rinkitink in oz-第9节
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Coregos； where you may liberate your parents from
slavery。〃
〃How could I do that？〃 exclaimed Prince Inga； amazed
at receiving such advice。
〃To…night；〃 spoke the voice of the pearl； 〃there will
be a storm； and in the morning a boat will strand upon
the shore。 Take this boat and row to Regos and
Coregos。〃
〃How can I； a weak boy； pull the boat so far？〃 he
inquired； doubting the possibility。
〃The Blue Pearl will give you strength；〃 was the
reply。
〃But I may be shipwrecked and drowned； before ever I
reach Regos and Coregos；〃 protested the boy。
〃The Pink Pearl will protect you from harm；〃 murmured
the voice； soft and low but very distinct。
〃Then I shall act as you advise me；〃 declared Inga；
speaking firmly because this promise gave him courage；
and as he removed the pearl from his ear it whispered：
〃The wise and fearless are sure to win success。〃
Restoring the White Pearl to the depths of the silken
bag； Inga fastened it securely around his neck and
buttoned his waist above it to hide the treasure from
all prying eyes。 Then he slowly climbed down from the
tree and returned to the room where King Rinkitink
still slept。
The goat was browsing upon the grass but looked cross
and surly。 When the boy said good morning as he passed；
Bilbil made no response whatever。 As Inga entered the
room the King awoke and asked：
〃What is that mysterious secret of yours？ I've been
dreaming about it； and I haven't got my breath yet from
tugging at those heavy blocks。 Tell me the secret。〃
〃A secret told is no longer a secret；〃 replied Inga；
with a laugh。 〃Besides； this is a family secret； which
it is proper I should keep to myself。 But I may tell
you one thing； at least： We are going to leave this
island to…morrow morning。〃
The King seemed puzzled' by this statement。
〃I'm not much of a swimmer；〃 said he； 〃and； though
I'm fat enough to float upon the surface of the water；
I'd only bob around and get nowhere at all。〃
〃We shall not swim； but ride comfortably in a boat；〃
promised Inga。
〃There isn't a boat on this island！〃 declared
Rinkitink； looking upon the boy with wonder。
〃True；〃 said Inga。 〃But one will come to us in the
morning。〃 He spoke positively； for he had perfect faith
in the promise of the White Pearl； but Rinkitink；
knowing nothing of the three marvelous jewels； began to
fear that the little Prince had lost his mind through
grief and misfortune。
For this reason the King did not question the boy
further but tried to cheer him by telling him witty
stories。 He laughed at all the stories himself； in his
merry； rollicking way； and Inga joined freely in the
laughter because his heart had been lightened by the
prospect of rescuing his dear parents。 Not since the
fierce warriors had descended upon Pingaree had the boy
been so hopeful and happy。
With Rinkitink riding upon Bilbil's back； the three
made a tour of the island and found in the central part
some bushes and trees bearing ripe fruit。 They gathered
this freely； for aside from the fish which Inga
caught it was the only food they now had； and the
less they had； the bigger Rinkitink's appetite seemed
to grow。
〃I am never more happy；〃 said he with a sigh； 〃than
when I am eating。〃
Toward evening the sky became overcast and soon a
great storm began to rage。 Prince Inga and King
Rinkitink took refuge within the shelter of the room
they had fitted up and there Bilbil joined them。 The
goat and the King were somewhat disturbed by the
violence of the storm； but Inga did not mind it； being
pleased at this evidence that the White Pearl might be
relied upon。
All night the wind shrieked around the island；
thunder rolled； lightning flashed and rain came down in
torrents。 But with morning the storm abated and when
the sun arose no sign of the tempest remained save a
few fallen trees。
Chapter Six
The Magic Boat
Prince Inga was up with the sun and； accompanied by
Bilbil； began walking along the shore in search of the
boat which the White Pearl had promised him。 Never for
an instant did he doubt that he would find it and
before he had walked any great distance a dark object
at the water's edge caught his eye。
〃It is the boat； Bilbil！〃 he cried joyfully； and
running down to it he found it was； indeed； a large and
roomy boat。 Although stranded upon the beach； it was in
