 16 Nicobop refuses a crown Almost the first persons that Zela saw, when she landed from the silver-lined boat at Regos, were her father and mother. Nicobop and his wife had been greatly worried when their little daughter failed to return from Corregos, so they had set out to discover what had become of her. When they reached the city of Regos that very morning, they were astonished to hear news of all the strange events that had taken place. Still, they found comfort when told that Zela had been seen in the boat of Prince Enga, which had gone to the north. Then, while they wondered what this could mean, the silver-lined boat appeared again, with their daughter in it, and they ran down to the shore to give her a welcome, and many joyful kisses. Enga invited the good people to the Palace of King Ghost, where he conferred with them, as well as with Rinkatink and Bilbil. Now that the king and queen of Regos and Corregos have run away, he said, there is no one to rule these islands. So it is my duty to appoint a new ruler, and as Nicobop, Zela's father, is an honest and worthy man, I shall make him the king of the Twin Islands. Me cried Nicobop, astounded by this speech. I beg your highness, on my bended knees, not to do so cruel a thing as to make me king. Why not? inquired Rinkatink. I'm a king, and I know how it feels. I assure you, good Nicobop, that I quite enjoy my high rank, although a dueled crown is rather heavy to wear in hot weather. With you, noble sir, it is different, said Nicobop. For you are far from your kingdom in its trials and worries, and may do as you please. But to remain in Regos as king over these fearsome unruly warriors would be to live in constant anxiety and peril, and the chances are that they would murder me within a month. As I have done no harm to anyone, and have tried to be a good and upright man, I do not think that I should be condemned to such a dreadful fate. Very well, replied Inga. We will say no more about your being king. I merely wanted to make you rich and prosperous, as I had promised Zella. Please, forget that promise. Pleaded the charcoal burner earnestly. I have been safe from molestation for many years because I was poor, and possessed nothing that anyone else could envy. But if you make me rich and prosperous, I shall at once become the prey of thieves and marauders, and probably will lose my life in the attempt to protect my fortune. Inga looked at the man in surprise. What then can I do to please you? he inquired. Nothing more than to allow me to go home, to my poor cabin, said Nicobop. Perhaps, remarked King Rincating. The charcoal burner has more wisdom concealed in that hard head of his than we gave him credit for. But let us use that wisdom for the present to counsel us what to do in this emergency. What you call my wisdom, said Nicobop, is merely common sense. I have noticed that some men become rich, and are scorned by some and robbed by others. Other men become famous, and are mocked at and derided by their fellows. But the poor and humble man, who lives unnoticed and unknown, escapes all these troubles, and is the only one who can appreciate the joy of living. If I had a hand instead of a cloven hoof, I'd like to shake hands with you, Nicobop, said Bill Bill the goat. But the poor man must not have a cruel master, or he is undone. During the council they found, indeed, that the advice of the charcoal burner was both shrewd and sensible, and they profited much by his words. Anga gave Captain Buzz up the command of the warriors, and made him promise to keep his men quiet and orderly, if he could. Then the boy allowed all of King Goss's former slaves, except those who came from Hungary, to choose what boats they required, and to stalk them with provisions, and row away to their own countries. When these had departed, with grateful thanks and many blessings showered upon the boy prince, who had set them free, Anga made preparations to send his own people home, where they were told to rebuild their houses, and then erect a new royal palace. They were then to await patiently the coming of King Kitakutt or Prince Anga. My greatest worry, said the boy to his friends, is to know whom to appoint to take charge of this work, of restoring Pingari to its former condition. My men are all pearlfishers, and although willing and honest, have no talent for directing others how to work. While the preparations for a departure were being made, Nicobab offered to direct the men of Pingari, and did so in a very capable manner. As the island had been despoiled of all its valuable furniture and draperies, and rich cloths and paintings and statuary and the like, as well as gold and silver and ornaments, Anga thought it no more than just, that they be replaced by the spoilers. So he directed his people to search through the storehouses of King Goss, and to regain all their goods and chattels that could be found. Also, he instructed them to take as much else as they required, to make their new homes comfortable, so that many boats were loaded full of goods, that would enable the people to restore Pingari to its former state of comfort. For his father's new palace, the boy plundered the palaces of both Queen Core and King Goss, sending enough wearers away with his people to make King Kitakut's new residence as handsomely fitted and furnished, as had been the one which the ruthless invaders from Regos had destroyed. It was a great fleet of boats that set out one bright, sunny morning, on the voyage to Pingari, carrying all the men, women and children, and all the goods for refitting their homes. As he saw the fleet depart, Prince Anga felt that he had already successfully accomplished a part of his mission, but he vowed he would never return to Pingari in person, until he could take his father and mother there with him. Unless indeed King Goss wickedly destroyed his beloved parents, in which case Anga would become King of Pingari, and it would be his duty to go to his people and rule over them. It was well the last of the boats were preparing to sail for Pingari, that Nickapop, who had been of great service in getting them ready, came to Anga in a thoughtful mood and said, Your Highness, my wife and my daughter Zella have been urging me to leave Regos and settle down in your island in a new home. From what your people have told me, Pingari is a better place to live than Regos, and there are no cruel warriors or savage beasts there to keep one in constant fear for the safety of those he loves. Therefore I have come to ask to go with my family in one of the boats. Anga was much pleased with this proposal, and not only granted Nickapop permission to go to Pingari to live, but instructed him to take with him sufficient goods to furnish his new home in a comfortable manner. In addition to this, he appointed Nickapop general manager of the buildings and of the pearl fisheries, until his father, where he himself arrived. And the people approved this order, because they liked Nickapop, and knew him to be just and honest. Soon as the last boat of the great flotilla had disappeared from the view of those left at Regos, Anga and Rinkating prepared to leave the island themselves. The boy was anxious to overtake the boat of King Goss if possible, and Rinkating had no desire to remain in Regos. Buzz up in the warriors stood silently on the shore, and watched the black boat with its silver lining depart, and I am sure they were as glad to be rid of their unwelcome visitors as Anga and Rinkating and Bilbil were to leave. The boy asked the white pearl what direction the boat of King Goss had taken, and then he followed after it, rowing hard and steadily for eight days, without becoming at all weary. But although the black boat moved very swiftly, it failed to overtake the barge, which was rowed by Queen Core's forty-picked oarsmen. End of Chapter 16 Rinkating in Oz. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Chapter 17. Narrated by Melissa Rinkating in Oz by L. Frank Baum. Chapter 17. The Gnome King The kingdom of the gnomes does not border on the nonestic ocean, from which it is separated by the kingdom of Rinkating and the country of the wheelers, which is a part of the land of Ev. Rinkating's country is separated from the country of the gnomes by a row of high and steep mountains, from which it extends to the sea. The country of the wheelers is a sandy waste that is open on one side to the nonestic ocean, and on the other side has no barrier to separate it from the gnome country. Therefore it was on the coast of the wheelers that King Goss landed, in a spot quite deserted by any of the curious inhabitants of that country. The gnome country is very large in extent, and is only separated from the land of Oz, on its eastern borders, by a deadly desert that cannot be crossed by mortals, unless they are aided by the fairies, or by magic. The gnomes are enumerous and mischievous people, living in underground caverns of wide extent, connected one with another by arches and passages. The word gnome means one who knows, and these people are so called, because they know where all the gold and silver and precious stones are hidden in the earth, a knowledge that no other living creatures share with them. The gnomes are busy people, constantly digging up gold in one place and taking it to another place, where they secretly bury it, and perhaps this is the reason they alone know where to find it. The gnomes were ruled at the time of which I write, by a king named Kaliko. King Goss had expected to be pursued by Inga in his magic boat, so he made all the haste possible, urging his forty rowers to their best efforts night and day. To his joy he was not overtaken, but landed on the sandy beach of the wheelers on the morning of the eighth day. The forty rowers were left with the boat, while Queen Kor and King Goss, with their royal prisoners, who were still chained, began the journey to the gnome king. It was not long before they passed the sands and reached the rocky country belonging to the gnomes, but they were still a long way from the entrance to the underground caverns, in which lived the gnome