rinkitink in oz-第18节

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his　adventure　to　the　other　beasts　or　they　had　happened

to　witness　his　defeat；　but　certain　it　is　that　Zella　was

not　again　molested。　A　brown　bear　watched　her　pass

without　making　any　movement　in　her　direction　and　a

great　puma　　a　beast　much　dreaded　by　all　men　　crept

out　of　her　path　as　she　approached；　and　disappeared

among　the　trees。



Thus　everything　favored　the　girl's　journey　and　she

made　such　good　speed　that　by　noon　she　emerged　from　the

forest's　edge　and　found　she　was　quite　near　to　the

bridge　of　boats　that　led　to　Coregos。　This　she　crossed

safely　and　without　meeting　any　of　the　rude　warriors　she

so　greatly　feared；　and　five　minutes　later　the　daughter

of　the　charcoal…burner　was　seeking　admittance　at　the

back　door　of　Queen　Cor's　palace。









Chapter　Twelve



The　Excitement　of　Bilbil　the　Goat





Our　story　must　now　return　to　one　of　our　characters

whom　　we　have　been　forced　to　neglect。　The　temper　of

Bilbil　the　goat　was　not　sweet　under　any　circumstances；

and　whenever　he　had　a　grievance　he　was　inclined　to　be

quite　grumpy。　So；　when　his　master　settled　down　in　the

palace　of　King　Gos　for　a　quiet　life　with　the　boy

Prince；　and　passed　his　time　in　playing　checkers　and

eating　and　otherwise　enjoying　himself；　he　had　no　use

whatever　for　Bilbil；　and　shut　the　goat　in　an　upstairs

room　to　prevent　his　wandering　through　the　city　and

quarreling　with　the　citizens。　But　this　Bilbil　did　not

like　at　all。　He　became　very　cross　and　disagreeable　at

being　left　alone　and　he　did　not　speak　nicely　to　the

servants　who　came　to　bring　him　food；　therefore　those

people　decided　not　to　wait　upon　him　any　more；　resenting

his　conversation　and　not　liking　to　be　scolded　by　a

lean；　scraggly　goat；　even　though　it　belonged　to　a

conqueror。　The　servants　kept　away　from　the　room　and

Bilbil　grew　more　hungry　and　more　angry　every　hour。　He

tried　to　eat　the　rugs　and　ornaments；　but　found　them　not

at　all　nourishing。　There　was　no　grass　to　be　had　unless

he　escaped　from　the　palace。



When　Queen　Cor　came　to　capture　Inga　and　Rinkitink；

both　the　prisoners　were　so　filled　with　despair　at　their

own　misfortune　that　they　gave　no　thought　whatever　to

the　goat；　who　was　left　in　his　room。　Nor　did　Bilbil　know

anything　of　the　changed　fortunes　of　his　comrades　until

he　heard　shouts　and　boisterous　laughter　in　the

courtyard　below。　Looking　out　of　a　window；　with　the

intention　of　rebuking　those　who　dared　thus　to　disturb

him；　Bilbil　saw　the　courtyard　quite　filled　with

warriors　and　knew　from　this　that　the　palace　had　in　some

way　again　fallen　into　the　hands　of　the　enemy。



Now；　although　Bilbil　was　often　exceedingly

disagreeable　to　King　Rinkitink；　as　well　as　to　the

Prince；　and　sometimes　used　harsh　words　in　addressing

them；　he　was　intelligent　enough　to　know　them　to　be　his

friends；　and　to　know　that　King　Gos　and　his　people　were

his　foes。　In　sudden　anger；　provoked　by　the　sight　of　the

warriors　and　the　knowledge　that　he　was　in　the　power　of

the　dangerous　men　of　Regos；　Bilbil　butted　his　head

against　the　door　of　his　room　and　burst　it　open。　Then　he

ran　to　the　head　of　the　staircase　and　saw　King　Gos

coming　up　the　stairs　followed　by　a　long　line　of　his

chief　captains　and　warriors。



The　goat　lowered　his　head；　trembling　with　rage　and

excitement；　and　just　as　the　King　reached　the　top　stair

the　animal　dashed　forward　and　butted　His　Majesty　so

fiercely　that　the　big　and　powerful　King；　who　did　not

expect　an　attack；　doubled　up　and　tumbled　backward。　His

great　weight　knocked　over　the　man　just　behind　him　and

he　in　turn　struck　the　next　warrior　and　upset　him；　so

that　in　an　instant　the　whole　line　of　Bilbil's　foes　was

tumbling　heels　over　head　to　the　bottom　of　the　stairs；

where　they　piled　up　in　a　heap；　struggling　and　shouting

and　in　the　mixup　hitting　one　another　with　their　fists；

until　every　man　of　them　was　bruised　and　sore。



Finally　King　Gos　scrambled　out　of　the　heap　and　rushed

up　the　stairs　again；　very　angry　indeed。　Bilbil　was

ready　for　him　and　a　second　time　butted　the　King　down

the　stairs；　but　now　the　goat　also　lost　his　balance　and

followed　the　King；　landing　full　upon　the　confused　heap

of　soldiers。　Then　he　kicked　out　so　viciously　with　his

heels　that　he　soon　freed　himself　and　dashed　out　of　the

doorway　of　the　palace。



〃Stop　him！〃　cried　King　Gos；　running　after。



But　the　goat　was　now　so　wild　and　excited　that　it　was

not　safe　for　anyone　to　stand　in　his　way。　None　of　the

