" try to ," replied Inga, and he let the bucket down very carefully until he heard the King call out:

"I've got it ! Now pull me up -- slowly, my boy, slowly -- so I won't rub against the rough sides "

Inga began winding up the chain, but King Rinkitink was so fat that very heavy and the boy had managed to pull him halfway up the well his strength was gone He clung crank as long as possible, but suddenly it slipped grasp next minute he heard Rinkitink fall "plump ! " water again

"That's too bad ! " called Inga, in real distress; "but you were so heavy I couldn't help it "

"Dear me ! " gasped the King, darkness below, as he spluttered and coughed the water out mouth "Why didn't you tell me you were going to let go ? "

"I hadn't time," said Inga, sorrowfully

"Well, I'm not suffering from thirst," declared the King, "for there's enough water inside me to float all the boats of Regos and Coregos or it feels that way But never mind ! as I'm not actually drowned, what does it matter ? "

"What shall next ? " asked the boy anxiously

"Call someone to ," reply

" no one island but myself," said the boy; "-- excepting you," he added, as an afterthought

"I'm not -- more's the pity ! -- but ," responded Rinkitink "Are the warriors all gone ? "

"Yes," said Inga, "and taken my father and mother, and all our people, their slaves," he added, trying in vain to repress sob

"So -- so ! " said Rinkitink softly; and then he paused moment, in thought Finally : " worse things than slavery, but I never imagined well Tell me, Inga, could you let down some food ? I'm nearly starved, and manage to send me down some food I'd be well fed -- hoo, hoo, heek, keek, eek ! -- well fed Do the joke, Inga ? "

" ask me to enjoy joke just now, Your Majesty," begged Inga in sad voice; "but patient try something to eat "

He ran back ruins palace and began searching for bits of food to satisfy the hunger King, when surprise he observed the goat, Bilbil, wandering marble blocks

"What ! " cried Inga "Didn't the warriors get you, either ? "

" had," calmly replied Bilbil, "I shouldn't be here "

"But how did you escape ? " asked the boy

"Easily enough I kept my mouth shut and stayed away rascals," said the goat " soldiers care for skinny old beast like me, for eye of stranger I seem good for nothing Had they known talk, my head contained more wisdom than hundred own noddles, I have escaped so easily "

"Perhaps right," said the boy

"I suppose they got the old man ? " carelessly remarked Bilbil

"What old man ? "

"Rinkitink "

"Oh, no ! His Majesty is bottom well," said Inga, "and I don't know how him out again "

"Then let him stay there," suggested the goat

" cruel , Bilbil, that fond good King, your master, and mean what you say Together, find some way to save poor King Rinkitink very jolly companion, and has heart exceedingly kind and gentle "

"Oh, well; the old boy isn't so bad, taken altogether," admitted Bilbil, speaking in more friendly tone "But his bad jokes and fat laughter tire me dreadfully, at times "

Prince Inga now ran back well, the goat following more leisurely

"Here's Bilbil ! " shouted the boy King "The enemy didn't get him, it seems "

"That's lucky enemy," said Rinkitink "But it's lucky , too, for perhaps the beast can assist me out hole let rope down the well, that you and Bilbil, pulling together, to drag me earth's surface "

"Be patient and attempt," replied Inga encouragingly, and he ran to search the ruins for rope Presently one that used warriors in toppling over the towers, which in their haste they had neglected to remove, and with some difficulty he untied the knots and carried the rope mouth well

Bilbil had lain down to sleep refrain of merry song came in muffled tones well, proving that Rinkitink was making patient endeavor to amuse himself

"I've found rope ! " Inga called down to him; and then the boy proceeded loop in one end rope, King his arms through, other end he placed over the drum windlass He now aroused Bilbil and fastened the rope firmly around the goat's shoulders

" ready ? " asked the boy, leaning over the well

" ," replied the King

"And not," growled the goat, "for had my nap out Old Rinki safe enough well until I've slept an hour or two longer "

"But damp well," protested the boy, "and King Rinkitink may catch the rheumatism, to ride upon your back wherever he goes "

Hearing this, Bilbil jumped up at once

"Let's get him out," earnestly

"Hold fast ! " shouted Inga King Then he seized the rope and helped Bilbil to pull They soon found the task more difficult than they had supposed the King's weight threatened to drag both the boy goat well, Rinkitink company But they pulled sturdily, being aware danger, and at last the King popped hole and fell sprawling full length ground

For time he lay panting and breathing hard his breath back, while Inga and Bilbil were likewise worn out from their long strain rope; so the three rested quietly grass and looked at one another in silence

Finally Bilbil said King: "I'm surprised at you Why were you so foolish as down that well ? Don't it's dangerous thing ? You broken your neck fall, or been drowned water "

"Bilbil," replied the King solemnly, "you're goat imagine I fell down the well on purpose ? "

"I imagine nothing," retorted Bilbil "I only know you were there "

"There ? Heh-heh-heek-keek-eek ! there," laughed Rinkitink "There in dark hole, where no light; there in watery well, where the wetness soaked me through and through -- keek-eek-eek- eek ! -- through and through ! "

"How did it happen ? " inquired Inga

" running away enemy," explained the King, "and carelessly looking over my shoulder same time, were chasing me So see the well, but stepped and found myself tumbling down bottom I struck the water very neatly and began struggling myself from drowning, but presently that when I stood upon my feet bottom well, that my chin was just above the water So I stood still and yelled for help; but no one heard me "

" warriors had heard you," said Bilbil, " pulled you out and carried you away slave Then obliged to work for living, and new experience "

"Work ! " exclaimed Rinkitink "Me work ? Hoo, hoo, heek-keek-eek ! How absurd ! I'm so stout -- not chubby -- not fat -- that hardly walk, and I couldn't earn my salt at hard work So I'm glad the enemy find me, Bilbil others escaped ? "

"That know," replied the boy, "for had time to visit the other parts island have rested and satisfied your royal hunger, it well to look around what the thieving warriors of Regos and Coregos have left us "

"An excellent idea," declared Rinkitink " somewhat feeble from my long confinement well, but ride upon Bilbil's back and start at once "

Hearing this, Bilbil cast surly glance at his master but said nothing, since really the goat's business to carry King Rinkitink wherever he desired

They first searched the ruins palace, and where the kitchen had once been they found small quantity of food that half hidden by block of marble This they carefully placed in sack to preserve it for future use, the little fat King having first eaten as he cared for This consumed , for Rinkitink exceedingly hungry and liked to eat in leisurely manner When he had finished the meal he straddled Bilbil's back and set out to explore the island, Prince Inga walking by his side

They found on every hand ruin and desolation The houses people pilfered of all valuables and then torn down or burned Not boat left shore, nor was there single person, man or woman or child, remaining island, save themselves The only inhabitants of Pingaree now consisted of fat little King, boy and goat

Even Rinkitink, merry hearted as , found it hard to laugh face mighty disaster Even the goat, contrary to its usual habit, refrained from saying anything disagreeable As poor boy whose home was now wilderness, the tears came often eyes as he marked the ruin dearly loved island