rmed with arrows and spears and
other weapons. For Buzzub had gone straight to the palace of King Gos
and reported his defeat, relating the powerful magic of the boy, the fat
King and the goat, and had asked what to do next.

The big captain still trembled with fear, but King Gos did not believe
in magic, and called Buzzub a coward and a weakling. At once the King
took command of his men personally, and he ordered the walls manned with
warriors and instructed them to shoot to kill if any of the three
strangers approached the gates.

Of course, neither Rinkitink nor Bilbil knew how they had been protected
from harm and so at first they were inclined to resent the boy's
command that the three must always keep together and touch one another
at all times. But when Inga explained that his magic would not otherwise
save them from injury, they agreed to obey, for they had now seen enough
to convince them that the Prince was really protected by some invisible
power.

As they came before the gates another shower of arrows and spears
descended upon them, and as before not a single missile touched their
bodies. King Gos, who was upon the wall, was greatly amazed and somewhat
worried, but he depended upon the strength of his gates and commanded
his men to continue shooting until all their weapons were gone.

Inga let them shoot as much as they wished, while he stood before the
great gates and examined them carefully.

"Perhaps Bilbil can batter down the gates," suggested Rinkitink.

"No," replied the goat; "my head is hard, but not harder than iron."

"Then," returned the King, "let us stay outside; especially as we can't
get in."

But Inga was not at all sure they could not get in. The gates opened
inward, and three heavy bars were held in place by means of stout
staples riveted to the sheets of steel. The boy had been told that the
power of the Blue Pearl would enable him to accomplish any feat of
strength, and he believed that this was true.

The warriors, under the direction of King Gos, continued to hurl arrows
and darts and spears and axes and huge stones upon the invaders, all
without avail. The ground below was thickly covered with weapons, yet
not one of the three before the gates had been injured in the slightest
manner. When everything had been cast that was available and not a
single weapon of any sort remained at hand, the amazed warriors saw the
boy put his shoulder against the gates and burst asunder the hu