rinkitink in oz-第3部分

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his　brother　monarch。　〃I'm　sure　you　can　make　me

comfortable　if　you've　plenty　to　eat。　And　as　for　being

happy　　ha；　ha；　ha；　ha！　　why；　that's　my　trouble。　I'm

too　happy。　But　stop！　I've　brought　you　some　presents　in

those　boxes。　Please　order　your　men　to　carry　them　up　to

the　palace。〃



〃Certainly；〃　answered　King　Kitticut；　well　pleased；

and　at　once　he　gave　his　men　the　proper　orders。



〃And；　by　the　way；〃　continued　the　fat　little　King；

〃let　them　also　take　my　goat　from　his　cage。〃



〃A　goat！〃　exclaimed　the　King　of　Pingaree。



〃Exactly；　my　goat　Bilbil。　I　always　ride　him　wherever

I　go；　for　I'm　not　at　all　fond　of　walking；　being　a

trifle　stout　　eh；　Kitticut？　　a　trifle　stout！　Hoo；

hoo；　hoo…keek；　eek！〃



The　Pingaree　people　started　to　lift　the　big　cage　out

of　the　boat；　but　just　then　a　gruff　voice　cried：　〃Be

careful；　you　villains！〃　and　as　the　words　seemed　to　come

from　the　goat's　mouth　the　men　were　so　astonished　that

they　dropped　the　cage　upon　the　sand　with　a　sudden　jar。



〃There！　I　told　you　so！〃　cried　the　voice　angrily。

〃You've　rubbed　the　skin　off　my　left　knee。　Why　on　earth

didn't　you　handle　me　gently？〃



〃There；　there；　Bilbil；〃　said　King　Rinkitink

soothingly；　〃don't　scold；　my　boy。　Remember　that　these

are　strangers；　and　we　their　guests。〃　Then　he　turned　to

Kitticut　and　remarked：　〃You　have　no　talking　goats　on

your　island；　I　suppose。〃



〃We　have　no　goats　at　all；〃　replied　the　King；　〃nor

have　we　any　animals；　of　any　sort；　who　are　able　to

talk。〃



〃I　wish　my　animal　couldn't　talk；　either；〃　said

Rinkitink；　winking　comically　at　Inga　and　then　looking

toward　the　cage。　〃He　is　very　cross　at　times；　and

indulges　in　language　that　is　not　respectful。　I　thought；

at　first；　it　would　be　fine　to　have　a　talking　goat；　with

whom　I　could　converse　as　I　rode　about　my　city　on　his

back；　but　　keek…eek…eek…eek！　　the　rascal　treats　me

as　if　I　were　a　chimney　sweep　instead　of　a　King。　Heh；

heh；　heh；　keek；　eek！　A　chimney　sweep…hoo；　hoo；　hoo！　

and　me　a　King！　Funny；　isn't　it？〃　This　last　was

addressed　to　Prince　Inga；　whom　he　chucked　familiarly

under　the　chin；　to　the　boy's　great　embarrassment。



〃Why　do　you　not　ride　a　horse？〃　asked　King　Kitticut。



〃I　can't　climb　upon　his　back；　being　rather　stout；

that's　why。　Kee；　kee；　keek；　eek！　　rather　stout　

hoo；　hoo；　hoo！〃　He　paused　to　wipe　the　tears　of

merriment　from　his　eyes　and　then　added：　〃But　I　can　get

on　and　off　Bilbil's　back　with　ease。〃



He　now　opened　the　cage　and　the　goat　deliberately

walked　out　and　looked　about　him　in　a　sulky　manner。　One

of　the　rowers　brought　from　the　boat　a　saddle　made　of

red　velvet　and　beautifully　embroidered　with　silver

thistles；　which　he　fastened　upon　the　goat's　back。　The

fat　King　put　his　leg　over　the　saddle　and　seated　himself

comfortably；　saying：



〃Lead　on；　my　noble　host；　and　we　will　follow。〃



〃What！　Up　that　steep　hill？〃　cried　the　goat。　〃Get　off

my　back　at　once；　Rinkitink；　or　I　won't　budge　a　step。



〃But…consider；　Bilbil；〃　remonstrated　the　King。　〃How

am　I　to　get　up　that　hill　unless　I　ride？〃



〃Walk！〃　growled　Bilbil。



〃But　I'm　too　fat。　Really；　Bilbil；　I'm　surprised　at

you。　Haven't　I　brought　you　all　this　distance　so　you　may

see　something　of　the　world　and　enjoy　life？　And　now　you

are　so　ungrateful　as　to　refuse　to　carry　me！　Turn　about

