"Hands off ! my prisoner, remember not yours "

"Well, Cor, you going ? " inquired King Gos

" him my slave, that amuse my idle hours For pretty boy, and gentle, although frighten all of you big warriors so terribly "

The King scowled speech, not liking ridiculed, but nothing more He men returned that same day to Regos, after restoring the bridge of boats held wild carnival of rejoicing, both King's palace and city, although the poor people of Regos who warriors were all sorry kind young Prince captured by his enemies and could rule them no longer

When her unwelcome guests had all gone back to Regos Queen was alone in her palace, she ordered Inga and Rinkitink brought before her and their bonds removed They came sadly enough, knowing they were in serious straits and mercy of cruel mistress Inga had taken counsel White Pearl, which had advised him to bear up bravely under his misfortune, promising change better promise to comfort him, Inga faced the Queen with dignified bearing that indicated both pride and courage

"Well, youngster," said she, in cheerful tone because she was pleased with her success, "you played clever trick on my poor husband and frightened him badly, but prank inclined to forgive you Hereafter I intend you my page, that fetch and carry at my will And let me advise you to obey my every whim without question or delay, for when angry I become ugly, and when ugly someone is sure the lash understand me ? "

Inga bowed, but made no answer Then she turned to Rinkitink and said:

"As , decide how you useful , altogether too fat and awkward to work fields It , however, that use you as pincushion

"What ! " cried Rinkitink in horror, "would you stick pins King of Gilgad ? "

" ? " returned Queen Cor " as fat as pincushion, yourself admit, and whenever I needed pin call you " Then she laughed at his frightened look and asked: " , ticklish ? "

the question Rinkitink dreading moan of despair and shook his head

" love to tickle the bottom of your feet with feather," continued the cruel woman "Please take off your shoes "

"Oh, your Majesty ! " pleaded poor Rinkitink, "I beg you to allow me to amuse you in some other way dance, or sing you song "

"Well," she answered, shaking with laughter, " sing song -- be merry one But seem in merry mood "

" merry -- indeed, Your Majesty, ! " protested Rinkitink, anxious to escape the tickling But even as he professed to "feel merry" his round, red face wore an expression of horror and anxiety that was realty comical

"Sing, then ! " commanded Queen Cor, who was greatly amused

Rinkitink gave sigh of relief and after clearing his throat and trying to repress his sobs he began to sing this song-gently, at first, but finally roaring it out top voice:

"Oh ! Baby Tiger lived in men-ag-er-ie --

Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy -- they wouldn't set him free; And ev'rybody thought that gentle as --

Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy -- Ba-by Ti-ger !

"Oh ! They patted him upon his head and shook him paw --

Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy -- he had bone to gnaw; But soon he grew the biggest Tiger that you ever saw --

Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy -- what Ti-ger !

"Oh ! One day they came to pet the brute and he began to fight --

Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy-how scratch and bite ! He broke the cage and in rage he darted out of sight --

Fizzy-fezzy-fuzzy was Ti-ger ! "

"And moral song ? " asked Queen Cor, when King Rinkitink had finished his song with great spirit

" ," replied Rinkitink, " warning not to fool with tigers "

The little Prince help smiling shrewd answer, but Queen Cor frowned and gave the King sharp look

"Oh," said she; " the difference between tiger and lapdog But I'll bear the warning in mind, just the same "

For, after all her success in capturing them, she was little afraid people who had once displayed such extraordinary powers

Chapter Eleven

Zella Goes to Coregos

The forest Nikobob lived wife and daughter stood mountains City of Regos, and well-beaten path wound trees, leading city mines This path was used King's messengers, and captured prisoners were also sent by from Regos to work underground caverns

Nikobob had built his cabin more than mile away path, that he molested wild and lawless soldiers of King Gos, but the family charcoal-burner was surrounded by many creatures scarcely less dangerous to encounter, and often night hear savage animals growling and prowling cabin Because Nikobob minded his own business and never hunted the wild creatures to injure them, the beasts had come to regard him as natural dwellers forest and molest him or his family Still Zella and her mother seldom wandered far from home, except errands as carrying honey to Coregos, and times Nikobob cautioned them very careful

So when Zella set out on her journey to Queen Cor, two pails of honey in her hands, she was undertaking dangerous adventure and no certainty that return safely to her loving parents But they were poor, and Queen Cor's money, which they expected to receive honey, would enable them to purchase many things that were needed; so deemed best that Zella should go She was brave little girl and poor people are often obliged chances that rich ones are spared

passing woodchopper had brought news to Nikobob's cabin that Queen Cor had made prisoner conquering Prince of Pingaree Gos warriors were again back in their city of Regos; but these struggles and conquests were matters which, however interesting, concern the poor charcoal- burner or his family They were more anxious over the report warriors had become more reckless than ever before, and delighted in annoying all the common people; so Zella was told away beaten path as possible, that she encounter any King's soldiers

"When necessary warriors wild beasts," said Nikobob, "the beasts found the more merciful "

The little girl had put on her best attire journey and her mother threw blue silk shawl over her head and shoulders Upon her feet were the pretty red shoes her father had brought her from Regos Thus prepared, she kissed her parents good-bye and started out with light heart, carrying the pails of honey in either hand

necessary for Zella to cross the path that led mines city, but once other side she was not likely to meet with anyone, for she had resolved to cut forest and so reach the bridge of boats without entering the City of Regos, where she interrupted For an hour or two she found the walking easy enough, but then the forest, which part was unknown to her, became badly tangled The trees were thicker and creeping vines intertwined She had through at all, and finally she came to place where network of vines and branches effectually barred her farther progress

Zella was dismayed, at first, when she encountered this obstacle, but setting down her pails she made an endeavor to push the branches aside At her touch they parted by magic, breaking asunder like dried twigs, and she found pass freely At another place great log had fallen across her way, but the little girl lifted it easily and cast it aside, although six ordinary men could scarcely have moved it

The child was somewhat worried evidence of strength she had heretofore been ignorant that she possessed to satisfy herself no delusion, she tested her new-found power in many ways, finding that nothing was too big nor too heavy for her to lift And, naturally enough, the girl gained courage experiments and became confident that protect herself in any emergency When, presently, wild boar ran toward her, grunting horribly and threatening her with its great tusks, she climb tree to escape, as she had always done before on meeting such creatures, but stood still and faced the boar When it had come quite close and Zella saw injure her -- fact that astonished both the beast girl -- she suddenly reached down and seizing it by one ear threw the great beast far off amongst the trees, where it fell headlong earth, grunting louder than ever with surprise and fear

The girl laughed merrily incident and, picking up her pails, resumed her journey forest recorded whether the wild boar told his adventure other beasts or they had happened to witness his defeat, but certain it Zella was not again molested brown bear watched her pass without making any movement in her direction and great puma -- beast much dreaded by all men -- crept out of her path as she approached, and disappeared trees

Thus everything favored the girl's journey and she made such good speed that by noon she emerged forest's edge and found she was quite near bridge of boats that led to Coregos This she crossed safely and without meeting any rude warriors she so greatly feared, and five minutes later the daughter charcoal-burner was seeking admittance back door of Queen Cor's palace

Chapter Twelve

The Excitement of Bilbil the Goat