trifle stout -- eh, Kitticut ? -- a trifle stout ! Hoo, hoo, hoo-keek, eek ! "

the Pingaree people started to lift the big cage out_of_the boat, but just then a gruff voice cried: " be careful, you villains ! " and as_the words seemed to_come from_the goat's mouth the men were so astonished that_they dropped the cage upon_the sand with a sudden jar .

" there ! i_told you so ! " cried the voice angrily ." you've rubbed the skin off my left knee . why on earth didn't you handle me gently ? "

" there, there, Bilbil," said king Rinkitink soothingly; "don't scold, my boy . remember that_these are strangers, and we their guests ." then he turned to Kitticut and remarked: " you_have no talking goats on_your island, I suppose ."

" we_have no goats at all," replied the king; " nor have we any animals, of any sort, who_are able to_talk ."

" i_wish my animal couldn't talk, either," said Rinkitink, winking comically at Inga and then looking toward the cage ." he_is very cross at times, and indulges in language that_is_not respectful . i_thought, at first, it would_be fine to_have atalking goat, with_whom I_could converse as I rode about_my city on_his back; but -- keek-eek-eek-eek ! -- the rascal treats me as_if I were a chimney sweep instead of a king .Heh, heh, heh, keek, eek ! a chimney sweep-hoo, hoo, hoo ! -- and me a king ! funny, isn't it ? " this last was addressed to prince Inga, whom he chucked familiarly under the chin, to_the boy's great embarrassment .

" why do_you not ride a horse ? " asked king Kitticut .

" I_can't climb upon his back, being rather stout; that's why .Kee, kee, keek, eek ! -- rather stout -- hoo, hoo, hoo ! " he paused to wipe the tears of merriment from_his eyes and then added: " but I_can get on and off Bilbil's back with ease ."

he now opened the cage and_the goat deliberately walked out and looked about him in a sulky manner . one_of_the rowers brought from_the boat a saddle made of red velvet and beautifully embroidered with silver thistles, which he fastened upon_the goat's back . the fat king put his leg over the saddle and seated himself comfortably, saying:

" lead on, my noble host, and we_will follow ."

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

" but- consider, Bilbil," remonstrated the king ." how am I to_get up that hill unless I ride ? "

" walk ! " growled Bilbil .

" but I'm too fat . really, Bilbil, I'm surprised at you . haven't I brought you all this distance so you_may see something of_the world and enjoy life ? and now you_are so ungrateful as_to refuse to carry me ! turn about is fair play, my boy . the boat carried you to_this shore, because you_can't swim, and now you_must carry me up the hill, because I_can't climb .Eh, Bilbil, isn't that reasonable ? "

" well, well, well," said the goat, surlily, " keep quiet and I'll carry you . but you make me very tired, Rinkitink, with your ceaseless chatter ."

after making this protest Bilbil began walking up the hill, carrying the fat king upon his back with no difficulty whatever .

prince Inga and_his father and all the men of Pingaree were much astonished to overhear this dispute between king Rinkitink and_his goat; but they were too polite to_make critical remarks in_the presence of_their guests . king Kitticut walked beside the goat and_the prince followed after, the men coming last with_the boxes of sandalwood .

when_they neared the palace, the queen and her maidens came out to meet them and_the royal guest was escorted in state to_the splendid throne room of_the palace . here the boxes were opened and king Rinkitink displayed all the beautiful silks and laces and jewelry with_which they were filled . every_one_of_the courtiers and ladies received a handsome present, and_the king and queen had many rich gifts and Inga not a few . thus the time passed pleasantly until the chamberlain announced that dinner was served .

Bilbil the goat declared that he preferred eating of_the sweet, rich grass that grew abundantly in_the palace grounds, and Rinkitink said that_the beast could never bear being shut up in a stable; so they removed the saddle from_his back and allowed him to wander wherever he pleased .

during the dinner Inga divided his attention between admiring the pretty gifts he had received and listening to_the jolly sayings of_the fat king, who laughed when he_was not eating and ate when he_was not laughing and seemed to enjoy himself immensely .

" for four days I_have lived in_that narrow boat," said he, " with no other amusement than to watch the rowers and quarrel with Bilbil; so I_am very_glad to_be on land again with_such friendly and agreeable people ."

" you_do us great honor," said king Kitticut, with a polite bow .

" not at all -- not at all, my brother . this Pingaree must_be a wonderful island, for its pearls are the admiration of all the world; nor will I deny the fact that my kingdom would_be a poor one without the riches and glory it derives from_the trade in your pearls . so I_have wished for many years to_come here to_see you, but my people said: ' no ! stay at home and behave yourself, or we'll know the reason why .'"

" will they not miss your majesty from your palace at Gilgad ? " inquired Kitticut .

" i_think not," answered Rinkitink ." you_see, one of_my clever subjects has_written a parchment entitled ' how to_be good,' and I believed it would benefit me to study it, as I consider the accomplishment of being good one_of_the fine arts .I had just scolded severely my lord high chancellor for coming to breakfast without combing his eyebrows, and was so sad and regretful at having hurt the poor man's feelings that I decided to shut myself up in my own room and study the scroll until I_knew how to_be good -- hee, heek, keek, eek, eek ! -- to_be good ! clever idea, that, wasn't it ? mighty clever ! and I issued a decree that no one should enter my room, under pain of_my royal displeasure, until i_was ready to_come out . they're awfully afraid of_my royal displeasure, although not a bit afraid of me . then I put the parchment in my pocket and escaped through_the back door to my boat -- and here I_am .Oo, hoo-hoo, keek-eek ! imagine the fuss there would_be in Gilgad if_my subjects knew where I_am this very minute ! "

" i_would like to_see that parchment," said the solemn- eyed prince Inga, " for if_it indeed teaches one to_be good it must_be worth its weight in pearls ."

"Oh, it's a fine essay," said Rinkitink, " and beautifully written with agoosequill . listen to_this: you'll enjoy it -- tee, hee, hee ! -- enjoy it ."

he_took from_his pocket a scroll of parchment tied with a black ribbon, and having carefully unrolled it, he proceeded to read as follows:

"'A good man is one who_is never bad .' how's that, eh ? fine thought, what ? ' therefore, in_order_to_be good, you_must avoid those things which are evil .' Oh, hoo-hoo-hoo ! -- how clever ! when I get back I_shall_make the man who wrote that a royal hippolorum, for, beyond question, he is_the wisest man in my kingdom - as he has often told me himself ." with_this, Rinkitink lay back in_his chair and chuckled his queer chuckle until he coughed, and coughed until he choked and choked until he sneezed . and he wrinkled his face in_such a jolly, droll way that few could keep from laughing with_him, and even the good queen was forced to titter behind her fan .

when Rinkitink had recovered from_his fit of laughter and had wiped his eyes upon a fine lace handkerchief, prince Inga said to him:

" the parchment speaks truly ."

" yes, it_is true beyond doubt," answered Rinkitink, " and if I_could persuade Bilbil to read it he_would_be a much better goat than he_is now . here_is another selection: ' to avoid saying unpleasant things, always speak Agreeably .' that_would hit Bilbil, to a dot . and here_is one

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