" prisoners, ," said Klik; neither welcome guests, having declared your purpose to oppose our mighty King and all his hosts But we bear you no ill will, and well fed and cared for as long remain caverns Eat hearty, sleep tight, and pleasant dreams "

Saying this, he left them alone and at once Rinkitink and Inga began to counsel together best means to liberate King Kitticut and Queen Garee The White Pearl's advice was rather unsatisfactory boy, just now, for all Voice said in answer questions was: "Be patient, brave and determined "

Rinkitink suggested try to discover in what part series of underground caverns Inga's parents confined, knowledge was necessary could take any action; so together they started out, leaving Bilbil asleep room, and made their way unopposed through many corridors and caverns In some places were great furnaces, where gold dust was being melted into bricks In other rooms workmen were fashioning the gold into various articles and ornaments In one cavern immense wheels revolved which polished precious gems, found many caverns used as storerooms, where treasure of every sort was piled high Also they came barracks army great kitchens

There were nomes everywhere -- countless thousands -- but none paid the slightest heed visitors earth's surface Yet, although Inga and Rinkitink walked until they were weary, they were unable to locate the place where the boy's father and mother confined, and tried to return own rooms they found had hopelessly lost themselves amid the labyrinth of passages However, Klik presently came , laughing at their discomfiture, and led them back bedchambers

went to sleep they carefully barred the door from Rinkitink's room corridor, but the doors that connected the three rooms one with another were left wide open

night Inga was awakened by soft grating sound that filled him with anxiety because account dark room, the light having disappeared he got into bed, but he managed his way door that led to Rinkitink's room and found it tightly closed and immovable Then his way opposite door, leading to Bilbil's room, to discover that also closed and fastened

The boy had curious sensation that all room -- the walls, floor and ceiling -- was slowly whirling on pivot, and such an uncomfortable feeling that he got into bed again, not knowing what else And grating noise had ceased room now seemed stationary, he soon fell asleep again

boy wakened, after many hours, the room again light So he dressed himself and discovered that small table, containing breakfast that was smoking hot, had suddenly appeared center room He tried the two doors, but finding that open them he ate some breakfast, thoughtfully wondering who had locked him in and why he made prisoner Then he again went door which he thought led to Rinkitink's chamber and surprise the latch lifted easily door swung open

Before him was rude corridor hewn rock and dimly lighted It look inviting, so Inga closed the door, puzzled what had become of Rinkitink's room King, and went opposite door Opening this, solid wall of rock confronting him, which effectually prevented his escape direction

The boy now realized that King Kaliko had tricked him, and while professing to receive him as guest had plotted to separate him comrades left, however, he might escape and he decided where it led to

So, going first door, he opened it and ventured slowly dimly lighted corridor When he had advanced few steps he heard the door room slam shut behind him He ran back at once, but the door of rock fitted so closely wall that it impossible to open it again That matter , however, room was prison only way of escape seemed ahead of him

Along the corridor he crept until, turning corner, himself in large domed cavern that was empty and deserted Here also was dim light that permitted him another corridor opposite side; so he crossed the rocky floor cavern and entered second corridor twisted and turned in every direction but was not very long, so soon the boy reached second cavern, not so large first This vacant also, but it had another corridor leading out of it, so Inga entered that straight and short and beyond was third cavern, which differed little others except had strong iron grating at one side of it

All three caverns roughly hewn rock and it seemed they had never been put to use, as had all the other caverns nomes he had visited Standing third cavern, Inga saw what he thought was still another corridor at its farther side, so he walked toward it This opening was dark, fact, solemn silence all around him, made him hesitate for while to enter it Upon reflection, however, he realized that unless he explored the place very end hope to escape , so he boldly entered the dark corridor and felt his way cautiously as he moved forward

Scarcely had he taken two paces when crash resounded back of him and heavy sheet of steel closed the opening cavern he had just come He paused moment, but it still seemed best , and as Inga advanced dark, holding his hands outstretched before him his way, handcuffs fell upon his wrists and locked themselves with sharp click, and an instant later chained to stout iron post set firmly rock floor

The chains were long enough to permit him to move yard or so in any direction and by feeling the walls in small circular room that had no outlet except the passage he had entered, was now closed door of steel the end series of caverns and corridors

now horror situation occurred boy with full force But he resolved not to submit fate without struggle, and realizing that he possessed the Blue Pearl, which gave him marvelous strength, he quickly broke the chains and set himself free handcuffs Next he twisted the steel door from its hinges, and creeping along the short passage, found himself third cave

But now the dim light, which had before guided him, had vanished; yet on peering gloom cave what appeared two round disks of flame, which cast subdued glow over the floor and walls dull glow out the form of an enormous man, seated center cave, and iron grating removed, permitting the man to enter

The giant was unclothed and its limbs were thickly covered with coarse red hair The round disks of flame were its two eyes and when it opened its mouth to yawn Inga saw that its jaws were wide enough to crush dozen men great rows of teeth

Presently the giant looked up and perceived the boy crouching other side cavern, so out in hoarse, rude voice:

"Come hither, my pretty one wrestle together, you and I, and succeed in throwing me let you pass through my cave "

The boy made no reply challenge He realized in dire peril and regretted that he had lent the Pink Pearl to King Rinkitink But now too late for vain regrets, although he feared that even his great strength would avail him little against this hairy monster arms long enough to span fourth giant's huge body, while the monster's powerful limbs likely to crush out Inga's life before gain the mastery

Therefore the Prince resolved to employ other means to combat this foe, who had doubtless been placed there to bar his return Retreating passage he reached the room where he chained and wrenched the iron post from its socket foot thick and four feet long, and being of solid iron was so heavy that three ordinary men found it hard to lift

Returning cavern, the boy swung the great bar above his head and dashed it with mighty force full giant The end bar struck the monster upon its forehead, and with single groan it fell full length floor and lay still

giant fell, the glow from its eyes faded away, and all was dark Cautiously, for Inga was not sure the giant was dead, the boy felt his way toward the opening that led middle cavern The entrance was narrow darkness was intense, but, feeling braver now, the boy stepped boldly forward Instantly the floor began to sink beneath him and in great alarm he turned and made leap that enabled him to grasp the rocky sides wall and regain footing passage through which he had just come

Scarcely had he obtained this place of refuge when mighty crash resounded cavern sound of rushing torrent came from far below Inga felt pocket and found several matches, one he lighted and held before him While it flickered entire floor cavern had fallen away, and knew that had he not instantly regained his footing passage plunged abyss that lay beneath him

light of another match the opening other side cave thought came to him that possibly he might leap across the gulf , this could never be accomplished without the marvelous strength lent him Blue Pearl, but Inga had the feeling that one powerful spring might carry him over the chasm into safety stay where , that was certain, so he resolved to attempt

long run first cave short corridor; then, exerting all his strength, he launched himself over the black gulf second cave Swiftly he flew and, although his heart stood still with fear, only few seconds elapsed before his feet touched the ledge opposite passageway and he had safely accomplished the wonderful feat