Oz 10: Rinkitink in Oz by L. Frank Baum
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not to fear the guards as he_would protect them from_the whips .

then he teamed that king Kitticut had indeed been working in_this very cavern until the evening before, when king Gos had come and taken him away -- still loaded with chains .

"Seems to_me," said king Rinkitink, when he heard this report, " that Gos has carried your father away to Regos, to_prevent us from rescuing him . he_may hide poor Kitticut in a dungeon, where we_cannot find him ."

" perhaps you_are right," answered the boy, " but I_am determined to_find him, wherever he_may_be ."

Inga spoke firmly and with courage, but he_was greatly disappointed to_find that king Gos had_been before him at_the mines and had taken his father away . however, he tried not to_feel disheartened, believing he_would succeed in_the end, in_spite of all opposition .Turning to_the guards, he_said:

" remove the chains from_these slaves and set them free ."

the guards laughed at_this order, and one_of_them brought forward a handful of chains, saying: " his majesty has commanded us to_make you, also, a slave, for you_are never to leave these caverns again ."

then he attempted to_place the chains on Inga, but the boy indignantly seized them and broke them apart as easily as if_they had_been cotton cords . when a dozen or more of_the guards made a dash to capture him, the prince swung the end of_the chain like a whip and drove them into a corner, where they cowered and begged for mercy .

Stories of_the marvelous strength of_the boy prince had already spread to_the mines of Regos, and although king Gos had told them that Inga had_been deprived of all his magic power, the guards now saw this_was not true, so they deemed it wise not to attempt to oppose him .

the chains of_the slaves had all been riveted fast to_their ankles and wrists, but Inga broke the bonds of steel with_his hands and set the poor men free -- not_only those from Pingaree but all who had_been captured in_the many wars and raids of king Gos . they were very grateful, as_you_may suppose, and agreed to support prince Inga in whatever action he commanded .

he led them to_the middle cavern, where all the guards and overseers fled in terror at his approach, and soon he had broken apart the chains of_the slaves who had_been working in_that part of_the mines . then they approached the first cavern and liberated all there .

the slaves had_been treated so cruelly by_the servants of king Gos that_they were eager to pursue and slay them, in revenge; but Inga held them back and formed them into companies, each company having its own leader . then he_called the leaders together and instructed them to march in good order along the path to_the city of Regos, where he_would meet them and tell them what to_do next .

they readily agreed to obey him, and, arming themselves with iron bars and pick-axes which they brought from_the mines, the slaves began their march to_the city .

Zella at first wished to_be left behind, that she might make her way to her home, but neither Rinkitink nor Inga thought it_was safe for her to wander alone through_the forest, so they induced her to return with_them to_the city .

the boy beached his boat this_time at_the same place as when he first landed at Regos, and while many_of_the warriors stood on_the shore and before_the walls of_the city, not one_of_them attempted to interfere with_the boy in any_way . indeed, they seemed uneasy and anxious, and when Inga met captain Buzzub the boy asked if anything had happened in_his absence .

"A great deal has happened," replied Buzzub ." our king and queen have run away and left us, and we don't know what to_do ."

" run away ! " exclaimed Inga ." where did they go to ? "

" who knows ? " said the man, shaking his head despondently ." they departed together a few hours_ago, in a boat with forty rowers, and_they took with_them the king and queen of Pingaree ! "

chapter Fifteen

the flight of_the Rulers

now it seems that when queen Cor fled from her island to Regos, she had wit enough, although greatly frightened, to_make a stop at_the royal dairy, which_was near to_the bridge, and to drag poor queen Garee from_the butter- house and across to Regos with her . the warriors of king Gos had never before seen the terrible queen Cor frightened, and therefore when she came running across the bridge of boats, dragging the queen of Pingaree after her by one arm, the woman's great fright had the effect of terrifying the waiting warriors .

