To all this Inga had no answer He sat side bed, with hanging head, utterly disconsolate, and seeing this, Rinkitink had pity sorrow

"Come ! " cried the King; " go out at once and look shoe which I threw cat It must even now be lying yard palace "

This suggestion roused the boy to action He at once threw open the door and stocking feet rushed down the staircase, closely followed by Rinkitink But although they looked on both sides palace wall and in every possible crack and corner where shoe might lodge, they failed it

After half hour's careful search the boy said sorrowfully:

"Someone passed by, slept, and taken the precious shoe, not knowing its value , King Rinkitink, dreadful misfortune, for surrounded by dangers now no protection Luckily the other shoe left, within the magic power that gives me strength; so all lost "

Then Rinkitink, in few words, the secret wonderful pearls, and how he had recovered them ruins and hidden them shoes, and how they had enabled him to drive King Gos men from Regos and to capture the city The King was much astonished, and story was concluded to Inga:

"What did other shoe ? "

"Why, I left it bedroom," replied the boy

"Then I advise you it at once," continued Rinkitink, "for ill afford to lose the second shoe, one I threw cat "

" right ! " cried Inga, hastened back bedchamber

On entering the room they found an old woman sweeping and raising great deal of dust

"Where is my shoe ? " asked the Prince, anxiously

The old woman stopped sweeping and looked at him in stupid way, for she was not very intelligent

" the one odd shoe that was lying floor when in ? " she finally asked

"Yes -- yes ! " answered the boy "Where ? Tell me where ! "

"Why, I threw it dust-heap, outside the back gate," said she, "for, it being but single shoe, with no mate, it of no use to anyone "

"Show us the way dust-heap -- at once ! " commanded the boy, sternly, for greatly frightened new misfortune which threatened him

The old woman hobbled away followed her, constantly urging her to hasten; but reached the dust-heap no shoe was seen

" terrible ! " wailed the young Prince, ready to weep at his loss " now absolutely ruined, and mercy enemies Nor shall I to liberate my dear father and mother "

"Well," replied Rinkitink, leaning against an old barrel and looking quite solemn, "the thing is certainly unlucky, we look at it I suppose someone has passed along here and, seeing the shoe dust-heap, has carried it away But no one could know the magic power the shoe contains and so will not use it against us I believe, Inga, now depend upon our wits us scrape in

With saddened hearts they returned palace, and entering small room where no one could observe them or overhear them, the boy took the White Pearl from its silken bag and held it ear, asking:

"What shall now ? "

"Tell no one of your loss," answered the Voice Pearl "If your enemies know that powerless, fear you as ever Keep your secret, be patient, and fear not ! "

Inga heeded this advice and also warned Rinkitink nothing to anyone loss shoes powers they contained He sent shoemaker of King Gos, who soon brought him new pair of red leather shoes that fitted him quite well When these put upon his feet, the Prince, accompanied King, started to walk city

Wherever they went the people bowed low conqueror, although few, remembering Inga's terrible strength, ran away in fear and trembling They used to severe masters and yet know how treated by King Gos's successor There being no occasion boy to exercise the powers he had displayed the previous day, his present helplessness was not suspected by any citizens of Regos, who still considered him wonderful magician

Inga dare to fight his way mines, at present, nor could he try to conquer the Island of Coregos, where his mother was enslaved; so he set regulation City of Regos, and having established himself with great state royal palace he began to govern the people by kindness, having consideration most humble

The King of Regos followers sent spies across island they had abandoned in their flight, and these spies returned news terrible boy conqueror was still occupying the city Therefore ventured back to Regos but continued to live neighboring island of Coregos, where they passed the days in fear and trembling and sought to plot and plan ways how overcome the Prince of Pingaree fat King of Gilgad

Chapter Nine

Present for Zella

Now it so happened that morning same day Prince of Pingaree suffered the loss priceless shoes, there chanced along the road that wound beside the royal palace poor charcoal- burner named Nikobob, who was about to return home forest

Nikobob carried an ax and bundle of torches over his shoulder and he walked eyes ground, being deep in thought strange manner powerful King Gos city conquered by boy Prince who had come from Pingaree

Suddenly the charcoal-burner espied shoe lying ground, just beyond the high wall palace and directly path He picked it up and, seeing pretty shoe, although much too small own foot, he put it pocket

Soon after, on turning corner wall, Nikobob came to dust-heap where, lying amidst mass of rubbish, was another shoe -- the mate one he had before found This also he placed pocket, saying to himself:

" now fine pair of shoes daughter Zella, much pleased brought her present city "

And while the charcoal-burner turned forest and trudged along the path toward his home, Inga and Rinkitink were still searching missing shoes , know that Nikobob had found them, nor did the honest man think he had taken anything more than pair of cast-off shoes which nobody wanted

Nikobob had several miles to travel forest before reach the little log cabin where his wife, as his little daughter Zella, awaited his return, but used to long walks and tramped along the path whistling cheerfully to beguile the time

Few people, as before, ever passed dark and tangled forests of Regos, except mines mountain beyond, for many dangerous creatures lurked wild jungles, and King Gos never knew, when he sent messenger mines, whether reach there safely or not

The charcoal-burner, however, knew the wild forest well, and especially this part of it lying city home It favorite haunt ferocious beast Choggenmugger, dreaded by every dweller Island of Regos Choggenmugger was so old that everyone thought it must there world , and each year life the huge scales that covered its body grew thicker and harder and its jaws grew wider and its teeth grew sharper and its appetite grew more keen than ever

In former ages there many dragons in Regos, but Choggenmugger was so fond of dragons that he had eaten all There had also been great serpents and crocodiles forest marshes, but all had gone to feed the hunger of Choggenmugger The people of Regos knew well no use opposing the Great Beast, so when one unfortunately met with it himself up for lost

All this Nikobob knew well, but fortune had always favored him journey forest, and although he had at times met many savage beasts and fought them sharp ax, he had never day encountered the terrible Choggenmugger Indeed, not thinking Great Beast at all as he walked along, but suddenly he heard crashing of broken trees and felt trembling earth and saw the immense jaws of Choggenmugger opening before him Then Nikobob gave himself up for lost heart almost ceased to beat

He believed no way of escape No one ever dared oppose Choggenmugger But Nikobob hated to die without showing the monster, in some way, that eaten only under protest So he raised his ax and brought it down red, protruding tongue monster -- and cut it clean off !

For moment the charcoal-burner scarcely believed what his eyes saw, for nothing pearls he carried pocket or the magic power they lent his arm His success, however, encouraged him to strike again, and the huge scaly jaw of Choggenmugger was severed in twain beast howled in terrified rage

Nikobob took off his coat, himself more freedom of action, and then he earnestly renewed the attack But now the ax seemed blunted hard scales and made no impression upon them whatever The creature advanced with glaring, wicked eyes, and Nikobob seized his coat under his arm and turned to flee

That was foolish, for Choggenmugger could run like the wind In moment it overtook the charcoal-burner and snapped its four rows of sharp teeth together But touch Nikobob, because he still held the coat grasp, close body, and coat pocket were Inga's shoes, and points shoes were the magic pearls Finding himself uninjured, Nikobob put coat, again seized his ax, and in short time had chopped Choggenmugger into many small pieces -- task that proved easy but very agreeable

" the strongest man in all the world ! " thought the charcoal-burner, as he proudly resumed his way, "for Choggenmugger the terror of Regos world began, and I alone to destroy the beast Yet singular' that never before did I discover how powerful man "

He met no further adventure and at midday reached little clearing forest where stood his humble cabin