king. There was a dim path, winding between stones and boulders, over which the walking was quite difficult, especially as the path led up hills that were small mountains, and then down steep and abrupt slopes, where any misstep might mean a broken leg. Therefore it was the second day of their journey, before they climbed halfway up a rugged mountain, and found themselves at the entrance of the gnome king's caverns. Upon their arrival the entrance seemed free and unguarded, but Goss and Kor had been there before, and they were too wise to attempt to enter without announcing themselves, for the passage to the caves was full of traps and pitfalls. So King Goss stood and shouted, and in an instant they were surrounded by a group of crooked gnomes, who seemed to have sprung from the ground. One of these had very long ears, and was called the long-eared hearer. He said, I heard you coming early this morning. Another had eyes that looked in different directions at the same time, and were curiously bright and penetrating. He could look over a hill or around a corner, and was called the look-out. Said he, I saw you coming yesterday. Then, said King Goss, perhaps King Kaligo is expecting us. It is true, replied another gnome, who wore a gold collar around his neck, and carried a bunch of golden keys. The mighty gnome king expects you and bid to follow me to his presence. With this he led the way into the caverns, and Goss and Kor followed, dragging their weary prisoners with them. For poor King Kiddecutt and his gentle queen had been obliged to carry, all through the tedious journey, the bags of gold and jewels which were to bribe the gnome king to accept them as slaves. Through several long passages the guide led them, and at last they entered a small cavern, which was beautifully decorated, and set with rare jewels that flashed from every part of the wall, floor, and ceiling. This was a waiting room for visitors, and there their guide left them, while he went to inform King Kaligo of their arrival. Before long they were ushered into a great domes chamber, cut from the solid rock, and so magnificent that all of them, the king and queen of Pingaree, and the king and queen of Regos and Coregos, drew long breaths of astonishment, and opened their eyes as wide as they could. In an ivory throne sat a little round man, who had a pointed beard, and hair that rose to a tall curl on top of his head. He was dressed in silken robes, richly embroidered, which had large buttons of cut rubies. On his head was a diamond crown, and in his hand he held a golden scepter, with a big jeweled ball at one end of it. This was Kaligo, the king and ruler of all the gnomes. He nodded pleasantly enough to his visitors, and said in a cheery voice, Well, Your Majesty's, what can I do for you? It is my desire, answered King Goss, respectfully, to place in your care two prisoners whom you now see before you. They must be carefully guarded to prevent them from escaping, for they have the cunning of foxes, and are not to be trusted. In return, for the favor, I am asking you to grant. I have brought Your Majesty valuable presents of gold and precious gems. He then commanded Kitikutt and Garree to lay before the Gnome King the bags of gold and jewels, and they obeyed, being helpless. Very good, said King Kaligo, nodding approval, for like all the gnomes he loved treasures of gold and jewels. But who are the prisoners you have brought here, and why do you place them in my charge instead of guarding them yourself? They seem gentle enough, I'm sure. The prisoners, returned King Goss, are the king and queen of Pinnigree, a small island north of here. They are very evil people, and came to our islands of Regos and Corregos to conquer them and slay our poor people. Also, they intended to plunder us of all our riches. But, by good fortune, we were able to defeat and capture them. However, they have a son, who is a terrible wizard, and who, by magic art, is trying to find this awful king and queen of Pinnigree, and to set them free, that they may continue their wicked deeds. Therefore, as we have no magic to defend ourselves with, we have brought the prisoners to you for safekeeping. Your Majesty! spoke up King Kirikat, addressing the known king with great indignation. Do not believe this tale, I implore you. It is all a lie. I know it, said Kiliko. I consider it a clever lie, though, because it is woven without a thread of truth. However, that is none of my business. The fact remains that my good friend King Goss wishes to put you in my underground caverns, so that you will be unable to escape. And why should I not please him in this little matter? Goss is a mighty king and a great warrior, while your island of Pinnigree is desolated and your people scattered. In my heart, King Kirikat, I sympathize with you, but as a matter of business policy, we powerful kings must stand together and trample the weaker ones under our feet. King Kirikat was surprised to find the king of the gnomes so candid and so well informed, and he tried to argue that he and his gentle wife did not deserve their cruel fate, and that it would be wiser for Kiliko to side with them than with the evil king of regos. But Kiliko only shook his head and smiled, saying, The fact that you are a prisoner, my poor Kirikat, is evidence that you are weaker than King Goss, and I prefer to deal with this strong. By the way, He added, turning to the king of regos, Have these prisoners any connection with the land of Oz? Why do you ask, said Goss? Because I dare not offend the Oz people. Was the reply? I am very powerful, as you know, but Ozma of Oz is far more powerful than I. Therefore, if this king and queen of Pingri happen to be under Ozma's protection, I would have nothing to do with them. I assure you, Majesty, that the prisoners have nothing to do with the Oz people, Goss hastened to say, and Kilikat, being questioned, admitted that this was true. But how about that wizard you mentioned? As to the realm king? Oh, he is merely a boy, but he is very ferocious and obstinate, and he is assisted by a little fat sorcerer called Ringetink and a talking goat. Oh, a talking goat, do you say? That certainly sounds like magic, and it also sounds like the land of Oz, where all the animals talk, said Kiliko, with a doubtful expression, but King Goss assured him the talking goat had never been to Oz. As for Ringetink, whom you call a sorcerer, continued the known king, he is a neighbor of mine, you must know, but as we are cut off from each other by high mountains beneath which a powerful river runs, I have never yet met King Ringetink, but I have heard of him, and from all reports he is a jolly rogue, and perfectly harmless. However, in spite of your false statements and misrepresentations, I will earn the treasure you have brought me, by keeping your prisoners safe in my caverns. Make them work. Advised queen core. They are rather delicate, and to make them work will make them suffer delightfully. I'll do as I please about that. Said the gnome king sternly. Be content that I agree to keep them safe. The bargain being thus made and concluded, Kiliko first examined the golden jewels, and then sent it away to his royal storehouse, which was well filled with like treasure. Next the captives were sent away in charge of the gnome, with the golden collar and keys, whose name was Click, and he escorted them to a small cavern, and gave them a good supper. I shall lock your doors, said Click, so there is no need of you wearing those heavy chains any longer. He therefore removed the chains, and left King Kitakut and his queen alone. This was the first time since the Northmen had carried them away from Pingari, that the good king and queen had been alone together, and free of all bonds, and as they embraced lovingly, and mingled their tears over their sad fate, they were also grateful that they had passed from the control of the heartless King Goss, into the more considerate care of King Kiliko. They were still captives, but they believed they would be happier in the underground caverns of the gnomes than in regos and queregos. Meantime, in the king's royal cavern, the great feast had been spread. King Goss and Queen Kor, having triumphed in their plot, were so well pleased that they held high revelry with the jolly gnome king until a late hour that night. And the next morning, having cautioned Kiliko not to release the prisoners under any consideration without their orders, the king and queen of regos and queregos left the caverns of the gnomes to return to the shore of the ocean where they had left their boat. End of Chapter 17 Rinky Tink in Oz This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Chapter 18 Narrated by Ed Good Rinky Tink in Oz by L. Frank Baum Chapter 18 Inga Parts with His Pink Pearl The white pearl guided Inga truly in his pursuit to the boat of King Goss. For the boy had been so delayed in sending his people home to Pingari that it was a full day after Goss and Kor landed on the shore of the Wheeler country that Inga's boat arrived at the same place. There he found the forty roers guarding the barge of Queen Kor and although they would not or could not tell the boy where the king and queen had taken his father and mother the white pearl advised him to follow the path to the country and the caverns of the gnomes. Rinky Tink didn't like to undertake the rocky and mountainous journey even with Bilbil to carry him but he would not desert Inga even though his own kingdom lay just beyond a range of mountains which could be seen towering southwest of them. So the king bravely mounted the goat who always grumbled but always obeyed his master and the three set off at once for the caverns of the gnomes. They traveled just as slowly as Queen Kor and King Goss had done so when they were about half way they discovered the king and queen coming back to their boat. The fact that Goss and Kor were now alone proved they had left Inga's father and mother behind them. So with the suggestion of Rinky Tink the three hid behind a high rock until the king of Rigos and the queen of Koragos who had not observed them