, indeed, great news They brought Nikobob house and set him in an easy chair and made him tell everything Prince of Pingaree fat King of Gilgad, details wonderful fight with mighty Choggenmugger

"And now, my daughter," said the charcoalburner, when all his news related for the third time, " pretty present brought you city "

he drew the shoes pocket coat and handed them to Zella, who gave him dozen kisses in payment and was much pleased with her gift The little girl had never worn shoes before, for her parents were too poor her such luxuries, so now the possession , which much worn, filled the child's heart with joy She admired the red leather graceful curl pointed toes When she tried them on her feet, they fitted made for her

All the afternoon, as she helped her mother housework, Zella thought of her pretty shoes They seemed more important to her coming to Regos conquering Prince of Pingaree, or even the death of Choggenmugger

When Zella and her mother working cabin, cooking or sewing, they often searched the neighboring forest for honey which the wild bees cleverly hid in hollow trees The day after Nikobob's return, were starting out after honey, Zella decided on her new shoes, as keep the twigs that covered the ground from hurting her feet She was used twigs, , but the use of having nice, comfortable shoes, wear them ?

So she danced along, very happily, followed by her mother, and presently they came to tree in deep hollow Zella thrust her hand and arm space and found tree was full of honey, so she began to dig it out with wooden paddle Her mother, who held the pail, suddenly cried in warning:

"Look out, Zella; the bees are coming ! " and then the good woman ran fast toward the house to escape

Zella, however, had no more than time her head when thick swarm of bees surrounded her, angry because they had caught her stealing their honey and intent on stinging the girl as punishment She knew her danger and expected badly injured multitude of stinging bees, but to her surprise the little creatures were unable to fly close enough to her to stick their dart-like stingers into her flesh They swarmed about her in dark cloud, and their angry buzzing was terrible to hear, yet the little girl remained unharmed

When she realized this, Zella was no longer afraid but continued to ladle out the honey until she had secured all that was tree Then she returned cabin, where her mother was weeping and bemoaning the fate of her darling child, good woman was greatly astonished Zella had escaped injury

Again they went woods to search for honey, and although the mother always ran away whenever the bees came near them, Zella paid no attention creatures but kept at her work, before supper time came the pails were again filled to overflowing with delicious honey

" good fortune as this day," said her mother, " soon gather enough honey to carry to Queen Cor " seems the wicked Queen was very fond of honey and it Zella's custom , once every year, City of Coregos, to carry the Queen supply of sweet honey for her table Usually she had but one pail

"But now," said Zella, " to carry two pailsful Queen, , , good price "

"True," answered her mother, "and, boy Prince may take it into his head to conquer Coregos, as Regos, it best to start journey to Queen Cor tomorrow morning not agree with me, Nikobob ? " she added, turning to her husband, the charcoal-burner, who was eating his supper

"I agree ," he replied "If Zella must go City of Coregos, she may start to-morrow morning "

Chapter Ten

The Cunning of Queen Cor

the Queen of Coregos was not well pleased King Gos and all his warriors living in her city after they had fled from their own They were savage natured and quarrelsome men at all times, and their tempers improved since their conquest Prince of Pingaree Moreover, they were eating up Queen Cor's provisions and crowding the houses of her own people, who grumbled and complained until their Queen was heartily tired

"Shame on you ! " she said to her husband, King Gos, " driven out of your city by boy, roly-poly King and billy goat ! Why not go back and fight them ? "

"No human can fight against the powers of magic," returned the King in surly voice "That boy is either fairy or under the protection of fairies We escaped lives only because we were quick to run away; but, should we return to Regos, the same terrible power that burst open the city gates would crush us all to atoms "

"Bah ! coward," cried the Queen, tauntingly

" not coward," said the big King " killed in battle scores enemies; might sword and my good right arm conquered many nations; all my life people have feared me But no one would dare face the tremendous power Prince of Pingaree, boy though It courage, it folly, to attempt it "

"Then meet his power with cunning," suggested the Queen "Take my advice, and steal over to Regos at night, when dark, and capture or destroy the boy while he sleeps "