men　were　armed　and　when　one　or　two　tried　to　head　off

the　goat；　Bilbil　sent　them　sprawling　upon　the　ground。

Most　of　the　warriors；　however；　were　wise　enough　not　to

attempt　to　interfere　with　his　flight。



Coursing　down　the　street；　Bilbil　found　himself

approaching　the　bridge　of　boats　and　without　pausing　to

think　where　it　might　lead　him　he　crossed　over　and

proceeded　on　his　way。　A　few　moments　later　a　great　stone

building　blocked　his　path。　It　was　the　palace　of　Queen

Cor；　and　seeing　the　gates　of　the　courtyard　standing

wide　open；　Bilbil　rushed　through　them　without

slackening　his　speed。









Chapter　Thirteen



Zella　Saves　the　Prince





The　wicked　Queen　of　Coregos　was　in　a　very　bad　humor

this　morning；　for　one　of　her　slave　drivers　had　come

from　the　fields　to　say　that　a　number　of　slaves　had

rebelled　and　would　not　work。



〃Bring　them　here　to　me！〃　she　cried　savagely。　〃A　good

whipping　may　make　them　change　their　minds。〃



So　the　slave　driver　went　to　fetch　the　rebellious　ones

and　Queen　Cor　sat　down　to　eat　her　breakfast；　an　ugly

look　on　her　face。



Prince　Inga　had　been　ordered　to　stand　behind　his　new

mistress　with　a　big　fan　of　peacock's　feathers；　but　he

was　so　unused　to　such　service　that　he　awkwardly　brushed

her　ear　with　the　fan。　At　once　she　flew　into　a　terrible

rage　and　slapped　the　Prince　twice　with　her　hand…blows

that　tingled；　too；　for　her　hand　was　big　and　hard　and

she　was　not　inclined　to　be　gentle。　Inga　took　the　blows

without　shrinking　or　uttering　a　cry；　although　they

stung　his　pride　far　more　than　his　body。　But　King

Rinkitink；　who　was　acting　as　the　queen's　butler　and　had

just　brought　in　her　coffee；　was　so　startled　at　seeing

the　young　Prince　punished　that　he　tipped　over　the　urn

and　the　hot　coffee　streamed　across　the　lap　of　the

Queen's　best　morning　gown。



Cor　sprang　from　her　seat　with　a　scream　of　anger　and

poor　Rinkitink　would　doubtless　have　been　given　a

terrible　beating　had　not　the　slave　driver　returned　at

this　moment　and　attracted　the　woman's　attention。　The

overseer　had　brought　with　him　all　of　the　women　slaves

from　Pingaree；　who　had　been　loaded　down　with　chains　and

were　so　weak　and　ill　they　could　scarcely　walk；　much

less　work　in　the　fields。



Prince　Inga's　eyes　were　dimmed　with　sorrowful　tears

when　he　discovered　how　his　poor　people　had　been　abused；

but　his　own　plight　was　so　helpless　that　he　was　unable

to　aid　them。　Fortunately　the　boy's　mother；　Queen　Garee；

was　not　among　these　slaves；　for　Queen　Cor　had　placed

her　in　the　royal　dairy　to　make　butter。



〃Why　do　you　refuse　to　work？〃　demanded　Cor　in　a　harsh

voice；　as　the　slaves　from　Pingaree　stood　before　her；

trembling　and　with　downcast　eyes。



〃Because　we　lack　strength　to　perform　the　tasks　your

overseers　demand；〃　answered　one　of　the　women。



〃Then　you　shall　be　whipped　until　your　strength

returns！〃　exclaimed　the　Queen；　and　turning　to　Inga；　she

commanded：　〃Get　me　the　whip　with　the　seven　lashes。〃



As　the　boy　left　the　room；　wondering　how　he　might

manage　to　save　the　unhappy　women　from　their　undeserved

punishment；　he　met　a　girl　entering　by　the　back　way；　who

asked：



〃Can　you　tell　me　where　to　find　Her　Majesty；　Queen

Cor？〃



〃She　is　in　the　chamber　with　the　red　dome；　where　green

dragons　are　painted　upon　the　walls；〃　replied　Inga；　〃but

she　is　in　an　angry　and　ungracious　mood　to…day。　Why　do

you　wish　to　see　her？〃



〃I　have　honey　to　sell；〃　answered　the　girl；　who　was

Zella；　just　come　from　the　forest。　〃The　Queen　is　very

fond　of　my　honey。〃



〃You　may　go　to　her；　if　you　so　desire；〃　said　the　boy；

〃but　take　care　not　to　anger　the　cruel　Queen；　or　she　may

do　you　a　mischief。〃



〃Why　should　she　harm　me；　who　brings　her　the　honey　she

so　dearly　loves？〃　inquired　the　child　innocently。　〃But　I

thank　you　for　your　warning；　and　I　will　try　not　to　anger

the　Queen。〃



As　Zella　started　to　go；　Inga's　eyes　suddenly　fell

upon　her　shoes　and　instantly　he　recognized　them　as　his

own。　For　only　in　Pingaree　were　shoes　shaped　in　this

manner：　high　at　the　heel　and　pointed　at　the　toes。



〃Stop！〃　he　cried　in　an　excited　voice；　and　the　girl

obeyed；　wonderingly。　〃Tell　me；〃　he　continued；　more

gently；　〃where　did　you　get　those　shoes？〃



〃My　father　brought　them　to　me　from　Regos；〃　she

answered。



〃From　Regos！〃



〃Yes。　Are　they　not　pretty？〃　asked　Zella；　looking　down

at　her　feet　to　admire　them。　〃One　of　them　my　father

found　by　the　palace　wall；　and　the　other　on　an　ash…heap。

So　he　brought　them　to　me　and　they　fit　me　perfectly。〃