had passed them by. Then they continued their journey glad they had not again been forced to fight or quarrel with their wicked enemies. We might have asked them however what they had done with your poor parents said Rinky Tink. Never mind. answered Inga. I am sure the white pearl will guide us aright. For a time they proceeded in silence and then Rinky Tink began to chuckle with laughter in the pleasant way he was want to do before his misfortunes came upon him. What amuses your majesty? inquired the boy. The thought of how surprised my dear subjects would be if they realized how near to them I am and yet how far away I have always wanted to visit the gnome country which is full of mystery and magic and all sorts of adventures but my devoted subjects forbade me to think of such a thing bearing I would get hurt or enchanted. Are you afraid now that you are here? asked Inga. A little, but not much. For they say the new gnome king is not as wicked as the old king used to be. Still we are undertaking a dangerous journey and I think you ought to protect me by lending me one of your pearls. Inga thought this over and it seemed a reasonable request. Which pearl would you like to have? asked the boy. Well, let us see. returned rinky-tink. You may need strength to liberate your captive parents so you must keep the blue pearl and you will need the advice of the white pearl so you had best keep that also but in case we should be separated I would have nothing to protect me from harm so you ought to lend me the pink pearl. Very well. I greeted Inga and sitting down upon a rock he removed his right shoe and after withdrawing the cloth from the pointed toe took out the pink pearl the one which protected from any harm the person who carried it. Where can you put it to keep it safely? he asked. In my vest pocket replied the king the pocket has a flap to it and I can pin it down in such a way that the pearl cannot get out and become lost as for robbery no one with evil intent can touch my person while I have the pearl. So Inga gave Rinkitink the pink pearl and the little king placed it in the pocket of his red and green brocaded velvet vest pinning the flap of the pocket down tightly they now resumed their journey and finally reached the entrance to the known king's caverns placing the white pearl to his ear Inga asked What shall I do now? and the voice of the pearl replied Clap your hands together four times and call aloud the word Click then allow yourselves to be conducted to the known king who is now holding your father and mother captive Inga followed these instructions and when Click appeared in answer to a summons the boy requested an audience of the known king so Click led them into the presence of King Calico who was suffering from a severe headache due to his revelry the night before and therefore was unusually cross and grumpy I know what you've come for said he before Inga could speak You want to get the captives from Regos away from me but you can't do it so you'd best go away again The captives are my father and mother and I intend to liberate them said the boys firmly the king stared hard at Inga wondering at his audacity then he turned to look at King Rinkitink and said I suppose you are the king of Gilgad which is in the kingdom of Rinkitink You've guessed it the first time replied Rinkitink How round and fat you are exclaimed Calico I was just thinking how fat and round you are said Rinkitink Really, King Calico, we ought to be friends we're so much alike in everything but disposition and intelligence Then he began to chuckle while Calico stared hard at him not knowing whether to accept his speech as a compliment or not and now the gnomes eyes wandered to Bilbil and he asked Is that your talking goat? Bilbil met the gnomes king's glowering look with the gaze equally surly and defiant while Rinkitink answered It is your majesty Can he really talk? asked Calico curiously He can but the best thing he does is to scold talk to his majesty Bilbil But Bilbil remained silent and would not speak Do you always ride upon his back? continued Calico questioning Rinkitink Yes was the answer because it is difficult for a fat man to walk far as perhaps you know from experience That is true said Calico Get off the goat's back and let me ride him a while to see how I like it Perhaps I'll take him away from you to ride through my caverns Rinkitink chuckled softly as he heard this but at once got off Bilbil's back and let Calico get on The gnomes king was a little awkward but when he was firmly astride the saddle he called in a loud voice Get up When Bilbil paid no attention to the command and refused to stir Calico kicked his heels viciously against the goat's body and then Bilbil made a sudden start He ran swiftly across the great cavern until he had almost reached the opposite wall When he stopped so abruptly the king Calico sailed over his head and bumped against the jeweled wall He bumped so hard that the points of his crown were all mashed out of shape and his head was driven far into the diamond-studded band of the crown so that it covered one eye and a part of his nose Perhaps this saved Calico's head from being cracked against the rock wall but it was hard on the crown Bilbil was highly pleased at the success of his feet and Rinkitink laughed merrily at the gnomes king's comical appearance but Calico was muttering and growling as he picked himself up and struggled to pull the battered crown from his head and it was evident that he was not in the least amused Indeed Inga could see that the king was very angry and the boy knew that the incident was likely to turn Calico against the entire party The gnomes king sent click for another crown and ordered his workmen to repair the one that was damaged While he waited for the new crown he sat regarding his visitors with a scowling face and this made Inga more uneasy than ever Finally when the new crown was placed upon his head King Calico said Follow me, strangers and led the way to a small door at one end of the cavern Inga and Rinkitink followed him through the doorway and found themselves standing on a balcony that overlooked an enormous domed cave so extensive that it seemed miles to the other side of it All around this circular cave which was brilliantly lighted from an unknown source were arches connected with other caverns Calico took a gold whistle from his pocket and blew a shrilled note that echoed through every part of the cave Instantly gnomes began to pour in through the side arches in great numbers until the immense space was packed with them as far as the eye could reach All were armed with glittering weapons of polished silver and gold and Inga was amazed that any king should command so great an army They began marching and counter-marching in very orderly array until another blast of the gold whistle sent them scurrying away as quickly as they had appeared and as soon as the great cave was again empty Calico returned with his visitors to his own royal chamber where he once more seated himself upon his ivory throne I have shown you said he to Inga A part of my bodyguard, the royal armies of which this is only a part are as numerous as the sands of the ocean and live in many thousands of my underground caverns You have come here thinking to force me to give up the capties of King Goss and Queen Cor and I wanted to convince you that my power is too mighty for anyone to oppose I am told that you are a wizard and depend upon magic to aid you but you must know that the gnomes are not mortals and understand magic pretty well themselves so if we are obliged to fight magic with magic the chances are that we are a hundred times more powerful than you can be Think this over carefully my boy and try to realize that you are in my power I do not believe you can force me to liberate King Kitikat and Queen Garry and I know that you cannot coax me to do so I have given my promise to King Goss therefore as I do not wish to hurt you I ask you to go away peaceably and let me alone Forgive me if I do not agree with you King Calico answered the boy However difficult and dangerous my task may be I cannot leave your dominions until every effort to release my parents has failed and left me completely discouraged Very well said the king, evidently displeased I have warned you and now if evil overtakes you it is your own fault I have a headache today so I cannot entertain you properly according to your rank but click will attend you to my guest chambers and tomorrow I will talk with you again This seemed a fair and courteous way to treat one's declared enemies so they politely expressed the wish that Calico's headache would be better and follow their guide click down a well lighted passage and through several archways until they finally reached three nicely furnished bed chambers which were cut from solid gray rock and well lighted and aired by some mysterious method known to the gnomes the first of these rooms was given King Rinkitink the second was Incas and the third was assigned to Bill Bill the goat there was a swinging rock door between the third and second rooms and another between the second and first which also had a door that opened upon the passage Rinkitink's room was the largest so it was here that an excellent dinner was spread by some of the gnomes servants who in spite of their crooked shapes proved to be well trained and competent You are not prisoners you know said click Neither are you welcome guests having declared your purpose to oppose our mighty king and all his hosts but we bear you no ill will to be well fed and cared for as long as you remain in our caverns eat hearty sleep tight and pleasant screams to you saying this he left them alone and at once Rinkitink and Inga began to counsel together as to the best means to liberate King Kitakot in Quingery the White Pearl's advice was rather unsatisfactory to the boy just now for all that the voice said in answer to his questions was patient brave and determined Rinkitink suggested that they tried to discover in what part of the series of underground caverns Inga's parents had been confined as that knowledge was