Oz 10: Rinkitink in Oz by L. Frank Baum
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. he refused, however, to permit Inga to_see or to_speak with_his father and mother, or even to_know in what part of_the underground caverns they were confined .

" you_are able to protect your lives and persons, I freely admit," said Kaliko; " but I firmly believe you_have no power, either of magic or otherwise, to_take from me the captives I_have agreed to_keep for king Gos ."

Inga would_not agree to_this . he determined not to leave the caverns until he had liberated his father and mother, although he_did_not then know how that could_be accomplished . as for Rinkitink, the jolly king was well fed and had a good bed to sleep upon, so he_was not worrying about anything and seemed in no hurry to_go away .

Kaliko and Rinkitink were engaged in pitching a game with solid gold quoits, on_the floor of_the royal chamber, and Inga and Bilbil were watching them, when Klik came running in, his hair standing on end with excitement, and cried out that_the wizard of Oz and Dorothy were approaching .

Kaliko turned pale on hearing this unwelcome news and, abandoning his game, went to sit in_his ivory throne and try to_think what had brought these fearful visitors to_his domain .

" who_is Dorothy ? " asked Inga .

" she_is a little girl who once lived in Kansas," replied Klik, with a shudder, " but she now lives in Ozma's palace at_the emerald city and_is a princess of Oz -- which_means that she_is a terrible foe to deal with ."

"Doesn't she like the nomes ? " inquired the boy .

" it isn't that," said king Kaliko, with a groan, " but she insists on_the nomes being goody-goody, which_is contrary to_their natures . Dorothy gets angry if I do_the least thing that_is wicked, and tries to_make me stop it, and_that naturally makes me downhearted . I_can't imagine why she has_come here just now, for I've been behaving very_well lately . as for_that wizard of Oz, he's chock- full of magic that I_can't overcome, for he learned it from Glinda, who is_the most powerful sorceress in_the_world . woe is me ! why didn't Dorothy and_the wizard stay in Oz, where they belong ? "

Inga and Rinkitink listened to_this with much joy, for at once the idea came to_them both to plead with Dorothy to help them . even Bilbil pricked up his ears when he heard the wizard of Oz mentioned, and_the goat seemed much less surly, and more thoughtful than usual .

a few_minutes later anome came to_say that Dorothy and_the wizard had arrived and demanded admittance, so Klik was sent to usher them into_the royal presence of_the Nome king .

as_soon_as she came in_the little girl ran up_to_the boy prince and seized both his hands .

"Oh, Inga ! " she exclaimed, "I'm so glad to_find you alive and well ."

Inga was astonished at so warm agreeting .Making a low bow he_said:

"I don't think we_have met before, princess ."

" no, indeed," replied Dorothy, " but I_know all about you and I've come to help_you and king Rinkitink out of your troubles ." then she turned to_the Nome king and continued: " you ought_to_be ashamed of yourself, king Kaliko, to treat an honest prince and an honest king so badly ."

"I haven't done anything to_them," whined Kaliko, trembling as her eyes flashed upon him .

" no; but you tried to, an' that's just as bad, if_not worse," said Dorothy, who was very indignant ." and now i_want you to send for_the king and queen of Pingaree and_have them brought here immejitly ! "

"I won't," said Kaliko .

" yes, you_will ! " cried Dorothy, stamping her foot at him ."I won't have those poor people made unhappy any longer, or separated from their little boy . why, it's dreadful, Kaliko, an' I'm su'prised at you . you_must_be more wicked than i_thought you were ."

" I_can't do_it, Dorothy," said the Nome king, almost weeping with despair ."I promised king Gos I'd keep them captives . you wouldn't ask me to break my promise, would you ? "

" king Gos was a robber and an outlaw," she said, " and p'r'aps you don't know that a storm at sea wrecked his boat, while he_was going back to Regos, and_that he and queen Cor were both drowned ."

" dear me ! " exclaimed Kaliko ." is_that so ? "

" I_saw it in Glinda's record book," said Dorothy ." so now you trot out the king and queen of Pingaree as quick as_you_can ."

" no," persisted the contrary Nome king, shaking his head ."I won't do_it . ask me anything else and I'll try to_please you, but I_can't allow these friendly enemies to triumph over me .

