rinkitink in oz-第28部分

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where　they　were　royally　entertained；　and　where　both　the

gentle　Queen　Garee　and　the　noble　King　Kitticut

recovered　much　of　their　good　spirits　and　composure　and

tried　to　forget　their　dreadful　experiences。



At　last；　however；　the　King　and　Queen　desired　to

return　to　their　own　Pingaree；　as　they　longed　to　be　with

their　people　again　and　see　how　well　they　had　rebuilt

their　homes。　Inga　also　was　anxious　to　return；　although

he　had　been　very　happy　in　Oz；　and　King　Rinkitink；　who

was　happy　anywhere　except　at　Gilgad；　decided　to　go　with

his　former　friends　to　Pingaree。　As　for　prince　Bobo；　he

had　become　so　greatly　attached　to　King　Rinkitink　that

he　was　loth　to　leave　him。



On　a　certain　day　they　all　bade　good…bye　to　Ozma　and

Dorothy　and　Glinda　and　the　Wizard　and　all　their　good

friends　in　Oz；　and　were　driven　in　the　Red　Wagon　to　the

edge　of　the　Deadly　Desert；　which　they　crossed　safely　on

the　Magic　Carpet。　They　then　made　their　way　across　the

Nome　Kingdom　and　the　Wheeler　Country；　where　no　one

molested　them；　to　the　shores　of　the　Nonestic　Ocean。

There　they　found　the　boat　with　the　silver　lining　still

lying　undisturbed　on　the　beach。



There　were　no　important　adventures　during　the　trip

and　on　their　arrival　at　the　pearl　kingdom　they　were

amazed　at　the　beautiful　appearance　of　the　island　they

had　left　in　ruins。　All　the　houses　of　the　people　had

been　rebuilt　and　were　prettier　than　before；　with　green

lawns　before　them　and　flower　gardens　in　the　back　yards。

The　marble　towers　of　King　Kitticut's　new　palace　were

very　striking　and　impressive；　while　the　palace　itself

proved　far　more　magnificent　than　it　had　been　before　the

warriors　from　Regos　destroyed　it。



Nikobob　had　been　very　active　and　skillful　in

directing　all　this　work；　and　he　had　also　built　a　pretty

cottage　for　himself；　not　far　from　the　King's　palace；

and　there　Inga　found　Zella；　who　was　living　very　happy

and　contented　in　her　new　home。　Not　only　had　Nikobob

accomplished　all　this　in　a　comparatively　brief　space　of

time；　but　he　had　started　the　pearl　fisheries　again　and

when　King　Kitticut　returned　to　Pingaree　he　found　a

quantity　of　fine　pearls　already　in　the　royal　treasury。



So　pleased　was　Kitticut　with　the　good　judgment；

industry　and　honesty　of　the　former　charcoal…burner　of

Regos；　that　he　made　Nikobob　his　Lord　High　Chamberlain

and　put　him　in　charge　of　the　pearl　fisheries　and　all

the　business　matters　of　the　island　kingdom。



They　all　settled　down　very　comfortably　in　the　new

palace　and　the　Queen　gathered　her　maids　about　her　once

more　and　set　them　to　work　embroidering　new　draperies

for　the　royal　throne。　Inga　placed　the　three　Magic

Pearls　in　their　silken　bag　and　again　deposited　them　in

the　secret　cavity　under　the　tiled　flooring　of　the

banquet　hall；　where　they　could　be　quickly　secured　if

danger　ever　threatened　the　now　prosperous　island。



King　Rinkitink　occupied　a　royal　guest　chamber　built

especially　for　his　use　and　seemed　in　no　hurry　to　leave

his　friends　in　Pingaree。　The　fat　little　King　had　to

walk　wherever　he　went　and　so　missed　Bilbil　more　and

more；　but　he　seldom　walked　far　and　he　was　so　fond　of

Prince　BoBo　that　he　never　regretted　Bilbil's

disenchantment。



Indeed；　the　jolly　monarch　was　welcome　to　remain

