d and lowest cavern was the last in the mines, and here were
many scores of slaves and many guards to keep them at work. So far, none
of the guards had paid any attention to Inga's party, but allowed them
to proceed as they would, and while the slaves cast curious glances at
the boy and girl and man and goat, they dared say nothing. But now the
boy walked up to some of the men of Pingaree and asked news of his
father, telling them not to fear the guards as he would protect them
from the whips.

[Illustration]

Then he learned that King Kitticut had indeed been working in this very
cavern until the evening before, when King Gos had come and taken him
away--still loaded with chains.

"Seems to me," said King Rinkitink, when he heard this report, "that Gos
has carried your father away to Regos, to prevent us from rescuing him.
He may hide poor Kitticut in a dungeon, where we cannot find him."

"Perhaps you are right," answered the boy, "but I am determined to find
him, wherever he may be."

Ingo spoke firmly and with courage, but he was greatly disappointed to
find that King Gos had been before him at the mines and had taken his
father away. However, he tried not to feel disheartened, believing he
would succeed in the end, in spite of all opposition. Turning to the
guards, he said:

"Remove the chains from these slaves and set them free."

The guards laughed at this order, and one of them brought forward a
handful of chains, saying: "His Majesty has commanded us to make you,
also, a slave, for you are never to leave these caverns again."

[Illustration]

Then he attempted to place the chains on Inga, but the boy indignantly
seized them and broke them apart as easily as if they had been cotton
cords. When a dozen or more of the guards made a dash to capture him,
the Prince swung the end of the chain like a whip and drove them into a
corner, where they cowered and begged for mercy.

Stories of the marvelous strength of the boy Prince had already spread
to the mines of Regos, and although King Gos had told them that Inga had
been deprived of all his magic power, the guards now saw this was not
true, so they deemed it wise not to attempt to oppose him.

The chains of the slaves had all been riveted fast to their ankles and
wrists, but Inga broke the bonds of steel with his hands and set the
poor men free--not only those from Pingaree but all who had been
captured in the many wars and raids of King Gos. They were v