Oz 10: Rinkitink in Oz by L. Frank Baum
Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20]
his foot .

after he had put on_the shoe and laced it up he opened the bag and took out the pink pearl ." this_will protect me from danger," said Inga, and removing the shoe from_his left foot he carefully placed the pearl in_the hollow toe . this, also, he secured in place by_means of a strip torn from_his handkerchief .

Having put on_the second shoe and laced it up, the boy drew from_the silken bag the third pearl -- that which_was pure white -- and holding it to_his ear he asked .

" will_you advise me what to_do, in_this my hour of misfortune ? "

clearly the small voice of_the pearl made answer:

"I advise you to_go to_the Islands of Regos and Coregos, where you_may liberate your parents from slavery ."

" how could I do_that ? " exclaimed prince Inga, amazed at receiving such advice .

" to- night," spoke the voice of_the pearl, " there_will_be a storm, and in_the morning a boat will strand upon_the shore . take this boat and row to Regos and Coregos ."

" how can I, a weak boy, pull the boat so_far ? " he inquired, doubting the possibility .

" the blue pearl will give_you strength," was_the reply .

" but I_may_be shipwrecked and drowned, before ever I reach Regos and Coregos," protested the boy .

" the pink pearl will protect you from harm," murmured the voice, soft and low but very distinct .

" then I_shall act as_you advise me," declared Inga, speaking firmly because this promise gave him courage, and as he removed the pearl from_his ear it whispered:

" the wise and fearless are_sure to win success ."

Restoring the white pearl to_the depths of_the silken bag, Inga fastened it securely around his neck and buttoned his waist above it to hide the treasure from all prying eyes . then he slowly climbed down from_the tree and returned to_the room where king Rinkitink still slept .

the goat was browsing upon_the grass but looked cross and surly . when_the boy said good morning as he passed, Bilbil made no response whatever . as Inga entered the room the king awoke and asked:

" what_is that mysterious secret of yours ? I've been dreaming about_it, and I haven't got my breath yet from tugging at those heavy blocks . tell me the secret ."

"A secret told is no longer a secret," replied Inga, with a laugh ." besides, this_is a family secret, which it_is proper i_should keep to myself . but I_may tell you one_thing, at_least: we_are going to leave this island to- morrow morning ."

the king seemed puzzled' by_this statement .

"I'm not much of a swimmer," said he, " and, though I'm fat enough to float upon_the surface of_the water, I'd only bob around and get nowhere at all ."

" we_shall_not swim, but ride comfortably in a boat," promised Inga .

" there isn't a boat on_this island ! " declared Rinkitink, looking upon_the boy with wonder .

" true," said Inga ." but one will come to_us in_the morning ." he spoke positively, for he had perfect faith in_the promise of_the white pearl; but Rinkitink, knowing nothing of_the three marvelous jewels, began to fear that_the little prince had lost his mind through grief and misfortune .

for_this reason the king did_not question the boy further but tried to cheer him by telling him witty stories . he laughed at all the stories himself, in_his merry, rollicking way, and Inga joined freely in_the laughter because his heart had_been lightened by_the prospect of rescuing his dear parents . not since_the fierce warriors had descended upon Pingaree had the boy been so hopeful and happy .

with Rinkitink riding upon Bilbil's back, the three made a tour of_the island and found in_the central part some bushes and trees bearing ripe fruit . they gathered this freely, for -- aside from_the fish which Inga caught -- it was_the only food they now had, and_the less they had, the bigger Rinkitink's appetite seemed to grow .

