Oz 10: Rinkitink in Oz by L. Frank Baum
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one that applies to_you, my prince: ' good children are seldom punished, for_the reason that_they deserve no punishment .' now, i_think that_is neatly put, and shows the author to_be a deep thinker . but the advice that has impressed me the most is in_the following paragraph: ' you_may not find it as pleasant to_be good as it is_to_be bad, but other people will_find it more pleasant .' Haw-hoo-ho ! keek-eek ! ' other people will_find it more pleasant ! ' -- hee, hee, heek, keek ! -- ' more pleasant .' dear me -- dear me ! therein lies a noble incentive to_be good, and whenever I get time I'm surely going to_try it ."

then he wiped his eyes again with_the lace handkerchief and, suddenly remembering his dinner, seized his knife and fork and began eating .

chapter three

the Warriors from_the north

king Rinkitink was so_much pleased with_the island of Pingaree that he continued his stay day after day and week after week, eating good dinners, talking with king Kitticut and sleeping . once in a while he_would read from_his scroll ." for," said he, " whenever I return home, my subjects will_be anxious to_know if I_have learned ' how to_be good,' and I_must not disappoint them ."

the twenty rowers lived on_the small end of_the island, with_the pearl fishers, and seemed not to care whether they ever returned to_the kingdom of Rinkitink or not .Bilbil the goat wandered over the grassy slopes, or among_the trees, and passed his days exactly as he pleased . his master seldom cared to ride him .Bilbil was a rare curiosity to_the islanders, but since there_was little pleasure in talking with_the goat they kept away from_him . this pleased the creature, who seemed well satisfied to_be left to_his own devices .

once prince Inga, wishing to_be courteous, walked up_to_the goat and said: " good morning, Bilbil ."

" it isn't a good morning," answered Bilbil grumpily ." it_is cloudy and damp, and looks like rain ."

" I_hope you_are contented in_our kingdom," continued the boy, politely ignoring the other's harsh words .

"I'm not," said Bilbil ."I'm never contented; so it doesn't matter to_me whether I'm in your kingdom or in some other kingdom . go away -- will_you ? "

" certainly," answered the prince, and after_this rebuff he_did_not again try to_make friends with Bilbil .

now that_the king, his father, was so_much occupied with_his royal guest, Inga was often left to amuse himself, for a boy could_not_be allowed to_take part in_the conversation of two great monarchs . he devoted himself to_his studies, therefore, and day after day he climbed into_the branches of_his favorite tree and sat for hours in_his " tree- top rest," reading his father's precious manuscripts and thinking upon what he read .

you_must not think that Inga was amolly-coddle or aprig, because he_was so solemn and studious . being a king's son and heir to a throne, he_could_not play with_the other boys of Pingaree, and he lived so_much in_the society of_the king and queen, and was so surrounded by_the pomp and dignity of a court, that he missed all the jolly times that boys usually have . I_have no_doubt that had he been able to live as other boys do, he would_have_been much like other boys; as it_was, he_was subdued by his surroundings, and more grave and thoughtful than one of_his years should_be .

Inga was in_his tree one morning when, without warning, a great fog enveloped the island of Pingaree . the boy could scarcely see the tree next to_that in_which he sat, but the leaves above him prevented the dampness from wetting him, so he curled himself up in_his seat and fell fast asleep .

all that forenoon the fog continued . king Kitticut, who sat in_his palace talking with_his merry visitor, ordered the candles lighted, that they_might_be able to_see one another . the good queen, Inga's mother, found it_was too dark to work at her embroidery, so she called her maidens together and told them wonderful stories of bygone days, in_order to_pass away the dreary hours .

but soon after noon the weather changed . the dense fog rolled away like a heavy cloud and suddenly the sun shot his bright rays over the island .

" very_good ! " exclaimed king Kitticut ." we_shall_have a pleasant afternoon, I_am_sure," and he blew out the candles .

then he stood a moment motionless, as_if turned to stone, for a terrible cry from without the palace reached his ears -- a cry so full of fear and horror that_the king's heart almost stopped beating . immediately there_was ascurrying of feet as every_one in_the palace, filled with dismay, rushed outside to_see what had happened . even fat little Rinkitink sprang from_his chair and followed his host and_the others through_the arched vestibule .

after many years the worst fears of king Kitticut were realized .