forever　in　Pingaree；　if　he　wished　to；　for　his　merry

disposition　set　smiles　on　the　faces　of　all　his　friends

and　made　everyone　near　him　as　jolly　as　he　was　himself。

When　King　Kitticut　was　not　too　busy　with　affairs　of

state　he　loved　to　join　his　guest　and　listen　to　his

brother　monarch's　songs　and　stories。　For　he　found

Rinkitink　to　be；　with　all　his　careless　disposition；　a

shrewd　philosopher；　and　in　talking　over　their

adventures　one　day　the　King　of　Gilgad　said：



〃The　beauty　of　life　is　its　sudden　changes。　No　one

knows　what　is　going　to　happen　next；　and　so　we　are

constantly　being　surprised　and　entertained。　The　many

ups　and　downs　should　not　discourage　us；　for　if　we　are

down；　we　know　that　a　change　is　coming　and　we　will　go　up

again；　while　those　who　are　up　are　almost　certain　to　go

down。　My　grandfather　had　a　song　which　well　expresses

this　and　if　you　will　listen　I　will　sing　it。〃



〃Of　course　I　will　listen　to　your　song；〃　returned

Kitticut；　〃for　it　would　be　impolite　not　to。〃



So　Rinkitink　sang　his　grandfather's　song：





〃A　mighty　King　once　ruled　the　land　

　　But　now　he's　baking　pies。

A　pauper；　on　the　other　hand；

　　Is　ruling；　strong　and　wise。



A　tiger　once　in　jungles　raged　

　　But　now　he's　in　a　zoo；

A　lion；　captive…born　and　caged；

　　Now　roams　the　forest　through。



A　man　once　slapped　a　poor　boy's　pate

　　And　made　him　weep　and　wail。

The　boy　became　a　magistrate

　　And　put　the　man　in　jail。



A　sunny　day　succeeds　the　night；

　　It's　summer　　then　it　snows！

Right　oft　goes　wrong　and　wrong　comes　right；

　　As　ev'ry　wise　man　knows。〃









Chapter　Twenty…Four



The　Captive　King





One　morning；　just　as　the　royal　party　was　finishing

breakfast；　a　servant　came　running　to　say　that　a　great

fleet　of　boats　was　approaching　the　island　from　the

south。　King　Kitticut　sprang　up　at　once；　in　great　alarm；

for　he　had　much　cause　to　fear　strange　boats。　The　others

quickly　followed　him　to　the　shore　to　see　what　invasion

might　be　coming　upon　them。



Inga　was　there　with　the　first；　and　Nikobob　and　Zella

soon　joined　the　watchers。　And　presently；　while　all　were

gazing　eagerly　at　the　approaching　fleet；　King　Rinkitink

suddenly　cried　out：



〃Get　your　pearls；　Prince　Inga　　get　them　quick！〃



〃Are　these　our　enemies；　then？〃　asked　the　boy；　looking

with　surprise　upon　the　fat　little　King；　who　had　begun

to　tremble　violently。



〃They　are　my　people　of　Gilgad！〃　answered　Rinkitink；

wiping　a　tear　from　his　eye。　〃I　recognize　my　royal

standards　flying　from　the　boats。　So；　please；　dear　Inga；

get　out　your　pearls　to　protect　me！〃



〃What　can　you　fear　at　the　hands　of　your　own

subjects？〃　asked　Kitticut；　astonished。



But　before　his　frightened　guest　could　answer　the

question　Prince　Bobo；　who　was　standing　beside　his

friend；　gave　an　amused　laugh　and　said：



〃You　are　caught　at　last；　dear　Rinkitink。　Your　people

will　take　you　home　again　and　oblige　you　to　reign　as

King。〃



Rinkitink　groaned　aloud　and　clasped　his　hands

together　with　a　gesture　of　despair；　an　attitude　so

comical　that　the　others　could　scarcely　forbear

laughing。



But　now　the　boats　were　landing　upon　the　beach。　They

were　fifty　in　number；　beautifully　decorated　and

upholstered　and　rowed　by　men　clad　in　the　gay　uniforms

of　the　King　of　Gilgad。　One　splended　boat　had　a　throne

