rinkitink in oz-第13节
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The ground below was thickly covered with weapons； yet
not one of the three before the gates had been injured
in the slightest manner。 When everything had been cast
that was available and not a single weapon of any sort
remained at hand； the amazed warriors saw the boy put
his shoulder against the gates and burst asunder the
huge staples that held the bars in place。 A thousand of
their men could not have accomplished this feat； yet
the small； slight boy did it with seeming ease。 The
gates burst open； and Inga advanced into the city
street and called upon King Gos to surrender。
But Gos was now as badly frightened as were his
warriors。 He and his men were accustomed to war and
pillage and they had carried terror into many
countries； but here was a small boy； a fat man and a
goat who could not be injured by all his skill in
warfare； his numerous army and thousands of death…
dealing weapons。 Moreover； they not only defied King
Gos's entire army but they had broken in the huge gates
of the city as easily as if they had been made of
paper and such an exhibition of enormous strength
made the wicked King fear for his life。 Like all
bullies and marauders； Gos was a coward at heart； and
now a panic seized him and he turned and fled before
the calm advance of Prince Inga of Pingaree。 The
warriors were like their master； and having thrown all
their weapons over the wall and being helpless to
oppose the strangers； they all swarmed after Gos； who
abandoned his city and crossed the bridge of boats to
the Island of Coregos。 There was a desperate struggle
among these cowardly warriors to get over the bridge；
and many were pushed into the water and obliged to
swim； but finally every fighting man of Regos had
gained the shore of Coregos and then they tore away the
bridge of boats and drew them up on their own side；
hoping the stretch of open water would prevent the
magic invaders from following them。
The humble citizens and serving people of Regos； who
had been terrified and abused by the rough warriors all
their lives； were not only greatly astonished by this
sudden conquest of their masters but greatly delighted。
As the King and his army fled to Coregos； the people
embraced one another and danced for very joy； and then
they turned to see what the conquerors of Regos were
like。
Chapter Eight
Rinkitink Makes a Great Mistake
The fat King rode his goat through the streets of the
conquered city and the boy Prince walked proudly beside
him； while all the people bent their heads humbly to
their new masters； whom they were prepared to serve in
the same manner they had King Gos。
Not a warrior remained in all Regos to oppose the
triumphant three； the bridge of boats had been
destroyed； Inga and his companions were free from
danger for a time； at least。
The jolly little King appreciated this fact and
rejoiced that he had escaped all injury during the
battle。 How it had all happened he could not tell； nor
even guess； but he was content in being safe and free
to take possession of the enemy's city。 So； as they
passed through the lines of respectful civilians on
their way to the palace； the King tipped his crown back
on his bald head and folded his arms and sang in his
best voice the following lines：
〃Oh； here comes the army of King Rinkitink！
It isn't a big one； perhaps you may think；
But it scattered the warriors quicker than wink
Rink…i…tink； tink…i…tink； tink！
Our Bilbil's a hero and so is his King；
Our foemen have vanished like birds on the wing；
I guess that as fighters we're quite the real thing
Rink…i…tink； tink…i…tink； tink！〃
〃Why don't you give a little credit to Inga？〃
inquired the goat。 〃If I remember aright； he did a
little of the conquering himself。〃
〃So he did；〃 responded the King； 〃and that's the
reason I'm sounding our own praise； Bilbil。 Those who
do the least； often shout the loudest and so get the
most glory。 Inga did so much that there is danger of
his becoming more important than we are； and so we'd
best say nothing about him。〃
When they reached the palace； which was an immense
building； furnished throughout in regal splendor； Inga
took formal possession and ordered the majordomo to
show them the finest rooms the building contained。
There were many pleasant apartments； but Rinkitink
