Oz 10: Rinkitink in Oz by L. Frank Baum
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RINKITINK in OZ

wherein is recorded the perilous quest of prince Inga of Pingaree and king Rinkitink in_the magical Isles that lie beyond the Borderland of Oz

by L . frank Baum " royal historian of Oz"

Introducing this story

here_is a story with a boy hero, and a boy of whom you_have never before heard . there_are girls in_the story, too, including our old friend Dorothy, and some_of_the characters wander a good way from_the land of Oz before_they all assemble in_the emerald city to_take part in Ozma's banquet . indeed, i_think you_will_find this story quite different from_the other histories of Oz, but I_hope_you_will not like it the less on_that account .

if I_am permitted to write another Oz book it_will tell of some thrilling adventures encountered by Dorothy, Betsy bobbin, trot and_the patchwork girl right in_the land of Oz, and how they discovered some amazing creatures that never could_have existed outside a fairy- land . I_have an idea that about_the_time you_are reading this story of Rinkitink I_shall_be writing that story of Adventures in Oz .

Don't fail to write me often and give_me your advice and suggestions, which I always appreciate .I get a good_many letters from my readers, but every_one is a joy to_me and I answer them as_soon_as I_can find time to_do_so .

"OZCOT" at Hollywood in California, 1916 .

L . frank BAUM royal historian of Oz

list of CHAPTERS
1 the prince of Pingaree
2 the Coming of king Rinkitink
3 the Warriors from_the north
4 the deserted island
5 the three Pearls
6 the magic boat
7 the twin Islands
8 Rinkitink Makes a great mistake
9 a present for Zella
10 the cunning of queen Cor
11 Zella Goes to Coregos
12 the excitement of Bilbil the goat
13 Zella Saves the prince
14 the escape
15 the flight of_the Rulers
16 Nikobob Refuses a crown
17 the Nome king
18 Inga Parts with_his pink pearl
19 Rinkitink Chuckles
20 Dorothy to_the rescue
21 the wizard Finds an enchantment
22 Ozma's banquet
23 the pearl kingdom
24 the captive king

chapter one

the prince of Pingaree

if_you_have a map of_the land of Oz handy, you_will_find that_the great Nonestic ocean washes the shores of_the kingdom of Rinkitink, between which and_the land of Oz lies a strip of_the country of_the Nome king and a sandy desert . the kingdom of Rinkitink isn't very big and lies close to_the ocean, all the houses and_the king's palace being built near the shore . the people live much upon_the water, boating and fishing, and_the wealth of Rinkitink is gained from trading along the coast and with_the islands nearest it .

Four days' journey by boat to_the north of Rinkitink is_the island of Pingaree, and as our story begins here I_must tell you something about_this island . at_the north end of Pingaree, where it_is widest, the land is a mile from shore to shore, but at_the south end it_is scarcely half a mile broad; thus, although Pingaree is four miles long, from north to south, it cannot_be called a very big island . it_is exceedingly pretty, however, and to_the gulls who approach it from_the sea it must resemble a huge green wedge lying upon_the waters, for its grass and trees give it the color of an emerald .

the grass came to_the edge of_the sloping shores; the beautiful trees occupied all the central portion of Pingaree, forming a continuous grove where the branches met high overhead and there_was just space beneath them for_the cosy houses of_the inhabitants . these houses were scattered everywhere throughout_the island, so_that there_was no town or city, unless the whole island might_be called a city . the canopy of leaves, high overhead, formed a shelter from sun and rain, and_the dwellers in_the grove could all look past the straight tree-trunks and across the grassy slopes to_the purple waters of_the Nonestic ocean .

at_the big end of_the island, at_the north, stood the royal palace of king Kitticut, the lord and ruler of Pingaree . it_was a beautiful palace, built entirely of snow- white marble and capped by domes of burnished gold, for_the king was exceedingly wealthy . all along the coast of Pingaree were found the largest and finest pearls in_the whole world .