Landing upon_the beach, which_was but a few steps from_the palace itself, were hundreds of boats, every_one filled with a throng of fierce warriors . they sprang upon_the land with wild shouts of Defiance and rushed to_the king's palace, waving aloft their swords and spears and battleaxes .

king Kitticut, so completely surprised that he_was bewildered, gazed at_the approaching host with terror and grief .

" they_are the men of Regos and Coregos ! " he groaned ." we_are, indeed, lost ! "

then he bethought himself, for_the first time, of_his wonderful pearls .Turning quickly, he ran back into_the palace and hastened to_the hall where the treasures were hidden . but the leader of_the warriors had seen the king enter the palace and bounded after him, thinking he meant to escape . just as_the king had stooped to press the secret spring in_the tiles, the warrior seized him from_the rear and threw him backward upon_the floor, at_the same time shouting to_his men to fetch ropes and bind the prisoner . this they_did very quickly and king Kitticut soon found himself helplessly bound and in_the power of_his enemies . in_this sad condition he_was lifted by_the warriors and carried outside, when_the good king looked upon a sorry sight .

the queen and her maidens, the officers and servants of_the royal household and all who had inhabited this end of_the island of Pingaree had_been seized by_the invaders and bound with ropes . at once they began carrying their victims to_the boats, tossing them in as unceremoniously as if_they had_been bales of merchandise .

the king looked around for_his son Inga, but failed to_find the boy among_the prisoners . nor was_the fat king, Rinkitink, to_be seen anywhere about .

the warriors were swarming over the palace like bees in a hive, seeking anyone who_might_be in hiding, and after_the search had_been prolonged for some_time the leader asked impatiently: " do_you find anyone else ? "

" no," his men told him ." we_have captured them all ."

" then," commanded the leader, " remove everything of value from_the palace and tear down its walls and towers, so_that not one stone remains upon another ! "

while the warriors were busy with_this task we_will return to_the boy prince, who, when_the fog lifted and_the sun came out, wakened from_his sleep and began to climb down from_his perch in_the tree . but the terrifying cries of_the people, mingled with_the shouts of_the rude warriors, caused him to pause and listen eagerly .

then he climbed rapidly up the tree, far above his platform, to_the topmost swaying branches . this tree, which Inga called his own, was somewhat taller than_the other trees that surrounded it, and when he had reached the top he pressed aside the leaves and saw a great fleet of boats upon_the shore -- strange boats, with banners that he had never seen before .Turning to look upon his father's palace, he_found it surrounded by a horde of enemies . then Inga knew the truth: that tile island had_been invaded by_the barbaric warriors from_the north . he grew so faint from_the terror of it all that he_might_have fallen had he not wound his arms around a limb and clung fast until the dizzy feeling passed away . then with_his sash he bound himself to_the limb and again ventured to look out through_the leaves .

the warriors were now engaged in carrying king Kitticut and queen Garee and all their other captives down to_the boats, where they were thrown in and chained one to another . it_was a dreadful sight for_the prince to witness, but he sat very still, concealed from_the sight of anyone below by_the bower of leafy branches around him .Inga knew very_well that he_could do nothing to help his beloved parents, and_that if he_came down he_would only be forced to share their cruel fate .

now a procession of_the Northmen passed between_the boats and_the palace, bearing the rich furniture, splendid draperies and rare ornaments of_which the royal palace had_been robbed, together with_such food and other plunder as they_could lay their hands upon . after_this, the men of Regos and Coregos threw ropes around the marble domes and towers and hundreds of warriors tugged at_these ropes until the domes and towers toppled and fell in ruins upon_the ground . then the walls themselves were torn down, till little remained of_the beautiful palace but a vast heap of white marble blocks tumbled and scattered upon_the ground .

prince Inga wept bitter tears of grief as he watched the ruin of_his home; yet he_was powerless to avert the destruction . when_the palace had_been demolished, some_of_the warriors entered their boats and rowed along the coast of_the island, while the others marched in a great body down the length of_the island itself . they were so numerous that_they formed a line stretching from shore to shore and_they destroyed every house they came to and took every inhabitant prisoner .

