"We've really had peaceful time, Kaliko, although not the pieceful time you expected Forgive me if I indulge in laugh -- hoo, hoo, hoo-hee, heek-keek-eek ! And now, tell me; aren't you getting tired of trying to injure us ? "

"Eh -- heh," said the Nome King " now that your magic can protect you from all my arts But boy Inga as, well protected Majesty goat ? '

"Why ask ? " inquired Rinkitink, uneasy question because he remembered he seen the little Prince of Pingaree that morning

"Because," said Kaliko, "the boy undergoing trials far greater and more dangerous than any encountered, and hundreds of years since anyone to escape alive perils Three Trick Caverns "

King Rinkitink was much alarmed at hearing this, for although that Inga possessed the Blue Pearl, only give to him marvelous strength, and perhaps strength alone enable him to escape from danger But let Kaliko see the fear for Inga's safety, so in careless way:

"You're mighty poor magician, Kaliko, and I'll my crown if Inga hasn't escaped any danger threatened him with "

"Your whole crown worth valuable diamonds in my crown," answered the Nome King, "but I'll take it go at once, therefore, what has become boy Prince, for if destroyed admit injured by any magic arts which at my command "

He left the room, accompanied by Klik, who had now rejoined his master, and by Rinkitink riding upon Bilbil After traversing several huge caverns they entered one that was somewhat more bright and cheerful others, where the Nome King paused before wall of rock Then Klik pressed secret spring and section wall opened and disclosed the corridor where Prince Inga stood facing them

"Tarts and tadpoles ! " cried Kaliko in surprise "The boy is still alive ! "

Chapter Twenty

Dorothy Rescue

One day when Princess Dorothy of Oz was visiting Glinda the Good, Ozma's Royal Sorceress, she was looking through Glinda's Great Book of Records -- wherein is inscribed all important events that happen in every part world -- when she came record destruction of Pingaree, the capture of King Kitticut and Queen Garee and all their people, curious escape of Inga, the boy Prince, and of King Rinkitink talking goat Turning over following pages, Dorothy read how Inga had found the Magic Pearls and was rowing the silver-lined boat to Regos to rescue his parents

The little girl was much interested how well Inga succeeded, but she returned palace of Ozma Emerald City of Oz the and other events made her forget the boy Prince of Pingaree for time However, she was one day idly looking at Ozma's Magic Picture, which shows any scene wish , girl thought of Inga and commanded the Magic Picture to show what the boy was doing moment

It time when Inga and Rinkitink had followed the King of Regos and Queen of Coregos Nome King's country and she saw them hiding behind the rock as Cor and Gos passed them by after having placed the King and Queen of Pingaree keeping Nome King Dorothy followed, Magic Picture, the adventures of Inga friend Nome King's caverns, danger and helplessness poor boy aroused the little girl's pity and indignation

So she went to Ozma and told the lovely girl Ruler of Oz all about Inga and Rinkitink

" Kaliko is treating them dreadfully mean," declared Dorothy, "and you'd let me go Nome Country and help them out troubles "

"Go, my dear, to," replied Ozma, "but it best to Wizard "

"Oh, I'm not afraid nomes," said Dorothy, "but I'll to Wizard, for company And may we use your Magic Carpet, Ozma ? "

" Put the Magic Carpet Red Wagon the Sawhorse take you Wizard edge desert While gone, Dorothy, I'll watch you Magic Picture, and if any danger threatens you I'll see harmed "

Dorothy thanked the Ruler of Oz and kissed her good- bye, for she was determined to start at once She found the Wizard of Oz, who was planting shoetrees garden, and when she told him Inga's story he willingly agreed to accompany the little girl Nome King's caverns They had both been there before and had conquered the nomes with ease, so they at all afraid

The Wizard, who was cheery little man with bald head and winning smile, harnessed the Wooden Sawhorse Red Wagon and loaded on Ozma's Magic Carpet Then he and Dorothy climbed seat Sawhorse started off and carried them swiftly beautiful Land of Oz edge Deadly Desert that separated their fairyland Nome Country