"No weapon can touch his body," answer "He bears charmed life and injured "

"Does the fat King possess magic powers, or the goat ? " inquired Cor

" not," said Gos " injure them, indeed, any more than the boy, but seem any unusual strength, although the goat's head is harder than battering-ram "

"Well," mused the Queen, " surely some way to conquer that slight boy afraid to undertake the job, go myself By some stratagem manage him my prisoner dare to defy Queen, and no magic can stand against woman's cunning "

"Go ahead, like," replied the King, with an evil grin, "and hung up thumbs or cast into dungeon, serve you right for thinking succeed where skilled warrior dares not attempt "

"I'm not afraid," answered the Queen " only soldiers and bullies cowards "

assertion, Queen Cor was not so brave as she was cunning For she thought over this plan , and tried to decide most likely to succeed She had never seen the boy Prince but had heard tales of him defeated warriors, and especially from Captain Buzzub, that she had learned to respect his power

Spurred on knowledge that never get rid of her unwelcome guests until Prince Inga was overcome and Regos regained for King Gos, the Queen of Coregos finally decided to trust to luck and her native wit to defeat simple-minded boy, however powerful Inga suspect what she was going , because she know herself She intended to act boldly and trust to chance to win

evident that had the cunning Queen known that Inga had lost all his magic, not have devoted time simple matter of capturing him, but like all others she was impressed marvelous exhibition of power he had shown in capturing Regos, and had no reason the boy was less powerful now

One morning Queen Cor boldly entered boat, and, taking four men with her as an escort and bodyguard, was rowed across the narrow channel to Regos Prince Inga was sitting palace playing checkers with King Rinkitink when servant came to him, saying that Queen Cor had arrived and desired an audience

With many misgivings lest the wicked Queen discover that he had now lost his magic powers, the boy ordered her admitted, and she soon entered the room and bowed low before him, in mock respect

Cor was big woman, almost as tall as King Gos She had flashing black eyes dark complexion on gypsies Her temper, when irritated, was something dreadful, and her face wore an evil expression which she tried by smiling sweetly -- often when she meant the most mischief

" come," said she in low voice, "to render homage noble Prince of Pingaree told that Your Highness strongest person , and invincible in battle, and therefore you my friend, rather than my enemy "

Now Inga know how to reply speech He disliked the appearance woman and was afraid of her and unused to deception and know how to mask his real feelings So time over his answer, which he finally made words:

" no quarrel with Your Majesty, and my only reason for coming to liberate my father and mother, and my people, whom you and your husband your slaves, and to recover the goods King Gos has plundered Island of Pingaree This soon to accomplish, and really wish my friend, assist me greatly "

While speaking Queen Cor studying the boy's face stealthily, corners of her eyes, and she said to herself: " so small and innocent that I believe capture him alone, and with ease seem very terrible and I suspect that King Gos warriors were frightened at nothing "

Then, aloud, she said to Inga:

" to invite you, mighty Prince, and your friend, the great King of Gilgad, to visit my poor palace at Coregos, where all my people shall honor come ? "

"At present," replied Inga, uneasily, " refuse your kind invitation "

" feasting, and dancing girls, and games and fireworks," said the Queen, speaking eager to entice him and at each word coming step nearer to where he stood

" enjoy them while my poor parents are slaves," said the boy, sadly

" sure ? " asked Queen Cor, and she was close beside Inga Suddenly she leaned forward and threw both of her long arms around Inga's body, holding him in grasp that was like vise

Now Rinkitink sprang forward to rescue his friend, but Cor kicked out viciously with her foot and struck the King squarely stomach -- very tender place kicked, especially if one is fat Then, still hugging Inga tightly, the Queen called aloud:

"I've got him ! Bring ropes "

Instantly the four men she had brought with her sprang room and bound the boy hand and foot Next they seized Rinkitink, who was still rubbing his stomach, and bound him likewise

With laugh of wicked triumph, Queen Cor now led her captives down boat and returned to Coregos