is　fair　play；　my　boy。　The　boat　carried　you　to　this

shore；　because　you　can't　swim；　and　now　you　must　carry

me　up　the　hill；　because　I　can't　climb。　Eh；　Bilbil；

isn't　that　reasonable？〃



〃Well；　well；　well；〃　said　the　goat；　surlily；　〃keep

quiet　and　I'll　carry　you。　But　you　make　me　very　tired；

Rinkitink；　with　your　ceaseless　chatter。〃



After　making　this　protest　Bilbil　began　walking

up　the　hill；　carrying　the　fat　King　upon　his　back

with　no　difficulty　whatever。



Prince　Inga　and　his　father　and　all　the　men　of

Pingaree　were　much　astonished　to　overhear　this　dispute

between　King　Rinkitink　and　his　goat；　but　they　were　too

polite　to　make　critical　remarks　in　the　presence　of

their　guests。　King　Kitticut　walked　beside　the　goat　and

the　Prince　followed　after；　the　men　coming　last　with　the

boxes　of　sandalwood。



When　they　neared　the　palace；　the　Queen　and　her

maidens　came　out　to　meet　them　and　the　royal　guest　was

escorted　in　state　to　the　splendid　throne　room　of　the

palace。　Here　the　boxes　were　opened　and　King　Rinkitink

displayed　all　the　beautiful　silks　and　laces　and　jewelry

with　which　they　were　filled。　Every　one　of　the　courtiers

and　ladies　received　a　handsome　present；　and　the　King

and　Queen　had　many　rich　gifts　and　Inga　not　a　few。　Thus

the　time　passed　pleasantly　until　the　Chamberlain

announced　that　dinner　was　served。



Bilbil　the　goat　declared　that　he　preferred　eating　of

the　sweet；　rich　grass　that　grew　abundantly　in　the

palace　grounds；　and　Rinkitink　said　that　the　beast　could

never　bear　being　shut　up　in　a　stable；　so　they　removed

the　saddle　from　his　back　and　allowed　him　to　wander

wherever　he　pleased。



During　the　dinner　Inga　divided　his　attention　between

admiring　the　pretty　gifts　he　had　received　and　listening

to　the　jolly　sayings　of　the　fat　King；　who　laughed　when

he　was　not　eating　and　ate　when　he　was　not　laughing　and

seemed　to　enjoy　himself　immensely。



〃For　four　days　I　have　lived　in　that　narrow　boat；〃

said　he；　〃with　no　other　amusement　than　to　watch　the

rowers　and　quarrel　with　Bilbil；　so　I　am　very　glad　to　be

on　land　again　with　such　friendly　and　agreeable　people。〃



〃You　do　us　great　honor；〃　said　King　Kitticut；　with　a

polite　bow。



〃Not　at　all　　not　at　all；　my　brother。　This　Pingaree

must　be　a　wonderful　island；　for　its　pearls　are　the

admiration　of　all　the　world；　nor　will　I　deny　the　fact

that　my　kingdom　would　be　a　poor　one　without　the　riches

and　glory　it　derives　from　the　trade　in　your　pearls。　So

I　have　wished　for　many　years　to　come　here　to　see　you；

but　my　people　said：　'No！　Stay　at　home　and　behave

yourself；　or　we'll　know　the　reason　why。'〃



〃Will　they　not　miss　Your　Majesty　from　your

palace　at　Gilgad？〃　inquired　Kitticut。



〃I　think　not；〃　answered　Rinkitink。　〃You　see；　one　of

my　clever　subjects　has　written　a　parchment　entitled

'How　to　be　Good；'　and　I　believed　it　would　benefit　me　to

study　it；　as　I　consider　the　accomplishment　of　being

good　one　of　the　fine　arts。　I　had　just　scolded　severely

my　Lord　High　Chancellor　for　coming　to　breakfast　without

combing　his　eyebrows；　and　was　so　sad　and　regretful　at

having　hurt　the　poor　man's　feelings　that　I　decided　to

shut　myself　up　in　my　own　room　and　study　the　scroll

until　I　knew　how　to　be　good　　hee；　heek；　keek；　eek；

eek！　to　be　good！　Clever　idea；　that；　wasn't　it？　Mighty