proposed to Inga that they share one of the largest
bedrooms together。
〃For；〃 said he； 〃we are not sure that old Gos will
not return and try to recapture his city； and you must
remember that I have no magic to protect me。 In any
danger； were I alone； I might be easily killed or
captured； while if you are by my side you can save me
from injury。〃
The boy realized the wisdom of this plan； and
selected a fine big bedroom on the second floor of the
palace； in which he ordered two golden beds placed and
prepared for King Rinkitink and himself。 Bilbil was
given a suite of rooms on the other side of the palace；
where servants brought the goat fresh…cut grass to eat
and made him a soft bed to lie upon。
That evening the boy Prince and the fat King dined in
great state in the lofty…domed dining hall of the
palace； where forty servants waited upon them。 The
royal chef； anxious to win the favor of the conquerors
of Regos； prepared his finest and most savory dishes
for them； which Rinkitink ate with much appetite and
found so delicious that he ordered the royal chef
brought into the banquet hall and presented him with a
gilt button which the King cut from his own jacket。
〃You are welcome to it；〃 said he to the chef；
〃because I have eaten so much that I cannot use that
lower button at all。〃
Rinkitink was mightily pleased to live in a
comfortable palace again and to dine at a well spread
table。 His joy grew every moment； so that he came in
time to be as merry and cheery as before Pingaree was
despoiled。 And； although he had been much frightened
during Inga's defiance of the army of King Gos； he now
began to turn the matter into a joke。
〃Why； my boy；〃 said he； 〃you whipped the big black…
bearded King exactly as if he were a schoolboy； even
though you used no warlike weapon at all upon him。 He
was cowed through fear of your magic； and that reminds
me to demand from you an explanation。 How did you do
it； Inga？ And where did the wonderful magic come from？〃
Perhaps it would have been wise for the Prince to
have explained about the magic pearls； but at that
moment he was not inclined to do so。 Instead； he
replied：
〃Be patient； Your Majesty。 The secret is not my own；
so please do not ask me to divulge it。 Is it not
enough； for the present； that the magic saved you from
death to…day？〃
〃Do not think me ungrateful；〃 answered the King
earnestly。 〃A million spears fell on me from the wall；
and several stones as big as mountains； yet none of
them hurt me！〃
〃The stones were not as big as mountains； sire；〃 said
the Prince with a smile。 〃They were； indeed； no larger
than your head。〃
〃Are you sure about that？〃 asked Rinkitink。
〃Quite sure； Your Majesty。〃
〃How deceptive those things are！〃 sighed the King。
〃This argument reminds me of the story of Tom Tick；
which my father used to tell。〃
〃I have never heard that story；〃 Inga answered。
〃Well； as he told it； it ran like this：
〃When Tom walked out； the sky to spy；
A naughty gnat flew in his eye；
But Tom knew not it was a gnat
He thought； at first； it was a cat。
〃And then； it felt so very big；
He thought it surely was a pig
Till； standing still to hear it grunt；
He cried： 'Why； it's an elephunt！'
〃But when the gnat flew out again
And Tom was free from all his pain；
He said： 'There flew into my eye
A leetle； teenty…tiny fly。'〃
〃Indeed；〃 said Inga； laughing； 〃the gnat was much
like your stones that seemed as big as mountains。〃
After their dinner they inspected the palace； which
was filled with valuable goods stolen by King Gos from
many nations。 But the day's events had tired them and
they retired early to their big sleeping apartment。
〃In the morning；〃 said the boy to Rinkitink； as he
was undressing for bed； 〃I shall begin the search for
my father and mother and the people of Pingaree。 And；
when they are found and rescued； we will all go home
again； and be as happy as we were before。〃
They carefully bolted the door of their room； that no
one might enter； and then got into their beds； where
Rinkitink fell asleep in an instant。 The boy lay awake
for a while thinking over the day's adventures； but
presently he fell sound asleep also； and so weary was
he that nothing disturbed his slumber until he awakened
next morning with a ray of sunshine in his eyes； which
had crept into the room through the open window by King
Rinkitink's bed。
Resolving to begin t
