rinkitink in oz-第27节

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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：　〃Hoo；　hoo；　hoo…hee；　hee…heek；　keek；　eek！〃

and　Kaliko　sat　and　frowned　because　he　realized　that　the

little　fat　King　was　poking　fun　at　him。



〃I　asked　Your　Majesty　to　come　here；〃　said　the　Nome

King；　〃to　show　you　a　curious　skein　of　golden　thread

which　my　workmen　have　made。　If　it　pleases　you；　I　will

make　you　a　present　of　it。〃



With　this　he　held　out　a　small　skein　of　glittering

gold　twine；　which　was　really　pretty　and　curious。

Rinkitink　took　it　in　his　hand　and　at　once　the　golden

thread　began　to　unwind　　so　swiftly　that　the　eye　could

not　follow　its　motion。　And；　as　it　unwound；　it　coiled

itself　around　Rinkitink's　body；　at　the　same　time

weaving　itself　into　a　net；　until　it　had　enveloped　the

little　King　from　head　to　foot　and　placed　him　in　a

prison　of　gold。



〃Aha！〃　cried　Kaliko；　〃this　magic　worked　all　right；　it

seems。



〃Oh；　did　it？〃　replied　Rinkitink；　and　stepping　forward

he　walked　right　through　the　golden　net；　which　fell　to

the　floor　in　a　tangled　mass



Kaliko　rubbed　his　chin　thoughtfully　and　stared　hard

at　Rinkitink。



〃I　understand　a　good　bit　of　magic；〃　said　；he；　〃but

Your　Majesty　has　a　sort　of　magic　that　greatly　puzzles

me；　because　it　is　unlike　anything　of　the　sort　that　I

ever　met　with　before。〃



〃Now；　see　here；　Kaliko；〃　said　Rinkitink；　〃if　you　are

trying　to　harm　me　or　my　companions；　give　it　up；　for　you

will　never　succeed。　We're　harm…proof；　so　to　speak；　and

you　are　merely　wasting　your　time　trying　to　injure　us。



〃You　may　be　right；　and　I　hope　I　am　not　so　impolite　as

to　argue　with　a　guest；〃　returned　the　Nome　King。　〃But

you　will　pardon　me　if　I　am　not　yet　satisfied　that　you

are　stronger　than　my　famous　magic。　However；　I　beg　you

to　believe　that　I　bear　you　no　ill　will；　King　Rinkitink；

but　it　is　my　duty　to　destroy　you；　if　possible；　because

you　and　that　insignificant　boy　Prince　have　openly

threatened　to　take　away　my　captives　and　have　positively

refused　to　go　back　to　the　earth's　surface　and　let　me

alone。　I'm　very　tender…hearted；　as　a　matter　of　fact；

and　I　like　you　immensely；　and　would　enjoy　having　you　as

a　friend；　but　〃　Here　he　pressed　a　button　on　the　arm

of　his　throne　chair　and　the　section　of　the　floor　where

Rinkitink　stood　suddenly　opened　and　disclosed　a　black

pit　beneath；　which　was　a　part　of　'the　terrible

Bottomless　Gulf。



But　Rinkitink　did　not　fall　into　the　pit；　his　body

remained　suspended　in　the　air　until　he　put　out　his　foot

and　stepped　to　the　solid　floor；　when　the　opening

suddenly　closed　again。



〃I　appreciate　Your　Majesty's　friendship；〃　remarked

Rinkitink；　as　calmly　as　if　nothing　had　happened；　〃but　I

am　getting　tired　with　standing。　Will　you　kindly　send

for　my　goat；　Bilbil；　that　I　may　sit　upon　his　back　to

rest？〃



〃Indeed　I　will！〃　promised　Kaliko。　〃I　have　not　yet

completed　my　test　of　your　magic；　and　as　I　owe　that　goat

a　slight　grudge　for　bumping　my　head　and　smashing　my

second…best　crown；　I　will　be　glad　to　discover　if　the

beast　can　also　escape　my　delightful