" I_am never more happy," said he with a sigh, " than when I_am eating ."

toward evening the sky became overcast and soon a great storm began to rage . prince Inga and king Rinkitink took refuge within_the shelter of_the room they had fitted up and there Bilbil joined them . the goat and_the king were somewhat disturbed by_the violence of_the storm, but Inga did_not mind it, being pleased at_this evidence that_the white pearl might_be relied upon .

all night the wind shrieked around the island; thunder rolled, lightning flashed and rain came down in torrents . but with morning the storm abated and when_the sun arose no sign of_the tempest remained save a few fallen trees .

chapter Six

the magic boat

prince Inga was up with_the sun and, accompanied by Bilbil, began walking along the shore in search of_the boat which the white pearl had promised him . never for an instant did he doubt that he_would find it and before he had walked any great distance a dark object at_the water's edge caught his eye .

" it_is_the boat, Bilbil ! " he cried joyfully, and running down to_it he_found it_was, indeed, a large and roomy boat . although stranded upon_the beach, it_was in perfect order and had suffered in no way from_the storm .

Inga stood for some moments gazing upon_the handsome craft and wondering where it could_have come from . certainly it_was unlike any boat he had ever seen . on_the outside it_was painted a lustrous black, without any_other color to relieve it; but all the inside of_the boat was lined with pure silver, polished so highly that_the surface resembled a mirror and glinted brilliantly in_the rays of_the sun . the seats had white velvet cushions upon them and_the cushions were splendidly embroidered with threads of gold . at one end, beneath the broad seat, was a small barrel with silver hoops, which the boy found was filled with fresh, sweet water .a great chest of sandalwood, bound and ornamented with silver, stood in_the other end of_the boat .Inga raised the lid and discovered the chest filled with sea-biscuits, cakes, tinned meats and ripe, juicy melons; enough good and wholesome food to last the party a long_time .

Lying upon_the bottom of_the boat were two shining oars, and overhead, but rolled back now, was a canopy of silver cloth to ward off the heat of_the sun .

it_is no wonder the boy was delighted with_the appearance of_this beautiful boat; but on reflection he feared it_was too large for him to row any great distance . unless, indeed, the blue pearl gave him unusual strength .

while he_was considering this_matter, king Rinkitink came waddling up_to him and said:

" well, well, well, my prince, your words have come true ! here_is_the boat, for a certainty, yet how it came here -- and how you_knew it would come to_us -- are puzzles that mystify me . I_do_not question our good fortune, however, and my heart is bubbling with joy, for in_this boat i_will return at once to my city of Gilgad, from_which I_have remained absent altogether too long a time ."

" I_do_not wish to_go to Gilgad," said Inga .

" that_is too bad, my friend, for you_would_be very welcome . but you_may remain upon_this island, if_you_wish," continued Rinkitink, " and when I get home i_will send some of_my people to rescue you ."

" it_is my boat, your majesty," said Inga quietly .

" may_be, may_be," was_the careless answer, " but I_am king of a great country, while you_are a boy prince without any kingdom to_speak of . therefore, being of greater importance than you, it_is just and right that I take, your boat and return to my own country in_it ."

" I_am sorry to differ from your majesty's views," said Inga, " but instead of going to Gilgad I consider it of greater importance that we go to_the islands of Regos and Coregos ."

"Hey ? what ! " cried the astounded king ." to Regos and Coregos ! to_become slaves of_the barbarians, like the king, your father ? no, no, my boy ! your uncle Rinki may_have an empty noddle, as Bilbil claims, but he_is far too wise to_put his head in_the lion's mouth . it's no fun to_be a slave ."

" the people of Regos and Coregos will not enslave us," declared Inga ." on_the contrary, it_is my intention to set free my dear parents, as_well as all my people, and to bring them back again to Pingaree ."

"Cheek-eek-eek-eek-eek ! how funny ! " chuckled Rinkitink, winking at_the goat, which scowled in return ." your audacity takes my breath away, Inga, but the adventure has its charm, I_must, confess . were I not so fat, I'd agree to your plan at once, and could probably conquer that horde of fierce warriors without any assistance at all -- any at all -- eh, Bilbil ? but I grieve to_say that I_am fat, and not in good fighting trim . as for your determination to_do what I admit I_can't do, Inga, I_fear you forget that you_are only a boy, and rather small at_that ."