of　gold　in　the　center；　over　which　was　draped　the　King's

royal　robe　of　purple　velvet；　embroidered　with　gold

buttercups。



Rinkitink　shuddered　when　he　saw　this　throne；　but　now

a　tall　man；　handsomely　dressed；　approached　and　knelt

upon　the　grass　before　his　King；　while　all　the　other

occupants　of　the　boats　shouted　joyfully　and　waved　their

plumed　hats　in　the　air。



〃Thanks　to　our　good　fortune；〃　said　the　man　who

kneeled；　〃we　have　found　Your　Majesty　at　last！〃



〃Pinkerbloo；〃　answered　Rinkitink　sternly；　〃I　must

have　you　hanged；　for　thus　finding　me　against　my　will。〃



〃You　think　so　now；　Your　Majesty；　but　you　will　never

do　it；〃　returned　Pinkerbloo；　rising　and　kissing　the

King's　hand。



〃Why　won't　I？〃　asked　Rinkitink。



〃Because　you　are　much　too　tender…hearted；　Your

Majesty。〃



〃It　may　be　　it　may　be；〃　agreed　Rinkitink；　sadly。

〃It　is　one　of　my　greatest　failings。　But　what　chance

brought　you　here；　my　Lord　Pinkerbloo？〃



〃We　have　searched　for　you　everywhere；　sire；　and　all

the　people　of　Gilgad　have　been　in　despair　since　you　so

mysteriously　disappeared。　We　could　not　appoint　a　new

King；　because　we　did　not　know　but　that　you　still　lived；

so　we　set　out　to　find　you；　dead　or　alive。　After

visiting　many　islands　of　the　Nonestic　Ocean　we　at　last

thought　of　Pingaree；　from　where　come　the　precious

pearls；　and　now　our　faithful　quest　has　been　rewarded。〃



〃And　what　now？〃　asked　Rinkitink。



〃Now；　Your　Majesty；　you　must　come　home　with　us；　like

a　good　and　dutiful　King；　and　rule　over　your　people；〃

declared　the　man　in　a　firm　voice。



〃I　will　not。〃



〃But　you　must　　begging　Your　Majesty's　pardon　for

the　contradiction。〃



〃Kitticut；〃　cried　poor　Rinkitink；　〃you　must　save　me

from　being　captured　by　these；　my　subjects。　What！　must　I

return　to　Gilgad　and　be　forced　to　reign　in　splendid

state　when　I　much　prefer　to　eat　and　sleep　and　sing　in

my　own　quiet　way？　They　will　make　me　sit　in　a　throne

three　hours　a　day　and　listen　to　dry　and　tedious　affairs

of　state；　and　I　must　stand　up　for　hours　at　the　court

receptions；　till　I　get　corns　on　my　heels；　and　forever

must　I　listen　to　tiresome　speeches　and　endless

petitions　and　complaints！〃



〃But　someone　must　do　this；　Your　Majesty；〃　said

Pinkerbloo　respectfully；　〃and　since　you　were　born　to　be

our　King　you　cannot　escape　your　duty。〃



〃'Tis　a　horrid　fate！〃　moaned　Rinkitink。　〃I　would　die

willingly；　rather　than　be　a　King　　if　it　did　not　hurt

so　terribly　to　die。〃



〃You　will　find　it　much　more　comfortable　to　reign　than

to　die；　although　I　fully　appreciate　Your　Majesty's

difficult　position　and　am　truly　sorry　for　you；〃　said

Pinkerbloo。



King　Kitticut　had　listened　to　this　conversation

thoughtfully；　so　now　he　said　to　his　friend：



〃The　man　is　right；　dear　Rinkitink。　It　is　your　duty　to

reign；　since　fate　has　made　you　a　King；　and　I　see　no

honorable　escape　for　you。　I　shall　grieve　to　lose　your

companionship；　but　I　feel　the　separation　cannot　be

avoided。〃



Rinkitink　sighed。



〃Then；〃　said　he；　turning　to　Lord　Pinkerbloo；　〃in

three　days　I　will　depart　with　you　for　Gilgad；　but

during　those　three　days　I　propose　to　feast　and　make

merry　with　my　good　friend　King　Kitticut。〃



Then　all　the　people　of　Gilgad　shouted　with　delight

and　eagerly　scrambled　ashore　to　take　their　part　in　the

festival。



Those　three　days　were　long　remembere