" quick ! " cried Cor ." destroy the bridge, or we_are lost ."

while the men were tearing away the bridge of boats the queen ran up_to_the palace of Gos, where she met her husband .

" that boy is a wizard ! " she gasped ." there_is no standing against him ."

"Oh, have_you discovered his magic at last ? " replied Gos, laughing in her face ." who, now, is_the coward ? "

"Don't laugh ! " cried queen Cor ." it_is no laughing matter . both our islands are as good as conquered, this very minute . what shall we_do, Gos ? "

" come in," he_said, growing serious, " and_let_us talk it over ."

so they went into a room of_the palace and talked long and earnestly .

" the boy intends to liberate his father and mother, and all the people of Pingaree, and to_take them back to_their island," said Cor ." he_may also destroy our palaces and make us his slaves . I_can_see but one_way, Gos, to_prevent him from doing all this, and whatever else he pleases to_do ."

" what way is_that ? " asked king Gos .

" we_must take_the boy's parents away from here as quickly as possible . I_have with me the queen of Pingaree, and you_can run up_to_the mines and get the king . then we_will carry them away in a boat and hide them where the boy cannot find them, with all his magic . we_will use the king and queen of Pingaree as hostages, and send word to_the boy wizard that if he_does_not go away from_our islands and allow us to rule them undisturbed, in_our own way, we_will put his father and mother to death . also we_will say that as long as_we_are let alone his parents will_be safe, although still safely hidden .I believe, Gos, that in_this_way we_can compel prince Ingato obey us, for he seems very fond of_his parents ."

" it isn't a bad idea," said Gos, reflectively; " but where can we hide the king and queen, so that_the boy cannot find them ? "

" in_the country of_the Nome king, on_the mainland away at_the south," she replied ." the nomes are our friends, and_they possess magic powers that_will enable them to protect the prisoners from discovery . if_we_can manage to_get the king and queen of Pingaree to_the Nome kingdom before_the boy knows what we_are doing, I_am_sure our plot will succeed ."

Gos gave the plan considerable thought in_the next five minutes, and_the more he thought about_it the more clever and reasonable it seemed . so he agreed to_do as queen Cor suggested and at once hurried away to_the mines, where he arrived before prince Inga did . the next morning he carried king Kitticut back to Regos .

while Gos was gone, queen Cor busied herself in preparing a large and swift boat for_the journey . she placed in_it several bags of gold and jewels with_which to bribe the nomes, and selected forty of_the strongest oarsmen in Regos to row the boat . the instant king Gos returned with_his royal prisoner all was ready for departure . they quickly entered the boat with their two important captives and without a word of explanation to any of_their people they commanded the oarsmen to start, and were soon out of sight upon_the broad expanse of_the Nonestic ocean .

Inga arrived at_the city some hours later and was much distressed when he learned that his father and mother had_been spirited away from_the islands .

" I_shall follow them, of_course," said the boy to Rinkitink, " and if I_cannot overtake them on_the ocean i_will search the world over until I_find them . but before I leave here I_must arrange to send our people back to Pingaree ."

chapter Sixteen

Nikobob Refuses a crown

almost the first persons that Zella saw when she landed from_the silver- lined boat at Regos were her father and mother .Nikobob and_his wife had_been greatly worried when their little daughter failed to return from Coregos, so they had set out to discover what had become of her . when_they reached the city of Regos, that very morning, they were astonished to hear news of all the strange events that had taken place; still, they found comfort when told that Zella had_been seen in_the boat of prince Inga, which had gone to_the north . then, while they wondered what this could mean, the silver- lined boat appeared again, with their daughter in_it, and_they ran down to_the shore to_give her a welcome and many joyful kisses .

Inga invited the good people to_the palace of king Gos, where he conferred with_them, as_well as with Rinkitink and Bilbil .

" now that_the king and queen of Regos and Coregos have run away," he_said, " there_is no one to rule these islands . so it_is my duty to appoint a new ruler, and as Nikobob, Zella's father, is an honest and worthy man, I_shall_make him the king of_the twin Islands ."