perfect order and had suffered in no way from the
storm。
Inga stood for some moments gazing upon the handsome
craft and wondering where it could have come from。
Certainly it was unlike any boat he had ever seen。 On
the outside it was painted a lustrous black； without
any other color to relieve it； but all the inside of
the boat was lined with pure silver； polished so highly
that the surface resembled a mirror and glinted
brilliantly in the rays of the sun。 The seats had white
velvet cushions upon them and the cushions were
splendidly embroidered with threads of gold。 At one
end； beneath the broad seat； was a small barrel with
silver hoops； which the boy found was filled with
fresh； sweet water。 A great chest of sandalwood； bound
and ornamented with silver； stood in the other end of
the boat。 Inga raised the lid and discovered the chest
filled with sea…biscuits； cakes； tinned meats and ripe；
juicy melons； enough good and wholesome food to last
the party a long time。
Lying upon the bottom of the boat were two shining
oars； and overhead； but rolled back now； was a canopy
of silver cloth to ward off the heat of the sun。
It is no wonder the boy was delighted with the
appearance of this beautiful boat； but on reflection he
feared it was too large for him to row any great
distance。 Unless； indeed； the Blue Pearl gave him
unusual strength。
While he was considering this matter； King Rinkitink
came waddling up to him and said：
〃Well； well； well； my Prince； your words have come
true！ Here is the boat； for a certainty； yet how it
came here and how you knew it would come to us
are puzzles that mystify me。 I do not question our good
fortune； however； and my heart is bubbling with joy；
for in this boat I will return at once to my City of
Gilgad； from which I have remained absent altogether
too long a time。〃
〃I do not wish to go to Gilgad；〃 said Inga。
〃That is too bad； my friend； for you would be very
welcome。 But you may remain upon this island； if you
wish；〃 continued Rinkitink； 〃and when I get home I will
send some of my people to rescue you。〃
〃It is my boat； Your Majesty；〃 said Inga quietly。
〃May be； may be；〃 was the careless answer； 〃but I am
King of a great country； while you are a boy Prince
without any kingdom to speak of。 Therefore； being of
greater importance than you； it is just and right that
I take； your boat and return to my own country in it。〃
〃I am sorry to differ from Your Majesty's views；〃
said Inga； 〃but instead of going to Gilgad I consider
it of greater importance that we go to the islands of
Regos and Coregos。〃
〃Hey？ What！〃 cried the astounded King。 〃To Regos and
Coregos！ To become slaves of the barbarians； like the
King； your father？ No； no； my boy！ Your Uncle Rinki may
have an empty noddle； as Bilbil claims； but he is far
too wise to put his head in the lion's mouth。 It's no
fun to be a slave。〃
〃The people of Regos and Coregos will not enslave
us；〃 declared Inga。 〃On the contrary； it is my
intention to set free my dear parents； as well as all
my people； and to bring them back again to Pingaree。〃
〃Cheek…eek…eek…eek…eek！ How funny！〃 chuckled
Rinkitink； winking at the goat； which scowled in
return。 〃Your audacity takes my breath away； Inga； but
the adventure has its charm； I must； confess。 Were I
not so fat； I'd agree to your plan at once； and could
probably conquer that horde of fierce warriors without
any assistance at all any at all eh； Bilbil？ But
I grieve to say that I am fat； and not in good fighting
trim。 As for your determination to do what I admit I
can't do； Inga； I fear you forget that you are only a
boy； and rather small at that。〃
〃No； I do not forget that；〃 was Inga's reply。
〃Then please consider that you and I and Bilbil are
not strong enough； as an army； to conquer a powerful
nation of skilled warriors。 We could attempt it； of
course； but you are too young to die； while I am too
old。 Come with me to my City of Gilgad； where you will
be greatly honored。 I'll have my professors teach you
how to be good。 Eh？ What do you say？〃
Inga was a little embarrassed how to reply to these
arguments； which he knew King Rinkitink considered were
wise； so； after a period of thought； he said：
〃I will make a bargain with Your Majesty； for I do
not wish to fail in respect to so worthy a man and so
great a King as yourself。 This boat is mine； as