clever！　And　I　issued　a　decree　that　no　one　should　enter

my　room；　under　pain　of　my　royal　displeasure；　until　I

was　ready　to　come　out。　They're　awfully　afraid　of　my

royal　displeasure；　although　not　a　bit　afraid　of　me。

Then　I　put　the　parchment　in　my　pocket　and　escaped

through　the　back　door　to　my　boat　　and　here　I　am。　Oo；

hoo…hoo；　keek…eek！　Imagine　the　fuss　there　would　be　in

Gilgad　if　my　subjects　knew　where　I　am　this　very

minute！〃



〃I　would　like　to　see　that　parchment；〃　said　the

solemn…eyed　Prince　Inga；　〃for　if　it　indeed　teaches　one

to　be　good　it　must　be　worth　its　weight　in　pearls。〃



〃Oh；　it's　a　fine　essay；〃　said　Rinkitink；　〃and

beautifully　written　with　a　goosequill。　Listen　to　this：

You'll　enjoy　it　　tee；　hee；　hee！　　enjoy　it。〃



He　took　from　his　pocket　a　scroll　of　parchment　tied

with　a　black　ribbon；　and　having　carefully　unrolled　it；

he　proceeded　to　read　as　follows：



〃'A　Good　Man　is　One　who　is　Never　Bad。'　How's　that；

eh？　Fine　thought；　what？　'Therefore；　in　order　to　be

Good；　you　must　avoid　those　Things　which　are　Evil。'　Oh；

hoo…hoo…hoo！　　how　clever！　When　I　get　back　I　shall

make　the　man　who　wrote　that　a　royal　hippolorum；　for；

beyond　question；　he　is　the　wisest　man　in　my　kingdom　…as

he　has　often　told　me　himself。〃　With　this；　Rinkitink　lay

back　in　his　chair　and　chuckled　his　queer　chuckle　until

he　coughed；　and　coughed　until　he　choked　and　choked

until　he　sneezed。　And　he　wrinkled　his　face　in　such　a

jolly；　droll　way　that　few　could　keep　from　laughing　with

him；　and　even　the　good　Queen　was　forced　to　titter

behind　her　fan。



When　Rinkitink　had　recovered　from　his　fit　of　laughter

and　had　wiped　his　eyes　upon　a　fine　lace　handkerchief；

Prince　Inga　said　to　him：



〃The　parchment　speaks　truly。〃



〃Yes；　it　is　true　beyond　doubt；〃　answered　Rinkitink；

〃and　if　I　could　persuade　Bilbil　to　read　it　he　would　be

a　much　better　goat　than　he　is　now。　Here　is　another

selection：　'To　avoid　saying　Unpleasant　Things；　always

Speak　Agreeably。'　That　would　hit　Bilbil；　to　a　dot。　And

here　is　one　that　applies　to　you；　my　Prince：　'Good

Children　are　seldom　punished；　for　the　reason　that　they

deserve　no　punishment。'　Now；　I　think　that　is　neatly

put；　and　shows　the　author　to　be　a　deep　thinker。　But　the

advice　that　has　impressed　me　the　most　is　in　the

following　paragraph：　'You　may　not　find　it　as　Pleasant

to　be　Good　as　it　is　to　be　Bad；　but　Other　People　will

find　it　more　Pleasant。'　Haw…hoo…ho！　keek…eek！　'Other

people　will　find　it　more　pleasant！'　　hee；　hee；　heek；

keek！　　'more　pleasant。'　Dear　me　　dear　me！　Therein

lies　a　noble　incentive　to　be　good；　and　whenever　I　get

time　I'm　surely　going　to　try　it。〃



Then　he　wiped　his　eyes　again　with　the　lace

handkerchief　and；　suddenly　remembering　his　dinner；

seized　his　knife　and　fork　and　began　eating。











Chapter　Three



The　Warriors　from　the　North





King　Rinkitink　was　so　much　pleased　with　the　Island　of

Pingaree　that　he　continued　his　stay　day　after　day　and

week　after　week；　eating　good　dinners；　talking　with　King

Kitticut　and　sleeping。　Once　in　a　while　he　would　read

from　his　scroll。　〃For；〃　said　he；　〃whenever　I　return

home；　my　subjects　will　be　anxious　to　know　if　I　have

learned　'How　to　be　Good；'　and　I　must　not　disappoint

them。〃



The　twenty　rowers　lived　on　the　small　end　of　the

island；　with　the　pearl　fishers；　and　seemed