" no, I_do_not forget that," was Inga's reply .

" then please consider that you and I and Bilbil are_not strong enough, as an army, to conquer a powerful nation of skilled warriors . we_could attempt it, of_course, but you_are too young to die, while I_am too old . come with me to my city of Gilgad, where you_will_be greatly honored .I'll have my professors teach you how to_be good .Eh ? what do_you say ? "

Inga was a little embarrassed how to reply to_these arguments, which he_knew king Rinkitink considered were wise; so, after a period of thought, he_said:

" i_will make a bargain with your majesty, for I_do_not wish to fail in respect to so worthy a man and so great a king as yourself . this boat is mine, as I_have said, and in my father's absence you_have become my guest; therefore I claim that I_am entitled to some consideration, as_well as_you ."

" no_doubt of it," agreed Rinkitink ." what_is the bargain you propose, Inga ? "

" let_us both get into_the boat, and you shall first try to row us to Gilgad . if_you succeed, i_will accompany you right willingly; but should you fail, i_will then row the boat to Regos, and you_must come with me without further protest ."

"A fair and just bargain ! " cried the king, highly pleased ." yet, although I_am a man of mighty deeds, I_do_not relish the prospect of rowing so big a boat all the way to Gilgad . but i_will do my best and abide by_the result ."

the matter being thus peaceably settled, they prepared to embark .a further supply of fruits was placed in_the boat and Inga also raked up a quantity of_the delicious oysters that abounded on_the coast of Pingaree but which he had before been unable to reach for lack of a boat . this was_done at_the suggestion of_the ever- hungry Rinkitink, and when_the oysters had_been stowed in their shells behind the water barrel and a plentiful supply of grass brought aboard for Bilbil, they decided they were ready to start on their voyage .

it proved no easy task to_get Bilbil into_the boat, for he_was aremarkably clumsy goat and once, when Rinkitink gave him a push, he tumbled into_the water and nearly drowned before_they could get him out again . but there_was no thought of leaving the quaint animal behind . his power of speech made him seem almost human in_the eyes of_the boy, and_the fat king was so accustomed to_his surly companion that nothing could_have induced him to part with_him . finally Bilbil fell sprawling into_the bottom of_the boat, and Inga helped him to_get to_the front end, where there_was enough space for him to lie down .

Rinkitink now took his seat in_the silver- lined craft and_the boy came last, pushing off the boat as he sprang aboard, so_that it floated freely upon_the water .

" well, here we go for Gilgad ! " exclaimed the king, picking up the oars and placing them in_the row-locks . then he began to row as hard as he_could, singing at_the same time an odd sort of a song that ran like this

" the way to Gilgad isn't bad for a stout old king and a brave young lad, for a cross old goat with adripping coat, and a silver boat in_which to float . so our hearts are merry, light and glad as_we speed away to fair Gilgad ! "

"Don't, Rinkitink; please don't ! it makes me seasick," growled Bilbil .

Rinkitink stopped rowing, for by_this_time he_was all out of breath and_his round face was covered with big drops of perspiration . and when he looked over his shoulder he_found to_his dismay that_the boat had scarcely moved a foot from its former position .

Inga said nothing and appeared not to notice the king's failure . so now Rinkitink, with a serious look on_his fat, red face, took off his purple robe and rolled up the sleeves of_his tunic and tried again .

however, he succeeded no better than before and when he heard Bilbil give a gruff laugh and saw a smile upon_the boy prince's face, Rinkitink suddenly dropped the oars and began shouting with laughter at his own defeat . as he wiped his brow with a yellow silk handkerchief he sang in a merry voice:

"A sailor bold am I, I hold, but boldness will not row a boat . so I confess I'm in distress and just as useless as_the goat ."

" please leave me out of your verses," said Bilbil with a snort of anger .

" when I make a fool of myself, Bilbil, I'm a goat," replied Rinkitink .

" not so," insisted Bilbil ." nothing

Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20]