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their　tears　over　their　sad　fate　they　were　also　grateful

that　they　had　passed　from　the　control　of　the　heartless

King　Gos　into　the　more　considerate　care　of　King　Kaliko。

They　were　still　captives　but　they　believed　they　would

be　happier　in　the　underground　caverns　of　the　nomes　than

in　Regos　and　Coregos。



Meantime；　in　the　King's　royal　cavern　a　great　feast

had　been　spread。　King　Gos　and　Queen　Cor；　having

triumphed　in　their　plot；　were　so　well　pleased　that　they

held　high　revelry　with　the　jolly　Nome　King　until　a　late

hour　that　night。　And　the　next　morning；　having　cautioned

Kaliko　not　to　release　the　prisoners　under　any

consideration　without　their　orders；　the　King　and　Queen

of　Regos　and　Coregos　left　the　caverns　of　the　nomes　to

return　to　the　shore　of　the　ocean　where　they　had　left

their　boat。









Chapter　Eighteen



Inga　Parts　with　his　Pink　Pearl





The　White　Pearl　guided　Inga　truly　in　his　pursuit　of　the

boat　of　King　Gos；　but　the　boy　had　been　so　delayed　in

sending　his　people　home　to　Pingaree　that　it　was　a　full

day　after　Gos　and　Cor　landed　on　the　shore　of　the

Wheeler　Country　that　Inga's　boat　arrived　at　the　same

place。



There　he　found　the　forty　rowers　guarding　the　barge　of

Queen　Cor；　and　although　they　would　not　or　could　not

tell　the　boy　where　the　King　and　Queen　had　taken　his

father　and　mother；　the　White　Pearl　advised　him　to

follow　the　path　to　the　country　and　the　caverns　of　the

nomes。



Rinkitink　didn't　like　to　undertake　the　rocky　and

mountainous　journey；　even　with　Bilbil　to　carry　him；　but

he　would　not　desert　Inga；　even　though　his　own　kingdom

lay　just　beyond　a　range　of　mountains　which　could　be

seen　towering　southwest　of　them。　So　the　King　bravely

mounted　the　goat；　who　always　grumbled　but　always　obeyed

his　master；　and　the　three　set　off　at　once　for　the

caverns　of　the　nomes。



They　traveled　just　as　slowly　as　Queen　Cor　and　King

Gos　had　done；　so　when　they　were　about　halfway　they

discovered　the　King　and　Queen　coming　back　to　their

boat。　The　fact　that　Gos　and　Cor　were　now　alone　proved

that　they　had　left　Inga's　father　and　mother　behind

them；　so；　at　the　suggestion　of　Rinkitink；　the　three　hid

behind　a　high　rock　until　the　King　of　Regos　and　the

Queen　of　Coregos；　who　had　not　observed　them；　had　passed

them　by。　Then　they　continued　their　journey；　glad　that

they　had　not　again　been　forced　to　fight　or　quarrel　with

their　wicked　enemies。



〃We　might　have　asked　them；　however；　what　they　had

done　with　your　poor　parents；〃　said　Rinkitink。



〃Never　mind；〃　answered　Inga。　〃I　am　sure　the　White

Pearl　will　guide　us　aright。〃



For　a　time　they　proceeded　in　silence　and　then

Rinkitink　began　to　chuckle　with　laughter　in　the

pleasant　way　he　was　wont　to　do　before　his　misfortunes

came　upon　him。



〃What　amuses　Your　Majesty？〃　inquired　the　boy。



〃The　thought　of　how　surprised　my　dear　subjects　would

be　if　they　realized　how　near　to　them　I　am；　and　yet　how

far　away。　I　have　always　wanted　to　visit　the　Nome

Country；　which　is　full　of　mystery　and　magic　and　all

sorts　of　adventures；　but　my　devoted　subjects　forbade　me

to　think　of　such　a　thing；　fearing　I　would　get　hurt　or

enchanted。〃



〃Are　you　afraid；　now　that　you　are　here？〃　asked　Inga。



〃A　little；　but　not　much；　for　they　say　the　new　Nome

