Oz 10: Rinkitink in Oz by L. Frank Baum
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the king found the creature so comical that he laughed and chuckled until his friends thought he_would choke . then while the banquet was still in progress, Rinkitink composed and sang a song to_the mule and_they all joined in_the chorus, which_was something like this:

" it's very queer how big an ear is worn by_Mr donkey; and yet I_fear he_could_not hear if_it were on a monkey .

'Tis thick and strong and broad and long and also very hairy; it's quite becoming to our Hank but might disgrace a fairy ! "

this song was received with so_much enthusiasm that Rinkitink was prevailed upon to sing another . they gave him a little time to compose the rhyme, which he declared would_be better if he_could devote a month or two to its composition, hut the sentiment he expressed was so admirable that no one criticized the song or the manner in_which_the jolly little king sang it .

Dorothy wrote down the words on a piece of paper, and here they_are:

" we're merry comrades all, to- night, because we've won a gallant fight and conquered all our foes . we're not afraid of anything, so let_us gayly laugh and sing until we seek repose .

" we've all our grateful hearts can wish; king Gos has gone to feed the fish, queen Cor has gone, as_well; king Kitticut has found his own, prince Bobo soon will_have a throne relieved of magic spell .

" so let's forget the horrid strife that fell upon our peaceful life and caused distress and pain; for very_soon across the sea we'll all be sailing merrily to Pingaree again ."

chapter Twenty three

the pearl kingdom

it_was unfortunate that_the famous Scarecrow - the most popular person in all Oz, next to Ozma -- was absent at_the_time of_the banquet, for he happened just then to_be making one of_his trips through_the country; but the Scarecrow had a chance later to meet Rinkitink and Inga and_the king and queen of Pingaree and prince Bobo, for_the party remained several weeks at_the emerald city, where they were royally entertained, and where both the gentle queen Garee and_the noble king Kitticut recovered much of_their good spirits and composure and tried to forget their dreadful experiences .

at last, however, the king and queen desired to return to_their own Pingaree, as_they longed to_be with their people again and_see how well they had rebuilt their homes .Inga also was anxious to return, although he had_been very happy in Oz, and king Rinkitink, who was happy anywhere except at Gilgad, decided to_go with_his former friends to Pingaree . as for prince Bobo, he had become so greatly attached to king Rinkitink that he_was loth to leave him .

on a certain day they all bade good-bye to Ozma and Dorothy and Glinda and_the wizard and all their good friends in Oz, and were driven in_the red wagon to_the edge of_the deadly desert, which they crossed safely on_the magic carpet . they then made their way across the Nome kingdom and_the Wheeler country, where no one molested them, to_the shores of_the Nonestic ocean . there they found the boat with_the silver lining still lying undisturbed on_the beach .

there were no important adventures during the trip and on their arrival at_the pearl kingdom they were amazed at_the beautiful appearance of_the island they had left in ruins . all the houses of_the people had_been rebuilt and were prettier than before, with green lawns before them and flower gardens in_the back yards . the marble towers of king Kitticut's new palace were very striking and impressive, while the palace itself proved far more magnificent than it had_been before_the warriors from Regos destroyed it .

Nikobob had_been very active and skillful in directing all this work, and he had also built a pretty cottage for himself, not far from_the king's palace, and there Inga found Zella, who was living very happy and contented in her new home . not_only had Nikobob accomplished all this in acomparatively brief space of_time, but he had started the pearl fisheries again and when king Kitticut returned to Pingaree he_found a quantity of fine pearls already in_the royal treasury .

so pleased was Kitticut with_the good judgment, industry and honesty of_the former charcoal- burner of Regos, that he_made Nikobob his lord high chamberlain and put him in charge of_the pearl fisheries and all the business matters of_the island kingdom .

they all settled down very comfortably in_the new palace and_the queen gathered her maids about her once more and set them to work embroidering new draperies for_the royal throne .Inga placed the three magic Pearls in their silken bag and again deposited them in_the secret cavity under the tiled flooring of_the banquet hall, where they_could be quickly secured if danger ever threatened the now prosperous island .