these pearls grew within_the shells of big oysters, and_the people raked the oysters from their watery beds, sought out the milky pearls and carried them dutifully to_their king . therefore, once every year his majesty was able to send six of_his boats, with sixty rowers and many sacks of_the valuable pearls, to_the kingdom of Rinkitink, where there_was a city called Gilgad, in_which king Rinkitink's palace stood on a rocky headland and served, with its high towers, as a lighthouse to guide sailors to_the harbor . in Gilgad the pearls from Pingaree were purchased by_the king's treasurer, and_the boats went back to_the island laden with stores of rich merchandise and such supplies of food as_the people and_the royal family of Pingaree needed .

the Pingaree people never visited any_other land but that of Rinkitink, and so there were few other lands that knew there_was such an island . to_the southwest was an island called the isle of Phreex, where the inhabitants had no use for pearls . and far north of Pingaree -- six days' journey by boat, it_was said -- were twin islands named Regos and Coregos, inhabited by a fierce and warlike people .

many years before this story really begins, ten big boatloads of_those fierce warriors of Regos and Coregos visited Pingaree, landing suddenly upon_the north end of_the island . there they began to plunder and conquer, as was their custom, but the people of Pingaree, although neither so big nor so strong as their foes, were able to defeat them and drive them all back to_the sea, where a great storm overtook the raiders from Regos and Coregos and destroyed them and their boats, not a single warrior returning to_his own country .

this defeat of_the enemy seemed the more wonderful because the pearl-fishers of Pingaree were mild and peaceful in disposition and seldom quarreled even among themselves . their only weapons were their oyster rakes; yet the fact remains that_they drove their fierce enemies from Regos and Coregos from their shores .

king Kitticut was only a boy when_this remarkable battle was fought, and now his hair was gray; but he remembered the day well and, during the years that followed, his one constant fear was of another invasion of_his enemies . he feared they_might send a more numerous army to_his island, both for conquest and revenge, in_which_case there could_be little hope of successfully opposing them .

this anxiety on_the_part of king Kitticut led him to_keep a sharp lookout for strange boats, one of_his men patrolling the beach constantly, but he_was too wise to allow any fear to_make him or his subjects unhappy . he_was a good king and lived very contentedly in_his fine palace, with_his fair queen Garee and their one child, prince Inga .

the wealth of Pingaree increased year by year; and_the happiness of_the people increased, too . perhaps there_was no place, outside the land of Oz, where contentment and peace were more manifest than on_this pretty island, hidden in_the besom of_the Nonestic ocean . had these conditions remained undisturbed, there would_have_been no need to_speak of Pingaree in_this story .

prince Inga, the heir to all the riches and_the kingship of Pingaree, grew up surrounded by every luxury; but he_was a manly little fellow, although somewhat too grave and thoughtful, and he_could never bear to_be idle a single minute . he_knew where the finest oysters lay hidden along the coast and was as successful in finding pearls as any of_the men of_the island, although he_was so slight and small . he had a little boat of_his own and a rake for dragging up the oysters and he_was very proud indeed when he_could carry a big white pearl to_his father .

there_was no school upon_the island, as_the people of Pingaree were far removed from_the state of civilization that gives our modern children such advantages as schools and learned professors, but the king owned several manuscript books, the pages being made of sheepskin . being a man of intelligence, he_was able to teach his son something of reading, writing and arithmetic .

when studying his lessons prince Inga used to_go into_the grove near his father's palace and climb into_the branches of a tall tree, where he had built a platform with a comfortable seat to rest upon, all hidden by_the canopy of leaves . there, with no one to disturb him, he_would pore over the sheepskin on_which were written the queer characters of_the Pingarese language .

king Kitticut was very proud of_his little son, as_well he_might_be, and he soon felt a high respect for Inga's judgment and thought that he_was worthy to_be taken into_the confidence of_his father in many matters of state . he taught the boy the needs of_the people and how to rule them justly, for some day he_knew that Inga would_be king in_his place . one day he_called his son to_his side and said to him:

" our island now seems peaceful enough, Inga, and we_are happy and prosperous, but I_cannot forget those terrible people of Regos and Coregos . my constant fear is_that they_will send a fleet of boats to search for_those of_their race whom we defeated many years_ago, and whom the sea afterwards destroyed . if_the warriors come in great numbers we_may_be unable to oppose them, for_my people are little trained to fighting at best; they surely would cause us much injury and suffering ."