King　is　not　as　wicked　as　the　old　King　used　to　be。

Still；　we　are　undertaking　a　dangerous　journey　and　I

think　you　ought　to　protect　me　by　lending　me　one　of　your

pearls。〃



Inga　thought　this　over　and　it　seemed　a　reasonable

request。



〃Which　pearl　would　you　like　to　have？〃　asked　the　boy。



〃Well；　let　us　see；〃　returned　Rinkitink；　〃you　may　need

strength　to　liberate　your　captive　parents；　so　you　must

keep　the　Blue　Pearl。　And　you　will　need　the　advice　of

the　White　Pearl；　so　you　had　best　keep　that　also。　But　in

case　we　should　be　separated　I　would　have　nothing　to

protect　me　from　harm；　so　you　ought　to　lend　me　the　Pink

Pearl。〃



〃Very　well；〃　agreed　Inga；　and　sitting　down　upon　a

rock　he　removed　his　right　shoe　and　after　withdrawing

the　cloth　from　the　pointed　toe　took　out　the　Pink　Pearl

　the　one　which　protected　from　any　harm　the　person　who

carried　it。



〃Where　can　you　put　it；　to　keep　it　safely？〃　he　asked。



〃In　my　vest　pocket；〃　replied　the　King。　〃The　pocket

has　a　flap　to　it　and　I　can　pin　it　down　in　such　a　way

that　the　pearl　cannot　get　out　and　become　lost。　As　for

robbery；　no　one　with　evil　intent　can　touch　my　person

while　I　have　the　pearl。〃



So　Inga　gave　Rinkitink　the　Pink　Pearl　and　the　little

King　placed　it　in　the　pocket　of　his　red…and…green

brocaded　velvet　vest；　pinning　the　flap　of　the　pocket

down　tightly。



They　now　resumed　their　journey　and　finally　reached

the　entrance　to　the　Nome　King's　caverns。　Placing　the

White　Pearl　to　his　ear；　Inga　asked：　〃What　shall　I　do

now？〃　and　the　Voice　of　the　Pearl　replied：　〃Clap　your

hands　together　four　times　and　call　aloud　the　word

'Klik。'　Then　allow　yourselves　to　be　conducted　to　the

Nome　King；　who　is　now　holding　your　father　and　mother

captive。〃



Inga　followed　these　instructions　and　when　Klik

appeared　in　answer　to　his　summons　the　boy　requested　an

audience　of　the　Nome　King。　So　Klik　led　them　into　the

presence　of　King　Kaliko；　who　was　suffering　from　a

severe　headache；　due　to　his　revelry　the　night　before；

and　therefore　was　unusually　cross　and　grumpy。



〃I　know　what　you've　come　for；〃　said　he；　before　Inga

could　speak。　〃You　want　to　get　the　captives　from　Regos

away　from　me；　but　you　can't　do　it；　so　you'd　best　go　away

again。〃



〃The　captives　are　my　father　and　mother；　and　I　intend

to　liberate　them；〃　said　the　boy　firmly。



The　King　stared　hard　at　Inga；　wondering　at　his

audacity。　Then　he　turned　to　look　at　King　Rinkitink　and

said：



〃I　suppose　you　are　the　King　of　Gilgad；　which　is　in

the　Kingdom　of　Rinkitink。〃



〃You've　guessed　it　the　first　time；〃　replied

Rinkitink。



〃How　round　and　fat　you　are！〃　exclaimed　Kaliko。



〃I　was　just　thinking　how　fat　and　round　you　are；〃　said

Rinkitink。　〃Really；　King　Kaliko；　we　ought　to　be

friends；　we're　so　much　alike　in　everything　but

disposition　and　intelligence。〃



Then　he　began　to　chuckle；　while　Kaliko　stared　hard　at

him；　not　knowing　whether　to　accept　his　speech　as　a

compliment　or　not。　And　now　the　nome's　eyes　wandered　to

Bilbil；　and　he　asked：



〃Is　that　your　talking　goat？〃



Bilbil　met　the　Nome　King's　glowering　look　with　a　gaze

equally　surly　and　defiant；　while　Rinkitink　answered：

〃It　is；　Your　Majesty。〃



〃Can　he　really　talk？〃　asked　Kaliko；　curiously。



〃He　can。　But　the　best　thing　he　does　is　to　scold。　Talk

to　His　Majesty；　Bilbil。〃



