rinkitink in oz-第24部分

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seated　in　the　center　of　the　cave；　and　he　saw　that　the

iron　grating　had　been　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　a

dozen　men　between　the　great　rows　of　teeth。



Presently　the　giant　looked　up　and　perceived　the　boy

crouching　at　the　other　side　of　the　cavern；　so　he　called

out　in　a　hoarse；　rude　voice：



〃Come　hither；　my　pretty　one。　We　will　wrestle

together；　you　and　I；　and　if　you　succeed　in　throwing　me

I　will　let　you　pass　through　my　cave。〃



The　boy　made　no　reply　to　the　challenge。　He　realized

he　was　in　dire　peril　and　regretted　that　he　had　lent　the

Pink　Pearl　to　King　Rinkitink。　But　it　was　now　too　late

for　vain　regrets；　although　he　feared　that　even　his

great　strength　would　avail　him　little　against　this

hairy　monster。　For　his　arms　were　not　long　enough　to

span　a　fourth　of　the　giant's　huge　body；　while　the

monster's　powerful　limbs　would　be　likely　to　crush　out

Inga's　life　before　he　could　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　through　the　passage　he

reached　the　room　where　he　had　been　chained　and　wrenched

the　iron　post　from　its　socket。　It　was　a　foot　thick　and

four　feet　long；　and　being　of　solid　iron　was　so　heavy

that　three　ordinary　men　would　have　found　it　hard　to

lift。



Returning　to　the　cavern；　the　boy　swung　the　great　bar

above　his　head　and　dashed　it　with　mighty　force　full　at

the　giant。　The　end　of　the　bar　struck　the　monster　upon

its　forehead；　and　with　a　single　groan　it　fell　full

length　upon　the　floor　and　lay　still。



When　the　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　to　the　middle　cavern。　The　entrance

was　narrow　and　the　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　a　leap　that　enabled　him　to　grasp　the

