Oz 10: Rinkitink in Oz by L. Frank Baum
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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 nourishing . there_was no grass to_be had unless he escaped from_the palace .

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 again fallen into_the hands of_the enemy .

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 heels that he soon freed himself and dashed out_of_the doorway of_the palace .

" stop him ! " cried king Gos, running after .

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 open, Bilbil rushed through them without slackening his speed .

chapter Thirteen

Zella Saves the prince

the wicked queen of Coregos was in a very bad humor this_morning, for_one of her slave drivers had come from_the fields to_say that a number of slaves had rebelled and would_not work .

" 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 look on her face .

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 hand-blows 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 hot coffee streamed across the lap of_the queen's best morning gown .

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, trembling and with downcast eyes .

" 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 commanded: " get me the whip with_the seven lashes ."

as_the boy left the room, wondering how he might manage to save the unhappy women from their undeserved punishment, he met a girl entering by_the back way, who asked:

" can_you tell me where to_find her majesty, queen Cor ? "

" she_is in_the chamber with_the red dome, where green dragons are painted upon_the walls," replied Inga; " but she_is in an angry and ungracious mood to- day . why do_you wish to_see her ? "

" I_have honey to_sell," answered the girl, who was Zella, just come from_the forest ." the queen is very fond of_my honey ."

" you_may go to her, if_you so desire," said the boy, " but take care not to anger the cruel queen, or she may do_you a mischief ."

" why should she harm me, who brings her the honey she so dearly loves ? " inquired the child innocently ." but I thank_you_for_your warning; and_I_will try not to anger the queen ."

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, " where did you get those shoes ? "

" my father brought them to_me from Regos," she answered .

" from Regos ! "

" 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 ash- heap . 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 .

" what_is your_name, little maid ? " he asked .

" I_am called Zella, and my father is Nikobob, the charcoal- burner ."

"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 again ? "

Zella's eyes filled with tears .

" 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 Pearls . so he_said, pleadingly:

" please let me have them, Zella . see ! i_will exchange for_them the shoes I now have on, which are newer and prettier than_the others ."

the girl hesitated . she wanted to_please the boy prince, yet she hated to exchange the shoes which her father had brought her as a present .

" 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 -- and beginning to_put on one of Inga's .

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 furious but astonished queen, said to her in a quiet voice:

" madam, please give_me that whip ."

"I won't ! " answered Cor ."I'm going to lash those Pingaree women with it ."

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 red- domed 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 Rinkitink ascolding . to_the overseer Inga said .

" give_me the keys which unlock these chains, that I_may set these poor women at liberty ."

"Don't you_do it ! " screamed queen Cor .

" if_you interfere, madam," said the boy, " i_will put you into a dungeon ."

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, fearing the conqueror of Regos, tremblingly gave up the keys .

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 up and Bilbil sat up and_they looked at each_other in amazement .

"Bilbil," said the king, "I'm astonished at you ! "

" your majesty," said Bilbil, "I expected kinder treatment at your hands ."

" you interrupted me," said Rinkitink .

" there_was plenty of room without your taking my path," declared the goat .

and then Inga came running out and said ." where is_the queen ? "

" 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 let_us be thankful ."

Saying this, the good little king got upon his feet and limped back into_the throne room to help comfort the women .

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 .

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