necessary before they could take any action so together they started out leaving Bilbil asleep in his room and made their way unopposed through many corridors and caverns in some places were great furnaces where gold dust was being melted into bricks in other rooms workmen were fashioning the gold into various articles and ornaments in one cavern immense wheels revolved which polished precious gems and they found many caverns used as storerooms where treasure of every sort was piled high also they came to the barracks of the army and the great kitchens there were gnomes everywhere countless thousands of them but none paid the slightest heed to the visitors from the earth's surface yet although Inga and Rinkitink walked until they were weary they were unable to locate the place where the boy's father and mother had been confined and when they tried to return to their own rooms they found they had hopelessly lost themselves amid the labyrinth of passages however click presently came to them laughing at their discomforture and led them back to their bed chambers before they went to sleep they carefully barred the door from Rinkitink's room to the corridor but the doors they connected the three rooms one with another were left wide open in the night Inga was awakened by a soft grating sound that filled him with anxiety because he could not account for it it was dark in his room the light having disappeared as soon as he got into bed but he managed to feel his way to the door that led to Rinkitink's room and found it tightly closed and immovable then he made his way to the opposite door leading to Bilbil's room to discover that also had been closed and fastened the boy had a curious sensation that all of his room, the walls, floor, and ceiling were slowly whirling as if on a pivot and it was such an uncomfortable feeling that he got into bed again not knowing what else to do and as the grating noise had ceased and the room now seemed stationary he soon fell asleep again when the boy wakened after many hours he found the room again light so he dressed himself and discovered that a small table containing a breakfast that was smoking hot had suddenly appeared in the center of his room he tried the two doors but finding that he could not open them he ate some breakfast thoughtfully wondering who had locked him in and why he had been made a prisoner then he again went to the door where she thought led to Rinkitink's chamber and to his surprise the latch lifted easily and the door swung open before him was a rude corridor hewn in the rock and dimly lighted it did not look inviting so Inga closed the door puzzled to know what he'd become of Rinkitink's room and the king and went to the opposite door opening this he found a solid wall of rock confronting him which effectually prevented his escape in that direction the boy now realized that King Calico had tricked him and while professing to receive him as a guest had plotted to separate him from his comrades one way had been left however by which he might escape and he decided to see where it led to so going to the first door he opened it and ventured slowly into the dimly lighted corridor when he had advanced a few steps he heard the door of his room slam shut behind him he ran back at once but the door of rock fitted so closely into the wall that he found it impossible to open it again that did not matter so much however for the room was a prison and the only way of escape seemed ahead of him along the corridor he crept until turning a corner he found himself in a large dormant cavern that was empty and deserted here also was a dim light that permitted him to see another corridor at the opposite side so he crossed the rocky floor of the cavern and entered a second corridor this one twisted and turned in every direction but was not very long so soon the boy reached a second cavern not so large as the first this he found vacant also but it had another corridor leading out of it so Inga entered that it was straight and short and beyond was a third cavern which differed little from the others except that it had a strong iron grating at one side of it all three of these caverns had been roughly hewn from the rock and it seemed they had never been put to use as had all the other caverns of the gnomes he had visited standing in the third cavern Inga saw what he thought was still another corridor at its farther side so he walked toward it this opening was dark and that fact and the solemn silence all around him made him hesitate for a while to enter it upon reflection however he realized that unless he explored the place to the very end he could not hope to escape from it so he boldly into the dark corridor and felt his way cautiously as he moved forward scarcely had he taken two paces when a crash resounded back of him and a heavy sheet of steel closed the opening into the cavern from which he had just come he paused a moment but it still seemed best to proceed and as Inga advanced in the dark holding his hands outstretched before him to feel his way handcuffs fell upon his wrists and locked themselves with a sharp click and an instant later he found he was chained to a stout iron post sit firmly in the rock floor the chains were long enough to permit him to move a yard so in any direction and by feeling the walls he found he was in a small circular room that had no outlet except the passage by which he had entered and that was now closed by the door of steel this was the end of the series of caverns and corridors it was now that the horror of his situation occurred to the boy with full force but he resolved not to submit to his fate without a struggle and realizing that he possessed the blue pearl which gave him marvelous strength he quickly broke the chains and set himself free of the handcuffs next he twisted the steel door from its hinges and creeping along the short passage found himself in the third cave but now the dim light which had before guided him had vanished yet unpeering into the gloom of the cave he saw what appeared to be two round discs of flame which cast a subdued glow over the floor and walls by this dull glow he made out the form of an enormous man seated in the center of the cave and he saw that the iron grating had been removed permitting the man to enter the giant was unclothed and its limbs were thickly covered with coarse red hair the round discs of flame were its two eyes and when it opened its mouth to yawn Inga saw that its jaws were wide enough to crush a dozen men between the great rows of teeth Presently the giant looked up and perceived the boy crouching at the other side of the cavern so he called out on a horse-rood voice Come hither, my pretty one we will wrestle together, you and I and if you succeed in throwing me I will let you pass through my cave the boy made no reply to the challenge he realized he was in dire peril and regretted that he had lent the pink pearl to King Rinkating but it was now too late for vain regrets although he feared that even his great strength would avail him little against this hairy monster for his arms were not long enough to span a fourth of the giant's huge body while the monster's powerful limbs would be likely to crush out Inga's life before he could gain the mastery therefore the prince resolved to employ other means to combat this foe who had doubtless been placed there to bar his return Retreating through the passage he reached the room where he had been chained and wrenched the iron post from its socket it was a foot thick and four feet long and being a solid iron was so heavy that three ordinary men would have found it hard to lift Returning to the cavern the boy swung the great bar above his head and dashed it with mighty force full at the giant the end of the bar struck the monster upon its forehead with a single groan it fell full length upon the floor and lay still when the giant fell the glow from its eyes faded away and all was dark cautiously for Inga was not sure the giant was dead the boy felt his way toward the opening that led to the middle cavern the entrance was narrow and the darkness was intense but feeling braver now the boy stepped boldly forward instantly the floor began to sink beneath him and in great alarm he turned he made a leap that enabled him to grasp the rocky sides of the wall and regain a footing in the passage through which he had just come scarcely had he obtained this place of refuge when a mighty crash resounded throughout the cavern and the sound of a rushing torrent came from far below Inga felt in his pocket and found several matches one of which he lighted and held before him while it flickered he saw that the entire floor of the cavern had fallen away and knew that had he not instantly regained his footing in the passage he would have plunged into the abyss that lay beneath him by the light of another match he saw the opening at the other side of the cave and the thought came to him that possibly he might leap across the gulf of course this could never be accomplished without the marvelous strength lent him by the blue pearl but Inga had the feeling that one powerful spring might carry him over the chasm into safety he could not stay where he was that was certain so he resolved to make the attempt he took a long run through the first cave in the short corridor then exerting all his strength he launched himself over the black gulf of the second cave swiftly he flew and although his heart stood still with fear only a few seconds elapsed before his feet touched the ledge of the opposite passageway and he knew he had safely accomplished the wonderful feat only pausing to draw one long breath of relief Inga quickly traversed the crooked corridor that led to the last cavern of the three but when he came inside of it he paused abruptly his eyes nearly blinded by a glare of strong light which burst upon them covering his face with his hands Inga retreated behind a 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 they had been entirely empty now the flat floor of rock was covered everywhere with a bed of glowing coals which shut 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 