Since no house remained standing, sleep, the three wanderers crept beneath the overhanging branches of cassa tree and curled themselves up as comfortably as possible So tired and exhausted were they day's anxieties and griefs that their troubles soon faded mists of dreamland Beast and King and boy slumbered peacefully together until wakened singing birds which greeted the dawn of new day

Chapter Five

The Three Pearls

When King Rinkitink and Prince Inga had bathed themselves sea and eaten simple breakfast, they began wondering what do to improve their condition

"The poor people of Gilgad," said Rinkitink cheerfully, "are little likely ever again to behold their King flesh, boat and my rowers are gone with everything else face the fact that imprisoned for life island, and lives short unless secure more to eat than is small sack "

"I'll not starve, for eat grass," remarked the goat in pleasant tone -- or tone as pleasant as Bilbil could assume

"True, quite true," said the King Then thoughtful for moment and turning to Inga he asked: " , Prince, that worst comes, eat Bilbil ? "

The goat gave groan and cast reproachful look at his master as :

"Monster ! Would you, indeed, eat your old friend and servant ? "

"Not if help it, Bilbil," answered the King pleasantly " make remarkably tough morsel, and my teeth as good once were

While this talk was in progress Inga suddenly remembered the three pearls which his father had hidden under the tiled floor banquet hall Without doubt King Kitticut so suddenly surprised invaders that he had found no opportunity the pearls, for otherwise the fierce warriors defeated and driven out of Pingaree So still be in their hiding place, and Inga believed prove of great assistance to him comrades hour of need But the palace was mass of ruins; perhaps unable now the place where the pearls were hidden

nothing to Rinkitink, remembering that his father had charged him to preserve the secret pearls and magic powers Nevertheless, the thought of securing the wonderful treasures ancestors gave the boy new hope

He stood up and said King:

" return other end of Pingaree more pleasant than here desolation father's palace And there, if anywhere, discover way out difficulties "

This suggestion met with Rinkitink's approval little party at once started return journey no occasion to delay way, they reached the big end island middle day and at once began searching the ruins palace

They found, satisfaction, that one room bottom of tower was still habitable, although the roof was broken in place was somewhat littered with stones The King was, as , too fat any hard work, so he sat down on block of marble and watched Inga clear the room rubbish This done, the boy hunted ruins until he discovered stool and an armchair that broken beyond use Some bedding and mattress were also found, by nightfall the little room made quite comfortable

The following morning, while Rinkitink was still sound asleep and Bilbil was busily cropping the dewy grass that edged the shore, Prince Inga began to search the tumbled heaps of marble place where the royal banquet hall After climbing over the ruins for time he reached flat place which he recognized, tiled flooring broken furniture scattered about, the great hall seeking But center floor, directly over the spot where the pearls were hidden, lay several large and heavy blocks of marble, which torn dismantled walls

This unfortunate discovery for time discouraged the boy, who realized how helpless to remove such vast obstacles; but so important to secure the pearls that he dared not give way to despair until every human effort made, so he sat him down over the matter with great care

Meantime Rinkitink had risen bed and walked out lawn, where Bilbil reclining at ease greensward

"Where is Inga ? " asked Rinkitink, rubbing his eyes knuckles because their vision was blurred with sleep

"Don't ask me," said the goat, chewing with much satisfaction cud of sweet grasses

"Bilbil," said the King, squatting down beside the goat and resting his fat chin upon his hands elbows knees, "allow me to confide the fact that bored, and need amusement My good friend Kitticut kidnapped barbarians and taken from me, so no one to converse with me intelligently the King and the goat Suppose you tell me story

"Suppose I don't," said Bilbil, with scowl, for goat's face is very expressive

" refuse, more unhappy than ever, and your disposition is too sweet to permit that Tell me story, Bilbil "

The goat looked at him with an expression of scorn Said he:

"One would think but four years old, Rinkitink ! But there -- do command Listen carefully, story may some good -- although understand the moral "

" the story will do me good," declared the King, whose eyes were twinkling

"Once on time," began the goat

"When , Bilbil ? " asked the King gently

"Don't interrupt; impolite Once on time King with hollow inside his head, where most people have their brains, and --"

" true story, Bilbil ? "

" King with hollow head could chatter words, which had no sense, and laugh in brainless manner at senseless things That part story is true enough, Rinkitink "

"Then proceed tale, sweet Bilbil Yet hard that any King brainless -- unless, indeed, he proved it by owning talking goat "

Bilbil glared at him full minute in silence Then he resumed his story:

"This empty-headed man was King by accident, having been born high station Also the King was empty-headed same chance, being born without brains "

"Poor fellow ! " quoth the King "Did he own talking goat ? "

" ," answered Bilbil

"Then wrong born at all Cheek- eek-eek-eek, oo, hoo ! " chuckled Rinkitink, his fat body shaking with merriment "But it's hard oneself from being born; there's no chance for protest, eh, Bilbil ? "

" telling this story, I'd like ," demanded the goat, with anger

"Ask someone with brains, my boy; I'm sure 't tell," replied the King, bursting into one merry fits of laughter

Bilbil rose hoofs and walked away in dignified manner, leaving Rinkitink chuckling anew sour expression animal's face

"Oh, Bilbil, you'll be the death of me, some day -- I'm sure ! " gasped the King, taking out his lace handkerchief to wipe his eyes; for, as he often did, he had laughed till the tears came

Bilbil was deeply vexed and even turn his head to look at his master To escape from Rinkitink he wandered ruins palace, where upon Prince Inga

"Good morning, Bilbil," said the boy " just going you, that consult you upon an important matter kindly turn back with me your good judgment of great assistance "

The angry goat was quite mollified respectful tone addressed, but he immediately asked:

" also going to consult that empty-headed King over yonder ? "

" sorry to hear you speak of your kind master ," said the boy gravely "All men are deserving of respect, being the highest of living creatures, and Kings deserve respect more than others, for set to rule over many people "

"Nevertheless," said Bilbil with conviction, "Rinkitink's head is certainly empty of brains "

"That unwilling ," insisted Inga "But anyway his heart is kind and gentle is better than being wise merry of misfortunes cause others to weep and he never speaks harsh words that wound the feelings friends "

"Still," growled Bilbil, " --"

" forget everything but his good nature, which puts new heart into us when sad," advised the boy "

"But --"

"Come with me, please," interrupted Inga, " matter is "

Bilbil followed him, although the boy still heard the goat muttering King had no brains Rinkitink, seeing them turn ruins, also followed, and upon joining them asked breakfast

Inga opened the sack of food and while he King ate of it the boy said:

"If find way to remove blocks of marble fallen banquet hall, find means to escape barren island "

"Then," mumbled Rinkitink, mouth full, " move the blocks of marble "

"But how ? " inquired Prince Inga " very heavy "