Even Dorothy clever Wizard have dared to cross this desert without the aid Magic Carpet, quickly destroyed them; but roll of carpet placed edge sands, leaving just enough lying flat to stand upon, the carpet straightway began to unroll before them and walked continued to unroll, until they had safely passed over the stretch of Deadly Desert and were border Nome King's dominions

This journey accomplished , although such distance required travel had they not been walking Magic Carpet On arriving they at once walked toward the entrance caverns nomes

The Wizard carried little black bag containing his tools of wizardry, while Dorothy carried over her arm covered basket she had placed dozen eggs, to conquer the nomes if she had any trouble

Eggs may seem queer weapon to fight, but the little girl well knew their value The nomes are immortal; , perish, as mortals do, unless they happen in contact with an egg If an egg touches them -- either the outer shell or the inside egg -- the nomes lose their charm of perpetual life and thereafter are liable to die through accident or old age, just as all humans are

reason the sight of an egg fills nome with terror and do anything an egg from touching him, even for an instant So, when Dorothy took her basket of eggs with her, she knew that she was more powerfully armed than if she had regiment of soldiers at her back

Chapter Twenty-One

The Wizard Finds an Enchantment

After Kaliko had failed attempts to destroy his guests, as related, the Nome King did nothing more to injure them but treated them in friendly manner He refused, however, to permit Inga or father and mother, or even in what part underground caverns they were confined

" able to protect your lives and persons, I freely admit," said Kaliko; "but I firmly believe no power, either of magic or otherwise, from me the captives agreed for King Gos "

Inga agree He determined not to leave the caverns until he had liberated his father and mother, although then know how that accomplished As for Rinkitink, the jolly King was well fed and had good bed to sleep upon, so not worrying about anything and seemed in no hurry away

Kaliko and Rinkitink were engaged in pitching game with solid gold quoits, floor royal chamber, and Inga and Bilbil were watching them, when Klik came running in, his hair standing on end with excitement, and cried out Wizard of Oz and Dorothy were approaching

Kaliko turned pale on hearing this unwelcome news and, abandoning his game, went to sit ivory throne and try what had brought these fearful visitors domain

" Dorothy ? " asked Inga

" little girl who once lived in Kansas," replied Klik, with shudder, "but she now lives in Ozma's palace Emerald City Princess of Oz -- that terrible foe to deal with "

"Doesn't she like the nomes ? " inquired the boy

"It isn't that," said King Kaliko, with groan, "but she insists nomes being goody-goody, contrary natures Dorothy gets angry if I least thing wicked, and tries me stop it, naturally makes me downhearted 't imagine why she here just now, for I've been behaving lately As Wizard of Oz, he's chock-full of magic that 't overcome, for he learned it from Glinda, the most powerful sorceress Woe is me ! Why didn't Dorothy Wizard stay in Oz, where they belong ? "

Inga and Rinkitink listened with much joy, for at once the idea came both to plead with Dorothy to help them Even Bilbil pricked up his ears when he heard the Wizard of Oz mentioned, goat seemed much less surly, and more thoughtful than usual

later nome came that Dorothy Wizard had arrived and demanded admittance, so Klik was sent to usher them royal presence Nome King

she came little girl ran boy Prince and seized both his hands

"Oh, Inga ! " she exclaimed, "I'm so glad you alive and well "

Inga was astonished at so warm greeting Making low bow :

"I don't think met before, Princess "

"No, indeed," replied Dorothy, "but all about you and I've come to and King Rinkitink out of your troubles " Then she turned Nome King and continued: "You ashamed of yourself, King Kaliko, to treat an honest Prince and an honest King so badly "

"I haven't done anything ," whined Kaliko, trembling as her eyes flashed upon him

"No; but you tried to, an' that's just as bad, worse," said Dorothy, who was very indignant "And now you to send King and Queen of Pingaree them brought here immejitly ! "

"I won't," said Kaliko

"Yes, ! " cried Dorothy, stamping her foot at him "I won't have those poor people made unhappy any longer, or separated from their little boy Why, it's dreadful, Kaliko, an' I'm su'prised at you more wicked than you were "