gnome 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 an exerting autos 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 threw it ten feet beyond the first one tore 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 liberty when his work had been completed Inga did not long hesitate to take advantage of the stepping stones for he knew his best chance of escape laying 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 shown a brilliant light shielding his eyes which were somewhat dazzled Inga sprang through the opening and found himself in one of the known king's inhabited caverns where before him stood King Calico with a broad grin upon his features and click the king's chamberlain who looked surprised and King Rinkitink seated a stride bill-bill the goat both of whom seemed pleased that Inga had rejoined them End of Chapter 18 Rinkitink in Oz This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Chapter 19 Narrated by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina Rinkitink in Oz by L. Frank Baum Chapter 19 Entitled Rinkitink Chuckles We will now relate what happened to Rinkitink and Bill-bill 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 Bill-bill and Rinkitink remained stationary The little king also found a breakfast magically served in his room and while he was eating it Klick came to him and stated that his majesty, King Calico 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 Klick, 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 Klick, who seemed amazed at his escape Presently another rock above Rinkitink plunged downward and then another but none touched his body Klick seemed much perplexed at these continued escapes and certainly Calico was surprised when Rinkitink, safe and sound entered the royal cavern Good morning! said the king of Gilgad Your rocks are getting loose Calico and you'd better have them glued in place before they hurt someone Then he began to chuckle Ho-ho-he-he-he-he-he-he-he-he-he and Calico sat in frown because he realized that the little fat king was poking fun at him I asked your majesty to come here said the gnome 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 Ha-ha! cried Calico 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 mess Calico 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, Calico 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 implied as to argue with a guest return the gnome 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 capties 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 thrown 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 where 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 Calico 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 little sorceries So Klick was sent to fetch Bilbil and presently returned with the goat which was very crossed this morning because it had not slept well in the underground caverns Rinkitink lost no time in getting upon the red velvet saddle which the goat constantly wore for he feared the gnome king would try to destroy Bilbil and knew that as long as his body touched that of the goat the pink pearl would protect them both whereas if Bilbil stood alone there was no magic to save him Bilbil glared wickedly at King Calico who moved uneasily in his ivory throne then the gnome king whispered a moment in the ear of Klick who nodded and left the room Please make yourselves at home here for a few minutes while I attend to an errand Said the gnome king, getting up from the throne I shall return pretty soon when I hope to find you peaceful Ha ha ha! That's a joke you can't appreciate now but we'll later be peaceful That's the idea! Ho ho ho! How funny! Then he waddled from the cavern closing the door behind him Well, why didn't you laugh when Calico laughed? Demanded the goat when they were left alone in the cavern Because he means mischief of some sort replied Rinkitink And we'll laugh after the danger is over Bilbil There's an old adage that says he laughs best who laughs last and the only way to laugh last is to give the other fellow a chance Where did that knife come from, I wonder? For a long sharp knife suddenly appeared in the air near them twisting and turning from side to side and darting here and there in a dangerous manner without any support whatever Then another knife became visible and another and another until all the space in the royal cavern seemed filled with them Their sharp points and edges darted toward Rinkitink and Bilbil perpetually and nothing could have saved them from being cut to pieces except the protecting power of the pink pearl As it was not a knife touched them and even Bilbil gave a gruff laugh at the failure of Calico's clever magic The goat wandered here and there in the cavern carrying Rinkitink upon his back and neither of them paid the slightest heed to the knives although the glitter of the hundreds of polished blades was rather trying to their eyes Perhaps for ten minutes the knives darted about them in bewildering fury then they disappeared as suddenly as they had appeared Calico cautiously stuck his head through the doorway and found the goat chewing the embroidery of his royal cloak which he had left lying over the throne while Rinkitink was reading his manuscript on how to be good and shuckling over its advice The gnome king seemed greatly disappointed as he came in and resumed his seat on the throne said Rinkitink with a chuckle We've really had a peaceful time Calico although not the peaceful time you expected Forgive me if I indulge in a laugh and now tell me aren't you getting tired of trying to injure us said the gnome king I see now that your magic can protect you from all my arts but is the boy Inga as well protected as your majesty and the goat? Why do you ask? inquired Rinkitink uneasy at the question because he remembered he had not seen the little prince of Pingaree that morning Because? said Calico The boy has been undergoing trials far greater and more dangerous than any you have encountered and it has been hundreds of years since anyone has been able to escape alive from the perils of my three trick caverns King Rinkitink was much alarmed at hearing this for although he knew that Inga possessed the blue pearl that would only give to him marvellous strength and perhaps strength alone would not enable him to escape from danger but he would not let Calico see the fear he felt for Inga's safety so he said in a careless way You're a mighty poor magician Calico and I'll give you my crown if Inga hasn't escaped any danger you have threatened him with Your whole crown is not worth one of the valuable diamonds in my crown? answered the gnome king But I'll take it let us go at once therefore and see what has become of the boy prince for if he is not destroyed by this time I will admit he cannot be injured by any of the magic arts which I have at my command He left the room accompanied by Klik who had now rejoined his master and by Rinkitink riding upon Bilbil After traversing several of the huge caverns they entered one that was somewhat more bright and cheerful than the others where the gnome king paused before a wall of rock then Klik pressed a secret spring and a section of the wall opened and disclosed the corridor where Prince Inga stood facing them Tarts and tad-balls cried Calico in surprise The boy is still alive End of chapter 19 Rinkitink in Oz This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Chapter 20 Narrated by Psy, Seattle Rinkitink in Oz by L. Frank Baum Chapter 20 Dorothy to the Rescue One day when Princess Dorothy of Oz was visiting Glenda the Good who is Ozma's royal sorceress she was looking through Glenda's great book of records wherein is inscribed all important events that happen in every part of the world When she came upon the record of the destruction of Pinagri the capture of King Kitakit and Queen Garry and all their people and the curious escape of Inga, the boy prince of King Rinkitink and the talking goat Turning over some of the following pages Dorothy read how Inga had found the magic pearls and was rowing the silver-lined boat to Regos to try to rescue his parents The little girl was much interested to know how well Inga succeeded but she returned to the palace of Ozma at the emerald city of Oz the next day and other events made her forget the boy prince of Pinagri for a time However, she was one day idly looking at Ozma's magic picture which shows any scene you may wish to see When the girl thought of Inga and commanded the magic picture to show her what the boy was doing at that moment It was the time when Inga and Rinkitink had followed the king of Regos and the queen of Corregos to the Gnome King's country and she saw them hiding behind the rock as Cor and Ghost passed them by after having placed the king and queen of Pinagri in the keeping of the Gnome King From that time Dorothy followed by means of the magic picture the adventures of Inga and his friend in the Gnome King's caverns and the danger and helplessness of the poor boy who aroused the little girl's pity and indignation So she went to Ozma and told the lovely girl ruler of Oz all about Inga and Rinkitink I think Kaliko is treating them dreadfully mean declared Dorothy and I wish you'd let me go to the Gnome Country and help them out of their troubles Don't my dear if you wish to replied Ozma But I think it would be best for you to take the wizard with you Oh, I'm not afraid of the gnomes said Dorothy But I'll be glad to take the wizard for company and may we use your magic carpet Ozma Of course Put the magic carpet in the red wagon and have the saw horse take you in the wizard to the edge of the desert While you are gone Dorothy I'll watch you in the magic picture and if any danger threatens you I'll see you are not harmed Dorothy thanked the ruler of Oz and kissed her goodbye for she was determined to start at once She found the wizard of Oz who was playing shoe trees in the garden and when she told him Inga's story he willingly agreed to accompany the little girl to the Gnome King's caverns They had both been there before and conquered the gnomes with ease