king Rinkitink occupied a royal guest chamber built especially for_his use and seemed in no hurry to leave his friends in Pingaree . the fat little king had to walk wherever he went and so missed Bilbil more and more; but he seldom walked far and he_was so fond of prince BoBo that he never regretted Bilbil's disenchantment .

indeed, the jolly monarch was welcome to remain forever in Pingaree, if he_wished to, for_his merry disposition set smiles on_the faces of all his friends and made everyone near him as jolly as he_was himself . when king Kitticut was not too busy with affairs of state he loved to join his guest and listen to_his brother monarch's songs and stories . for he_found Rinkitink to_be, with all his careless disposition, a shrewd philosopher, and in talking over their adventures one day the king of Gilgad said:

" the beauty of life is its sudden changes . no one knows what_is going to happen next, and so we_are constantly being surprised and entertained . the many ups and downs should_not discourage us, for if_we_are down, we_know that a change is coming and we_will go up again; while those who_are up are almost certain to_go down . my grandfather had a song which well expresses this and if_you_will listen i_will sing it ."

" of_course i_will listen to your song," returned Kitticut, " for_it would_be impolite not to ."

so Rinkitink sang his grandfather's song:

"A mighty king once ruled the land -- but now he's baking pies .a pauper, on_the other hand, is ruling, strong and wise .

a tiger once in jungles raged -- but now he's in a zoo; a lion, captive- born and caged, now roams the forest through .

a man once slapped a poor boy's pate and made him weep and wail . the boy became a magistrate and put the man in jail .

a sunny day succeeds the night; it's summer -- then it snows ! right oft goes wrong and wrong comes right, as ev'ry wise man knows ."

chapter Twenty-Four

the captive king

one morning, just as_the royal party was finishing breakfast, a servant came running to_say that a great fleet of boats was approaching the island from_the south . king Kitticut sprang up at once, in great alarm, for he had much cause to fear strange boats . the others quickly followed him to_the shore to_see what invasion might_be coming upon them .

Inga was there with_the first, and Nikobob and Zella soon joined the watchers . and presently, while all were gazing eagerly at_the approaching fleet, king Rinkitink suddenly cried out:

" get your pearls, prince Inga -- get them quick ! "

" are these our enemies, then ? " asked the boy, looking with surprise upon_the fat little king, who had begun to tremble violently .

" they_are my people of Gilgad ! " answered Rinkitink, wiping a tear from_his eye ."I recognize my royal standards flying from_the boats . so, please, dear Inga, get out your pearls to protect me ! "

" what can_you fear at_the hands of your own subjects ? " asked Kitticut, astonished .

but before his frightened guest could answer the question prince Bobo, who was standing beside his friend, gave an amused laugh and said:

" you_are caught at last, dear Rinkitink . your people will take you home again and oblige you to reign as king ."

Rinkitink groaned aloud and clasped his hands together with a gesture of despair, an attitude so comical that_the others could scarcely forbear laughing .

but now the boats were landing upon_the beach . they were fifty in number, beautifully decorated and upholstered and rowed by men clad in_the gay uniforms of_the king of Gilgad . one splended boat had a throne of gold in_the center, over which_was draped the king's royal robe of purple velvet, embroidered with gold buttercups .

Rinkitink shuddered when he_saw this throne; but now a tall man, handsomely dressed, approached and knelt upon_the grass before his king, while all the other occupants of_the boats shouted joyfully and waved their plumed hats in_the air .

" thanks to our good fortune," said the man who kneeled, " we_have found your majesty at last ! "

"Pinkerbloo," answered Rinkitink sternly, " I_must_have you hanged, for thus finding me against my will ."

" you_think so now, your majesty, but you_will never do_it," returned Pinkerbloo, rising and kissing the king's hand .

" why won't I ? " asked Rinkitink .

" because you_are much too tender-hearted, your majesty ."

" it may_be -- it may_be," agreed Rinkitink, sadly ." it_is one of_my greatest failings . but what chance brought you here, my lord Pinkerbloo ? "

" we_have searched for_you everywhere, sire, and all the people of Gilgad have_been in despair since you so mysteriously disappeared . we_could_not appoint a new king, because we_did_not know but that you still lived; so we set out to_find you, dead or alive . after visiting many islands of_the Nonestic ocean we at last thought of Pingaree, from where come the precious pearls; and now our faithful quest has_been rewarded ."