" in_that case," said Dorothy, beginning to remove the cover from her basket, "I'll show you some eggs ."

"Eggs ! " screamed the Nome king in horror ." have_you eggs in_that basket ? "

"A dozen of 'em," replied Dorothy .

" then keep them there -- I beg -- I implore you ! -- and I'll do anything you say," pleaded Kaliko, his teeth chattering so_that he_could hardly speak .

" send for_the king and queen of Pingaree," said Dorothy .

" go, Klik," commanded the Nome king, and Klik ran away in great haste, for he_was almost as_much frightened as his master .

it_was an affecting scene when_the unfortunate king and queen of Pingaree entered the chamber and with sobs and tears of joy embraced their brave and adventurous son . all the others stood silent until greetings and kisses had_been exchanged and Inga had told his parents in a few words of_his vain struggles to rescue them and how princess Dorothy had finally come to_his assistance .

then king Kitticut shook the hands of_his friend king Rinkitink and thanked him for so loyally supporting his son Inga, and queen Garee kissed little Dorothy's forehead and blessed her for restoring her husband and herself to freedom .

the wizard had_been standing near Bilbil the goat and now he_was surprised to hear the animal say:

" joyful reunion, isn't it ? but it makes me tired to_see grown people cry like children ."

"Oho ! " exclaimed the wizard ." how does it happen, Mr goat, that you, who_have never been to_the land of Oz, are able to_talk ? "

" that's my business," returned Bilbil in a surly tone .

the wizard stooped down and gazed fixedly into_the animal's eyes . then he_said, with apitying sigh: " I_see; you_are under an enchantment . indeed, I believe you to_be prince Bobo of Boboland ."

Bilbil made no reply but dropped his head as_if ashamed .

" this_is a great discovery," said the wizard, addressing Dorothy and_the others of_the party ."A good_many years_ago a cruel magician transformed the gallant prince of Boboland into atalking goat, and this goat, being ashamed of_his condition, ran away and was never after seen in Boboland, which_is a country far to_the south of here but bordering on_the deadly desert, opposite the land of Oz .I heard of_this story long_ago and know that a diligent search has_been made for_the enchanted prince, without result . but I_am well assured that, in_the animal you call Bilbil, I_have discovered the unhappy prince of Boboland ."

" dear me, Bilbil," said Rinkitink, " why have_you never told me this ? "

" what would_be the use ? " asked Bilbil in a low voice and still refusing to look up .

" the use ? " repeated Rinkitink, puzzled .

" yes, that's the trouble," said the wizard ." it_is one_of_the_most powerful enchantments ever accomplished, and_the magician is now dead and_the secret of_the anti- charm lost . even I, with all my skill, cannot restore prince Bobo to_his proper form . but i_think Glinda might_be able to_do_so and if_you_will all return with Dorothy and me to_the land of Oz, where Ozma will make you welcome, i_will ask Glinda to_try to break this enchantment ."

this_was willingly agreed to, for they all welcomed the chance to visit the famous land of Oz . so they bade good-bye to king Kaliko, whom Dorothy warned not to_be wicked any more if he_could help it, and_the entire party returned over the magic carpet to_the land of Oz . they filled the red wagon, which_was still waiting for_them, pretty full; but the sawhorse didn't mind that and with wonderful speed carried them safely to_the emerald city .

chapter Twenty two

Ozma's banquet

Ozma had seen in her magic picture the liberation of Inga's parents and_the departure of_the entire party for_the emerald city, so with her usual hospitality she ordered a splendid banquet prepared and invited all her quaint friends who were then in_the emerald city to_be present that evening to meet the strangers who were to_become her guests .

Glinda, also, in her wonderful record book had learned of_the events that had taken place in_the caverns of_the Nome king and she became especially interested in_the enchantment of_the prince of Boboland . so she hastily prepared several of her most powerful charms and then summoned her flock of sixteen white storks, which swiftly bore her to Ozma's palace . she arrived there before_the red wagon did and was warmly greeted by_the girl ruler .