" are we, then, less powerful than in my grandfather's day ? " asked prince Inga .

the king shook his head thoughtfully .

" it_is_not that," said he ." that you_may fully understand that marvelous battle, I_must confide to, you a great secret . I_have in my possession three magic Talismans, which I_have ever guarded with utmost care, keeping the knowledge of_their existence from anyone else . but, lest i_should die, and_the secret be lost, I_have decided to_tell you what these talismans are and where they_are hidden . come with me, my son .

he led the way through_the rooms of_the palace until they came to_the great banquet hall . there, stopping in_the center of_the room, he stooped down and touched a hidden spring in_the tiled floor . at once one_of_the tiles sank downward and_the king reached within_the cavity and drew out a silken bag .

this bag he proceeded to open, showing Inga that_it contained three great pearls, each_one as big around as a marble . one had a blue tint and one was of a delicate rose color, but the third was pure white .

" these three pearls," said the king, speaking in a solemn, impressive voice, " are the most wonderful the world has ever known . they were gifts to one of_my ancestors from_the mermaid queen, a powerful fairy whom he once had the good fortune to rescue from her enemies . in gratitude for_this favor she presented him with_these pearls . each of_the three possesses an astonishing power, and whoever is their owner may count himself a fortunate man . this_one having the blue tint will give to_the person who carries it a strength so great that no power can resist him . the one with_the pink glow will protect its owner from all dangers that_may threaten him, no matter from what source they_may come . the third pearl -- this_one of pure white -- can speak, and its words are always wise and helpful ."

" what_is this, my father ! " exclaimed the prince, amazed; " do_you tell me that a pearl can speak ? it sounds impossible ."

" your doubt is due to your ignorance of fairy powers," returned the king, gravely ." listen, my son, and you_will know that I speak the truth ."

he held the white pearl to Inga's ear and_the prince heard a small voice say distinctly: " your father is right . never question the truth of what you fail to understand, for_the world is filled with wonders ."

"I crave your pardon, dear father," said the prince, " for clearly I heard the pearl speak, and its words were full of wisdom ."

" the powers of_the other pearls are even greater," resumed the king ." were I poor in all else, these gems would make me richer than any_other monarch the world holds ."

"I believe that," replied Inga, looking at_the beautiful pearls with much awe ." but tell me, my father, why do_you fear the warriors of Regos and Coregos when these marvelous powers are yours ? "

" the powers are mine only while I_have the pearls upon my person," answered king Kitticut, " and I dare not carry them constantly for fear they_might_be lost . therefore, I keep them safely hidden in_this recess . my only danger lies in_the chance that my watchmen might fail to discover the approach of_our enemies and allow the warrior invaders to seize me before I_could secure the pearls . i_should, in_that case, be quite powerless to resist . my father owned the magic pearls at_the_time of_the great fight, of_which you_have so often heard, and_the pink pearl protected him from harm, while the blue pearl enabled him and_his people to drive away the enemy . often have I suspected that_the destroying storm was caused by_the fairy mermaids, but that_is a matter of_which I_have no proof ."

" I_have often wondered how we managed to win that battle," remarked Inga thoughtfully ." but the pearls will assist us in_case the warriors come again, will they not ? "

" they_are as powerful as ever," declared the king ." really, my son, I_have little to fear from any foe . but lest I die and_the secret be lost to_the next king, I_have now given it into your keeping . remember that_these pearls are the rightful heritage of all Kings of Pingaree . if at any_time i_should_be taken from_you, Inga, guard this treasure well and do_not forget where it_is hidden ."

" I_shall_not forget," said Inga .

then the king returned the pearls to_their hiding place and_the boy went to_his own room to ponder upon_the wonderful secret his father had that day confided to_his care .

chapter two

the Coming

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