But　Bilbil　remained　silent　and　would　not　speak。



〃Do　you　always　ride　upon　his　back？〃　continued　Kaliko；

questioning　Rinkitink。



〃Yes；〃　was　the　answer；　〃because　it　is　difficult　for　a

fat　man　to　walk　far；　as　perhaps　you　know　from

experience。



〃That　is　true；〃　said　Kaliko。　〃Get　off　the　goat's　back

and　let　me　ride　him　a　while；　to　see　how　I　like　it。

Perhaps　I'll　take　him　away　from　you；　to　ride　through　my

caverns。〃



Rinkitink　chuckled　softly　as　he　heard　this；　but　at

once　got　off　Bilbil's　back　and　let　Kaliko　get　on。　The

Nome　King　was　a　little　awkward；　but　when　he　was　firmly

astride　the　saddle　he　called　in　a　loud　voice：　〃Giddap！〃



When　Bilbil　paid　no　attention　to　the　command　and

refused　to　stir；　Kaliko　kicked　his　heels　viciously

against　the　goat's　body；　and　then　Bilbil　made　a　sudden

start。　He　ran　swiftly　across　the　great　cavern；　until　he

had　almost　reached　the　opposite　wall；　when　he　stopped

so　abruptly　that　King　Kaliko　sailed　over　his　head　and

bumped　against　the　jeweled　wall。　He　bumped　so　hard　that

the　points　of　his　crown　were　all　mashed　out　of　shape

and　his　head　was　driven　far　into　the　diamond…studded

band　of　the　crown；　so　that　it　covered　one　eye　and　a

part　of　his　nose。　Perhaps　this　saved　Kaliko's　head　from

being　cracked　against　the　rock　wall；　but　it　was　hard　on

the　crown。



Bilbil　was　highly　pleased　at　the　success　of　his　feat

and　Rinkitink　laughed　merrily　at　the　Nome　King's

comical　appearance；　but　Kaliko　was　muttering　and

growling　as　he　picked　himself　up　and　struggled　to　pull

the　battered　crown　from　his　head；　and　it　was　evident

that　he　was　not　in　the　least　amused。　Indeed；　Inga　could

see　that　the　King　was　very　angry；　and　the　boy　knew　that

the　incident　was　likely　to　turn　Kaliko　against　the

entire　party。



The　Nome　King　sent　Klik　for　another　crown　and　ordered

his　workmen　to　repair　the　one　that　was　damaged。　While

he　waited　for　the　new　crown　he　sat　regarding　his

visitors　with　a　scowling　face；　and　this　made　Inga　more

uneasy　than　ever。　Finally；　when　the　new　crown　was

placed　upon　his　head；　King　Kaliko　said：　〃Follow　me；

strangers！〃　and　led　the　way　to　a　small　door　at　one　end

of　the　cavern。



Inga　and　Rinkitink　followed　him　through　the　doorway

and　found　themselves　standing　on　a　balcony　that

overlooked　an　enormous　domed　cave　　so　extensive　that

it　seemed　miles　to　the　other　side　of　it。　All　around

this　circular　cave；　which　was　brilliantly　lighted　from

an　unknown　source；　were　arches　connected　with　other

caverns。



Kaliko　took　a　gold　whistle　from　his　pocket　and　blew　a

shrill　note　that　echoed　through　every　part　of　the　cave。

Instantly　nomes　began　to　pour　in　through　the　side

arches　in　great　numbers；　until　the　immense　space　was

packed　with　them　as　far　as　the　eye　could　reach。　All

were　armed　with　glittering　weapons　of　polished　silver

and　gold；　and　Inga　was　amazed　that　any　King　could

command　so　great　an　army。



They　began　marching　and　countermarching　in　very

orderly　array　until　another　blast　of　the　gold　whistle

sent　them　scurrying　away　as　quickly　as　they　had

appeared。　And　as　soon　as　the　great　cave　was　again　empty

Kaliko　returned　with　his　visitors　to　his　own　royal

chamber；　where　he　once　more　seated　himself　upon　his

ivory　throne。



〃I　have　shown　you；〃　said　he　to　Inga；　〃a　part　of　my

bodyguard。