" me ? " cried Nikobob, astounded by_this speech ."I beg your highness, on my bended knees, not to_do_so cruel a thing as to_make me king ! "

" why_not ? " inquired Rinkitink ."I'm a king, and I_know how it feels .I assure you, good Nikobob, that I quite enjoy my high rank, although a jeweled crown is rather heavy to wear in hot weather ."

" with_you, noble sir, it_is different," said Nikobob, " for you_are far from your kingdom and its trials and worries and may do as_you please . but to remain in Regos, as king over these fierce and unruly warriors, would_be to live in constant anxiety and peril, and_the chances are that they_would murder me within a month . as I_have_done no harm to anyone and_have tried to_be a good and upright man, I_do_not_think that i_should_be condemned to such a dreadful fate ."

" very_well," replied Inga, " we_will say no more about_your being king .I merely wanted to_make you rich and prosperous, as I had promised Zella ."

" please forget that promise," pleaded the charcoal- burner, earnestly; " I_have_been safe from molestation for many years, because i_was poor and possessed nothing that anyone else could envy . but if_you make me rich and prosperous I_shall at once become the prey of thieves and marauders and probably will lose my life in_the attempt to protect my fortune ."

Inga looked at_the man in surprise .

" what, then, can I_do to_please you ? " he inquired .

" nothing more than to allow me to_go home to my poor cabin," said Nikobob .

" perhaps," remarked king Rinkitink, " the charcoal- burner has more wisdom concealed in_that hard head of_his than we gave him credit for . but let_us use that wisdom, for_the_present, to counsel us what to_do in_this emergency ."

" what you call my wisdom," said Nikobob, " is merely common sense . I_have noticed that some men become rich, and_are scorned by some and robbed by others . other men become famous, and_are mocked at and derided by their fellows . but the poor and humble man who lives unnoticed and unknown escapes all these troubles and is_the only_one who_can appreciate the joy of living ."

" if I had a hand, instead of a cloven hoof, I'd like to shake hands with_you, Nikobob," said Bilbil the goat ." but the poor man must not have a cruel master, or he_is undone ."

during the council they found, indeed, that_the advice of_the charcoal- burner was both shrewd and sensible, and_they profited much by his words .

Inga gave captain Buzzub the command of_the warriors and made him promise to_keep his men quiet and orderly -- if he_could . then the boy allowed all of king Gos's former slaves, except those who came from Pingaree, to_choose what boats they required and to stock them with provisions and row away to_their own countries . when these had departed, with grateful thanks and many blessings showered upon_the boy prince who had set them free, Inga made preparations to send his own people home, where they were told to rebuild their houses and then erect a new royal palace . they were then to await patiently the coming of king Kitticut or prince Inga .

" my greatest worry," said the boy to_his friends, " is to_know whom to appoint to_take charge of_this work of restoring Pingaree to its former condition . my men are all pearl fishers, and although willing and honest, have no talent for directing others how to work ."

while the preparations for departure were being made, Nikobob offered to direct the men of Pingaree, and did so in a very capable manner . as_the island had_been despoiled of all its valuable furniture and draperies and rich cloths and paintings and statuary and_the like, as_well as gold and silver and ornaments, Inga thought it no more than just that_they be replaced by_the spoilers . so he directed his people to search through_the storehouses of king Gos and to regain all their goods and chattels that could_be found . also he instructed them to_take as_much else as_they required to_make their new homes comfortable, so_that many boats were loaded full of goods that_would enable the people to restore Pingaree to its former state of comfort .

for_his father's new palace the boy plundered the palaces of both queen Cor and king Gos, sending enough wares away with_his people to_make king Kitticut's new residence as handsomely fitted and furnished as had_been the one which the ruthless invaders from Regos had destroyed .

it_was a great fleet of boats that

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