the pearl fishers who lived at_the lower end of_the island tried to escape in their boats, but they were soon overtaken and made prisoners, like the others . nor was there any attempt to resist the foe, for_the sharp spears and pikes and swords of_the invaders terrified the hearts of_the defenseless people of Pingaree, whose sole weapons were their oyster rakes .

when night fell the whole of_the island of Pingaree had_been conquered by_the men of_the north, and all its people were slaves of_the conquerors . next morning the men of Regos and Coregos, being capable of no further mischief, departed from_the scene of_their triumph, carrying their prisoners with_them and taking also every boat to_be found upon_the island . many_of_the boats they had filled with rich plunder, with pearls and silks and velvets, with silver and gold ornaments and all the treasure that had made Pingaree famed as one_of_the richest kingdoms in_the_world . and_the hundreds of slaves they had captured would_be set to work in_the mines of Regos and_the grain fields of Coregos .

so complete was_the victory of_the Northmen that_it_is no wonder the warriors sang songs of triumph as_they hastened back to_their homes . great rewards were awaiting them when_they showed the haughty king of Regos and_the terrible queen of Coregos the results of_their ocean raid and conquest .

chapter Four

the deserted island

all through_that terrible night prince Inga remained hidden in_his tree . in_the morning he watched the great fleet of boats depart for their own country, carrying his parents and_his countrymen with_them, as_well as everything of value the island of Pingaree had contained .

sad, indeed, were the boy's thoughts when_the last of_the boats had become amere speck in_the distance, but Inga did_not dare leave his perch of safety until all of_the craft of_the invaders had disappeared beyond the horizon . then he_came down, very slowly and carefully, for he_was weak from hunger and_the long and weary watch, as he had_been in_the tree for twenty-four hours without food .

the sun shone upon_the beautiful green isle as brilliantly as_if no ruthless invader had passed and laid it in ruins . the birds still chirped among_the trees and_the butterflies darted from flower to flower as happily as when_the land was filled with a prosperous and contented people .

Inga feared that only he_was left of all his nation . perhaps he_might_be obliged to_pass his life there alone . he_would_not starve, for_the sea would give him oysters and fish, and_the trees fruit; yet the life that confronted him was far from enticing .

the boy's first act was to walk over to where the palace had stood and search the ruins until he_found some scraps of food that had_been overlooked by_the enemy . he sat upon a block of marble and ate of_this, and tears filled his eyes as he gazed upon_the desolation around him . but Inga tried to bear up bravely, and having satisfied his hunger he walked over to_the well, intending to draw a bucket of drinking water .

Fortunately, this well had_been overlooked by_the invaders and_the bucket was still fastened to_the chain that wound around a stout wooden windlass .Inga took hold of_the crank and began letting the bucket down into_the well, when suddenly he_was startled by a muffled voice crying out:

" be careful, up there ! "

the sound and_the words seemed to indicate that_the voice came from_the bottom of_the well, so Inga looked down . nothing could_be seen, on account of_the darkness .

" who_are you ? " he shouted .

" it's I -- Rinkitink," came the answer, and_the depths of_the well echoed: "Tink-i-tink-i-tink ! " in a ghostly manner .

" are_you in_the well ? " asked the boy, greatly surprised .

" yes, and nearly drowned .I fell in while running from those terrible warriors, and I've been standing in_this damp hole ever_since, with my head just above the water . it's lucky the well was no deeper, for had my head been under water, instead of above it -- hoo, hoo, hoo, keek, eek ! -- under instead of over, you_know -- why, then I wouldn't be talking to_you now ! Ha, hoo, hee ! " and_the well dismally echoed: "Ha, hoo, hee ! " which you_must imagine was a laugh half merry and half sad .

"I'm awfully sorry," cried the boy, in answer ."I wonder you_have the heart to laugh at all . but how am I to_get you out ? "

"I've been considering that all night," said Rinkitink, " and I believe the best plan will_be for_you to let down the bucket to_me, and I'll hold fast to_it while you wind up the chain and so

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