" and what now ? " asked Rinkitink .

" now, your majesty, you_must come home with_us, like a good and dutiful king, and rule over your people," declared the man in a firm voice .

" i_will_not ."

" but you_must -- begging your majesty's pardon for_the contradiction ."

"Kitticut," cried poor Rinkitink, " you_must save me from being captured by_these, my subjects . what ! must I return to Gilgad and be forced to reign in splendid state when I much prefer to eat and sleep and sing in my own quiet way ? they_will make me sit in a throne three hours a day and listen to dry and tedious affairs of state; and I_must stand up for hours at_the court receptions, till I get corns on my heels; and forever must I listen to tiresome speeches and endless petitions and complaints ! "

" but someone must do_this, your majesty," said Pinkerbloo respectfully, " and since you were born to_be our king you_cannot escape your duty ."

"'Tis a horrid fate ! " moaned Rinkitink ." i_would die willingly, rather than be a king -- if_it did_not hurt so terribly to die ."

" you_will_find it much more comfortable to reign than to die, although I fully appreciate your majesty's difficult position and am truly sorry for_you," said Pinkerbloo .

king Kitticut had listened to_this conversation thoughtfully, so now he_said to_his friend:

" the man is right, dear Rinkitink . it_is your duty to reign, since fate has_made you a king, and I_see no honorable escape for_you . I_shall grieve to lose your companionship, but I_feel the separation cannot_be avoided ."

Rinkitink sighed .

" then," said he, turning to lord Pinkerbloo, " in three days i_will depart with_you for Gilgad; but during those three days I propose to feast and make merry with my good friend king Kitticut ."

then all the people of Gilgad shouted with delight and eagerly scrambled ashore to_take their part in_the festival .

those three days were long remembered in Pingaree, for never -- before nor since -- has such feasting and jollity been known upon that island .Rinkitink made the most of_his time and everyone laughed and sang with_him by day and by night .

then, at last, the hour of parting arrived and_the king of Gilgad and ruler of_the dominion of Rinkitink was escorted by a grand procession to_his boat and seated upon his golden throne . the rowers of_the fifty boats paused, with their glittering oars pointed into_the air like gigantic uplifted sabres, while the people of Pingaree -- men, women and children -- stood upon_the shore shouting a royal farewell to_the jolly king .

then came a sudden hush, while Rinkitink stood up and, with a bow to_those assembled to witness his departure, sang the following song, which he had just composed for_the occasion .

" farewell, dear isle of Pingaree -- the fairest land in all the sea ! no living mortals, kings or churls, would scorn to wear thy precious pearls .

" king Kitticut, 'tis with regret I'm forced to_say farewell; and yet abroad no longer can I roam when fifty boats would drag me home .

" good-bye, my prince of Pingaree; a noble king some_time you'll be and long and wisely may you reign and never face a foe again ! "

they cheered him from_the shore; they cheered him from_the boats; and then all the oars of_the fifty boats swept downward with a single motion and dipped their blades into_the purple-hued waters of_the Nonestic ocean .

as_the boats shot swiftly over the ripples of_the sea Rinkitink turned to prince Bobo, who had decided not to desert his former master and_his present friend, and asked anxiously:

" how did you like that song, Bilbil -- I mean Bobo ? is_it a masterpiece, do_you_think ? "

and Bobo replied with a smile:

" like all your songs, dear Rinkitink, the sentiment far excels the poetry ."

the wonderful Oz Books by L . frank Baum

1 the wizard of Oz
2 the land of Oz
3 Ozma of Oz
4 Dorothy and_the wizard in Oz
5 the road to Oz
6 the emerald city of Oz
7 the patchwork girl of Oz
8 Tik-Tok of Oz
9 the Scarecrow of Oz
10 Rinkitink in Oz
11 the lost princess of Oz
12 the tin woodman of Oz
13 the magic of Oz
14 Glinda of Oz

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