Realizing that_the costume of queen Garee of Pingaree must_have become sadly worn and frayed, owing to her hardships and adventures, Ozma ordered a royal outfit prepared for_the good queen and had it laid in her chamber ready for her to_put on as_soon_as she arrived, so she would_not_be shamed at_the banquet . new costumes were also provided for king Kitticut and king Rinkitink and prince Inga, all cut and made and embellished in_the elaborate and becoming style then prevalent in_the land of Oz, and as_soon_as_the party arrived at_the palace Ozma's guests were escorted by her servants to_their rooms, that they_might bathe and dress themselves .

Glinda the sorceress and_the wizard of Oz took charge of Bilbil the goat and went to a private room where they were_not likely to_be interrupted .Glinda first questioned Bilbil long and earnestly about_the manner of_his enchantment and_the ceremony that had_been used by_the magician who enchanted him . at first Bilbil protested that he_did_not want to_be restored to_his natural shape, saying that he had_been forever disgraced in_the eyes of_his people and of_the entire world by being obliged to exist as a scrawny, scraggly goat . but Glinda pointed out that any person who incurred the enmity of a wicked magician was liable to suffer a similar fate, and assured him that his misfortune would make him better beloved by his subjects when he returned to_them freed from_his dire enchantment .

Bilbil was finally convinced of_the truth of_this assertion and agreed to submit to_the experiments of Glinda and_the wizard, who knew they had a hard task before them and were_not at all sure they_could succeed . we_know that Glinda is_the most complete mistress of magic who has ever existed, and she was wise enough to guess that_the clever but evil magician who had enchanted prince Bobo had used a spell that_would puzzle any ordinary wizard or sorcerer to break; therefore she had given the matter much shrewd thought and hoped she had conceived a plan that_would succeed . but because she was not positive of success she would_have no one present at_the incantation except her assistant, the wizard of Oz .

first she transformed Bilbil the goat into alamb, and this was_done quite easily . next she transformed the lamb into an ostrich, giving it two legs and feet instead of four . then she tried to transform the ostrich into_the original prince Bobo, but this incantation was an utter failure .Glinda was not discouraged, however, but by a powerful spell transformed the ostrich into atottenhot -- which_is a lower form of a man . then the tottenhot was transformed into amifket, which_was a great step in advance and, finally, Glinda transformed the mifket into a handsome young man, tall and shapely, who fell on_his knees before_the great sorceress and gratefully kissed her hand, admitting that he had now recovered his proper shape and was indeed prince Bobo of Boboland .

this process of magic, successful though it_was in_the end, had required so_much time that_the banquet was now awaiting their presence .Bobo was already dressed in princely raiment and although he_seemed very_much humbled by his recent lowly condition, they finally persuaded him to join the festivities .

when Rinkitink saw that his goat had now become a prince, he_did_not know whether to_be sorry or glad, for he_felt that he_would miss the companionship of_the quarrelsome animal he had so_long been accustomed to ride upon, while at_the same time he rejoiced that poor Bilbil had come to_his own again .

prince Bobo humbly begged Rinkitink's forgiveness for having been so disagreeable to him, at times, saying that_the nature of a goat had influenced him and_the surly disposition he had shown was a part of_his enchantment . but the jolly king assured the prince that he had really enjoyed Bilbil's grumpy speeches and forgave him readily . indeed, they all discovered the young prince Bobo to_be an exceedingly courteous and pleasant person, although he_was somewhat reserved and dignified .

Ah, but it_was a great feast that Ozma served in her gorgeous banquet hall that night and everyone was as happy as could_be . the shaggy man was there, and so was jack Pumpkinhead and_the tin woodman and Cap'n bill . beside princess Dorothy sat tiny trot and Betsy bobbin, and_the three little girls were almost as sweet to look upon as was Ozma, who sat at_the head of her table and outshone all her guests in loveliness .

king Rinkitink was delighted with_the quaint people of Oz and laughed and joked with_the tin man and_the pumpkin- headed man and found Cap'n bill a very agreeable companion . but what amused the jolly king most were the animal guests, which Ozma always invited to her banquets and seated at a table by_themselves, where they talked and chatted together as people do but were served the sort of food their natures required . the hungry tiger and cowardly lion and_the glass Cat were much admired by Rinkitink, but when he met a mule named Hank, which Betsy bobbin had brought to Oz, the

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