Oz 10: Rinkitink in Oz by L. Frank Baum
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his real feelings . so he_took time to_think over his answer, which he finally made in_these words:

" I_have no quarrel with your majesty, and my only reason for coming here_is to liberate my father and mother, and my people, whom you and your husband have_made your slaves, and to recover the goods king Gos has plundered from_the island of Pingaree . this I_hope soon to accomplish, and if_you really wish to_be my friend, you_can assist me greatly ."

while he_was speaking queen Cor had_been studying the boy's face stealthily, from_the corners of her eyes, and she said to herself: " he_is so small and innocent that I believe I_can capture him alone, and with ease . he_does_not seem very terrible and I suspect that king Gos and_his warriors were frightened at nothing ."

then, aloud, she said to Inga:

" i_wish to invite you, mighty prince, and your friend, the great king of Gilgad, to visit my poor palace at Coregos, where all my people shall do_you honor . will_you come ? "

" at present," replied Inga, uneasily, " I_must refuse your kind invitation ."

" there_will_be feasting, and dancing girls, and games and fireworks," said the queen, speaking as_if eager to entice him and at each word coming a step nearer to where he stood .

" I_could_not enjoy them while my poor parents are slaves," said the boy, sadly .

" are_you sure of_that ? " asked queen Cor, and by_that_time she was close beside Inga . suddenly she leaned forward and threw both of her long arms around Inga's body, holding him in a grasp that was like a vise .

now Rinkitink sprang forward to rescue his friend, but Cor kicked out viciously with her foot and struck the king squarely on_his stomach -- a very tender place to_be kicked, especially if one is fat . then, still hugging Inga tightly, the queen called aloud:

"I've got him ! bring in_the ropes ."

instantly the four men she had brought with her sprang into_the room and bound the boy hand and foot . next they seized Rinkitink, who was still rubbing his stomach, and bound him likewise .

with a laugh of wicked triumph, queen Cor now led her captives down to_the boat and returned with_them to Coregos .

great was_the astonishment of king Gos and_his warriors when_they saw that_the mighty prince of Pingaree, who had put them all to flight, had_been captured by a woman .Cowards as_they were, they now crowded around the boy and jeered at him, and some_of_them would_have struck him had_not the queen cried out:

"Hands off ! he_is my prisoner, remember not yours ."

" well, Cor, what_are you going to_do with_him ? " inquired king Gos .

" I_shall_make him my slave, that he_may amuse my idle hours . for he_is a pretty boy, and gentle, although he_did frighten all of you big warriors so terribly ."

the king scowled at_this speech, not liking to_be ridiculed, but he_said nothing more . he and_his men returned that same day to Regos, after restoring the bridge of boats . and_they held a wild carnival of rejoicing, both in_the king's palace and in_the city, although the poor people of Regos who were_not warriors were all sorry that_the kind young prince had_been captured by his enemies and could rule them no longer .

when her unwelcome guests had all gone back to Regos and_the queen was alone in her palace, she ordered Inga and Rinkitink brought before her and their bonds removed . they came sadly enough, knowing they were in serious straits and at_the mercy of a cruel mistress .Inga had taken counsel of_the white pearl, which had advised him to bear up bravely under his misfortune, promising a change for_the better very_soon . with_this promise to comfort him, Inga faced the queen with a dignified bearing that indicated both pride and courage .

" well, youngster," said she, in a cheerful tone because she was pleased with her success, " you played a clever trick on my poor husband and frightened him badly, but for_that prank I_am inclined to forgive you . hereafter I intend you to_be my page, which_means that you_must fetch and carry for_me at my will . and let me advise you to obey my every whim without question or delay, for when I_am angry I become ugly, and when I_am ugly someone is sure to_feel the lash . do_you understand me ? "

Inga bowed, but made no answer . then she turned to Rinkitink and said:

" as for_you, I_cannot decide how to_make you useful to_me, as_you_are altogether too fat and awkward to work in_the fields . it may_be, however, that I_can use you as a pincushion .

" what ! " cried Rinkitink in horror, " would you stick pins into_the king of Gilgad ? "

" why_not ? " returned queen Cor ." you_are as fat as a pincushion, as_you_must yourself admit, and whenever I needed a pin I_could call you to_me ." then she laughed at his frightened look and asked: " by_the_way, are_you ticklish ? "

this_was the question Rinkitink had_been dreading . he_gave a moan of despair and shook his head .

" i_should love to tickle the bottom of your feet with a feather," continued the cruel woman ." please take off your shoes ."

"Oh, your majesty ! " pleaded poor Rinkitink, "I beg you to allow me to amuse you in some other way . I_can dance, or I_can sing you a song ."

" well," she answered, shaking with laughter, " you_may sing a song -- if_it be a merry one . but you_do_not seem in a merry mood ."

" I_feel merry -- indeed, your majesty, I_do ! " protested Rinkitink, anxious to escape the tickling . but even as he professed to " feel merry" his round, red face wore an expression of horror and anxiety that was realty comical .

" sing, then ! " commanded queen Cor, who was greatly amused .

Rinkitink gave a sigh of relief and after clearing his throat and trying to repress his sobs he began to sing this song- gently, at first, but finally roaring it out at_the top of_his voice:

"Oh ! there_was a baby tiger lived in a men-ag-er- ie --

Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy -- they wouldn't set him free; and ev'rybody thought that he_was gentle as could_be --

Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy -- BA- by Ti-ger !

"Oh ! they patted him upon his head and shook him by_the paw --

Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy -- he had a bone to gnaw; but soon he grew the biggest tiger that you ever saw --

Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy -- what aTi-ger !

"Oh ! one day they came to pet the brute and he began to fight --

Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy- how he_did scratch and bite ! he broke the cage and in a rage he darted out of sight --

Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy was aTi-ger ! "

" and is_there a moral to_the song ? " asked queen Cor, when king Rinkitink had finished his song with great spirit .