so they were not at all afraid The wizard who was a cheery little man with a bald head and a winning smile harnessed the wooden saw horse to the red wagon and loaded on Ozma's magic carpet Then he and Dorothy climbed to the seat and the saw horse started off and carried them swiftly through the beautiful land of Oz to the edge of the deadly desert that separated their fairy land from the Gnome country Even Dorothy and the clever wizard would not have dared cross this desert with the magic carpet for it would have quickly destroyed them But when the roll of carpet had been placed upon the edge of the sands leaving just enough lying flat for them to stand upon the carpet straight away began to unroll before them and as they walked on it continued to unroll until they had safely passed over the stretch of deadly desert and were on the border of the Gnome King's dominions This journey had been accomplished in a few minutes although such a distance would have required travel had they not been walking on the magic carpet On arriving they at once walked toward the entrance to the caverns of the Gnomes The wizard carried a little black bag containing his tools of wizardry while Dorothy carried over her arm a covered basket in which she had placed a dozen eggs with which to conquer the Gnomes if she had any trouble with them Eggs may seem to you to be a queer weapon with which to fight but the little girl well knew their value The Gnomes are immortal that is they do not perish as mortals do unless they happen to come in contact with an egg if an egg touches them either the outer shell or the inside of the egg the Gnomes lose their charm of perpetual life and thereafter are liable to die through accident or old age just as all humans are for this reason the side of an egg fills a gnome with terror and he will do anything to prevent an egg leaving him even for an instant so when Dorothy took her basket of eggs with her she knew that she was more powerfully armed than if she had a regiment of soldiers at her back End of Chapter 20 Rinky Tink in Oz This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Chapter 21 Recording by Sy Seattle Rinky Tink in Oz by L. Frank Baum Chapter 21 The Wizard Finds an Enchantment After Kaliko had failed in his attempts to destroy his guests as has been related the Gnome King did nothing more to injure them but treated them in a friendly manner he refused however to permit Inga to see or speak with his father and mother or even to know in what part of the underground caverns they were confined if you are able to protect your lives in persons I freely admit said Kaliko but I firmly believe you have no power either of magic or otherwise to take from me the captives I have agreed to keep for King Goss Inga would not agree to this he determined not to leave the caverns until he had liberated his father and mother although he did not know how it could be accomplished as for Rinky Tink the Jolly King was well fed and had a good bed to sleep upon so he was not worrying about anything and seemed in no hurry to go away Kaliko and Rinky Tink were engaged in pitching a game with solid gold coys on the floor of the Royal Chamber and Inga and Billville were watching them when Klick came running in his hair standing on end with excitement and cried out that the Wizard of Oz and Dorothy were approaching Kaliko turned pale on hearing this unwelcome news and abandoning his game went to sit in his ivory throne and tried to think what had brought these fearful visitors to his domain Who is Dorothy? asked Inga She is a little girl who once lived in Kansas replied Klick with a shutter but she now lives in Ozma's palace at the Emerald City and is a princess of Oz which means she is a terrible foe to deal with Doesn't she like the gnomes? inquired the boy said that said King Kaliko with a groan but she insists on the gnomes being goody-goody which is contrary to their natures Dorothy gets angry if I do the least thing that is wicked and tries to make me stop it and that naturally makes me downhearted I can't imagine why she has come here just now for I've been behaving very well lately as for that Wizard of Oz he's chucked full of magic that I can't overcome for he learned it from Glinda who is the most powerful sources in the world oh woe is me why didn't Dorothy and the Wizard stay in Oz where they belong? Inga and Rinkitink listened to this with much joy for at once the idea came to both of them to plead with Dorothy to help them even Bilbil pricked up his ears when he heard the Wizard of Oz mentioned and the goat seemed much less surly thoughtful than usual a few minutes later a gnome came to say that Dorothy and the Wizard had arrived and demanded admittance so Klick was sent to usher them into the royal presence of the gnome king as soon as she came in the little girl ran up to the boy prince and seized both his hands oh Inga she exclaimed I'm so glad to find you alive and well Inga was astonished at so warm a greeting making a low bow he said I don't think we've met before princess no indeed replied Dorothy but I know all about you and I've come to help you and King Rinkitink out of your trouble then she turned to the gnome king and continued you ought to be ashamed of yourself King Kaliko to treat an honest prince and an honest king so badly I haven't done anything to them wind Kaliko trembling as her eyes flashed upon him no but you tried to and that's just as bad if not worse said Dorothy who was very indignant and now I want you to send for the king and queen of Pina Grape and have them brought here immediately I won't said Kaliko yes you will cried Dorothy stamping her foot at him I won't have those poor people made unhappy any longer or separated from their little boy why it's dreadful Kaliko you must be more wicked than I thought you were I can't do it Dorothy said the gnome king almost weeping with despair I promise King Goss I'd keep them captives you wouldn't ask me to break my promise would you King Goss was a robber and an outlaw she said and perhaps you don't know that a storm at sea wrecked his boat while he was going back to Rigo's and that he and queen core were both drowned dear me exclaimed Kaliko is that so I saw it in Glinda's record book said Dorothy so now you trot out the king and queen of Pina Grape as quick as you can no persisted the contrary gnome king shaking his head I won't do it ask me anything else and I'll try to please you but I can't allow these friendly enemies to triumph over me in that case said Dorothy beginning to remove the cover from her basket I'll show you some eggs eggs screamed the gnome king in horror have you eggs in that basket a dozen of them replied Dorothy then keep them there I beg I implore you and I'll do anything you say pleaded Kaliko his teeth chattering so that he could hardly speak send for the king and queen of Pina Grape said Dorothy go click commanded the gnome king and click ran away in great haste where he was almost as frightened as his master it was an affecting scene when the unfortunate king and queen of Pina Grape entered the chamber with sobs and tears of joy then embraced their brave and adventurous son all the others stood silent until greetings and kisses had been exchanged and Inga told his parents in a few words of his vain struggles to rescue them and how Princess Dorothy had finally come to his assistance then King Kitikat shook the hands of his friend King Rinkitink and thanked him for so loyally supporting his son Inga and Queen Gary kissed little Dorothy's forehead and blessed her for restoring her husband and herself to free them the wizard had been standing near Bill Bill the goat and now he was surprised to hear the animal say joyful reunion isn't it but it makes me tired to see grown people cry like children oh oh exclaimed the wizard how does it happen Mr. Goat but you who have never been to the land of eyes are able to talk that's my business returned Bill Bill in a surly tone the wizard stooped down and gazed fixedly into the animal's eyes then he said with a pitying sigh I say you are under an enchantment indeed I believe you to be Prince Bobo of Boboland Bill Bill made no reply but dropped his head as if ashamed this is a great discovery said the wizard addressing Dorothy and the others in the party a good man years ago a cruel magician transformed the gallant prince of Boboland into a talking goat and this goat being ashamed of his condition ran away and was never after seen in Boboland which is a country far to the south of here but bordering on the deadly desert opposite the land of eyes I heard of this story long ago and know that a diligent search has been made for the enchanted prince with our result but I'm well assured that in the animal you call Bill Bill I have discovered the unhappy prince of Boboland Dear me, Bill Bill said Rinketank why have you never told me this what would be the use asked Bill Bill in a low voice still refusing to look up the use repeated rinketank puzzled yes that's the trouble said the wizard it is one of the most powerful enchantments ever accomplished and the magician is now dead and the secret of the anti-charm lost even I with all my skill cannot restore Prince Bobo to his proper form but I think Glenda might be able to do so and if you'll all return with Dorothy and me to the land of eyes where Osmond will make you welcome I will ask Glenda to try to break this enchantment this was willingly agreed to for they all welcomed the chance to visit the famous land of Oz so they bade goodbye to King Calico whom Dorothy warned not to be wicked any more if he could help it and the entire party returned over to the magic carpet to the land of Oz they filled the red wagon which was still waiting for them pretty full but the saw-horse didn't mind that and with wonderful speed carried them safely to the emerald city end of chapter 21 this recording is in the public domain Rinketank in Oz in Oz this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Chapter 22 Narrated by Sy Seattle Rinketank in Oz by L. Frank Baum Chapter 22 Osmo's Banquet Osmo had seen in her magic picture the liberation