rocky　sides　of　the　wall　and　regain　a　footing　in　the

passage　through　which　he　had　just　come。



Scarcely　had　he　obtained　this　place　of　refuge　when　a

mighty　crash　resounded　throughout　the　cavern　and　the

sound　of　a　rushing　torrent　came　from　far　below。　Inga

felt　in　his　pocket　and　found　several　matches；　one　of

which　he　lighted　and　held　before　him。　While　it

flickered　he　saw　that　the　entire　floor　of　the　cavern

had　fallen　away；　and　knew　that　had　he　not　instantly

regained　his　footing　in　the　passage　he　would　have

plunged　into　the　abyss　that　lay　beneath　him。



By　the　light　of　another　match　he　saw　the　opening　at

the　other　side　of　the　cave　and　the　thought　came　to　him

that　possibly　he　might　leap　across　the　gulf。　Of　course；

this　could　never　be　accomplished　without　the　marvelous

strength　lent　him　by　the　Blue　Pearl；　but　Inga　had　the

feeling　that　one　powerful　spring　might　carry　him　over

the　chasm　into　safety。　He　could　not　stay　where　he　was；

that　was　certain；　so　he　resolved　to　make　the　attempt。



He　took　a　long　run　through　the　first　cave　and　the

short　corridor；　then；　exerting　all　his　strength；　he

launched　himself　over　the　black　gulf　of　the　second

cave。　Swiftly　he　flew　and；　although　his　heart　stood

still　with　fear；　only　a　few　seconds　elapsed　before　his

feet　touched　the　ledge　of　the　opposite　passageway　and

he　knew　he　had　safely　accomplished　the　wonderful　feat。



Only　pausing　to　draw　one　long　breath　of　relief；　Inga

quickly　traversed　the　crooked　corridor　that　led　to　the

last　cavern　of　the　three。　But　when　he　came　in　sight　of

it　he　paused　abruptly；　his　eyes　nearly　blinded　by　a

glare　of　strong　light　which　burst　upon　them。　Covering

his　face　with　his　hands；　Inga　retreated　behind　a

projecting　corner　of　rock　and　by　gradually　getting　his

eyes　used　to　the　light　he　was　finally　able　to　gaze

without　blinking　upon　the　strange　glare　that　had　so

quickly　changed　the　condition　of　the　cavern。　When　he

had　passed　through　this　vault　it　had　been　entirely

empty。　Now　the　flat　floor　of　rock　was　covered

everywhere　with　a　bed　of　glowing　coals；　which　shot　up

little　tongues　of　red　and　white　flames。　Indeed；　the

entire　cave　was　one　monster　furnace　and　the　heat　that

came　from　it　was　fearful。



Inga's　heart　sank　within　him　as　he　realized　the

terrible　obstacle　placed　by　the　cunning　Nome　King

between　him　and　the　safety　of　the　other　caverns。　There

was　no　turning　back；　for　it　would　be　impossible　for　him

again　to　leap　over　the　gulf　of　the　second　cave；　the

corridor　at　this　side　being　so　crooked　that　he　could

get　no　run　before　he　jumped。　Neither　could　he　leap　over

the　glowing　coals　of　the　cavern　that　faced　him；　for　it

was　much　larger　than　the　middle　cavern。　In　this　dilemma

he　feared　his　great　strength　would　avail　him　nothing

and　he　bitterly　reproached　himself　for　parting　with　the

Pink　Pearl；　which　would　have　preserved　him　from　injury。



However；　it　was　not　in　the　nature　of　Prince　Inga　to

despair　for　long；　his　past　adventures　having　taught　him

confidence　and　courage；　sharpened　his　wits　and　given

him　the　genius　of　invention。　He　sat　down　and　thought

earnestly　on　the　means　of　escape　from　his　danger　and　at

last　a　clever　idea　came　to　his　mind。　This　is　the　way　to

get　ideas：　never　to　let　adverse　circumstances

discourage　you；　but　to　believe　there　is　a　way　out　of

every　difficulty；　which　may　be　found　by　earnest

thought。



There　were　many　points　and　projections　of　rock　in　the

walls　of　the　crooked　corridor　in　which　Inga　stood　and

some　of　these　rocks　had　become　cracked　and　loosened；

although　still　clinging　to　their　places。　The　boy　picked

out　one　large　piece；　and；　exerting　all　his　strength；

tore　it　away　from　the　wall。　He　then　carried　it　to　the

cavern　and　tossed　it　upon　the　burning　coals；　about　ten

feet　away　from　the　end　of　the　passage。　Then　he　returned

for　another　fragment　of　rock；　and　wrenching　it　free

from　its　place；　he　threw　it　ten　feet　beyond　the　first

one；　toward　the　opposite　side　of　the　cave。　The　boy

continued　this　work　until　he　had　made　a　series　of

stepping…stones　reaching　straight　across　the　cavern　to

the　dark　passageway　beyond；　which　he　hoped　would　lead

him　back　to　safety　if　not　to　liberty。



When　his　work　had　been　completed；　Inga　did　not　long

hesitate　to　take　advantage　of　his　stepping…stones；　for

he　knew　his　best　chance　of　escape　lay　in　his　crossing

the　bed　of　coals　before　the　rocks　became　so　heated　that

they　would　burn　his　feet。　So　he　leaped　to　the　first

rock　and　from　there　began　jumping　from　one　to　the　other

in　quick　succession。　A　withering　wave　of　heat　at　once

enveloped　him；　and　for　a　time　he　feared　he　would

suffocate　before　he　could　cross　the　cavern；　but　he　held

his　breath；　to　keep　the　hot　air　from　his　lungs；　and

maintained　his　leaps　with　desperate　resolve。



Then；　before　he　realized　it；　his　feet　were　pressing

the　cooler　rocks　of　the　passage　beyond　and　he　rolled

helpless　upon　the　floor；　gasping　for　breath。　His　skin

was　so　red　that　it　resembled　the　shell　of　a　boiled

lobster；　but　his　swift　motion　had　prevented　his　being

burned；　and　his　shoes　had　thick　soles；　which　saved　his

feet。



After　resting　a　few　minutes；　the　boy　felt　strong

enough　to　go　on。　He　went　to　the　end　of　the　passage　and

found　that　the　rock　door　by　which　he　had　left　his　room

was　still　closed；　so　he　returned　to　about　the　middle　of

the　corridor　and　was　thinking　what　he　should　do　next；

when　suddenly　the　solid　rock　before　him　began　to　move

and　an　opening　appeared　through　which　shone　a　brilliant

light。　Shielding　his　eyes；　which　were　somewhat　dazzled；

Inga　sprang　through　the　opening　and　found　himself　in

one　of　the　Nome　King's　inhabited　caverns；　where　before

him　stood　King　Kaliko；　with　a　broad　grin　upon　his

features；　and　Klik；　the　King's　chamberlain；　who　looked

surprised；　and　King　Rinkitink　seated　astride　Bilbil　the

goat；　both　of　whom　seemed　pleased　that　Inga　had

rejoined　them。









Chapter　Nineteen



Rinkitink　Chuckles





We　will　now　relate　what　happened　to　Rinkitink　and

Bilbil　that　morning；　while　Inga　was　undergoing　his

trying　experience　in　escaping　the　fearful　dangers　of

the　three　caverns。



The　King　of　Gilgad　wakened　to　find　the　door　of　Inga's

room　fast　shut　and　locked；　but　he　had　no　trouble　in

opening　his　own　door　into　the　corridor；　for　it　seems

that　the　boy's　room；　which　was　the　middle　one；　whirled

around　on　a　pivot；　while　the　adjoining　rooms　occupied

by　Bilbil　and　Rinkitink　remained　stationary。　The　little

King　also　found　a　breakfast　magically　served　in　his

room；　and　while　he　was　eating　it；　Klik　came　to　him　and

stated　that　His　Majesty；　King　Kaliko；　desired　his

presence　in　the　royal　cavern。



So　Rinkitink；　having　first　made　sure　that　the　Pink

Pearl　was　still　in　his　vest　pocket；　willingly　followed

Klik；　who　ran　on　some　distance　ahead。　But　no　sooner　had

Rinkitink　set　foot　in　the　passage　than　a　great　rock；

weighing　at　least　a　ton；　became　dislodged　and　dropped

from　the　roof　directly　over　his　head。　Of　course；　it

could　not　harm　him；　protected　as　he　was　by　the　Pink

Pearl；　and　it　bounded　aside　and　crashed　upon　the　floor；

where　it　was　shattered　by　its　own　weight。



〃How　careless！〃　exclaimed　the　little　King；　and

waddled　after　Klik；　who　seemed　amazed　at　his　escape。



Presently　another　rock　above　Rinkitink　plunged

downward；　and　then　another；　but　none　touched　his　body。

Klik　seemed　much　perplexed　at　these　continued　escapes

and　certainly　Kaliko　was　surprised　when　Rinkitink；　safe

and　sound；　entered　the　royal　cavern。



〃Good　morning；〃　said　the　King　of　Gilgad。　〃Your　rocks

are　getting　loose；　Kaliko；　and　you'd　better　have　them

glued　in　place　before　they　hurt　someone。〃　Then　he　began

to　chuckle：　〃Ho