Gos gave the plan considerable thought next five minutes, more he thought the more clever and reasonable it seemed So he agreed as Queen Cor suggested and at once hurried away mines, where he arrived before Prince Inga did The next morning he carried King Kitticut back to Regos

While Gos was gone, Queen Cor busied herself in preparing large and swift boat journey She placed several bags of gold and jewels to bribe the nomes, and selected forty strongest oarsmen in Regos to row the boat The instant King Gos returned royal prisoner all was ready for departure They quickly entered the boat with their two important captives and without word of explanation to any people they commanded the oarsmen to start, and were soon out of sight broad expanse Nonestic Ocean

Inga arrived city some hours later and was much distressed when he learned that his father and mother spirited away islands

" follow them, ," said the boy to Rinkitink, "and if overtake them ocean search the world over until them But before I leave here arrange to send our people back to Pingaree "

Chapter Sixteen

Nikobob Refuses Crown

Almost the first persons that Zella saw when she landed silver-lined boat at Regos were her father and mother Nikobob wife greatly worried when their little daughter failed to return from Coregos, so they had set out to discover what had become of her reached the City of Regos, that very morning, they were astonished to hear news of all the strange events that had taken place; still, they found comfort when told that Zella seen boat of Prince Inga, which had gone north Then, while they wondered what this could mean, the silver-lined boat appeared again, with their daughter , ran down shore her welcome and many joyful kisses

Inga invited the good people palace of King Gos, where he conferred , as with Rinkitink and Bilbil

"Now King and Queen of Regos and Coregos have run away," , " no one to rule these islands So my duty to appoint new ruler, and as Nikobob, Zella's father, is an honest and worthy man, him the King Twin Islands "

"Me ? " cried Nikobob, astounded speech "I beg Your Highness, on my bended knees, not cruel thing as me King ! "

" ? " inquired Rinkitink "I'm King, and how it feels I assure you, good Nikobob, that I quite enjoy my high rank, although jeweled crown is rather heavy to wear in hot weather "

" , noble sir, different," said Nikobob, " are far from your kingdom and its trials and worries and may do please But to remain in Regos, as King over these fierce and unruly warriors, to live in constant anxiety and peril, chances are that murder me within month As no harm to anyone tried good and upright man, that condemned to such dreadful fate "

" ," replied Inga, " say no more being King I merely wanted you rich and prosperous, as I had promised Zella "

"Please forget that promise," pleaded the charcoal- burner, earnestly; " safe from molestation for many years, because poor and possessed nothing that anyone else could envy But make me rich and prosperous at once become the prey of thieves and marauders and probably will lose my life attempt to protect my fortune "

Inga looked man in surprise

"What, then, can you ? " he inquired

"Nothing more than to allow me home to my poor cabin," said Nikobob

"Perhaps," remarked King Rinkitink, "the charcoal- burner has more wisdom concealed hard head than we gave him credit for But use that wisdom, , to counsel us what emergency "

"What you call my wisdom," said Nikobob, "is merely common sense noticed that some men become rich, scorned by some and robbed by others Other men become famous, mocked at and derided by their fellows But the poor and humble man who lives unnoticed and unknown escapes all these troubles and appreciate the joy of living "

"If I had hand, instead of cloven hoof, I'd like to shake hands , Nikobob," said Bilbil the goat "But the poor man must not have cruel master, or undone "

During the council they found, indeed, advice charcoal-burner was both shrewd and sensible, profited much by his words

Inga gave Captain Buzzub the command warriors and made him promise his men quiet and orderly -- if Then the boy allowed all of King Gos's former slaves, except those who came from Pingaree, what boats they required and to stock them with provisions and row away own countries When these had departed, with grateful thanks and many blessings showered boy Prince who had set them free, Inga made preparations to send his own people home, where they were told to rebuild their houses and then erect new royal palace They were then to await patiently the coming of King Kitticut or Prince Inga

"My greatest worry," said the boy friends, "is whom to appoint charge work of restoring Pingaree to its former condition My men are all pearl fishers, and although willing and honest, have no talent for directing others how to work "

While the preparations for departure were being made, Nikobob offered to direct the men of Pingaree, and did so in very capable manner island despoiled of all its valuable furniture and draperies and rich cloths and paintings and statuary like, as gold and silver and ornaments, Inga thought it no more than just be replaced spoilers So he directed his people to search storehouses of King Gos and to regain all their goods and chattels that found Also he instructed them else required their new homes comfortable, many boats were loaded full of goods enable the people to restore Pingaree to its former state of comfort

father's new palace the boy plundered the palaces of both Queen Cor and King Gos, sending enough wares away people King Kitticut's new residence as handsomely fitted and furnished as the one which the ruthless invaders from Regos had destroyed

great fleet of boats that set out one bright, sunny morning voyage to Pingaree, carrying all the men, women and children and all the goods for refitting their homes As the fleet depart, Prince Inga felt that he had already successfully accomplished part mission, but he vowed never return to Pingaree in person until take his father and mother there ; unless, indeed, King Gos wickedly destroyed his beloved parents, Inga would become the King of Pingaree and it his duty people and rule over them

while the last boats were preparing to sail for Pingaree that Nikobob, who of great service in getting them ready, came to Inga in thoughtful mood and said:

"Your Highness, my wife and my daughter Zella urging me to leave Regos and settle down in your island, in new home From what your people have told me, Pingaree is better place to live than Regos, and no cruel warriors or savage beasts there one in constant fear safety he loves Therefore, come to ask with my family in boats "

Inga was much pleased proposal and granted Nikobob permission to Pingaree to live, but instructed him sufficient goods his new home in comfortable manner , he appointed Nikobob general manager buildings and pearl fisheries, until his father or he himself arrived, people approved this order because they liked Nikobob and knew him just and honest

Soon last boat great flotilla had disappeared view left at Regos, Inga and Rinkitink prepared to leave the island themselves The boy was anxious to overtake the boat of King Gos, if possible, and Rinkitink had no desire to remain in Regos

Buzzub warriors stood silently shore and watched the black boat with its silver lining depart, and they were as glad rid unwelcome visitors as Inga and Rinkitink and Bilbil were to leave

The boy asked the White Pearl what direction the boat of King Gos had taken and then he followed after it, rowing hard and steadily for eight days without becoming at all weary But, although the black boat moved very swiftly, it failed to overtake the barge rowed by Queen Cor's forty picked oarsmen

Chapter Seventeen

The Nome King

The Kingdom Nomes border Nonestic Ocean, separated Kingdom of Rinkitink Country Wheelers, part Land of Ev Rinkitink's country is separated country Nomes by row of high and steep mountains, it extends sea The Country Wheelers is sandy waste open on one side Nonestic Ocean and other side has no barrier to separate it Nome Country, therefore coast Wheelers that King Cos landed -- in spot quite deserted by any curious inhabitants country

The Nome Country is very large in extent, only separated Land of Oz, on its eastern borders, by Deadly Desert not be crossed by mortals, unless aided fairies or by magic