of Inga's parents the picture of the entire party for the emerald city so with her usual hospitality she ordered a splendid banquet prepared and invited all her quaint friends who were then in the emerald city to be present that evening to meet the strangers who were to become her guests Glinda also in her wonderful record book had learned of the events that had taken place in the caverns of the Gnome King and she became especially interested in the enchantment of the Prince of Boboland so she hastily prepared several of her most powerful charms and then summoned her flock of sixteen white storks which swiftly bore her to Osmo's palace she arrived there before the red wagon did and was warmly greeted by the girl ruler realizing that the costume of Queen Gary of Pinigree must have become sadly worn and frayed owing to her hardships and adventures Osmo ordered a royal outfit prepared for the good queen and had it laid in her chamber for her to put on as soon as she arrived so that she would not be shamed at the banquet new costumes were also provided for King Kitikat and King Rinkating and Prince Inga all cut and made and embellished in the elaborate and becoming style then prevalent in the land of Oz and as soon as the party arrived at the palace Osmo's guests were escorted by her servants to their rooms that they might bathe and dress themselves Glinda the sorceress and the Wizard of Oz took charge Bill the goat and went to a private room where they were not likely to be interrupted Glinda first questioned Bill Bill long and earnestly about the manner of his enchantment and the ceremony that had been used by the magician who enchanted him at first, Bill Bill protested that he did not want to be restored to his natural shape saying that he had been forever disgraced in the eyes of his people and of the entire world by being obliged to exist as a scrawny, scraggly goat but Glinda pointed out that any person who incurred the enmity of a wicked magician was liable to suffer a similar fate and assured him that his misfortune would make him better beloved by his subjects when he returned to them freed from this dire enchantment Bill Bill was finally convinced of the truth of this assertion and agreed to submit to the experiments of Glinda and the Wizard who knew they had a hard task before them and were all sure that they could succeed. We know that Glinda is the most complete mistress of magic who has ever existed and she was wise enough to guess that the clever but evil magician who had enchanted Prince Bobo had used a spell that would puzzle any ordinary wizard or sorcerer to break therefore she had given the matter much shrewd thought and thought she had conceived a plan that would succeed but because she was not positive she was present at the incantation except her assistant to the Wizard of Oz first she transformed Bill Bill the goat into a lamb and this was done quite easily next she transferred the lamb into an ostrich giving it two legs and feet instead of four then she tried to transform the ostrich into the original Prince Bobo but this incantation was an utter failure Glinda was not discouraged however but by a powerful spell transformed the ostrich into a Tottenhot which is a lower form of a man then the Tottenhot was transformed into a Mifket which was a great step in advance and finally Glinda transformed the Mifket into a handsome young man tall and shapely who fell to his knees before the great sorceress and gratefully kissed her hand admitting that he now had recovered his proper shape and was indeed Prince Bobo of Boboland this process of magic successful though it was in the end had required so much time that the banquet was now awaiting their presence Bobo was already dressed in princely raiment and although he seemed very much humbled by his recent lowly condition they finally persuaded him to join the festivities when Rinky Tink saw that his goat had now become a prince he did not know whether to be sorry or glad for he felt that he would miss the companionship of the quarrelsome animal he had so long been accustomed to ride upon while at the same time he rejoiced that poor Bilbil had come to his own again Prince Bobo humbly begged Rinky Tink's forgiveness for having been so disagreeable to him at times saying that the nature of a goat had influenced him and the surly disposition he had shown was a part of his enchantment but the jolly king assured the prince that he had really enjoyed Bilbil's grumpy speeches and forgave him readily they all discovered the young Prince Bobo to be an exceedingly courteous and pleasant person although he was somewhat reserved and dignified ah, but it was a great feast that Osma served in her gorgeous banquet hall that night and everyone was as happy as could be the shaggy man was there and so was Jack Pumpkinhead and the Tin Woodman and Captain Bill beside Princess Dorothy sat Tiny Trot and Betsy Balvin and the three little girls were almost as sweet as to look upon as was Osma who sat at the head of her table and outshone all her guests in loveliness King Rinky Tink was delighted with the quaint people of Oz and laughed and joked with the Tin Man and the Pumpkin-headed man and found Captain Bill a very agreeable companion but what amused the jolly king most were the animal guests which Osma always invited to her banquets and seated at a table by themselves where they talked and chatted together as people do and that was what the dinners required the hungry tiger and cowardly lion and the glass cat were much admired by Rinky Tink but when he met a mule named Hank which Betsy Balvin had brought to Oz the king found the creature so comical that he laughed and chuckled until his friends thought he would joke then while the banquet was still in progress Rinky Tink composed and sang a song to the mule and they all joined in in the chorus which was something like this it's very queer how big here is worn by Mr. Donkey and yet I fear he could not hear if it were on a monkey just thick and strong and broad and long and also very hairy it's quite becoming to our Hank but might disgrace our Barry this song was received with such enthusiasm that Rinky Tink was prevailed upon to sing another they gave him a little time to compose the rhyme which he declared if he could devote a month or two to its composition but the sentiment he expressed was so admirable that nobody criticized the song or the manner in which the jolly little king sang it Dorothy wrote down the words on a piece of paper and here they are we're merry comrades all tonight because we've won a gallant fight and conquered all our foes we're not afraid of anything so let us gaily laugh and sing until we seek repose with all our grateful hearts can wish King Goss has gone to feed the fish Quinn Cor has gone as well King Kit Cut has found his own Prince Bobo soon will have a throne relieved of magic spell so let's forget the horrid strife that fell upon our peaceful life and cause distress and pain for very soon across the sea we'll all be sailing merrily to Pingaree again End of Chapter 22 Rinky Tank in Oz Chapter 23 This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org This chapter narrated by Kara Schellenberg Rinky Tank in Oz by L. Frank Baum Chapter 23 The Pearl Kingdom It was unfortunate that the famous Scarecrow the most popular person in all Oz next to Osma was absent at the time of the banquet for he happened just then to be making one of his trips through the country but Oro had a chance later to meet Rinky Tank and Inga and the King and Queen of Pingaree and Prince Bobo for the party remained several weeks at the Emerald City where they were royally entertained and where both the gentle Queen Gary and the noble King Kitakut recovered much of their good spirits and composure and tried to forget their dreadful experiences at last however the King and Queen desired to return to their own Pingaree to be with their people again and see how well they had rebuilt their homes Inga also was anxious to return although he had been very happy in Oz and King Rinky Tank who was happy anywhere except at Gilgad decided to go with his former friends to Pingaree as for Prince Bobo he had become so greatly attached to King Rinky Tank that he was loathed to leave him On a certain day they all bid goodbye to Osma and Dorothy and Glinda and the Wizard and all their good friends in Oz and were driven in the red wagon to the edge of the deadly desert which they crossed safely on the magic carpet They then made their way across the Gnome Kingdom and the Wheeler Country where no one molested them to the shores of the Nynestic Ocean there they found the boat with the silver lining still lying undisturbed on the beach There were no important adventures during the trip and on their arrival at the Pearl Kingdom in the beautiful appearance of the island they had left in ruins All the houses of the people had been rebuilt and were prettier than before with green lawns before them and flower gardens in the backyards The marble towers of King Kitakut's new palace were very striking and impressive while the palace itself proved far more magnificent than it had been before the warriors from Rago's destroyed it Niko Bob had been very active and skillful in directing all this work and he had also built a pretty cottage for himself not far from the king's palace and there Inga found Zella who was living very happy and contented in her new home Not only had Niko Bob accomplished all this in a comparatively brief space of time but he had started the Pearl Fisheries again and when King Kitakut returned to Pingari he found a quantity of fine pearls already in the Royal Treasury So pleased was Kitakut with the good judgment, industry and honesty of the former charcoal burner of Rago's that he made Niko Bob his Lord High Chamberlain and put him in charge of the Pearl Fisheries and all the business matters of the island kingdom They all settled down very comfortably in the new palace and the Queen gathered her maids about her once more and set them to work embroidering new draperies for the Royal Throne Inga placed the three magic