"Yes; and I'm astonished that dignified dragon should wear such silly thing "

"Do it plainly ? " persisted the dragon, with little chuckle of amusement

" ," declared Ruggedo

"Then you no longer possess any magical powers, as helpless as clam," asserted Quox "My great master, Tititi-Hoochoo, the Jinjin, enchanted this ribbon that whenever Your Majesty looked upon it all knowledge of magic would desert you instantly, nor will any magical formula remember ever perform your bidding "

"Pooh ! I don't believe word of it ! " cried Ruggedo, half frightened, nevertheless Then he turned toward Files and tried to transform him into fiddle bow But remember the right words or the right pass hands and after several trials he finally gave up the attempt

the Nome King was so alarmed that secretly shaking shoes

" you not to anger Tititi-Hoochoo," grumbled Kaliko, "and now the result of your disobedience "

Ruggedo promptly threw his sceptre at his Royal Chamberlain, who dodged it usual cleverness, and then with an attempt to swagger:

"Never mind; I don't need magic to enable me to destroy these invaders; fire sword will business and still King Nomes and lord and master Underground Kingdom ! "

"Again I beg to differ with Your Majesty," said Quox "The Great Jinjin commands you to depart instantly Kingdom and seek the earth's surface, where wander for all time , without home or country, without friend or follower, and without any more riches than carry in your pockets The Great Jinjin is so generous that allow you your pockets with jewels or gold, but take nothing more "

Ruggedo now stared dragon in amazement

"Does Tititi-Hoochoo condemn me to such fate ? " he asked in hoarse voice

" ," said Quox

"And just for throwing few strangers down the Forbidden Tube ? "

"Just ," repeated Quox in stern, gruff voice

"Well, I won't And your crazy old Jinjin can't make me , either ! " declared Ruggedo "I intend to remain here, King Nomes, until the end world, and I defy your Tititi- Hoochoo and all his fairies-- as his clumsy messenger, whom obliged to chain up ! "

The dragon smiled again, but not the sort of smile that made Ruggedo feel very happy Instead, something so cold and merciless dragon's expression condemned Nome King trembled and was sick at heart

little comfort for Ruggedo fact dragon was now chained, although he had boasted of it He glared immense head of Quox fascinated and fear old King's eyes as he watched his enemy's movements

dragon was now moving; not abruptly, but he had something and was about Very deliberately he raised one claw, touched the catch great jeweled locket that was suspended around his neck, and at once it opened wide

Nothing much happened at first; half dozen hen's eggs rolled out floor and then the locket closed with sharp click But the effect nomes simple thing was astounding General Guph, Kaliko, Pang band of executioners were all standing close door that led vast series of underground caverns which constituted the dominions nomes, and they saw the eggs they raised chorus of frantic screams and rushed door, slamming it in Ruggedo's face and placing heavy bronze bar across it

Ruggedo, dancing with terror and uttering loud cries, now leaped seat throne to escape the eggs, which had rolled steadily toward him Perhaps these eggs, sent wise and crafty Tititi-Hoochoo, were in some way enchanted, for they all rolled directly after Ruggedo and reached the throne where he had taken refuge they began rolling up the legs seat

King to bear His horror of eggs was real and absolute and leap throne center room and then ran to far corner

The eggs followed, rolling slowly but steadily direction Ruggedo threw his sceptre at them, and then his ruby crown, and then he drew off his heavy golden sandals and hurled these advancing eggs But the eggs dodged every missile and continued to draw nearer The King stood trembling, his eyes staring in terror, until they were but half yard distant; then with an agile leap he jumped clear over them and made rush passage that led outer entrance

the dragon was way, being chained passage head cavern, but when the King making toward him he crouched as low as and dropped his chin floor, leaving small space between his body roof passage

Ruggedo hesitate an instant Impelled by fear, he leaped dragon's nose and then scrambled back, where he succeeded in squeezing himself opening head was passed more room and he slid along the dragon's scales tail and then ran as fast as his legs would carry him entrance Not pausing here, so great was his fright, the King dashed on down the mountain path, but before he had gone very far he stumbled and fell

When he picked himself up he observed that no one was following him, and while he recovered his breath he happened decree Jinjin--that driven Kingdom and made wanderer face earth Well, here , driven cavern in truth; driven dreadful eggs; but go back and defy them; submit to losing his precious Kingdom tyrannical powers, all because Tititi-Hoochoo had said

So, although still afraid, Ruggedo nerved himself to creep back along the path entrance, and when he arrived there the six eggs lying in row just arched opening

At first he paused safe distance away to consider the case, eggs were now motionless While wondering what , he remembered magical charm which would destroy eggs and render them harmless to nomes There were nine passes made and six verses of incantation recited; but Ruggedo knew them all Now that he had ample time exact, he carefully went entire ceremony

But nothing happened The eggs disappear, as he had expected; so he repeated the charm second time also failed, he remembered, with moan of despair, that his magic power taken away and do no more than any common mortal

And there were the eggs, forever barring him Kingdom which he had ruled with absolute sway ! He threw rocks at them, but hit single egg He raved and scolded and tore his hair and beard, and danced in helpless passion, but that did nothing to avert the just judgment Jinjin, which Ruggedo's own evil deeds had brought upon him

time on an outcast--a wanderer face earth--and he had even forgotten his pockets with gold and jewels before he fled former Kingdom !

Chapter Nineteen

King Kaliko

King had made good his escape Files said dragon, in sad voice:

"Alas ! why did you not come before ? Because you were sleeping instead of conquering, the lovely Rose Princess has become fiddle without bow, while poor Shaggy sits there cooing dove ! "

"Don't worry," replied Quox "Tititi-Hoochoo knows his business, and my orders Great Jinjin himself Bring the fiddle here and touch it lightly to my pink ribbon "

Files obeyed and moment of contact ribbon the Nome King's charm was broken Rose Princess herself stood before them as sweet and smiling as ever

The dove, perched back throne, had seen and heard all this, so without being told what flew straight dragon and alighted ribbon Next instant Shaggy was himself again and Quox said to him grumblingly:

"Please get off my left toe, Shaggy Man, and be more particular where you step "

"I beg your pardon ! " replied Shaggy, to resume his natural form Then he ran to lift the heavy diamond off Tik-Tok's chest and to assist the Clockwork Man feet

"Ma-ny thanks ! " said Tik-Tok "Where wicked King -ed to melt me in cru-ci- ble ? "

"He has gone, and gone for good," answered Polychrome, who had managed to squeeze room beside the dragon and had witnessed the occurrences with much interest "But I wonder where Betsy Bobbin and Hank , and if any harm has befallen them "

" search the cavern until them," declared Shaggy; but when he went door leading other caverns it shut and barred

"I've pretty strong push in my forehead," said Quox, "and I believe break down that door, even though it's made of solid gold "

"But prisoner, chains that hold fastened in some other room, release you," Files said anxiously

"Oh, never mind that," returned the dragon " remained prisoner only because I wished one," and he stepped forward and burst the stout chains as easily as threads

But when he tried to push heavy metal door, even his mighty strength failed, and after several attempts it up and squatted himself in corner of better way

"I'll o-pen the door," asserted Tik-Tok, and going King's big gong he pounded upon it until the noise was almost deafening

Kaliko, next cavern, was wondering what had happened to Ruggedo and if he had escaped the eggs and outwitted the dragon But when he heard the sound gong, which had so often called him King's presence, he decided that Ruggedo victorious; so away the bar, threw open the door and entered the royal cavern