" if_there_is," replied Rinkitink, " it_is awarning not to fool with tigers ."

the little prince could_not help smiling at_this shrewd answer, but queen Cor frowned and gave the king a sharp look .

"Oh," said she; " i_think I_know the difference between a tiger and alapdog . but I'll bear the warning in mind, just the same ."

for, after all her success in capturing them, she was a little afraid of_these people who had once displayed such extraordinary powers .

chapter Eleven

Zella Goes to Coregos

the forest in_which Nikobob lived with_his wife and daughter stood between_the mountains and_the city of Regos, and a well- beaten path wound among_the trees, leading from_the city to_the mines . this path was used by_the king's messengers, and captured prisoners were also sent by this_way from Regos to work in_the underground caverns .

Nikobob had built his cabin more than a mile away from_this path, that he_might_not be molested by_the wild and lawless soldiers of king Gos, but the family of_the charcoal- burner was surrounded by many creatures scarcely less dangerous to encounter, and often in_the night they_could hear savage animals growling and prowling about_the cabin . because Nikobob minded his own business and never hunted the wild creatures to injure them, the beasts had come to regard him as one_of_the natural dwellers in_the forest and did_not molest him or his family . still Zella and her mother seldom wandered far from home, except on_such errands as carrying honey to Coregos, and at_these times Nikobob cautioned them to_be very careful .

so when Zella set out on her journey to queen Cor, with_the two pails of honey in her hands, she was undertaking a dangerous adventure and there_was no certainty that she_would return safely to her loving parents . but they were poor, and queen Cor's money, which they expected to receive for_the honey, would enable them to purchase many things that were needed; so it_was deemed best that Zella should go . she was a brave little girl and poor people are often obliged to_take chances that rich ones are spared .

apassing woodchopper had brought news to Nikobob's cabin that queen Cor had made a prisoner of_the conquering prince of Pingaree and_that Gos and_his warriors were again back in their city of Regos; but these struggles and conquests were matters which, however interesting, did_not concern the poor charcoal- burner or his family . they were more anxious over the report that_the warriors had become more reckless than ever before, and delighted in annoying all the common people; so Zella was told to_keep away from_the beaten path as_much as possible, that she might_not encounter any of_the king's soldiers .

" when it_is necessary to_choose between_the warriors and_the wild beasts," said Nikobob, " the beasts will_be found the more merciful ."

the little girl had put on her best attire for_the journey and her mother threw a blue silk shawl over her head and shoulders . upon her feet were the pretty red shoes her father had brought her from Regos . thus prepared, she kissed her parents good-bye and started out with a light heart, carrying the pails of honey in either hand .

it_was necessary for Zella to cross the path that led from_the mines to_the city, but once on_the other side she was not likely to meet with anyone, for she had resolved to cut through_the forest and so reach the bridge of boats without entering the city of Regos, where she might_be interrupted . for an hour or two she found the walking easy enough, but then the forest, which in_this part was unknown to her, became badly tangled . the trees were thicker and creeping vines intertwined between_them . she had to_turn this_way and_that to_get through at all, and finally she came to a place where a network of vines and branches effectually barred her farther progress .

Zella was dismayed, at first, when she encountered this obstacle, but setting down her pails she made an endeavor to push the branches aside . at her touch they parted as_if by magic, breaking asunder like dried twigs, and she found she_could pass freely . at another place a great log had fallen across her way, but the little girl lifted it easily and cast it aside, although six ordinary men could scarcely have moved it .

the child was somewhat worried at_this evidence of a strength she had heretofore been ignorant that she possessed . in_order to satisfy herself that_it_was no delusion, she tested her new- found power in many ways, finding that nothing was too big nor too heavy for her to lift . and, naturally enough, the girl gained courage from_these experiments and became confident that she_could protect herself in any emergency . when, presently, a wild boar ran toward her, grunting horribly and threatening her with its great tusks, she did_not climb a tree to escape, as she had always done before on meeting such creatures, but stood still and faced the boar . when it had come quite close and Zella saw that_it could_not injure her -- a fact that astonished both the beast and_the girl -- she suddenly reached down and seizing it by one ear threw the great beast far off amongst the trees, where it fell headlong to_the earth, grunting louder than ever with surprise and fear .

the girl laughed merrily at_this incident and, picking up her pails, resumed her journey through_the forest . it_is_not recorded whether the wild boar told his adventure to_the other beasts or they had happened to witness his defeat, but certain it is_that Zella was not again molested .a brown bear watched her pass without making any movement in her direction and a great puma -- a beast much dreaded by all men -- crept out of her path as she approached, and disappeared among_the trees .

thus everything favored the girl's journey and she made such good speed that by noon she emerged from_the forest's edge and found she was quite near to_the bridge of boats that led to Coregos . this she crossed safely and without meeting any of_the rude warriors she so greatly feared, and five minutes later the daughter of_the charcoal- burner was seeking admittance at_the back door of queen Cor's palace .

chapter Twelve

the excitement of Bilbil the goat

our story must now return to one_of_our characters whom we_have_been forced to neglect . the temper of Bilbil the goat was not sweet under any circumstances, and whenever he had a grievance he_was inclined to_be quite grumpy . so, when his master settled down in_the palace of king Gos for a quiet life with_the boy prince, and passed his time in playing checkers and eating and otherwise enjoying himself, he had no use whatever for Bilbil, and shut the goat in an upstairs room to_prevent his wandering through_the city and quarreling with_the citizens . but this Bilbil did_not like at all . he became very cross and disagreeable at being left alone and he_did_not speak nicely to_the servants who came to bring him food; therefore those people decided not

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