pearls in their silken bag and again deposited them in the secret cavity under the tiled flooring of the banquet hall where they could be quickly secured if danger ever threatened the now prosperous island King Rinkitink occupied a royal guest chamber built especially for his use and seemed in no hurry to leave his friends in Pingari The fat little king had to walk wherever he went and so missed Bill Bill more and more but he seldom walked far and he was so fond of Prince Bobo that he never regretted Bill Bill's disenchantment Indeed the Jolly Monarch was welcome to remain forever in Pingari if he wished to for his merry disposition set smiles on the faces of all his friends and made everyone near him as jolly as he was himself When King Kitakut was not too busy with affairs of state he loved to join his guest and listen to his brother Monarch's songs and stories for he found Rinkitink to be, with all his careless disposition a shrewd philosopher walking over their adventures one day the king of Gilgad said The beauty of life is its sudden changes no one knows what is going to happen next and so we are constantly being surprised and entertained the many ups and downs should not discourage us for if we are down we know that a change is coming and we will go up again while those who are up are almost certain to go down My grandfather had a song which will express this you will listen, I will sing it of course I will listen to your song returned Kitakut for it would be impolite not to so Rinkitink sang his grandfather's song A mighty king once ruled the land but now he's baking pies a pauper on the other hand is ruling strong and wise a tiger once in jungles raged but now he's in a zoo a lion captive born and caged now roams the forest through a man once slept a poor boy's peat and made him whip and well the boy became a magistrate and put the man in jail a sunny day succeeds the night it's summer then it snows right often goes wrong and wrong comes right as every wise man knows End of Chapter 23 Chapter 24 of Rinkitink in Oz This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This chapter narrated by Kara Schellenberg Rinkitink in Oz by L. Frank Baum Chapter 24 The Captive King One morning just as the royal party was finishing breakfast a servant came running to say that a great fleet of boats was approaching the island from the south King Kitakut sprang up at once in great alarm for he had much cause to fear strange boats the others quickly followed him to the shore to see what invasion might be coming upon them Inga was there with the first and Nikobob and Zala soon joined the watchers and presently while all were gazing eagerly at the approaching fleet King Rinkitink suddenly cried out Get your pearls, Prince Inga. Get them quick Are these our enemies, them? Ask the boy, looking with surprise upon the fat little king who had begun to tremble violently They are my people of Gilgad answered Rinkitink, wiping a tear from his eye I recognize my royal standards flying from the boats so please, dear Inga, get out your pearls to protect me What can you fear at the hands of your own subjects? asked Kitakut, astonished but before his frightened guest could answer the question Prince Bobo, who was standing beside his friend gave an amused laugh and said Ha ha ha ha! You are caught at last, dear Rinkitink Your people will take you home again and oblige you to reign as king Rinkitink groaned aloud and clasped his hands together with a gesture of despair an attitude so comical that the others could scarcely forbear laughing But now the boats were landing upon the beach They were fifty in number, beautifully decorated and upholstered and rowed by men clad in the gay uniforms of the king of Gilgad One splendid boat had a throne of gold in the center over which was draped the king's royal robe of purple velvet embroidered with gold butter-cups Rinkitink shuddered when he saw this throne but now a tall man handsomely dressed approached and knelt upon the grass before his king while all the other occupants of the boats shouted joyfully and waved their plumed hats in the air Thanks to our good fortune, said the man who kneeled We have found your majesty at last Pinkaboo! answered Rinkitink sternly I must have you hanged for thus finding me against my will You will think so now, your majesty, but you will never do it Returned Pinkaboo, rising and kissing the king's hand Why won't I? asked Rinkitink Because you are much too tender-hearted, your majesty It may be, it may be Agreed Rinkitink sadly It is one of my greatest failings But what chance brought you here, my lord Pinkaboo? We have searched for you everywhere, Sire and all the people of Gilgad have been in despair since you so mysteriously disappeared We could not appoint a new king because we did not know but that you had still lived so we set out to find you dead or alive We were visiting many islands of the nonestic ocean We at last thought of Pingary from where come the precious pearls and now our faithful quest has been rewarded And what now? asked Rinkitink Now, your majesty, you must come home with us like a good and dutiful king and rule over your people Declared the man in a firm voice I will not But you must, begging your majesty's pardon for the contradiction Kitticott Cried poor Rinkitink You must save me from being captured by these, my subjects What? must I return to Gilgad and be forced to reign in splendid state when I much prefer to eat and sleep and sing in my own quiet way? They will make me sit in a throne three hours a day and listen to dry and tedious affairs of state And I must stand up for hours at the court receptions till I get corns on my heels and forever must I listen to tiresome speeches and endless petitions and complaints But someone must do this, your majesty Said Pinkerblue respectfully And since you were born to be our king you cannot escape your duty It is a horrid fate Moan, Rinkitink You die willingly rather than be a king if it did not hurt so terribly to die You will find it much more comfortable to reign than to die although I fully appreciate your majesty's difficult position and am truly sorry for you Said Pinkerblue King Kitticott had listened to this conversation thoughtfully so now he said to his friend The man is right, Rinkitink It is your duty to reign It has made you a king and I see no honourable escape for you I shall grieve to lose your companionship but I feel the separation cannot be avoided Rinkitink sighed Then Said he, turning to Lord Pinkerblue In three days I will depart with you for Gilgad but during those three days I propose to feast and make merry with my good friend King Kitticott Then all the people of Gilgad shouted with delight and eagerly scrambled ashore to take their part in the festival Those three days were long remembered in Pingari for never, before nor since has such feasting and jollity been known upon that island Rinkitink made the most of his time and everyone laughed and sang with him by day and by night Then at last the hour of parting arrived and the king of Gilgad and ruler of the dominion of Rinkitink was escorted by a grand procession to his boat and seated upon his golden throne The rowers of the fifty boats paused with their glittering oars pointed into the air like gigantic uplifted sabers while the people of Pingari, men, women and children stood upon the shore shouting a royal farewell to the jolly king Then came a sudden hush while Rinkitink stood up and with a bow to those assembled to witness his departure sang the following song which he had just composed for the occasion Farewell, dear Isle of Pingari the fairest land in all the sea No living mortals, king or churls would scorn to where thy precious pearls Rinkitinkart is with regret I'm forced to say farewell and yet abroad no longer can I roam when fifty boats would drag me home Goodbye, my prince of Pingari a noble king, some time you'll be along and wisely may you reign never face a foe They cheered him from the shore, they cheered him from the boats and then all the oars of the fifty boats swept downward with a single motion and dipped their blades into the purple-hued waters of the non-estic ocean As the boats shot swiftly over the ripples of the sea Rinkitink turned to Prince Bobo who had decided not to desert his former master and his present friend and asked anxiously How did you like that song, Bilbil? I mean Bobo Is it a masterpiece, do you think? And Bobo replied with a smile Like all your songs, dear Rinkitink the sentiment far excels the poetry End of Chapter Twenty-Four and the End of Rinkitink in Oz by L. Frank Baum Rinkitink in Oz This is the LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording Credits in order of appearance King Ketikot was performed by Mohammed Musnoon Prince Ingo was performed by Henry Fragon San Diego, California The white pearl was performed by Alana Jordan St. Peter's, Missouri The part of Rinkitink was performed by Jonathan Trachtenberg The part of Bilbil, read by Chewgosh The part of The Regus Warriors was performed by Porick The part of The Palace Maid was read by one Magdalene The part of Nickabob was read by Daniel Nern The part of Zella was performed by Marion Drullard The part of Zella's mother was played by Ada Kerman kermanenterprises.com The part of Queen Core was performed by Jennifer Lott British Columbia, Canada The part of King Goss read by Colin McRowards The part of The Slave Woman was read by Talia F Mind Gods, read by Iswa in Belgium in January 2009 The part of King Calico was read by Ralph Snelton of Springville, Utah The part of Glick was played by Ellie Trachtenberg The part of The Long-Eared Hero was played by Judith The part of The Nome Lookout was read by Neath The part of The Giant was performed by Paul T. Williams of Austin, Texas The part of Dorothy was played by Susie G The part of Princess Osma was played by Mira Trachtenberg The part of The Wizard of Oz was read by Porick The part of Pinkerblood was performed by Peake Proof Listening by Analika Jennifer Stearns and Angliet Book Coordination by Scott Sherris and Porick Meta Coordination by Iswa