, although
they stood close beside Inga.

Buzzub stood for a moment looking upon the boy in silent wonder. Then,
recovering himself, he shouted in a loud voice:

"Once again! All together, my men. No one shall ever defy our might and
live!"

Again a flight of arrows and spears sped toward the the three, and since
many more of the warriors of Regos had by this time joined their
fellows, the air was for a moment darkened by the deadly shafts. But
again all fell harmless before the power of the Pink Pearl, and Bilbil,
who had been growing very angry at the attempts to injure him and his
party, suddenly made a bolt forward, casting off Inga's hold, and
butted into the line of warriors, who were standing amazed at their
failure to conquer.

[Illustration]

Taken by surprise at the goat's attack, a dozen big warriors tumbled in
a heap, yelling with fear, and their comrades, not knowing what had
happened but imagining that their foes were attacking them, turned about
and ran to the city as hard as they could go. Bilbil, still angry, had
just time to catch the big captain as he turned to follow his men, and
Buzzub first sprawled headlong upon the ground, then rolled over two or
three times, and finally jumped up and ran yelling after his defeated
warriors. This butting on the part of the goat was very hard upon King
Rinkitink, who nearly fell off Bilbil's back at the shock of encounter;
but the little fat King wound his arms around the goat's neck and shut
his eyes and clung on with all his might. It was not until he heard Inga
say triumphantly, "We have won the fight without striking a blow!" that
Rinkitink dared open his eyes again. Then he saw the warriors rushing
into the City of Regos and barring the heavy gates, and he was very much
relieved at the sight.

"Without striking a blow!" said Bilbil indignantly. "That is not quite
true, Prince Inga. You did not fight, I admit, but I struck a couple of
times to good purpose, and I claim to have conquered the cowardly
warriors unaided."

"You and I together, Bilbil," said Rinkitink mildly. "But the next time
you make a charge, please warn me in time, so that I may dismount and
give you all the credit for the attack."

There being no one now to oppose their advance, the three walked to the
gates of the city, which had been closed against them. The gates were of
iron and heavily barred, and upon the top of the high walls of the city
a host of the warriors now appeared a